Abstract: A plate wall cargo vehicle construction is disclosed comprising a multiplicity of light weight laminated panels. Each panel comprises a resinous core material having a metal skin adhesively bonded to each planar surface thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a landing gear assembly having legs extending downward from the underframe of a trailer and having a sand shoe at the ground engaging end thereof. The shoe is articulately joined to the ground engaging end of the leg by a collar circumscribing the ground engaging end of the leg. Compressed between the base of the leg and the bottom of the shoe is a wedge-shaped resilient member biasing the shoe into a tilted position relative to the plate.

Abstract: An adjustable service platform apparatus for a gantry crane has an elongated base frame generally comforming in size and shape to a conventional load carrying lifting spreader, and twin service platform units secured to opposite lateral ends of the base frame. Work platforms atop the service platform units can be raised and lowered and laterally extended and retracted independently from the hoist and trolley motions of the crane, with the crane's hoist and trolley motions being interlocked with the position of the work platforms. Using work platform controls operators standing on the work platforms can readily access and inspect the structural elements of the crane's A-frame supporting structure and the crane's boom structure from the top of the boom to the base of the crane. The work platforms can additionally have inboard and outboard extensions for readily accessing the interior of the boom structure and the outside surfaces of the A-frame structure.

Abstract: An edge for frontal engagement with air flow as occurs when vehicles are moving in an air environment. The edge is elongate and intended to wrap around an existing corner where two substantially planar surfaces intersect, one of the planar surfaces being a front surface and the other planar surface being a rearwardly receding flanking surface such as a top surface or a side surface of a vehicle. The edge rises abruptly from the front plane and moves forwardly and outwardly in a convex arc to a point of abrupt inflection outside of the flanking plane and adjacent the front plane as extended through the flanking plane. The discontinuity or inflection is a change from convexity to concavity formed by alternate concavity and convexity and progressing generally toward faired contact with the flank plane.

Abstract: A double pivot or toggle action hinge action and a latching or keeping function are combined in a single entity for the purpose of hinging a door as well as serving as the mechanism to lock the door in a closed position. The combined assembly includes a shaft defining a first pivot axis and interdigitated hinge members on the shaft and on the associated door which are pivotally joined about a second axis parallel to the first axis and a handle is connected to the shaft to control the toggling action of the hinge and, finally, the door is provided with a latch or keeper which is adapted to capture and retain the handle whereby positively to hold the assembly in door-closed position.

Abstract: The disclosed unloading machine, which is foldable in height to facilitate its insertion into a ship or the like, comprises an endless train of circular buckets, with axial tension elements therebetween, a foldable vertical leg including two parallel guide tubes, the buckets being movable down the first tube and up the second tube, a boom which is swingable vertically about a pivot at the lower end of the leg, a first conveyor wheel for directing the buckets out of the lower end of the first tube and outwardly along the boom, a second wheel on the outer end of the boom for directing the buckets downwardly into a suspended catenary flight where bulk material is dug, a third wheel for directing the buckets from such flight into the lower end of the second tube, a fourth wheel for directing the buckets from the upper end of the second tube and then downwardly to dump the material, a fifth wheel for directing the buckets upwardly, a sixth wheel for directing the buckets into the upper end of the first tube, the l

Abstract: An improved load line sensor comprised of a support frame which clamps to the load line, a sensing unit fixed to the support frame, and a pivotal load line operator attached to the support frame in a close spaced relation to the clamping end thereof. The load line which is threaded through the pivotal operator is slightly deformed thereby so that line tension imparts a torque to the operator which reacts against the load sensing unit fixed to the support frame. The load line operator preferably has roller contacts wherein the pivoting and roller action of the operator minimizes the frictional influences which impair the operation of conventional devices.

Abstract: The disclosed unloading machine is especially well adapted for unloading bulk materials from ships. The machine swivels around a full circle, to afford maximum coverage to take the bulk material.

Abstract: A hollow keeper housing is secured to the header or sill of a door of a truck trailer for receiving a generally arcuate camming finger disposed at the end of a rotatable vertical lock rod. The camming finger and keeper housing are designed so that when force is applied against a latched door, a relatively flat surface of the camming finger is tangent with the inner camming surface of the hollow keeper housing at a point located a distance from a plane parallel to the line of force and passing through the axis of rotation of the lock rod, the distance providing a torque in a latching direction.

Abstract: A three point suspension crane for use on a circular track having the hoist machinery disposed on the crane at points proximate the engagement of the crane with the track.

Abstract: An aerating or fluidizing device is located adjacent the gravity discharge opening of a hopper. The device is in the form of a flexible, resilient member fixed so that a marginal edge normally contacts and defines an interface with an associated surface. Air under pressure is fed to the interface in such fashion as to cause the marginal edge of the resilient member to flutter and allow the air to escape in randomly directed "puffs." The fluttering movement combined with the intermittent puffs of air causes pulverulent material to be agitated, aerated and/or fluidized as it passes to the discharge opening.

Abstract: An over-the-road vehicle in the nature of a trailer or a van has a body provided with an open end formed by oppositely disposed side pillars, a header and a sill. A pair of doors are hinged to the pillars with channel members secured near the opposite door edges having bearings at the ends in which locking rods are secured against edgewise movement while being pivotally mounted within the channel members. The ends of the rods are supported in cantilever from the ends of the channel members having on the ends a cam finger which engages cams within castings secured to the header and sill by which the doors are moved to secured closed position when the rods are rotated. When a load is applied to the inner surface of the door, the ends of the locking rods will bend from the ends of the channel members providing a bending moment from the channel ends to the ends of the rods.

Abstract: An axle suspension assembly for vehicles has a trailing arm which is connected to the axle by means of a locator plate that is welded to the axle housing and heat shrunk on to the arm, the plate and the clamping pad that engages the opposite side of the arm having relieved faces that serve to minimize localized stress concentrations during high load conditions.

Abstract: The brake assembly in an air brake system where the brake shoes have double mounting flanges is simplified both as to ease of assembly/disassembly and as to number of conponents by anchoring each brake shoe so that, in operative position, it is fixedly pivoted on an anchor pin but may be pivoted out of operative position around the anchor pin to a position in which it may be disengaged therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a load bearing, post-free sidewall for an over-the-road trailer or the like. A bottom rail of the sidewall is attached to the floor of the trailer and secures the sidewall thereto. Each of the sidewalls comprises a pair of substantially parallel, vertically extending, horizontally spaced and load bearing plastic panels having foam insulation disposed therebetween. The bottom rail member transfers loads thereon substantially equally to each of the panels of each sidewall.

Abstract: A trailer having a front undercarriage assembly including lower members or "feet" that are adapted to automatically retract when the trailer is coupled to a tractor. Direct mechanical linkages are provided throughout the retracting mechanism to insure positive operation of the apparatus. In addition, a novel latching mechanism is disclosed that is adapted to automatically lock the vehicles in the coupled position and permit convenient disengagement of the trailer from the tractor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a meat rail support system for refrigerator trailers having post-free, foam-filled walls. An outer top rail of the trailer side wall is secured to the outer skin of the side wall. An inwardly extending flange is positioned above the side wall and is either integral with the top rail or riveted thereto for the acceptance of a meat rail support beam.In one embodiment, an inner side wall top rail of low heat conducting material, for example, FRP plastic, is secured to a plastic inner skin of the side wall and has an outwardly extending flange positioned above the wall. A meat rail support beam extends transversely across the trailer and rests on the flanges of the inner and outer top rails. Fastening means are located between the inner and outer skins of the side wall so as to transfer loads on the meat rail support beam relatively equally to both the inner and outer side wall skins.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a support structure for a thin sheet metal roof skin for an over-the-road trailer or van. The roof skin is supported on transverse roof bows which are secured to side rails mounted on the top of side wall posts. The bows are of slightly convex form and are of V-section at the center to maximize strength and minimize snagging. The bows are formed to a unique configuration at the ends and are secured by rivets to the rails. The attachment edge of the skin is vertically spaced from the ends of the bows so as to reduce vibration and stress transfer from the skin to the top of the posts.