Abstract: A wheel is for use in manually turning a shaft on rolling stock, such as for a handbrake. The wheel has a hub and a rim. The hub is made of a first material and has an opening that is structured and arranged to receive the shaft. The opening has a rotational axis. The hub has an exterior around the rotational axis, with the hub having drive surfaces relative to the rotational axis. The rim is coupled to the hub so as to engage the drive surfaces. The drive surfaces include flat surfaces and corners of a tube portion of the hub, a radially extending plate with holes therethrough and teeth in an outer edge and gussets coupled between the tube portion and the plate. The rim has an outer periphery structured and arranged to be gripped by a human hand for rotating the wheel. The rim is made of a second material that is softer than the first material.

Abstract: An improved zip line trolley allowing a rider control of his or her speed while traversing along a suspended cable (8) as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The trolley comprises front and rear pulleys (44F) and (44R) conjoined via pulley housing (16) with left and right horizontal handles (10L) and (10R) attached to vertical shaft (12). Front and rear hand brake levers (20F) and (20R) are mounted onto left and right horizontal handles (10L) and (10R). When front and rear hand brake levers (20F) and (20R) are squeezed by the rider, they create a constricting force on front left and right calipers (32FL) and (32FR) along with rear left and right calipers (32RL) and (32RR) of FIGS. 2A and 3A. Thus, friction is applied to front and rear pulleys (44F) and (44R) via front left and right brake pads (34FL) and (34FR) along with rear left and right brake pads (34RL) and (34RR).

Abstract: A rail car mover for road-rail operation is enabled for shunting rail cars that are guided on two parallel rails. The rail car mover has a bogie and wheels which are mounted thereon and have rubber tires. Each wheel is assigned a bolt element, or a disk, which can be moved by way of an adjusting device from a first retracted position for the road mode in which the ground-side end face of the bolt element is located above the rolling level of the wheel, beyond the rolling level in the direction of the ground into a second deployed position for the rail mode in which the ground-side end face of the bolt element is located underneath the rolling level in such a way that the external circumferential faces of the bolt element of two wheels which are assigned to one another extend along the inner lateral edges and/or the outer lateral edges of the rails in order to guide the wheels.

Abstract: A diesel electric locomotive includes a main generator for a drive apparatus and an auxiliary generator for auxiliary appliances, connected to a diesel engine. The main generator is connected by a first rectifier to the direct current traction intermediate circuit of the drive apparatus. The auxiliary generator is connected via a second rectifier to a direct current auxiliary operation intermediate circuit of the auxiliary appliances. The main generator is likewise connected via the rectifier and a DC/DC converter to the direct current auxiliary operation intermediate circuit.

Abstract: To provide an image processing device, image processing method, and data processing method for a game device providing novel game features. In a multiple-player game device 1 comprising mutually coupled input mechanisms 31, it is possible for a game to be played by fewer people than the aforementioned number of players, by using a portion of the input mechanisms 31, the coupling of the input mechanisms other than the input mechanisms used by the fewer number of players being disengaged in cases where a game is played by a fewer number of players.

Abstract: An automation system for train maintenance that performs operations related to train maintenance without human intervention is provided. The automation system for train maintenance comprises a refuse reservoir (10), a sewage tank (20), a water tank (30), and expanders (41, 42, 51, 61). In this automation system, when a railway vehicle is parked, the expanders (41, 42, 51, 61) are expanded to lift connectors (45, 54, 64) toward the railway vehicle for connection to the refuse reservoir (10), sewage tank (20), and water tank (30). In this automation system, discharge of refuse, removal of sewage, and feeding of water are automatically performed. Upon completion of these operations, the expanders (41, 42, 51, 61) are contracted so that the connectors (44, 45, 54, 55, 64, 65) are stored in waiting locations (48, 58). Therefore, use of this automation system for train maintenance allows automatic train maintenance without human intervention.

Abstract: An effluent disposal apparatus for railways includes a storage tank (7) adapted to be fitted to a railway vehicle. The tank has an inlet (6) for receiving effluent, an outlet (8) for release of the effluent stored in the tank; and an effluent release valve (9) moveable between a closed position in which effluent is prevented from passing through the outlet, and an open position in which effluent is allowed to pass through the outlet. A control means (13) controls operation of the valve in response to an effluent release signal generated by release signal generation means (10, 11) to automatically open the release valve to release the effluent from the tank when the vehicle is at a pre-determined position with respect to an effluent receptacle located under or alongside the track (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing the repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining of railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a railcar maintenance management system and method for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar maintenance management system and method allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queueing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: An improved hi-rail wheel assembly includes a frame connected to an axle tube surrounding an axle, a pair of railway wheels mounted in spaced relation on the axle tube, a first pair of pivotal links connected between a frame and the axle, and a second pair of pivotal links connected to the frame and the axle. The hi-rail wheel assembly is attached to a conventional roadway vehicle such that the extension of said pivotal links effects a downward lowering of the axle and the railway wheels from the frame and lifts the vehicle whereby the vehicle tires engage the railroad track, and the retraction of the pivotal links effects an upward lifting of the axle and railway wheels towards the frame such that the vehicle tires engage a ground surface or roadway. Each pivotal link includes a cam aperture and a recessed cam shoulder surrounding the cam aperture to receive a cam.

Abstract: A rail conversion module for a tractor allowing the tractor to be driven either on the ground or on railroad tracks wherein a hinged module frame fits under the tractor with front rail wheels on a frame front section being attached to the tractor and adapted to be raised for ground travel or lowered for rail travel and driven rear rail wheels on a frame rear section which by a hinge mounting can be raised for ground travel or lowered for rail travel.