Abstract: An operable ramp is moveable between stowed and deployed positions. In the deployed position, the ramp provides a sloped transition surface that extends from a lower surface of an architectural setting to an upper surface of the architectural setting. The operable ramp includes a ramp panel and a housing. The height of an upper surface of the housing is selectively adjustable. The operable ramp further includes a drive assembly that is at least partially disposed within the housing. The drive assembly has a drive linkage coupled to a first end of the ramp panel to move the operable ramp between the stowed and deployed positions. The drive linkage raises the first end of the ramp panel to a first elevation when the upper surface of the housing is at a first height and to a second elevation when the upper surface of the housing is at a second height.

Abstract: An example dock leveler with safety supports including a deck having a deck plate, a plurality of support beams, a first side plate and a second side plate. The deck plate has an outer perimeter defined by a front edge, a rear edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. A first deck obstruction extends underneath the deck plate and is selectively configurable to at least one of a blocking position or a stored position. The first deck obstruction is elongate in a lateral direction and the first deck obstruction has a protruding end. The first side plate is closer to the protruding end when the first deck obstruction is in the stored position than when the first deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction extends laterally beyond the deck width when the deck obstruction is in the blocking position. The first deck obstruction includes a pulling enhancement at the protruding end.

Abstract: An air cargo container has a rolling platform for cargo personnel to stand on. The platform may be moved horizontally as the container is loaded. A latch on the platform may be used to secure the platform into a desired position. The platform may be for example 8-20 inches higher than the floor of the container, to allow cargo personnel to conveniently step up onto to the platform, and reach the upper areas of the container. With the platform adjacent to the front or back of the container, the platform may optionally be rotated from horizontal into a vertical storage position, and then secured to a front or rear post of the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retractable step arrangement for a rail vehicle with a first housing that can be mounted on a body of the rail vehicle and features a first housing opening, with a step that is movably supported in the first housing in an initial position and can be displaced between the initial position and a final position, in which the step at least sectionally protrudes from the first housing, through the first housing opening, and with a drive unit for the step that features a motor and at least one movable connecting means that transmits a motion generated by the motor to the step. The retractable step arrangement provides a separate second housing, in which the drive unit is arranged, wherein the interior of the first housing is spatially separated from the interior of the second housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a railway vehicle car of the type including a floor including at least one movable platform and a standard platform, the movable platform being located opposite a door in the railway vehicle, the movable platform being capable of moving linearly vertically so that the height of the movable platform can be varied to match the height of the said platform to the height of a station platform, at least one first running board which can move linearly vertically and in a transverse direction being provided to fill the gap between the movable platform and the station platform when the said running board is in a deployed position. The movable platform and the running board can move independently of each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a railway vehicle car of the type including a floor including at least one movable platform and a standard platform, the movable platform being located opposite a door in the railway vehicle, the movable platform being capable of moving linearly vertically so that the height of the movable platform can be varied to match the height of the said platform to the height of a station platform, at least one first running board which can move linearly vertically and in a transverse direction being provided to fill the gap between the movable platform and the station platform when the said running board is in a deployed position. The movable platform and the running board can move independently of each other.

Abstract: Railway vehicle (1) comprising an access platform (4) which extends between two lateral faces (3), at least one of the faces comprising a lateral access door (2), the access platform (4) being adjacent to at least one passenger area (6, 6?) and comprising a plate (5) which is movable vertically so as to allow passengers with reduced mobility to access/leave the access platform (4) from/to a railway platform (27) of height Qi (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n) when said movable plate (5) is placed in an embarkation/disembarkation position Ei (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n), characterized in that said vehicle (1) comprises at least one means of passage (11, 11?) allowing persons with reduced mobility to move between said passenger area (6, 6?) and said movable plate (5) whatever the embarkation/disembarkation position Ei (i=0, 1, 2, . . . , n) thereof.

Abstract: Compensating landing plates automatically deploy from a subway or railroad car as its doors open in spanning any gap spacing between the car and a station platform where the car stops.

Abstract: A platform arrangement for an end structure of a railway well car having a well portion defined by spaced apart side structures, opposing end structures and a floor structure extending between the side structures. Each of the end structures has spaced apart sidewalls, with a horizontally disposed shear plate extending between and connecting to the sidewalls. Each of the end structures further includes (i) an upper bolster extending upwardly from the shear plate and connecting to the sidewalls; (ii) a bulkhead depending from an inboard end of the shear plate, which extends into the well portion and between the sidewalls to connect to them; and (iii) a stub centre sill positioned below the shear plate. The platform arrangement itself comprises (i) a first horizontal platform surface; (ii) a second horizontal platform surface; (iii) an outboard intermediate horizontal platform surface; (iv) an inboard intermediate horizontal platform surface: and (v) a foothold provided with the bulkhead.

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. A side sill reinforcing walkway structure is located atop each side sill at each end of the cargo well, but is low enough to avoid interference with handling trailers.

Abstract: Access to a rail vehicle is effected by a board that is movable between a retracted position in which it is housed beneath the top face of the floor of the vehicle and an extended position in which it constitutes an access ramp between a platform and an entrance doorsill of the vehicle. The device includes an actuator for driving the board and a stop terminating translation of the board in its extended position. The actuator is disposed in the plane of the board. The device also tilts the board after stopping the board's movement in translation so that the outside end of the board rests on the platform and so that the board co-operates with the entrance doorsill to provide a continuous surface without any offset. The entrance doorsill remains stationary.

Abstract: A rail vehicle sectioned door assembly for a door opening having a stairwell. The assembly comprises a sliding door having a door upper section and lower section slidingly interconnected together by a lock assembly. The door lower section is provided with guide rails to position same adjacent the stairwell. A stairwell platform is hingedly connected to one side of an upper horizontal plane of the stairwell. The platform is releasably secured in a retracted position clear of the upper horizontal plane and the stairwell. The platform is displaceable to lie in the horizontal plane, in a position of use, and is supported thereon. The lock is disengaged by the platform when displaced to its position of use to disconnect the door upper section from the door lower section whereby to permit the upper section to slide open while the lower section closes a lower portion of said opening below the platform.

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-purpose door system includes a door to be snugly received within an aperture of a vehicle body. The door has the lower end pivotally connected to a slide unit which is mounted upon the body and movable in an outward/inward direction and a sideward direction together with the door for thereby opening and closing the door in an ordinary mode of the system, and the upper end detachably received and guided by a guide unit mounted upon the body. The system further includes an extension board pivotally supported at its one end to the top end of the door and outwardly swingable about the one end subsequent to an outward pivotal movement of the door so as to provide an extended stepping board or path for the passengers in an emergency mode of the system. There is provided a buffer for absorbing objectionable pulses or shock loads which may be impressed upon the door and the board when they are opened in accordance with the latter mode.

Abstract: A wheelchair ramp that is recessed in a sidewalk and adapted for elevation to an inclined position to provide a ramp between a step or a transit vehicle and the sidewalk. The plate includes an upwardly extending lip along its forwardmost surface adjacent to the step, and the step includes a downwardly extending, lip-receiving recess to limit upward movement of the plate and to restrain it in position relative to the step. The plate can be elevated by means of a rack and gear arrangement operated by an electric motor controlled by a suitable switch, which can be a remote control switch.

Abstract: A movable foot-step for a vehicle is operable by a mechanism including a guide device below the floor of the vehicle for extension of the step outside one side of the vehicle in an outwards/downwards movement and retraction in the opposite direction. The foot-step comprises a support structure over which an endless mat is stretched, and means for retaining a portion of the mat in the direction of movement of the foot-step, but not in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A railway car includes conventional steps leading from a lower station platform to the floor level in a vestibule. A lift platform adapted to receive a seat or wheel chair is provided to lift a handicapped person who has difficulty going up or down steps. A motor is provided for moving the lift platform over the steps between the lower level and floor level while maintaining it in a horizontal position.

Abstract: Trailers are loaded on and unloaded from railroad flatcars by use of a system including tractors to pull the trailers, an end ramp at the end of the train, and a movable side ramp structure at the side of the train. The movable ramp structure has a ramp and a retractable bridge extending from the top of the ramp to the top of a flatcar in the train. In unloading, a tractor drives up the movable ramp and across the bridge to get onto the flatcar. Then the bridge is retracted, the tractor hitches onto one of the trailers, and pulls it along the joined beds of the flatcars and down the end ramp. The tractor then takes the trailer to a storage area, unhitches the trailer, and returns to the movable ramp structure to repeat the process. While the first tractor is pulling the trailer along the tops of the flatcars, the movable ramp structure moves to a position near the next trailer to be unloaded, and extends the bridge again.

Abstract: A system is provided embodying a platform spaced on runners which is movable into and from a railway car having one entire side open when the hinged side is raised. This produces the most economical use of a closed car as it can be moved to an unloading dock where the mechanism of the system is advanced beneath the platform within the car and raised to free the platform from the floor so that it and its load may be withdrawn. The car is then advanced to a loading dock where a similar mechanism is employed having the platform loaded so that it and the platform can be advanced into the car and lowered onto the floor permitting the mechanism to be withdrawn and the side of the car closed and latched.