Abstract: An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. Air springs suspend a rail-wheel set axle unit and highway wheel-set axle units from the vehicle body so that the one wheel-set axle unit is stored in a raised inoperative position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, a valved air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered positions. The air control system also includes, in addition to the mode selection function, the highway braking function, the rail braking function, the parking brake and the emergency brake functions.

Abstract: A pedestal wear liner is described for attachment to a pedestal leg of a truck of a railroad vehicle having a journal box with a journal box wear plate facing the pedestal leg. The novel pedestal wear liner includes a unitary metallic support structure generally U-shaped in cross section with a central web portion and a pair of mounting legs for mounting the pedestal wear liners on a pedestal leg. The central web portion has a pair of flat portions adjacent the mounting legs and a central flat portion outwardly offset from the pair of flat portions. A hard elastomeric urethane polymer is bonded to the outer face of the metallic support structure, the elastomeric layer forming an outer flat wear surface across the entire central web of the metallic support and extending uninterrupted over at least part of the mounting legs.

Abstract: A rail fastening system for securing rails to rail ties in which an elastic fastener is used. The fastener has one portion which lies on the rail flange and a second portion which seats within a support secured to the rail tie. The fastener comprises a base portion which seats within the support and two tapered arms which are curved over the base so that the free ends of the tapered arms lie on the rail flange. The support is located adjacent the rail flange and a locking element fits between the rail flange and the support and is shaped to interfit with the support in a wedge-like relationship such that longitudinal rail movement acting on the locking element is translated into a lateral force to prevent longitudinal rail movement.

Abstract: A fish-plate comprises two sections which can be fitted, by way of a toothed surface, against corresponding toothed surfaces of two adjacent electrically conductive rails of a railway using bolts to tighten the sections towards each other. The teeth extend longitudinally, and the sections are vertically adjustable relatively to the rails to allow the fish-plate to be clamped to the rails at various heights.

Abstract: An alternator, including a rotor unit, a housing and stator unit rotatably mounted to and supported by the rotor unit, includes apparatus for mounting the alternator to the end of a rotating axle of a railroad vehicle.

Abstract: A curved roof construction for a hopper type rail car wherein a plurality of roof support webs extend transversely between opposed car side walls at spaced intervals to each other. These webs provide support for a plurality of large roof panels which are disposed in generally end to end relationships and define the roof surface. The support webs have outwardly curved or bowed conformations between opposed ends thereof so that the roof panels will be similarly bowed. The roof panels are installed so as to define an elongated roof hatch opening generally centrally between and longitudinally of the car side walls. A roof coaming is associated with the roof panels in an adjacent surrounding relationship with the hatch opening. Elongated side plates fixedly secured to the car side walls adjacent to the top edges thereof provide mounting surfaces for the outer side edges of associated ones of the roof panels.

Abstract: A device for arranging in order a random supply of articles including a plurality of article orientating members movable relatively to each other. The members are spaced so that the articles, when orientated, can drop between the members. The members may comprise intercalating elongate blades, alternate blades being arranged to move in unison relative to intermediate blades and may be provided for conveying the orientated articles from between the blades to a receiving station.

Abstract: A cargo restraint for use in loading and unloading cargo in the hold of an aircraft includes a lip member which extends into the path of cargo entering the aircraft and is yieldably mounted to rotate out of the way of cargo entering the cargo hold. The lip member has stop means associated therewith to prevent rotation of the lip means on engagement by cargo in a direction exiting the cargo hold so as to restrain the cargo from exiting. The lip member is rotatably mounted on a carrier member which in turn is pivotally attached to a base affixed to the floor of the cargo hold. The lip member is movable into a retracted position below the cargo deck to permit passage of cargo out of the hold. A powered actuator is provided which is operable to move the lip member between its extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: An improved automatic central buffer coupling for rail vehicles includes a cone formed with a tip portion on the end of the cone having a convex surface and a funnel-shaped member for receiving the cone member of an opposite coupling which is formed with an inwardly inclined chamfer at the inlet opening thereof.

Abstract: A railcar transport for use with a truck tractor towing means comprising a trailer having an elongated rectangular frame having the rails thereon located on the longitudinal side frame members, having a railcar ramp secured to one end thereof, having a power winch mounted on the other end thereof to pull railcars thereon, having a rail alignment mechanism on one end the trailcar ramp mounted between the rails thereon, and having railcar ramp articulation means which are mounted either at the ramp pivot point or therebelow.

Abstract: A conveyor for transporting a vehicle along a track through a carwash is adapted to selectively lift a roller mechanism through a first opening at the forward end of the tire track for engaging the front tire of a vehicle to convey the vehicle along the track until the rear tire moves beyond the first opening whereupon the roller mechanism engaging the front tire drops through another opening at an intermediate location along the track and a second roller mechanism is lifted through the first opening behind the rear tire so as to engage the rear tire and then convey the vehicle to the rearward end of the tire track.

Abstract: Cargo carried on freight cars such as flat bed railway cars is secured in place by lading strapping that is tensioned around the cargo so as to compress a snubber unit of an integral, telescoping quick-release device that includes a sleeve slidably mounted in a housing secured directly to the side of the freight car, which sleeve is locked in a collapsed condition within the housing and unlocked to move between the collapsed condition and a telescoping condition, the sleeve having therewithin an anchor rod that telescopes from the sleeve in opposition to bias provided by the snubber unit. Unlocking of the quick-release device substantially reduces tension within the lading strapping before it is removed from the cargo.

Abstract: The rail vehicle body is constructed such that the base, roof and a centrally located bearing frame define a unitary bearing section member. The bearing frame may be composed of pairs of vertically stiffened walls, rows of vertically disposed posts, and one or more lattice girders. The side walls of the vehicle body are removably mounted so that ready access can be made to the chambers defined on opposite sides of the load-bearing frame. In addition, the load-bearing frame or frames are provided with apertures to provide access between the chambers on opposite sides of the bearing frame. Also, a drive means for driving the wheels of the vehicle body can be suspended from transverse girders forming the base of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An improved trolley structure for a freight bracing bulkhead assembly. The sprocket wheels of the trolley structure are designed to cooperate with the same apertures in supporting tracks located in a cargo area as cooperate with the locking pins of the bulkhead assembly. The sprocket wheels are mounted on the trolley shaft by means which permit the axis of each sprocket wheel to shift relative to the axis of the trolley shaft. A safety member is provided to prevent vertical disengagement of the sprocket wheels from the tracks.

Abstract: A track section for use with an electrically actuated toy vehicle and which can be joined end to end with other identical track sections to complete a vehicle track. The section includes at least one vehicle path and at least two electrically-conducting strips from which the vehicle obtains its electrical power. The strips extend from end to end of the section. The end of each strip is in a recess which tapers width-wise in a direction away from the end of the section. The recess is formed by an abutment wall adjacent to the end of the strip and a cam wall inclined to the longitudinal axis of the section. The cam wall is adapted to engage a corresponding cam wall on an adjacent section when the two sections are brought together so as to move the ends of the strips of the two sections into side-by-side engagement between respective abutment walls of the two sections. The section has a snap-fit retainer so that two sections can be releasably coupled together.

Abstract: A railroad car truck includes a pair of spaced side frames carrying therebetween a transversely positioned bolster. Ends of the bolster are positioned within a window formed in each side frame. A connection between the side frame and bolster includes an interposed set of springs which cushions vertical movements of the bolster. These movements are dampened by sets of friction shoes which interact with wear surfaces formed as part of the bolster and side frame. The bolster-side frame connection also accommodates pitching and yawing movements of the bolster and pitching movements of the side frames. These rotational movements are not cushioned and can produce substantial stresses when contact occurs between abutting structural members of the bolster and the side frames. To maintain such stresses below the yield point of the structural members, bolster-side frame contact is restricted to areas of the bolster where the stresses may be distributed to members having sufficient strength.

Abstract: A transporter or trailer for endwise transport of combine headers and the like, consists of a standard four-wheel wagon running gear carrying an elongated generally rectangular frame providing support surfaces compatible with a variety of sizes and types of header. A pair of longitudinally spaced fixed pockets at the left-hand side of the adapter frame receives heel portions adjacent the rear of headers of the corn head or row-crop head type while a somewhat elevated, swingably adjusted, rail may be set to an appropriate contact and support forward portions of a particular header. In alternative embodiments, an auxiliary laterally adjustable rail may support a second front portion of a header, or additional support "cradles" may be attached along the left-hand side of the frame to accommodate headers with elongated transverse beam members such as grain platforms.

Abstract: A cable car type vehicle arrester features a pair of trumpet bars which are interconnected by a link which either maintains the distance between the bars constant or reduces same upon one of the bars being deflected outboard of its home or rest position. This reduces the free swinging time of the vehicle between bars and increases the distance through which the bars subsequent to the initial deflection are deflectable by the vehicle. This accordingly increases the stroke of shock absorbers associated with the bars increasing the conversion of the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Casters can be provided to support the bars to allow longer lighter bars with less robust bearing and structural members. The casters can be run on a corrugated surface to cam the bars vertically further increasing the kinetic energy conversion and endow a self-centering action on the arrester.

Abstract: A restraining apparatus in a vehicle, such as a bus, comprises a post movable from a depressed, horizontally extending position to an upright position. A U-shaped clamp on the upright post engages the front of a wheelchair wheel the back of which is engaged by another U-shaped clamp attached to the vehicle, to hold the wheelchair wheel in compression. A padded arm attached to the top of the post is movable from a retracted position, hanging down alongside the post, to a horizontally extending non-restraining position and then to a restraining position extending across the chest of the wheelchair occupant.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure at mounting portions of tractive or fastening hooks of an automobile comprises U-shaped members welded to vehicle body members whose joint flanges surrounded by the U-shaped members are formed with apertures to reinforce the joint flange by bolts passing through the apertures, thereby preventing separations and cracks in the joint flanges during a transport for a long distance.