Abstract: A cable connector includes a base and two upstanding posts, each carrying a cable retention arm spaced above and parallel to the base. The arms extend in opposite directions, flanking a cable entry slot. The connector is place on a cable with the cable in the entry slot, and the connector is then moved ninety degrees to locate the cable in a cable retention path extending beneath the arms. A clamp plate is moved from the base toward the arms to clamp the cable against the arms. Applications for the connector include a spacer for power distribution cables and splicing two cables together.

Abstract: An automatic cable connector includes a hammer that is moved to a cocked position by the end of an inserted cable. A hammer spring is compressed during the cocking motion. When the cocked position is reached, a frangible abutment fractures and the hammer is free to move independently of the cable. The spring drives the hammer into tapered gripping jaws with an impact that firmly grips the jaws onto the cable.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for securing a forward end portion of a semi-trailer carried on a platform such as a railroad flat car includes a support bed having an upper surface for supporting engagement with a bearing surface around a kingpin on the semi-trailer. The depending kingpin of the semi-trailer is seatable within a central aperture formed in the bed and positioned adjacent the intersection of a central longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the trailer when in position on the railroad car. The aperture is defined to include fixed forward and rearward surfaces for direct stopping engagement with an anlarged kingpin tending to move forwardly or rearwardly along the longitudinal axis. A lateral entry/exit slot is provided in the bed between one side of the central aperture and an adjacent outer edge for guiding the kingpin of the semi-trailer into and out of the central aperture of the bed.

Abstract: A device for automatically securing a cargo container to a support such as a deck of a vehicle or a second container with which the first container is to be stacked. The device includes a base having a projecting shear block received in the locking opening of the container. A head rotates between an unlocked or loading position in which the head moves through the locking opening and a locked position in which the container is secured. Automatic entry and release are provided by a spring within the base biasing the head to the locked position but permitting movement to the unlocked position when torque is applied by engagement of the container with a cam surface on the head. Visible indication of the locked position and positive locking of the head in the locked position may be provided.

Abstract: An expandable modular storage system for holding slides and cassettes comprises storage compartments formed by a first wall element of C-shaped transverse cross-section having a pair of parallel facing walls integrally joined by a web or side wall normal thereto. The outer edge portions of the C-shaped elements are slidably interconnected with additional C-shaped elements along the opposite edges of the side wall to provide additional storage compartments as needed and a last compartment in a row is closed with a generally flat wall element having opposite edges slidably interconnected with the free outer edges of the walls of the last C-shaped wall element in a row. The storage system may include any number of rows of modular compartments and the rows are stacked vertically and interconnected with joining elements.

Abstract: A container pedestal for supporting and securing a cargo container having a catch opening on a vehicle such as a rail car. The pedestal includes a base defining a platform for supporting the container. A pivotal latch lever is biased by a spring into a latched position wherein a latching nose on the lever registers with a latch recess in the container. The latch nose is contacted by the container for pivoting the latch lever from the latched to a released position when the container is raised or lowered. The latch lever is mounted for vertical movement as well as pivotal movement, and interfacing locking surfaces are provided on the latch lever and on the pedestal base for preventing pivotal movement of the latch lever out of the latched position when the latch lever is in an upper position. The spring biases the latch lever upwardly to maintain the locking surfaces normally in engagement so that, when the latch lever is in its upper position, the container cannot pivot the latch lever.

Abstract: Fastener assemblies for mounting a workpiece such as a hub centered wheel rim include a threaded fastener and a clamp washer. The fastener includes a body having a thread structure and a structure engageable by a tool for tightening of a threaded joint to urge the fastener assembly against the workpiece. The clamp washer includes a central aperture surrounding the thread structure and interposed between the fastener body and the workpiece. A pair of cooperating bearing surfaces are formed on the inner end of the workpiece and the outer side of the clamp washer, and a clamp surface is defined on the inner side of the clamp washer. When the fastener assembly is tightened against the workpiece, the bearing surfaces comprise continuous annular spherical zones having common centers and radii of curvature to the end that the bearing surfaces are in intimate wide area face-to-face contact and the clamp surface is in flat area contact with the workpiece regardless of the squareness condition of the threaded joint.

Abstract: A chain attachment structure interconnects the end of a chain to the takeup drum of a winch or hoist so that the chain load is applied directly to an integral part of the drum even if the chain is fully unwound. A recess extends inward from the periphery of the drum and includes a pair of spaced walls. A lug integral with one wall extends toward the opposite wall. The space between the lug and the opposite wall defines a path for inserting a chain link into the recess and over the lug. A keeper inserted into the path prevents removal of the link from the lug.

Abstract: A self-locking fastener for a threaded joint having an end portion with a plurality of teeth in an annular array arranged to indent a coacting surface of a workpiece, to resist loosening. The teeth have individual top bearing surfaces which comprise discontinuous sections of the end surface of the fastener body, the sections being flanked in opposite circumferential directions respectively by abruptly and gradually sloping side surfaces, enabling the fasteners to be turned in a tightening direction and resisting turning in a loosening direction. The top bearing surfaces spread the clamp load and limit indentation of the teeth into the coacting surface to an extent determined by the combined areas of the top bearing surfaces engaged with the coacting surface.

Abstract: Adjustable stowable securement apparatus for use with flatbed carriers for providing both lateral and longitudinal chocking of heavy, oversized tracked or wheeled vehicles, wherein the lateral and longitudinal chocking components are operable to adjust from a stowed, flush-with-carrier-deck position to an adjustably raised position for forcibly abutting the vehicle's tires or tracks to effect positive chocking and securement of the vehicle to the flatbed carrier.

Abstract: A wasp excluder and exhaust port protector for railway air brake systems. A housing adapted to be screw connected to the exhaust port of an air brake system has a cylindrical bore in the outlet end portion. A valve having a unitary body of rubber-like material is wholly contained within the bore to provide mechanical protection for it. The body has a ring portion slidably fitted within the bore and sealed against a seat within the housing. The valve body has a disc portion integral with the ring and formed with a plurality of internally concave, externally convex, radially extending hollow ribs. The ribs have radial slits extending along the middle portions of the ribs and meeting in the center of the disc portion to define a plurality of elastic sectors connected to the ring portion.