Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an automobile in an extremely limited area such as that in a parking lot. The apparatus has a pair of carriages for carrying left and right wheels of the vehicle and movable in the breadthwise direction of the vehicle, a pair of guide bars having inclined portions for progressively engaging the inner or outer surfaces of the vehicle wheels as the vehicle moves onto the apparatus, a spring for urging the guide bars to standard positions where the guide bars are in symmetry with each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the limited area, and a racks-and-pinion mechanism which is arranged such that, when one of the guide bars is displaced by the vehicle wheel in the breadthwise direction of the vehicle, the other guide bar also is moved in such a manner that both guide bars are always maintained in symmetry with each other with respect to the axis of the limited area.

Abstract: Single-sided linear induction motors (SLIMs) suspended in proximity to the rail of a locomotive are energized to increase the effective adhesion between the locomotive drive wheels and the rail in response to the detection of an operating condition in which the tractive effort of the locomotive traction motors is limited by less than optimal adhesion. The SLIMs are energized in relation to the reserve power capability of the power source and the limit of tractive effort improvement. One method further employs sand dispensing units activated if the suboptimal operating condition is not alleviated by activation of the SLIMs. Another method uses the sand dispensing units first, and only activates the SLIMs if the suboptimal operating condition is not alleviated by activation of the sand dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: A rescue vehicle adapted for driving in tunnels, mines or at oxygen-poor high altitudes comprises a Diesel engine, a first conduit connected to the engine for supplying ambient air to the engine, bottles of compressed air carried on the vehicle, a second conduit connecting the bottles of compressed air to the engine for supplying the air to the engine, and a switching arrangement for selectively interrupting the flow of the ambient air from the first conduit to the engine when the air is supplied to the engine through the second conduit and for interrupting the flow of air through the second conduit to the engine when the ambient air flows to the engine through the first conduit.

Abstract: An articulated coupling having a center coupling and a plurality of side bearings or couplings coaxial along a lateral axis to facilitate yaw and pitch between two cars while restricting roll. The side bearings each have a cylindrical member on one car received in a cylindrical recess associated with another car. The center coupling includes a mating of two spherical members with one of the member longitudinally movable to allow pitch. The axes of the cylindrical side bearings are coaxial and include the center of the spherical center coupling.

Abstract: An upper rail supporting plate is interconnected by resilient material to a lower foundation plate for lateral and vertical movement. Lateral movement of the upper plate transverse to the rail direction is limited by reinforced upstanding flanges upon a first pair of edges of the lower plate. The reinforcement includes horizontal flanges projecting outwardly from the upper edges of the upstanding flanges. Additional flanges upon a second pair of lower plate edges contribute further reinforcement, and limit upper plate movement in the rail direction. Toothed washers mount the lower plate for lateral adjustive movement in preselected increments of differing magnitudes.

Abstract: A side bearing for railway cars mounted horizontally between truck and body bolsters to provide frictional engagement in a substantially vertical plane and having an elastomeric member to accommodate lateral movements. The elastomeric member is a resilient cartridge which is mounted to an upstanding flange of the side bearing's base. A friction member covers the end of the elastomeric member and also attaches to the upstanding flange.

Abstract: A railroad car arranged to transport vehicles includes a floor, a roof, a pair of spaced side walls and at least one door assembly suspended for movement from a closed position at an end of the car to an open position adjacent a side wall for the loading and unloading of vehicles thereon. A plurality of fingers attached to the bottom edges of the door assembly straddle a rail and provide slidable movement of the door assembly relative thereto. A portion of the rail is positioned on a platform attached to an end of the railroad car a spaced distance below and in parallel relation to the floor. The upper edge of the rail on the platform does not extend above the level of the floor at least in the areas through which the tires of a vehicle pass during loading and unloading of the railroad car.

Abstract: A side bearing unit for attachment to a bolster of a truck of a railroad car has a base which may be fastened to a top wall of the bolster. A housing, carried by the base, includes spaced sidewalls joined by end walls to define a cavity for an elastomeric device. A cap, positioned within the housing, is integrally joined to the elastomeric device with a top surface of the cap located above the housing for engagement with a wear plate attached to a bottom of a body of the car. During travel of the railroad car, sets of side bearing units are particularly effective in regulating independent rolling of the car body as well as impeding truck hunting.

Abstract: An aerial ropeway transport installation comprises cars coupled to the rope by detachable grips. On the line the cars run in groups but are widely spaced in order to spread the load. In the terminal the cars are uncoupled from the rope at a corresponding location of a platform by an individual control device, the cars of any one group stopping one behind the other. The rope speed is temporarily slowed down or stopped during each detachment and/or attachment operation.

Abstract: A railway system utilizes a discontinuous linear motor for the propulsion of a train composed of a plurality of transport units joined end-to-end, each including a group of vehicles normally maintained coupled to each other. The transport units are of the same length L and carry secondary elements of the linear motor at regular intervals. A track for the train has active sections incorporating primary inductors of the motor and separated by inactive track sections having no primary elements. The primary inductors within an active track section are disposed at regular intervals L, from center to center. In the active track sections, the linear motor provides power to the train proportional to the number of transport units.

Abstract: A coupling for two adjacent rail sections of a model railway has a bed member with rails and conductor rail held thereon and downwardly extending projections electrically connected to the rail and conductor rail. A coupling member is arranged beneath the bed members and has two upwardly opening, electrically conductive, elastic, locking elements that engage the extending projections such that projections on adjacent rail sections are mechanically and electrically connected. One locking element comprises upwardly protruding elastic tongues that interlock with the projections, and the other locking element comprises two parallel spring wires, connected by a contact spring and set apart by spacers such that projections are insertable there between. A locking element, on the underside of the coupling member, forms the elastic tongues. A connecting element, resting against the locking element, protrudes on both sides of the coupling member in the form of a contact lug.

Abstract: An anchor fitting has flat surfaced pads with shoulders extending therefrom and a post portion extending along an axis substantially normal to the flat surfaces of the pads. A fastening device is provided on the post for anchoring a load to a track on which the fitting is removably mounted. The device further includes a screw adjustable plunger and clamp member which can be adjustably positioned by the screw along an axis substantially normal to the flat surfaces of the pads. The fitting is removably retained in a selected position along a slotted track, having a plurality of notched portions separated by narrow neck portions formed by flanges, with the shoulders of the pads and the track slots underneath the flanges and with the plunger lowered by the screw so that it is seated in one of the notched portions of the track with a clamping shoulder portion of the plunger-clamp unit in tight engagement with the top surface of the track.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a transport apparatus in particular for internal, suspension transport systems of the type including a runner rail system and roller sets having rollers interconnected by a depending member. The apparatus has rail-shaped carrier members for supporting, in a suspended condition, transport material on a carrier member support surface. The carrier members are releasably suspendable at both ends from the roller sets, via suspension rods connected to the carrier members at transversely extending pivot axles, and the roller sets rest on the runner rail system. The pivot axles are perpendicularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the carrier member to such an extent that the suspension rods can be folded into contact with a carrier member support surface by pivoting 90.degree.. Clamping grooves are provided on the pivot axles to secure the folded suspension rods. The carrier members include troughs to receive hooks of additional carriers, and toothed racks.

Abstract: A welding head base to facilitate the mounting of a welding head assembly thereon for the purpose of welding a joint between abutted ends of a pipe. The base is mounted on the edges of a thin, sheet material, continuous band track and is capable of low frictional movement, through a series of wheel assemblies, relative to the track. Each wheel assembly includes a wheel with each wheel including an enlarged flange to facilitate the mounting of the welding head base onto the track. Mounted on the fixed section of the base is a sprocket assembly with a sprocket wheel that is to be rotatably driven by a motor. The sprocket is to engage with a series of gear teeth formed within the track. The sprocket assembly is to be movable from an operating position (in engagement with the track) to a retracted position (spacing the sprocket wheel from the track). Movement of the sprocket assembly is caused through the use of a manually operated cam assembly.

Abstract: A disk screen, and method wherein the material, such as wood chips for making paper pulp, is screened through a rotary disk screening bed (12) having zones wherein the space between disk slots (20) decreases from zone to zone as the material passes from the inlet end to the outlet end of the screen. Such spaces may range in zones from 8 mm to 6 mm along the screening bed (12).

Abstract: A rail vehicle propulsion system having an engine whose speed is a function of a selected vehicle speed, an alternator connected to the engine for generating an electrical signal to drive an electric motor connected to the axle by a variable automatic mechanical transmission. The electric motor reflects the load on the axle to the engine through the alternator. The alternator drives a plurality of electric motor-transmission combinations. For ease of servicing, the engine and alternator are mounted on a removable pallet.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting items between specified work locations within a building is disclosed. The conveyor system includes a continuous guide track including a continuously moving drive chain and individual floor supported carts that move along the guide track. The individual carts have a retractable drive pin assembly that cooperates with disengaging rails mounted adjacent the guide track to allow the carts to stop at certain locations along the guide track. The individual carts have a retractable guide pin assembly that cooperates with selectively retaining means mounted thereon and cams mounted adjacent the guide track to retract the guide pin to allow the carts to be rotated at work stations or oriented in a sideways configuration to save space along the guide track. The carts also have a platform for supporting the items that is adjustable in height.

Abstract: A slackless draw bar coupler arrangement in which the car has a draw bar pocket with an open top, a slotted draft plate and a buff plate and the draw bar has a bar body with a spherical head connected to the body by a neck. Located about the neck is a thrust ring for disposition between the draft plate and the head and at that side of the head remote from the neck, there is a thrust disc insert for disposition between the buff plate and the head. The thrust disc insert and thrust ring are carried in holders. Between the buff plate and the thrust disc insert is a removable wedge which is spring loaded to urge the thrust disc insert firmly towards the head of the draw bar.

Abstract: Control signals are transmitted to and from a vehicle in that stationary transducers are mounted on a parallelogram suspension for a collector line in a particular relation thereto, while a complementary and cooperating transducer is mounted next to a collector shoe on a vehicle, so that the collector line adjustment is used to ensure particular alignment of the transducers when passing.

Abstract: A protective flange is provided for the protection of a protrusion or valve on the surface of a tank car. The flange has an inner arcuate wall and an outer deflection portion for receiving impacts. The inner wall is annular and spaced from the protrusion to provide for mounting over the protrusion without cutting into the tank car. The outer portion includes longitudinally extending slope portions and vertical side walls welded to the tank car surface. The flange is tapered to deflect impacts received at the sides of the flange. The outer deflection portion and the inner wall define a closed space surrounding the protrusion or valve. Steam connections may be made to the flange to introduce steam into the closed space for heating the valve.