Abstract: A covered, dual hopper car made by converting a rail car having three or more covered hoppers suitable for carrying a large volume of a relatively low density commodity, to a car having a fewer number of hoppers suitable for carrying a smaller volume of a higher density commodity. This is done by internally bracing an interior portion of one end of one hopper end section; severing an unwanted center hopper section from two end hopper sections; removing the unwanted section; and then reassembling and welding the free end sections to each other. The vertical cutting and welding is horizontally offset at the side plate and the sill to provide tab and notch locking arrangements for reinforcement. Preferably, the roof loading hatches are also modified to include downwardly extending collar portions which limit the maximum loading height within the hoppers.

Abstract: A car of a funicular railway with track sections of different gradients, having a compartment suspended from a hanger arm supported by a carriage. A jack keeps the compartment horizontal, whatever the gradient.

Abstract: A carriage coupling cars to a carrier-hauling rope of a cable-car comprises two grips having protruding parts above the upper face of the rope. A connecting part with a concave running face facilitating the passage of the grips under the compression sheaves extends between the protruding parts.

Abstract: A railroad grade crossing structure includes rail support plates interposed between the rails and the crossties to which they are attached and extending laterally outwardly from the rail flanges, and decking structure having a generally Z-shaped cross section with upper and lower generally horizontal panels joined by connector panels with the lower panels engaging the railroad crossties and the upper panels having a support structure extending downwardly to and engaging the rail support plate, with thoroughfare paving material overlying the lower panel and filling the space between the upper surface of the lower panel and a plane generally parallel to the upper surface of the upper panel of the decking elements.

Abstract: A floor conveyor eliminates inclination and rolling of a vehicular body during conveying. A pair of channel members having a substantially rectangular recess on one side are oppositely arranged just under a working floor with sufficiently large spacing defined therebetween to form a carrier track, and cylindrical travelling rollers arranged at front and rear portions of a carrier are inserted into the recess of the rails. Vertical shaft guide rollers are rotatably supported on the travelling roller shafts of the carrier. At a substantially central position just above the roller shafts the rollers have a width smaller than a spacing between the rails. The support legs are inserted through the guide channels, and comprise a C-shaped structure where a part of the support legs on the floor surface is recessed sidewardly with respect to a conveying direction.

Abstract: A carrier which transports semiconductor chips or the like can run along two rails made of a ferromagnetic material and extending along a running path. The carrier has four supports projecting from its bottom. Four magnets units are supported by the supports, respectively, and each magnet unit includes a permanent magnet and a pair of electromagnets such that the magnet units face the rails. The carrier is held floated with respect to the rails by electromagnetic forces acting between the magnet units and rails. The supports support four gap sensors which detect the gap between the magnet units and rails and produce an output signal corresponding to the gap. Magnetic flux control unit is provided on the underside of the carrier to control the current supplied to the electromagnets in accordance with the outputs of the gap sensors to maintain the gap constant within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A railway car body structural arrangement has a bolster fabricated from plates and formed on the upper surface of a bottom closure member of the body of a railway car and rigidly affixed to a bolster post at each side of the car. The lower portions of the bolster posts are affixed to the bolster assembly adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom closure member to enable use of a continuous side sill member on the car. Bearing surfaces which limit the transverse angular movement or roll of the car body with respect to a truck are attached to and project downward from a lower surface of the frame of the truck which is supportingly and pivotally engaged with the center sill substantially directly beneath the bolster.

Abstract: A monorail beam is provided with a lower, upwardly-facing support surface, a lower, laterally-facing support surface and an upper, medially-facing support surface (relative to the support beam). Vehicles are hangingly supported, pendulum-like, from davit-like cantilevering arms of support trucks having wheels which run on or act against the base support surfaces so that they run along the side or sides of the beam. The beam may be elevated on columns, surface mounted, or depressed in tunnels. By preference, the vehicles' bodies are detachable from the trucks, and the heaviest air-conditioning components are mounted on the trucks rather than on the bodies. Power transmission and automatic control systems are described, as are switching systems and station facilities.

Abstract: A railroad car arranged to transport automobiles comprises a floor, a roof, a pair of spaced sidewalls, and at least one door assembly that is guided to a position adjacent a sidewall to enable loading and unloading of the rail car. A rail guides the lower end of the door assembly. The rail is positioned along the floor of the rail car. A plurality of fingers attached to the door assembly and extend to a sliding engagement with the rail. The rail has uninterrupted sections and extends substantially entirely across the floor between the sidewalls and has two spaced depressible sections that are pushed down by the tires of automobiles rolling thereover. Each depressible section comprises a predetermined length of guide rail, springs for biasing said guide rail upwardly, and preferably, a slotted channel through which said guide rail partially extends.

Abstract: A separator for sorting particulate material has a rotor (1) with vanes (3); static, separately adjustable guide vanes (8,9); a casing (14) defining an inlet duct for material suspended in a conveying gas; an outlet (7) for a suspended fine fraction; and a hopper (12) for collecting a coarse fraction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shipping facility including at least one cargo supporting structure mounted for easy, sliding movement on a receiving structure disposed within the cargo bay of a cargo transport vehicle preferably adapted for side and/or rear loading and unloading, wherein the at least one cargo supporting structure and the cargo held thereby is secured, during transport thereof, by conventional retaining facilities to minimize and dampen the lateral, longitudinal, oscillatory and random transportation forces which act upon the cargo during the transport thereof. The at least one cargo supporting structure is adapted for easy slidable/rollable movement along said receiving structure between an operating position within a shipment area of the cargo bay and a non-operating position within a storage area of the cargo bay for thereby freeing the shipment area for shipment of any type of cargo which it is normally capable of holding, after the original cargo has been unloaded, and vice versa.

Abstract: Device for continuously controlling the clamping force in monocable ropew, comprising a test spring which acts against the pressure spring and which is arranged with the latter-mentioned in the pressure mechanism. A signal and/or stop device is responsive to a deformation of the test spring when a predetermined threshold magnitude of deformation has been exceeded.

Abstract: An assembly for securing a standard bridge plate to the upper deck of a railroad car arranged to carry automobiles on at least two levels, said railroad cars having a track member from which a sliding door is hung positioned adjacent the edge of the deck at the end of the railroad car comprises a fixed leaf secured to the surface of the deck and spaced gudgeons mounted to an end of said fixed leaf. A rotating leaf has spaced gudgeons mounted thereto for being positioned between the spaced gudgeons secured to the fixed leaf. Pins pass through the gudgeons and secure the leaves together such that the rotating leaf may be turned back onto the surface of the deck or may be rotated to bridge the track member from which the door is hung. The rotating leaf has an offset therein so that a portion of said rotating leaf extending away from the deck and beyond the track member is positioned downwardly of the top of said track member.

Abstract: An amusement ride installation of a closed track figure eight configuration has passenger carriers suspended to swing from a plurality of support rods pivotally mounted to a single carriage. Each carriage has a frame made of transverse and longitudinal members with a lower longitudinal member having a raised middle part wherein the vehicle suspending support rods are pivotally mounted. U-shaped yokes affixed to the frame with universal joints, hold at least two wheel groups, which comprise running rollers and guide rollers riding on rails. Also connected to the frame are V-shaped struts which support drive spars having brake flanges, and damping cylinders which damp oscillations of the pivoting support rods using a toothed rack assembly. Elastic couplings are provided to connect adjacent carriages.

Abstract: A railroad car having universal coupling capability through provision of a coupling arrangement which permits connection to a standard coupler or a drawbar is disclosed. The coupling arrangement includes facing sill side frames which define key slots and spaced stops to accommodate force transfer of traction and buff loads from either a coupler or a drawbar.

Abstract: A device for connecting a general traction cable and a bicycle, particularly applicable to ski-lifts, for hauling uphill bicycles or like machines, and in particular bicycles used for cross-country or off-the-highway cycling, outside the winter season. The device includes a towing part which is connected to the traction cable via an individual traction cable or individual traction bar. A towed part is connected to the bicycle and a safety device is provided for coupling the two towing and towed parts, with automatic connection by engagement of one of these two parts in the other. This coupling device includes, taking into account the effect of a tension regulator device, a disconnecting device operating on the towed part and releasing the cycle when the rider so desires and possibly in an automatic safety mode. The coupling device also includes an automatic disconnection device operating on the towing part and releasing the cycle when it deviates from the normal path or when it falls on the ground.

Abstract: A railroad car for transporting vehicles such as automobiles and trucks has a pair of door assemblies which close each end of the railroad car. The lower end of the door assemblies are guided in a track and the track has vertically retractable sections located where the vehicle tires roll so as to provide added load height when the car ends are open and vehicles are being loaded or unloaded. An embodiment with a pivotal, counterweighted Z-shaped member upon which the retractable track section is mounted is disclosed along with an embodiment utilizing a vertically displaceable tubular member and a coil spring.

Abstract: A turntable for turning vehicles, including a base member adapted to be supported on a flat floor and having a platform rotatably disposed above the base member for supporting a vehicle thereon. Rollers are utilized to reduce friction and support the platform as it rolls around and the rollers roll along the floor. The roller mechanism and actuating mechanism are extremely compact in order to allow the turntable to be low enough to the floor so that ramps are not needed to get a vehicle thereon and tipping is not required. A rod is pivotally attached to the underside of the platform and has a cog operatively attached thereto with a free end thereon for engaging a first or second cog holding mechanism attached to each side respectively of the base member.

Abstract: A railroad-vehicle truck with a frame that yields under torsion and consists of transoms (2) and side frames bars (1) welded into an H. The transoms (2) are positioned such that the planes that the transom webs (2k) lie in intersect at one line (S7), which lies between the flanges (21) of the transoms. Each of the flanges of the transoms are fastened to one of the upper and lower flanges on the depressed middle section of the side frame. Helical compression springs are positioned on the upper flanges of the depressed section, with a bolster on the springs, and load dependent side bearings between the compression springs and the bolster. The side frames are resistant to torque over their total length, but the transoms yield under torque. Thus the truck has sufficient corner rigidity and prevents high material stresses caused by torque.

Abstract: A railway vehicle truck of the four wheel type is provided having elastomeric devices operative in shear and disposed between the side frame and wheelsets in such a manner as to reduce hunting and to permit turning of wheelsets during curving. Each elastomeric device is threadably fastened to the side frame with a central boss having an internally threaded bore engaged by a bolt and to the bearing adapter with an externally threaded stud in a manner such that the relative movement of mating surfaces is precluded.