Abstract: The invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for securing a tractor-trailer or other powered vehicle to a flatbed railcar (flatcar). The vehicle is driven onto the flatcar until the powered wheels of the vehicle reach a set of rollers. The vehicle then drives these rollers (or a treadmill) which power a mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic system which latches the wheels of the vehicle to the flatcar.

Abstract: A loading rail has a cross-sectional profile which is uniform over at least part of the length of said loading rail, has, on an upper side, a longitudinal groove for receiving at least one sliding block, the longitudinal groove being constricted in an upper region by at least one web, which is attached to a side wall of the longitudinal groove, to form a longitudinal slot, and the web bearing at least one downwardly projecting projection, wherein the projection forms an undercut on a side facing away from the longitudinal slot, as seen from below. The disclosure also relates to a sliding block for a loading rail.

Abstract: A truck body includes a front wall, side walls, and a floor. The floor has panels disposed at predetermined angles from the horizontal that, with the other parts of the body, form a payload volume within the body. The floor also includes a tail panel disposed at a lesser angle from the horizontal to facilitate the shedding of the payload when dumping, and further to maintain the center of mass of the payload in a generally forward position during dumping.

Abstract: A mounting adapter for use with E-track modular cargo track comprises a face plate and a jaw member. The jaw member comprises a generally cuboid body with two steps in the front face near each end and a bevel in the back face at each end. The steps and bevel cooperate to enable the jaw member to be inserted through the rectangular opening of the E-track into the narrow confines between the web of the E-track and the side or floor of the cargo bed. Once inserted, the steps center the jaw member vertically within the rectangular opening so that the face plate can be attached without the jaw member dropping into the space behind the E-track. The raised portions of the jaws include female threads adapted to receive a threaded fastener for fastening an object to the E-track while simultaneously capturing the E-track between the jaw and the face plate.

Abstract: A cargo handling system includes a guide assembly, a lower extendable assembly, and an upper extendable assembly. The cargo handling system can be placed on a cargo bed of a transport vehicle. The cargo handling system allows a vehicle operator easy access to portions of a cargo bed that are difficult to reach, and facilitates unloading of cargo.

Abstract: A method of transporting fluid containing tanks and of off loading the fluid contents of the tanks. Providing a frame having a base with a floor, a front, a rear, and upper and lower end portions, the frame including a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base and including at least left and right side walls. Mounting a plurality of gates to the frame, each spanning between two corner columns, each gate being movable between open and closed positions, the open position of each gate providing an open doorway, the gates enabling a fork lift to place a selected one of the tanks on the floor by moving the selected load module laterally through a the open doorway. The floor having a plurality of load holding positions.

Abstract: A cargo retainer system incorporates a load-bearing strap assembly having a load bearing strap that extends over a cargo element, and a strap-retainer clamped to the load bearing strap and having an elastic portion that is stretched to a stretched length and attached to a portion of the load-bearing strap. The strap-retainer has an elastic portion that extends from the clamp to a hook that is configured to attach to a portion of the load-bearing strap to secure the strap retainer under tension. The strap-retainer provides an elastic retaining force on the load-bearing strap wherein the force exerted on the load bearing strap increase when the cargo shift away from strap-retainer and the force decreases when the cargo shifts toward the strap-retainer. A cargo retainer system may incorporate a strap-retainer on either side of the cargo element to provide complimentary and corrective elastic retaining forces on the load-bearing strap.

Abstract: Improvements in a cargo holder are disclosed. The cargo hold is configurable to accommodate a variety of different shapes and sizes to retain cargo or boxes in an essentially fixed secure position. Monkey Grabs cargo hold takes the standard four tied down areas in the bed of a vehicle and convert to 24 optional tied down areas. The cargo hold does not include any metal components. The cargo hold has multiple securing loops along lengths of the straps for a user to connect into the ends and along the length of the strap to create additional securing locations. This makes the cargo hold a far more useful cargo hold. The cargo hold is configured in a rectangular configuration to connect along the sides of the bed of a truck and also placed across the bed for more versatile uses of the monkey grip cargo hold.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable decking system for use within a cargo container. The system comprises vertical mounting posts that include a plurality of spaced openings and a slider track with obliquely angled guide channels. Decking beams are selectively adjustable in height along the posts by engaging the openings with end assemblies slidably disposed within the ends of the beams. The posts can accommodate alternative beam end configurations. One configuration includes a foot with angled guide edges slidably captured within the guide channels. An alternate configuration comprises coupled plates that fit directly into the openings and a swivel latched to provide a retaining force. This alternate configuration has an identical latch mechanism at both ends and is reversibly mountable within the decking beam.

Abstract: A transportation container retention device includes a main panel and an extension panel. The extension panel includes a bottom edge connected to a top edge of the main panel and is configured such that the extension panel can be moved from a first position in which the extension panel overlays the main panel to a second position in which the extension panel is contiguous to the main panel. In this configuration, the transportation retention device is operable to retain various heights of articles located on transportation containers.

Abstract: The embodiments described and claimed herein relate to a wheelchair securement system that includes a wheelchair securement area, wherein the securement area comprises a front end and a rear end. The securement system includes a first restraint, a second restraint, a third restraint, and a fourth restraint, each of which is anchored near the front end of the securement area and is adapted to extend from the front end of the securement area, wherein the first restraint and the second restraint are adapted to connect to a front portion of the wheelchair, and the third restraint and the fourth restraint are adapted to connect to rear portion of the wheelchair.

Abstract: A cargo restraint panel may include a foam component. That foam component may have at least one polymer foam sheet. A front face fibrous reinforcing material may be bonded to and substantially cover a front face of the foam component. A rear face fibrous reinforcing material may be bonded to and substantially cover a rear face of the foam component. The cargo restraint panel may include one or more edge guards. Cargo may be secured in a railcar or other conveyance by, e.g., placing cargo restraint panels between cargo units.

Abstract: A dunnage device for securing a load to a cargo deck includes an elongated tubular body having an interior space. A transverse wall is positioned within the interior space of the tubular body. The elongated tubular body is adapted to be positioned on the cargo deck.

Abstract: This invention relates to securing palletized materials, and more specifically, to creating a temporary wall system for securing palletized materials placed in vehicles for transport. The temporary wall system allows for an unsecured side of a palletized load to be secured in a quick and easy fashion, to prevent movement and shifting of the load during transport. The wall system may include a panel member having a predetermined height and width, with engagement feet securing the wall system in association with an individual pallet of palletized materials. The panel member may further include at least one restraint receiving system. In examples, a hanging system allows for effective storage when not in use.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which includes an active chock and an anchor chock configured to co-act to secure a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. In various embodiments, each chock has a chock body including a substantially diamond shaped elongated tube which includes four integrally connected elongated walls. In various embodiments, for each chock, various components of that chock extend substantially along longitudinal axis that lie in the same or substantially the same vertical plane as the apex and trough of the substantially diamond shaped elongated tube of the chock body.

Abstract: A dump trailer comprising a U-shaped trailer body having a bottom wall and opposing side walls. The trailer includes a curved front wall and a pivotable tailgate. The front wall is U-shaped when viewed from the top and angles upwardly and forwardly from the bottom wall. A support structure provided adjacent the front wall operatively engages hitch and lift assemblies. The support structure includes spaced-apart supports secured to the front wall; and spaced-apart horizontal beams secured to the supports. The beams extend through apertures in the front wall and into the compartment. This enables the trailer body to be lowered relative to the ground, thus lowering the center of gravity of the trailer. A wheel assembly mounts to the rear end of the trailer via a mounting plate curved complementary to the bottom wall. Cut-outs in the plate reduce the overall weight of the trailer.

Abstract: Airfoil transportation using two railcars. A radius arm connects a deck pivot and a bolster pivot, where the deck pivot is coupled to the first railcar to enable arcuate transverse movement of the bolster pivot. A pair of deck stops on either side of the radius arm limit lateral movement of the first bolster pivot. A bolster supports the airfoil and is coupled to the radius arm by the bolster pivot. A wheel assembly under the radius arm carries the weight of the airfoil as it moves laterally. A bolster lock, lock release, and latch operate to hold the bolster in a fixed angular relationship with the radius until the lock release enables rotation at the deck stops positions. The latch holds the radius arm against the deck stop until the bolster returns to the fixed angular position, where the latch releases the radius arm to further translate laterally.

Abstract: A cargo gate for holding at least one cargo item at a predetermined position within a cargo hold of an aircraft comprising at least one retaining element at least one fastening device having at least one articulation for articulatedly fastening the retaining element to a cargo hold floor such that the retaining element can be pivoted from an operative position for holding the at least one cargo item into an inoperative position, wherein the retaining element can be traversed by the at least one cargo item in the inoperative position. The retaining element may be provided with a stop which can be operatively connected to a pivotable locking lug of a locking device such that the locking lug holds the retaining element in the operative position thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides vertical mounting posts that include a plurality of spaced openings (either A or E slots) and a slider track with obliquely angled guide channels. Decking beams are selectively adjustable in height along the posts by engaging the openings with end assemblies slideably disposed within the ends of the beams. The posts can accommodate alternative beam end configurations. One configuration includes a foot with angled guide edges slideably captured within the guide channels. An alternate configuration comprises coupled plates that fit directly into the openings and a swivel latched to provide a retaining force. By using industry standard A or E slots, the mounting posts are also compatible with off-the-shelf beams and straps configured for A and E slots.

Abstract: A floor anchor assembly for cargo vans that mounts totally below surface of cargo floor, but will provide for tie-down attach points above the cargo floor. Such anchor assemblies combine a rigid frame with a high strength web-cable that forms a loop. The web-cable loop from the anchor will rout through the center of the anchor and extend upward to pass through a narrow slot cut into the cargo floor panel. When the loop end is fully extended, the top of the loop will be just above floor surface for use as a tie-down point. When particular anchor loops are not needed, the extended loop-ends are merely pushed down into the slot to allow for easy roll and slide of cargo pallets and boxes. The loop-ends are immediately retrievable using a tool like a small screwdriver.