Abstract: The present invention relates to a gondola lift having two parallel suspension haulage cables between which the gondolas hang. The two cable loops extend between two stations and each cable is driven by a direct current electrical motor, the two motors being identical and having separate excitation circuits. The armature windings are connected to the same power supply source by two armature circuits including identical resistors which provide an armature voltage drop and a reduction in speed for restoring identical power outputs of the two motors when one of the cables is in advance. The mechanical connections between the cables and the motors include gear boxes, the high speed shafts therefrom being coupled by a control clutch.

Abstract: Power and free conveyor systems wherein each article carrier includes a driving trolley having a movable driving member biased to an operable position in which it is engageable with a driven pusher to propel the carrier along a carrier track, the pusher being supported by a vertically spaced power track. Formed integrally with the driving member are: a holdback dog, a driving dog having a pair of wings projecting transversely to each side of the holdback dog, a stopping cam and an abutment, an accumulation cam, and an anti-jam cam, all cams being adapted to disengage the driving dog from a pusher.

Abstract: A flexible bearing connects a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle to a wheel guide member and possesses a cylindrical screw bolt which is retained on the wheel carrier and extends freely away from the bearing, the bolt carrying a bearing body which is shock-absorbing in a radial direction and which receives the wheel guide member. The bearing body is attached by means of a cylindrical bore of an inner sleeve onto a radially prestressed metal sleeve which is slotted over its entire length, the sleeve being arranged on the screw bolt with a slight radial play and which projects into a cylindrical bore in the wheel carrier receiving the screw bolt. When the screw bolt is in the tensioned state, the inner sleeve of the bearing body rests frictionally by means of one of its end faces against a bearing face of the wheel carrier carrying the screw bolt. The metal sleeve forms a resilient intermediate member and is located between the inner sleeve and the screw bolt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle-mounted shipping rack for bendable objects (such as construction materials) which have a lengthwise dimension greater than a dimension of the vehicle. The shipping rack is mounted on a transport body of the vehicle, and includes a frame defining plural compartments across the body, each compartment having a dimension longer than a corresponding dimension of the transport body, but being curved so as to fit within the corresponding dimension of the body so that the bendable objects may be transported in the shipping rack by bending along the curved compartments.

Abstract: A reversible latching hinge for the roof of a container such as a railway car which is adapted to be inverted to a discharging position. The latching hinge allows the roof to pivot away automatically from the opening of the container during inversion. The reversible latching hinge is designed so as to minimize or eliminate undesirable impact loading that may arise from lateral displacement of the roof during inversion. The construction includes flanges extending laterally outward from the roof and terminating in ears which extend toward latch bars mounted to the container. Contact between the ears and the latch bars forms a pivot point for the roof. The construction also includes freely pivoting hooks which, on the upper side of the roof engage the latch bars to prevent the roof from falling off of the container. The hooks on the lower side disengage from the latch bars by gravity to permit the roof to swing outwardly during inversion.

Abstract: The respective ends of the link and grouser of a track link section are shaped so that an enlarged middle portion of a flexor extending between adjacent track link sections is embraced by the link and grouser ends in such a way that the radius of flexure of the flexor is controlled and such that no open volumes ever exist, between the flexor and link and grouser ends, which would allow debris to enter and alter the desired controlled radius of flexure.

Abstract: An automobile parking and storage system permits a driver to turn an automobile any desired direction in a size restricted area. In a preferred form of the invention, the system includes a rotating assembly driven by a reversible motor along a subsurface track, an automobile-mounted transmitter which signals a receiver situated generally below the rotating assembly only when situated substantially directly over the receiver, and a controller which regulates movement of the rotating assembly through the motor in response to signals from the receiver. It is preferred that all transmitters and receivers be set to a standard frequency, to enable any automobile to be driven onto the rotating assembly and pivotted as desired in response to manipulation of a dash-mounted, remote-control switch box.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for handling, transporting, and disposing of low level radioactive waste materials which utilizes reusable, separate, and removable lifting means and tie-down means. Mechanical design of the lifting means and hold-down means prevent the inadvertent use of either for the improper purpose.

Abstract: A tie-down device interposed between a hook adapted to be connected to a vehicle frame and a chain adapted to be connected to a transporter and characterized in that the tie-down device includes a webbing which is encapsulated in a rubber jacket with the webbing being folded so as to provide a pair of longitudinally spaced loop portions one of which is formed by the overlapped and sewn together ends of the webbing and is connected through a spool member to the hook and the other of which is connected through a spool member to the chain.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating and locking pairs of hopper doors of a railroad hopper car of the type having a longitudinal center sill and pairs of longitudinally extending chutes, located opposite each other and on each side of the center sill, configured to discharge lading to each side of the hopper car, and each provided with a hopper door. Each chute of a pair is provided with a longitudinally extending shaft rotatively mounted on the underside thereof with first and second end portions extending beyond its chute. Both end portions of the shaft have an operating cam assembly non-rotatively mounted thereon and connected to the adjacent hopper door by an operating link. The operating cam assemblies at corresponding ends of the shafts are joined by connecting links. The first end of each shaft has a ratchet wheel and a capstain non-rotatively mounted thereon. Each chute of the pair has a ratchet pawl pivoted thereto and cooperating with its respective ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A motion retarder particularly useful for regulating rotary movement of a shaft, for example, includes an inner and outer tension unit carried on a bolt shaped rod. Arcurate end segments of a pressure member of each unit are positioned in an opposing manner to define a pair of shaft holding spaces. A spring carried on the rod between the inner unit and a head portion of the rod may be advanced through a threaded connection between an end of the rod and a lock-type nut forming part of the outer unit. This advancement compresses the spring to force an inner friction surface of the unit pressure member end segments into engagement with an outer surface of a shaft positioned in the respective holding spaces. This engagement selectively inhibits inadvertent shaft movement to maintain the position of the shaft until shaft movement is desired.

Abstract: A set-off apparatus for moving a railway carriage transversely off the track includes eight vertically adjustable jacks arranged in four pairs. Two of the jacks of two of the pairs are arranged in each corner of the railway carriage frame, and two pairs of jacks are arranged at each frame end, one of the pairs of jacks being stationary with respect to the frame and the other pair of jacks being displaceable with respect to the frame in a direction extending transversely to the track. A horizontally extending, double-acting cylinder-piston device is arranged for displacing each other pair of jacks transversely whereby the carriage may be transversely set off stepwise while supported in a stilt-like manner.

Abstract: A coupler knuckle made from cast metal and having cored sections providing exterior walls adjacent the location subject to stress in use. These wall sections are formed in such a manner as to withstand the stresses.

Abstract: An uncoupling lever assembly for a railroad car has first and second lever members. A plurality of sleeves are attached to one of the lever members. The other lever member extends through the sleeves in telescoping relation to the one member. Each sleeve is lined by a pair of oppositely-disposed, generally L-shaped glide members. Each glide member has a base with flexible hooks engaging a portion of the sleeve. An integral leg extends from the base and lies next to an adjacent portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A hatch cover arrangement for a railroad car or the like and a railroad car utilizing such hatch cover arrangement are provided, the hatch cover arrangement comprising the combination of a hatch cover and a holddown bar for the hatch cover. The holddown bar has opposed ends one of which is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the car and the other of which is adapted to be releasably latched to the car while a medial portion thereof intermediate the opposed ends thereof extends transversely across the hatch cover, the holddown bar and the hatch cover comprising a one-piece homogeneous member formed of polymeric material.

Abstract: A holddown bar for a hatch cover of a railroad car or the like is provided, the holddown bar having opposed ends one of which has a hinge unit that is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the car and the other of which has a latch unit that is adapted to be releasably latched to the car while a medial portion thereof intermediate the opposed ends is adapted to extend across the hatch cover and carries a sealing gasket in a channel thereof that is adapted to engage against the hatch cover. The opposed ends and medial portion of the holddown bar comprise a one-piece member formed of a relatively rigid polymeric material and has a reinforcing unit therein.

Abstract: A holddown bar for a hatch cover of a railroad car or the like and a railroad car utilizing such a holddown bar are provided, the holddown bar having opposed sides and opposed ends one of which is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the car and the other of which is adapted to be releasably latched to the car while a medial portion thereof intermediate the opposed ends is adapted to extend across the hatch cover and carries a sealing gasket in a channel thereof that is adapted to engage against the hatch cover, the holddown bar having a rain shield secured to one of the opposed sides thereof at the medial portion and opposed ends thereof so as to be adapted to be disposed adjacent and outboard of an end of the hatch cover for protecting the same from the elements. The rain shield comprises a one-piece member formed of a relatively flexible polymeric material.

Abstract: An active switch for the intersection region of tracks for mechanically transversely or laterally guided vehicles having support wheels without flanges; the switch which is adapted to be forced open by the vehicle and includes only a single adjustable switch member in the form of a switch tongue pivotal about a fixed bearing in the switch frog, is bent into its end position by the vehicle itself by being pressed against abutments; the cross section of the switch tongue has an approximately constant bending stiffness over its length whereby the switch tongue in the unstressed condition preferably has a curvature that lies between the curvatures of the one and the other end position.

Abstract: The present invention is a hooking mechanism for fastening a shipping container ot a support platform. A hook for penetrating the aperture of a corner casting along either axis of the aperture is provided. The hook is mounted on a pivot which is movable relative to the support platform in a direction parallel to the face of the casting being penetrated. The pivot can be moved to allow the hook to enter the aperture when the casting is not precisely aligned. The movable pivot also allows the point of penetration to be varied to match either the major or minor axis of the aperture. The movable pivot allows the hook to penetrate the aperture in the corner casting while moving along an arcuate path, thereby permitting entry into the aperture at a constant angle of attack without the hook hitting the far wall of the inside of the corner casting. A pin or a bar is used to lock the hook in the engaged position.

Abstract: A rotary coupling system for railroad cars and the like includes a rotary connector which is mounted in a yoke and to which a car coupler is attached for unitary rotation. The yoke has an aperture or opening through which a pivot pin is inserted into aligned pin receiving holes in the rotary connector and a shank of the car coupler. An improved pin retainer block is provided to selectively close the opening and retain the pin in the receiving holes. Plural flanges extending radially outward of the retainer block provide support therefor in the yoke pivot pin opening between inner and outer radially inward extending support surfaces. The support surfaces are axially spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance for accommodating predetermined limited axial movement of the retainer block in the pivot pin opening.