Abstract: A solar-powered rapid transit system is provided, which travels suspended above ground along a horizontal rail, supported by vertical/horizontal supports. The guide rail is basically a parallelogram, with five inner surfaces. It can be configured as either an overhead monorail system, or a birail system. The rail car is attached to and suspended from such rail by power transmission and support shafts, each of which attaches to a wheel box that fits into the horizontal guide rail. Power is transmitted to the wheels in each wheel box from several electric motors by a series of pulleys and belts in a unique configuration. Such wheels then propel the rail car or cars, which can be connected in series, down the rail. Power for electric motors is supplied by rectangular solar panels supported by vertical supports attached to the roof of each rail car, which extend several feet above the rail car and guide rails.

Abstract: In an aircraft cable feed out and retrieval storage apparatus, a storage compartment communicates with an assembly housing, having an inclined wall connecting between the two, with the assembly housing incorporating a base that mounts a pair of friction wheels, one of the wheels being an idler wheel, that is shiftable, and can exert pressure upon the ground cable arranged intermediate thereof, so that upon energization of a motor operatively associated with the other frictional drive wheel, the ground cable can be fed out, or retrieved, as required; the apparatus can be installed suspended to the underside of the passenger tunnel of an airline terminal, supported upon legs for mounting to the ground, or be conveyed upon wheels, and moved through actuation of a handle. The base of the assembly housing is pivotally mounted, or removable, to provide immediate access to its operating components and to facilitate their prompt servicing.

Abstract: An intermediate portal protecting an intercommunicating gangway between two coupled vehicles, particularly railroad cars. The portal comprises two mirror-symmetrical parts which are detachably connected to each other. The portal is closed on all sides and mounted for lateral displacement relative to the cars. On a straight track, the portal contour is flush with the contour of the cars. The parting surfaces between the portal and the respective car are designed to maintain a definite narrow gap therebetween under any operating conditions, as long as a supporting and guiding structure can follow these parting surfaces in parallel motion. To this end, the invention provides a supporting and guiding arm by which the portal is guided both horizontally and vertically by means of cam tracks conformable to the parting surfaces which are preferably spherical.

Abstract: An elastic rail fastening system for use with wooden rail ties in which the rail is seated on a rail plate which in turn is secured to the wooden rail tie by two pairs of spikes which also serve to support two rail clamps. The recessed portions of the spikes are adapted to receive the base portion of the rail clamp. The rail plate has an upstanding rib lying parallel to the rail flange and between each pair of spikes. The arrangement is such that the base of the rail clamp abuts the rail plate rib before it contacts the end of the recess which is adjacent the rail.

Abstract: This relates to a clamp assembly for engagement with a lowermost rear pallet board in a truck or trailer so as to restrain the pallet and all preceding pallets and those stacked thereon against rearward movement. The pallet clamp assembly includes a suitable track recessed in the trailer bed or floor and a pallet clamp which is adjustable longitudinally of the track and which in its inoperative position is fully seated and retained in the track against movement. The pallet clamp is of a simple construction and once released against movement longitudinally of the track may be easily manually positioned relative to a pallet and then locked relative to the track in its adjusted position. In a like manner, when it is desired to unload the truck or trailer, the pallet clamp may be readily released with respect to the track, moved rearwardly away from the pallet and fully seated within the track so as to in no way interfere with the unloading of pallets from the truck or trailer.

Abstract: A frameless self-steering radial wheeled support vehicle for a railroad car body includes:(a) a pair of wheelsets,(b) a support at opposite ends of each wheelset for independently mounting a railroad car body on each end of the wheelset,(c) resilient shear pads for mounting each support upon an end of a wheelset, which pads permit both lateral and yaw movement of a wheelset relative to its supports, and(d) a linkage connecting adjacent ends of each wheelset constraining the wheelsets to yaw in opposite sense and permitting lateral movement of one wheelset relative to the other.

Abstract: A bogie for a rail vehicle having a load bearing frame for supporting the vehicle from axle boxes on wheel sets has an integral coupling member connecting the axle boxes on one wheel set with the axle boxes on the other wheel set. The integral coupling member has an amount of inherent spring and/or damping properties effective for providing stable running characteristics to the bogie. Preferably, the integral coupling member has two, circularly curved portions between pairs of axle boxes on the wheel sets and transverse braces centrally therebetween.

Abstract: A constant-velocity transmission, particularly for connecting the drive motor to the driving axle of a motorized railway vehicle, comprises two hollow coaxial shafts interconnected by a resilient coupling and provided with respective end flanges articulated, through two groups of four connecting rods, to respective flanges of a hollow driven shaft and a hollow driving shaft coupled for rotation with the axle. The transmission allows considerable relative movements, both radial and axial, between the driving and driven shafts without the use of members which require lubrication.

Abstract: A detachable gondola lift or chair-lift is disclosed which includes several sections which can operate independently from one another. Two sections are connected in an intermediate station by connecting tracks to transfer cars from one section to the other. Each section is equipped with a chain to drive the cars on the transfer rails. Each section is also fitted with flowrate regulators. When the two sections are joined, an adjustment device adjusts the chain of one of the sections in relation to the chain of the other section to achieve a regular transfer of the cars from one section to the other without intermediate storage.

Abstract: A system for handling cables and the like comprising a guide track (7) beneath which is fixed a plurality of space-apart retaining units (10). A trolley (8) is slidably mounted on the guide track (7) and accommodates a cable (5) which may be fixed at each retaining unit by pulling the trolley (8) along the track (7). By pulling the trolley in the opposite direction, the cable (5) may be released from each retaining unit.

Abstract: A railroad car for transporting vehicles such as automobiles and trucks, comprising a floor and two side walls defining an interior space and terminating in an opening at each end; at least one elevated deck spaced above the floor and extending the length of the railroad car and terminating in an end at each of the openings; an end enclosure at each end of the car adapted to be displaced between a closed position overlying the end opening and an opened position which provides access to the entire end of the car; an elongated closure support member at each end of the car disposed within the car interior in a horizontal plane and joined to the end of the deck with the deck elevation being at least as high as that of the closure support; and bridge plate supports, for a pair of bridge plates, located at the front of the closure support member such that bridge plates removably attached thereto are at essentially the same level as the deck.

Abstract: A conveyor system for driverless vehicles includes a channel-shaped track adapted to be mounted in a floor. The track has at least one curved section. Along the inner leg of the curved section, there is provided a polymeric plastic liner which is characterized by a low friction and high abrasion resistance. The liner is adapted to contact a side face of a chain disposed within the track.

Abstract: A cable drum 1 powered by an electric motor (2) for multi-conductor cables of heavy cross-section. To provide for insertion of the cable (4) into the cable drum (1) to be carried out without the use of slip-rings, twistable conductors (10) of high-elasticity are provided and are attached to rotate with the drum (1) at one end of a length L coaxial with the axis of rotation 1a of the drum (1). At the other end of the length L the conductors (10) are attached in a non-rotatable manner to a terminal box (15). The conductors (10) in the length L are guided between the points of attachment 12, 14 within a fixed tube (13). The terminal box (15) may be mounted on a slide 15a for movement in the axial direction of the tube and may be held under the tension of a spring (16) acting in the direction opposed to the movement. Alternatively the tube can be mounted at an angle to the axis of the rotation of the cable drum (1).

Abstract: A trolley wire suspension hanger includes a rod bent to form two loops at opposite ends with a substantially straight portion in between, one loop being to go over the messenger wire and the other for holding a clip. The clip includes a V-shaped member bent from sheet bronze with a C-shaped latch member passing through a T-shaped opening in each leg of the clip. The ends of the clip are bent inwardly toward each other to engage grooves in the trolley wire, whereupon the latch member is rotated to clamp the ends of the clip member in place.

Abstract: A rail for a track-bound vehicle comprising a number of lateral flanges, which can cooperate with a substructure, the flanges extending in an outwards direction from an essentially vertically arranged web provided with a foot, and a portion of a runway rail forming part of a head of the rail and connected with the web. This makes possible a reduction of excavating and substructure work, when laying rails, and a simplified maintenance of the tracks, and in addition also reduces the required number of sleepers. The lateral flanges as seen in the transverse direction relative to the web project to a larger extend than the foot, so that the load operating on the rail will essentially be absorbed by the substructure cooperating with and substantially being located in the area of the lateral flanges.

Abstract: A cord reel for an extension cord comprises a housing and a hub mounted for rotation from the housing. A convenience receptacle is provided in the hub of the reel. The electrode supporting structure of the receptacle is relatively open, whereby water can drain therefrom to permit the reel to be used under moist conditions in relative safety. A circuit breaker connected serially with the cord mounts in the hub so as to be at least in part responsive to thermal build up within the housing.

Abstract: A railway hopper car has a hatch opening defined by its upper deck surface. A hatch cover is adapted to close the hatch opening. A hinge arrangement is connected with the upper deck surface and a locking arm extends from the hinge arrangement and across the hatch cover, being connected to the hatch cover. The hinge arrangement has a stop thereon which supports the hatch cover when it is pivoted open. The locking arm has a hatch engagement portion on the end opposite the hinge arrangement which is engaged by a latch structure connected with the upper deck surface. The latch structure includes a pivoting latch holder and latch which may be engaged with the latch engagement portion and rotated in one direction to seal the hatch cover and rotated in the opposite direction to unseal the cover.

Abstract: A switch for controlling the movement of trolleys on overhead tracks, which comprises a plurality of tracks intersecting with each other, wherein the switch is adaptable to be inserted between intersecting tracks and adjustable for handling trolley movement from one track to another. The switch is adaptable to be inserted between straight and curved tracks, curved and curved tracks, and to automatically handle the movement of the trolleys in one direction, and includes a unique cable transmission system for controlling trolley movement which provides positive movement of said lift pieces without relying on gravitational forces, thereby avoiding malfunctions.

Abstract: Rails supporting vehicles are suspended under utilization of a mounting plate being laterally adjustable by means of a detent structure and oblong slots secured to a lowermost portion of support tower or the like and having four bores threadedly receiving four suspension bolts for a C-shaped bracket member having an uppermost suspension plate with arc-shaped bores for receiving the suspension bolts; a plurality of nuts threadedly secure the suspension plate to the suspension bolts from above and from below in an elevationally adjustable manner; the rail is secured to the lower portion of the bracket member.

Abstract: A device for interrupting the movement of load carrying units, such as carts or pallets, moving with a conveyor system. The device includes a movable conveyor engagement mechanism associated with each of the carts which is movable between a conveyor system engagement position and disengagement position by a movable actuator disposed at a first preselected location along the conveyor path at which the movement of a cart is to be interrupted. The movable actuator is controlled by a trigger mechanism disposed at a second predetermined location upstream of the movable actuator. The trigger mechanism is activated in response to a following cart moving with the conveyor past the trigger mechanism.