Abstract: A novel railcar includes a floor, upstanding side walls which are connected to the floor and a top. A no slack coupler is provided for coupling adjacent railcars together to form an articulated train. The railcar includes a landing gear having a flanged wheel beneath a forward portion thereof and a bi-directional bogie mounted beneath a rearward portion thereof. The landing gear and bogie can be used to support and move the railcar on railroad tracks. Structure is provided for attaching a dolly adaptor to a rear end of the railcar and for connecting a tractor to a front end of the railcar. The railcar can be easily detached from the remainder of the articulated train, moved off of the tracks and transported around a rail yard by the tractor and the dolly adaptor so that the railcar can be loaded at a dock. Thereafter, the railcar can be easily reattached into the train on the track.

Abstract: An intermodal vehicle for both highway and railway use. A bogie is rigidly and releasably connected to a trailer for supporting the trailer for transportation over a railway. The trailer has a retractable roadway tire assembly for extending and retracting roadway wheels on the underside on the trailer. When roadway wheels are extended, the trailer lifts the bogie off the ground for transporting the bogie to and from railway tracks. When roadway tires are retracted, the bogie supports the trailer for transportation over a railway.

Abstract: A novel railcar includes a floor, upstanding side walls which are connected to the floor and a top. A no slack coupler is provided for coupling adjacent railcars together to form an articulated train. The railcar includes a landing gear having a flanged wheel beneath a forward portion thereof and a bi-directional bogie mounted beneath a rearward portion thereof. The landing gear and bogie can be used to support and move the railcar on railroad tracks. Structure is provided for attaching a dolly adaptor to a rear end of the railcar and for connecting a tractor to a front end of the railcar. The railcar can be easily detached from the remainder of the articulated train, moved off of the tracks and transported around a rail yard by the tractor and the dolly adaptor so that the railcar can be loaded at a dock. Thereafter, the railcar can be easily reattached into the train on the track.

Abstract: A train car with mirror image electrical couplings having mirror image halves at each end for connecting train lines in each car to corresponding train lines in adjacent cars, regardless of the end-to-end orientation of the car, has selected pairs of train lines connected to corresponding pairs of switches for each end of the car for switching the halves of each selected pair of train lines between one or the other halves of the mirror image electrical couplings, depending on the orientation of the car.

Abstract: A train of articulated vehicles which can be disassembled and assembled readily and to which an articulation mechanism of any conventional structure can be applied universally. A plurality of receiving side vehicle bodies each having one or a pair of receiving side articulating portions and a plurality of received side vehicle bodies each having one or a pair of received side articulating portions are disposed alternately. An articulating truck is disposed at each of the first and last ends of the train and also between each adjacent ones of the receiving and received side vehicle bodies. At the position of each articulating truck, a received side articulating portion of the received side vehicle body is received on a receiving side articulating portion of the receiving side vehicle body which is in turn mounted on the articulating truck.

Abstract: An articulation coupling includes a female coupling having a pair of members each forming a portion of an aperture to receive the male coupling and supported for horizontal movement. A structure, for example, a wedge, is provided for biasing the first female member along the longitudinal axis towards the male coupling and elements secure the second member to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis after mating. The first and second female members are of identical structures and each are capable of both receiving a wedge to produce the biasing as well as a pin or other securements. The wedge extends vertically and a spring biases the wedge vertically and maintains it on the car. Preferably the wedge is made up of two segments and provides a pin or other structure for mounting shims between the segments if necessary to accommodate for wear over time.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tipping rail vehicle including a wheeled frame and an open topped container body. It includes a connector pivotally connecting the body to the frame for rotation of the body at least partially about the pivot axis of the connector, with the pivot axis being normal to the intended direction of travel of the vehicle, and at least one formation on the container body for rotating the container body about the pivot axis to discharge material in the body from its open top. Preferably the container body is in the form of a substantially cylindrical drum with the pivot axis of the connector passing through parallel side walls of the body on or adjacent the axis of the cylinder with the body opening extending over the length of the cylindrical portion of the body between its side walls above the pivot axis of the connector. The invention additionally relates to a tipping arrangement for engagign and rotating the container body of the vehicle of the invention.

Abstract: The tennis court has water impervious bays which contain water distribution piping and particulate material that conducts water from the bottom of the bays upwardly by capillary action to the playing surface of the court. The water distribution piping includes a substantially rigid outer pipe having relatively large openings extending through its lower portion, and at least one inner pipe that is located within the outer pipe and that has a plurality of water discharge orifices at spaced locations along its length. Water from a supply source is introduced into the inner pipe, at a desired low pressure and flow rate, at those times when a moisture sensor determines that the sensed moisture content within the particulate material adjacent the playing surface of the court is less than a preselected desired magnitude. Valving associated with the water distribution piping permits purging and/or draining of the piping.

Abstract: Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured to the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating means adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating means permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement.

Abstract: A novel ramp system is provided for use in the assembly and disassembly of intermodal highway trailers and intermodal railtrucks for intermodal transportation. The ramp system has an ascending portion for raising the level of the trailer frame onto an elevated portion of the ramp so as to align the respective coupling members in proper relationship for coupling. The ramp system also has a descending portion for transferring the load from the highway wheel assembly of the trailer to the railtruck. The descending portion of the ramp includes a wheel stop to locate the railtruck in an operative location for coupling beneath the trailer during lowering of the trailer frame on top of the railtruck adapter.

Abstract: A dual-mode semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels in which a demountable flanged rail wheel bogie is employed, the body being supported upon the highway running gear during over-the-road travel by air-spring elements and being supported upon the rail wheel bogie during travel over railroad tracks, structure being provided to selectively raise and lower the highway running gear for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, structure also being provided to attach or detach the rail wheel bogie from the body for operation in the rail or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers bodies being couplable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel.

Abstract: A dual-mode semi-trailer having over-the-road or highway running gear with rubber tired wheels in which a demountable flanged rail wheel bogie is employed, the body being supported upon said highway running gear during over-the-road travel by air-springs and being supported upon said rail wheel bogie during travel over railroad tracks, a mechanism being provided to selectively raise and lower said highway running gear for selective use in the railroad mode or highway mode of travel, another mechanism also being provided to attach or detach said rail wheel bogie from said body for operation in the rail or highway mode of travel, the semi-trailers bodies being coupleable end-to-end to form a train of multiple semi-trailers in the railroad mode of travel.

Abstract: A rail vehicle, particularly a monorail, has several vehicles or cars, each of two adjacent or neighboring ones of which are connected by way of an associated coupling device. Between each two adjacent vehicles or cars there is mounted a bogie with an axle suspension for supporting wheels and guide wheels running on a track. A guide arrangement is provided between the adjacent vehicles or cars. This guide arrangement together with a connecting joint of the coupling device forms a single substantially vertical steering axis. This single substantially vertical steering axis passes in a vertical median longitudinal plane of the vehicles or cars both through the connecting joint and through bogie-side guide rod bearings and through a wheel axle of the supporting wheels, so that, particularly with regard to quiet travel and straight line passage, the dynamics of vehicle travel or movement are improved.

Abstract: An articulated coupling for two rail vehicles supported by a common bogie comprises: (A) a toroidal part (1) connected to one of the vehicles, said part being frustoconical in its bottom zone and cylindrical in its top zone, and having a cylindrical ball in its center and a shoulder around the top thereof; and (B) a support part connected to the other vehicle, enveloping the toroidal part, and comprising a sole plate (9), a toroidal articulated coupling element made of resilient composite material, a cylindrical peg (17) fixed to the sole plate, engaged in the ball of the toroidal part, and terminated by a horizontal shoulder; and an internal cylindrical part (20) facing the cylindrical external surface (3) of the toroidal part.

Abstract: A rail bogie is provided with a truck having a platform and railroad wheels beneath it for riding on railroad tracks; a first fifth wheel being mounted on the platform. A draw-bar, also mounted on the platform, includes a vertical leg and a horizontal foot on which are provided a lift plate, a further fifth wheel on the lift plate and a lift mechanism capable of moving the lift plate vertically relative to a connection block located at the upper end of the leg. The bogie is for use in combination with a road vehicle provided, at its rear end, with a hooking block in contact with the vertical leg of the draw-bar; the hooking block being formed with a socket into which is received the connection block of the rail bogie for vertical displacement when the lift plate is moved by the aforesaid lift mechanism. Projecting from the lower end of the hooking block is a coupling king pin lockingly engaged in the fifth wheel of the lift plate.

Abstract: A transition vehicle for connecting convertible rail-highway trailers in a pulling or pushing relationship with the railway coupling mechanism found on a locomotive or a preceding railcar and which can also be converted for roadway use and coupled to a yard tractor for off-rail relocation. A convertible trailer is coupled to the transition vehicle through engagement of its coupling tongue and the king pin adjacent thereto, respectively, by a female coupler socket and a funnel-shaped receiving slot in a load carrying shelf mounted on top of the central tube of the transition vehicle. The convertible trailer is further secured to the transition vehicle by a clamping mechanism which grasps the trailer side walls.

Abstract: Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes a locating assembly adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating assembly permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement.

Abstract: The semi-trailer is capable of traveling on roads or on rails. It is characterized in that both a rail truck and a highway carriage are rapidly removable. Therefore the semi-trailer can travel on roads with only the highway carriage, and on rails with only the rail truck. The advantage is a reduction in the tare of the rail-operable unit. An additional advantage is the lack of a need for all the means intended for maintaining the wheels of the highway carriage elevated above the plane of the rails when traveling on rails, which means are required for all prior art binary rail and road vehicles. Other characteristics of the invention are the coupling device between the semi-trailers, the system of connection of a center pin socket to a hemispherical center-bearing counter-element of the rail truck, and the use of special support props and jacks.

Abstract: An improved railway train of highway trailers. The highway trailers are interconnected to each other and their adjacent ends are supported solely by railtruck assemblies. Each trailer is provided with a portion connectible to a corresponding portion of the railtruck assembly. Each railtruck assembly includes an intermodal adapter mounted upon a transversely extending bolster of a railtruck, the assembly being essentially symmetrical about a vertically shiftable coupler pin carried by the adapter so that the railtruck assembly can be interconnected to trailers disposed to either side of the railtruck assembly. In addition, improved hydraulic shifting apparatus is provided for shifting the vertical coupler pin carried by the intermodal adapter.

Abstract: An adapter is described for use with the road/rail transport system described in the specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 673,583, now abandoned. The adapter enables a train of bogies and semi-trailers as described in said specification to be connected to a locomotive or to be incorporated in a train including convention rail vehicles. The adapter comprises a headstock with buffers and means for connecting the adapter to a locomotive or conventional rail vehicle and a bolster provided with means for releasably connecting the adapter to a bogie and with means for connection to a semi-trailer. The headstock is connected to the bolster by side arms which are extended beyond the bolster and terminate in means for attaching the side arms to the base of a semi-trailer.

Abstract: A railroad train comprising a plurality of highway trailers hitched front end to rear end with the end of each trailer supported on an adapter releasably connected to the trailer and with the adapter permanently mounted on the bolster of a four-wheel double-axle railroad truck, desirably a swing motion truck, with the adapter also supported by side bearings mounted on the bolster and with the adapter desirably having a secondary spring suspension.

Abstract: Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes a locating assembly adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating assembly permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement.

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: Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating structure adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating structure permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement.

Abstract: A mobile coal-fired fluidized bed furnace system (10) is provided for generating steam to power a locomotive. Coal is combusted within the fluidized bed furnace chamber (30) in the fluidizing air to produce a hot flue gas which pass from the furnace chamber (30) through a boiler tank (90) and an economizer (34). The steam generated in the boiler bank and the walls of the furnace chamber is collected in steam drum (40) and passed therefrom through an in-bed superheater (100) and thence to the power generating means (22) to produce the power which drives the locomotive.

Abstract: A coal-fired steam locomotive powered by reciprocating steam engines. The locomotive is a two-unit drawbar-coupled locomotive. The units, which are designated as a power unit and a support unit, are arranged back-to-back, with each having a cab-in-front. Operation of the locomotive is equally effective in both directions. The power unit basically contains a furnace and combustion system, an ash storage system, a gas cleanup and exhaust system, a boiler and steam generator, steam engines, a jet condenser, and a control cab. The support unit, on two 6-wheel trucks, contains a modular coal storage area, a stoker motor, a water storage area, heat transfer assemblies and fans for air-cooling circulating water, and a second control cab. The coal-gasification furnace, steam boiler, and steam engines are all in a closed system. Further, the steam engines of the locomotive are in the form of a four cylinder, balanced system for driving the running gear of the locomotive.