Abstract: A convertible vehicle provided with a truck assembly adjacent the rear end and a plurality of liftable axle assemblies intermediate its ends. The truck assembly has railway wheels lowered for railway use and highway wheels lowered for highway use. The liftable axle assemblies have highway wheels lowered during highway use. A lift mechanism raises the liftable axle assemblies during railway use and a locking mechanism releasably locks the liftable axle assemblies in the raised position. The front of the vehicle can be alternatively connected to a highway truck tractor or a railway truck.

Abstract: A crossing construction for a railway including a plurality of spaced-apart cross-ties that support two parallel rails positioned thereon. The crossing includes a center pad of resilient rubber-like material positioned between the rails. A side pad of resilient rubber-like material is positioned on each side of the railway. Shims are used to position the uppermost surfaces of the center and side pads flush with the tops of the rails. On each side edge of the crossing there is provided a cap of resilient rubber-like material that includes a first leg that extends horizontally under a portion of each side pad and a second leg that extends vertically downwardly and covers the ends of the shims and a portion of the ends of the cross-ties the cap may include an extension pad and an L-shaped reinforcing member.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle truck having a single wheelset includes a pair of spaced side frames. The side frames are joined into a rigid unit by a pair of transversely positioned crossbars. The crossbars are positioned one each on each side of the wheelset which has its axle ends journaled in bearings carried in turn in a pedestal jaw centrally formed in each side frame. Projecting inwardly from each end of the side frames is a bracket which forms part of a set of upper pivot connections with an upper end of a swing arm. A laterally positioned crosstie assembly is joined through a pair of spaced end caps with a lower end of each swing arm to form a set of lower pivot connections. Each crosstie assembly end cap has a pair of spring cups containing a set of springs which operatively support a body of the railroad vehicle thereabove.

Abstract: A rotary railroad car coupler assembly is described as having a unique carrier which is designed for limited angling or tilting in the vertically elongated chamber of the striker, as the coupler rotates. The projecting lugs of the carrier which interlockingly engage the stops in the chamber of the striker, have sloping sides which diverge from the sidewalls of the chamber in a direction away from the coupler, rather than being parallel to the sidewalls as are the sides of the lugs of AAR Standard carriers. This improvement eliminates chattering that is normally occasioned when AAR Standard carriers are used in connection with a rotary railroad car coupler assembly and helps to prevent undue stress of the striker caused when the carrier becomes momentarily frozen or bound up in the striker as the coupler rotates.

Abstract: A tamping machine intended for tamping on the open track and below switches and cross overs. It is equipped with independent tamping units arranged on opposite sides of each line of rail and each connected to the chassis by a mechanism comprising: a transverse slideway actuated by a first piston-cylinder unit; a slide block mounted on the slideway and on which the tamping unit is articulated; an arm fastened to the tamping unit; and a connecting rod connecting said arm to the chassis. The slide block of the outer unit is fastened on the slideway while the slide block of the inner unit is movable on said slideway and driven by a second piston-cylinder unit. Thus, the transverse trajectory of the tamping tools is sufficiently flat to avoid a correction of their depth of penetration upon the tamping of long ties.

Abstract: A railway hopper car includes a curved roof having a roof sheet provided with lateral edges each joined to the top of a car side sheet by a top chord assembly. Each top chord assembly includes a top chord fully disposed within the car interior and having a vertical leg joined to the interior surface of a side sheet while an opposite inclined or angular leg is joined to the interior surface of the roof sheet. A curved cover overlies both top chord legs and forms, with the roof sheet and side sheet, a smooth continuously descending profile from the top centerline of the car roof to each of the car sides.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle truck having a single wheelset includes a pair of spaced side frames. The side frames are joined into a rigid unit by a pair of transversely positioned transom cross bars. The cross bars are positioned one each on each side of the wheelset which has its axle ends journaled in bearings carried in turn in a pedestal jaw centrally formed in each side frame. Projecting inwardly from each end of the side frames is a bracket which forms part of a set of upper pivot connections with an upper end of a swing arm. A laterally positioned crosstie assembly is joined through a pair of spaced end caps with a lower end of each swing arm to form a set of lower pivot connections. Each crosstie assembly end cap has a pair of spring cups containing a set of springs which operatively support a body of the railroad vehicle thereabove.

Abstract: A pivoting hatch cover and strap assembly has an overcenter latch assembly which is pivotably mounted upon the car roof at a location opposite the common hatch cover and strap pivot axis. This latch assembly includes a bifurcated overcenter locking handle which has a pair of cam surfaces which in closed position engage spaced wear plate surfaces located on the strap. A tab is located on the wear plate adjacent to but outboard of the cam surface on the operating handle. The tab makes a sufficient angle with the horizontal and extends upwardly and outwardly from the cam surface a distance sufficient to prevent the cam portion of the operating handle from moving longitudinally, and disengaging from the strap until pressure within the car is dissipated and thus prevents the strap and cover flying open.

Abstract: A foot actuated latch for use in an aircraft cargo bay to provide vertical and longitudinal restraint of a cargo container. The latch having a lineal engaging and disengaging action which resists lineal forces parallel to latch movement tending to disengage that latch pawl from the container. The actuation of the latch for engagement and disengagement accomplished by a downward movement of the latch levers.

Abstract: A steerable truck comprises a pair of wheelsets spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the truck, each supporting a respective steering yoke. A main frame is supported by the yokes which are connected to the main frame to permit rotation of each yoke relative to the main frame about a respective vertical steering axis. A linear induction motor is located beneath the yokes for cooperation with a reaction rail to propel the truck. A suspension device suspends the motor from the yokes to maintain the motor a fixed height from the reaction rail. The thrust of the motor is transmitted to one of the yokes and a centering device is provided to inhibit lateral displacement of the motor relative to the yokes. The suspension device comprises three links each having universal connections at each end for connection to the motor and a respective one of the yokes.

Abstract: A vehicle tilt control apparatus has an acceleration detector for detecting vibration in horizontal and lateral direction of a car body, a fluidically operating mechanism disposed between the car body and a truck and compensation circuits for compensating a centrifugal force component and a jolting component, respectively, of the output of the acceleration detector. The outputs of the compensation circuits are added and the resulting output is fed back to actuate a servo valve to control the fluidically operating mechanism. In this manner, the riding comfort to the passengers when the vehicle passes through a curved area and for the jolting is improved.

Abstract: A wear member for a railway vehicle is provided, the wear member having a U-shaped support that is provided with a bight and a pair of parallel legs and carrying on the bight thereof anti-friction polymeric material. The support is made of structural material of substantially uniform thickness throughout, the structural material having a plurality of corrugations defining the bight of the support with each corrugation having the uniform thickness throughout substantially its entire configuration and having an end surface spaced from and coplanar with the end surfaces of the corrugations adjacent thereto whereby the corrugations provide structural strength for the bight of the support, the polymeric material being supported by certain of the corrugations at just the adjacent and coplanar end surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A cargo restraining apparatus is disclosed which is designed to confine and restrain a load during shipment in a transport vehicle, and which comprises a rectangular panel, and a continuous flexible loading strap mounted in a figure eight pattern on one side of the panel. A tie strap is mounted at each of the four corners of the panel for securing the panel to an adjacent anchoring structure in the transport vehicle, and a belt and buckle arrangement is provided for drawing the ends of the strap together to thereby adjust its length. When operatively positioned against one end of the load, the panel acts to spread the contact pressure over a relatively large area, and the loading strap serves to reinforce and support the panel.

Abstract: A steerable railway truck includes a main frame structure having a bolster and a pair of side frames to be secured to a car body. A pair of "C" shaped sub-frames are interconnected. Extending arm portions of the sub-frames are slidably mounted to the end of the side frames on shear plate assemblies. Hanger elements extend from the main frame to hold the interconnected sections of the sub-frame. A steering link member is connected between the main frame and one of the sub-frames to force the two frames to steer when the car body moves over curved tracks.

Abstract: A load retainer assembly for bracing loads in a load containing vehicle including a pair of shoes each adapted to receive the ends of a wooden bracing member, e.g., a wooden two-by-four, a pair of end plates, one end plate being attached directly to one of the shoes, and a screw adjustably connecting the other end plate to the other shoe. When the ends of the wooden bracing member are placed in the shoes, movement of the screw extends the overall distance between the end plates whereby the load retainer may be mounted in the load container vehicle with the wooden bracing member extending between the opposed side walls of the vehicle and across the load and being held firmly in place by the engagement of the end plates with the opposed side walls of the vehicle.

Abstract: Method and device for enhancing the adhesion qualities of vehicle wheels through the use of a plurality of embedded members having exposed high frictional surfaces, which are capable of automatically being caused to attain frictional contact with a wheel bearing surface in response to slippage. Under normal conditions where enhanced friction is not needed, the embedded members lie in a relative retracted position from which they may respond to slippage conditions as needed.

Abstract: A sliding gate for closing the discharge opening of a hopper having inclined side walls is mounted on elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies secured between the underside of upturned inclined side margins of the gate and the top sides of inclined side walls of a discharge chute secured to the hopper and extending below the discharge opening. The elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies are mounted to create a labyrinth seal by methods which include the use of a plurality of integral stud portions extending through corresponding openings along the inclined side margins of the gate, adhesives, keyways, welding or combinations thereof. The elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies are of a polymeric material such as nylon, Teflon or a composite material like ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene impregnated with molybdenum disulfide. The polymeric low-friction material may be molded to a metal matrix which is mounted on the gate by means of welding.

Abstract: Latch for locking a container to a pedestal on the flat deck of a flat car and particularly containers containing flammable materials. The container is supported on a pedestal at each corner thereof and the pedestals are adjustably mounted in guideways for movement along the deck of the flat car in accordance with the length of the container, to support containers at selected intervals along the car. A spring biased latch is provided to lock the container to the pedestal and a lock is provided for the latch is provided which reacts against the pedestal and includes a biasing spring for the lock to positively hold the latch in a locked position even though the car should be derailed.

Abstract: A coal-fired steam locomotive powered by reciprocating steam engines. The locomotive is a two-unit drawbar-coupled locomotive. The units, which are designated as a power unit and a support unit, are arranged back-to-back, with each having a cab-in-front. Operation of the locomotive is equally effective in both directions. The power unit basically contains a furnace and combustion system, an ash storage system, a gas cleanup and exhaust system, a boiler and steam generator, steam engines, a jet condenser, and a control cab. The support unit, on two 6-wheel trucks, contains a modular coal storage area, a stoker motor, a water storage area, heat transfer assemblies and fans for air-cooling circulating water, and a second control cab. The coal-gasification furnace, steam boiler, and steam engines are all in a closed system. Further, the steam engines of the locomotive are in the form of a four cylinder, balanced system for driving the running gear of the locomotive.

Abstract: A side frame for a single axle railway truck is provided. The side frame has top and bottom and spaced side walls. The side frame has a generally hollow cross section, with an upper middle portion, downwardly sloped intermediate portion and lower outer portions. The top and bottom walls have decreasing thickness inwardly from the end of the outer portions.