Abstract: A linear transport system includes a movable carriage, a guide rail for guiding the carriage, and a linear motor for driving the carriage along the guide rail. A system is provided for contactless power and data transmission; e.g., where power and data are each sent inductively via separate coils to the carriage of the linear transport system and/or received by the carriage of a linear transport system. A method of operating such a linear transport system and a contactless power and data transmission system are also included.

Abstract: A freight vehicle is provided including a set of road wheels configured for road traversal; a set of rail wheels configured for rail traversal, the set of rail wheels being separate from the set of road wheels; and an actuation system configured to modify a relative positioning of the set of road wheels and the set of rail wheels to facilitate operation of the freight vehicle according to a plurality of operational modes. The plurality of operational modes include a road traversal mode wherein the actuation system causes the set of road wheels to contact a road and a rail traversal mode wherein the actuation system causes the set of rail wheels to contact a rail.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method, apparatus, and system for restraining a passenger in a ride vehicle. The system includes a ride seat and a restraint system configured to restrain the passenger against the ride seat. The restraint system includes a crossbar for placing against the passenger, a support bar having a first support bar end coupled to the crossbar and a second support bar end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounted to an upper-rear portion of the ride seat, and a flap coupled to the support bar. The flap is configured to insert into, or extract from, a slot formed within a seat side structure when the support bar is rotated about the pivot and indicate whether the crossbar has attained a minimum closed position for restraining the passenger based on a position of a marking on the flap relative to the slot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a railway weed control vehicle. It is described to activate (110) at least one weed control unit to control weeds along and around a railway track. The railway track comprises rails and sleepers. The at least one electrode based weed control unit is mounted at at least one first position of the vehicle. Sensor data is acquired (120) by at least one sensor. The sensor data relates to at least one location along and around the railway track. The at least one sensor is mounted at at least one second position of the vehicle. With respect to a forward movement direction of the vehicle the at least one second position is in front of the at least one first position. The sensor data is provided (130) to a processing unit. The sensor data is analysed (140) by the processing unit to determine locations of rail infrastructure components in addition to the rails and sleepers.

Abstract: An overhead rail system includes a hollow tube having a channel running longitudinally along a bottom surface of the overhead rail. A stopper for use in the overhead rail, includes a base having a thickness less than a width of the channel of the overhead rail, a base length, a base width, and first and second countersunk threaded holes. The base further includes a pair of wings having a length greater than a width. The wings are rotatably attached to ends of the base and are rotatable approximately 90 degrees between a first position and a second position. Bolts may attach a stopper portion including a stopper base, and bumper base, and a bumper. The bolts further prevent rotation of the wings, thus securing the stopper in the overhead rail.

Abstract: A reusable collision energy absorption device for a rail vehicle includes an impacted rod, a damping structure including a damping plug, a guide tube and a damping elastic element, a return structure including a return piston and an elastic return element, an outer tube having a tubular structure, and an interior partitioned into a front cavity and a rear cavity through a partition plate provided with a damping hole in the form of a through hole. A portion of the damping plug is in the damping hole when the damping plug is in an initial position, and the damping plug can move in a front-rear direction when the device is impacted. A gap between a radial thickest portion of the damping plug and the damping hole allows the fluid to circulate between the front cavity and the rear cavity.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for a cord reel assembly is provided. The bracket includes a base plate and a pair of side rails. The base plate has one or more mounting openings. The pair of side rails define a keyway between each of the side rails and the base plate. An assembly of a cord reel and the mounting bracket are also provided, as is a method of a method of installing a cord reel using the mounting bracket. In some embodiments, at least one rail of the pair of side rails includes a tongue extending therefrom. The tongue is configured for securement of a supply device thereto.

Abstract: Retention devices, and methods for retention devices, to retain a railway tie plate are disclosed. The retention devices may include a head section with one or more protrusions adapted to engage a railway rail. The retention devices may include an insert section adapted to fit in a spike hole of a railway tie plate and including one or more flexible members extending from the head section. Each flexible member may allow flex adjustment when the insert section is inserted in the spike hole of the railway tie plate. When the insert section is inserted in the spike hole of the railway tie plate, the head section may engage the railway rail and the insert section may engage the railway tie plate to mechanically interlock the railway tie plate with the railway rail to allow suspension of the railway tie plate from the railway rail.

Abstract: A configurable railroad car including a plurality of multi-orientation coil/slab supports that are configured to be positioned on, oriented on, and securely attached to the floor of the railroad car in different sets of positions and orientations to enable the railroad car to transport different products such as coils, elongated slabs, a mix of coils and elongated slabs, or other products.

Abstract: A railway vehicle includes two axles with wheels at ends thereof, and a frame rotatably supporting the axles. A seat is carried on the frame adjacent to pedals which are coupled to at least one of the wheels, typically through one of the axles. A battery and electric motor are configured to also supply power. The electric motor is adjustable to deliver controllable amounts of electric power to drive the wheels, separate from or in addition to pedal power delivered to the wheels. A trailer accessory can be towed on the rails by the vehicle. A turntable is provided with rail segments thereon, rotatable relative to a base, and with ramps on at least one end of each rail segment alignable with left and right rails of the railway. Vehicles can roll up the ramps onto the rail segments and then pivot 180° for operation in a reverse direction.

Abstract: An improved rail anchoring spike that includes barbs is used for fastening metal to ties. The spike includes a head having one or more flanges and a stand-off extending axially from the flange(s). The spike includes a shank extending axially from the stand-off to form a tapered tip. The shank is adapted to engage dense material of the tie by a combination of threads and barbs on the shank. The threads are generally parallel and extend over a threaded portion of the shank. The shank includes a plurality of barbs positioned in a lower half of the threaded portion. Each barb is positioned between a pair of threads. Each barb is configured to minimize damage to fibers of the tie during installation of the spike as the fibers relax behind, and engage with, a barbed end. This prevents movement of the spike over time despite deterioration of the tie.

Abstract: An assembly monitors exterior regions of a rail vehicle. In the region of the front side of the rail vehicle, a driver's cab is arranged, which driver's cab has a driver's cab field of view in a first direction of travel. A first lateral region has a first camera system oriented in the direction of travel, which optically captures an angular range along the first lateral region as a first lateral field of view. A second lateral region has a second camera system oriented in the direction of travel, which captures an angular range along the second lateral region as a second lateral field of view. The first and second camera systems are connected to a display device so that image series of the lateral fields of view in the first direction of travel are displayed to the traction vehicle driver in addition to the drivers cab field of view.

Abstract: A roller coaster vehicle is disclosed with seats that are mounted to a circular frame, and where the seats and the frame swing about a central horizontal axis passing between the seats, while the vehicle moves along a standard roller coaster track. The swinging or rotating of the seats with respect to the reference frame of the vehicle leads to a more intense riding experience. In a first preferred embodiment, the seats rotate passively in response to various gravitational and centripetal forces caused by the movement of the car along the track, but the seats could also be actively rotated by motors or other mechanical elements.

Abstract: A bogie is capable of being moved from a rest configuration to an active configuration in which the bogie carries at least one vertical load. The bogie includes a chassis, at least one pair of wheels, and a shaft extending along an axle axis for each pair of wheels. Each wheel has a wheel hub extending along a hub axis and an axle box attached to the chassis and receiving the associated hub. Each hub is rotatable relative to the associated axle box. For each hub, the hub axis forms a non-zero camber angle with the axle axis of the associated shaft when the bogie is in the rest configuration.

Abstract: A method of transporting a vehicle engine wire harness from a component preparation location to a component pick location is provided. The method includes placing the vehicle engine wire harness on a hook of a component hanger. The component hanger with vehicle engine wire harness is directed along a supply track assembly through a heated enclosure to the component pick location at a vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of coal mine underground auxiliary transportation equipment, and particularly relates to an overhead monorail driving unit group realizing mechanical fast power distribution. The overhead monorail driving unit group realizing mechanical fast power distribution includes a rail, wherein the rail is connected with driving portions, carrying trolleys and a hoisting beam, the hoisting beam is disposed in a middle position of the driving portions and the carrying trolleys, and the driving portions, the carrying trolleys and the hoisting beam are connected through driving portion short pull rods, frame-shaped pull rods and driving portion long pull rods.

Abstract: A tie plate inserter assembly on a track mounted machine is provided that is configured to ensure appropriate location of a tie plate and a tie relative to a rail of a railway. The assembly includes a frame supported, at least indirectly, on a chassis of the machine and having a tie plate clamp assembly that includes a self-centering mechanism that centers the tie plate relative to a longitudinal centerline the tie. The tie plate clamp assembly has a first clamp plate and a second clamp plate configured to clamp together to hold the tie plate. The tie clamp assembly also has first and second clamp plates configured to clamp together to hold the tie in place. The assembly may additionally include a tie clamp assembly that can actuated to center the tie relative to a reference point on the frame.

Abstract: A cable guide apparatus has an oscillating link rotatable about an axis and a cable guide for the line cable. The line cable is fed from and into a reservoir based on the distance between the reservoir and the feed device and is guided by the cable guide. A simplified automatic connection of a line cable to a feed device is achieved and provides protective guidance and storage of the line cable by a cable guide apparatus in which the oscillating link can be moved linearly relative to the oscillation axis. A power supply system includes this cable guide apparatus. The related method comprises: a) retracting a connecting element, which is arranged on the line cable, into the cable guide apparatus and before, at the same time or afterwards b) moving the oscillating link from an extended to a retracted position relative to the oscillation axis in a linear manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a mobile crane assembly are provided. The mobile crane assembly includes a mobile crane having a first truss assembly and a second truss assembly spaced apart and movable relative to one another. The first truss assembly and the second truss assembly are each coupled to a rail car end assembly. The mobile crane further comprises an upper gantry assembly movable along the first truss assembly and the second truss assembly. A flat cart is coupled to the rail car end assembly, and a material handling cart is received upon the flat cart and is configured to move between the flat cart and the rail car end assembly based upon input from a controller in electrical communication with the upper gantry assembly.

Abstract: A bridge-supported tool for opening and closing lids located on top of railcars. The bridge has two sides and a cross member between the sides that moves along the sides, the cross member supports a tool carriage that moves along the cross member, the tool carriage has a tool engagement interface for retaining a selected tool and the interface is vertically moveable, such that the tool is moveable to any selected location in the space defined by the bridge. A controller can be used to direct the positioning of the tool by controlling the movements of the cross member, tool carriage and tool engagement interface.