Abstract: A fire-safe valve structure for a valve of the type having a valve body with a flow passage (18, 20) therethrough and a valve chamber which houses a valve element (70) for opening and closing the flow passage, the valve chamber becoming sealed off from the flow passage in the open and closed conditions. An annular metallic seat (110) with a port (200), which extends between its inner and outer annular surfaces (186, 188) and so located as to communicate the valve chamber with the flow passage, is disposed in an annular seat pocket (28) formed around the flow passage (20) on the upstream side of the valve. The seat pocket (28) opens to the valve chamber (50) and the metallic seat (110) is provided with sealing means (196) for sealing with the valve element (70) in the open or closed condition.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an insulating box (32) is applied to the depending portion (28) of the center plate (24) of a railway freight car. This box is provided with external insulation (27) and a cooling medium such as air or water is passed through a conduit (56) into the box to maintain the temperature of the hardened portion of the bowl sufficiently low that no transformation or softening takes place during stress relief. After stress relieving the box is removed and the cooling medium turned off. The hardness and strength of the center plate has not decreased sufficiently to require rehardening, and it is not necessary to rotate the car into another position to attach the center plate, or to reharden the center plate.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a swivel fitting is used to connect the glad hand to the rigid portion of the brake system on the car. The swivel fitting includes a freely rotatable swivel extension which extends through an opening in a support structure. A rigid curved pipe section is connected to the swivel extension with a 45.degree. elbow. The rigid pipe section and 45.degree. elbow may swivel about a horizontal axis. The curved pipe extends upwardly and inboard of the car where it joins brake piping extending inboard of the car. A conventional end cock is attached to the swivel fitting with appropriate fasteners. A 45.degree. elbow is used to removably connect the glad hand of the train line to the end cock.

Abstract: A packing assembly (10) for sealing the annulus between concentric tubular members (12, 14). The assembly (10) includes upper and lower sealing ring assemblies (31, 32) on each side of a lantern ring (33), and upper and lower retainer rings (36, 35) located atop and below the sealing ring assemblies and bolted together to maintain the rings in stacked concentric relation. Each sealing ring assembly (31, 32) includes a central lubricating packing ring (34) having inner and outer lubricating surfaces of graphite material; an inner pair of upper and lower metal seal rings (69, 70) seated in annular grooves in the central lubricating packing ring (34); and an outer pair of upper and lower metal seal rings (83, 84) located in annular grooves in the outer periphery of the lubricating packing ring (34).

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet is provided including a rotatable control valve having a body portion and a moment portion extending therefrom. The moment portion and the body portion each include edge portions which in closed position engage adjacent valve seats. The moment portion is provided with a pattern of openings for metering flow of lading into the discharge tube and is arranged to reduce or eliminate pellets from becoming trapped in the valve opening. Preferably the pattern includes alternate tapered projections and recesses. The tapered projections are arranged to guide pellets away from the valve opening. In addition, the projections preferably include sharp edges which will shear any pellets which are trapped in the recess, thus avoiding jamming the control valve. Preferably also the body portion edge includes a similar pattern.

Abstract: A "fire-safe" packing arrangement (104) for a valve stem (72) which extends through a packing chamber in a valve bonnet bore (42) to a valve chamber (50) in a valve body (12). The packing arrangement (104) comprises a low temperature packing assembly (112)positioned within the packing chamber between the stem (72) and the wall of the bonnet bore (42) for sealing therebetween at normal temperatures and resting on an inner annular shoulder (62) provided in the bonnet bore (42). A metal spacer ring (116) is positioned within the packing chamber axially outward of the low temperature packing assembly (112) with respect to the flow passage (18, 20) through the valve. The spacer ring (116) has a lower side or inner end (140) thereof resting on the low temperature packing assembly (112).

Abstract: An open loop electronics circuit (1) for altitude compensation of a carburetor (C) installed on an internal combustion automobile engine (E). The carburetor has an associated solenoid (S) controlling auxiliary air bled into fuel circuits of the carburetor thereby to control the air-fuel ratio of the mixture produced by the carburetor. A bridge (7) continuously senses the density of air which varies as a function of altitude and generates an electrical signal Es the amplitude of which changes in response to changes in air density. A converter (13) is responsive to the electrical signal for generating a variable pulse width control signal Cs supplied to the solenoid. The converter (13) varys the pulse width of the control signal in response to amplitude changes in the electrical signal generated by the bridge circuit whereby the air-fuel ratio of the mixture produced by the carburetor is varied as a function of changes in air density.

Abstract: A low stress stem connection structure (77) for connecting the rotatable stem (43) and the gate member (33) of a non-rising stem type gate valve (1). The stem (43) has an externally threaded end section (47) and the gate member (33) has an externally threaded extension (79) with a longitudinal bore (83) in which the end section (47) of the stem (43) is received. A stem nut (87) is threadably received on the end (47) of the stem (43) and engages the gate member extension (79) to reciprocally move the gate member (33) in response to rotation of the stem (43). The gate member (33) may move relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem (43) in the direction of flow of a fluid through the gate valve (1). A gate nut (97) is threadably received on the gate member extension (79) to hold the stem nut (87) in position on the stem (43) and limit movement of the gate member (33).

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 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: 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: An air by-pass valve (1) has an air inlet (5), an air outlet (7), a relief port (11), and a relief valve (37) responsive to excessive air pressure for opening the relief port and dumping air to atmosphere. The relief valve comprises a valve member (39) mounted on a stem (23) and movable relative thereto. One side of the valve member is acted on by a spring (41) biasing the valve member to close the relief port. Air pressure acts on the opposite side of the valve member to move the valve member against the spring and open the relief port. The side of the valve member against which the spring acts is contoured so the spring force is unevenly applied to the valve member over the surface on which the spring acts.

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: A packing assembly for a valve stem, or the like, comprising two groups of "V"-shaped packing rings, "G" and "H", disposed about the valve stem 16 in a stuffing box 32 provided in the stem receiving bore in the vavve body or bonnet 12. Semi-fluid plastic material 69 is injected between the two groups of packing rings to move them apart and thereby axially compress and radially expand the packing rings into sealing engagement with the valve stem and stuffing box wall. The lower group of packing rings is provided with a pair of non-metallic back up adapter rings at its lower and upper ends. A similar back up adapter ring is provided at the top of the upper group of packing rings. The back up adapter rings 61, 62, 68 serve to stabilize the packing structure. They also serve as stem centralizing rings to preclude galling and scarring of the stem and as anti-extrusion rings to impede extrusion of the packing rings along the stem and bonnet.

Abstract: A lubricant fitting (10) for connection to a valve (V) in which the fitting bore (20) has a pair of spaced apart inner (44) and outer (26) annular shoulders therein. A pair of spaced apart inner (52) and outer (54) seating elements are positioned within the bore (20) for movement between a normal seated position and an unseated position relative to their respective shoulders (44, 26) to thereby either prevent or allow communication between the valve interior and the atmosphere. The outer seating element (54) moves to the seated position independently of the inner seating element (52) so that even if the inner seating element (52) is sufficiently contaminated so that an effective seal cannot be formed, the outer seating element (54) will still move to form an effective seal and thereby isolate the valve interior from the atmosphere.

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: 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 wear member in adopted to be located in the truck bowl. Interengaging means are provided to removably lock the wear member is engagement with the mounting plate. This interengaging means preferably comprises slots in the wear member which engage the spacer extensions integral with the vertical plates.

Abstract: An improved by-pass valve (1) for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine has control means (69) responsive to engine vacuum for exposing a chamber (27) to engine vacuum. The control means is responsive to an abrupt change in engine vacuum such as occurs during engine decelerations for spoiling the vacuum in the chamber and causing a vacuum responsive means (19) to close a first valve (15) and open a second valve (17). The control means reestablishes the vacuum in the chamber after a predetermined time interval causing the vacuum responsive means to open the first valve and close the second valve. The controlled opening and closing of the first and second valves prevents engine backfires. Means (117) overrides operation of the control means when engine temperature reaches a predetermined value whereby the vacuum responsive means maintains the first valve closed and the second valve open.