Abstract: Railcars for transporting timber in either the "tree-length" form or "long log" form are provided. The present invention includes a railroad car comprising a central support member having at least one set of wheels disposed near its ends. A bulkhead is affixed to each end of the central support member and a plurality of cross members extend from the central support member, to which a plurality of stanchions are affixed. Thus, the cross members and the stanchions preferably form substantially "U"-shaped structures that are in a spaced-apart relationship selected to restrain both tree-length logs and long logs. The railroad car of the present invention may also include one or more apparatus for restraining a stack of timber, such as a winch and a strap. Most preferably, at least six pairs of stanchions are provided. The distance between a first stanchion and the bulkhead is between about 7.5 and 8.5 feet; the distance between the first stanchions and a second stanchion is between about 12.0 and 13.

Abstract: A substructure of the body of a vehicle such as a railroad car is formed by linking first and second beams with each other. The first beams are formed of first and second members each having locking grooves, and the second beams are arranged at intervals perpendicular to the first beams, thus realizing, for example a thin-walled substructure. By virtue of the locking grooves formed thereon, the first members allow the attachment of seats or the like, and the second members allow the suspension of underfloor equipment.

Abstract: A car body of railway rolling stock suitable for use for passenger cars or electric passenger cars and easy to fabricate at a low material cost. An underframe constituting the car body comprises a center underframe produced at light-alloy extruded shapes and an end underframe produced of a ferrous material, and a roof framing, a side framing and an end framing which constitute the car body are composed of outer plate members produced of a ferrous material and frame members produced of a ferrous material.

Abstract: A railroad freight car including a cargo well for carrying optionally either intermodal cargo containers or highway semitrailers has a side sill structure including a deep rectangular top chord and a depending web, supporting a well floor structure. The well floor structure includes reinforcing longitudinal and transverse channel members and horizontal top and bottom plates attached to the channels. Large circular openings, aligned with one another, are defined in both the top and bottom plates, and a peripheral ring of vertical material interconnects the margins of the top and bottom plates around the openings, providing a light but stiff floor structure with a small vertical height.

Abstract: An attachment for attaching the ends of concave floor panels of a gondola car to the center sill by a plate extending through the vertical cover plate of the floor panels and being affixed to the floor panels and to the center sill. The plate includes a curved contour adjacent the concave floor panels and is affixed by lock bolts to both the floor panels and to the center sill. Angle members affix the vertical cover plates to the ends of the concave floor panels.

Abstract: A ramp car for loading and unloading vehicles comprises first and second ramps mounted respectively to first and second wheel sets. The first and second ramps extend toward each other in a lowered loading position for providing access for vehicles to a train in both directions. The first and second ramps are locked to each other in a raised travel position. The ramp car also includes a displacement structure having guide mechanism associated with the first and second ramps for guiding the raising and lowering of the ramps. The ramp car is provided with a controller device for selectively controlling the operation of the ramp car. The controller device may be an integral part of the ramp car or may be selectively plugged into a port on either ramp of the car.

Abstract: A composite panel particularly for use as a decking material in trailers and trucks is fabricated from at least eleven plies of wood veneer bonded together in a unitary structure. The three outer plies on each side of the panel are oriented with the wood grain extending in the longitudinal direction of the panel, the next outermost layer on each side being oriented with the grain extending in the transverse direction of the panel, and central layers being oriented with the grain extending in a longitudinal direction. Each side of the panel is covered by a laminate overlay of resin impregnated cellulose sheets, the upper surface overlay being textured to provide a slip-resistant finish.

Abstract: A car body for high speed railway rolling stock and a method of fabricating the same wherein, in order to prevent a variation of external pressures produced when the rolling stock travels at high speeds from being propagated into the interior of the car body, the car body is of an air-type construction. The car body has a reduced weight and is capable of withstanding a variation of the external pressures by the provision of a construction in which the underframe of the car body includes a curved surface having at least one radius of curvature extending across a width of the car body.

Abstract: A multipurpose railroad freight car suitable for carrying either bulk freight or granular freight. The floor of the freight car comprises a pair of opposed, reversible conveyors. Also disclosed is a transverse wiper bar to guide the granular freight along the floor of the freight car to a central discharge chute.

Abstract: Apparatus for assisting passengers in standing within a car of a funicular is described which has shallow footing troughs with convexly shaped floor sections joining the troughs. The floor thus formed does not have any sharp angled shoulders so as to protect the passengers from injury if one should fall. The likelihood of such an accident occurring is less due to the absence of such shoulders as passengers have sounder footing. Bumps or strips can also be provided for safer footing.

Abstract: A rolling-stock underframe construction comprising longitudinal side sills, end sills connecting opposite longitudinal ends of one side sills to opposite longitudinal ends of the other side sill, body bolsters respectively disposed at positions corresponding to trucks, and center sills extending between the end sills and the corresponding body bolsters in parallel to the side sills; and a floor member fixedly disposed in an area defined by the side sills and the end sills. The floor member comprises an upper plate forming, a lower plate forming, and a corrugated plate disposed between the upper plate and lower plate. The corrugated plate includes an alternate arrangement of ridges and longitudinal furrows and is joined to both the upper and lower plate.

Abstract: A motor lorry cargo supporting floor consists of a plurality of planks which are fixed to at least two supporting beams forming part of the chassis of the motor lorry. The planks are aluminum extrusions fixed to the beams by clips engaging the beams and flanges of supporting portions of the planks, the supporting portions of the planks also engaging the clips to retain the clips in position.

Abstract: An articulated railroad flat car for single-level loading of containers has five units or platforms. End trucks are disposed at the ends of the two end units and four shared trucks are disposed intermediate the five units at articulated connections between the units. Each unit has a center sill with bolsters at either end mounting outer container retention devices. Alternate units further include intermediate cross-bearers, with intermediate container retention devices mounted on the cross-bearer. This arrangement allows loading of full length containers (40, 45 or 48 feet in length) on each unit and either full length or 20 foot containers on alternative units. A container floor safety system includes a plurality of cross-ties connected to the center sill with longitudinal stringers fastened to the outer ends of the cross-ties. The container floor safety system prevents container lading from falling to the track in the event of a container floor failure.

Abstract: A light-weight elevator platform for a load elevator of a truck or the like has a plurality of light-weight floor boards mounted in a rectangular frame which has support rails which extend across the frame and are located between adjacent floor boards. Side edges of the floor boards are mounted in channels which are formed in the side edges of the frame and support rail members. The support rail members are releaseably secured to the frame member.

Abstract: A lightweight, flatbed semi-trailer vehicle constructed substantially entirely of lightweight, high-strength structural members and capable of being utilized in conjunction with a truck tractor. The vehicle does not require flooring or decking and comprises at least two longitudinal spaced apart support members, and a plurality of transverse support members bolted to the upper surfaces of the longitudinal support members for use as a lowermost tier of dunnage. A stress plate provides structural rigidity to the design and serves as a second means of interconnecting the longitudinal support members. The vehicle also is equipped with unique fluid suspension means for absorbing and dampening road vibrations and offsetting any adverse effects caused by the elimination of a lower tier of dunnage.

Abstract: A railroad car for carrying containers has a car body mounted on trucks. The car body includes two side sills connected to two end frames. The side sills and end frames define an open well which is adapted for receiving a container. The floor of the well is defined by a container support frame assembly which is hung from the side sills by four hanger straps. The container support frame assembly includes two transverse support beams. The hanger straps are pivotally connected by transverse pins to the side sills and the transverse support beams such that the hanger straps are stressed primarily in tension only and they transfer tensile loads but not bending loads to the side sills.

Abstract: A traction weight system comprised of a plurality of generally rectangular cast metal plates sized so as to be arranged in a variety of two dimensional arrays to comport with the dimensions of different vehicle cargo compartments, each plate having means to interlock that plate with those adjacent plates along or across their closely confronting edges. The plates may be interlocked by various means, including integral tongue and groove structures formed in each plate, or a series of aligned notches which may receive coupling pins. Each plate preferably has a height dimension substantially less than its width or length dimensions, so that the plates may be arranged across the floor or bed of the cargo compartment without interfering with the normal uses of that cargo compartment for storing or transporting cargo.

Abstract: A hopper car is converted to a gondola-type car by replacing the hoppers and their dump doors with a light metal sheet floor. The floor sheets form a series of box-like compartments. The compartments are formed by crossbearer partitions extending between the side walls, center sill and the sheet floor. Floor frame members reinforce the rigidity of the floor structure. The partitions are formed by tubular crossbearers on gussets on the center sill, and closure walls converging at the top thereof.

Abstract: A truck body deck formed of transverse slats is attached to the truck chassis by longitudinal angle members which are connected to both the slats and the longitudinal frame members of the chassis. Each angle member has its upright portion secured to the outer face of its respective frame member and its horizontal portion extending outwardly away from its frame member. Mechanical fasteners pass through the transverse slats into the horizontal portions of the angle members to affix the slats on the angle members.

Abstract: A light-weight base structure for a kiln car comprises vertical, pillars (11,12,13) arranged around the periphery of the base with vertical wall plates (20 to 28) supported between adjacent pillars to define a hollow cavity filled with light-weight insulating material (32). A baffle which extends outwardly around the periphery of the base is formed from bats (15 to 19) of genreally T-shape in plan, each with an inner portion (15a to 19a) which extends between the facing sides of adjacent pairs of pillars and an outer portion (15b to 19b) which extends partially over the outwardly directed sides of the pillars so that such outer portions collectively form an effectively continuous baffle around the base. The peripheral wall is divided by such bats and the wall plates engage in grooves (15c to 19c) formed in the upper and lower faces of the inner portions of the bats, the bats being substantially balanced on the wall plates on which they rest.

Abstract: A floor structure comprising an upper layer containing a hydroxide, a middle layer for providing the structural strength and a lower layer covering the lower surface of the structure, in which at least the middle layer and the lower layer are composed of flame-retardant material and a layer of heat insulating material is formed therebetween. The floor structure is excellent in fire-resistance and heat-resistance, as well as facilitating the mounting of equipment or the likes below the floor.

Abstract: This straight frame semi-trailer platform is adapted to receive a floor for supporting a body of a transport vehicle. The platform comprises an assembly of cross members and longitudinal members, the longitudinal members including intermediate members and side members. The side members consist of channel sections having a lower flange. The cross-sectional contour of the cross members (3) comprises a bottom area (21) adapted to bear flat on, and to be secured to, the lower flange (8) of the side members (6).

Abstract: An articulated coupling having a center coupling and a plurality of side bearings or couplings coaxial along a lateral axis to facilitate yaw and pitch between two cars while restricting roll. The side bearings each have a cylindrical member on one car received in a cylindrical recess associated with another car. The center coupling includes a mating of two spherical members with one of the member longitudinally movable to allow pitch. The axes of the cylindrical side bearings are coaxial and include the center of the spherical center coupling.

Abstract: A floor assembly for use in a trailer or other such vehicle which utilizes flexible conductors, said assembly comprises a floor section including a plurality of interfitting floor boards and elongated housing means. The housing means define a downwardly facing open channel for receiving said conductors. The housing means includes wall means in said channel defining a sub-channel having an opening of predetermined width for receiving and retaining at least one of said conductors.

Abstract: A semitrailer (20) with improvements providing for increased use of available floor space is disclosed. The trailer (20) includes two sidewalls (22), a front end wall (24), a top wall (26) interconnecting said sidewalls (22) and front end wall (24) to enclose the semitrailer (20), and a back end (30) including hinged doors (32) providing for access to the inside of the semitrailer (20). A floor (28) interconnecting the sidewalls (22), is arched upward between the sidewalls (22) to provide a raised floor surface near a mid-portion of the floor (28) generally along the longitudinal extent thereof. Furthermore, the trailer includes a support structure (34) for supporting the floor (28) and the sidewalls (22, 24, 30), and the top wall (26). The arched floor (28) causes articles or pallets (48) loaded onto the trailer to tip outwardly toward the sidewalls (22) of the trailer (20) such that the top of the pallets ( 48) are spaced further apart.

Abstract: An underframe construction for rolling stock vehicles comprising side sills disposed in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the underframe at the opposite outermost locations thereof, end sills connecting the side sills at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side sills, body bolsters arranged at positions at which a vertical load applied on the underframe is supported, center sills connecting each one of the end sills and each one of the body bolsters adjoining to one of the end sills, and a plurality of support members, each said support member being composed of upper horizontal flange, bottom plate and vertical web. The support members are disposed sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the underframe in such a fashion that the adjoining vertical webs of the support members are in contact to be bonded together and the both ends of the support members are secured to the side sills.

Abstract: A truck trailer bridge assembly for use with a truck trailer having at least a first area directly supported by at least one axle and a second area directly supported by at least one axle, the bridge assembly comprises a base portion extending from the truck trailer first axle area to the truck trailer second axle area, a plurality of support beams generally extending from the truck trailer first axle area to the truck trailer second axle area, a central plate supported by the support beams, a first end angled plate supported by the support beams, a second end angled plate supported by the support beams, and a lift engagement support plate secured to the support beams and adapted for engaging a mechanical lift so that the bridge section may be positioned as desired.

Abstract: A semitrailer (20) with improvements providing for increased use of available floor space is disclosed. The trailer (20) includes two sidewalls (22), a front end wall (24), a top wall (26) interconnecting said sidewalls (22) and front end wall (24) to enclose the semitrailer (20), and a back end (30) including hinged doors (32) providing for access to the inside of the semitrailer (20). A floor (28) interconnecting the sidewalls (22), is arched upward between the sidewalls (22) to provide a raised floor surface near a mid-portion of the floor (28) generally along the longitudinal extent thereof. Furthermore, the trailer includes a support structure (34) for supporting the floor (28) and the sidewalls (22, 24, 30), and the top wall (26). The arched floor (28) causes articles or pallets (48) loaded onto the trailer to tip outwardly toward the sidewalls (22) of the trailer (20) such that the top of the pallets ( 48) are spaced further apart.

Abstract: A flat bed trailer formed of a pair of horizontally spaced longitudinally extending I-beams and a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending tubular members positioned in longitudinally spaced apertures in the I-beams inwardly of their upper portions with the sides of the tubular members being welded to the portions of the I-beams defining the apertures and with the uppermost portions of the tubular members positioned in abutting relation under the upper portions of said I-beams.

Abstract: A carrier unit adapted to be converted into a bulk material carrier including a container having a floor and two parallel substantially vertical walls. The floor has at least one floor panel movable between a storage position and an operative position and at least one floor section movable between a storage position and an operative position. The floor panel when in the operative position and the floor sections when in the operative position cooperate with portions of the walls to define a compartment and to form an opening in the floor, which communicates with hoppers depending from the floor. A flexible liner is mountable in the compartment, when the floor panel and the floor sections are in the operative positions, for holding bulk material. The flexible liner includes an inlet for charging bulk materials into the liner compartment and an outlet cooperable with the opening for communicating the interior of the liner compartment with the exterior of the compartment for discharging the bulk materials.

Abstract: An improved floor board construction for a truck or trailer has a floor boards which are each formed with a groove extending longitudinally of and opening laterally from each side edge thereof. The grooves of the butting side edges are aligned with one another to form a passage extending longitudinally of the floor boards. An elongated strap mounted in said passage and extends longitudinally thereof. The strap projects laterally into each oppositely disposed groove. A plurality of mounting passages open through the floor boards, strap and underlying cross members. A mounting screw is threaded into each mounting passage of said strap and its associated mounting passage of said cross member to secure said floor boards and mounting strap with respect to said cross members.

Abstract: With known vehicle superstructures of the above kind it has been found that in many cases relatively large amounts of deformation and damage to parts of the floor and walls occur even when the collision is very slight, that the thermal insulation is inadequate and that noises are produced in the sidewalls and floor due to vibrations during the journey.With the new vehicle superstructure the external forces acting on the sidewalls are no longer transmitted directly to the floor but reduced to a minimum level, which in most cases does not damage the floor, by means of a close-fit connection with built-in buffer zone. Also, the new design improves thermal insulation and markedly reduces the noises produced in the superstructure during a journey. Furthermore, the parts which have to be repaired can be readily removed and replaced.

Abstract: A motor vehicle construction which includes at least one vehicle body part such as a floor panel mounted on a vehicle frame by an insert. The body part is only affixed to the vehicle frame so that a connection between the vehicle frame and body part exists by way of the insert. The construction is assembled by applying a layer of a mixture consisting essentially of an adhesive material and an elastic filler to the attaching surface of the frame. The body part is placed upon the layer of the mixture and, if necessary, joints between adjacent body parts are filled with the mixture. The mixture is hardened to form the insert.

Abstract: A device for forcing railroad car deck planks downward against a support and sidewards against a stop to aid in tying the plank to the support with a clip-like tie member. The device includes an anchor member for being fixedly attached to the support, a body member attached to and extending upward from the anchor member, an engagement member for engaging a portion of the plank, and a jack member for selectively causing the engagement member to force the plank downwards and sidewards relative to the body member.

Abstract: A cabin for a funicular railway comprises a floor, two lateral walls facing each other, one of which is provided with a door opening, two end-walls, and a roof. All of these parts are united detachably by means of bolts, so that the cabin may be transported in the knocked-down condition, and may be subsequently assembled by bolting. The side and upper edges of the lateral walls consist of light-metal bars, the ends of which are welded together in pairs. The roof is provided with four bars welded together in pairs and together forming a roof-frame, two of these bars being welded to the bars forming the upper edges of the lateral walls. The end-walls are edged at the bottom and sides with bars which are bolted to the bars of the lateral walls and are riveted to the plates. The upper parts of the end-walls consist of transparent sheets, secured detachably, by means of resilient strips to parts of the end-walls, of the two lateral walls, and of the roof.

Abstract: Very high demands are made on gondola cars which are emptied on rotating/tilting unloading devices. Such cars must provide long service lives even under these very rough conditions, and they should allow simple loading and unloading via a rotating/tilting device. In accordance with the instant disclosure, the high strength of the gondola car body is maintained in a simple manner in that the flooring sheets of the body are set into grooves in the longitudinal center sill, and into a groove in each inside of the lower side sills, and then welded to the said sills. Also the walls of the car may be set in different ways, as by setting them into a groove in the upper side of the lower side sills and into a groove in the lower side of the upper side sill, and then welded to the said side sills.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a truck for conveying ceramic articles through a tunnel kiln, comprising a baseplate or trolley, a frame of refractory material formed on the base and bearing a surface for loading ceramic articles. The frame is made up of box-shaped section members having a C cross-section open toward the interior of the frame. The loading surface is formed by a number of ceramic rollers rotatably held in corresponding bearing means resting on the side of the frame parallel to the direction of the motion of the truck through the tunnel kiln (FIG. 2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to vehicle transporters. Apparatus for totally or partially lowering or raising the upper platform of a vehicle transport trailer comprising a lower platform disposed on a chassis and an upper platform supported at a distance from the lower platform by at least four vertical support posts, characterized in that it comprises at least one motor driving in rotation at least two vertical screws each lodged in one of the support posts of a given pair; the rotation of the screws producing the vertical displacement of means rigidly connected to the upper platform.

Abstract: A floor system for a trailer or the like comprising a plurality of elongate sheet metal floor panels extending side-by-side lengthwise of the trailer on beams extending transversely of the trailer. Each of the metal floor panels comprises upper and lower panel members, the upper member being in the form of a shallow inverted channel, comprising a relatively wide web member, a pair of relatively narrow flanges extending down from the web member at opposite sides of the web member, and a pair of fastening lips extending laterally outwardly from the flanges at the lower edges of the flanges and bearing on the beams of the trailer. The elongate metal floor panels are mounted on the beams one alongside another with the fastening lips at adjacent sides of adjacent floor panels defining, in conjunction with the opposing flanges extending up from the fastening lips, upwardly opening generally rectangular recesses extending longitudinally of the trailer between adjacent floor panels.

Abstract: A load carrying vehicle such as a truck trailer or a railroad car has a generally flat, horizontal loading surface which is supported by an underframe which in turn is mounted to and carried by wheel assemblies, kingpin-saddle plate arrangement and the like. The underframe extends over the full length and width of the load carrying vehicle and each of its transverse cross-sections is of a substantially constant height while in a longitudinal direction the center portion of the underframe is of a relatively greater height than portions of the underframe adjacent the wheel assemblies. The underframe is constructed of a first corrugated plate in which the corrugations run longitudinal of the vehicle. A second corrugated plate is secured to the underside of the first mentioned plate and the plates are arranged so that the corrugation troughs of the upper plate are in longitudinal alignment with corrugation peaks of the lower plate to define a hollow core honeycomb pattern between the plates.

Abstract: A flat bed truck wherein the bed includes a raised sill having a plurality of threaded apertures about the periphery and a cargo-personnel carrier having a peripheral shoulder mateable with the sill and held to the bed by quick-release bolts. The carrier preferably includes a forward wall having a forwardly protruding ellipsoidal shape to lower wind resistance and therefore stress on the bolts. The sill of the bed is also provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures adapted to receive stake members of a conventional livestock stake rack. The shoulder of the carrier may be provided with an interior vertically depending flange adapted to abut the interior vertical ledge of the bed sill to prevent lateral movement and to protect cargo from moisture.

Abstract: A gondola railway car having a car truck attached to each end of a continuous center sill, a pair of generally vertical end panels, a pair of generally vertical side panels joined to the end panels, a plurality of cross bearers extending from the center sill to a longitudinal chord at the bottom of each side panel, a car bottom between the end and side panels having substantially flat portions over the trucks and a pair of longitudinal trough portions between the trucks and the flat bottom portions, each trough portion having a side edge joined to a side panel bottom edge and a side edge joined to the center sill, and an end wall at each end of each trough extending to the adjacent flat bottom portion.

Abstract: A truck body floor construction in which transverse boards of standard length and width with holes pre-drilled in predetermined positions are secured to the side rails having pre-drilled holes in the same predetermined positions, whereby the flooring is self-jigging and the length of the flooring to accommodate different lengths of vehicle bodies can be readily effected by simply adding one or more boards. A novel tie-down means clamps the body to the longitudinal frame rails of a wheeled supporting frame easily and effectively, which means holds the body securely to the frame even when the truck body is subjected to fore and aft stops and sudden starts. This system eliminates the need for cross members and thereby does not necessitate advance information of axle location to provide wheel clearance, since the transverse floor system provides full length clearance.

Abstract: A nailable floor panel structure including a plurality of generally inverted-channel shaped parallel floor planks with depending flanges disposedly downwardly in generally abutting relation, and generally linear end caps affixed and rigidly interconnecting the respective ends of the panel planks. Each end cap includes longitudinally spaced, laterally offset portions corresponding to the floor plank junctures, and cut-out portions at the ends of the cap conforming in shape to the depending flanges of the channel-shaped floor planks. The design provides enhanced structural integrity of the finished floor panel and facilitates modular fabrication of the finished panel.

Abstract: A convertible semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels and a flanged rail wheel-set and bogie, the body being supported upon said highway running gear and upon said railroad bogie independently by air spring means associated with the rail wheel-set axle unit and with the highway running gear and means to alternately raise and lower the highway running gear and railroad bogie for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers being couplable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel. The highway running gear may be of the single axle or the tandem axle type, in each case each axle carrying dual sets of tires of conventional size allowing loads as high as legally permitted to be carried over the road in the highway mode of travel, the railroad bogie having a single axle wheel set of approximately 60,000 lb. capacity.

Abstract: The deck of a paddle tennis court includes a plurality of extruded aluminum members each having a horizontal playing surface and a pair of base legs each having a foot section with an outwardly facing wedge-shaped edge. The upper deck section is attached to the I beam superstructure underneath by a plurality of clamps. A double clamp is employed from above to bridge the foot portions of the upper deck sections. The double clamps are connected by a threaded bolt and nut combination to single clamps which are attachable to the wedge-shaped edges of the transverse underlying I beams. The construction of the double clamps is such that the upper deck sections are separated from each other by a predetermined gap suffficient to allow acces to the space between the deck plates. Each court also includes a spring-loaded sidewall and a diagonal external support which is connected to one of the extended underlying I beams.

Abstract: A system of attaching floor decking to a railroad car of the type having an open floor structure of flanged beam members. A plurality of plank members are positioned upon the flanged beam members. Each plank member is provided with a longitudinal groove along each longitudinal edge thereof. A plurality of fastening members attach the plank members to the beam members. Each fastening member includes a platelike body portion having a slot therein for grippingly engaging a flange of one of the beam members and includes first and second tongue portions fixedly attached to and extending from opposite sides of the body portion thereof for extending into the longitudinal grooves of two adjacent plant members thereby attaching the two adjacent plank members to the beam member which the fastening member grippingly engages.

Abstract: A plurality of modular units formed of ducts and horizontal load-supporting webs each form part of a ventilating floor structure with the ducts and webs being interconnected to adjacent modular units for forming a total floor. The ducts have upwardly diverging sidewalls for strength and a duct of one modular unit is provided with a bead that forms half of a joint to be slid within a downwardly opening recess forming the other half of the joint on an adjacent web. The recess is provided with a downwardly and laterally curving guide flange so that the bead can be rolled into the recess as the modular unit having the bead is rotated into position. The interconnected ducts and webs are underlayed with foam insulation which is carried up into each web for additional insulating thickness the joint is essentially waterproof from water passing into or through the ducts.

Abstract: A plastic nailable steel flooring insert is provided including a generally vertical end closure closing one of the vertical openings which occurs at opposite ends of nailable steel flooring panels extending in a transportation vehicle to a position adjacent, but laterally spaced from, a generally vertical wall in the vehicle, and at least one gap closure flap attached to a first face of the end closure effective to engage the vehicle wall in interference fit and close the gap between the end closure and the vehicle wall. In engaged position the flap is at least partially deformed and thereby urges the insert into engagement with the nailable steel flooring panel and the vehicle wall. The insert may include a retainer portion to maintain engagement between the insert and the nailable steel flooring panel. The retainer portion may be mounted on the face of the insert facing the nailable steel flooring panel and may engage reinforcement located within the nailable steel flooring panel.

Abstract: A high cubic capacity railroad boxcar that is provided with a longitudinally extending depressed nailable steel floor section disposed on each side of a longitudinally extending center sill structure, the top surface of the floor sections being at the same elevation as the surface of a plate over the center sill structure, the outside lateral margins of each floor section having a removable inverted filler channel member positioned in a longitudinal runner recess adjacent a car angle member and side sill. Each filler channel member may be replaced with a bulkhead floor track in the form of a slotted runner member or a rack gear member and cooperate with a similar overhead track for receiving, locating and restraining removable bulkheads later added to the car by a lading shipper as may be required.