Abstract: A pair of collision posts are connected at the end of a railway car between the roof structure and buffer sill. Each of the posts includes a tubular structure formed by welding two elongated "S" shaped strips to an elongated flat strip. Each of the tubular structures fits over and is welded to a hollow anchor member having an enclosed portion towards the bottom fixed to the buffer sill and a tapered upper portion open on one side.

Abstract: In a monorail system in which a carriage is displaceable along a track and is adapted to be connected to or released from load carriers or the like, a coupling device is provided which comprises a hook swingably mounted on the axis of one of the supporting rollers of a carriage or carrier and adapted to engage a portion of the roller dolly of the other vehicle above the rail.

Abstract: A semi-automatic bailer plug assembly for attachment to the transom of a boat having a bail hole therein for receiving the bailer plug assembly is described. The bailer plug is normally spring biased into a closed position to plug the bail hole until it is manually retracted by a plunger disposed in opposition to the spring. When the plunger is pulled back and the boat transom is out of the water, a pair of stop members engage the plug and hold the plug in an open position permitting the boat to be drained of water. The stop members are coupled to a pair of float members. When the transom of the boat is placed in the water a buoyant force acting against the floats releases the spring biased plunger from engagement with the stop members and permits the bailer plug to automatically close the bail hole in the boat transom.

Abstract: A combination seat and step arrangement for a railway sleeping compartment having components of the seat forming a step or ladder and a seat assembly. The seat includes a lateral part which is hinged upwardly and an upper lateral part of the back rest hinged to swing over the raised lateral part and locked therewith to provide a step alongside the main seating section.

Abstract: A railway passenger vehicle having a side wall mounted, modular shelving unit providing a convenience center for use in carrying or storing glasses, beverages and the like. The convenience center is a modular unit that may be assembled away from the vehicle and easily attached to a wall mounted seat rail during final assembly stages. The unit includes a mounting shell providing a trough that is attached to the seat rail and shaped to conform with the vehicle structure and also shaped to receive a number of storage or table top members that are suitable to receive various items frequently used by passengers. The trough portion of the convenience center includes a light which is powered by a cable that is carried in a hollow section and extends along the length of the convenient center. The light requires no external wiring to be connected through the walls and thus may be easily wired into the vehicle electrical system at the car ends as the convenience centers are installed.

Abstract: A rail-draft vehicle employs an ordinary tractor-like apparatus having conventional forwardly extending, boom apparatus and intermediate vehicle means interposed between the tractor-like apparatus and a conventional railroad car for coupling with and moving one or more of the latter along the rails. The boom apparatus is of the type having a pair of power operated, spaced, swingable tool supporting arms extendable to a position substantially forward of the tractor and have mounted thereon a pair of rail wheels which may be selectively lowered into engagement with the rails upon manipulation of the loader attachment, thereby eliminating the need for special rail wheel retracting mechanisms heretofore directly mounted on the tractor.

Abstract: A pair of elongated latches positioned transversely to a longitudinal axis of a railroad car particularly adapted to be rotated to an upside down position for gravity release of contents within the car, are pivotally attached respectively on each side of a top of a coupler lock. The coupler lock is an operative part of a coupler for the railroad car. The lock is movable within a lock chamber formed in a head of the coupler and is defined in part by vertical sidewalls and a roof or top wall. A configuration of each latch and relative position to the lock chamber sidewalls is such that a center of gravity of each latch lies above its pivot connection which insures that regardless of the direction of rotation of the car, at least one of the latches readily swings to an extended position to engage the top wall of the lock chamber and thereby prevent an inadvertent release of the lock when the car and at least one pair of mated couplers are rotated toward an inverted position for emptying contents of the car.

Abstract: A carriage has pulleys adjacent opposite ends thereof for riding on a pair of line cables which have obstructions thereon, such as hangers and spacers. The carriage has brakes associated therewith for engaging the line cables. These brakes are such that they permit the carriage to move in one direction but automatically grip the line cables when the carriage moves in the opposite direction. These brakes are releasable to allow the carriage to be moved in either direction. Lifting apparatus is provided for each end of the carriage in the form of hooks that can be placed on the line cables and lifter lines extending between the hooks and the carriage. The lifter cables are connected to a foot pedal in the carriage which can be manipulated to transfer the weight of the adjacent end of the carriage through the hooks to the line cables thereby allowing the pulleys at that end of the carriage to be lifted off the line cables and shifted around an obstruction thereon.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for an elevated track having upper and lower rails includes a pair of first upper and lower switch beams at a switching interruption along the track, the beams being movable from a position of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position shifted toward on another. For switching a rail vehicle to a secondary track, a pair of second upper and lower switch beams are provided at the switching interruption for movement toward and away from one another between a position out of rail alignment with the upper and lower rails to a position into alignment therewith when the first beams are shifted toward one another.

Abstract: A guide latch mechanism to restrain cargo in three directions. The mechanism retracts to permit cargo to pass over the mechanism and automatically erects to a vertical position for future use.