Abstract: A remote control system and method for the remote control operation of a locomotive in the performance of a car-kicking sequence comprises a portable control unit operable from a location off-board of the locomotive. The portable control unit includes an operator interface allowing an operator to initiate, with a single step, a predetermined sequence of locomotive operations for automatically performing a car-kicking procedure and generating a signal responsive to the single step for transmission to the locomotive. The system also includes a memory for storing a set of instructions corresponding to the predetermined sequence. An onboard slave control unit, interfaced with an operating system on the locomotive, receives the signal and automatically controls movement of the locomotive according to the set of instructions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rail-guided system for transporting persons and material in underground mining and tunnel construction. The rail-guided transport system comprises a railroad network and transport vehicles that are guided in the railroad network. In the transport system, both the forward end and the opposite end of the respective transport vehicle are equipped with sensors (1-6) for detecting optical, acoustic, thermal, and acceleration data, “forward” being relative to the direction of travel. The sensors (1-6) are connected to a control computer that is disposed inside the transport vehicle while interacting with active and passive transducers located within the railroad network.

Abstract: Spindle device for the height adjustment and alignment of tracks on a substructure, having a transverse cantilever which is fixed to an elongate nut adjustable in height on a height adjustment spindle and which engages under the rail and which is formed as a horizontal spindle plate which is mounted on the elongate nut pivotably about a horizontal axis and on which a slide provided with a clamping mount device for the rail foot is displaceable by means of a second spindle device transverse to the height adjustment spindle.

Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by rail car trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. A container support cross member is mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. The container support cross member may be a monolithic beam member with a attachment fitting formed at an end thereof. The attachment fitting is connectable to a side sill at a moment connection. The remaining end of the cross member is similarly configured and connected to the second side sill. Each end of the cross member has load bearing surface portions which may be used for supporting a corner of a shipping container. The moment connections permit a bending moment to be carried by the cross member between the first and second side sills.

Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to deflection that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The truck may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.

Abstract: A carriage is intended to be disposed transversely between essentially-parallel lateral girders. The carriage comprises stirrups that are disposed at the lateral ends and which each cooperate with a lateral girder in order to enable the movement of the carriage along the longitudinal axis (x) of the lateral girders; a central girder which is placed between the stirrups; first connectors which are provided between a first lateral end of the central girder and the first stirrup, and second connectors which are provided between a second lateral end of the central girder and the second stirrup. The aforementioned first and second connectors are arranged such as to enable the movement of one stirrup in relation to the other with six degrees of freedom and a limited amplitude.

Abstract: A mass transit system includes a plurality of pedestal-mounted rings which provide a support through which a vehicle travels. The pedestals are spaced apart on the ground, but no rail or connecting structure on or above ground is required. An underground conduit carries electrical and communications cable that connects the pedestals together. The rings include a plurality of rollers to drive, guide and stabilize the vehicle at lower speeds. For higher speeds flywheels are mounted on the pedestals. The flywheels are preferably driven by an electrical motor, which engages a friction or clutch plate on the vehicle separate from the rings. The friction plate or linear clutch is mounted separate from the rings on the vehicle and is lowered to engage and disengage the flywheel. The flywheel is also mounted on a shock absorber to smooth the travel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A cord winding mechanism for an electrically powered device such as a vacuum cleaner. The cord winding mechanism may be used with a device having an electric motor. The mechanism may include a cord receiving member for receiving a cord. The cord receiving member may define an interior space and have an axis. The mechanism may include a biasing member that may transmit a rotational force to the cord receiving member to rotate the cord receiving member about the axis. The mechanism may include a retention member that may selectively prevent the cord receiving member from rotating under the rotational force of the biasing member. The cord receiving member may be adapted to receive at least part of the motor inside the interior space of the cord receiving member. The mechanism may include ventilation openings for providing ventilation An electric motor assembly may include the mechanism and a motor. An electric appliance may include a housing and the assembly.

Abstract: A rail joint assembly is provided for joining abutting railroad rails with an electrically-insulated joint. The rail joint assembly comprises abutting railroad rails compressing an insulating gasket therebetween and rail joint bars secured through a plurality of holes by fasteners to the adjacent railroad rails. The rail joint bars comprise a body and an insulating spacer comprising a porous mesh screen and washer. A layer of epoxy is sandwiched between a rail joint bar and railroad rail and comprises a rigid epoxy on lateral portions of a first side of a rail joint bar and a flexible epoxy placed on a central portion of the first side of a rail joint bar. Rail joint bars are rectangular shaped and may have a cutout.

Abstract: A rail cover and support for mounting and insulating the rails of an electric transit system in which the rail cover is vulcanized both to the rail and outer skid support at the manufacturing site prior to delivery to the field and a rail cover completely surrounds both the base flange and web portion of each rail and terminates along the undersides of the top flange. In one form, the upper free ends of the rail cover are increased in thickness to form bumpers along opposite sides of the rail to cushion it against undue shifting or vibration. In fabricating the rail, a sheet dielectric material is vulcanized to the rail with or without a skid plate.

Abstract: A switch machine for railway and tramway switches or the like, having an enclosure for its operating units of the same size as a tie and adapted to be used like a tie, characterized in that the switch machine has a modular construction.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of wheels of a rail vehicle includes first and second Hall Effect devices, a magnet for supplying a magnetic field to the first and second Hall Effect devices, the first and second Hall Effect devices and the magnet being mounted adjacent to the rail, whereby a railway vehicle wheel changes the magnetic field in the Hall Effect devices to produce wheel indication signals, and a processing circuit for receiving the wheel indication signals from the first and second Hall Effect devices and for producing an output signal in response to the wheel indication signals. A method of detecting the presence of a wheel is also provided.

Abstract: A multiple axis gantry for providing movement along multiple axis is provided. The multiple axis gantry includes a pair of horizontal tracks and a vertical track to which a work piece carriage is attached. One drive motor provides an input for horizontal movement of the vertical track and a second drive motor provides an input for vertical movement of the work piece carriage. The vertical track of the gantry is driven proximate both ends to prevent cocking or binding during horizontal movement. Furthermore, the multiple axis gantry is configured such that manufacture of a gantry having custom dimensions for the horizontal tracks and vertical track is simple and cost effective.

Abstract: A railroad car having a center sill formed by cold rolling a flat sheet of steel into a rectangular configuration. One of the embodiments includes strengthening flanges and another includes ribs. The cold formed center sill may be formed of a single cold formed section or a pair of cold formed sections joined by a single longitudinal weld seam.

Abstract: A composite box structure mounted on and attached to a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled railway car. The composite box structure defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes and at least one layer of fiber reinforced material attached to the side stakes. Insulating material may be disposed between the side stakes, the exterior metal surface and the at least one fiber reinforced layer of fiber reinforced material. The insulating materials provide resistance to heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the composite box structure. A primary floor assembly and a secondary floor assembly may be mounted on the railway car underframe.

Abstract: In a method for efficiently removing a great number of damaged rail sections, after a first separating cut, the severed free rail ends are gripped by a rail pulling device connecting the rail ends to one another, and are pulled towards one another. The pulling force required for the pulling-together as well a current rail temperature are registered for calculation of that length of a replacement rail which is required for producing a desired rail tension. A second separating cut is carried out—with corresponding path measurement—spaced at a distance from the first separating cut as calculated on the basis of the selected length of the replacement rail.

Abstract: An energy collection system may collect and use the energy generated by an electric field. Collection fibers are suspended from a support wire system supported by poles. The support wire system is electrically connected to a load by a connecting wire. The collection fibers may be made of any conducting material, but carbon, graphite, carbon/carbon, or a mixture thereof are preferred. Diodes may be used to restrict the backflow or loss of energy.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly includes a brace and a guide rail positioned on the brace. A hook device having a base and two hooks extending from the base and around the brace and secures the guide rail to the brace. The brace has no apertures such that the hooks extend completely around the brace without penetrating any portion of the brace. Adjustment shims are positioned adjacent the brace and a spring clip is mounted adjacent the base and the adjustment shims for securing the hook device to the brace.

Abstract: A machine for welding rails of a track extending in a longitudinal direction includes a rail pulling device for gripping the rails to be welded to one another. The rail pulling device is connected to a machine frame of the welding machine by way of guides and coupling devices. The rail pulling device is designed for displacement in the longitudinal direction or transversely to the longitudinal direction by means of longitudinal displacement drives and transverse displacement drives, and is also vertically adjustable by means of drives. By means of tilting drives, the rail pulling device can additionally be pivoted about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly includes a brace and a guide rail positioned on the brace. A hook device having a base and two hooks extending from the base and around the brace and secures the guide rail to the brace. The brace has no apertures such that the hooks extend completely around the brace without penetrating any portion of the brace. Adjustment shims are positioned adjacent the brace and a spring clip is mounted adjacent the base and the adjustment shims for securing the hook device to the brace.