Abstract: A rapid loading sled for use during the transportation of wheeled vehicles via trailer or truck. The sled includes a body with a frame and deck that provide a low profile surface for loading and securing a wheeled vehicle to before the sled is loaded on a trailer or truck for transportation. The sled includes a sliding assembly to improve maneuverability during loading and a winch system for guiding the retractable cable of a winch during operation.

Abstract: A twistlock for securing a structure to a corner fitting having an ISO aperture. The twistlock includes a main body, a first clamping cam toggle pivotally mounted within the main body and a second clamping cam toggle pivotally mounted within the main body. The twistlock also includes a T-clamp screw having a body portion, a threaded end portion and a clamping portion, where the body portion extends through an opening in the main body and between the first and second cam toggles so that the clamping portion is positioned adjacent to an outside of a bottom wall of the main body. The T-clamp screw is rotatable to engage an underside of a wall in the corner fitting and the first and second cam toggles are pivotable to engage edges of the aperture in the fitting.

Abstract: A system and method for cargo handling is provided. The system includes a transport vehicle including a cargo bay capable of housing a plurality of cargo containers, and a loading dock for coupling to the cargo bay. The system also includes at least one railcar and pylons positioned along a floor of the cargo bay. A predetermined number of pylons are operable to elevate and lower a cargo container within the cargo bay. The present invention also provides a railcar for transporting cargo containers, as well as an apparatus for positioning at least one cargo container within a transport vehicle. The present invention also provides a system for aligning a loading dock and a transport vehicle that includes a mechanism for adjusting the height of the transport vehicle or loading dock, or a plurality of engagement members that are capable of aligning the loading dock and transport vehicle.

Abstract: A Rapid Deployment Modular Carrier (RDMC) that incorporates a unique locking system and auxiliary control systems for the loading, transportation, and unloading of Rapid Deployment Modules (RDM's). The locking system has a hinging powered arm, linear driven pin, and rotating locking clip. The auxiliary systems has an electronic control panel that manages the engagement and disengagement of the locking system. The control panel also manages the suspension components of the RDMC, adjusting ride height and handling characteristics as needed.

Abstract: A Rapid Deployment Modular Carrier (RDMC) that incorporates a unique locking system and auxiliary control systems for the loading, transportation, and unloading of Rapid Deployment Modules (RDM's). The locking system has a hinging powered arm, linear driven pin, and rotating locking clip. The auxiliary systems has an electronic control panel that manages the engagement and disengagement of the locking system. The control panel also manages the suspension components of the RDMC, adjusting ride height and handling characteristics as needed.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an automatic container locking apparatus for trailers. This locking apparatus is automatically operable in response to the weight of a container to lock or unlock the container on the deck of a trailer. This locking apparatus has a housing (10) vertically set in the deck (1), with a spring-biased actuator (20) movably set within the housing (10). A spring-biased locking bolt (30) having a top head (31) is movably set within the actuator (20). This locking bolt (30) has a stopper (32) and a curved guide slit (41), thus being selectively moved together with the actuator (20) while being rotated. A support shaft (50) holds the vertical position of the locking bolt (30) within the housing (10). An actuation pin (51) of the shaft (50) engages with the curved guide slit (41), thus allowing the locking bolt (30) to be rotatable when the locking bolt is vertically moved together with the actuator (20).

Abstract: A movable container lock slides into and out of position laterally and is held in a secure position by the combination of longitudinal and lateral stop blocks coacting with a gravity lock and is further tethered to be moved from one selected position of a vehicle to another so that the need for multiple locks can be minimized and flexibility in selection of containers sizes for lading can be maximized.

Abstract: A vehicle for temporary support of intermodal cargo containers, especially a trailer for a tractor/trailer rig, has deployable locating pins placed centrally along the length of a chassis, for locating containers placed end-to-end. The locating pins center containers of different lengths relative to the chassis, which is long enough to accommodate the longest standard length of container or two short containers. The locating pins are resiliently mounted such that a long container or misplaced containers that are set down on the pins, cause the pins to be depressed into the chassis. Stop pins define an endpoint for an end of a container, and two resiliently mounted engagement pins on each side, are positioned for engaging the corner fittings of intermodal containers when abutted against the locating pins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container support pedestal for use in an all purpose intermodal flat rail car. More particularly, the invention relates to a container support pedestal which, between operative and stored positions, rotates approximately 45.degree. outwardly about a longitudinal axis of the rail car. The invention also relates to a support housing for the pedestal. In both the operative and stored positions, the pedestal substantially covers the slot in the platform of the rail car. In both positions, the pedestal is secured against longitudinal and transverse rotation. The invention also relates to a rail car with such a pedestal and housing.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for retaining a shipping container on a transport vehicle includes a fixed support and a latching member mounted on the fixed support for engagement into a latching receptacle on the container. A pivot pin slidably engages a pivot surface on the latching member, and an alignment pin slidably engages a wedging or camming surface on the latching member, thereby causing the latching member to rotate into the released position when loads are applied along the axis of the latching member. A spring yieldably urges the latching member to the latching or engaged position after the latching receptacle moves past a pawl on the end of the latching member.

Abstract: A cargo container hold down device that includes a shear block defining a base and housing therefore that is shaped so that the base forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which the cargo container corner fitting rests in the applied relation of the container relative to the supporting platform involved; the shear block housing pivotally mounts a latch device comprising a latch member that includes a nose portion having an upper cam surfacing for engagement by a correspondingly located container mounted corner fitting, and an under cam surfacing disposed for engagement by such correspondingly located container mounted corner fitting on removal of such container therefrom, the latch member being biased outwardly of the shear block housing to dispose the nose thereof over the container corner fitting supporting surface of the shear block housing, and including an element for withdrawing such latch member within the shear block housing about one pivot axis when the container is applied to the device, and an elem

Abstract: An improved articulated railway spine car unit for carrying highway truck trailers and/or containers has a center sill which extends substantially the entire length of the car unit. The center sill has end portions with upper surfaces depressed with respect to the upper surface of a longitudinally extended center portion. A retractable fifth wheel or trailer hitch is located on the upper surface of at least one end portion of the center sill. The upper surface of the trailer hitch, when retracted onto the center sill, is at substantially the same level as the center portion of the center sill. The raised center sill center portion both provides backup support for the floors of containers carried on the car unit, and also increases the center sill's structural rigidity and resistance to bending deflection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a castable pedestal-type support apparatus for a cargo shipping container. Such support apparatus includes a body member having a pair of side wall portions and a connecting wall portion disposed midway between the side wall portions. A generally rectangular end wall portion is disposed at a first end of the side wall portions. At least one aperture is formed through the end wall portion. A pivot pin receiving portion having an aperture formed therethrough is disposed intermediate the side wall portions closely adjacent a second end thereof. A counterweight is disposed intermediate the pair of side wall portions to provide a predetermined force required to pivot the support apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a castable pedestal-type support apparatus which supports a cargo shipping container on a transportation vehicle in a position to be secured thereto by a particular style locking mechanism. Such apparatus includes a body portion with a pivot pin receiving portion extending outwardly from a portion of an outer surface of each of a pair of side wall portions of such body portion. An aperture is formed through the pivot pin receiving portion. The apparatus further includes a box-like member formed at one end of the body portion to receive a locking mechanism therein. There is a counterweight disposed at the other end of the body portion to provide a minimal force being required to pivot the apparatus from an inoperative container supporting position into an operative container supporting position.

Abstract: An automatic hold down and locking as well as automatic load configuration change capability device system, which can be used to hold down and lock either one long container or several shorter containers within the same loading space, regardless of the outside width or width of bottom side rail flange on the container. The locking device system has four fixed non-retractable fully automatic locking devices positioned on the load carrier at the four outer standard locking points of each long container, and at least two retractable fully automatic locking devices positioned at the long side of the load carrier between and in line with the outer locking points.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a camper on a pick-up truck bed comprises a pair of members securable to the truck bed and the camper. A first member has an opening for receiving a portion of a second member as the camper is lowered towards the bed. The opening is substantially larger than the portion of the second member so that the second member is readily locatable within the opening. The members have a tapering fit therebetween and fit closely together when the camper is lowered onto the truck bed so the camper is properly located thereon.