Abstract: A railway car (10) for transporting containers of various lengths and widths, which are shiftable longitudinally, laterally, or both, within the car is provided. To restrain the various size containers a plurality of openings (52, 52', 54, 54', 56, 56', 58, 58', 60, 60', 62, 62') are formed in the floor (50) of the car. The location of the openings is determined by the lengths and widths of the various containers to be carried by the car. A plurality of restraining pins (64, 66, 68, 70) automatically extend up into the floor (50) of the car through the openings in register with the pins. The containers include corner units (80) at each bottom corner thereof with corner openings therein in which a restraining pin is received.

Abstract: The flow restrictor (10) comprises a resilient and flexible porous membrance (12) over an air inlet port (18). In one embodiment an impervious member (130) is attached to the lower surface of the membrane over the air inlet port. The membrane balloons due to air flow through the inlet which greatly increases its effective cross sectional area as air flows into the plenum chamber. When air flow stops gravity and/or air pressure from the container forces the membrane against the seat (118) and the effective cross section of the membrane is reduced to approximately that of the inlet port.

Abstract: A railway hopper car (200) includes a filament wound fiberglass car body having side walls (202, 204) integral with a roof (208), preferably also formed of a filament wound fiberglass. The fiberglass side walls are connected to longitudinally extending side sills (220, 222) preferably made of steel which extend along each side of the car. The car body includes laterally spaced top sills (226) preferably of fiberglass connected to the fiberglass sides. The car is divided into a plurality of hoppers by transverse bulkheads (244, 246, 248) which are conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings. Hopper slope sheets (258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268) and end slope sheets (304, 306) are also conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a locking member is integrally connected to a transversely extending operating shaft. A handle is preferably provided on at least one end of the operating shaft. A locking lug and a tripping element are integrally connected to a movable gravity gate. In closed position the locking member has a hook portion which engages the locking lug. The locking member is movable to a generally vertical position by rotation of the operating shaft. As the gate is moved toward open position the tripping element engages the locking member and pivots the locking member to a generally horizontal position. As the gate is further opened, gravity urges the locking member into a further rotation position in which a depending safety tip on the locking member is below a fixed stop located adjacent the outlet wall with the locking member generally horizontal and not resting on the gate.

Abstract: A high volume covered hopper railroad car is disclosed which maximizes the lading volume of a car while still utilizing smooth, sheet-like side sheets, and while remaining within AAR clearances. The high lading volume is achieved by forming the side sheets of the car from three radii of curvature, with the radius of curvature of the lower section of the side sheets being relatively short thereby to provide enhanced resistance to buckling, with the mid-portion of the side sheets of a relatively large radius of curvature thereby to provide a generally vertical region of the side sheets, and with the upper region of the side sheets being of a shorter radius of curvature thereby to again provide greater resistance to buckling at the top margin of the side sheets.

Abstract: A hopper is provided having longitudinally spaced tapered end walls and transversely spaced tapered side walls. An opening is provided in one of the end walls and a discharge conduit is attached to the external surface of this end wall. On the internal surface of this end wall a discharge trough is attached. The front surface of the trough is tapered on the same incline as this end wall. Fluidizing membrane assemblies are attached to each of the side walls which are inclined downwardly toward the discharge conduit to facilitate lading flowing into the discharge conduit during unloading. The discharge trough is generally in the form of an inverted V, with the lower edges of the V spaced from the lower hopper wall a distance sufficient to allow air and lading to pass around the trough and into the discharge trough.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a casting (60) is provided to connect the car bottom (40) to the side sill (10). A connecting plate (46) is provided to attach the casting (60) to the side sill (10). Preferably the side sill (10) is generally hat shaped and is reinforced with an angle (26) at the end portion of the car which supports the shear plate (34).

Abstract: A railroad car (R) for hauling trailers (T) has a hitch assembly (HA) for securing the trailer. The hitch assembly includes a retainer pin (P) extending through a head portion (H) of the hitch assembly. A retainer (1) for retaining the pin in place and for facilitating its removal and replacement includes a clip (3) attached to each side of the head adjacent the opening (O) in the side of the head adjacent the opening (O) in the side of the head through which the pin is installed or removed. Each clip projects outwardly from the respective side of the head and has an opening (9) corresponding to the opening in the side of the head. A fastener (11) is removably attachable to each clip through the opening in the clip. A portion (15) of the fastener abuts the outer end of the retainer pin when the fastener is assembled with the clip. This prevents longitudinal movement of the retainer pin.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an industrial robot (10) having a lifting or gripping arm (16) is provided with electrical switch means (44) whereby if a work piece extends too far into the lifting or gripping portion the machine is automatically turned off. In accordance with another feature of the invention, shear means (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) are provided in the lifting or gripping arms (30, 32) whereby if one or both arms abut an obstruction with sufficient force, the arm will shear off causing only minimal damage to the robot and protecting valuable gear mechanisms and control apparatus.

Abstract: An improvement for a controller (C) for controlling the idle speed of an engine. A logic circuit (1) is responsive to the position of switches (S1, S2) and the direction in which an extendible and retractable member (T) is to be driven by a motor (M) to energize the motor. The logic circuit includes logic gate (3) responsive to both switches being open when the member is at its extreme extended position and the member is to be retracted to energize the motor to retract the member. The logic circuit also includes a logic gate (5) responsive to both the switches being open when the member is at its extreme retracted position and the member is to be extended to energize the motor to extend the member. The motor is thus energized to move the member in the appropriate direction even though a switch which should be closed is open due to dust or debris preventing switch closure.

Abstract: An uncoupling device (10) is provided with a handle (12) which is pivotably mounted on a bracket at the side of the car. The handle is connected to a bar (16) extending transversely of the car, at a level below a coupler extending out of a center sill. An uncoupling member (42) is slidingly attached to the bar with a connection allowing the uncoupler to slide longitudinally with respect to the bar when the coupler moves, and at the same time has sufficient interface with the bar to transmit torsion to the coupler (34) at a given position on the bar during rotation for uncoupling. The bar includes a stop (68) at its outer end to prevent the coupler member from escaping. The uncoupler member at its outer end includes an upwardly extending portion (70) having a hook (74) which is inserted into the opening (76) in a conventional E type coupler connection to operate the lock lifter mechanism (78) and disconnect coupled couplers.

Abstract: The difference in the pressure drop in a pneumatic discharge conduit (5) between at least one discharge outlet (3) into the conduit and a point 9 downstream of the discharge outlet caused by lading in the discharge conduit is used to control opening and closing of the lading outlet valve 13 to automatically control pneumatic unloading of lading from a container. In one application, the container is a railway hopper car having a plurality of pneumatic discharge outlets 52, 52' and 52" which discharge into a pneumatic discharge conduit.

Abstract: A torque application assembly is provided comprising an operating shaft having a non-round connection portion. At least one metal washer is connected to the non-round portion of the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith. A resilient spring engages the metal washer, and a barrel nut is provided to apply a compressive force to the spring under a desired compressive force thereby to apply a desired torque to the shaft without applying any substantially longitudinal force to the shaft. At least one low friction material washer is located between the metal washer and a fixed wall whereby the shaft and the metal washer can rotate with a minimum frictional drag with respect to the fixed wall.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for use with a carburetor (C) to control the discharge volume from the carburetor's accelerator pump. A valve (5) controls flow of fuel from a fuel discharge port (O) of the pump. A vacuum operated means (9) moves the valve (5) from a position blocking fuel flow from the discharge port to a position permitting fuel flow. A switch (39) controls application of a vacuum to the vacuum operated means (9). A temperature sensor (57) senses engine coolant temperature and switches switch (39) when engine coolant reaches a predetermined temperature so the vacuum operated means (9) is exposed to atmosphere rather than engine vacuum.

Abstract: The sealing assembly (10) of the present invention comprises a resilient sponge rubber tube (12) supported and retained by a metal bar (14) running through the tube and extending through slots (16) in the outlet side frame (18) terminating at each end in a retaining assembly (20). The seal member-slot relationship is such that when the gate (30) is open (FIG. 1), the seal member (12) rests on the gate with its retaining bar (14) in the lower portion of the side frame slots (16). Should there be an obstruction on the gate (not shown) such as adhering lading, the seal (12) when forced toward the outlet pan (40) will cause the retaining bar to rise in the slot to position (16b). This movement will allow the seal to ride over the obstruction and prevent the seal (12) from being pinched in the clearance slot (34) above the gate. As the gate is fully closed the upturned flange (32) at the back edge of the gate compresses the seal (12) against the outlet pan (40).

Abstract: A spark control apparatus (1) for an internal combustion engine using a breaker point (3) or solid state (5) ignition to control current to an ignition coil (11). The waveform of the ignition signal from the ignition system is applied to a converter section (35) of the apparatus to convert the signal waveform to a predetermined waveform. A sensor (25) senses engine vibration and generates a representative electrical signal which a signal processor (41) processes to determine engine knock by comparing the peak and average values of the signal. A delay circuit (45) delays termination of current to the ignition coil and thus the ignition timing as a function of the comparison of the peak and average values of the control signal. When there is no knock, the timing slowly returns to normal. A driver (50) responds to current signals to control current to the ignition coil. The driver is shut off when the engine is not running to reduce current drain.

Abstract: A support and lift assembly for welded tank courses is provided outboard of a three ring cage used to internally circumferentially weld adjacent tank courses. The support and lift assembly is used to move the welded tank courses into position for another course to be welded on. A tank course conveyor extends longitudinally outboard of the cage. The conveyor is discontinuous at one or more positions and a scissors support and lift assembly is located at such discontinuous positions. A piston is pivotably connected to one of the arms which extends generally horizontally into a cylinder pivotably connected to the other arm. A roller course support is rotatably mounted at the end of each arm to support welded tank courses. A second piston extends vertically between the base and one of the arms and extends into a second cylinder extending vertically and connected to the other of the base and the arm. A first vertical height limit switch is located on the upper surface of a jack in the center ring.

Abstract: Large metal plates (120) located on each side of a railway hopper car are used to connect the hopper slope sheets (102, 104) to the car body sides (16) and longitudinally extending side sills (112). The large plates are generally "U" shaped and include legs (124, 126) which extend downwardly from the joint between the transverse bulkheads (14) and the slope sheets downwardly along each of the slope sheets. The plates are connected to the car body sides (16) to a smaller side sill reinforcing plate (121) and the side sill (112) with mechanical fasteners (128, 129) such as Huck bolts. The plate includes flange portions (132, 134) extending inwardly from the car body sides containing openings or slots (132, 134) to receive transversely extending reinforcements (140), preferably I beams (142, 142') which reinforce the hopper slope sheets and which are held in place adjacent, but spaced from, the car body sides and side sill with gussets (146) integrally connected to the large plates.

Abstract: Bulkhead supports (18) are integrally connected to opposite side portions of a filament wound hopper car body (16). The bulkhead supports include longitudinally spaced extensions (20, 22) extending inwardly from the car body sides. The transverse bulkheads (14) are located within the extensions on either side of the car with longitudinal clearance (31). Resilient bulkhead cushioning members (32) are located between the bulkhead and each extension. The resilient bulkhead cushioning members extend only a short distance transversely to reduce or substantially eliminate the introduction of bending moments into the car body sides when the transverse bulkheads are subjected to lading loads.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a hand brake assembly (300) is mounted adjacent one end of a first car or articulated unit (303). A force dividing assembly (306) is provided on the first car, which divides the applied hand brake into a first (313) and second (321) hand brake linkages. The first hand brake linkage (313) is connected to a first air brake linkage (315) located on the first car. Preferably a portion of the first air brake linkage is located within an air brake cylinder (318). When the hand brake is applied, the first hand brake linkage (313) is effective to apply the brakes on the first car or unit through the first air brake linkage. The second hand brake linkage (321) extends from one car or unit to a second adjacent car or unit (333).