Abstract: An enclosure for the end opening of a vehicle having one or more interior elevated decks includes a pair of door assemblies each comprising a plurality of pivotally joined panels. The door assemblies are suspended in a vertical manner by means of hanger assemblies having tracking elements guided within a rail member disposed above the level of a vehicle elevated deck. Transverse movement of any panel concurrently displaces the entire associated door assembly, as a unitary articulated assembly, between a closed position sealing off the end opening, and an open position with the door assembly well-spaced from a lateral edge of the deck, in which latter position maximum lateral clearance is provided for lading carried by all decks or levels.

Abstract: Latch for locking a container to a pedestal on the flat deck of a flat car and particularly containers containing flammable materials. The container is supported on a pedestal at each corner thereof and the pedestals are adjustably mounted in guideways for movement along the deck of the flat car in accordance with the length of the container, to support containers at selected intervals along the car. A spring biased latch is provided to lock the container to the pedestal and a lock is provided for the latch is provided which reacts against the pedestal and includes a biasing spring for the lock to positively hold the latch in a locked position even though the car should be derailed.

Abstract: A guidance system is disclosed which includes a combined synchronous detector, amplifier, and low pass filter. The detector circuit provides a binary signal which is true during negative half cycles of an input signal and false during positive half cycles. The positive and negative half cycles are applied through a switch controlled by the binary signal to a differential amplifier. A first integrator is connected to the first input of the differential amplifier and a second integrator is connected between the output and a second input of the differential amplifier. The direct current level of the output of the differential amplifier rises as the amplitude of the input signal increases to keep the input voltages of the differential amplifier equal. The output voltage of the differential amplifier is therefore proportional to the amplitude of a sensor signal.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes a shoulder member fixed relative a cross-tie and having a head insertable through an apertured insulator. One end of the insulator bears upon the cross-tie while the opposite end carries a dielectric pad engaging the top surface and lateral edge of a rail base flange. The fastener assembly is completed by the application of a spring clip attached to the shoulder head and constantly bearing downwardly against the two opposite ends of the insulator. The dielectric pad surrounds a substantial portion of one end of the insulator and preferably is staked thereover but alternatively may be secured by a press fit, shrink fit, snap fit or by suitable adhesive.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes a spring clip of unitary rod-like construction having a mounting leg retained by an anchor member fixed relative a cross-tie. The clip leg is joined to an arm bearing upon the anchor member with the arm then joined to an arcuate loop crossing over the mounting leg diagonally thereto. The clip terminates in a rail arm engaging the base flange of a rail with a substantial downward clamping pressure being applied thereto. The clip mounting leg may be an integral enlargement forming a diameter to provide a mating fit within a bore through the anchor member or alternatively, the clip mounting leg may support a separate sleeve having an outer diameter mating with the anchor member bore.

Abstract: A rail joint includes an insulative base piece formed of a synthetic plastic composition and insertable between a rail base flange and a joint bar. The opposite surfaces of the base piece are provided with elevated ribs or serrations extending longitudinally of the length of the base piece which base piece is at least as long as the joint bar. Longitudinal migration of the base piece during travel over the rail joint is resisted and thus retention of the base piece is enhanced, due to the deformation of the ribs as the base piece is sandwiched between the rail and joint bar and irregularities in the opposed joint bar and rail base surfaces are filled by the compressed and deformed ribs.

Abstract: Low-height reversible ratchet tie-down winch for flat decked vehicles. The tie-down winches are adjustably mounted in retainer channels extending along each side of the deck of the vehicle. Each winch is rotatably mounted between the top and bottom walls of its base and tension of the tie-down chain is maintained by a pawl and ratchet. The winch block has a chain pocket to lock a horizontal link of the chain to the chain pocket and a recessed portion engaging a next adjacent vertical link of the chain. The ratchet has a cooperating pocket engageable with a next adjacent vertical link of the chain and completing the chain pocket in the winch block. The chain may be trained through one end or the other of the base for the winch.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving railroad spikes having at least one pair of hydraulic driving rams and associated spike holders and spike feeding arms. Each ram and its associated spike holder and spike feeding arm is suspended from an adjustable head supported in a mounting frame. Each head is individually movable in a first direction parallel to railroad track rails and in a second direction perpendicular to railroad track rails so that each ram and associated spike holder can be independently adjusted relative to a tie plate hole through which a spike is to be driven and both rams and associated spike holders are adjustable in unison in a first direction parallel to railroad track rails and in a second direction perpendicular to railroad track rails to spot the spikes over the holes in a tie plate through which the spikes are to be driven.

Abstract: A variable follower rest for a lathe for supporting tapered shafts and similar shafts of varying diameter as they are being turned. The follower rest includes a bearing arm above and another bearing diametrically opposite to the cutting tool to resist the lift and thrust of the cutting tool against the shaft. Through master-slave actuators the bearing arms move towards and away from the center of the shaft in unison with corresponding movements of the cutting tool to always engage the shaft as the diameter of the shaft varies.

Abstract: A railway car having an end opening includes a swingable folding door assembly provided with a keeper mechanism carried by the door assembly and the adjacent side wall of the railway car. As the panels of the door assembly are folded from a flat, closed position overlying the car end opening to a collapsed, open position disposed substantially longitudinally extended away from the end of the car side wall, a guide rod carried by the door assembly is arcuately displaced to simultaneously horizontally shift a vertical locking pin to a position overlying an aperture in a lock plate whereupon gravity concurrently drops the connected rod and pin to secure the open door assembly in a fixed position.

Abstract: A rail joint includes an insulative base piece insertable between a rail base flange and a joint bar. The ends of the base piece project longitudinally beyond the respective ends of the joint bar to provide exposed terminal sections with an intermediate central section. Longitudinal migration of the base piece during travel over the rail joint is precluded by one or more end abutment members fixedly disposed relative the base piece and including an elevated inner abutment surface intermediate the central section and each terminal section and engaging the joint bar ends. The abutment members may comprise integral elevated tabs cut from the base piece or alternatively, separate members insertable through cut-out portions in the base piece terminal sections.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor belt is mounted between an inner cylindrical wall and a concentric outer cylindrical wall wherein the belt is formed of curved segments having an upper reach resting upon a spiralled slide plate and a lower under reach suspended therebelow, rollers at the top and at the base of the spiral about which the belt turns and means to drive the roller and belt connected thereto. The improvement is a belt tightener comprising a pair of spaced holding rollers engaging the under reach of the belt at one side thereof, a takeup roller mounted between the holding rollers at the opposite side of the belt and means to adjustably shift the takeup roller against the belt to move it between the holding rollers for taking up slack in the belt.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes an anchor member fixed atop a crosstie and removably retaining a spring clip having a pair of spaced apart arms insertable within the anchor member. The spring clip, generally "C" shaped, has one of its arms deflected transversely and downwardly by a tapered retainer element on said anchor member whereby a positive downward force is applied by the other arm against a rail base flange. An abutment provided on the anchor member restricts vertical displacement of the other arm and rail base therebeneath.

Abstract: Adjustable twist lock assembly for locking containers in position on the deck of a flatbed vehicle in which the vehicle has a C-channel extending along each side and opening toward the outside, and the top flange of the channel is at deck level. Each channel has openings in its top flange to accommodate a twist lock to be extended above floor level through a selected opening to enter a container fitting and thereby accommodate the twist lock to containers of varying lengths. The twist lock assembly includes a framework conforming to the inside of the channel and slidable therealong and having an open top to accommodate extension of the twist lock above the channel. The twist lock has an elongated locking head with a depending stud pivotally carried in a lock housing, guided for vertical movement along the framework.

Abstract: An enclosure for a vehicle end opening disposed between two side walls includes a pair of bi-fold door assemblies, each comprising inner and outer panels hingedly connected to one another with the outer edges of the innermost panel in turn hingedly connected to a hinge rod normally disposed adjacent the outer limits of the end opening. Intermediate lock means are included with each pair of door panels for selectively precluding relative displacement therebetween and when actuated allows of folding of each pair of door panels to provide a collapsed juxtaposed relationship following which the folded door assembly may be pivoted about the hinge rod 90.degree. or until parallel to the vehicle side walls.

Abstract: A rail fastener includes an anchor member fixed atop the crosstie and removably retaining a spring clip having a pair of adjacent parallel legs insertable within said anchor member. The improved spring clip, generally "B" shaped, is provided with a loop member joining the two legs and having opposite portions respectively engaging the rail base flange and anchor member.

Abstract: A rail fastener assembly includes a restraining block to resist rail overturning and which is disposed atop a tie plate having a raised shoulder adjacent a rail seat section. The curved upper surface of the shoulder is engaged by a mating curved lower surface on the block to position a lip portion on the block in overlying relationship to the rail base flange. Means vertically extend downwardly from the block and cooperate with two spike holes formed through the tie plate shoulder to secure the block relative the tie plate. A rail anchor may be attached to the rail base adjacent the tie plate to provide a complete rail-to-tie fastener assembly.

Abstract: A lock mechanism for a railway car hinge-deck section includes a locking lever pivotally attached to a railway car and having an upper and lower wedge bar alternately engageable with a wedge plate carried by the hinge-deck section when the section is displaced to a raised or lowered position, respectively. Seat means affixed to the car restrict vertical displacement of the deck section and cooperates with mating inclined surfaces on the wedge bars and wedge plate to provide positive, tight retention of the hinge-deck section in either of its locked positions.

Abstract: Heavy-duty cotter pin for retaining retainer member in position. The legs of the cotter pin each have an integrally formed locking arm extending angularly outwardly therefrom, locking the cotter pin in position without forcefully spreading or deforming the legs. The legs of the cotter pin are biased outwardly relative to each other and extend from a bight portion of the pin at equal angles with respect to the longitudinal center line of the pin. The legs are moved toward and laterally of each other to enter the hole of a pin or other retainer member and clear the locking arms from the hole. The locking arms are maintained in their angular outwardly extending position, both during placing of the cotter pin in a hole and removing the cotter pin from the hole.

Abstract: A control device for a synchronous motor including a field winding discharge circuit having an alternating current when the synchronous motor has any slip and a field winding D.C. excitation circuit. The control device includes a digital counter for creating an output signal when the counter has counted a selected number of pulses during a given counting interval. The control circuit includes a means for creating counting pulses having a set frequency, means for directing the counting pulses to the counter, means responsive to the slip induced current in the discharge circuit for periodically resetting the counter and means responsive to the creation of an output signal between resetting operations for activating the excitation circuit. In this manner, if there is slip the synchronous motor operates in an induction mode until the slip is at a selected low level determined by the counter setting and the frequency of the pulses to the counter. During low slip conditions, the D.C.