Abstract: In order to simplify the connection of a door to the outer envelope of an aircraft cell, it is provided to dispose the door into a portion of the outer envelope having tilted sides, as is the case at the nose cones and the tail cones of conventional airplanes, and in various portions of blended wing body airplanes and flying wings. Thus, the door can be configured to displace, in rectilinear translation, from one of its extreme opening and closing positions to the other, without requiring that the door protrudes outside of the outer envelope in the closing position.

Abstract: A door assembly, particularly for doors of passenger aircraft, includes a door frame, a door having a door body hingedly installed in the door frame, at least one hooking pintle attached to the door frame or an edge of the door body extending along a pintle axis, and at least one door latch connected to an edge of the door body or the door frame, respectively, the door latch having a substantially C-shaped latch body configured to rotate around an axis parallel to the pintle axis of the hooking pintle. The door assembly further includes a bistable latch and hook mechanism configured to catch the door latch in hooking engagement with the hooking pintle and to retain the door latch in a direction perpendicular to the door body in an overcenter position.

Abstract: A railroad car roof panel and skylight assembly. The assembly includes a rectangular metal roof panel. A pair of corrugations are formed in the roof panel with the corrugations extending longitudinally of the roof panel and spaced apart from one another transversely across the roof panel. A pair of light holes are formed in the roof panel between the corrugations. The light holes are positioned longitudinally of each other with each of the light holes having an inner edge. A translucent plastic window is located above each light hole. Each transparent window has a shape similar to but larger than the shape of its light hole and is positioned to overlie the inner edge of its light hole. The transparent plastic window may be planar or dome shaped. A ring shaped gasket formed of an elastomer such as EPDM has an annulus of rectangular transverse cross section with a thickness greater than that of the translucent window. The gasket also has an integrally outwardly extending brim which is thinner than the annulus.

Abstract: A gasket assembly for sealing between a gate assembly and the bottom opening of a railroad hopper car wherein the gate assembly has a peripheral flange, and a hopper car flange surrounds the bottom opening of the railroad hopper car. The gasket includes a central band with an interior edge and exterior edge. The central band is made of a relatively rigid material. The central band contains a plurality of holes therein. An interior band of relatively softer material is bonded to the central band adjacent to the interior edge thereof. An exterior band of relatively softer material is bonded to the central band adjacent to the exterior edge thereof. Upon the assembly of the gate assembly to the bottom opening of the railroad hopper car, the interior band and the exterior band are subjected to a compressive force wherein the extent of the deformation of the interior band and the exterior band being limited by portions of the central band to which the interior band and the exterior band are bonded.

Abstract: A device for closing the gap between adjacent sidewall panels in an auto rack railroad car in the form of a generally H-shaped elongated plastic member grippingly engaging the panels and closing the gap to prevent the movement of air and precipitation through the gap. The device may be made as a one-piece or two-piece unit.

Abstract: A hood collar for connecting and sealing the end of a center sill hood on a sloped floor sheet of a hopper rail car. The hood is formed from a polymer material and has a slot for receiving the end of hood. The collar is formed with flanges that are attached by mechanical fasteners to the floor sheets.

Abstract: A railway hopper car (H) has a bottom outlet (B). An outlet assembly (A) is attached to the outlet for lading to be discharged into the outlet. An outlet flange (OF) at the bottom of the hopper defines the lading discharge outlet. A mating flange (F1) is formed on the outlet assembly for attaching the outlet assembly to the railcar. Fasteners (L) are used to mount the outlet assembly to the hopper bottom. A gasket (3) installed between the respective flanges effects a seal between the hopper outlet and outlet assembly. The gasket extends circumferentially about the opening. One of the flanges has a circumferential groove (9) and the gasket has a raised portion (15) extending circumferentially of the gasket and sized to be received in the groove. This arrangement aligns the gasket with the flanges so when the outlet assembly is mounted to the bottom of the hopper, no cavities are formed in the between the hopper outlet and the outlet assembly.

Abstract: A gate assembly for closing and opening a bottom discharge opening of a railway car hopper, the gate assembly comprising upper and lower plates with cooperating wedges thereon wherein the hopper is provided with an elastomeric sealing ring about the discharge opening and the lower plate moves the upper plate evenly upwardly against the sealing ring, the wedges being spread over extensive vertically aligned areas of the plates so that upper plate is urged evenly upwardly into sealing contact about its borders with the sealing ring.

Abstract: An improved outlet gate pan gasket is located between the outlet gate and outlet flange of a hopper car. The gasket includes a central web which fits around the perimeter of the outlet aperture. An inner margin is attached to the inner periphery of the web and an outer margin is attached to the outer periphery. The inner margin has upper and lower horizontal surfaces joined by an edge surface which is perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces prior to compression of the gasket between the gate and outlet flanges. The inner margin has a solid cross-section. The uncompressed thickness of the inner margin is greater than that of either the web or outer margin.

Abstract: The sealing assembly (10) of the present invention comprises a resilient sponge rubber tube (12) supported and retained by a metal bar (14) running through the tube and extending through slots (16) in the outlet side frame (18) terminating at each end in a retaining assembly (20). The seal member-slot relationship is such that when the gate (30) is open (FIG. 1), the seal member (12) rests on the gate with its retaining bar (14) in the lower portion of the side frame slots (16). Should there be an obstruction on the gate (not shown) such as adhering lading, the seal (12) when forced toward the outlet pan (40) will cause the retaining bar to rise in the slot to position (16b). This movement will allow the seal to ride over the obstruction and prevent the seal (12) from being pinched in the clearance slot (34) above the gate. As the gate is fully closed the upturned flange (32) at the back edge of the gate compresses the seal (12) against the outlet pan (40).

Abstract: Large metal plates (120) located on each side of a railway hopper car are used to connect the hopper slope sheets (102, 104) to the car body sides (16) and longitudinally extending side sills (112). The large plates are generally "U" shaped and include legs (124, 126) which extend downwardly from the joint between the transverse bulkheads (14) and the slope sheets downwardly along each of the slope sheets. The plates are connected to the car body sides (16) to a smaller side sill reinforcing plate (121) and the side sill (112) with mechanical fasteners (128, 129) such as Huck bolts. The plate includes flange portions (132, 134) extending inwardly from the car body sides containing openings or slots (132, 134) to receive transversely extending reinforcements (140), preferably I beams (142, 142') which reinforce the hopper slope sheets and which are held in place adjacent, but spaced from, the car body sides and side sill with gussets (146) integrally connected to the large plates.

Abstract: Bulkhead supports (18) are integrally connected to opposite side portions of a filament wound hopper car body (16). The bulkhead supports include longitudinally spaced extensions (20, 22) extending inwardly from the car body sides. The transverse bulkheads (14) are located within the extensions on either side of the car with longitudinal clearance (31). Resilient bulkhead cushioning members (32) are located between the bulkhead and each extension. The resilient bulkhead cushioning members extend only a short distance transversely to reduce or substantially eliminate the introduction of bending moments into the car body sides when the transverse bulkheads are subjected to lading loads.

Abstract: A railway hopper car includes an angular roof having a roof sheet provided with lateral edges each connected to the top of the car side sheet by an elongated top chord. Each top chord includes a substantially rectangularly-sectioned tube member affixed to the exterior of the top portion of the side sheet and includes a top wall inclined inwardly and upwardly and projecting interiorly of the car beyond the top edge of the side sheet. The undersurface of the lateral portion of the roof sheet overlies and is attached to a substantial portion of the upper surface of the top chord top wall. An inside wall on each top chord comprises a vertical member terminating in a top edge abutting the inclined top wall to provide a smooth vertical plane readily admitting installation of the side sheets and subsequent car interior lining.

Abstract: Seals to prevent seepage of a fine granular commodity between the hopper doors and the adjacent hopper sheets of a railroad hopper car of the type having opposed pairs of hopper doors swingable between a closed position and a downwardly depending open position. The seals comprise elongated strips of flexible material with their upper longitudinal edge portions mounted along the inside lower edges of the inner and outer hopper sheets and being of a width such that their free lower longitudinal edge portions extend downwardly beyond the lower edges of the hopper sheets. The free edge portions of the seals being bent inwardly by and lying in sealing engagement against the hopper doors when the hopper doors are in their closed position. Similar strips of flexible material may be so located as to form a seal between the upper portion of each hopper door and its adjacent slope sheet.

Abstract: A sliding gate for closing the discharge opening of a hopper having inclined side walls is mounted on elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies secured between the underside of upturned inclined side margins of the gate and the top sides of inclined side walls of a discharge chute secured to the hopper and extending below the discharge opening. The elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies are mounted to create a labyrinth seal by methods which include the use of a plurality of integral stud portions extending through corresponding openings along the inclined side margins of the gate, adhesives, keyways, welding or combinations thereof. The elongated low-friction bodies or assemblies are of a polymeric material such as nylon, Teflon or a composite material like ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene impregnated with molybdenum disulfide. The polymeric low-friction material may be molded to a metal matrix which is mounted on the gate by means of welding.

Abstract: A seal is provided between an outlet mounting flange and a hopper mounting flange. The seal extends in-board of the inner hopper wall and includes a projection extending upwardly which engages the hopper wall. The seal further includes a tapered portion which extends inwardly and downwardly from the projection. Thus lading and pressure in the outlet act to urge the projection into engagement with the vertical wall and the tapered portion into engagement with its supporting surface. In one embodiment a void space is located below the projection which is compressed in assembly to create a tight fit of the seal against the hopper wall. In another embodiment an outer flange portion is provided which extends around the inner end of the hopper mounting flange to aid in positioning the seal for assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a hopper outlet is provided including transversely spaced, fixed racks on opposite sides of the outlet which extend longitudinally away from the outlet. At least one door bearing is attached to the outer end of a generally horizontally moving outlet gate. A ramp including an inclined cam surface is located below the inner outlet end wall. U-shaped elastomeric seals extend below the outlet sides and end walls and the lower leg of the seal engages the gate. A transversely extending pinion shaft includes pinions which ride upon the racks in moving between open and closed position. The pinion shaft extends through a slot in the door bearing. The slot is elongated vertically to allow vertical movement of the gate and the door bearing relative to the pinion shaft as the gate is ramped upwardly into closed position and downwardly into open position.

Abstract: A safety reflective trim strip includes a holding frame of any selected length having a holding channel therein into which one or more reflector lenses are inserted. The holding frame is cut to any desired length and includes special features for aid in its attachment to an object. End caps are provided to close the ends of the holding channel after the reflector lenses are inserted. The reflector lenses are either slid into the holding frame through one open end thereof or are snapped into the holding frame from the front.

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: The door frame includes an upper frame member, a pair of Z-configuration side frame members secured to the upper frame member, a lower frame member, and a pair of Z-configuration corner fittings interconnecting the lower the frame member with the side frame members. Each corner fitting comprises a first wall section having an intermediate wall portion and first and second end flange portions, and a second wall section joined to the first wall section and having an intermediate wall portion and a first end flange portion. The first end flange portions have secured therebetween the adjacent end of one of the side frame members, while the second end flange portion is secured to the adjacent end of the lower frame member.

Abstract: An outlet assembly for application to hoppers of railroad hopper cars and the like in the form of a frame made up of spaced pairs of longitudinal and transverse frame members joined together and shaped to define a continuation of the hopper car sheets, and slidably mounting a door plate or gate for movement between open and closed positions, in which the gate is a planar member of one piece molded construction formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer and includes integral racks on either side of same that mesh with pinions journaled in the frame and reversably drivable, using conventional power equipment or the like, to move the gate between closed and opened positions. The gate assembly is equipped with a sanitary top seal that is in wiping engagement with the gate and is arranged to permit the lading when present to help provide the sealing action at the gate.