Abstract: An improved articulated connector or coupler in which the connection between the male connecting member and female connecting member via a king pin is provided with an elastomeric bushing housed in the male connecting member. The bushing has an outer metallic ring, and inner metallic ring, and a middle ring of elastomeric material, by which a coupling free of uncontrolled slack is achieved and by which all normal draft and buffing, as well as train-action and angling, forces, are damped and partially absorbed by the elastomeric ring. For excessive loads, in order to protect the elastomeric ring, over solid metal-to-metal stops are provided which shunt the force transmittal from the eleastomeric ring to metal stop-surfaces. The king pin is also frustro-conical in shape at the intermediate portion thereof passing through the bushing of the male connecting member, which bushing has a similarly-shaped frustro-conical passageway.

Abstract: A railway car comprises a center sill with a crossbearer, webs and end bolsters extending across thereof. A light side stiffener interconnects the projecting ends of said webs and spans between the bolster and the crossbearer. A shear plate covers a trapezoidal end frame extending from the bolster. The frame includes inclined braces buttressing a pair of cantilevered brackets projecting toward and horizontally overlapping similar brackets of the adjacent car.

Abstract: A double chain hook assembly includes a first hook and a second hook, each having a bill and throat portion and a common shank, which is bifurcated at its upper end. The bifurcation produces two projecting legs, having a bight at one end and a throat at the other. Each of the legs has a bore near the top in registry with the bore in the other leg. A closure includes a bolt, slidably fastened in the two bores, so as to selectively close the throats of both hooks or of either hook, as desired. A biased ball latch selectively positions the bolt.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for sequentially exchanging selected consecutive groups of old ties in an existing railroad track for groups of new ties while retaining groups of old ties therebetween to support the mobile apparatus on the track, comprises at least one bridge-like work vehicle having a frame defining an upwardly recessed portion between respective ends thereof, swivel trucks supporting the work vehicle frame ends on the railroad track, and a drive for the continuous advancement of the work vehicle on the railroad track in an operating direction. A succession of different individual devices are longitudinally displaceably mounted in the recessed frame portion of a respective work vehicle and are operative to effectuate different sequential operations for exchanging the selected old ties for the new ties, the tie exchanging devices including at least one tie pulling and inserting device.

Abstract: A linear motor truck apparatus including: a truck having pairs of wheels rotatably mounted thereon; a supporting mechanism, having a rail extending along a line of travel of the truck, for supporting and guiding the truck along the line of travel by engaging the wheels with the rail; and a drive mechanism, including the linear motor, for driving the truck so that the truck may travel along the line of travel.

Abstract: An intercirculation tunnel between successive railroad cars or highway vehicles for ensuring protection against bad weather and atmospheric agents as well as noise and heat insulation as a unitized structure with oval constant cross section. The structure has a self-supporting wall that is elastically deformable throughout without mechanical devices, and that is composed of a multilayer composite of compact elastomers including an outer layer and an inner layer which can also contain reinforcements and an intermediate layer of a cellular polymer material.

Abstract: A tie-down device is disclosed herein having a movable car slidably carried on a stationary track which includes a spring biased vertically movable latch on the car operable to be insertably received into a selected one of a plurality of openings on said track for releasably retaining the car in a critical location on the track. The car further includes an attachment arrangement such as a tongue-in-groove construction for mounting on the track and a securement loop universally carried on a car flange for attachment to a tie-down line or cord.

Abstract: An improved tool for railway track adjustment machines is disclosed which may be made by processes forging, casting, and which includes a shaft and a blade manufactured as separate entities and force-fitted together. In making the tool the lower end of the shaft is formed so that it is able to be forced between flanges located on the rear side of the blade. This lower end preferably has a transverse cross section shaped as a trapezoid with an apex angle .gamma. and is upwardly and outwardly tapered at an angle .alpha.. The flanges located on the rear side of the blade are manufactured from the same piece of material as the blade and define a slot which opens upwardly and outwardly at an angle to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool and the symmetrical plane of the blade. A method the slot defined between the flanges has a transverse cross section which tapers inwardly at an angle .delta. and may be formed by deforming the blade.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel includes a rim, a spindle and a hub articulately mounted on the spindle. A first pair of sections with opposite-hand threads are located symmetrically on the middle portion of the hub. A second pair of sections having opposite-hand threads of less diameter than those of the first sections is located on the hub at the end of the hub. Adjacent threads between the first and second sections are opposed in direction, and carry first and second flanges respectively. Situated on opposite sides of the hub are reinforced composite material diaphragms, shaped as an annulus, and interposed between the first and second flanges. The diaphragms are rigidly coupled with their inner side to the first and second flanges, and with their outer side to the rim.

Abstract: A suspension arrangement for rail vehicles, including at least one pair of superimposed elastomeric shock absorbers, including a first shock absorber disposed between a first mandrel and a first bell-shaped member, and a second shock absorber disposed between a second mandrel and a second bell-shaped member. The first bell-shaped member and the second mandrel are disposed between the two shock absorbers and are interconnected in such a way that they can carry out not only a movement in the main direction of shock absorption, but also a pendulum movement about any axis disposed transverse to this main direction of shock absorption.

Abstract: Transportation equipment having at least one deck for supporting and transporting four-wheel vehicles such as automobiles and trucks; at least one track secured to the deck; the track having a pair of substantially upwardly extending spaced apart surfaces; chock blocks for a vehicle transported on the deck to secure the vehicle against longitudinal movement; each chock block having a horizontal first member which nests with the track and is quickly removable from such nesting arrangement by upward displacement; each chock block having a second member substantially horizontally positioned and permanently laterally joined to the first member; the second member having a sufficient length to extend along, and terminate beyond, the tread face of a tire of a vehicle located along side the track; and the chock block having a lock for removably securing the first member to the track, when in nesting position therewith, to prevent the chock block from horizontal movement along the track and upward movement from the tr

Abstract: An improved strain sensor is disclosed utilizing a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) to precisely output the linear strain over a structural member. The LVDT is mounted utilizing a position apparatus having a similar coefficient of thermal expansion as the structural member, and effectively integrates the strain over the entire longitudinal dimension of the member by precisely measuring displacement under load. This assembly is readily incorporated in locomotive couplers and crane structures having a void or hollow coinciding with the neutral bending axis of the member being tested, as well as over relatively large spans, in pairs or singly, having bending moments present. A locomotive control system for increasing the strain on a locomotive coupler by monitoring the draw bar force with an associated generator speed and maximizing the draw bar force by manipulating the generator speed.

Abstract: A space divider for partitioning a surface and for restraining items located thereon against movement including a block of foam rubber covered by a rubber coating and the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener for securing the space divider to a fibrous mat located on a floor of an automobile trunk. The space divider may be of any shape and the loop portion of a hoop and loop fastener may be affixed to the top of the space divider to provide the ability to stack a plurality of dividers like building blocks around an item to be secured against movement within the trunk.

Abstract: A truck bed divider is provided and consists of two arm members extending axially outwardly from a connector in which each of the arm members has a suction cup on outer end to engage with sidewalls of a rear deck of a pickup truck to restrain cargo therein.

Abstract: A bicable ropeway aerial transport system is disclosed which includes a pair of carrier and haulage ropes and at least two pair of end pulleys that are respectively engaged with the ropes in embarking and disembarking stations. The end pulleys in at least one of the stations are offset longitudinally and form between them a free space dimensioned to permit the engagement and disengagement of the vehicles from between the ropes in the free space.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car comprising an elongated car body having a plurality of laterally pivoted bottom discharge doors; a door opening and closing elongated beam assembly positioned longitudinal of and along the bottom portion of the car; a plurality of spaced apart door operating levers mounted on a pivot lateral to the car body along and to the bottom of the car; the door operating lever pivot including a lateral shaft to which the operating lever is fixedly joined; a pair of laterally spaced apart supports on the car body beneath the elongated beam assembly with each support carrying a bearing mount for the door operating lever pivot; each bearing mount being fixedly joined to the support at a position determined by the actual position of the beam sections when installed rather than at a predetermined location on the support thereby making it unnecessary to include elements to adjust the length of each beam section.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and apparatus for replacing railway panels, including switches by providing a pair of cars adapted to carry a temporary track, the replacement panel and gantries, the car carrying the gantries being located over the panel required to be replaced and the gantries located in position; the old panel is raised by the gantries, the temporary track is located in the vacant space and the car carrying the new panel is rolled on to the temporary track and the new panel raised by the gantries, the temporary track removed and the new panel dropped into position.

Abstract: In lightweight fabricated equipment of an overhead electric traction system, (e.g., section insulators and neutral sections), comprising at least one tension insulator mechanically connected between and electrically insulating from one another two elongate metal members, in at least one mechanical connection between the tension insulator and elongate metal member, an insulating end part of the tension insulator and an end part of the elongate metal member butt or are spaced apart and have a supplementary connecting member connected to them by separate securing bolts. The undersurfaces of the end parts of the tension insulator and elongate metal member and the undersurface of the supplementary connecting member constitute a smooth running surface.

Abstract: A pouring tank assembly and transfer tracks are provided whereby a transfer car holding a pouring tank filled with molten metal can be rolled from a loading station to a pouring station. The transfer tracks are of a double rail configuration, with two tracks forming an angle whose vertex is at the pouring station. A third guide rail parallels each set of tracks. The transfer car is equipped with flangeless wheels which roll along the transfer tracks, and has a support arm from which guide rollers extend. Such guide rollers contact the guide rail to provide lateral stability for the transfer car.

Abstract: A container carrying rail-highway vehicle in the form of a semitrailer chassis including an elongated center sill box extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a front box-type transverse sill attached to a forward portion of the center sill and a rear box-type transverse sill attached to a rearward portion of the center sill member. Two side beams are further provided and are attached at each end thereof to the front sill and rear sill, respectively, on either side of the center sill. The side beams are disposed from a generally higher position in the front of the vehicle to a lower level at the rear of the vehicle and are further attached to the center sill by a plurality of transverse outrigger members which extend between the center sill and each of the side beams.