Abstract: A steering system for steering a heavy haul trailer dolly comprising a turntable mounted on the dolly for connecting to another trailer unit. The dolly comprising a main frame, a wheel group mounted to the main frame, and a pivot frame mounted to the main frame between the turntable and the wheel group. A counter-steering linkage connects the pivot frame and the turntable. Hydraulic cylinders connect the pivot frame and the wheel group. To automatically steer the dolly, the hydraulic cylinders are locked in length. Rotation of the turntable in one direction causes the pivot frame and the wheel group to rotate in the opposite direction. To steer the dolly directly, the hydraulic cylinders are operated to extend and retract, pushing and pulling against the pivot frame and turntable to rotate the wheel group.

Abstract: A pipeline breakage sensing system includes a plurality of pressure sensors installed on pipelines to measure pressure of a fluid. Each of these pressure sensors presumes a breakage location in cooperation with other neighboring sensors on the basis of a pressure change of the fluid and transmits information relating to the presumed breakage location. The pipeline breakage sensing system further includes a pressure sensor for detecting the occurrence of a seismic earthquake event, in addition to a managing center for sensing a breakage location on the basis of information transmitted from respective pressure sensors and by calculating a time correlated comparison between the superimposed pressure readings from neighboring pressure sensors used to detect the occurrence of such a fluid pressure change.

Abstract: A resonant L-C circuit is series-excited from an AC voltage source and intended to be parallel-loaded with a load that, for some reason or another, may be disconnected or otherwise inoperative. For efficiency reasons, the unloaded circuit Q-factor may be about 50 times higher than the loaded Q-factor; which implies that, if the load were to become inoperative, the power drawn by the L-C circuit from the source, and the voltage/current magnitudes developed in the L-C circuit, would be 50 times larger than when the load is operative. To prevent unnecessary power drain and/or to avoid damage to source and/or circuit components, which damage may occur even if the L-C circuit is left unloaded for but a very brief period, a circuit protector is provided.

Abstract: Tile for use in forming a toy roadway, each tile having a roadway pattern formed on it and each tile having an engagement structure for interlocking with similar adjacent tiles to form a complete system. The pattern of the roadways of the complete system may be varied by simply changing the orientation of one side of the toy roadway tile or by changing the alignment of an edge of one or more tiles.

Abstract: A rail connection for use in an overhead suspended rail system comprises a plate bolted to the webs of the rails and upper and lower connecting structures with undercut portions for engagement with a suspension element.

Abstract: Spikes for holding elastic rail clamps for use with wooden rail ties. The spike portion incorporating recesses in its surface to accommodate an adhesive which improves adhesions between the spike and the wooden tie. The lower end of the spike which faces the rail incorporates a series of ribs.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a wheel set for rail vehicles, consisting of an axle 2 and at least two wheels 4, the axle 2 being tubular. Each of the wheels 4 can be arranged on a support tube 3, each support tube 3 being postioned, pushed from one end of the tubular axle 2, over the latter in such a manner that the wheel spacing corresponds to a standard wheel gauge. For better aerodynamics of the wheel set, the two support tubes 3 can furthermore be covered by a sleeve 7, such sleeve 7 being preferably made of plastic or light metal.

Abstract: A door reinforcement to protect a car against sideways collision has at least one tensile bracing band in the door structure attached to supports which are advantageously parallel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a guided vehicle such as a railway vehicle and is a development or improvement of the invention disclosed in patent specification No. 2 526 387. The vehicle has steerable axles, each of which is steered by a coupling bar connected to the axle mount at a contact point and pivoted on the body of the vehicle at a pivot point. The axle mount is mounted on the body for rotation about an axis of rotation. The distances between the pivot point, the axis of rotation and the contact point, and the length of the coupling bar d are chosen to position the axle radially of a curve, as in the earlier patent specification. The pivot point of the coupling bar on the body is arranged to be substantially on the roll axis of the vehicle. Each drive axle has independently rotatable wheels and a limited slip differential limits the relative slip to 5%. The non-driven axles may also have independently rotating wheels, and anti-skid, anti-wheel-spin electronic control of the wheel brakes.

Abstract: A front body construction of a vehicle includes a lengthwise front side frame welded to the lower periphery of each of left and right wheel houses in the form of a substantially quatered spherical segment. Inner and outer extension frames different in length extend from the front side frame and are laterally spaced apart from each other. To the outer extension frame an apron frame welded to an outer edge of the wheel house is welded at its lower end. A frontal impact force is received by the inner and outer extension frames, specifically by the longer one at first and, then, by the shorter one when a buckling or crushing is caused in the longer one due to frontal impact force.

Abstract: A tie-down assembly is disclosed which includes a plastic guard rail that defines a central floor and spaced, parallel interior walls which cooperate to define a recess, a pair of beveled exterior surfaces disposed outside of the respective interior walls, and an array of slits in the floor. A clamp formed of a folded piece of sheet metal defines a sleeve section disposed in the recess and a shank section which passes through one of the slits in the floor. A tie-down ring is pivotably mounted in the sleeve section and is movable between a stowed position, in which no part of the clamp or tie-down member extends out of the recess, and a use position. Aligned openings are defined by the floor and the shank section of the clamp, and a single fastener can be positioned to pass through the aligned openings in order to secure the entire tie-down assembly in place.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a roof bow unit to support a cover for the bed of a truck, trailer or the like. It is comprised of a pair of upwardly angled mounting members each containing a C-shaped socket wherein each member is securable to the lip of the bed of a truck or other vehicle, a pair of connecting end pieces each containing a rounded end each end, shaped to fit within the C-shaped socket of the mounting member and a bendable tube with an opening at each end into which the connecting end pieces are secured. This roof bow unit to support covers provides an inexpensive easy to manufacture a support for covers for truck beds and provides a significant improvement over prior art devices.

Abstract: There is described a track travelling railroad switch tamping machine which has a transversally extending guide frame at its front end and four ballast tamping units one each mounted in individual sub-frames which are mounted on the guide frame. Hydraulic power means are provided to individually move each of the sub-frames with its tamping unit, transversally of the vehicle on the guide frames, independentally of each other sub-frame. Individual hydraulic power devices are provided on each sub-frame for individually raising and lowering each tamping unit within its own sub-frame, independently of the other tamping units.

Abstract: The instant invention includes a track joining element which is operable to join two sections of track and to provide lateral and longitudinal positioning of the track sections relative one another. The joining elements include a tongue and a slot formed on each element. The tongue and slot have a common side which forms a linear guide path for engaging a like joining element on another section of track. The tongue is constructed and arranged to be clearance receivable in the slot on a second joining element. Interlocking means are provided to maintain the two elements in an engaged condition. In the preferred embodiment, interlocking means includes a leafspring mounted on the linear guide path. The spring has a free end which protrudes into the slot and engages a notch formed on the tongue of another joining element.

Abstract: A golf cart system which can be installed on the fairway of a golf course. The cart system has improved power economy and anti-rolling and anti-pitching motions of the cart. The golf cart system includes a track embedded in the ground and a cart adapted to run on the track. According to the golf cart system, since the track exposed at the ground is very narrow, there is less chance of a golf ball hitting against the track. Even if a golf ball should happen to accidentally hit the exposed track portion, the ball will bounce similarly as when striking on natural grass if the exposed track portion is covered by elastic members such as artificial turf. This makes it possible to install the golf cart system on the fairway of a golf course. In addition, the rolling motion of the cart is effectively prevented by the first and second anti-rolling rollers.

Abstract: A golf cart system which can be installed on the fairway of a golf course and which is excellent in power economy and anti-overturn effect. The golf cart system includes a track embedded in the ground and a cart running on the track. According to the golf cart system, since the track width exposed at the ground is very narrow, there is little chance of a golf ball hitting against the track. Even if a golf ball should happen to accidentally hit the exposed track portion, the ball will bound similarly as when striking on natural grass if the exposed track portion is covered by elastic members such as artificial turf. This makes it possible to install the golf cart system on the fairway of a golf course. In addition, since the anti-overturn rollers are so arranged that they elastically press onto the side walls of the track, the load acting between the driving wheels and the track is only the dead weight of the cart itself and therefore no excessive frictional force acts therebetween.

Abstract: A sun visor for use in an automobile wherein a transparent sheet having a suface on which a translucent sheet is attached is used, and the marginal portion of the sheet is supported by a supporting frame. The translucent sheet is a thin film made by vacuum depositing metal such as aluminum or nonmetal such as arsenic and phosphorous, or is formed by reticulated patterns forming fine through holes. The transparent sheet is provided along its peripheral edge with engagement holes. The supporting frame is split into two upper and lower sections and one of the split sections of the supporting frame has pegs and the other apertures, the pegs being mated through the engagement holes with the apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a wheelchair (100) to the floor (200) of a vehicle is described. The apparatus includes a front attachment (A) and a rear attachment (B). The front attachment (A) includes a bar (15), buckle (14), belt (13) and hook (12) secured to a vehicle mounted plate (10). The rear attachment (B) includes a rear bar (26) with arms (28) mounted on the wheelchair and a rigid connection link (22) between the bar and a rear plate (20). The apparatus allows a greater number of wheelchairs to be positioned in the vehicle.

Abstract: A transportation system including a solar energy collecting monorail structure formed with a photovoltaic surface layer having a solar energy converting means for converting the collected solar energy to electrical energy. A power distribution means for distributing stored energy to transit vehicles being propelled along the monorail structure or distributing excess energy to a remote power utility source. The monorail structure includes means for propelling a transit vehicle according to magnetic principals associated with transverse flux motors. The system also includes a computer controlled, elevation compensating monorail structure extrusion machine comprising a fabrication chamber which continuously fabricates the monorail structure along a monorail construction right-of-way.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are described for providing positive location openings within a contoured panel. These openings are utilized in conjunction with appropriate locators to assure that positive alignment of the molded panel in subsequent manufacturing operations is obtained. The specific die and headliner construction are likewise disclosed.