Abstract: A car travels along a sheathed cable, especially a suspension cable of a bridge, with the cable sheathing being of sheet metal and forming a rabbet projecting radially outwardly and following a helical course in the lengthwise cable direction. The car has at least one drive member engaged in the rabbet grovoe limited on the side by the rabbet. The drive member can be moved by a drive device immovable relative to the car along the lengthwise axis of the cable, but movable on a track concentric with the lengthwise axis of the cable.

Abstract: A truck having a pair of wheels mounted by individual stub axles to longitudinal members of a frame. Lateral members of the frame received the forces from the wheels via the longitudinal members and forces from the car via air springs mounted to the lateral members adjacent the longitudinal members. The stub axles are easily removed from U-shaped retainers. A sleeve through the hollow axis retains the bearings to the axle. Half shafts interconnect a gear box and the stub axles for driven trucks and the interconnections are dimensioned to allow the shafts to be removed axially through the hollow axle.

Abstract: Described in a suspension conveyor system suitable for the use of conveyance units having two travelling rollers interconnected by an open yoke. The suspension conveyor system is universally applicable and capable of optimum adaptation to operating and space conditions in a given plant. To this purpose the system comprises changeover means selectively operable to tilt a conveyance unit to a left or right laterally suspended position or a center-suspended position to thereby permit for instance the radii of curved rail sections to be considerably shortened and particularly achieve a less complicated construction of required switches. In a preferred embodiment the switch is formed as an integral shaped member, so that the continuity of the rail circuit has not to be interrupted for guiding a conveyance unit onto selected branch rails.

Abstract: A hot bearing simulator is provided for verifying the proper operation of hot box detectors in a dynamic fashion. The hot bearing simulator employs a temperature controller and heater means associated with various axles of a rolling carriage. The heaters are adjusted such that a hot box detector will be verified to determine if it is able to sense when the absolute temperature of left or right wheel bearings exceeds a first predetermined temperature or, alternatively, when the difference in temperature between a left and right wheel bearing differ by a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dual track system for rail vehicles and magnetic vehicles. To enable this track system to be used in common by conventional wheel-and-track vehicles and magnetic vehicles, switches are needed by which both types of vehicle can be switched from a track on which only the one type of vehicle can run to a track which can be used by both types of vehicle. Furthermore, the switch must be suited for providing branches in a track on which both types of vehicles can operate. For the solution of this problem the invention provides a switch system which is essentially characterized by a flexible beam (6a) on which a likewise flexible track section (21) is mounted, which is intended for common use by rail vehicles and magnetic vehicles, and by an apparatus (31) for opening or closing a gap (30) between the beam and each such track (1a) to be traversed by the rail vehicles which permits the flexing of the beam.

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.