Abstract: A hinge bar connector assembly to connect spaced apart and separate ramps to a flat bed trailer of the type commonly known as a "hot shot" trailer of a semi-truck and trailer combination. Such trailers have spaced apart sockets or receiving channels around the peripheral edges of the trailer, including along both sides as well as along the front edge and the rear edge. The connector assembly in accordance with this invention has a first connecting member with two spaced apart legs to seat in a pair of adjacent receiving channels or sockets which support a pair of laterally spaced apart hinges and a removable hinge rod on which one end of a ramp having a connectable hinge member is pivotally connected. It also has a second identical connecting member seated in a pair of adjacent receiving channels or sockets which are spaced apart from the first connecting member to which a second ramp having a connectable hinge member is pivotally connected.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pallet dispensing machine. A plurality of pallets are positioned in an upright movable frame positioned in a stationary frame in the pallet dispensing machine. The latch mechanism holds the stack of pallets as the movable frame is lowered and sets of the stack on a feeder conveyor. Further downward motion of the movable frame causes the latch mechanism to retract out of engagement by gravity. Thereafter the movable frame moves upwardly and the latch mechanism reengages the remainding pallets above the bottom pallet to lift the stack about an inch so that the feeder conveyor can feed the bottom pallet out of the machine.

Abstract: A railroad car having a flat bed at the lowest possible level and a roof and side panels supported by stanchions at an extraordinary height is provided with cantilevered wheel seats for support of the front wheels of semistacked trucks with each truck backed into position by a forklift with the front end of the truck raised and its rear frame tucked in under the front end of a preceding truck. Side rails secured to the stanchions about one foot from the bed and about six inches in front of the stanchions help guide the trucks into proper position. Each wheel seat is comprised of two cantilevered box beams inserted into box receptacles supported by horizontal side box beams secured to the stanchions. A cross beam secured to the free end of the cantilevered box beams enhance the ability of the cantilevered box beams to support the weight of the truck and provide a place to secure an eye that receives a hook of a tie-down chain in a position directly below the front wheel axle of the truck.

Abstract: An installation for lifting and stacking or unstacking sheets of glass and particularly sheets of small dimension (i.e. one meter by 1.5 meters). The installation has a secondary conveyor (1), an elevator and a panel (24). The elevator has at least one arm (5) provided with suction cups (7) mounted on the sliding support. The arm is driven in rotation through an angle of about 90 degrees by a connecting rod-crank system (13) provided with at least one balancing jack (18) as well as a jack for laterally displacing the elevator and the secondary conveyor. The installation makes it possible to obtain very rapid operating rates (of the order of two seconds) at a reduced power output.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container securement bracket. The bracket includes a beam assembly having a first end and a second end, a beam assembly pocket having a top, a bottom, and a back and receiving either of the first end or the second end of the beam assembly, an upper channel spacer securement disposed on the top of the beam assembly pocket, a lower channel spacer securement disposed on the bottom of the beam assembly pocket, an upper channel spacer disposed in the upper channel spacer securement, a lower channel spacer disposed in the lower channel spacer securement, and a projection disposed on the back of the beam assembly pocket and fitting into the recessed area in the sides of the container.

Abstract: A track support which comprises steel structures (3) which are connected to reinforced concrete (1) or prestressed concrete (1) by connecting means (4) in a shear-free manner to form a composite support. The functional components, i.e., the lateral guide rails (3), are welded durably to the steel structures (3) at the upper chord (10) of the track support. In addition, it is possible to make continuous supports of great length from a plurality of individual supports at low cost by connecting the steel structures (3).

Abstract: A two piece load lashing compression device with tensioner for use on belts, bands and ropes on a freight carrier. Between the two metal pieces is located a compression spring which foreshortens under the load from the two pieces.

Abstract: Apparatus for singularizing successive stacks of a series of stacks consisting of superimposed groups of sheets has a transporting unit which advances successive stacks of the series in a horizontal plane against a barrier which intercepts each but the lowermost group of the oncoming stack. An endless conveyor with one or more pushers is provided to advance successive lowermost groups of an intercepted stack through and beyond a clearance between the barrier and a stationary table of the transporting unit. The width of such clearance exceeds the height of a single group but is less than the combined height of two superimposed groups. The width of the clearance and the extent to which the pusher or pushers can extend above the horizontal plane are adjustable.

Abstract: A barrier net replaces the metal bulkhead between the passenger and trunk compartments of an automobile. The barrier net comprises flexible, substantially inelastic webbing. The webbing is formed of a plurality of vertical, spaced straps and a plurality of horizontal, spaced straps traversing the vertical straps. The vertical strap is secured to the horizontal strap at each point where the two straps cross. The barrier net is attached in place between the passenger and trunk compartment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing old trackwork rail with new continuous welded rail including a temporary bridge for transferring rolling stock from the oil rail onto the new rail.

Abstract: An automatic multi-level storage structure including a building structure having at least one entrance and exit station, a main floor directly accessible from the entrance station, and a plurality of storage levels, a plurality of object pallets provided with wheels and adapted to carry objects to be stored. The pallets are movable along, and guide by, a first track fixedly attached to the floor of the levels. There is also provided at least one storage elevator adapted to accommodate the object pallets and to move between the main floor and the plurality of storage levels, and transfer platforms permanently located in the elevator and provided with a second track fixedly attached to the platform. The second track is adapted to accept and guide the wheels of the object pallet, and is furnished with a driver for moving the object pallet onto and off of the transfer platform.

Abstract: A center beam/center partition flat car, cable/strap retention assembly and method for retaining a load to a center beam/center partition flat car. Cables or straps are respectively retained to a plurality of winches positioned along the opposite side sills of the flat cars. The cables or straps extend around the load from bottom to top and downward with their free ends being secured to the floor deck of the flat car at a position adjacent the respective winches.

Abstract: A device for clamping container comprises a support frame positionable around the container over approximately one half of the circumference thereof, a pair of substantially horizontal support rods provided on the inner side of the frame in the vicinity of respective opposite ends thereof, and a pair of claw plates mounted on the respective support rods upwardly and downwardly rotatable. The support rods extend away from each other in a horizontal plane toward their front ends. The claw plates have inwardly curved edges opposed to each other for the body of the container to partly fit in and each have an upper surface positioned at a higher level than the support rod. The shortest distance between the claw plates through the center of the container corresponds to the diameter of the container body, and the distance between the front ends of the claw plates is smaller than the diameter.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic restrictor limits the speed at which the bed of a dump truck can be lowered by discharging fluid from a lift cylinder. The fluid dynamic restrictor defines a fluid vortex that provides a pressure drop proportional to the square of the fluid flow rate. Therefore the maximum rate at which the bed can be lowered is much the same regardless of whether the bed is empty or full. In contrast to a restrictor in the form of a throttled valve or wire mesh, the fluid dynamic restrictor is not easily plugged by debris. The fluid dynamic restrictor also offers little resistance in its reverse direction, which facilitates rapid lifting of the bed.

Abstract: A load bar for extension between opposite side walls of a cargo vehicle to restrain the cargo. The bar includes a pair of main tubes pivoted end to end at a toggle joint. An extension tube has a telescopic fit in one of the main tubes to provide length adjustment over a wide range. A clamp may be tightened to rigidly clamp the extension tube in place. The toggle joint may be covered and locked in its straight condition by a sleeve which fits closely yet slidably on the main tubes of the load bar.

Abstract: A unitary one-quarter mile long railroad rail which is free of weld seams. The rail is produced via a process including continuous rolling and asymmetric cooling.

Abstract: Resilient railroad fastener system comprising an elongated shoulder member and spring clip to be so applied and combined with the shoulder member as to create a toe load applied downward to the rail; the shoulder member having a reaction surface to be engaged at a first angle by one arm of the spring clip and the shoulder member being configured with a capturing surface to capture the other spring arm while cocking the spring clip at an angle to the horizontal when the spring clip is applied to the shoulder member; whereby when installed the spring clip has a toe load impressed thereon which is the vector sum of the clip load and shoulder reaction.

Abstract: An adjustable guide for a railway well car has a fixed guide for centering containers of a wide standard width during loading, and a retractable guide associated with and placed below the fixed guide for centering and positioning of containers of a narrower standard width. The positioning of the guides one below the other provides a stepped guide arrangement for incrementally guiding the container as it enters the well of the car.

Abstract: Intercept arms of a stacker are coupled to the drive chains by connecting links pivotally connected at one end directly to one of the drive chain links so that the pivot point of the connecting link is coincident with the pitch centerline of the drive chain resulting from the fact that the connecting link forms an integral part of the drive chain, directly replacing one of the drive chain rollers. The connecting link design provides a mechanical advantage of five to one and is pivotally mounted and angled so that the connecting link is free to pivot about the chain to avoid interference as the intercept arm moves about the sprocket, providing greater stability to the intercept arm while simultaneously increasing the mechanical advantage thereby significantly reducing power losses.

Abstract: A protective cover (163) for a trailer hitch (1) for use on a railcar (C). The hitch has a support (7), a hitch head (3) carried by the support, a locking mechanism (49) for latching the hitch in an upright, erect position, and a release mechanism (90) for allowing the hitch to retract. The cover comprises a plate (165) substantially covering at least a portion of the support, the locking mechanism, and the release mechanism. One end of the plate is pivotally mounted relative to the railcar and the other end of the plate cammingly engages the hitch support so that as the hitch is erected and retracted, the plate moves with the support and covers at least a portion of the support, the locking mechanism and the release mechanism.