Abstract: Lading protectors for mounting between the upper ends of adjacent columns positioned along the centerline of a centerbeam rail car. Each protector comprises a pair of parallel and upright lading engaging side plates supported on opposite sides of a horizontal elongated stiffener plate. The side plates are bent at the bottoms and ends so as to avoid exposure of free edges to the lading. The outer surfaces of the side plates are located appreciably outside the adjacent surfaces of the columns they extend between so that the lading engages the side plates and not the columns.

Abstract: A lading tie anchor system for railway box cars which uses lading ties comprising straps of woven webbing with a hook on one end in place of lading ties in the form of one-time useable steel strapping. The new system makes use of the lading tie anchors already installed in many box cars as well as those installed in newly built box cars. In addition to the novel lading ties a slack take-up and tension buckle is used to join the otherwise free or unanchored ends of each pair of lading ties. Preferably the buckles have a handle-crankable ratchet on one end to which the unanchored end of one of the installed ties is adjustably attached while the unanchored end of the other lading tie is threaded over a pair of take-up rollers mounted on the opposite end of the buckle in such a way that this second lading tie can be manually drawn taut. Thereafter the ratchet is operated to remove any remaining slack in the lading ties and then apply the desired tension thereon.

Abstract: A system for tying down cargo on the deck of a transport vehicle such as a cargo of stacked steel plates on a railway flat car. Link chains are used for tying the cargo down. The system utilizes chain retainers secured to the deck or to the bottoms of C-channels recessed in the deck. The retainers are positioned on opposite sides of the cargo and close in to the bottom. A selected link of a length of each of two tie-down chains is inserted into one of two retainers. The free ends of the two chains are fastened together on top of the cargo and then ratcheted to place the chains under tension. The chain retainers are in the form of one-piece castings with a pair of right and left hand uprights with a slot therebetween in which a chain link will fit and pivot in its narrow orientation but not in its wide orientation. A selected link in its wide orientation serves to anchor the lower end of the chain to a chain retainer.

Abstract: A system for tying down cargo on the deck of a transport vehicle such as a cargo of stacked steel plates on a railway flat car. Link chains are used for tying the cargo down. The system utilizes chain retainers secured to the deck or to the bottoms of C-channels recessed in the deck. The retainers are positioned on opposite sides of the cargo and close in to the bottom. A selected link of a length of each of two tie-down chains is inserted into one of two retainers. The free ends of the two chains are fastened together on top of the cargo and then ratcheted to place the chains under tension. The chain retainers are in the form of one-piece castings with a pair of right and left hand uprights with a slot therebetween in which a chain link will fit and pivot in its narrow orientation but not in its wide orientation. A selected link in its wide orientation serves to anchor the lower end of the chain to a chain retainer.

Abstract: A hatch cover locking mechanism for securing a roof member onto a hatch opening of a railway hopper car is provided. The hatch cover lock utilizes camming engagement between an operation handle and a keeper member in order to rotate the keeper member and lock or unlock the keeper member to a strapping associated with the hatch roof member.

Abstract: A shield for attachment to and removal from a lading tie-down strap for shielding the strap from learing engagement with a corner of lading or cargo. The shield is preferably molded from a plastic material such as polyurethane and is in the form of a generally rectangular shaped pad. The pad has two end portions interconnected by a transverse live hinge area. Each end portion has an integrally formed raised flap extending transversely thereacross. One of the flaps is hinged adjacent one longitudinal edge of the tab while the other flap is hinged adjacent the opposite side or edge. The distal end of each flap has a hook formation on its underside which is open toward the proximal end of the flap. In use, a tie-down strap is inserted under the flaps which may be temporarily lifted to permit insertion. One edge of the tie-down strap will be inserted in one of the hooks while the opposite edge of the strap will be inserted in the hook of the other strap.

Abstract: A hatch cover locking mechanism for securing a roof member onto a hatch opening of a railway hopper car is provided. The hatch cover lock utilizes camming engagement between an operation handle and a keeper member in order to lock or unlock the keeper member over a hinge pin associated with the hatch roof member. A hook rotates along an orientation generally the same as that of the keeper, and the hook retains the hinge pin as desired when the hinge pin is not locked down by the keeper.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a pipe, such as a train pipe, to the inside of an elongated right angle structural part or member, such as may be mounted on a sidewall of a rail car. The elongated right angle structural part has a plurality of spaced bolt receiving holes extending through one leg and a plurality of pipe anchor bases, with brackets fastened thereto, are attached to the right angle structural member by means of a single bolt extending through a bracket and one of the spaced bolt-receiving holes. Each pipe anchor base may be of the general type found in known pipe anchors as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,546,792 dated Mar. 27, 1951, U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,354 dated Jan. 13, 1953 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,538 dated Sep. 16, 1980. Once a combined pipe anchor base and its bracket has been installed on the inside of the right angle structural part, relative movement between the anchor base-bracket combination and the structural part will be prevented.

Abstract: An anti-rotation device to be mounted on standard glad hands for rail cars for preventing unintended uncoupling of coupled glad hands. The device comprises a band assembly and a wire form. The band assembly is generally comparable to a hose clamp. As disclosed, the band assembly includes orienting features so that it will be circumferentially and axially oriented in an optimum position wherein damage to the band assembly due to a glad hand whipping against a car coupler upon uncoupling is minimized.

Abstract: A cable wear guard for shielding a bight in a support cable from direct rubbing contact with the surface in an aperture such as the aperture in the flange on the underside of a rail car coupler or the aperture on the flange on a glad hand. The cable wear guard is particularly useful with the adjustable support assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,564 dated May 28, 1985. The cable wear guard for the bight in a cable passing through an aperture in the flange on a car coupler is generally U-shaped and formed of at least relatively rigid material. Preferably, the cable wear guard has an outwardly facing groove in which the cable bight is secured with a slippage fit so as to allow for adjustment for differences in the initial lengths of the opposing sides of a bight. The wear guard for a cable bight passing through the aperture in the flange on a glad hand is likewise U-shaped but provision for cable slippage therein may not be necessary.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a pipe, such as a train pipe, to the inside of an elongated right angle structural part or member, such as may be mounted on a sidewall of a rail car. The elongated right angle structural part has a plurality of spaced bolt receiving holes extending through one leg and a plurality of pipe anchor bases, with brackets fastened thereto, are attached to the right angle structural member by means of a single bolt extending through a bracket and one of the spaced bolt receiving holes. Each pipe anchor base may be of the general type found in known pipe anchors as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,546,792 dated Mar. 27, 1951, U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,354 dated Jan. 13, 1953 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,538 dated Sep. 16, 1980. Once a combined pipe anchor base and its bracket has been installed on the inside of the right angle structural part, relative movement between the bracket/anchor base combination and the structural part will be prevented.

Abstract: In a pipe anchor system for anchoring a relatively long length of pipe or conduit to a structural support with predetermined spacing therefrom. Short pieces of a bar cut to length from a bar of commercial standard shape and size are used to attach the anchor bases of two-part pipe anchors to the structural support. The anchor bases have bar end locating formations including recesses and protuberances to receive in accurate positions thereon one end of each short piece of a commercial bar. The opposite or distal end of each short piece of a bar will be secured to the structural member. The usual clamping wedges are used to clamp the long length of pipe to the anchor bases.

Abstract: A shock tube surface connector for initiating one or more shock tubes including a housing which forms an elongate cylindrical void, an ignition source extending from a position outside the housing to a position within the elongate cylinder, a static isolation cup disposed within the elongate cylinder adjacent to the ignition source, a sealer element disposed in the housing and on the opposite side of the static isolation cup as the ignition source, a metallic sleeve disposed within the elongate cylinder and parallel thereto, the sleeve encompassing a delay train charge at an end adjacent to the sealer element, an output charge adjacent the delay train charge and an airspace at an end opposite the sealer element. The length of the airspace, the curvature of the output charge, and the interior diameter of the metallic sleeve are selectable to vary the radial output and/or focal point of an explosive force created by ignition of the output charge.

Abstract: Corner edge protectors for lading tied down by a cable running over a corner edge of the lading. The protector may be formed of rigid or lightweight, distortable, shape-resuming semi-rigid durable plastic such as polyurethane. The protector is L-shaped and relatively wide so as to provide a substantial lading-engaging surface area. One of the legs of the protector, usually the vertical leg when installed, has an integrally formed cable-retaining hook-shaped tab formation which is yieldable to allow entry and exit of a tie down cable. The other leg, usually the horizontal leg when installed, may have a cushion formation into which a taut cable sinks.

Abstract: Pipe anchors for anchoring running lengths of pipe of different diameters to structural supports, particularly, for anchoring pipes in railroad cars to cross bearers or other structural supports in the cars. Each pipe anchor comprises an anchor base and a mating pipe-clamping wedge which when driven into place acts to clamp a length of pipe to the anchor base. The anchor base in the combination has dual, longitudinally aligned pipe-receiving cradle section with each section configured to embrace, fit and mate with either a smaller pipe (e.g., half-inch pipe) or a larger pipe (e.g., three-quarter inch pipe). Thus, each pipe anchor is capable of anchoring pipes of at least two different sizes or diameters to a structural support.

Abstract: Two-part pipe anchor clamps and systems for securing lengths of pipe to rigid structural supports, particularly, for anchoring air lines and other train pipes to structural members in railway car frames. Each two-part pipe anchor clamp comprising a base clamp member with means whereby it may be fixedly attached, as by welding, to a structural support member and a drivable wedge clamp member to be driven into wedged mating relationship with the base clamp member. The base clamp has a saddle-shaped pipe-engaging portion with integrally formed flanges projection laterally along opposite sides. The drivable wedge clamp member has a cradle-shaped pipe-engaging portion with integrally formed ears projecting laterally along opposite sides and matable in wedging relationship with the flanges to clamp a pipe therebetween. The drivable clamp member has a driving tab on one end and a reinforcing centered rib on its cradle portion which provides a gap in the area of engagement of the cradle portion and the clamped pipe.

Abstract: A device for guarding and retaining a cotter pin in place after insertion in a pin or bolt. The device is formed from springy sheet material, preferably in the form of a spring steel stamping. It has a washer portion with a central opening to fit over a pin or bolt and a shelf portion extending to one side. The washer portion has one or more tabs or spurs which frictionally engage the shank of a pin or bolt so as to retain the washer in place thereon. The shelf portion is joined to the washer portion by a step or shoulder. At its outer end the shelf has a fence which extends from the floor of the shelf in the same direction as the step. The step has an opening through which the shank of a cotter pin may be inserted on through the aperture in a pin or bolt. The shelf may be flexed so the fence is out of the way when a cotter pin is inserted. On release the shelf springs back in place and the fence is in position to engage the head of the cotter pin and prevent its removal.

Abstract: Self-locking pipe anchors for anchoring pipes to structural members and particularly for anchoring air lines and other train pipes to structural members in the underframes of railway cars. Each pipe anchor includes a pair of interlocking members for clamping a length of pipe therebetween. One of the members is a base member which is generally saddle-shaped and adapted to be welded or otherwise secured to a structural or frame member to which a pipe is to be anchored. The base member has a pair of ears or flanges extending along opposite sides and juxtaposed to the end of at least one of the ears there is a protuberance having a camming surface opposing the adjacent end of the ear. The other member of the pair is a wedge which is adapted to be driven into self-locking assembly with the base member so as to clamp a longitudinal length of pipe therebetween. The wedge member has channel-like formations extending on opposite sides each of which embraces one of the ears when the members are assembled.

Abstract: A hatch cover lock with an automatic first locking mechanism for securing a removable hatch cover of a railway hopper car to the railway hopper car and secondary manually operated locking mechanism to secure the hatch cover to the hopper car in addition to the automatic first locking mechanism which allows the hatch cover to be opened from either side of the hopper car, and which cooperates to prevent accidental removal of the hatch cover and/or batten bar from the hopper car.