Abstract: A mobile robot remotely controlled and/or powered through a cable from a stationary console is provided. The robot carries a cable management arrangement which stores the cable and dispenses and retracts it as needed. The arrangement lays down the cable under zero tension when the robot is outbound and reels it in as the robot returns to allow the robot to follow a tortuous path without entangling the cable under or around obstacles. The robot can have numerous configurations such as a simple configuration for use as a transporter for mail in an office and parts in a factory, to a complex configuration with robotic arms and sensors for use in remote surveillance and security work. The robot is especially usable in hostile environments such as nuclear power plants and has a containment box permitting it to be moved to numerous locations without contaminating other areas.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a vehicle so that it can be moved sideways by manual force. The apparatus includes a floor part having a pair of spaced, generally parallel grooves. Each groove has a pair of roller members coupled to it, and the roller members of the two grooves are alignable with each other so that a vehicle can be driven onto the roller members and be supported thereby. Each roller member has a lower extension or lip extending into a respective groove so that, when a sideways force is applied to the vehicle, the vehicle is moved sideways as the roller members are guided by the grooves. The invention is suitable for moving vehicles from one lane to an adjacent lane when the lanes are in side-by-side relationship to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rail securing arrangement, which has the following features. It comprises metal plates, each of which lies with its flat lower surface on the sleeper, and on whose upper surface two ribs are formed which extend in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and between which the foot of the sleeper lies on a bearing surface. On both sides of the rail in the region of the respective ribs, each plate has moreover at least one through-hole, with which a respective through-hole in the sleeper is aligned. Corresponding screws are each introduced with their lower ends into the respective through-holes of the plate and engage with a hook-like bend beneath the lower surface of the plate. Each screw is provided at its upper end with a thread onto which a respective nut is screwed. Furthermore, the securing arrangement comprises plate-like securing elements which are each bent to form a double-armed angle member.

Abstract: An assembly for suspending electricity power supply rails comprising a cross member (2), bolts (6) or the like for fixing the cross member to a fixed structure (4) in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the power supply rails (8), and members for suspending the rails from the cross member. The members for suspending the rails comprise: a series of at least two generally T-shaped half-clamp elements (10) comprising a crossbar (12) and a riser (14) perpendicular to said crossbar (12), with the length of the crossbars corresponding to the spacing between centers of two adjacent power supply rails (8) or to a multiple of the spacing, with the riser (14) of each T shape including a hooking rim (16) on opposite rail engaging faces. A slidable connection is formed between each T-shaped element (10) and the cross member (2) and locking elments (20,22) are provided to lock the endmost T-shaped elements (10e) of the series against translation.

Abstract: A tracking arrangement for a conveyorized transport system of the type in which coded workpiece carriers are routed by a switching mechanism from a main rail to an entry end of a subsidiary loop and then returned to the switching mechanism via a discharge end of the subsidiary loop, the entry end of the subsidiary loop being located downstream of the discharge end relative to the general direction of carrier movement on the carrier rail. The tracking arrangement comprises a sensor which reads the codes on the carriers while the carriers are located on the switching mechanism so that the codes may be read shortly before a carrier enters into a subsidiary loop and shortly after the carrier exits from a subsidiary loop.

Abstract: A disk wheel, especially a railroad wheel, has a composite construction of single piece metal hub and a single piece metal rim connected to each other by a wheel disk of fiber reinforced composite material providing exclusively adhesive bonds. The wheel disk transmits shearing stress between hub and rim. The rim is provided with two radially inwardly extending rim flanges. The hub has two radially outwardly extending hub flanges. The shearing stress transmitting wheel disk (12) has a radially outer rim contacting surface (9) adhesively bonded to the rim (3) and rim flanges (7), and a radially inner hub contacting surface (8) adhesively bonded to the hub (2) and hub flanges (6). The wheel disk (12) is inserted into the space between the concentrically arranged hub and rim as long as the composite material is not yet cured and hence sufficiently deformable. The wheel disk is exposed to compression during curing.

Abstract: A collector device for trolley-assisted vehicles having a pantograph operating circuit acting to deenergize the pantograph operating electromagnetic valve, when a driver inadvertently intends to leave the vehicle while pantographs are in the working position by automatically bringing the pantographs down to leave overhead contact wire thus to avoid electric shock accident.

Abstract: A modular floor for manual storage systems consists of floor modules joined to create a longitudinal path of any desired length for supporting a wheeled carriage for movement therealong. Each floor module comprises a pair of parallel rails that are independently vertically adjustable by means of leveling screws in transverse rail supporting beams. The ends of the rails are notched and tongue and grooved to provide vertical and horizontal alignment of the ends of adjoining rails. The modular floor includes sturdy and neat ramps extending transversely on each side thereof. The invention further includes an anti-tip device composed of plates secured to the carriages and having lips that slide along and cooperate with a member fixed to the modular floor to prevent the carriages from tipping in the direction of longitudinal movement.

Abstract: An improved railroad coupler mount is provided for securely mounting railroad signalling and monitoring equipment (10) on the coupler of the last railroad car of a train. The railroad coupler mount includes a banana shape member (30) which extends through a pair of relief holes (22) in the knuckle (12) of the railroad car coupler. The railroad coupler mount has a tightening means (28) for partially withdrawing the banana shaped member and tightly pressing a support leg (20) against the side wall of the coupler to provide a secure mount which is free of rotation problems. The railroad coupler mount is secured with a locking device (26) which serves the dual function of resisting the total withdrawal of the banana shaped member when the railroad coupler mount is tightened as well as preventing the unauthorized removal of the signalling and monitoring equipment. The railroad coupler mount is attached in a position which avoids damage to the signalling and monitoring equipment due to accidental coupling.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inter-carriage passage for a railway carriage set comprising an intermediate bodywork member having a generally annular shape connecting the adjoining ends of two carriages.In accordance with the invention, the intermediate bodywork member is connected to the two adjoining carriage ends so as to be maintained in a radial position; this intermediate member is positioned on each carriage end by means of deformable pneumatic joints.The invention is especially applicable to metro (rapid transit) trains with short carriages and radial axles.

Abstract: Apparatus for bridging a space between adjacent wagons having laterally tiltable bodies and arranged end to end in a train includes a flap pivoted at the rear end of a wagon body for free pivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axis, the flap having a width corresponding to that of the respective wagon body and a length sufficient to overlap the following wagon body.