Abstract: A constant current wire crossing apparatus for overhead electrically operated vehicles, wherein wires of opposite polarity are connected by insulators to a crossing unit, including a conducting strip disposed on each insulator and appropriate switching circuitry such that a continuous source of power of correct polarity is available to a passing vehicle in any direction.

Abstract: A device for counting coins, organizing standard bank rolls, and aiding in the wrapping of coins having an upper surface presenting a depression having a cross-section adapted to receive coins, the depression having a first abutment at one end thereof and a second abutment at the other end thereof, marking scale adjacent to the depression located on the upper surface, and a rail projecting upwardly from the upper surface and along the upper surface, merging with the second abutment whereby coins may be measured when bearing against the rail inside or outside of the depression, by viewing the marking scale.

Abstract: A train control system employs beacon transponders along the track to transmit fixed data to a passing train in addition to dynamic data relating to track availability and routing provided by encoded cab signals transmitted in the track. The fixed data includes the location of block boundaries and distances to such boundaries, timetable speed limits, and the distance to a point along the track at which a speed restriction is in effect. This data and other fixed information is integrated with the dynamic data in an on-board computer which determines train control instructions from the received data and displays the instructions to the train crew. The system is capable of enforcing any restrictive instructions that are not obeyed.

Abstract: A coin validator has a thickness sensor formed by two coils positioned one on each side of the coin path. The coil outputs are processed separately to derive values which, when combined, produce a thickness-indicating measurement which is independent of coin position. Each output may be processed to give values which are linearly dependent upon coin position with the same constant of proportionality. Alternatively, one output is scaled relative to the other to an extent dependent upon the thickness for which the coin is to be tested, so that the thickness-indicating measurement does not vary significantly over a region which corresponds to a likely maximum variation in the position of coins of that thickness.

Abstract: A vending machine has an outer housing with a hollow interior and a manual retrieval opening. At least one tray is removably supported by the housing inside the interior thereof. The tray has a plurality of storage bins, each bin being dimensioned for receiving a plurality of items to be dispensed. Each bin has a movably actuable mechanism for ejecting a single unit of the item therefrom. A manually operable coin mechanism is mounted to an exterior of the housing for receiving a predetermined number and size of coins. Insertion of the proper coins into the coin mechanism permits a single actuation thereof through a predefined range of motion. A manually operable selector mechanism is mounted to the exterior of the housing for designating the item to be dispensed when moved into engagement with the ejecting mechanism of a preselected one of the plurality of storage bins.

Abstract: A differential magnetic wheel detector is disclosed which identifies the presence and direction of a railway vehicle. The wheel detector includes a primary winding, a secondary winding and signal processing circuitry. The primary winding is excited by a source of AC energy to produce a magnetic flux in the wheel of the railway vehicle. The secondary winding senses a change in voltage induced by the magnetic flux in the railway wheel. The secondary winding includes two coils in a differential bridge which prevents external factors from interfering with the sensing of the wheel. The signal processing device transforms the voltage change into a signal identifying the presence and direction of the railway vehicle.

Abstract: A traction mat is provided for use under a wheel of a motor vehicle on a soft sand terrain which consists of a generally rectangular housing having a plurality of spaced apart treads. A pair of wires extend from one end of the housing and are connected to two lug nuts on the wheel. When the wheel is driven slowly the housing will go under the wheel with the threads providing traction.

Abstract: The retention value of a screw previously inserted into a wooden railroad tie is increased by an axially extending sleeve ( 20 ) having an external thread ( 24 ) and an internal thread (25). The thread revolutions of the internal thread (25) are offset axially by half (h) the thread pitch (H) of the external thread (24). Due to this offset of the threads, the screw is positioned in the sleeve so that its threads are located between the external thread revolutions affording a new retention, while the external thread (24) seats within the thread previously formed in the wooden railroad tie by the screw.

Abstract: A money handling apparatus having a housing and integrated safe for managing the receipt and storage of money for a plurality of money-activated gaming machines. In accordance with the invention, the gaming machines need not have money intake or discharge slots. Intake, discharge and handling of money is managed by the integrated safe, including note intake and money changing, bookings of stakes and winnings as well as the pay-out of winnings, cash monitoring and registration of the cash box contents. A communications channel links the integrated safe to each of the gaming machines. Thus, information regarding credit balances, winnings and losses can be conveyed between the machine and the integrated safe. A display on each machine displays that machine's current credit balance. Credit balances may be transferred between machines or refunded at the conclusion of game play.

Abstract: A railway track circuit system is described, in which there is a transmitter 15,16 and receiver 19,20 at each end of a track circuit section 4. Each receiver receives signals from the transmitter at the opposite end of the section and the received signals are analyzed to determine whether a vehicle is present in the track circuit section. Where adjacent track circuit sections are also provided with a transmitter and a receiver at each of their ends, the transmitters 14,17 and receivers 18,21 at adjacent ends of adjacent track sections 3,5 can be connected to a track circuit unit 8,9 to allow that unit to check, when a vehicle appears to have left one track circuit section, that it has entered an adjacent section.

Abstract: A railway track circuit system utilizing an optical sensor which emits a vehicle detection light signal when a railway vehicle is present in a track section. A reference light signal is also generated by a light emission source. A detector in optical communication with the optical sensor receives the vehicle detection light signal. Information contained in the vehicle detection light signal is interpreted by a processor to detect the railway vehicle. In presently preferred embodiments, the sensor may comprise an elongated optical fiber conductor extending along the track section or a plurality of cascaded localized sensors. The sensor may generally also be utilized as a communication medium to pass communication data between opposite ends of the track section. Depending on the exigencies of the particular application, the sensor may be located within the track section in a number of ways.

Abstract: An improved railway cab signal transmitter for transmitting a cab signal onto a pair of rails for reception by a railway vehicle on said rails. A tuning arrangement is connected across the rails to generally resonate with the leaving end impedance bond at a preselected cab signal frequency. The cab signal is coded at the preselected frequency such that the resonant circuit acts in conjunction with the code signal generation to act as a constant current signal source feeding the rails. A reduction in the maximum cab signal rail current is achieved thereby mitigating runby cab signal currents which might be available for reception by following trains. Embodiments of the tuning arrangement use a capacitor on the primary winding of the feed transformer. Other embodiments include inductance in series with a capacitor. Receivers for wayside displays that also use the cab signal current include embodiments having a capacitor or a capacitor/inductor across the wayside receiver transmitter secondary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for identifying returned bottles, cans, plastic bottles or other packages (10) and for sorting them on the basis of an identification code, in which method a compensation corresponding to the package is given on the basis of the identification of the returnable package (10). The returnable package (10) is transferred to a measuring station of an identification device (2), at which measuring station is generated a signal corresponding to the shape of the returnable package (10) for the central unit (3) of the device, which compares the measured signal or signals with the preprogrammed signals stored in a memory (8) of the central unit (3) and identifying the shape of different packages. When the package shape corresponds to the shape stored in the memory (8) and programmed therein, a sorter (11) located after the measuring point is activated for transfer-ring the package (10) to its own storage storage station (A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3 . . .

Abstract: A retainer for a portion of an electric power cord includes a guide that guides the cord into a space between a pair of ears that cooperate with a grooved part of a handle to define two V notch passageways for the cord leading the cord into a groove which wraps around the handle. The floor of the guide defines with the groove a path for the cord past the ears which is substantially in a plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a money-operated, low-powered, vending and dispensing apparatus which is solely battery-powered and which can be utilized in the vending or dispensing of products or services. The present invention comprises at least one battery, a control system housed on a control board, money sensing and validating devices, circuitry to perform a battery power test and to indicate a low battery power condition, circuitry and devices to determine the acceptability of various types of money, or its equivalent, which could be accepted by the apparatus, and circuitry and devices to indicate such acceptability. The present invention further comprises a product delivery circuit and device, circuitry to indicate the activation, or lack thereof, of the product delivery device, and circuitry and a device to indicate when the apparatus is being serviced.

Abstract: The present invention relates briefly to an arrangement for hoisting devices to keep a cable (10) substantially vertically stretched between a derrick or the like and a hoisting device, e.g. a derrick bridle (1), so that the cable will not be able to be depositioned by gusts and other factors. The arrangement includes a set of brackets (12) stretched between and glidably fixed to two opposed hoisting cords (2a, 4a), each bracket (12) being equipped with a ring (13) approximately center, through which ring the cable (10) runs with an increasing inner diameter for each ring (13) from the top downwards. To the cable (10) are fastened a set of elements (14) spaced apart with increasing diameter for each element from the top downwards for each inner diameter of the rings (13) so that each element (14) one by one is restricted to pass a corresponding ring (13) and thereby each hoists one by one a bracket (12) holding the cable (10).

Abstract: A battery of an electric vehicle is inductively charged while the electrical vehicle is moving, using a magnetic field along different portions of an extended linear distance and an inductive coil mounted on an electric vehicle, by having the electric vehicle, as it traverses the different portions of the extended linear distance, move within the influence of the magnetic field. An apparatus senses progress of the electric vehicle along the extended linear distance. The apparatus produces the magnetic field by a power switch bank connected to an array of inductive coils.

Abstract: A railroad superstructure framework made in the form of a reinforced concrete block is provided on a top face thereof with a plurality of evenly spaced parallel recesses of a certain depth. Each recess receives a sleeper having a height greater than the certain depth. A middle region of the concrete block is provided with a channel element transversely crossing the plurality of recesses. A plurality of draining channels extend transversely from the channel element to an outside environment to allow for water drainage from the channel element of the concrete block.

Abstract: This apparatus relates to a safety mechanism for a rail system having tracks adapted to be moved in an out of alignment for the transfer of an object from one track to the other. More specifically, the apparatus relates to a mechanism which prevents the accidental movement of an object off the end of one track unless the tracks are in substantial alignment.

Abstract: A railbound manganese frog assembly having ramps and grooves adapted to receive the false flange formed on the rim of a worn railroad car wheel to prevent the flange from impacting components of the frog assembly.