Abstract: A first free line composed of two rails arranged in parallel in a substantially horizontal plane is joined to a second free line composed of two rails arranged in parallel in the substantially horizontal plane. A switch rail pivotally movable in the substantially horizontal plane is provided at each of the junctions where the rails of the first free line are joined to the rails of the second free line in corresponding relation. Another switch rail pivotally movable in the substantially horizontal plane is provided at a cutout portion formed in the intersection of one of the first free line rails with one of the second free line rails.

Abstract: A load-transfer device comprises a pair of rotary members each having an annular series of projecting peg-like elements, and a location member having arcuate tracks in its opposite sides to receive tip portions of the elements respectively. A wire or other elongate element extends beneath the location member and the upright parts of U-shaped clips supporting the wire are received in the spaces between the elements when the device encounters such clips, whereupon the members rotate relative to the location member to permit the clips to pass through the device.

Abstract: A back-up guide for trucks or trailers is made of two elongated members attached perpendicularly to each other, with spikes on their underside to hold the device in a stationary position. The longer of the two members provides a guide for the side of a vehicle's rear wheel during backing up, and the other, shorter, member is laterally disposed and provides a wheel chock or stop member for the rear wheel, and also acts as a visual stop point for the driver. The lateral member has a rearward extension near each of its ends, which provides supports for wheels which allow easy movement of the device when the front end is raised to lift the spikes clear of the ground. Both members may be equipped with handles for ease of handling. The device may be transported by attachment to the side and back of a truck or trailer, resting on special brackets attached to the truck or trailer.

Abstract: A hanger device for trolley conveyors includes a pair of opposed hanger arms suspended from a carrier and approximately U-shaped when seen sidewise. The two hanger arms are closed while transporting an article and are opened for loading or unloading. Each of the hanger arms comprises a fixed front hanging member, a movable rear hanging member and an extensible horizontal member connected at its opposite ends to the lower ends of the hanging members and provided with article support members inwardly projecting from and attached to its front and rear portions. In accordance with the kind of the article, the rear hanging members are suitably moved forward or rearward with the horizontal members shortened or extended, whereby the length of the hanger frame is variable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing defective railroad ties from the right-of-way in one piece and without disturbing the elevation, cross-level and line, of a track system. The method is carried out by first removing the tie plates from an individual tie to be replaced; forming a trench underneath the tie by the use of laterally directed scarifiers while retaining the tie in its normal position and restraining the tie against movement longitudinally of the track system so as to displace ballast material from underneath the tie to the next adjacent crib; applying a downward force to the top of the tie to be removed; and withdrawing the tie from one or the other end.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor system comprising a plurality of carriers, a carrier track comprising an upper run, a lower run, and connecting portions connecting the upper and lower runs, such that the carriers can be moved along the upper run and thereafter through a first connecting portion along the lower run in inverted position and returned to the upper run through a second connecting portion. A powered conveyor is associated with the upper and lower runs and connecting portions and has pushers thereon for engaging the carriers. Each carrier has a first pusher dog thereon movable downwardly when the carrier moves along the upper run for engagement with a pusher of the conveyor and movable upwardly when the carrier is moving along the lower run so that it is out of engagement with the pusher of the conveyor.

Abstract: A pneumatic pipeline transportation system for solid, containerized cargo. Cargo carrying vehicles are propelled within a hollow guideway adapted to hold movable vehicles of substantially similar cross-section. Kinetic energy is applied to the vehicle intermittently, causing the vehicle to set a trapped column of air in the guideway in motion. The air column acts on adjacent vehicles, and in combination with the applied force, propels the vehicles through the guideway.

Abstract: The tamping machine comprises, for each row of rails (6) a tamping unit (4) which is movable in the transverse direction of the track in order to tamp the track switches.The controlled transverse mobility of each tamping unit, to the right and the left of the line of rails, is obtained by the combination of a lever manual control member (26) and an automatic control circuit (38) which is controlled by two amplitude limiters (34, 36).A switch (32) makes it possible to change from manual to automatic and vice versa.By presetting the amplitude limiter at a value corresponding to a transverse position of the tamping unit which is repeated several times along the track switch, the positioning of the tamping unit is obtained by simple actuation of the switch upon arrival at these recurrent positions.

Abstract: A trough hatch cover system employing one or more cover units pivotally mounted on a hopper car by hinge straps. The one or more cover units are formed with a corrugated panel having an end extrusion mounted at each end. The end extrusion strengthens the panel structure and provides a channel through which water collected on the corrugated panel can be drained. Closure members are used to secure the cover units in place and when closed create sealed contact with the end extrusions, whether at the ends of the hatch cover system or at the juncture between adjacent panels.

Abstract: Anti-rattle track fitting for anchoring loads to slotted seat tracks has a vertically movable shear pin at its forward end and a rotationally adjustable threaded stud at its rearward end. The shank of the adjustable stud extends above the fitting and supports a stop collar which prevents excessive loosening of the stud while permitting the stud to be tightened so as to force it into engagement with the lips of the floor track. The shank is hidden from view by being inside the rear leg of a seat but a slot(s) at its upper end is engageable through a small aperture in the rear surface of the leg.

Abstract: Improved embodiments of a blank for a dunnage plug which fills gaps between cargo and a side wall of a vessel or vehicle in which the cargo or lading is transported include a single sheet, preferably of corrugated cardboard, having cuts or slits, slots, perforations and bends positioned thereon for allowing portions of the sheet to be folded into a plurality of channels which intersect perpendicularly and interlock in a plurality of half cross-lap-joints to provide an extremely inexpensive structure having a designated thickness and being capable of withstanding substantial loads in compression without failure. Since the improved dunnage plug blank of the invention is assembled and disassembled without separation of the sheet into more than one piece, there is no tendency for portions of the dunnage plug to become lost at any time. Further, if the dunnage plug is disassembled it folds back into a single flat sheet for efficient storage.

Abstract: An endless conveyor system for moving load bearing units along a path defined by the conveyor system which has a discontinuity or gap along the path such as may be required to accommodate a conveyor system drive or tensioning device. The endless conveyor system includes a transfer station located at the discontinuity or gap to move the load bearing units across the discontinuity without interruption to the flow of load bearing units along the path.

Abstract: A primary suspension system is disposed between a wheel journal bearing and a side frame of a railway truck to minimize acceleration forces from being transmitted from a wheel axle unit to a car body. A pair of elastomeric members form a ring clamped around the journal bearing and are bonded to multiple outer plates disposed in different planes. Relatively low spring rates are provided when one set of outer multiple plates are operative with relatively high spring rates being provided when the elastomeric members are compressed and the inner multiple plates become operative.

Abstract: A mobile track tamping, leveling and lining machine comprises a vertically and laterally movable lifting and lining tool carrier for correcting the track position. Two track rail engaging rollers or each track rail are mounted on the carrier and the rollers are arranged on opposite sides of each rail and have a circumferential configuration conforming to the side faces and undersides of the head of the rail on opposite sides thereof. A pivoting arm is connected to each roller and is pivotal on the tool carrier about a vertical axis for pivoting the rollers in a plane substantially parallel to the track. Drives are connected to each pivoting arm for driving the rollers into force-transmitting engagement with the conforming side face and underside of a respective track rail.

Abstract: A rotary railroad car F coupler assembly which employs a rotary connector between the yoke and car coupler, is described as having a yoke with a larger diameter opening in which a bigger rotary connector is mounted. The rotary connector, in turn, is designed to receive an AAR standard F coupler head with a heavier shank that has sidewalls, bordering the pinhole in the shank, which are thicker and have greater cross-sectional areas than similar sidewalls of shanks of AAR standard non-rotary type F car couplers. A pair of twin, parallel wearplates are provided between the top of the yoke and the adjacent housing. The top ridged portion of the yoke extends between these wearplates. In this way, the diameter of the yoke opening and the consequent cross-sectional area of the opening are increased. This enables a larger, sturdier coupler shank to be received in the aperture of the yoke while the overall coupler assembly may still be mounted in an AAR standard carsill.