Abstract: A pressurized air system controls air pressure in air reservoirs that deliver compressed air to air-actuated components in a vehicle. An air compressor supplies compressed air to air reservoirs which deliver compressed air to air-actuated components. A control system measures the air pressure in the air reservoirs by using at least one electric switch. Each switch is connected to an air reservoir and generates an electric signal to an electrically controlled valve indicative of the measured air pressure in the corresponding air reservoir. The electrically controlled valve is connected to an air compressor. The electrically controlled valve moves between a first position causing the air compressor to supply compressed air to the air reservoirs and a second position causing the air compressor to stop supplying compressed air to the air reservoirs responsive to the received electronic signal.

Abstract: A vehicle storage carriage includes a pair of upper and lower rails connected via side-mounted cross members for stability and four vertical posts, two in front, two in rear, that can be rigidly bolted to the floor of a standard cargo container. A pair of ramps with recessed wheel channels adapted to carry the rear tires of a stowed vehicle are mounted horizontally front and rear between a pair of the vertical posts. The front and rear of the ramps can be adjusted by selectively raising and lowering the cross members. The rear of the ramps are pivotably mounted to the rear cross member. Chock assemblies that are rigidly mountable to the container floor include slideably movable chocks that are movable forwardly or rearwardly and also movable sideways to accommodate different size vehicles. A pivotable strap securing plate is pivotably mounted to the container floor for use with vehicle tie-down straps for each of the stowed vehicles. Several carriages may be employed with a given standard cargo container.

Abstract: A tank wetting method for wetting the interior of a tank of a vehicle such that residue from transported substance does not dry on interior surfaces of the tank. The tank wetting method utilizes a tank wetting appartatus (10) including an atomizing device (38) having at least one nozzle (56) disposed within the tank of the vehicle, and a reservoir (12) mounted on the vehicle for holding a liquid such as water. A liquid supply system is provided for selectively supplying water to the atomizing device (38), and an air supply system is provided for selectively supplying air to the atomizing device (38), whereby the atomizing device (38) mixes the air from the air supply system and the liquid from the reservoir (12) and injects the resulting atomized liquid into the interior of the vehicle's tank. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the substance being transported is discharged from the tank (18) of the vehicle, and the tank (18) is sealed such that the tank is substantially airtight.

Abstract: A pressurized air system controls air pressure in air reservoirs that deliver compressed air to air-actuated components in a vehicle. An air compressor supplies compressed air to air reservoirs which deliver compressed air to air-actuated components. A control system measures the air pressure in the air reservoirs by using at least one electric switch. Each switch is connected to an air reservoir and generates an electric signal to an electrically controlled valve indicative of the measured air pressure in the corresponding air reservoir. The electrically controlled valve is connected to an air compressor. The electrically controlled valve moves between a first position causing the air compressor to compress air and to supply compressed air to the air reservoirs and a second position causing the air compressor to stop compressing air, responsive to the received electronic signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding hazardous waste made up of solids and liquids in a flowable form includes a tank made of material selected to be impervious to and non-corrodible by the hazardous waste and having a non-critical portion, an agitator in the tank having fluid agitation portions oriented for rotational movement about a horizontal axis, a non-sparking motor located within the tank connected to the agitator for imparting rotation to the fluid agitation portions, and a power source for the motor outside the tank having means passing through the non-critical portion of the tank for communicating power from the power source to the motor. Thus, the power source may communicate power to the non-spark generating motor to impart rotation to the agitator to cause the fluid agitation portions to agitate hazardous waste made up solids and liquids held in the tank to maintain the hazardous waste in flowable form.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding hazardous waste made up of solids and liquids in a flowable form includes a tank made of material selected to be impervious to and non-corrodible by the hazardous waste and having a non-critical portion, an agitator in the tank having fluid agitation portions oriented for rotational movement about a horizontal axis, a non-sparking motor located within the tank connected to the agitator for imparting rotation to the fluid agitation portions, and a power source for the motor outside the tank having means passing through the non-critical portion of the tank for communicating power from the power source to the motor. Thus, the power source may communicate power to the non-spark generating motor to impart rotation to the agitator to cause the fluid agitation portions to agitate hazardous waste made up of solids and liquids held in the tank to maintain the hazardous waste in flowable form.

Abstract: The present invention entails a finger protector adapted to be secured to the backside of a baseball glove for receiving the normally exposed finger of the glove hand. In particular, the finger protector of the present invention is designed to be secured adjacent a finger opening formed in the back side of the glove through which the player's index finger extends. The finger protector of the present invention includes a relatively hard outer housing and internal padding material and wherein the housing and internal padding material form a finger receiving area that protects the player's finger when the finger is inserted within the housing.

Abstract: A gun port assembly includes:(a) an armored closure,(b) structure forming a main port,(c) and a rocker arm pivotably carried by such structure to carry the closure into closing and opening relation to the port in response to pivoting of the arm,(d) and over-center spring mechanism biasing the arm to have a first stable position in which the closure extends in closing relation to the port, and a second stable position in which the closure is spaced away from the port, and the port is open.

Abstract: A gun port assembly includes:(a) a slidable closure,(b) structure forming a port and carrying the closure for sliding movement into and out of closing relation with the port,(c) a latching shoulder on the structure,(d) a latching lever pivotably carried by the closure and having a first portion engageable with the shoulder in closed position of the closure to block opening movement of the closure,(e) the latching lever having a second portion projecting for displacement by the user to pivot the lever first portion out of engagement with that shoulder and to displace the closure out of closing relation with the port.

Abstract: In order to reduce the economic impact of segregated ballast requirements for tanker vessels, heavy ballast, for example concrete, is placed in the segregated ballast tanks in amount to occupy 30 to 50% of the free volume of the tank. The rest of the tank may be filled with water ballast. The use of heavy ballast provides a total ballast weight equal to that obtainable with a greater number of tanks filled with water ballast only, thus increasing the available cargo space.

Abstract: A pallet carrier supported from the bottom of a tractor trailer forward of the rear tires includes a frame defining a number of pallet bays on each side of the carrier and an aerodynamic wing on the forward end of the carrier. The pallet carrier is used to carry wooden pallets when the trailer is loaded with a slip-sheet or floor loaded shipment.

Abstract: A tank trailer for transporting dry and liquid flowable materials comprising a horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical tank having front and rear transverse end walls. On each end wall is a hopper structure inclining upwardly and outwardly from the bottom portion of each end wall and having a width considerably less than the diameter of the tank. Extending horizontally from the bottom portions of the respective end walls are front and rear platforms. These platforms each have a width approximately equal to the diameter of the tank and are adapted to carry freight thereon in the manner of a flatbed trailer.