Abstract: An inspection apparatus for viewing and making video recordings of the interior of an enclosed space of an enclosure having an elongated body. A pair of housings are mounted on the lower end of the elongated body and respectively contain a light source for illuminating an area of the enclosed space and a video camera for creating an image of the illuminated area of the enclosed space. The video camera includes a video magnetic tape media for recording the images illuminated by the light source. A television monitor is mounted on the upper portion of the elongated body for simultaneously viewing the images created by the video camera.

Abstract: A chain tie down anchor for a vehicle has a chain pivotally anchored to a mounting bracket and passing through a vehicle floor for access from above the vehicle floor and which when retracted hangs in a catenary like manner.

Abstract: Railway track is laid by supporting the rails in spacers above a pair of parallel flexible tubes, which are then filled with aggregate under pressure to contact the feet of the rails and to curl around the feet so that when set the rail is continuously supported and no sleepers or ballast are required.

Abstract: The invention is of a hatch assembly that includes a hatch cover adapted to seal a hatch opening defined by a raised combing of a deck. A locking arm having a hinge end and a lacth end extends across and beyond the hatch, and has a hatch clip adjacent each end to floatingly connect the locking arm to the hatch cover. A latch is mounted to pivot arms to engage latch engagement structure on the locking arm with a force dependent on the height of the pivot arms from the deck. An adjustment member includes tool bearing surfaces to enhance the rotation of the adjustment member and thereby adjust the force. A latch handle includes a stiffening member to strengthen the handle against forces tending to rotate the latch handle about the pivot arms. A pair of hinge bracket walls are mounted to the hatch combing and define a hinge bracket space between them. A stop is affixed to the bracket walls to prevent the hatch cover from contacting the horizontal deck surface.

Abstract: A rail car end assembly comprises upper and lower tracks for guiding and stabilizing mutli-panel rigid doors moving between open and closed positions. End posts are located inside the car and spaced inwardly from respective side wall end portions. The doors pass between the space between the end posts and the side wall end portion when moved into the open position. A latch arrangement is provided which latches the door in the open and closed positions. The latch arrangement includes a lower pin engaging a keeper adjacent the lower track, and an upper pin engaging a keeper supported on an elevated platform in the car. The pins are joined by a cable for synchronous movement to lock and to release the doors. Each door has a follower engaging the upper track for guiding the door. In the closed position, the follower engages a stop on the track which reinforces the upper portion of the door against outward movement.

Abstract: A hatch assembly that includes a hatch cover adapted to seal a hatch opening defined by a raised combing of a deck. A locking arm having a hinge end and a latch and extends across and beyond the hatch, and has a hatch clip adjacent each end to floatingly connected the locking arm to the hatch cover. A latch is mounted to pivot arms to engage latch engagement structure on the locking arm with a force dependent on the height of the pivot arms from the deck. An adjustment member includes tool bearing surfaces to enhance the rotation of the adjustment member and thereby adjust the force. A latch handle includes a stiffening member to strengthen the handle against forces tending to rotate the latch handle about the pivot arms. A pair of hinge bracket walls are mounted to the deck and define a hinge bracket space between them. A stop is affixed to the bracket walls to prevent the hatch cover from contacting the horizontal deck surface.

Abstract: A building frame structure for a building opening and wedge shim structure for accurately plumbing and locating the frame, such as a door frame or window frame in a doorway opening or window opening, respectively, of a building. The wedge shim structure includes a plurality of shims placed about the frame in plumbed hung frame relationship. Each shim has a first wedge shim part fastened on the frame and a second wedge shim part slidably mountable on the first part for adjustably closing the space between the frame and the studding around the opening for placing a door or window structure in the doorway or window opening. This requires placing a level on the second wedge part of each shim to provide a plumb vertical frame wall on which to hang to door or slidably mount a window. This novel arrangement also provides for a shimming and plumbing method for attaching a door or window in plumb relation with the building opening.

Abstract: A protective flange is provided for the protection of a protrusion or valve on the surface of a tank car. The flange has an inner arcuate wall and an outer deflection portion for receiving impacts. The inner wall is annular and spaced from the protrusion to provide for mounting over the protrusion without cutting into the tank car. The outer portion includes longitudinally extending slope portions and vertical side walls welded to the tank car surface. The flange is tapered to deflect impacts received at the sides of the flange. The outer deflection portion and the inner wall define a closed space surrounding the protrusion or valve. Steam connections may be made to the flange to introduce steam into the closed space for heating the valve.

Abstract: A tube cut-off apparatus includes a horizontally moving scarfing blade which opens up the top of a tube permitting a vertical moving cut-off blade to move through the opening and finish cutting the tube. An upper die plate supports the vertical cut-off blade and a locking cam arrangement includes spaced vertically extending cams which provide for longitudinal movement of clamping slides in turn opening and closing jaws of die blocks which support the tube to be cut. A horizontally movable slide member carries a scarfing blade which cuts horizontally the upper tube portion and moves out of the way to permit the vertical blade to shear through the tube. The scarfing and clamping arrangement is actuated entirely by the mechanism on one side of the apparatus with the cams performing the clamping function as well as the actuation of the slide member.

Abstract: A plastic hatch cover is secured over a hatch opening by a hold-down bar extending across the hatch opening above the hatch cover. The hold-down bar has one end pivotally connected with a hinge bracket on the upper deck and another end engageable with a latch structure for sealing the hatch cover. The hatch cover is secured to the hold-down bar by clips on the hold-down bar adjacent the latch structure and adjacent the hinge. The clip adjacent the hinge detaches from the rest of the hold down bar when the hinge bolt is withdrawn, allowing removal of the hatch cover. Lug portions extend upwardly from the hatch cover to engage the hold-down bar to prevent lateral motion of the hatch cover with respect to the hold-down bar. The hatch cover is provided with reinforcing webs on its upper surface and on its lower surface.

Abstract: A railway car body structural arrangement has a bolster fabricated from plates and formed on the upper surface of a bottom closure member of the body of a railway car and rigidly affixed to a bolster post at each side of the car. The lower portions of the bolster posts are affixed to the bolster assembly adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom closure member to enable use of a continuous side sill member on the car. Bearing surfaces which limit the transverse angular movement or roll of the car body with respect to a truck are attached to and project downward from a lower surface of the frame of the truck which is supportingly and pivotally engaged with the center sill substantially directly beneath the bolster.

Abstract: A racquet for use in tennis and racquet ball having an offset handle having an angular deviation of 13.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the racquet. The handle may have a cross-sectional area having a round or oval shape. The oval configuration has a major axis which is in the same plane as a head of the racquet. Alternatively the handle can be provided, in cross section, with a plurality of faces preferably arranged in opposing pairs, the faces extending longitudinally of the handle. Preferably, the multi-sided configuration defines a cross-sectional hexagonal form which extends from the point of attachment to a head of the racquet to the free end of the handle.

Abstract: A railway hopper car has a hatch opening defined by its upper deck surface. A hatch cover is adapted to close the hatch opening. A hinge arrangement is connected with the upper deck surface and a locking arm extends from the hinge arrangement and across the hatch cover, being connected to the hatch cover. The hinge arrangement has a stop thereon which supports the hatch cover when it is pivoted open. The locking arm has a hatch engagement portion on the end opposite the hinge arrangement which is engaged by a latch structure connected with the upper deck surface. The latch structure includes a pivoting latch holder and latch which may be engaged with the latch engagement portion and rotated in one direction to seal the hatch cover and rotated in the opposite direction to unseal the cover.

Abstract: A fire hydrant cap and cover assembly which is provided with a hydrant operating wrench therefor. The cap of the assembly has an interior threaded cap portion which attaches to the threaded portion of the hydrant water outlet discharge pipe. The exterior cover is rotatably attached to the cap (and rotates with respect thereto) through an annular groove on the cap, the groove engaging a ring bead fixed on the cover. A pentagonal shaped wrench is inserted into the pentagonal shaped recessed portion in the cap by way of a circular opening in the exterior of the cover to engage the cap. Through rotation of the cap, its interior threaded portion can be unscrewed from the threaded hydrant water outlet discharge pipe to enable the removal of the cap and cover assembly. This arrangement prevents tampering with the hydrant water discharge pipe. The cap recessed portion is provided with a fluid drain and vent aperture communicating with the hydrant valve and indication of leaking on the seat.

Abstract: An elastomeric pad placed in shear and having one portion or surface engaged with a portion of a railway car body and another portion or surface engaged by pivotal linkage means to a wheel housing dampens vibrations of a wheel and axle assembly which is resiliently mounted to the car body for rollingly supporting the car body. The pivotal linkage is elongated and connected to the wheel housing and the car body using spherical bearings to minimize wear. The linkage is attached at an angle of inclination to minimize strain on the elastomeric pad and linkage assembly caused by vertical travel of the railway car body due to varying weight loads.

Abstract: A device for securing a bogie at predetermined positions on a trailer hitched to a tractor, having a pair of spaced housings secured to a cross beam of the bogie and supporting a pair of pins adapted to secure the bogie to tracks on the trailer, the pins being tandemly controlled by a handle which is also coupled by an adjusting member to a control valve connected between a source of pressured air on the tractor and the brake system on the bogie. When the pins are in an engagement with the trailer, the control valve is actuated to release the bogie brake system. When the pins are not in engagement, the control valve is actuated to vent to atmosphere the pressurized air thereby leaving the brake system operative. A lock pin is used to secure the handle in the engaged position.

Abstract: A light weight, aerodynamically efficient gondola car for hauling bulk cargo, such as coal, ores and grains, has a cargo carrying structure formed of welded aluminum. A side sill member formed of extruded aluminum has side and bottom connective portions which are continuously welded to the sides and bottom respectively, and a strength portion which remains substantially unwelded in assembly to thereby retain its full strength.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a center sill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle suspensions with two wheels are utilized. The sill also includes a separator in the form of a channel which includes flanges at its sides which are secured to the vertical walls of the sill. The separator extends substantially the length of the slots and is effective to resist lateral forces tending to buckle or permanently deform the sill during operation, while not adversely affecting the high torsional flexibility which is required in the sill structure.