Abstract: A bridge plate assembly is formed of dual phase steel for interconnecting two rail cars and supporting the weight of a vehicle moving between the rail cars. The bridge plate assembly includes a bridge plate with a substantially continuous top surface having a pair of troughs. The bottom surface of the bridge plate assembly has a box formation provided by a bottom panel spanning an area between the pair of troughs.

Abstract: A bridge plate for interconnecting two railcars and supporting the weight of a vehicle moving between the railcars. The bridge plate includes a substantially continuous top surface and is formed as a composite of a plurality of materials. The bridge plate includes a plurality of longitudinal sections extending from a bottom surface of the bridge plate, the sections formed by combining glass fibers and resin that enclose a foam plastic core, resulting in a lighter weight bridge plate than industry standard bridge plates. A traction surface can be integrally formed on the top surface. The bridge plate can include at least one handle. The assembly can also include a pin assembly for rotatingly engaging the bridge plate assembly to a railcar. The pin assembly can include a handle portion accessible from a top surface and/or the bottom surface of the bridge plate.

Abstract: A surveillance system for monitoring a secure area having an entry door, the door being furnished with a lockset which normally keeps the door locked, and the lockset being responsive to an “authorization action” of a user to permit opening of the door. The “authorization action” may be punching a code into a keypad, presenting a coded card to a reader, operating the handle of the lockset, or other manipulations needed to open the locked door. A transmitter associated with the lockset issues a wireless signal each time the lockset responds to an authorization action of a user. A camera is arranged to take an image of the user at the door. A receiver receives the wireless signal from the transmitter and in response thereto triggers the camera to take an image of the user. The transmitter may be in circuit with a switch which is closed in response to movement of the door-unlatching mechanism, the switch completing a circuit for actuating the transmitter.