Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a wall module from a plurality of stretched sheets of metal laterally spaced apart by a skeletal frame with the interior of the wall module to be later filled with structural foamed plastic. The apparatus has a first and a second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly, a pair of tower assemblies for supporting the first elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly vertically above the second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly, and a plurality of jack screw assemblies for moving the first elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly vertically toward or away from the second elongated sheet metal stretcher assembly. Both of the elongated sheet metal stretcher assemblies have sheet metal clamping jaws longitudinally fixedly mounted adjacent one of their ends and longitudinally movable sheet metal clamping jaws mounted adjacent their other end.

Abstract: A bus suspension mating fixture assembly having a bus body overhead support assembly and a bus suspension shuttle assembly. The bus body overhead assembly comprises an elongated framework having a first pair of laterally spaced upright side beams connected together adjacent their tops by a transverse beam and a second pair of laterally spaced upright side beams connected together adjacent their tops by a transverse beam, and a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal beams that have their opposite ends connected to the upright side beams adjacent their tops. A pair of laterally spaced longitudinal overhead support rails are supported from the top of the bus body overhead support assembly and the overhead support rail unit can be raised and lowered throughout a predetermined range.

Abstract: Apparatus for holding hollow wall panels while they are filled with foamed plastic having a base, a lower platen, an upper platen, and a plurality of inflatable hoses. The base has a top pressure surface upon which the inflatable hoses are positioned. As fluid under pressure is released into the inflatable hoses, the upper surface of the hoses contact the bottom pressure surface of the lower platen to lift the lower platen upwardly. The hollow wall panels are supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced roller support brackets that extend downwardly from the opposite sides of the upper platen. As the inflatable hoses are pressurized, the upward travel of the lower platen will cause its top pressure surface to contact the bottom of the hollow wall panels and hold them in rigid engagement against the bottom pressure surface of the upper platen. When the hollow wall panel is thus positioned, it is filled with foamed plastic.

Abstract: A plurality of sub-assemblies comprising elements of a transit vehicle are first completed individually in their respective jigs. Each of selected ones of these sub-assemblies has embodied therein an extrusion having a trackway formed thereon for alignment with a selected conveyor way provided therefor in a collector, which travels in successive cycles along a selected path on a final assembly floor. Each of said selected sub-assemblies has joint means formed thereon for interlocking engagement with complementary joint means provided on one or more of the other sub-assemblies. The selected sub-assemblies are conveyed, by means of their trackways riding along their respective conveyor ways, into the collector, and thus into interlocked relation with each other in positions of final assembly therein, where they are secured permanently in such interlocked relation. Other sub-assemblies are then added to produce a complete transit vehicle.

Abstract: In a plastic key joint wherein edge portions of two adjacent strakes are in relatively superposed, interfitted, edgewise engagement with each other in a manner to define a fully enclosed keyway therebetween, the present invention resides in deforming, preferably in an undulating or sine wave pattern, laterally opposite sides of the keyway prior to injecting, under selected pressure, flowable, hardenable key material into the keyway, thereby greatly increasing resistance of the joint to longitudinal shear stresses.