Abstract: A trap assembly is provided to collect materials dispelled from a ski lift cable suspension assembly. A ski lift post rotatably supports a plurality of wheels through which a longitudinally moveable cable is guided. A collection trough is disposed beneath the wheels and the cable to trap materials dispelled about the wheels.

Abstract: A cargo carrier has a frame on which a hollow portion is provided, the hollow portion having a surface with an aperture therein. A locating device, such as a twistlock or location cone, is provided. The locating device can move between a raised position in which a first portion of the device projects through the aperture, and a lowered position in which the first portion is below the apertured surface. In this position a second portion of the locating device defines one end of the aperture in the surface and is effective to guide handling equipment into engagement with the cargo carrier through the aperture. The surface of the second portion of the device is preferably complimentary to the peripheral edge of the opposite end of the aperture.

Abstract: A gondola tub type railway car having an arrangement for transferring payloads from the car side panels more directly to the bolsters. The car at each end has a lower bolster for support by a car truck, and an upper bolster secured to the lower bolster preferably through a shear plate. A center plate unit extends upwardly from the lower bolster into the upper bolster and is secured to the latter. The car, at each end, is provided with a reaction beam located inboard of the associated bolster, and is secured to the shear plate and to side members, and cooperates with the bolster in resisting the couple created by draft and buff forces acting in offset relation to the plane of the shear plate.

Abstract: A self-mobile electrically powered machine is provided with an electric cable for supplying power to the machine. The cable is suspended between a rotatable turret, which may include a reel, on the machine and a portable cable tower spaced from the machine. From the cable tower, the cable extends to a remote power source. Constant cable tension is provided by the turret reel, or by a sheaving arrangement on the cable tower. The cable tower base is provided with a slot whereby the machine is used to move the tower to different locations while still being supplied with electricity therefrom.

Abstract: A hook device for locking a pantograph comprising an air operating cylinder with a piston coupled to a piston rod. A hook is pivotally mounted on the piston rod and is controlled to engage with a portion of the pantograph under control of the pneumatic pressure and an engagement with a mechanical stopper. The device is useful for rigidly locking the pantograph a lowered position while retaining a shock absorbing clearance.

Abstract: A convertible semi-trailer for highway and railroad modes of travel includes a coupler device to releasably couple adjacent vehicles end-to-end to form a train for the railroad mode. The coupler includes a male member extending from the end of one of the vehicles and the housing attached to the opposed end of the adjacent vehicles and having an opening therethrough for receiving the male member of the one vehicle. The male member is releasably locked in the housing opening for railroad mode of operation. A resilient pad is positioned in the opening of the housing and has the male member resting thereon to accommodate limited rolling, pitching and relative vertical displacement between the coupled vehicles.

Abstract: A system for securing a life-line around the outside of a structure, e.g., the wheelhouse of a boat, includes attachment devices for the life-line at intermediate positions therealong (particularly at corner parts of the structure) which allow a hook of a safety line attached for sliding movement to the life-line, to pass those attachment points. In one embodiment each attachment device comprises a recessed wheel and a slipper member located to embrace tip portions of the wheel projections to be held thereby while allowing rotation of the wheel relative to the slipper member. In this way the slipper member guides the line in an arcuate path around a peripheral part of the wheelhouse to allow a hook engaged for sliding movement along the life-line to traverse the attachment point by engaging in a recess in the wheel which then rotates relative to the slipper member to pass the hook through the attachment device.

Abstract: A welding cable reel system including an insulated reel mounted on an electrically conducting bearing assembly, the assembly in turn mounted on a hub which is rotatably mounted on a shaft which is connected to an insulated support post. A cable being connected to the hub so as to receive current which is transmitted to the support post and carried through the shaft and hub to the cable.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar arrangement for unit train service and the like including a drawbar having enlarged butt end portions each provided with essentially spherical buff and draft load bearing surfaces on the rear and forward surfaces thereof. The enlarged butt end portions are supported by a front draft block and a rear buff block within a center sill. The front draft block is supported against a curved surface of a wear block which is, in turn, supported by keys welded to the sill. The rear buff block is supported against a gravity-activated wedge which is, in turn, supported by rear draft lugs welded to the center sill. A bottom plate retains the various blocks inside the cavity of the center sill.

Abstract: An improved reel having a hub and a removable hub. The hub has a diameter and the removable hub is adapted to be removably connected to the reel and about the hub. The removable hub has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the hub. The removable hub provides a convenient means for effectively changing the diameter of the portion of the reel about which a cable is wound.

Abstract: An improved system for monitoring cathodic protection systems for marine installations wherein a reference electrode is utilized to measure and periodically monitor the cathodic reference potentials. The reference electrode is connected to one end of a cable and the opposite end portion of the cable is operatively connected to a reel. The reel is connected electrically to the marine installation through a voltmeter and the voltmeter provides readouts of the measured cathodic reference potentials. The present invention includes an improved reel which includes a contactor assembly adapted to maintain electrical continuity between the reel and the voltmeter as the cable is being wound onto and unwound from portions of the reel.

Abstract: A device for unloading a container used for bulk materials is such that a container floor is made up at least in part of flaps which can be tilted or swung out away from the interior. To this end at least two flaps are connected via a ridging beam or axle which runs through the interior of the container above a rotatable shaft. The rotational movement of the shaft is transmitted to the flaps to actuate same. The shaft features on opposite sides and transverse to its longitudinal axis first and second flange pairs, the former accommodating an elbow lever with the help of a push-fit bolt, and the latter a lever with the help of a bolt. The elbow lever and the lever are hinged to the flaps respectively. Further, connected to the flaps is a lock which joins up via bolts with the elbow lever or the lever, and in the closed position engages on a latching device.

Abstract: A spike-driving machine for use in driving spikes into railroad ties and including a rail clamping apparatus for securing the machine to the rails while spikes are being driven into the rails. The rail clamping apparatus can employ only a single hydraulic cylinder and is constructed so as to firmly grip the rails even if the heads of the rails are substantially worn and also constructed so as to grip a variety of different sizes of rails whether or not those rails are new rails or substantially worn.

Abstract: An electric traction current-collector has a carbon current-collector block (1) housing a rupturable tubular container (7 l ) for air under pressure applied through a pneumatic control system for a pantograph or other carrier so that loss of air pressure due to rupture of the container causes the current-collector block to be retracted. The container (7) is so thin that, if it is not completely housed and supported, it bursts under the applied air pressure and consequently any defect in the carbon block which spoils complete support of the container causes retraction of the current-collector.

Abstract: A locking wheeled locking carrier including a pair of identical molded half carriage parts each of which carries a pair of canted wheels to support the carrier within a track, and a pendulum part pivoted between the carriage halves and extending downward through the bottom slot in the ceiling track for suspending a desired article. The two carriage halves are slidably interfitted with one another for lateral movement toward and away from one another within the ceiling track, and the pendulum pivot extends slidably through both carriage halves. In the vertical pendulum position a camming action exerted by the pendulum on the two carriage halves forces the carriage halves laterally apart from one another so that their outside surfaces engage the ceiling track slot walls and frictionally lock the carriage in position.

Abstract: A pallet transport apparatus includes individual pallets which travel in succession on a run way, each of the pallets containing an in-line indexing dual-cam mechanism and a drive motor for the cam mechanism for controlled rotation, and the run way including pairs of cam followers which are arranged at regular intervals along the run way and each of which engages the corresponding cam plates on a pallet facing it. The pallets can travel and remain motionless every one pitch as determined by the interval between the adjacent cam follower pairs.

Abstract: Differential mounting for railroad wheels includes an axle with a wheel fitted on one end to rotate with the axle and a second wheel carried adjacent the opposite end of the axle and mounted to rotate relative to the axle. The axle has a raised wheel seat with an axial length approximately the same as the hub of the second wheel which is generally rectangular in cross-section. Fillets define the inboard and outboard ends of the raised wheel seat and a steel sleeve is fitted over the raised wheel seat and includes an annular flange portion shaped to engage the outboard axle fillet. A collar carried within the sleeve engages the inboard fillet. Pressure plates are disposed on the inboard and outboard ends of the sleeve and include opposed stainless steel thrust bearing surfaces contiguous to the annular side faces of the wheel hub which are surfaced with a TEFLON composite, bearing material bonded thereto.

Abstract: In a sand-dispensing device for motor vehicles there is provided a refillable sand container, a sand channel with a sand outlet closable by a flap that opens downwards, and a heating system in the contact area of the flap at the sand outlet. This comprises an electrical heating wire that is provided in the contact area such as in the walls of the sand outlet or in the flap and/or in a gasket between the flap and the sand outlet. The heating system helps prevent the flap freezing shut on account of road spray, snow and cold, and thus preserves the functional capability of the sanding system.

Abstract: Pivot mounts for enabling pivotal attachment of support struts of a fifth wheel hitch assembly to the deck of a raiway car are provided with a fabricated inverted U shaped torque box or beam fixed transversely between upright pivot mount plates of the center sill mounted hitch on the railway car for structural strength and rigidity. Due to the torque box the mount is sufficiently rigid to preclude the need to attach the pivot mount to the inside of the box sill of a railway car.

Abstract: A three wire, single phase AC, power transmission bus having an AC source wire, a neutral wire, and a fluorescent lamp ballast wire. A conventional single phase device is connected across the source wire and the neutral wire for power. A fluorescent lamp is connected across the source wire and the ballast wire for power. If an outlet of the bus is a conventional three prong receptacle, the ballast wire is connected to the prong which is conventionally reserved for a ground reference.