Abstract: A dual-mode semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels in which a demountable flanged rail wheel bogie is employed, the body being supported upon the highway running gear during over-the-road travel by air-spring elements and being supported upon the rail wheel bogie during travel over railroad tracks, structure being provided to selectively raise and lower the highway running gear for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, structure also being provided to attach or detach the rail wheel bogie from the body for operation in the rail or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers bodies being couplable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel.

Abstract: An elemental net for a multiple element aircraft arresting net system. The elemental net has a single upper horizontal strap, several vertical straps having top ends and bottom ends, and at least two lower horizontal straps. The top ends of the vertical straps are directly affixed to the upper horizontal strap at spaced intervals along the upper horizontal strap. The bottom ends of the vertical straps are alternatingly affixed to one of the lower horizontal straps so that the lower horizontal straps are free to move relative to each other to a significant degree and so that lifting of one vertical strap will tend to lift only one of the lower horizontal straps in the vicinity of the vertical strap being lifted. The present invention provides a variable window which is free to expand or contract during aircraft engagement, permitting easier penetration of the net by a greater mix of aircraft.

Abstract: A dual-mode semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels in which a demountable flanged rail wheel bogie is employed, the body being supported upon said highway running gear during over-the-road travel by air-springs and being supported upon said rail wheel bogie during travel over railroad tracks, a mechanism being provided to selectively raise and lower said highway running gear for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, another mechanism also being provided to attach or detach said rail wheel bogie from said body for operation in the rail or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers bodies being coupleable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel.

Abstract: A rail bogie for a convertible rail-highway vehicle system having an overall height of approximately thirty inches so that the bogie can fit under the rear of a semi-trailer body, all necessary braking equipment, except for air hose connections; a structure which maintains the axle alignment "square" at all times, includes air springs so as to improve ride quality and to enable the bogie height to be altered via pneumatic controls and takes downward loads outboard at the air spring locations rather than through the connection of the bogie to an associated vehicle; duplicate pneumatic controls and air hose connections on both sides of the vehicle so that the vehicle body can be coupled to the bogie from either direction; and can be lifted by an attachment device used to attach the bogie to an associated vehicle body.

Abstract: A container carrying rail-highway vehicle in the form of a semitrailer chassis including an elongated center sill box extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a front box-type transverse sill attached to a forward portion of the center sill and a rear box-type transverse sill attached to a rearward portion of the center sill member. Two side beams are further provided and are attached at each end thereof to the front sill and rear sill, respectively, on either side of the center sill. The side beams are disposed from a generally higher position in the front of the vehicle to a lower level at the rear of the vehicle and are further attached to the center sill by a plurality of transverse outrigger members which extend between the center sill and each of the side beams.

Abstract: A coupling system for connecting convertible rail-highway vehicles which are adapted to operate on highways as conventional semi-trailers as well as on railway tracks in an articulated rail mode. The coupling system enables automatic coupling of vehicles when a vehicle is backed into a stationary vehicle and the transmission of large forces due to compression and tension in long trains while permitting the requisite movements of relative roll, pitch and yaw at a point between end faces of the coupled vehicles.

Abstract: A vehicle such as a conventional hostler tractor to which equipment has been added to enable the vehicle to also lift and move separable rail bogies. The added equipment includes a boom arm apparatus which is pivotally mounted to the tractor for movement from a stowed position adjacent the vehicle cab to a deployed position wherein it is resting upon and disposed across a fifth wheel coupling device of the tractor. The boom apparatus can be coupled to the rail bogie with a pick up shoe assembly, for example. Then, the boom apparatus can be lifted by elevating the fifth wheel coupling device so that the tractor can transport the rail bogie. When the vehicle is used to tow semitrailers, the boom apparatus can be lifted for example with a hydraulic cylinder, so as to be in its stowed position adjacent to the vehicle cab.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for use in brake applications in air-spring equipped railroad and highway vehicles, particularly convertible rail-highway semi-trailers. Such vehicles usually employ pneumatic brake cylinders. The control valve combines the functions of a relay valve with two distinct output limiting characteristics, namely, service and emergency, which output limiting characteristics depend upon vehicle weight is indicated by air spring pressure. The control valve also produces an automatic minimum output to prevent total loss of braking should air spring pressure be lost due to failure.

Abstract: An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. Air springs suspend a rail-wheel set axle unit and highway wheel-set axle units from the vehicle body so that the one wheel-set axle unit is stored in a raised inoperative position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, a valved air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered positions. The air control system also includes, in addition to the mode selection function, the highway braking function, the rail braking function, the parking brake and the emergency brake functions.

Abstract: A rail bogie air suspension for a convertible rail-highway semi-trailer using an invaginating air bag secured between an upper air chamber member affixed to the underside of the rear frame of a vehicle and a load support leg assembly, a bumper carried by said upper air chamber member, a plate and shaft assembly spring urged towards said bumper and a pneumatically operable pin supporting said plate and shaft assembly whereby, when air is vented from the bag, air pressure is simultaneously provided which acts on a member that retracts the pin and allows the bumper plate and shaft assembly to move past the pin under the weight of the vehicle to allow the entire assembly to fully retract for the proper elevated stored position of the bogie during the highway mode.

Abstract: In a convertible rail-highway semi-trailer a mechanism for lifting and retaining a rail wheel-set axle unit or bogie in an elevated stored position in the highway mode when the highway wheels engage the ground. The mechanism includes hooks pre-set to engage the bogie when the body has been lowered and to retain the bogie as the body rises when the air springs of the highway wheel-set axle unit are inflated to convert from the rail to highway mode. The mechanism also includes a device to keep the hooks disengaged from the rail bogie when the air springs of the rail bogie are inflated and the flanged railroad wheels engage the tracks and the highway wheels are in an elevated inoperative position. The mechanism is also provided with a valve device to prevent inflation of the rail bogie air springs when the latter is in its elevated stored position.

Abstract: An electro pneumatic system is provided for simultaneously braking a plurality of railway cars in a train. A relay valve in each car is connected between the source of air braking pressure and the brake cylinders and is responsive to the amount of air pressure within an independent air reservoir in each of the cars to apply or release the brakes. Electrical means are selectively operated to control the amount of air pressure in each independent air reservoir.

Abstract: An air control system is provided for a vehicle convertible between highway and railway modes of travel. A main body on the vehicles includes a highway wheel-set axle unit and a rail wheel-set axle unit. The vehicle is designed so that one wheel-set axle unit is stored in an upper position while the other is in the lowered operative position. During a transfer from the highway mode of travel to the railroad mode of travel, or vice-versa, an air control system selectively allows the wheel-set axle units to be positioned in either the raised or lowered position dependent upon the mode of travel to be used. Rail suspension air springs are connected between the main body of the vehicle and the rail wheel-set axle unit and highway suspension air springs are connected between the body and the highway wheel-set axle units.

Abstract: A coupler to connect rail-highway vehicles end to end including a female member at the end of one vehicle into which extends a sensing member, a male member at the end of an adjacent vehicle adapted to enter the female member, the male member including a vertical hole therethrough, and linkage connecting the sensing member with a vertical locking pin so that as the male member approaches its fully inserted position in the female member it contacts the sensing member and actuates the linkage to automatically urge the vertical locking pin through the vertical hole, the assembly being such that the weight of the vertical locking pin cannot retract from the vertical hole and cause an unlocking action to occur. In the uncoupling action, the vertical locking pin is first retracted and upon full withdrawal of the male member, the sensing member re-enters the female member, the entire assembly then being reset for automatic coupling when necessary.

Abstract: A rail car brake system of high mechanical efficiency which is compact, light in weight and economical in that it utilizes mass produced highway truck brake cylinders and slack adjusters and is easy to maintain. Critical components are lubricated and fully sealed against foreign particles. The brake system includes a shoe which is mounted in a brake head to operate in a direction truly perpendicular to the wheel tread to reduce wear, employs a long-lead screw operatively inter-connecting the brake cylinder and brake head via an automatic slack adjuster and an anti-friction roller bearing supporting the screw whereby direct load path absorption of the brake application forces is effected. The brake system also includes a parking brake which is automatically applied and released and which also provides emergency braking capability should the service brake fail. Each brake system operates on one wheel.