Abstract: A cable drive mechanism for opening and closing a sliding box car door includes a high friction drive pulley carrying a cable which is anchored at opposite ends to the sides of the box car and a low friction guide pulley which is in aligning relation to the drive pulley. The drive pulley is manually rotated for sliding the box car door between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A rollaway decking system for use in transport vehicles, e.g., truck trailers or shipping containers, includes a pair of tracks mounted on opposite side walls of the vehicle and a rollaway deck extending between the tracks. The deck has a plurality of articulated panels arranged in and edge to edge relationship with each adjacent pair of panels including an integral, hinge-like linking arrangement extending across the adjacent edges of the panels for pivotally connecting the panels together. Each track includes a support extending underneath the deck for engaging the underside of the deck under heavy load conditions. The deck includes a plurality of deck sections which can be used together or individually to accomodate various loads.

Abstract: An automatic device for locking and unlocking a hopper door operating mechanism which prevents accidental opening of the hopper doors due to car oscillations and provides a protective lock while the car is in transit but which has a novel lock which is releasable by intuitional actuation of the operating mechanism.

Abstract: A roller dryer for clay pipe comprised of a support means for transporting pipe through a tunnel dryer and roller carriage means for rotating the pipe to achieve uniform drying thereof. The roller dryer can accommodate pipes of different lengths and diameters while maintaining the lineality and concentricity of the pipe sections.

Abstract: A pretreating process for upgrading heavy petroleum feedstocks is disclosed. In a pretreating zone, the feedstock is contacted, in the presence of hydrogen, with a cracking catalyst. In this pretreating zone, the heavy metals content of the feedstock is reduced, and a significant quantity of the feedstock coke precursors are converted directly to oils which are readily recoverable from the pretreating zone effluent. Further, some unconverted coke precursors and the heavy metals complexed therewith are separated from the pretreating zone effluent in a solid asphaltic fraction. The pretreating zone effluent remaining after separation of this solid asphaltic fraction is an upgraded feedstock having significantly reduced heavy metal, sulfur, and Conradson carbon residue contents.

Abstract: A high volume railway gondola car particularly suited for high speed rail operations having a bracing structure extending the length of the car including a plurality of serially interconnected V-shaped trusses having laterally longitudinally downwardly convergent bracing members coupling the car walls to the underframe along the centerline of the car.

Abstract: A high volume railway gondola car particularly suited for high speed rail operations including a pair of rigid elongated tension and compression braces at each end of the car which couple the corner caps of the car walls to the minimum vertical flexure portions of the car floor located immediately above the car center bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A striker assembly for end-of-car hydraulic cushioning devices includes a housing which is connected to the shank of the coupler. The coupler shank is provided with an elongated slot which is connected to a transversely extending key carried in key supporting slots provided in vertical side walls of the housing. The key has a pair of transversely spaced notches which are engaged by vertical retaining pins supported within the housing. One of the retaining pins is movable outwardly from the housing which thereupon permits the key to be removed through one of the key supporting slots whereby the coupler is readily removable.

Abstract: A low energy process for the production of hydrogen-rich gas which involves the process sequence of primary reforming and secondary reforming includes parallel steam reformers for the primary reforming of the hydrocarbon feed, one portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using radiant heat, i.e., a steam reforming furnace, and another portion of the hydrocarbon feed being heated using indirect heat exchange with the effluent from the secondary reforming, i.e., an exchanger-reactor.

Abstract: An elongated hatch opening in the roof of a hopper car includes a pair of hatch covers hinged on opposite sides of the hatch. A motor and operating mechanism supported at the end of the hatch reciprocates a pair of push-pull bars positioned within the hatch opening which in turn are connected to elevating rods connected to the underneath sides of the covers, the elevating rods extending inwardly and upwardly in the closed position and have a universal joint connection with the covers. Upon movement of the push-pull bars the elevating rods move the hatch covers to an upright open position. The elevating rods and the push-pull bars may be located internally or externally of the hatch covers, i.e., inwardly or outwardly of the hopper car body.

Abstract: A transport system of highway vehicles comprises a highway tractor which is connected to a highway trailer vehicle by means of an intermediate dolly. The dolly includes an inclined frame supported at its lower rear end on a running gear and its forward end includes a king pin connected to the tractor fifth wheel. A fifth wheel for connection to the highway trailer is movably mounted on the inclined frame.

Abstract: A pair of laterally movable sliding doors include one door provided with a vertical hollow side frame member within which is housed a reciprocating locking bar adapted to engage a keeper mounted on the car below the door. The locking bar is reciprocated by a bell crank handle and lever arrangement which is pivotally connected to one end of a rockable link or arm supported on the door, the link including an end projecting into the side frame member for pivotal connection to the upper end of the locking bar.

Abstract: A box car door track support includes a continuous structural support member which is supported on the side sill of the car beneath the door opening. A track is mounted on the continuous track support and a plurality of spaced gussets reinforce the support structure.

Abstract: A wall mounted folding table movable from a collapsed and recessed position includes a folding bracket arrangement having first and second arms pivotally interconnected and pivotally connected to the table top and to the wall structure. The foldable bracket includes a reciprocating latch which releasably connects the folding bracket members in a linear support position and also maintains the folding leg in a collapsed and recessed position.

Abstract: A sliding door includes a roller lifting mechanism provided by horizontally spaced bell cranks to which rollers are connected and which may be pivoted downwardly to engage a door track for raising the door so that it may be laterally moved to one side of the door opening. The lifting mechanism includes a cam element which is manually rotated to exert a push force on the bell crank levers for pivoting the same into the lift position. A modified version of the lift mechanism includes a linkage arrangement which exerts a pulling action on the bell cranks for achieving the lifting function.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for hatch covers utilized on railway hopper cars comprises a hand or foot operated latch arm which is held in a closed position by a balanced retaining member pivotally mounted on a keeper element. The retaining member includes a nose engaging latch arm for retaining the same in a closed position. The retaining member also includes a foot element disposed below the arm. Sudden downward movement of the arm within the keeper element against the foot element causes the balanced retainer to be swung to an out-of-the-way position whereupon the arm can be unlatched from the keeper.

Abstract: A lading tie down anchor construction for a railway box car having an outside wall post includes an anchor plate which is attached to the longitudinal flanges of the post to provide a surface flush with the inner vertical wall surface of the car. The anchor plate includes vertically spaced attaching surfaces and alternate depressed pockets therebetween. A flat anchoring bar is connected to the attaching surfaces and extends over the pockets which are provided with vertically extending side portions through which a lading strap may be connected to the anchoring post.

Abstract: A bottom dump railway car includes gravity biased gates which are moved outwardly to an open position. Each gate includes an outwardly projecting arm having a cam follower mounted thereon. Track side cams are engaged by the cam followers which engage cam surfaces extending diagonally upwardly and arcuately outwardly so as the car travels along the cams the doors are moved outwardly to open positions.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing compounds, particularly sulfur dioxide, are removed from stack gas streams by wet scrubbing the gases wherein an alkaline earth metal sulfate and/or sulfite are formed. Example processes are lime/limestone and Double Alkali scrubbing processes. These processes produce sludge material containing primarily the alkaline earth metal sulfate which is disposed of only with significant difficulty. An improvement is described herein whereby the aqueous sludge is reduced in contact with sufficient coal to produce the corresponding sulfide and effluent gases from the reduction step having a sufficient heating value to be used to dry the mixture of sludge and coal prior to the reducing step. The alkaline earth metal carbonate and elemental sulfur are recovered from the sulfide.

Abstract: A glass making furnace having a preheater and recycling structure including a tubular housing having a lower gas receiving stack section, a top in the form of an inverted cone, a glass batch pellet containing intermediate section, having a lower portion over the cone and about the intermediate section, gas ports in the side of the cone, shield means over the ports, a discharge valve in the lower portion below the cone part, a hot gas stack extending over the upper portion of the pellet section, a fan or hot gas ejector at the top of the stack, a damper above the fan or hot gas ejector connecting with a pressure controller within the furnace for maintaining the pressure in the furnace slightly above atmospheric, an inlet valve outwardly of the upper portion of the pellet section to control the entrance of the pellets, a regenerator on each side of the melting section and port and burner means communicating with each regenerator, a reversing valve connected with the regenerators and the melting section, and a p