Abstract: A propulsion system for a magnetically movable vehicle includes at least one means for producing a horizontal magnetic field mounted to the vehicle; a conductor adjacent to, but not in physical contact with, the means for producing a horizontal magnetic filed; and means for passing direct current through the conductor; wherein, the conductor is oriented so that the current passing through the conductor will interact with the horizontal magnetic field to generate a linear force sufficient to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A transport system for moving along a track on a support surface. The system includes a body, a guide system and a powered self-steering caster assembly. The guide system cooperates with the track to apply lateral forces to the body to guide it along a predetermined path when a propulsive force is applied to the body. The powered self-steering caster assembly has a pivot joint and a wheel driven by a motor. The wheel has a center of rotation and is rotatably mounted to engage the support surface and roll in a forward direction. The pivot joint is mounted to the body to allow the wheel to pivot about a predetermined axis intersecting the support surface forward of the engagement between the wheel and the support surface. The wheel drives the body and pivots in response to frictional side slip forces between the wheel and the support surface without restraint from a steering linkage.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing rail clips from a rail, the apparatus constructed and arranged to be mounted on a railway maintenance vehicle having a frame, and including an applicator/remover configured to perform one of installation and removal of the rail clips relative to a rail, an actuator configured for reciprocating the applicator/remover in a direction substantially transverse to the rail so that rail clips are moved one of towards the rail or away from the rail.

Abstract: A propulsion and stabilization system with a plurality of superconducting magnetic devices affixed to the dual-keels of a vehicle, where the superconducting magnetic devices produce a magnetic field when energized. The system also includes a plurality of figure-eight shaped null-flux coils affixed to opposing vertical sides of slots in a guideway. The figure-eight shaped null-flux coils are vertically oriented, laterally cross-connected in parallel, longitudinally connected in series, and continue the length of the vertical slots providing levitation and guidance force. An external power source energizes the figure-eight shaped null-flux coils to create a magnetic traveling wave that interacts with the magnetic field produced by the superconducting magnets to impart motion to the vehicle.

Abstract: A tamping vehicle uses a split tool mechanical vibrator having corresponding front and back vibrator units powered by a single motor. Sprockets and a synchronous sprocket belt drive front and back units to vibrate 180 degrees out of phase. A lubricant carrying belt carries oil to the top of a housing for lubricating and cooling various moving parts. Squeeze cylinders are used to move tamping tools to squeeze in positions by rotating the tamping tools about the same axes as rotation of vibration inducing shafts. Independently liftable gauge and field side tamping assemblies allow use at railroad switches and other locations where narrow width tamping is needed. A tamping tool provides easy connection to a tamping tool holder in such a way that two tamping tools may be mounted to one tool holder.

Abstract: A railway car (10) is provided. Railway car (10) comprises hopper assemblies (18) having floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) that are angled at approximately 40.degree. or less. Floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) are fabricated from an aluminum material such that cargo may slide down floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) and exit hopper assembly (18) through an outlet (20) with relative ease while maximizing volume. Aerodynamic side posts (54) and improved side plates (58 and 60) which prevent water from entering hoppers (18) are also provided. An improved hatch (56), having first and second coaming portions (88 and 86) that are formed by a single extrusion process, is also presented.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a plate in the frame. An integrated rack and pinion drive moves the plate between open and closed positions on the frame. The drive includes a drive shaft, slip sockets mounted on the ends of the drive shaft and connected to the drive shaft through lost motion connections, pinion gears mounted directly to the drive shaft and rotatable with the drive shaft, racks mounted on the plate engaging the pinion gears so that rotation of the drive shaft moves the plate between the open and closed positions and a latch actuated by movement of either socket for latching the plate in the fully closed position and unlatching the plate prior to rotation of the drive shaft to open the plate.

Abstract: A vehicle movable along a pair of tracks includes a drive for pivoting the vehicle body with respect to the front and rear wheel assemblies about a pivotal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. The wheels include track-engaging surfaces formed with peripheral flanges on the opposite sides extending radially outwardly of the wheel for engaging the sides of the respective tracks. The wheels of each wheel assembly are of metal but all their track-engaging surfaces are covered by resilient material.

Abstract: The invention concerns impact-absorber devices, an impact-absorption method, and a framework and a vehicle including such impact-absorber devices. According to the invention, the impact-absorber device comprises at least one longitudinal member absorbing by deformation the energy generated by an impact in a given direction, which member is made from thin plate, having a generally triangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of impact. Applications to rail vehicles, for example.

Abstract: A nozzle configuration for a static mixer having a retaining shoulder with a square cross-section, an inclined front face and a flat retaining face that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. An undercut having a octagonal cross-section is provided immediately adjacent to the retaining face. The faces of the undercut alternately define access surfaces, that are in the same plane as and join with corresponding outer edges of the retaining shoulder, and locking surfaces that undercut the corners of the retaining shoulder for retaining a locking hub on the nozzle. Travelling clockwise around the undercut, each locking face is inclined relative to the preceding access face at an angle of 40.degree. such that it is harder to unlock a locking hub in the clockwise direction than it is to lock it.

Abstract: The wheel set comprises a pair of load-carrying wheels that run on a track, and that are steerable about parallel axes on a fixed portion, together with two pairs of guide wheels for bearing laterally against the track. The pairs of guide wheels are situated on either side of the load-carrying wheels, and they are carried by the same guide frame which is displaceable relative to the fixed portion only in rotation about a vertical axis. The guide frame is connected to the load-carrying wheels by a forced steering linkage for the load-carrying wheels. The fixed portion is constituted by a transverse box girder placed above the guide frame and provided with steering pivots for the load-carrying wheels, which pivots are placed beneath suspension cushions for the vehicle.

Abstract: A telescoping bridge plate for auto rack railroad cars for supporting automobiles being driven between railroad cars comprises a top plate with corrugations providing top surfaces separated by grooves, with the top plate having an overlapping end portion and a locking end portion, a bottom plate with corrugations providing top surfaces which seat beneath the top surfaces of the top plate, and grooves which seat beneath the grooves of the top plate, with the bottom plate having an overlapping end portion and a locking end portion, and with the top plate overlapping end portion and the bottom plate overlapping end portion being in sliding overlapping engagement.

Abstract: When slack-free railcar connector assemblies are placed under very high tensile loading, the connector assembly components will stretch and allow a typical "rigid" gravity wedge to descend into a fully seated position between the components and lock-in the tensile loads. The locked-in loads become additive in nature when successively encountered compressive loads are experienced by the connector assembly, thereby increasing the lateral drawbar angling forces, as well as accelerating coupling component wear. The wedge component of the present invention includes a means for vertically supporting and retaining the wedge in a holding position slightly above the normally fully seated position during the tensile loading, thereby eliminating the build up of tensile forces in the connector assembly.

Abstract: A tank transportation system comprises rails, stations, and a conveying truck moving on the rails between the stations under computer control. The conveying truck suspends a tank, which performs predetermined operations at the station, delivers and/or receives it to and from the station, and transports it to other stations in order. The system is used preferably for producing flowable composites.

Abstract: An improved wheel and bearing assembly for a load transporting overhead trolley with a load support bracket having opposed stems mounting laterally offset wheels in rolling engagement with an overhead track has wheel-incorporated radially inner and outer race members with anti-friction load bearing balls between them in an annular trackway. The radially inner race member is split offset from the line connecting the center of the balls and formed of mating laterally outer and laterally inner abutting members which have laterally mating non-compressible radially abutting surfaces with radially aligned annular grooves therein. A circumferentially compressible retention spring is carried in one of the annular grooves and resiliently projects radially from the groove so that a snap fit is achieved when the inner race members are moved relatively laterally into mating assembly.

Abstract: An article carrying apparatus for carrying an article by utilizing pressure of fluid such as compressed air, comprising a cylinder tube, a guide rail extending along the cylinder tube, a piston movable by an action of fluid pressure in said the cylinder tube, a moving piece for carrying an article supported in a manner that its movement is restricted in all directions except in an axial direction by the guide rail and movable in the axial direction along the guide rail and the cylinder tube, and a magnet coupling mounted on each of the moving piece and said piston, whereby the cylinder tube and the said guide rail are arranged as independent members and are connected each other by a connecting mechanism with a degree of freedom.

Abstract: The elastic membrane is designed as a flat, three-dimensional object. It has prominences and depressions. This makes possible a deformation which is substantially free of stress, in particular free of tensile stress, simultaneously in all three dimensions. The elastic membranes of this type which are known today suffer from the disadvantage that they are not substantially free of stress, and in particular free of tensile stress, in all three dimensions and therefore cannot meet certain requirements.

Abstract: A railway vehicle truck having side frames which are supported with respect to the journals of spaced apart wheelsets with the respective pair of wheelset axle ends supporting each side frame being constrained to move simultaneously in opposite directions toward and away from each other in response to truck steering impulses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier stopping device for a conveyor having a disengageable propelling member, such as a power and free conveyor. The stopping device preferably utilizes a linear induction motor to activate a stop plate of the stopping device. The stop plate is locked in an extended position and a retracted position by a locking pin which reacts to the electromagnetic force of the linear induction motor.

Abstract: A friction wedge for use in damping relative movement between the bolster and the side frame of a railroad car truck includes a body formed and adapted to be positioned in a pocket of one of the bolster and side frame. The body has spaced body portions integrally joined by an intermediate connecting portion. Each of the spaced body portions has a friction surface formed and adapted during normal use to be in frictional contact with a wear resistant surface on the other of the bolster and side frame. The spaced friction surfaces on the wedge body are effective to increase the resistance to bolster/side frame warp movement over and above the resistance provided by a continuous friction surface which is equal in width to the distance between the outside of each of the spaced friction surfaces.