Abstract: A foldable handhold assembly for attachment to a railroad flatcar includes a handhold that has a pair of side rails connected with a horizontal grab bar. A pair of brackets, which each have a mounting surface conforming to the shape of the flatcar sill. The brackets each have a hinge that rotatably couples to the proximate end of one of the side rail, which enables the handhold to rotate about the hinges between a deployed position where the grab bar extends above the flatcar deck and a stowed position where the handhold extends below the flatcar deck. One of the brackets also has latch aligned to selectively retain the handhold at the deployed position.

Abstract: A lashing pin for engaging a hole in member to facilitate lashing the member to a fixture or vehicle. The lashing pin combines a cam pin sleeve assembly having a flange and sleeve with an eccentric hole formed therethrough with a cam pin assembly having a cam pin passing through the eccentric hole and connecting a cam disk with an eccentrically mounted cam. Rotation of the cam disk with respect to the flange aligns and misaligned the cam with respect to the cam sleeve, thereby enabling insertion through the hole at first position, and retention of the cam against removal at a second position.

Abstract: A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a root support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade root and a tip section support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade tip. Each of the root and tip support structures includes upper and lower frames, first and second side frames, a set of upper corner fittings disposed at upper corners of the support structure, and a set of lower fittings disposed at lower corners of the support structure. The sets of corner fittings allow the root and tip support structures to be coupled to vertically or horizontally adjacent root and tip support structures to form an array of support structures for transporting multiple wind turbine blades. The sets of corner fittings also allow for attachment to handling equipment, as well as to reinforcing structures for reinforcing an array of tip support structures.

Abstract: A foldable handhold assembly for attachment to a railroad flatcar includes a handhold that has a pair of side rails connected with a horizontal grab bar. A pair of brackets, which each have a mounting surface conforming to the shape of the flatcar sill. The brackets each have a hinge that rotatably couples to the proximate end of one of the side rail, which enables the handhold to rotate about the hinges between a deployed position where the grab bar extends above the flatcar deck and a stowed position where the handhold extends below the flatcar deck. One of the brackets also has latch aligned to selectively retain the handhold at the deployed position.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade rail fixture set employing a pair of support assemblies, each having a bolster, radius arm, and pivot disposed on a pair of railcars to minimize lateral overhang as the train traverses railroad curves, and having a slidable carriage disposed on one radius arm to accommodate changes in length between the bolsters.

Abstract: A saddle and foot stop mounting system for large tower sections transported by rail. A locating assembly, including a key rail assembly and a foot stop assembly are used in conjunction with movable saddles. The foot stop assembly includes a locating key for engaging one of plural key fixtures along the key rail, which defines plural mounting locations for the foot stop. Used in conjunction with the movable saddles, this system accommodates a wide range of tower section sizes and weights.

Abstract: A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a first support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of a first wind turbine blade and a second support structure aligned with and spaced from the first support structure for supporting a tip section of the first wind turbine blade. A third support structure is included for supporting a tip section of a second wind turbine blade. A fourth support structure is spaced from and aligned with the third support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade. The first and second wind turbine blades extend with an edge-vertical orientation in opposing directions such that a tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and a tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.

Abstract: A system for transporting a wind turbine blade includes a first support subsystem disposed on a first movable platform, which allows a first point on the wind turbine blade to pivot in response to the first movable platform traversing a curve. A second support subsystem is disposed on a second movable platform spaced, which allows a second point of the wind turbine blade to move laterally in response to the pivoting of the first point on the wind turbine blade on the first movable platform.

Abstract: A system for transporting wind turbine blades includes a first support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of a first wind turbine blade and a second support structure aligned with and spaced from the first support structure for supporting a tip section of the first wind turbine blade. A third support structure is included for supporting a tip section of a second wind turbine blade. A fourth support structure is spaced from and aligned with the third support structure for supporting a cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade. The first and second wind turbine blades extend with an edge-vertical orientation in opposing directions such that a tip of the first wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the second wind turbine blade and a tip of the second wind turbine blade is disposed horizontally adjacent the cylindrical root section of the first wind turbine blade.