Abstract: A tricycle having at least one front wheel and a front fork carrying the front wheel, fuel and oil tanks positioned at the rear of the front fork, comprising at least one longitudinal frame elongated in a longitudinal direction of the tricycle and securely connected at its foremost end to the front fork structure, the fuel and oil tanks being supported on a front portion of the frame, and a rear fender structure having a front tank cover portion and at least one rear fender portion which merges rearwardly out of the front tank assembly cover portion and which is pivotally connected to the frame in the neighborhood of the rear end of the frame so that the rear fender structure as a whole is pivotally movable between a lower angular position resting on the frame and having the fuel and oil tank assemblies enclosed within the tank cover portion and an upper angular position raised above the frame and the tanks.

Abstract: An electrically insulated rail joint having two integral plastic fishplates with embedded steel reinforcement bolted on opposite sides of the rail joint. Each fishplate is provided with vertical spaced projecting ribs having wedge-shaped faces engaging the rail sides.

Abstract: Locking device for securing cargo in containers or pallets, comprising two latches hinged together and hinged to the locking device frame, one by a fixed hinge pin and the other by a hinge pin which can move in translation.The latches are constantly acted on by a spring which draws them into the cargo locking position, in which the latches project up above the frame, by a spring and are changed over, by downwards pressure on the latches, to the cargo unlocking position, in which they are retracted.

Abstract: A fender and support bar is provided for automotive vehicle wheel sets. The fender comprises a panel having a support seat formed thereon intermediate its longitudinal ends and the support comprises an elongated tube which is rigidly connected to the panel. The rigid mechanical connection is provided by pairs of clamping plates disposed at opposite sides of an inner wall of the support bar and a wheel set facing surface of the fender panel. A plurality of clamping bolts are positioned along the elongated clamping plates and the heads of these bolts are secured to that clamping plate inserted within the interior of the tube to facilitate assembly. Mounting of the support bar in supported relationship to a vehicle chassis is by a telescopic sleeve assembly utilizing compression clamps to obtain a fixed position connection.

Abstract: The present proposal comtemplates an anti-theft device for unattended trailers, in the nature of a cover-plate assembly for locking the open end of the trailer tow bar to prevent unauthorized removal of the trailer as by connecting the open end of the trailer bar to a peg on a towing vehicle. The assembly may comprise an underplate with a centrally disposed pintle and an apertured overplate or coverplate constructed and arranged to coact with the underplate to effectively prevent access to the opening at the end of the tow bar. For convenience, the two plates may be joined in spaced relationship as by a steel cable fixed at its ends, respectively, to the top side of the coverplate and to the reverse side of the underplate.

Abstract: A base frame is provided defining two pairs of opposite marginal portions with the pairs of marginal portions spaced horizontally apart in vertical planes intersecting each other and the marginal portions of each pair spaced on opposite sides of the point of intersection of the planes. A first pair of omnidirectional support structures are mounted from a first pair of the marginal portions and a second pair of reversely and variably drivable support structures are steerably mounted from the second pair of marginal portions for angular displacement about upstanding axes relative to the second pair of marginal portions. Further, steering control structure is operably connected between the frame and the second pair of support structures operable to selectively, variably and equally angularly displace the second pair of support structures relative to the second marginal portions.

Abstract: A plurality of sliders and a guide rail along which the sliders run to carry a load, each slider having thin U-letter shape members so layered in the longitudinal direction of guide rail as to form a channel shape casing with a hexagonal central aperture in which rollers are included to run along a hexagonal head of the guide rail in an engaging relation.

Abstract: A towbar assembly wherein two individual towbars are arranged in a V-configuration between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The leading ends of the towbars have special end connectors that hook around a single towing pintle so that each towbar carries approximately the same tensile loading irrespective of changes in vehicle pitch or roll attitude. Each towbar is essentially independent of the other towbar, whereby the towbar loadings are essentially in the direction of the bar longitudinal axis; bending forces are to a great extent eliminated. The invention is designed primarily for use in towing large heavy vehicles weighing in excess of fifty tons.

Abstract: Clutch-clutch-brake steering unit having hydraulically actuated cylinders for controlling same to control rotation of a track-drive sprocket in a crawler tractor. Specifically, one of the clutch cylinders and a brake cylinder provided in the unit have an inlet-outlet port in common, and are so arranged on a spring-applied-brake, hydraulically-applied-clutch basis that a single pressure signal in the inlet-outlet port alternately operates the cylinders to apply the brake and release the one clutch, to apply the one clutch and release the brake or, by proper modulation, to partially engage either, i.e., slip the clutch or drag the brake to intermediate degrees as desired.

Abstract: A fuel-saving energy storage vehicle drive system which saves fuel, primarily under stop-and-go driving conditions, by collecting, storing and using energy normally lost in the braking or deceleration of the vehicle, by automatically controlled operation of the engine under certain conditions, and by automatically controlled use of the stored energy and engine respectively as alternative or supplemental prime movers for each other for driving the vehicle. Subsystems for preventing waste of deceleration energy and stored energy are provided, and compact transmission layout and packaging are provided which facilitate installation of the new system in existing vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle having a transversely mounted engine (20), an engine cooling radiator (22) mounted forward of the engine and substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the engine crankshaft, a cross-flow fan (24) mounted for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the crankshaft axis and between the crankshaft axis and plane of the radiator, and a mechanical drive (32, 34, 36) which rotates the fan in response to rotation of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A lift bed, tandem axle trailer includes a bed with a load supporting base structure and a pair of wheel support arms mounted for pivotal movement about longitudinally spaced apart, transverse axes on each side of the bed for raising and lowering the bed with respect to a road or supporting surface. An axle and wheel is mounted at the outer end of each support arm. A tongue extends forwardly of the trailer bed with the forward end adapted to be hitched to a towing vehicle. Load equalizing linkages are provided between the forward and rearward support arms on each side of the bed and this linkage is interconnected with a lift on each side of the bed for pivoting the support arms to raise and lower the bed to the desired level for loading/unloading or travel. A shock absorber assembly is interconnected with the lift on each side of the bed for providing a smoothed out ride for the trailer bed during travel.

Abstract: A knockdown disposable vehicle ramp for shipment of vehicles securely fastened to the floor of container to elevate and support one end of a wheeled vehicle in nesting alignment with another wheeled vehicle whereby a series of in-line vehicles may be positioned within a single container for shipment with each of the disposable ramps being secured in position during vehicle loading. Each of the disposable ramps is constructed of corrugated fiberboard and positioned to support the loads to which the ramp may be subjected with each ramp being provided with an inclined plane on which the wheel of a vehicle may be elevated for positioning to a wheel well on the ramp for cooperatively supporting a wheel mounted on the vehicle. Ramp and wheel well reinforcing means are positioned to support loads to which the ramp is subjected. A wheel-mounted harness securely retains the vehicle-mounted wheel on the ramp wheel well limiting vehicle displacement.

Abstract: Power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising a rack rod operatively connected to a steering wheel and supported in a steering gear casing, the rack rod being drivable by a power cylinder consisting of an outer cylinder fixed to the steering gear casing, an inner cylinder disposed in the outer cylinder and fitted into the steering gear casing, and a piston mounted on the rack rod to divide the interior of the inner cylinder into first and second oil chambers. A control valve is mounted on the lower surface of the steering gear casing for controlling the operation of the power cylinder. The second oil chamber is in communication with the outer cylinder via the spaces between the coils of a coil spring, the inner cylinder being supported in floating state on the outer cylinder by the coil spring. A pair of parallel, annular or semi-annular oil passages are provided in that portion of the steering gear casing which is engaged with the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A railroad tamping machine for tamping adjacent pairs of ties in which a pair of workheads each including a pair of tamping units associated with each of the ties can be moved vertically as a unit or independently of each other and wherein a selected set of tamping units associated with a single tie can be held in an inoperative position while the remaining tamping units work on the associated tie. In one embodiment, provision is made for adjustment of the pair of workheads laterally and longitudinally relative to the track direction to accommodate irregular rail and tie spacing as well as rail curvature such as that encountered in switch areas.

Abstract: A hatch cover for railroad hopper cars and a method of constructing same. The hatch cover includes a main panel and a stepped periphery, both of which are constructed of polyester resin impregnated with glass fiber reinforcement. Stiffening ribs on the panel include a honeycomb core enclosed by a rigid shell formed by glass fiber reinforced resin. The entire periphery of the panel is strengthened by thickening it, and the areas to which the hinges are attached is thickened additionally. The hatch cover is constructed by applying an exterior protective coating to a mold surface, spraying resin and chopped glass fibers into the mold, inserting the honeycomb core portions of the ribs into the mold in a crossing pattern, and spraying additional resin and glass fibers onto the honeycomb to form the shell which encloses the core of each rib.

Abstract: A secondary suspension system includes a pair of air springs connected between the bolster of a truck and the car body. The air springs are disposed at angles extending inwardly from opposite ends of the bolster towards the center of the car body to provide both vertical and lateral suspension for the car body.

Abstract: A truck tractor and trailer rig for long distance transport of motor vehicles includes a plurality of paired tracks, each of which paired tracks supports a vehicle during transport. The paired tracks are hydraulically selectively tiltable, vertically positionable and longitudinally translatable to permit tilted overlapped storage of each of the motor vehicles which increases the number of vehicles transportable while permitting one man loading and unloading.

Abstract: A railroad crossing structure for providing an improved devil strip. In particular, the invention proposes to bridge the span between adjacent sets of tracks with bridge members of steel or other like material of sufficient strength and rigidity. These bridge members preferably correspond in number to the ties supporting the rails in the area of the crossing, and are secured to them in any suitable fashion. The bridge members may be leveled to provide a flat horizontal surface by notching the ties to receive the ends of the bridge members. The space between the ends of the bridge members and the rails are filled with shims. Thereafter, an elastomeric surface is provided atop the bridge members, using elastomeric pads preferably of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,120. Elastomeric pads of the type disclosed in this patent are preferred since the pads can be easily affixed atop the bridge members because no spikes are required.

Abstract: A two car carrier truck employs an above-cab tilting platform for the support of one car in transit. A cable winch is located at the rear of this platform with a guide sheave for the cable at the front of the platform assuring a proper fleet angle for the cable being wound onto the winch drum even when the car is in a fully loaded position. Proper layering of the cable on the winch drum is assured and dangerous uneven piling up of the cable is eliminated. The overall length of the transport truck is reduced, driver vision is improved, and car loading time is reduced by placement of the winch closer to the operator's control panel at the rear of the truck. Oil leakage from the winch blowing back onto the truck windshield is eliminated.