Abstract: A hitch head or fifth wheel is provided including a pair of pivotable jaws which in closed position hold in place a kingpin of a highway trailer. A horizontally movable lock block engages the rear portion of the jaws and holds the jaws in closed position. The lock block is movable to a position out of engagement with the jaws to allow escape of the kingpin. The rear surfaces of the jaws and the side surface of the lock block are provided with cooperating tapers which reduce frictional drag when the lock block is moved to open position, and when it returns to locked position, compensate for manufacturing tolerances which tend to create misalignment between the lock block and the rear portion of the jaws, compensate for wear in the engaging surfaces of the jaws and lock block, and provide a tight fit without undue clearance when the lock block engages the jaws.

Abstract: An opening is formed in a tank bottom and a mounting flange for a bottom outlet valve is attached to the tank bottom extending into this opening. This valve mounting flange contains fastener openings. A vertically extending light source is removably attached to the mounting flange, for example with mechanical fasteners. This light source is shined upwardly into the tank and indicates a reference point on the internal surface of the tank top for locating a nozzle opening. This reference point is marked, and a top opening is then formed in the tank shell by workmen located in the tank, usually after rotating the tank 180.degree.. If the tank has been rotated prior to forming the top opening, the tank is again rotated 180.degree. to locate the top opening at the top of the tank. An optional reinforcing plate is then welded to the outside surface of the tank surrounding the top opening. This reinforcing plate contains a reinforcing plate opening.

Abstract: A railway car fabrication facility includes cranes for moving right and left hand railway car sides having a bulbous portion and a flat portion. One crane picks up the sides and places them vertically into a below ground transfer pit. A second crane picks up at least the left hand sides from the transfer pit and places them in a below ground storage pit located on an opposite side of a car assembly station. The second crane preferably includes right and left hand cranes for transferring both right and left hand sides into the assembly station to assemble the right and left hand sides with the under frame, bulkheads and/or the roof of the car.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for automatically releasing a railroad car hand brake (HB) normally maintained in its applied position. An air pressure activated piston (11) acts on a hand brake release (5) to release the hand brake. An air conduit (13) directs pressurized air from a pressurized air source to the air cylinder. A normally closed first valve (25) is connected in the air conduit between the source and the air cylinder. A normally closed second valve (29) is connected in the air conduit between the source and a control inlet of the first valve. A sensor (33) senses an inertial load on the car and opens the second valve when the inertial load sensed exceeds a predetermined acceleration factor. Air pressure directed to the control inlet of the first valve through the second valve, when it is open, opens the first valve if the air pressure level is sufficiently great to release the air brakes of the car.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for automatically releasing a railroad car hand brake (HB) normally maintained in its applied position. An air pressure activated cylinder (9) acts on a hand brake release (5) to release the hand brake. An air line (13) directs pressurized air from a pressurized air source to the air cylinder. A valve (27) connected in the air line is responsive to the source air pressure. The valve is normally closed but opens when source air pressure reaches a level sufficient to release the air brakes on the car. A draft load sensor (29) is positioned in the air line between the valve and air cylinder. The sensor normally blocks the air line, but unblocks it when a sufficiently great draft load is sensed. The hand brake is released only if source air pressure is sufficiently high and the draft load on the railroad car is sufficiently great.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a hatch cover hold down arrangement is provided including a handle which pivots about a first mounting pin. The handle includes an elongated locking slot. A locking member includes an extension which in one position is located over and holds in place a hatch cover. A locking pin extends from the locking member into the elongated slot in the handle and a mounting pin slot is provided in the locking member which receives the mounting pin upon which the handle is pivotably mounted. Preferably the mounting pin is supported by a flange located adjacent to the locking member which includes a vertical surface which guides the locking member during vertical movement between open and closed positions. The locking member includes a surface which engages the flange vertical surface as the locking member is lifted by the handle and locking pin from the closed position toward open position and prevents initial rotation of the locking member.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a center filler assembly is inserted into a railway car center sill and is permanently attached to the center sill. The center filler includes longitudinally spaced vertical plates which extend between the walls of the center sill. Spacer extensions integral with the vertical plates extend beyond the walls of the center sill and abut the bottom surface of the center sill flanges. A mounting plate extends longitudinally of the car between the center filler vertical plates. A mounting extension portion extends downwardly from the mounting plate having a non-round contour adopted to engage a cooperating non-round opening located in a wear member to be located in the truck bowl. Interengaging means are provided to removably lock the wear member in engagement with mounting plate and/or the mounting plate extension.

Abstract: A fixed sill includes a pair of lower, outwardly extending fixed sill flanges. A generally vertical longitudinally extending support plate is integrally connected to each fixed sill flange on each side of the fixed sill. A sliding sill support is rigidly connected to each support plate. The sliding sill support includes a horizontal inwardly extending portion that also extends longitudinally inboard. The sliding sill support is located slightly below the fixed sill flange. A pair of low friction wear plates are adopted to be slipped in place upon each sliding sill support. The low friction wear plates include horizontal body portions on each side of the fixed sill upon which the sliding sill rides in moving back and forth. Each wear plate includes "U" shaped end portions which wrap around in the inner and outer ends of the sliding sill support.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a plurality of arc-spot welds in a predetermined pattern is disclosed. A plurality of welding torches are mounted upon a carriage which is longitudinally movable relative to a work piece. The work piece is supported by work piece supports which are vertically movable to allow exit of a completed work piece and insertion of a new work piece. A clamping assembly mounted above the work piece supports is movable toward the work piece to engage the work piece to hold it in place for welding, and is movable away from the work piece to allow exit of a completed work piece. The carriage is provided with a control which stops the carriage whereby the torches will be located at positions above the work piece corresponding to the desired pattern of arc-spot welds. The control preferably comprises a cam connected to the carriage which follows a track located on the frame which defines the welding pattern.

Abstract: An inert solvent containing a coating material to be reacted is mixed with a liquid activator which is fed through an orifice into contact with the coating material and then into a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is provided with special agitating means for obtaining effective mixing of the coating material with the activator. This activating means may comprise a chain held in place within the mixing chamber with washers at either end of the chamber. The mixed coating material and activator is then fed through a conduit into an applicating gun which applies the coating on a container or transportation vehicle.

Abstract: A hitch head or fifth wheel is provided including a pair of pivotable jaws which hold in place a kingpin of a highway trailer. A horizontally movable lock block, biased by a stiff spring to closed position, engages the jaws and holds them in closed position, maintaining the kingpin in place. The lock block is movable to an open position by a finger extending through an opening in the lock block. The finger is movable to an overcenter position which allows the lock block to move to a position engaging the rear portion of the jaws, holding the jaws open until another kingpin enters the jaws and pivots the jaws to closed position. The front portion of the lock block is provided with a cam surface. If a first jaw begins to move to closed position and the other jaw does not, the first jaw will move the lock block rearwardly and a lock block cam surface protrusion will engage the finger and pivot the finger whereby the finger will engage a rear external surface of the other jaw.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an open and closed position indicator assembly is provided for use with a bottom operable tank car valve assembly. An operating shaft for the lading valve extends downwardly through the outlet chamber and includes a connection portion at its lower end. An indicator housing is integrally connected to that portion of the outlet chamber above the connection portion which surrounds the operating shaft. An indicator member located within the indicator housing is internally threaded and engages an externally threaded portion of the outlet chamber. The indicator member includes a lower non-round opening which is adopted to be driven by a cooperating non-round portion of the operating shaft.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a tank car valve mounting flange, valve cage and valve seat are provided. The cage is generally cylindrical. The mounting flange extends radially outwardly from the cage. The valve seat is located on an inner surface of the cage. A multi-armed sleeve is threaded onto a threaded valve stem. Clamp fasteners attach a valve closure to a lower portion of the stem. The sub-assembly of the valve closure, valve stem and sleeve is placed within the valve cage, with the closure resting on the valve seat. The arms of the sleeve extend into cage slots having a generally horizontal portion in the cage. A keeper assembly is provided to retain the sleeve arms within the cage slots. The stem is then connected to a top operating rod extending to the top of the tank. The valve assembly is then raised by the top operating rod until the valve flange engages a tank mounting flange.

Abstract: A vacuum relief valve assembly includes a vacuum valve member located below a top cover plate and is thus protected from the atmosphere. First passageways defined in part by a bottom cover plate provide communication between the outside atmosphere and the lower surface of the valve. Second passageways provide communication between the upper surface of the valve and the inside of the container. When the pressure in the container is below atmospheric, atmospheric pressure acting on the bottom of the valve lifts the valve and air flows through the first and second passageways until atmospheric pressure is reached in the tank. A pressure relief valve is mounted for pivotal movement relative to an opening providing communication between the pressure in the tank and the first passageways to vent pressure in the tank. The pressure relief valve is protected from the atmosphere by the top cover plate, and in one embodiment, by the vacuum relief valve.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a container outlet valve assembly (10) is provided including a generally cone-shaped housing (12) extending upwardly into the container, and including radially spaced openings (14) in the housing for lading to flow out of the container. A cone valve (30) is located within the housing containing spaced openings (34) which align with the openings (14) in the cone housing when the cone valve is in open position. A liner (36) of low friction material is attached to the outer surface of the cone valve and/or the inner surface of the cone housing. The cone valve is rotatable to a closed position in which the valve body closes the openings located in the housing (FIG. 3). An unloading chamber (44) is located below the cone valve and is attached to a tank mounting flange (18) with shearable fasteners (24). The flange does not extend below the tank bottom in excess of one (1) inch. In one embodiment (FIG.

Abstract: An articulated truck center connection of known construction joins extensions extending in opposite directions from the transverse center of adjacent car end portions to the center plate of a truck supporting the adjacent ends of the cars. A pair of side bearings are mounted on the truck bolster on opposite sides of the articulated center connection. Each side bearing includes a rectangular channel or tube mounted on the truck and a first bearing surface which receives a first extension from one adjacent car end. The first extension is free to slide horizontally on the first bearing. The channel or tube extends above the first bearing surface and a second extension from the other adjacent car includes a depending bearing member which rests upon and is supported by the first bearing member. A pivot allows the second car end to rotate vertically about the center connection as the cars transverse vertical inclines.

Abstract: A tank vehicle lading valve assembly is provided including a lading valve mounted in an opening in the bottom of the tank which is movable vertically between open and closed positions. A valve housing or outlet chamber including an unloading spout is attached below a tank bottom mounting flange with fasteners, which preferably define a shear plane. A first operator attached to an upper portion of the lading valve extends vertically up through the tank to the upper portion of the tank where it is adapted to receive a suitable handle or tool to move the lading valve between open and closed positions. A second operator is preferably attached to a lower portion of the lading valve. The second operator portion preferably extends at least partially through the valve housing. Thus the lading valve is operable from either the top of the tank or from the bottom of the tank. The first operator may be eliminated and the lading valve operated from the bottom.

Abstract: In a railway tank car, a tank mounting flange is integrally connected to the tank bottom. The tank mounting flange includes an opening into which is inserted a ball valve housing. The ball valve housing includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion. Mechanical housing fasteners hold the upper housing portion in engagement with the lower housing portion. The lower housing portion has an outwardly extending housing flange portion which engages the tank mounting flange. Removable fasteners hold the housing flange portion in place in engagement with the mounting flange. A ball valve is located within both the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion. A pair of vertically extending seals seal the ball valve with respect to the tank when the ball valve is in closed position. The ball valve may be either bottom operated or top operated.

Abstract: A tank vehicle lading valve assembly is provided including a lading valve mounted in an opening in the bottom of the tank which is movable vertically between open and closed positions. A valve housing or outlet chamber including an unloading spout is attached below a tank bottom mounting flange with fasteners, which preferably define a shear plane. A first operator attached to an upper portion of the lading valve extends vertically up through the tank to the upper portion of the tank where it is adapted to receive a suitable handle or tool to move the lading valve between open and closed positions. A second operator is preferably attached to a lower portion of the lading valve. The second operator portion preferably extends at least partially through the valve housing. Thus the lading valve is operable from either the top of the tank or from the bottom of the tank. The first operator may be eliminated and the lading valve operated from the bottom.

Abstract: A metal sheet is formed into an arcuate contour by rolling the sheet under high pressure on an elastomeric pad (24) supported by a rigid frame. A pair of laterally spaced rollers (30, 32) are used to form the arc. Each moves from the transverse edge of the sheet inwardly and crosses the center line of the sheet. Under the high pressure applied to the rolls the sheet yields to form the arc and the elastomeric material elastically deforms as the arc is formed. The rollers depend from vertical guides (34, 36) which follow a track extending transversely across the sheet. A guide track (38) is provided in a transverse beam located above the rolls and the guides. Hydraulic or pneumatic jacks (70) apply pressure to the beam which in turn applies pressure to the rolls.