Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle transportation system utilizes a guideway with parallel enclosed rails. Each enclosed rail has an electrical bus bar for supplying power to vehicles on the guideway. The guideway will accommodate dual-mode vehicles that are capable of usage on conventional streets as well as on the guideway. The guideway also accommodates conventional vehicles and ferries that operate only on the guideway. The dual-mode vehicle has a body with axles that are extensible. The axles move from a retracted position, with the wheels recessed within the wheel wells, to an extended position. In the extended position, the wheels locate within the enclosed rails. Conventional vehicles and freight are carried on ferries that move along the guideways.

Abstract: A freight wagon is assembled from a set of building blocks together forming a superstructure mounted on a skeletal underframe having at least one axial beam and an upper surface with a modular bearing pattern. The building blocks are selected from a set of building blocks of corresponding modular dimensions, there being a plurality of species of building blocks and sets of congruent building blocks of each species whereby the underframe is usable with alternative superstructures for carrying alternative types of goods and which alternative superstructures are assemblable from alternative selections and combinations of building blocks. The wagon is particularly useful as a railway wagon in a system of wagons having bearing patterns which are unified in the sense that the modular dimensions are the same although not necessarily having the same number of modules. The wagon is assembled using simple slotted joints for automated assembly.

Abstract: A beam and chain hoist assembly is provided including a longitudinally extending support beam having longitudinally spaced bearing surfaces adapted to engage support portions of the cab of an overland vehicle. The support beam is bifurcated at its front end to straddle the windshield post and is provided with lengthwise adjustment at its rear end. A carriage is provided having wheels adapted to move along the beam and carry the transmission longitudinally and first and second stops are provided on the beam to limit the travel of the carriage between a first position located generally above the transmission and a second position longitudinally spaced from the first position where the transmission may be removed from the cab of the vehicle. A chain hoist is suspended from the carriage including a saddle connector attachable to the transmission, and allowing it to move longitudinally, whereby an operator may raise, lower and longitudinally move the transmission with a minimal amount of effort.

Abstract: Retractable bulkheads for railroad flat cars which are normally in a vertical position spaced from one another on a railroad flat car for providing end to end supports for items stored on the flat cars is disclosed. The bulkheads are retractable to a folded or substantially parallel position with respect to the bed of the flat car when the flat car is empty to eliminate drag on the bulkheads when the flat car is in motion.

Abstract: A removable frame is detachably connected to a supporting frame by a connection having a plurality of spaced apart vertically extending sleeve-like members mounted on the removable frame. Upwardly projecting members are mounted at the periphery of the supporting frame and telescope into each of the sleeve-like members. A horizontal tubular housing attached to each sleeve-like member carries a locking element which cooperates with its upwardly projecting member to form a positively locked connection between the removable and supporting frame.

Abstract: The invention is an improved portable hoist frame for use in automotive and other type work that requires a frame from which to hang a hoist to lift automotive components and other objects. The portable frame consists of detachable elements for a knock-down disassembly to facilitate transportation and handling thereof. The disassembly can be into four major subassemblies or further disassembled into individual members. Four wheel-like rollers on the frame permit movement on a base or framework of equipment on which work is being performed. Four clip-like attachments prevent sidewise movement of the frame during use. A hoist is attached to the top member of the assembled frame.

Abstract: The trailer converts from a hopper for hauling grain to an overwidth flatbed with tracks for carrying a harvesting machine. The side and front panels of the hopper fold to a horizontal position from the erected position. The rear panel of the hopper is removable and stores on the folded front panel. A base track extends along each side of the trailer frame. An extensible track is hinged to the base track and folds in a vertical plane from a storage position on top of the base track to an extended position laterally outward of the base track, to increase the trailer width for hauling harvesting machines with wide wheel width. Transverse tapered box beams support the base track and extensible track. A second extensible track has beams that slide into the transverse box beams of the first extensible track for further widening.

Abstract: An improved trailer convertible to one position for hauling floor supported cargo and to one other position for hauling granular material. The trailer has a floor assembly including; a pair of center floor panels which are supported on the trailer frame and form a portion of the floor supporting structure in one position and which are removable and positionable for cooperating to retain granular material in one other position; and a pair of end slope members which are removably connectable to the trailer for cooperating with the center floor panels and portions of the trailer sides to retain granular material. The trailer is adapted such that pre-constructed sections of the trailer can be shipped and assembled at a remote location.