Patents Examined by Richard Mathieu
  • Patent number: 4466356
    Abstract: A tank car head shield is generally arcuate and is located outboard of the tank. The shield extends upwardly from the center sill to the top portion of the tank and outwardly to protect the entire tank head. A head shield anchor extends generally horizontally from the shield to a location generally on the horizontal portion of the top of the tank, and circumferentially on either side of the tank and down to the center sill. The head shield anchor is continuous. First connecting means connect the head shield to an outer portion of the anchor outboard of the tank. Second connecting means connect an inner portion of the anchor to the tank. Third connecting means connect the shield and/or anchor to the center sill. In one embodiment the first connecting means comprises an angle welded to the anchor and to the head shield and the second connecting means comprises a pad welded to the anchor and to the tank. The anchor pad may be discontinuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert C. Messersmith, Richard B. Polley
  • Patent number: 4428301
    Abstract: A radial axle railway truck has a pair of depressed center side frames supported at their ends from the axles by horizontal elastomeric pad devices carried on the sides of outboard journal bearing adapters to permit steering movements of the axles, the horizontal pad devices nearest the ends of the side frames being elongated transversely of the truck and the horizontal pad devices remote from the ends of the sideframes being elongated longitudinally of the truck. A transverse truck frame is supported at each side above the depressed center portion of the respective side frames by a pair of generally V-shaped elastomeric pad devices supported on the inclined portions of the side frames connecting the high end portions and the depressed center portions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Lukens General Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith L. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4428299
    Abstract: At a power line discontinuous portion of a power-and-free trolley conveyor, a carrier is transferred from a carrier entering first power line to a second power line by being pushed by a following pusher dog from behind. The following pusher dog is restrained from disengaging from the rear free trolley by at least one endless free chain positioned immediately above and parallel to the path of the pusher dog. A pair of endless free chains can be used with the chains being reeved around sprockets to be free movable along with the engaged pusher dog, thereby avoiding wear on the pusher dog side projections. The loop of the chains extend for a distance sufficient for the front free trolley of the carrier to cross the powerline discontinuous portion of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Nakanishi Metal Works Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 4428552
    Abstract: A high-speed switch machine for actuating railroad switch points. The machine has an electric motor which drives a hydraulic pump. The pump supplies pressure fluid to a hydraulic cylinder adapted to move the switch points from an initial to a second limit position. A four-way, two-position hydraulic control valve directs fluid to the cylinder such that the cylinder automatically operates in an extension and retraction cycle. The uni-directional motor and two-position control valve minimize response times of the actuating components so that the switch points are thrown in a short time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventors: Earl E. Frank, Bing S. Yee
  • Patent number: 4426012
    Abstract: A railway car coupler includes a shank, a head connected to a head end portion of the shank, a knuckle pivoted to the head having closed and open positions, and a lock axially movable within a chamber formed in the shank between a knuckle engaged position for maintaining the knuckle in the closed position and a knuckle disengaged position for enabling the knuckle to be pivoted to the open position. A thrower is pivotally connected to the lock and has an arm disposed to one side of the pivot for engaging the knuckle to rotate the knuckle to its open position. An actuating mechanism is connected to the thrower-lock assembly and is axially movable within the chamber. The actuating mechanism functions to axially move the lock towards its knuckle disengaged position, with continued movement of the actuating mechanism in the same direction pivoting the thrower and consequentially the knuckle to its open position after the lock has obtained its knuckle disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George E. Adams, III, Edwin C. Bailey, Richard F. Klimowicz, Geoffrey W. Cope
  • Patent number: 4422384
    Abstract: A tractor assembly for mounting on a track fixed to a workpiece the tractor used to support and guide a metal-working tool along a fixed path, the tractor having three wheels to engage opposite edges of the track, one of said wheels being laterally displaceable to facilitate mounting of the tractor to the track. The invention also includes rest buttons or supports to facilitate alignment and mounting of the tractor and additional roller supports engageable to said track if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Arcair Company
    Inventors: David E. Johnson, Kenneth E. McCall, William J. Coughlin
  • Patent number: 4419937
    Abstract: The levitating and guide magnets of a magnetically levitated vehicle are supported by frames. Each frame comprises two crossbeams (4) extending across the length of the rails. These crossbeams (4) are flexible against bending and connected in pairs in the longitudinal rail direction by connecting members which are stiff against shearing loads. Both, the levitating magnets (1) and the guide magnets (2) are supported in a see-saw fashion by respective journal shafts or pins (7, 7'). Each pair of crossbeams (4) carries four sets of magnets. Each set of magnets includes two levitating magnets (1) and two guide magnets (2) forming a respective structural magnet unit. The journal pins may be replaced by pivot movement permitting spring supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Steinmetz, Ulf Steenbeck, Dieter Reismayr
  • Patent number: 4417523
    Abstract: An electric motor driven toy train is disclosed which comprises multiple cars, each of which is articulated about a vertical axis and each of which has only a single axle so as to minimize the turning radius of the train set. A child sits upon the second car, the coal tender, and steers the first car, the locomotive of the set. A small battery driven electric motor drives one wheel of the tender to impart motion of the train set. The cars are interconnected by pivotally articulated connectors having a novel latch structure for interlocking the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Inventor: James F. Mariol
  • Patent number: 4409902
    Abstract: A pair of air-operated hammers for driving railroad spikes are guided by separate yokes, raised and lowered by trunnion-mounted cylinders; a cross frame in a vertical plane is supported between the hammers and clamps join upright guides to the crossframe, the clamps enabling the hammers to be laterally adjusted on a main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventor: Earl E. Frank
  • Patent number: 4408540
    Abstract: A method of processing articles through successive operations requiring access to their top and sides comprises placing each article on a platform of a conveyor carrier, supporting the carrier on a carrier track positioned below the platform, and propelling the carrier through the processing operations by providing the carrier with a driving dog which is engageable by a pusher member of a driven endless chain located below the carrier, and which is disengageable from the pusher for the stopping and accumulation of carriers, as desired. Engagement between supporting wheels and guide rollers of carrier trolleys and the carrier track maintains the platform in proper position. Each carrier includes a driving trolley connected to at least one load carrying trolley by a tow bar located above the carrier track. The driving trolley is provided with a one-piece driving member having a holdback dog and a driving dog which includes a forwardly projecting cam formed with an abutment notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Jervis B. Webb Company
    Inventor: Clarence A. Dehne
  • Patent number: 4408541
    Abstract: A bogie truck car body support system wherein a car body is directly supported on a truck frame by bolster springs, the system including a link arranged longitudinally of the car body and connected at one end to a link support which is fixed to the car body by a play-free shock absorber and at the other end to a pin through a play-free shock absorber and a bush rotatably fitted on the pin. The car body has neither the bush nor center pin directly connected thereto which might become wobbly. The system can be readily assembled and disassembled and is capable of reducing vibration and noise transmitted from the truck to the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takai
  • Patent number: 4407617
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a lock block link 34 has a first end 36 connected to a trailer hitch bumper block 22 and a second end 40 which engages a lock block 46 which holds the hitch jaws 16 in closed position. The lock block link 34 is supported by an operating shaft link 54 extending from a manual operating shaft 50 extending to the side of the hitch. When the bumper block 22 is engaged by a tractor, the bumper block rotates about pins 30 connecting the bumper block to the hitch head 10. This rotation moves the lock block link 34 and in turn the lock block 46 rearwardly, which allows the jaws 16 to rotate to open position to allow exit of the trailer king pin. A lost motion connection 31 is provided in the connection between the first end of the lock block link and the bumper block to allow the lock block link 34 to move relative to the bumper block when the lock block 46 is moved rearwardly manually by the operating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: James C. Hammonds, Ronald D. VanDyke
  • Patent number: 4398641
    Abstract: A knuckle railway car coupler includes latching means for maintaining the coupler locked when the coupler is placed in an inverted position. The latching means includes a latching member connected to the lever of the rotary lock-lift assembly of the coupler and is supported thereon in an inoperative position when the coupler is in its normal, upright working position. An abutment member extends into the chamber defined by the coupler head. The latching member is spaced from the abutment member in the inoperative position and moves into engagement therewith when the coupler is inverted to prevent rotation of the lock-lift assembly and subsequent movement of the coupler lock between locking and unlocking positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard F. Klimowicz
  • Patent number: 4392575
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a swivel fitting is used to connect the glad hand to the rigid portion of the brake system on the car. The swivel fitting includes a freely rotatable swivel extension which extends through an opening in a support structure. A rigid curved pipe section is connected to the swivel extension with a 45.degree. elbow. The rigid pipe section and 45.degree. elbow may swivel about a horizontal axis. The curved pipe extends upwardly and inboard of the car where it joins brake piping extending inboard of the car. A conventional end cock is attached to the swivel fitting with appropriate fasteners. A 45.degree. elbow is used to removably connect the glad hand of the train line to the end cock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas B. Baker, Richard J. Mandrell
  • Patent number: 4385563
    Abstract: A roof support for a partitioned, covered hopper railway car having a longitudinal roof hatch which supports the roof between the end partition and an end wall without interfering with the hatch opening and transfers a portion of the roof load to the side walls of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Assignee: Abex Corporation
    Inventors: Edward A. Bell, William E. Solt
  • Patent number: 4384530
    Abstract: An on-track, off track track maintenance machine comprises a first machine frame, undercarriages for supporting this frame for mobility on a track, an undercarriage vertically adjustably mounted on this frame for selectively supporting the frame for mobility on the road, a track tractor including a second machine frame, a single undercarriage capable of supporting the truck tractor for mobility on the road, a drive for moving the machine, tools mounted on the machine for track maintenance, a transversely extending, horizontal pivot linking the facing machine frame ends and arranged between the undercarriages supporting the first machine frame and the truck tractor for mobility on the road, and a power drive vertically adjustably connecting the truck tractor and the first machine frame and supporting the truck tractor on first machine frame in a vertically adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumas-Chinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Josef Theurer