Abstract: An opening cover of fiberglass is provided for hopper railroad cars, whereby the car may be loaded from above by causing the halves of the cover to move outward through a cable drive system. The covers are of an aero-dynamic shape which provides for negative lift and drag. By employing light-weight materials and an aero-dynamic shape, substantial advantages in fuel cost and consumption can be achieved, while providing for easy loading and protection of cargo through the translational movement of the cover halves.

Abstract: An oceangoing barge cover is provided, which is made from lightweight structural fabric but enjoys the strength and stiffness of heavier steel covers and meets the requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping. The cover is comprised of a series of units, each of which in crosssection, is in the form of a series of concave quaternary curves, to the underside of which are fixed structural beams of fiberglass encasing rebar for support. Further support is provided by pipes of a structural fabric running perpendicular to the structural beams. A hatch can be optionally provided. Weathersealing and barge affixing means are also disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the structural elements of the cover are comprised of fiberglass or fiberglass laminate.

Abstract: A carrier mechanism for the insertion of weft fibers is provided, consisting of only one moving part. The mechanism comprises a frame with guide holes through which the weft fibers may be led and a presser bar apparatus mounted on the frame in a fashion to allow free rotation of the presser bar apparatus. The presser bar apparatus is slidably engaged with a carrier cam mechanism mounted upon a loom or knitting machine wherein the weft fibers are incorporated into a fabric. By providing this slidable engagement off-center of the presser bar apparatus, one or the other presser bar may be caused to be depressed by translational movement of the carrier mechanism. At the point of greatest depression of each presser bar, the weft fibers are depressed to the extent that they are engaged by belts of hooks at either end of the loom, which hooks then advance the weft fibers, maintained in parallel alignment, into the loom or knitting machine.

Abstract: A structural fabric of high torsion resistance and stiffness is provided. The fabric is a three-layered double biased fabric, the first layer being comprised of parallel structural fibers biased from the longitudinal center line of the fabric, the middle layer being comprised of parallel structural fibers of twice the weight of the fibers of the first layer and aligned at an angle of 90.degree. to those of the first layer and a third layer of parallel structural fibers of the same weight as those of the first layer and aligned at 90.degree. to those of the second layer. The fibers and layers may be held in place and affixed by use of secondary knitted or sewn yarns or threads, and the entire fabric may be saturated with a curable resin.

Abstract: A nonskid structural surface (10) is disclosed. The nonskid surface (10) includes a plurality of planar strips (12) alternated with strips (14) having protrusions (16). Protrusion strips (14) preferably have pyramidal-shaped protrusions (16) with adjacent rows of protrusions (16) staggered and alternate rows aligned with one another. Each protrusion (16) has a four-sided pyramidal shape with a rounded apex (20) and a base (18) of four corners. A longer length between one set of opposite corners than width between a second set of opposite corners is preferred.

Abstract: A lightweight removable cover for railroad coil cars and the like, having a cover shell made of fiberglass reinforced plastic, with external reinforcing ribs having stacking brackets integrally formed therewith, thus permitting stacking of the covers when they are not in use on a car. A reinforcing box member around the bottom of the cover and extending outwardly from the shell cooperates with the external reinforcing ribs to protect from damage the handrails and other hardware attached to the outside of the shell. In a preferred embodiment, latches are provided for securing the cover to the car, and a centrally positioned lifting cage is connected to automatically release the latches when engaged by a lifting hook.