Abstract: A dump body for a dump trailer or a dump truck comprises modular components of tempered aluminum alloy joined together with mechanical fasteners to form modular subassemblies. Welding or other high-temperature joining processes are not required for fabrication of the dump body, and thus the full strength of the tempered aluminum alloy is retained. Methods for assembly of the modular components to form the modular subassemblies and for assembly of the modular subassemblies to form the dump body using mechanical fasteners are provided in addition to designs for modular components and modular subassemblies.

Abstract: A multi-component lifting assembly is provided for a container which carries cargo. The container includes a floor, opposite side walls extending upwardly from the floor, and a roof sheet attached to upper ends of the side walls. The lifting assembly is attached to the walls and to the roof sheet such that four-point lifting stability is provided when the container is lifted by an overhead crane. The lifting assembly includes a stacking header which spans the width of the container, an inner cap which is provided on an interior of the container, and an outer cap which is provided on the exterior of the container. The roof sheet is sandwiched between the outer cap and the stacking header. The side wall is sandwiched between the outer cap and the inner cap. Aligned apertures are provided through the outer cap, the roof sheet, the stacking header and the inner cap such that a bayonet can be inserted therein and the container can be lifted.

Abstract: A novel railcar includes a floor, upstanding side walls which are connected to the floor and a top. A no slack coupler is provided for coupling adjacent railcars together to form an articulated train. The railcar includes a landing gear having a flanged wheel beneath a forward portion thereof and a bi-directional bogie mounted beneath a rearward portion thereof. The landing gear and bogie can be used to support and move the railcar on railroad tracks. Structure is provided for attaching a dolly adaptor to a rear end of the railcar and for connecting a tractor to a front end of the railcar. The railcar can be easily detached from the remainder of the articulated train, moved off of the tracks and transported around a rail yard by the tractor and the dolly adaptor so that the railcar can be loaded at a dock. Thereafter, the railcar can be easily reattached into the train on the track.

Abstract: A railcar which forms part of an articulated train includes a novel deck system and a novel, low-level, low-profile, no slack coupler. The railcar is formed from a floor, upstanding side walls which are connected to the floor and a top to form an enclosure. The deck system includes an upper deck and a lower deck which are connected together and are counterbalanced against each other. The decks are movable to a first position wherein the decks abut against each other so that cargo, such as automobiles, general freight and the like, can be loaded onto the upper deck and onto the floor. The decks are movable to a second position wherein the decks are spaced apart from each other so that cargo can be loaded onto the upper deck, the lower deck and the floor. In several embodiments of the novel deck system, the decks can be moved relative to the floor when the decks are in the first and second positions.

Abstract: A novel railcar includes a floor, upstanding side walls which are connected to the floor and a top. A no slack coupler is provided for coupling adjacent railcars together to form an articulated train. The railcar includes a landing gear having a flanged wheel beneath a forward portion thereof and a bi-directional bogie mounted beneath a rearward portion thereof. The landing gear and bogie can be used to support and move the railcar on railroad tracks. Structure is provided for attaching a dolly adaptor to a rear end of the railcar and for connecting a tractor to a front end of the railcar. The railcar can be easily detached from the remainder of the articulated train, moved off of the tracks and transported around a rail yard by the tractor and the dolly adaptor so that the railcar can be loaded at a dock. Thereafter, the railcar can be easily reattached into the train on the track.

Abstract: A novel door structure is provided for each end of a railcar in an articulated train. The train includes a plurality of railcars which are coupled together and spaced apart from each other a small distance. The door structure can be easily opened and closed even though the railcars in the train are only spaced apart from each other a small distance. A first embodiment of the novel door structure includes first and second door members, each of which have first and second panels that are hingedly connected together, which are attached to each end of each railcar. The first panel of each door member is foldable relative to the second panel and the panels are movable to lie adjacent to a side wall of the railcar. Structure is provided for connecting the door members to the sides of the railcar and for allowing the panels to rotate relative to the side of the railcar.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lightweight dual-stage tapered leaf spring assembly for use in heavy-duty trailer suspension applications. The dual-leaf tapered leaf spring assembly has a main or first tapered leaf defining a first stage rate and a second tapered leaf operable to define a second stage rate. The first and second leafs are formed to include a tapered thickness profile which closely approximates a true modified parabolic taper. The "approximated" modified parabolic profiles for each of the main and second leafs are adapted to provide a smooth non-linear transition between the first and second stage rates.