Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel traction apparatus comprises a plurality of barred traction plates which, when not interconnected, may be stacked together in a compact form for stowage. It includes means for interlocking the plurality of barred plates together to form a single loosely-articulated apparatus which automatically conforms in general profile to the profile of the rut in which the vehicle wheel is confined. The apparatus may be made as long as desired simply by interconnecting more individual plates. Because the combined apparatus rotates at articulated joints to conform to the rut, it is not subject to fracture from the weight of the car or other vehicle.

Abstract: The machine is constituted by a self-propelled truck which comprises a first hammering unit and a second compacting unit. The first unit comprises mutually opposite sets of inclined vibrating hydraulic tools which can be arranged so as to straddle each tie and are adapted to limit the migration of crushed rock from the tamping regions of the ballast, which lie below each tie, to the intermediate ballast regions which lie between two consecutive ties. The second unit is constituted by vibrating plates, which are also actuated hydraulically and are adapted to compact the crushed rock located in the layer above the laying plane of the ties in the intermediate ballast regions and on the heads of the ties. The first and second units are supported by a portal-shaped chassis of the car , are mutually spaced by an extent which is a multiple of the various spacing pitches of the ties of the track, and are arranged so that during working travel of the car the first unit precedes the second unit.

Abstract: Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. Each racing boat is mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The racing boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted adjacent the guide rails.

Abstract: A system for supplying electric power to an electrically powered vehicle includes a feeder disposed along a structural member as a guide rail that guides the vehicle. The vehicle has an electric power receiving unit that receives electric power from the feeder on a non-contact basis. The electric power receiving unit has a ferrite core with a coil. A ferrite sheet is disposed on a surface of the structural member in such a manner that the ferrite sheet is opposite to the electric power receiving unit. The feeder is surrounded by the ferrite core and the ferrite sheet. When an AC current is supplied to the feeder, a magnetic flux that penetrates the ferrite core and the ferrite sheet varies, thereby causing electromotive force to occur in the coil.

Abstract: An insulated composite railway boxcar having a composite box structure mounted on a railway car underframe is provided. The composite box structure includes side walls, end walls and a floor molded as an integral unit with fiber reinforced plastic interior and exterior surfaces. The composite box structure includes a first fiber reinforced composite unit and a second fiber reinforced composite unit. The first fiber reinforce composite unit provides the end walls, side walls and floor for the railway boxcar. The second fiber reinforce unit may be permanently attached to the side walls and end walls to provide a roof for the boxcar. The railway car underframe has a center sill, side sills and end sills with a generally rectangular configurations and coplanar surfaces for adhesively bonding the composite box structure with the railway car underframe. Mechanical fasteners are also provided to couple the composite box structure with the railway car underframe.

Abstract: A power and free conveyor system is provided which utilizes a difference in height between the wipe in power trolley and the wipe out power trolley, with or without a camming down of a retractable wide dog of the free trolley, to allow the wipe in power chain to wipe in over the retractable dog without any possibility of lateral interference. Thereafter the elevation of the wipe in power trolley and the wipe out power trolley are the same. Improved stop means operating to push down the retractable dog and therefore cause disengagement of the retractable dog from the power chain dog are also provided.

Abstract: In a method for arranging functional components at a support structure of a track of rail-bound vehicles, a first functional component is furnished with first positioning elements. Projecting arms of the support structure are provided with throughbores. The first positioning elements are inserted into the throughbores such that the first positioning elements penetrate the projecting arms. A second functional component is placed onto the first positioning elements. The arrangement of functional components at a support structure of a track for rail-bound vehicles includes a first functional component having connected thereto first positioning elements. The first functional component has a functional surface. The first positioning elements have abutment surfaces positioned at a defined distance to the functional surface. A second functional component is placed onto the abutment surfaces for exactly positioning the second functional component relative to the first functional component.

Abstract: An embedded railway panel is prefabricated with an insert formed around a first section of a reinforcing member, and a panel member formed around a second section of the reinforcing member. The reinforcing member secures the insert to the panel member and provides structural rigidity for both the insert and the panel. A rail of a railway track and the prefabricated embedded railway panel are positioned such that the insert of the prefabricated embedded railway panel is adjacent to the rail, and the top surface of the panel of the prefabricated embedded railway panel at substantially the same height as the top of the panel.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork intersection assembly such as a crossing intersection or a turnout intersection is provided with at least one flange-bearing frog subassembly which has railcar wheel flangeways of uniform depth throughout the frog planform that co-operate with trackwork traffic rails, with easer subassemblies that are positioned exterior to but abut the frog subassembly, that have sloping flange support surfaces, and that may be removed from or adjusted in the assembly without moving or adjusting either the frog subassembly or the co-operating trackwork traffic rails.

Abstract: A railcar cushioning device includes an elastomeric spring and a hydraulic shock absorber member. The fluid accumulator is located outside of and above the fluid chambers. The accumulator is in communication with the fluid chamber in a non-stroked position, causing entrapped air to be displaced by the fluid, into the accumulator. Free of air, the shock absorber immediately responds to impact forces. The elastomeric spring reduces peak impact forces and returns the piston of the shock absorber to its non-stroked position. The elastomeric spring also absorbs draft forces.

Abstract: In a vehicle track having longitudinal rail members positioned in parallel on either side of a track centerline and on which respective drive wheels and guide wheels of a vehicle move, the improvement including longitudinal rail members each having an asymmetrical cross-section and being composed of a head portion having a primary upper running face which engages the periphery of the drive wheel, a lower guide face opposed to the primary upper running face which engages the guide wheel, and a secondary running face which is substantially vertical, which is located inwardly of the head portion towards the track centerline, and which engages the flange of the drive wheel; and a leg portion extending downwardly from the head portion; and a plurality of track support members arranged at intervals along the vehicle track and composed of a clamp device having first and second clamp faces which are moveable, which are juxtaposed to the leg portion one on each side thereof, which grip the leg portion, and which each

Abstract: A power and free conveyor system is provided which utilizes a difference in height between the wipe in power trolley and the wipe out power trolley, with or without a camming down of a retractable wide dog of the free trolley, to allow the wipe in power chain to wipe in over the retractable dog without any possibility of lateral interference. Thereafter the elevation of the wipe in power trolley and the wipe out power trolley are the same. Improved stop device operating to push down the retractable dog and therefore cause disengagement of the retractable dog from the power chain dog are also provided.

Abstract: A mono- or twin-rail overhead chain conveyor 10', 12' useful for transporting heavy loads such as motor vehicle parts wherein the conveyor has a chain track (14) in the form of an I-shaped profile with running gear 18,20 which can move along said track and has roller blocks 26,28 for mounting rollers 30,32 which are supported on the chain track, the roller blocks being connected to a traction means 42 for pulling the running gear and for a monorail overhead chain conveyor, the running gear is in the form of a loading running gear and for a twin-rail overhead chain conveyor, it is in the form of towing running gear which interacts with loading running gear 82 movable on a load rail 78 running below the chain track and to render wear-free, silent running possible, the traction means 42 is a rubber or plastic belt having a single-stranded metal, glass fiber or carbon fiber insert 46.

Abstract: A machine is capable of automatically applying and removing transversely applied rail clips such as the so-called Safelok-type clip. The machine preferably includes a workhead on which is disposed one or more applicator/remover mechanisms, each of which is capable of automatically applying and/or removing a clip. Each clip applicator/remover mechanism preferably includes a workarm which is pivotable transversely towards and away from the longitudinal centerline of the rail, a clip applicator tool mounted on the workarm, and a clip retractor tool mounted on the workarm. The resulting mechanism is capable of both applying and removing clips rapidly and efficiently while accommodating variations in position and orientation of the rail and/or the clips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rail brake element, in particular for use in rail brake buffer blocks, comprising a pair of clamping plates extending about a rail head from each side and supported against its top surface, which clamping plates are clamped against the rail head by a clamping device including a clamping bolt and a spring assembly, and include at its portion below the rail head a brake lining portion of suitable rigid friction material for engagement with the rail head, wherein the brake lining layer engages the rail head by means of a raised portion of wear material having a static friction coefficient smaller than that of the brake lining layer.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for a model railroad includes a DC variable-voltage power source having a pair of output terminals connected to respective rails of a model railroad track. A capacitor and a normally-closed switch are connected in series across the output terminals. The improvement comprises an accessory circuit having first and second input lines, each connected to a separate one of the respective rails. The accessory circuit includes an AC-pass filter at the input lines and a rectifier section coupled to the AC-pass filter. A relay circuit is coupled to the rectifier section and includes an electrical contact switched between a first state, e.g., open, and a second state, e.g., closed. An electrically-powered accessory such as a whistle or horn is coupled to the contact and is energized when the contact switches from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: System and method for loading and unloading highway vehicles for transportation over railroad lines. The system has a number of railroad vehicles, each having a deck for highway vehicles. The deck extends from a central portion of the vehicle to one or both ends of the railway vehicle. The invention includes a terminal which has at least one stationary railroad track portion which is connected to a railroad system outside of the terminal. The terminal also has number of moveable railroad track segments. These segments can be positioned in a first configuration in which they are aligned so that railroad vehicles can be rolled from one or more of the stationary railroad track segments onto the moveable railroad track segments.

Abstract: A method of assembling a model railroad truck includes placing a truck spring on a spring retainer which is carried on either of a truck bolster or a truck side frame, resting the free end of the truck spring on the other element of the truck, pushing the end of the truck bolster into the upper portion of the bolster receiver, such that the end of the truck bolster travels along truck radii of the bolster receiver, compressing the truck spring while simultaneously pushing the end of the truck bolster through the bolster receiver, and decompressing the truck springs to allow the bolster to be retained in the side frame.

Abstract: An articulated connector for flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of rail car platforms which are supported on a common truck bolster, the connector comprising a spherical bearing formed integrally with a conventional center plate bearing of one car platform, and spherical elements carried by the other car platform for cooperable engagement with the spherical bearing to transmit vertical, lateral and longitudinal train forces between the adjacent platforms solely through engagement of the mating spherical bearing elements.

Abstract: An amusement ride for humans which is constructed to include a plurality of separate tracks located in a side-by-side relationship. On each track is located a vehicle, with this vehicle including a propulsion system which is activated and controlled by a human operator located within the vehicle. The vehicle is mounted in conjunction with a track which keeps each vehicle confined to its particular track and permits the vehicle to move between a Start position and Finish position on the track. Associated with each track is an automatic brake system to stop the vehicle. Each track is composed of a plurality of separate guide rail sections which are located in a spaced apart arrangement with the separate guide rail sections being mounted in an in-line manner within the track. A guide blade is mounted on each vehicle and is to connect with each of these guide rail sections as the vehicle moves along the track.