Abstract: Small diameter wire rope having a relatively ductile and preferably solid core is found to be strong yet better resists shearing forces than similar rope having a high strength core strand.

Abstract: A railway vehicle truck of the four wheel type is provided having elastomeric devices operative in shear and disposed between the side frame and wheelsets in such a manner as to reduce hunting and to permit turning of wheelsets during curving. Each elastomeric device is threadably fastened to the side frame with a central boss having an internally threaded bore engaged by a bolt and to the bearing adapter with an externally threaded stud in a manner such that the relative movement of mating surfaces is precluded.

Abstract: An improved railway car striker assembly including a spring supported coupler carrier wherein the carrier has laterally extending lugs with chevron shaped bearing surfaces engageable with congruent surfaces on retainer plates to restrain longitudinal and lateral movement of the carrier.

Abstract: Graphite mold blocks with liquid coolant sprays located in bores extending through the blocks. A sleeve for retarding the cooling of the mold adjacent the spray entrance ends of the bores serves to reduce the temperature differential along the height of the block.

Abstract: A filter unit is provided for separating solids from a liquid including a receiving tank and a vacuum chamber located beneath the tank and separated therefrom by a perforate septum. A closed loop filter media is trained about the tank and a length thereof is disposed beneath a flight conveyor assembly including chains which overlie the side margins and flights which engage ridges provided in the filter media. A filter media cleaning arrangement is provided at one end of the tank for removing solids from the filter media and transporting the solids for disposal.

Abstract: An improved post support for a valve position indicator of an underground valve. The post support includes two telescoping sleeves of which one sleeve is provided with two sets of a plurality of aligned equispaced openings located in 180.degree. angularly spaced relationship. The sets of opens are lengthwise of set so that the centers of the openings of one set lie midway between the centers of the other set. The other sleeve is provided with 180.degree. angularly spaced openings linearly spaced a distance equal to one half the spacing between the openings of the two sets. Relative rotation of the telescoping sleeves and length displacement permits an adjustment of the length equal to the linear spacing of fastening means.

Abstract: A railway vehicle truck friction shoe pocket including a sloped wedge wall and longitudinally spaced depending walls of which at least one of the inner planar faces is provided with one or more relieved sections.

Abstract: A filtering apparatus and method wherein the solids in a liquid suspension are introduced into a pressure vessel and filtered through a filter section and pneumatic pressure is introduced after further flow of the liquid suspension is cut-off to cause continued flow through the solids accumulated in the filter section to expose gradually increasing areas of accumulated solids to the pneumatic pressures on the filter section and to compress the solids into a cake.

Abstract: A wire rope including a core surrounded with a plurality of wound strands. The rope is encapsulated with a thermoplastic after the application of a lubricant blend including amorphous polypropylene.

Abstract: A coupler knuckle made from cast metal and having cored sections providing exterior walls adjacent the location subject to stress in use. These wall sections are formed in such a manner as to withstand the stresses.

Abstract: A wire rope is provided having a central core strand about which are wound outer strands. Non-linear spacer wires are present in the gaps between outer strands to assure the uniformity of such gaps and provide passageways from the interior to the exterior of the wire rope. A coating, usually of a suitable thermoplastic, is extruded into such rope to extend continuously from the core and between adjacent outer strands and through the passageways.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the temperature of an object as it moves through a heat treating furnace. The furnace includes a hearth adapted to move through it thusly enabling a number of objects placed on the hearth to be heat treated as they move through the furnace. To obtain the temperature of an object being heat treated as it moves through the furnace, a hole is provided in the hearth. A thermocouple wire is inserted through the hole and into the furnace. An end of the wire is connected to an object being heat treated, and the object is placed in the furnace. The other end of the wire is connected to a temperature display device outside of the furnace which moves along with the hearth and the object as they move through the furnace.

Abstract: A belt-drive assembly for use on air-moving systems in corrosive atmospheres comprising a larger non-metallic driven sheave in conjunction with a smaller metallic driver sheave wherein the metallic sheave may be located in a vented enclosure is disclosed. This arrangement prevents corrosion of the drive system and prolongs belt life.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drawbar railway coupler connection. The drawbar contacts a follower block which in turn contacts a wedge shaped shim. Such shim provides an essentially slackless feature to the coupling connection. Further, surfaces of the follower block and the shim or of the shim and the rear cavity wall are modified such that alignment of the shim within the cavity is assured despite any angling or slight rotation of the drawbar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articulated railway coupler connections. The butt end of the male articulating connection contacts a follower block which in turn contacts a wedge shaped shim. Such shim provides an essentially slackless feature to the coupling connection. Further, surfaces of the follower block and the shim or of the shim and the rear cavity wall are modified such that alignment of the shim within the cavity is assured despite any angling or slight rotation of the male connection member.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary flow control balancing valve and an integral predistribution box for use with gravity feed cross-flow cooling towers. The valve and predistribution box provide for the balancing of flows between halves of a cross-flow cooling tower or between or among separate cooling towers and also for maximizing the uniformity of the hot water flow in the predistribution pan and the distribution pan.

Abstract: A convertible semi-trailer for highway and railroad modes of travel includes a coupler device to releasably couple adjacent vehicles end-to-end to form a train for the railroad mode. The coupler includes a male member extending from the end of one of the vehicles and the housing attached to the opposed end of the adjacent vehicles and having an opening therethrough for receiving the male member of the one vehicle. The male member is releasably locked in the housing opening for railroad mode of operation. A resilient pad is positioned in the opening of the housing and has the male member resting thereon to accommodate limited rolling, pitching and relative vertical displacement between the coupled vehicles.

Abstract: A pouring assembly for use in the manufacture of cast metal articles is provided. After a mold is filled with molten metal at a pouring station, it is lifted to a set down station. Simultaneously, an empty mold is lifted from a pick up location to the pouring station. After a hold down mechanism is set on the mold, the mold is filled with molten metal injected upwardly under pressure into the mold and a mold stopper is closed to prevent the molten metal from running out when the injection pressure is relieved.

Abstract: A filter system and method are provided utilizing a filter tank separated into an inlet compartment and a filtrate compartment by a filter media. Under normal filter operation, the liquid to be filtered enters the inlet compartment, is passed through the filter media and out the filtrate compartment by a pressure differential created across the filter media by a pump device. When the need arises to move the filter media as a result of the buildup of contaminents on it, it is necessary to alleviate the pressure differential across the filter media. Such pressure differential is alleviated by the controlled flowing of filtered liquid through an orifice in a closed valve into the filtrate compartment.

Abstract: A spray nozzle, which is attached to a conduit or header carrying a fluid under pressure, the purpose of which is to generate a circular umbrella type liquid spray. Spray nozzle includes a cylindrical member and a baffle therein. The spray nozzle receives liquid from the header and conducts it to its concavely curved dispersing member from where it is discharged in a circular spray pattern to a bank of tubes or cooling tower fill below.