Abstract: A suspension system configured to provide suspension to a railroad maintenance machine having a frame and a chassis, where the suspension system is selectively operable between work and transportation modes of the machine. The suspension system includes a suspension that is operable between a first position and a second position. The first position is when the suspension is substantially inflated for transportation of the machine, and the second position is when the suspension is substantially deflated for conducting railroad maintenance. Contact with the rail is maintained in either position.

Abstract: There is claimed a method for depositing fluid material from a linear nozzle in a substantially uniform manner across and along a surface. The method includes directing gaseous medium through said nozzle to provide a gaseous stream at the nozzle exit that entrains fluid material supplied to the nozzle, said gaseous stream being provided with a velocity profile across the nozzle width that compensates for the gaseous medium's tendency to assume an axisymmetric configuration after leaving the nozzle and before reaching the surface. There is also claimed a nozzle divided into respective side-by-side zones, or preferably chambers, through which a gaseous stream can be delivered in various velocity profiles across the width of said nozzle to compensate for the tendency of this gaseous medium to assume an axisymmetric configuration.

Abstract: A bulk loader conveys rigid, stick-like articles in bulk. The bulk loader has a bin for holding a plurality of the articles and a trough connected to a bin having an entrance portion for receiving the articles from the bin and a discharge portion for discharging the articles. An auger, with an inlet end and an outlet end, is rotatably positioned in the trough so that the inlet end is positioned near the entrance portion and the outlet end is positioned near the discharge portion. Upon rotation of the auger, the auger conveys the articles from the entrance portion to the discharge portion. The trough is constructed and arranged to prevent conveyed articles from becoming jammed between said auger and said trough.

Abstract: A system for detecting targets and for positioning at least one work module over a particular target to perform a task thereon. The system includes a movable machine having a main frame, a drive mechanism for propelling the machine across a base surface, a sensor associated with the machine for detecting locations of at least one target positioned on said base surface, and an encoder assembly associated with the machine for obtaining motion data. The motion data includes at least one of the displacement and velocity of the machine across the base surface. Also included is a control unit for receiving the target locations from the sensor, for receiving the motion data from the encoder assembly, for determining a target distance for the drive mechanism to propel the machine such that the work module is generally aligned with a particular target in a target area, and for creating a destination signal indicating when the work module is operationally aligned with the target area.

Abstract: An automatic rail fastener remover for use on threaded fasteners being used for securing railroad rails to rail ties, the fastener remover constructed and arranged to be mounted on a railway maintenance vehicle having a frame, and including a fastener removal tool configured to releasably engage one of the fasteners for removing the fastener from the tie, a drive assembly connected to the tool for rotating the tool, at least one latch hook selectively biased against the fastener head for assisting the tool in the removal of the fastener from the tie.

Abstract: An automatic fastener applicator for securing fasteners to track support members of a railroad track includes a retaining apparatus for receiving and orienting at least one of the fasteners for application to the track support members, and a drive apparatus for automatically engaging at least one of the oriented fasteners and for rotating the fastener axially for engagement upon the rail support members.

Abstract: A ceramic composition for forming a ceramic dielectric body having a dielectric constant of less than about 4.2. The composition comprises a mixture of finely divided particles of 25-50 vol. % borosilicate glass and 50-75 vol. % high silica glass. The composition can be used with a polymeric binder to produce an unfired green tape which is co-fireable with high conductivity metallurgies such as gold, silver and silver/palladium.

Abstract: A hose reel support assembly for supporting a hose reel assembly on a vehicle, the support assembly including a number of support beams secured to the vehicle, a base plate mounted on the support beams and having an elongate slot, the hose reel assembly being supported on the base plate with the axis of the hose reel located in a parallel relation to the elongate slot, the hose reel assembly being mounted on the support assembly for simultaneous rotation and translation of the support assembly from the position with the axis of rotation of the reel assembly parallel to the slot to a position transverse to the slot. The support assembly being tiltable forwardly to move the hose reel assembly away from the vehicle.

Abstract: A ceramic composition for forming a ceramic dielectric body having a dielectric constant of less than about 4.2. The composition is formed from a mixture of finely divided particles of 25-50 vol. % borosilicate glass and 50-75 vol. % high silica glass. The borosilicate glass comprises approximately 20-35 wt. % B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and approximately 60-80 wt. % SiO.sub.2. The high silica glass contains essentially 0.5-1 wt. % alumina, 1-5 wt. % B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and approximately 95-98 wt. % SiO.sub.2. The composition can be fired at a temperature of less than 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention discloses a self-limiting ceramic capacitor characterized by high capacitance and transient voltage protective properties comprising a plurality of thin layers of a zinc oxide-based ceramic material having non-linear resistance characteristics with each layer having a conductive coating on at least one surface thereof and the coated ceramic layers sintered together to form a laminated stack. A conductive coating comprising a first electrode of the capacitor is formed on a first edge of the laminated stack of layers and is in electrical communication with a portion of the conductive coating on some of the layers extending to that edge of the layer.

Abstract: A method of making a homogeneous ZnO sintered resistor body, having a substantially uniform density, which can exhibit non-linear V-I characteristics by a bulk effect, comprises the steps of: (1) mixing about 75 mole % to about 98 mole % of small, finely divided, solid ZnO and about 2 mole % to about 25 mole % of at least one small, finely divided, solid additive effective to produce non-linear characteristics within the body, preferably one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, FeO, In.sub.2 O.sub.3, B.sub.2 O.sub.3, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SnO.sub.2, Sn.sub.3 O.sub.4, Mo.sub.2 O, SiO.sub.2, BaO, SrO, PbO, NiO, CaO, MgO, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, Co.sub.3 O.sub.4, CoO, MnO, MnO.sub.2, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and Sb.sub.2 O.sub.