Abstract: A railway truck with a load-bearing structure resiliently supported on two live-axle, self-steering wheelsets, axle bearings being provided on the wheelsets and damping elements being connected longitudinally between axle bearings on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the truck. The damping elements change length with constantly applied forces and transmit rapidly changing forces between the wheelsets with the attenuation of energy. Thus, the damping elements do not interfere with the self-steering ability of the wheelsets and act to counteract wheelset hunting. The wheelsets may be connected to couple any yawing movement of each wheelset in opposite sense to the other wheelset.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceiling component which is formed by a curved panel and has a support which supports a layer of sound-proofing and heat insulating material. The support is made in one piece and is constituted by a metal sheet whose edges are bent back on itself and then to form a flange projecting from one surface of said panel. The bent edges alone provide the rigidity necessary for the panel without requiring the use of ribs and girders.

Abstract: A door locking mechanism for a railway hopper car includes a rotatable latch or rotor member engaging a keeper on the door for releasably locking the same. The latch member includes abutment faces which are engaged in locking position by a spring loaded lever. The lever includes a flat surface engaging a rounded cam surface on the rotor for positioning the same in a release position.

Abstract: A device for preventing turn-around motions of free trolleys in a power-and-free conveyor having a power rail and a free rail is provided. The device includes a connecting link interconnecting the free trolleys and having holes as well as turn-preventing members on the opposite ends thereof. Each of the trolleys is provided with a downwardly directed rod from the trolley, the rod rotatably passing through a hole of the connecting link and having a stopper at its lower end. The stoppers receive the connecting link when the free trolleys are on the free rail. Each of the turn-preventing members has an engaging portion which extends upward. Each of the engaging portions engages with the lower portion of a free trolley when the free trolley is taken off from the free rail. Thus, the turn-around motions of the free trolleys are prevented and the free trolleys are in the position where their directions are the same as that in which the connecting link extends.

Abstract: A sliding door for railroad cars which may be manually operable but is also provided with a pneumatic device and a pneumatic control circuit operably connected to the door for closing the door by power operation, which pneumatic device, after effecting power closing of the door, is automatically vented of all pneumatic pressure and operably disconnected from the door so as not to offer any resistance during manual operation, and, in particular, during an opening phase of the door by manual operation subsequently to a pneumatic closing phase of the same door.

Abstract: An articulated railroad vehicle having two or more body portions is supported on three or more single wheel set trucks. Each truck is pivotally attached to a vehicle body portion. Sensing elements detect the angle between the articulated body portions. The output from the angle of articulated sensing element means is used to guide each of the wheel sets to a radial configuration when the vehicle negotiates a curve.

Abstract: A cup-shaped wear resistant liner for a center plate structure of a railway vehicle is provided wherein such liner is defined by a planar disc-like bottom portion adjoined by a peripheral flange portion extending from the periphery of the bottom portion with each of the portions being made primarily of a polymeric material wherein one of the portions has a particular wear characteristic and the other of the portions has a wear characteristic that is different from the wear characteristic of the one portion.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an open top railway car is provided in which the car body is divided longitudinally into at least two body sections having opposite ends which are pivotally mounted on vertically extending supports attached to a car underframe. The body sections include respective transversely spaced side walls, at least one end wall, and bottom walls having inner edges which abut and/or overlap in closed position to define the bottom of the car. To achieve increased volumetric carrying capacity, the bottoms are horizontal and extend outboard of the wheels. Each of the body sections is pivotable from the closed position to an open position in which the inner edges of the bottom walls are spaced apart to allow discharge of lading between the rails. An energy saving unloading system is also disclosed for unloading the cars.

Abstract: This invention relates to a suspension railroad in mines, including a monorail having an elongated friction section and an elongated rack section located above the friction section, a car suspended on the monorail and driven for moving the car along the rail including a friction wheel in frictional engagement with the friction section, a gear wheel coaxial with the friction wheel, and a shiftable device for moving the gear wheel into and out of engagement with the rack section.

Abstract: The transverse coupling assembly for the end trucks utilizes a hollow shaft which is mounted via a bearing to a middle truck or vehicle body and connected via linkages to the two end trucks. In one embodiment, the shaft houses a torsion spring element which is pretensioned and which connects the shaft to a linkage. In another embodiment, the shaft can be provided with partitions to form a storage space for a fluid operating medium, diesel oil or the like.

Abstract: In a pressurized railway hopper car vertical and horizontal reinforcement members are strategically located relative to the car side plate to counteract the moment M caused by the internal pressure applied to the side sheets and to the roof. The vertical reinforcement member is spaced inwardly from the shear center of the side plate a distance determined by dividing the value of the moment M by the vertical component of the membrane pressure loads applied to the roof and to the side sheet. Horizontally extending reinforcements are provided extending between the laterally spaced side plates which are attached to the side plates at approximately the shear center of the side plate. With the horizontal and vertical members thus located, the vertical and horizontal reinforcing members will carry substantially axial loads only, essentially eliminating bending, and thus may be of reduced size as compared to the size which would be required if these members also carried bending loads.

Abstract: In a vehicular energy producing system including an electrical generating device and being adapted to be mounted on an undercarriage of a heavy vehicle, a support bracket mounted on the undercarriage for supporting the electrical generating device, and a clutch mounted on the undercarriage. The clutch is driven by the rotation of the wheels of the undercarriage to in turn drive the electrical generating device. A transmission drivingly connects the clutch and the generating device.

Abstract: A short wheelbase railroad truck having two axles intended to assume a radial configuration when the railroad vehicle rounds curves comprises a frame having two side members and axles mounted in bearing means. The bearing means are pivotally attached to the frame members with at least two of the bearing means being attached to the frame members by means of steering levers which are pivotally attached to the associated bearing means and the frame members for independent pivotal movement. Steering rods connect each steering lever to the vehicle body such that the chording of the vehicle as it rounds a curve will guide each axle to the radial alignment. In one embodiment each axle is guided by such steering rods and levers. In another embodiment one axle is guided by steering rods and levers and the side members move relatively longitudinally to guide the other axle.

Abstract: A self-propelled track working machine comprises a frame, track working equipment carried by the frame and subjecting the frame to a load and an undercarriage arrangement with two main undercarriages supporting the frame for mobility on the track and an auxiliary undercarriage associated with each main undercarriage and arranged adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A tank car stub sill support structure is provided in which a half ring is attached to the inner end of a stub center sill at each end of the car. The half ring includes a top cover plate which engages the lower half of the tank, and a lower cover plate which is vertically spaced below the top cover plate. A vertical web joins the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate. The height of the vertical web and the distance between the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate varies in accordance with the bending moment applied to the ring by the tank and lading in the car. Thus the height of the vertical web is maximum at the centerline of the car and decreases to a minimum at the sides of the car. The stub sill is welded to the upper cover plate, bottom cover plate and to the vertical web on the outboard side of the vertical web. The coupler impact loads are thus transmitted into the upper cover plate and into the tank substantially entirely in shear.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension comprises an axle supported at each end by a respective axle box and respective spring means acting between each axle box and an associated rigid vehicle mounting.The spring means has an effective spring center which acts at a point between the axle center and the associated axle box so as to reduce the radius of operation of the suspension in a yaw condition as compared with conventional suspensions in which the effective spring center acts at the axle box.The spring means comprises a pair of spring units arranged one on each side of the axle and each spring unit comprises layers of elastomeric material sandwiched between reinforcement elements.

Abstract: A deck assembly for a vehicle freight container, e.g., a highway trailer, comprising a series of panels which extend across the container and rest on side rails to provide a second floor for lading spaced above the main floor of the container, the panels being hinged to opposed side walls of the container in a manner to permit storage against the side walls above the side rails. The panels are pivoted at two corners, one pivot being a universal joint and the other being detachable from the side wall to permit the panels to be rotated about both a vertical and a horizontal axis for moving them from stored to operative position and vice versa.

Abstract: In an aerial transport system having an aerial track such as a cableway or tramway and one or more carriages travelling along the track, a structure for suspending the carriage from the track comprising a beam, both ends of which are pivotally connected to a plurality of frames supporting wheels, the frames being rotatable in a yaw direction about yaw axes with respect to the beam, and a hanger, the upper end of which is connected to the beam in a pivotable position in a pitch direction about a pitch axis with respect to the beam, the improvement comprising, in combination a plurality of separate beams being positioned apart from one another and linked to respective opposing ends by link members in alignment, a plurality of frames respectively connected to both ends of a respective beam in a pivotal position with respect to the beam about respective yaw axes, one wheel being mounted on each of the frames, and a plurality of hangers, the lower ends of which are connected to a carriage body in a pivotable posit

Abstract: A sleeping berth movable between storage and sleep positions and having hinge means connecting the berth to a compartment wall, releasable latch means including latch levers for engaging within latch keepers, guide means for guiding the berth during movement between positions and means for locking the berth in the sleep position. The guide means comprise a horizontal guide track having closed ends, a guide roller supported for movement within the guide track and a berth support link, the support link having one end portion pinned to the berth and the other end portion connected to the guide roller. One end of the support link engages a latch lever and locks the berth while disposed in the sleep position.

Abstract: A swivel truck frame of high torsional flexibility for rail vehicles is provided comprising a pair of generally straight longitudinal beams running parallel to one another, said longitudinal beams connected to one another by parallel running crossbeams to define a rectangular frame, said crossbeams being welded to said longitudinal beams, said crossbeams being disposed under said longitudinal beams, the lower chords of said longitudinal beams being welded to the upper chords of said crossbeams, said longitudinal beams being further interconnected by at least one middle crossbeam disposed between said parallel running crossbeams.