b

Diamond-like carbon

Embodiments presented herein relate generally to the formation of diamond-like carbon, forms of diamond-like carbon and/or carbon dioxide fixation.




b

Production process for composite oxide, positive-electrode active material for lithium-ion secondary battery and lithium-ion secondary battery

A production process for composite oxide expressed by a compositional formula: LiMn1-xAxO2, where “A” is one or more kinds of metallic elements other than Mn; and 0≦“x”




b

Three way catalyst comprising extruded solid body

A three way catalyst includes an extruded solid body having by weight: 10-100% of at least one binder/matrix component; 5-90% of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof; and 0-80% optionally stabilised ceria. The catalyst also includes at least one precious metal and optionally at least one non-precious metal, wherein: (i) the at least one precious metal is carried in one or more coating layer(s) on the body surface; (ii) at least one metal is present throughout the body and at least one precious metal is carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a body surface; or (iii) at least one metal is present throughout the body, is present in a higher concentration at a body surface, and at least one precious metal is carried in one or more coating layer(s) on the body surface.




b

Method and device for cleaning exhaust gases by way of fluidized bed reactors

The invention relates to a method for cleaning exhaust gases, in which an exhaust gas and a sorbent are combined in a fluidized bed reactor. In a subsequent filter system, solid matter is segregated, and thereafter, up to 99 per cent of the sorbent is re-channeled into the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the gas is subjected to a rotation around the flow axis in the fluidized bed reactor.




b

Scrubber system and method

The present invention relates to a method for removal of SO2 from exhaust gas from a marine engine or a marine boiler of a ship. The exhaust gas from said marine engine or marine boiler is cooled and washed with seawater in a first scrubber section, and subsequently, in a second scrubber section, washed with circulating freshwater with an addition of an alkaline chemical. The circulating freshwater used for washing is warmer than the seawater used for cooling in the first scrubber section. The warmer freshwater is indirectly heat exchanged with cold seawater. The exhaust gas washed in the first scrubber section is passed via a demister unit before it is washed with circulating freshwater in the second scrubber section. The invention further relates to a corresponding scrubber system.




b

Gas treatment by catalytic ozone oxidation

In one embodiment, a catalyst for ozone oxidation of pollutant components dispersed in a gas is provided. The ozone oxidation catalyst has a porous body formed from a metal body, a ceramic, or polymeric fibers coated with metal. A catalytic noble metal composition is deposited on the surface of the porous body. The catalytic noble metal composition is formed from particles of a noble metal supported by a mesoporous molecular sieve.




b

Kinetically stable chlorinated polysilanes and production thereof

Kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes include mixture of compounds having respectively at least four silicon atoms bound together, the substituents thereof comprising chlorine, and chlorine and hydrogen, and in the composition thereof, the atomic ratio of substituent to silicon is at least 1:1, wherein a) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a kinetically high stability in relation to oxidative splitting by chlorine, and the degree of conversion at temperatures of 120° C. within 10 hours with an excess of chlorine gas at 1013 hPa does not exceed 30 mol %, and b) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a percentage of branching points in the polysilane molecules of more than 8 mol %.




b

Apparatus for manufacturing single crystal silicon ingot having reusable dual crucible for silicon melting

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a single crystal silicon ingot having a dual crucible for silicon melting which can be reused due to a dual crucible structure. The apparatus includes a dual crucible for silicon melting, into which raw silicon is charged, a crucible heater heating the dual crucible to melt the raw silicon into molten silicon, a crucible drive unit controlling rotation and elevation of the dual crucible, and a pull-up drive unit disposed above the dual crucible and pulling up a seed crystal dipped in the molten silicon to produce a silicon ingot. The dual crucible has a container shape open at an upper side thereof, and includes a graphite crucible having an inclined surface connecting an inner bottom and an inner wall, and a quartz crucible inserted into the graphite crucible and receiving the raw silicon charged into the dual crucible.




b

System and method for renewable resource production, for example, hydrogen production by microbial electrolysis, fermentation, and/or photosynthesis

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.




b

Post-treatment method of carbon materials for improving the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties via dehydrocyclization reaction and polymer composite materials comprising the treated carbon materials

Provided are a method for post-treatment of a carbonaceous material using dehydrocyclization, a carbonaceous material post-treated by the method, and a polymer composite material including the carbonaceous material. More particularly, provided are a method for post-treatment of a carbonaceous material using dehydrocyclization, including subjecting the carbonaceous material to dehydrocyclization at room temperature to heal structural defects in the carbonaceous material, while increasing the effective conjugated length of the carbonaceous material to improve the electrical conductivity thereof, as well as a carbonaceous material post-treated by the method and a polymer composite material including the carbonaceous material.




b

Method of manufacturing spherical mesoporous silica containing dispersed silver nanoparticles, and spherical mesoporous silica manufactured by said method

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a spherical mesoporous silica structure containing silver nanoparticles dispersed therein by adding a silver nitrate solution to an aqueous surfactant solution and performing a sol-gel process and to spherical mesoporous silica prepared thereby. The spherical mesoporous silica is cost-effective compared to a conventional method that uses silver nanoparticles as a raw material, because the silver nitrate solution that is inexpensive compared to silver nanoparticles is used. Also, the spherical mesoporous silica can be with high productivity in large amounts, and thus is easily commercialized. Moreover, because silver nanoparticles are incorporated into the pores of the mesoporous silica, the silver nanoparticles are used stably and do not change color and odor. In addition, the spherical mesoporous silica exhibits various additional effects, including far-infrared ray emission and deodorization, attributable to silica.




b

Carbon catalyst, method of producing same, and electrode and battery each utilizing same

Provided is a method of producing a carbon catalyst having an improved activity. The method of producing carbon catalyst including a carbonization step of carbonizing raw materials containing an organic compound as a carbon source, a metal, and an electrically conductive carbon material to produce a carbonized material; a metal impregnation step of impregnating the carbonized material with a metal; and a heat treatment step of subjecting the carbonized material impregnated with the metal to a heat treatment.




b

Process for preparing platinum-carbene complexes

Described is a process for preparing platinum-carbene complexes.




b

Portable storefront vendor cart

A portable, collapsible vending cart which can be used to vend disparate items in a variety of environments. The cart is adaptable to accommodate vendors of a wide variety of products, and provides an apparatus which is in compliance with most state regulations for vending carts. The cart is adapted to fit within the “security space” of a storefront, the space between a pull down security gate and the display window/entry point of the storefront. A locking mechanism extending from the vending cart is designed for secure locking engagement within the security space using infrastructure associated with the standard security gate.




b

Table top dishwasher

A table top dishwasher comprises (a) a tub (10) for accommodating articles to be cleaned; (b) a water-tight hood (12) arranged over said tub (10), said hood comprising a fixed hood portion (14), an access opening (42), and a rotatable door (16) which is connected to the fixed hood portion so as to be rotatable between a raised opened position in which it exposes the access opening to provide access to the tub and a lowered closed position in which it closes the access opening and forms part of the water-tight hood; and (c) a gasket (44) which is attached to the fixed hood portion (14) or to the rotatable door (16) along an edge region of the access opening, wherein the fixed hood portion (14)or the rotatable door (16), respectively, comprises a plurality of mounting projections (46), and wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of apertures (54) in which the mounting projections are held by snap-fit connection.




b

***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Cabinet drawer floor and fence assembly

A cabinet drawer includes a molded drawer floor having a central portion including at least one depression, each depression having a bottom wall and a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A flange extends outwardly from an upper edge of each depression. A plurality of webs extends outward from each depression outer surface for connection with a drawer slide system. A peripheral edge of the flange includes a plurality of deflectable tabs for coupling to a surrounding fence without the use of fasteners. The fence includes a skirt portion extending downward from the drawer floor flange to hide any drawer slide mechanism coupling the drawer floor to any underlying base.




b

Refrigerator with stepped liner to hide seam between liner and false wall

A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with refrigerator components housed in a space adjacent the top of the fresh food compartment between a false ceiling and the top wall of the compartment. The top wall includes a stepped portion formed in the liner forming the compartment. The stepped portion is positioned near the top and front of the compartment, and it includes a section that is lower than the remainder of the top wall. The stepped portion includes a rear facing face in the interior of the compartment, and the false ceiling is positioned between the rear facing face and the back wall. The ceiling extends horizontal from the rear wall before angling upward to abut the face of the stepped portion. The false ceiling may also contain apertures to provide access to the components housed between the ceiling and the top wall.




b

Refrigerator with rotatable shelves

A refrigerator is provided with rotatable shelves for easy food/item access and cleaning. In one embodiment a stationary or fixed shelf includes a rotatable disk mounted on a bearing retainer having bearings therein for manual, three hundred sixty degree (360°) rotation as desired. In another embodiment a quarter-round pivotable shelf is attached to a stanchion to enable the shelf to be manually pivoted ninety degrees (90°) for withdrawing and returning the shelf to the refrigerator food storage compartment as needed.




b

Vertically adjustable shelf support assembly for an appliance

An appliance is provided having one or more racks or shelves, the position of which may be adjusted vertically. Multiple different positions along the vertical direction can be made available for selection by a user of the appliance. One or more mechanisms allow for the selective adjustment and securing of the vertical position at which a shelf may be located.




b

Portable folding closet

A collapsible closet assembly has a pair of generally vertical rigid walls, and a plurality of generally flexible panels extending between the pair of rigid walls. A plurality of supports pivotally connect between the pair of vertical rigid walls and attach to the plurality of generally flexible panels, for movement of the plurality of supports, the pair of vertical walls, and the plurality of generally flexible panels between a collapsed position for storage and an expanded position for operation.




b

Drawer assembly

A drawer assembly includes a carrier frame and a sliding basket mounted in the carrier frame and movable in forward-backward direction relative to the carrier frame. The carrier frame includes a front open frame, a rear open frame, a first supporting rod and a second supporting rod. The first and second supporting rods are respectively connected between the front open frame and the rear open frame. The sliding basket includes a first limiter member disposed at one lateral side relative to the first supporting rod and defining a first concave portion and a first stop portion connected to the first concave portion. The first stop portion is disposed at the bottom side of the first supporting rod. Thus, the sliding basket is escaping out of the carrier frame in upward direction.




b

Stabilizing panel

A stabilizing panel for placing items thereon is provided with a first surface including a plurality of parallelogram areas including four corners and four sides. Each corner of the parallelogram areas includes a peak, and the peaks are aligned so as to be parallel with one of the four sides of the parallelogram areas on the first surface. Each of the parallelogram areas defines a depression. The stabilizing panel may be rectangular and includes a pair of adjacent first edges and a pair of adjacent second edges. Each first edge is configured with a male connecting section and each second edge is configured with a female connecting section configured to interlock with the male connecting section of a neighboring stabilizing panel.




b

Tablet storage device

A tablet storage device includes a frame having a plurality of slots, at least one of which is adapted to hold a tablet. A docking station can be disposed in at least one slot. In some cases the docking station is configured to align a tablet as the tablet is positioned in the slot such that a corresponding port in the tablet aligns with, and connects to, a connector. The frame also has a surface to attach the device to a vertical surface and can have a door that can be moved from an open to a closed position and adapted to retain at least one tablet held within at least one slot when the door is closed. A power supply system and/or a network connection system can be provided with the tablet storage device.




b

Release preventing system for wall cupboards

A release-preventing system for wall cupboards wherein a cupboard (40, 70, 105, 110, 150) is hooked to a support (47, 76, 97, 115, 155) fixed to the wall (48, 77, 98, 114, 154) by a hook (41, 73, 91, 125, 162) of a cupboard holding device (40, 90, 124, 163) characterized in that between the hook (41, 73, 91, 125, 162) and the support (47, 76, 97, 115, 155) there is a release preventing element (51, 79, 101, 121, 160, 167) that prevents unhooking of the cupboard.




b

Connecting apparatus for connecting two drawer wall parts which are intended to be arranged at a right angle

A connecting apparatus for connecting two drawer wall parts which are intended to be arranged at a right angle includes at least one receiving part which has a receiving opening for receiving an end section of a first drawer wall part and has at least one insertion opening, a bracket which has at least two limbs which run substantially parallel, wherein the bracket can be pushed onto a web, which is arranged or formed on a second drawer wall part, in order to connect the first drawer wall part and the second drawer wall part, and wherein the at least two limbs of the bracket surround the web of the second drawer wall part, wherein a first limb of the bracket can be inserted into the insertion opening in the receiving part and connects the receiving part to the second drawer wall part in a positionally secure manner.




b

Shelf assembly for a refrigerator

A shelf assembly is provided for a refrigerator with a food compartment that includes a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls. The shelf assembly includes a first and second shelf portion with first and second support surfaces. The second shelf portion is slidably moveable relative to the first shelf portion between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the second shelf portion is arranged such that the second support surface is substantially coplanar with the first support surface and the second support surface is located generally between a first support surface and a side wall of the food compartment. In the retracted position, the second planar support surface is arranged subjacent to the first planar support surface.




b

Convertible furniture system base and modular applications including armchairs, tables, and storage cabinets

The present invention pertains to a modular furniture system in which a flat-foldable or easily assembled and disassembled rigid base structure composed of rectangular-cross-sectioned pieces each with specific dimensions serves variously, once assembled, as the supporting framework for a flat-foldable chair seat-and-backrest module, which configured together with the base structure serves as either an upright dining chair with armrests or as a lower and more reclined lounge chair with armrests, or alternatively as configured for supporting the connectable or foldable components of a flat planar surface module to be used for dining or to serve as a desktop, or alternatively as configured for supporting a storage cabinet module with drawers or doors.




b

Slide assembly

Slide assemblies that include at least an inner slide segment and an outer slide segment. Many of the slide assemblies also include an intermediate slide segment interposed between the inner slide segment and the outer slide segment. One or more of the segments can be constructed of an aluminum material and one or more of the segments can be constructed from a steel material. The inner slide segment includes a plurality of rollers separated into an upper row and a lower row. The inner slide segment also includes a plurality of keyholes separated into pairs, each of which includes an upper keyhole and a lower keyhole. The slide assembly can also include lock arrangements to secure individual slide segments in desired positions relative to one another. The slide assemblies preferably have a narrow cross-sectional width and a relatively high static and operational load rating.




b

Pull-out guide assembly for a drawer

A pull-out guide assembly for a drawer, comprising a first guide part (2) and at least a second guide part (3) relatively and reversibly slidable in the pull-out direction of the drawer, at least one carriage (4) interposed between the first and second guide part (2, 3) and reversibly slidable in the pull-out direction of the drawer, the carriage (4) having a plurality of housing seats (8) for load-transmitting rolling elements (9) and at its ends elastically yielding stops (23, 23') suitable for interacting with arrest elements (30, 31) provided on the first and second guide parts (2, 3) in order to the limit the relative sliding thereof, characterized in that each of said stops (23, 23') is a component separate from the carriage (4) and has means of anchorage to the carriage (4), each stop (23, 23') being a component separate from the carriage (4) and having means of anchorage to the carriage (4) comprising an anchorage element (28, 28') insertable by means of mating shapes or by force or snap fitting into at least one of the housing seats (8) already present on said carriage (4) for the rolling elements (9).




b

Battery-mounting structure

According to one embodiment, a battery-mounting structure includes a first housing, a second housing including a display device including a display screen, a hinge configured to attach the second housing to the first housing rotatably between a first position in which the display screen is covered with the first housing and a second position in which the display screen is exposed, and a battery configured to be attached to the first housing and including a recess configured to accommodate a part of the second housing in the second position.




b

Portable electronic device with hinge structure

portable electronic device includes a host module, a display module and a hinge structure. The hinge structure is pivotally connected to the host module and the display module. The hinge structure includes a support frame, a rotating component and two pivotal components. An end of the rotating component is installed inside the support frame and another end of the rotating component is installed inside the display module, so that the display module is capable of rotating in a first rotating direction relative to the support frame. The two pivotal components are disposed at opposite sides of the support frame and separated from the rotating component. An end of each pivotal component is installed inside the support frame and another end of each pivotal component is installed inside the host module, so that the display module is capable of rotating in a second rotating direction relative to the host module.




b

Cabinet drawer floor and fence assembly

A cabinet drawer includes a molded drawer floor having a central portion including at least one depression, each depression having a bottom wall and a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A flange extends outwardly from an upper edge of each depression. A plurality of webs extends outward from each depression outer surface for connection with a drawer slide system. A peripheral edge of the flange includes a plurality of deflectable tabs for coupling to a surrounding fence without the use of fasteners. The fence includes a skirt portion extending downward from the drawer floor flange to hide any drawer slide mechanism coupling the drawer floor to any underlying base.




b

Adjustable drawer divider

An assembly comprising a storage receptacle includes a front panel, a rear panel, a first side panel joining the front panel to the rear panel and a second side panel joining the front panel to the rear panel. The front panel, the rear panel and the first and second side panels define a storage space within the confines of the front panel, the rear panel and the first and second side panels. A divider is located within the storage space and extends between the front panel and the rear panel and divides the storage space into storage space sections. A spring operated mechanism engages the divider to selectively maintain the divider in place in the storage space and allows for the position of the divider to be adjusted between the first side panel and the second side panel, whereby the dimensions of the storage space sections can be adjusted.




b

Vacuum heat insulating material, heat insulating box using vacuum heat insulating material, refrigerator, refrigerating/air-conditioning apparatus, water heater, equipments, and manufacturing method of vacuum heat insulating material

A highly reliable vacuum heat insulating material having excellent processability, usability and heat insulating performance and a heat insulating box using the vacuum heat insulating material are provided. A vacuum heat insulating material related to the present invention includes: a core material structured by a laminated structure of an organic fiber assembly formed by forming an organic fiber into a sheet shape and cutting an end face with a predetermined length, and having a core material opening portion formed by a through hole or a notch with cutting; a gas-barrier outer cover material containing the core material inside, having a sealing portion for sealing surrounding of the sheet-shaped organic fiber assembly and surrounding of the core material opening portion, and hermetically sealing an inside with almost vacuum status by sealing the sealing portion; and an outer cover material opening portion provided at the outer cover material under a status in which the sealing portion provided at the surrounding of the sheet-shaped organic fiber assembly and the surrounding of the core material opening portion is sealed, being a through hole or a notch which is smaller than the core material opening portion with a sealed amount, and a long fiber being equal to or longer than a length of the sheet is used for the organic fiber.




b

Rail web damping to reduce sound on rail lines

A profiled element for damping sound vibrations on rail lines including a first main surface, which is designed and dimensioned such that it can be attached as a support surface to sections of the rail web without having to provide an adhesive layer, wherein the profiled element further has at least one recess on a front surface located opposite of the support surface, wherein the at least one recess in the front surface is designed for the positive engagement of an elastic fixing element for fixing the profiled element against the rail web, and at least one widened region of the profiled element in the region of the front surface, said widened region present in the lower region of the front surface in an installed position.




b

Railway clip insulator with two stable positions for standby, parked or preloaded position and installed, loaded or final position

A rail seat includes a concrete rail tie; a pair of rail clip support shoulders cast in place in said rail tie each said shoulder having a rail face between its external sides; a pair of shoulder insulators each shaped to lie against the rail face of the rail shoulder; a pair of rail clips each having a base section adapted to seat within the rail clip support shoulder and a toe section adapted to seat on the rail base. The clip and toe insulator assembly is loaded on the shoulder in a vertical direction so that parts of the toe insulator seat within pockets in the shoulder that enable the clip and insulator assembly to move laterally towards the rail but not away from it and the clip base is aligned with the shoulder slot ready to enter it when the clip is moved laterally to the parked position which applies a small downward force to the clip toes and at this stage lie outside the limits of the rail base and finally the clip can be moved laterally into the installed position where the toe insulators sit on top of the rail base and securely hold it down.




b

Foldable or detachable feed rail for rock drill

A foldable feed rail for a rock drill is composed of two segments, a first beam defining a first rail segment and a second beam defining a second rail segment. The second beam may be pivotally connected to the first beam with a hinge to enable the second beam to be folded relative to the first beam. Alternatively, the second beam can be detachably connected to the first beam so that the second beam can be removed altogether from the first beam. This invention enables the feed rail to be shortened, thereby making the feed rail much easier to maneuver in mines.




b

Movable bridge joint, associated support and rail bridge panel containing same

The invention may be described as a rail bridge joint, associated guard plate assembly, and a bridge assembly incorporating same.




b

Method for the application of a permanent electrical contact to the web of rails

Method for applying an electrical contact to a hole (2) of a metal wall portion (1), comprising the steps of providing a bush (12), a punch (11) with a shaft (16), an expansion portion (19) and a connecting portion (20) thereof, a pulling device (21) with an abutment portion (22) and a pulling mechanism (23) for engaging the punch (11) and to pulling it proximally with respect to the abutment portion (22), inserting the punch (11) in a passage hole (25) of the bush (12) so that the connecting portion (20) protrudes proximally from the bush and the expansion portion (19) is located on end (14), bush connecting the punch (11) to the pulling device (21), inserting the preassembled bush (12)-punch (11)-unit from a proximal side of the wall portion (1) distally in the hole (2) and activating the pulling device (21) to pull the punch (11) proximally through the bush, thereby radially expanding bush and permanently anchoring it in the hole (2).




b

System and methods for variable distribution and access control for purchased event tickets

A system and methods for providing variable distribution and access control for purchased event tickets are described. In one embodiment, a network-based system receives an order for electronic tickets purchased by a buyer, receives one or more recipients other than the buyer for one or more of the electronic tickets, receives delivery options for the recipients from the buyer, receives delivery information for the recipients from the buyer, and delivers electronic ticket information to the recipients. Other embodiments are described and claimed.




b

Polyurethane ballast layer, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof

The present invention relates to a polyurethane ballast layer, the method for preparing the same and a railway comprising the polyurethane ballast layer. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention comprises a polyurethane-filled ballast layer and a polyurethane external protective layer, wherein the polyurethane-filled ballast layer comprises ballasts and polyurethane foam filled in the space among the ballasts. The polyurethane ballast layer provided in this invention can reduce the probability of ballast crashing, shifting and cracking under heavy load, and separate the ballast track from the outside environment to prevent rain, snow and wastes from entering into the internal space of the ballast track bed. Furthermore, the polyurethane ballast layer can keep the polyurethane foam filled in the ballasts layer away from water in the outside environment to avoid hydrolysis. The polyurethane ballast layer presented in this invention can be used in the railway ballast track bed to extend the track bed maintenance cycle, and save maintenance cost significantly.




b

Hook bolt for the attachment of rails to hollow sleepers

A hook bolt for fastening rails to hollow sleepers, in particular steel sleepers, including an engagement element made of cast metal, which has a hook-shaped insertion section and a contact section, which has a receiving space for receiving a threaded element, wherein the threaded element has a threaded bolt and a receiving shoe and the receiving shoe is dimensioned in such a way that the receiving shoe can be inserted into the receiving space of the contact section in a form-fit manner.




b

Temporary adhesive for component bonding

A rosin composition includes a gum rosin, an emulsifier, a randomizing additive and a bonding agent. This rosin composition may be used as a temporary or permanent adhesive for the soldering of components. The rosin composition may be temporary as it is easily removed from a surface without damaging the surface.




b

Method for manufacturing a resilient rail support block assembly

A rail support block assembly includes a resilient member and a molded block having a top, a bottom and peripheral wall. The block is adapted for fastening one or more rails on the top. The prefabricated resilient member has an outer tray and inner tray arranged within the outer tray, and includes a resilient intermediate structure between the trays. The block is molded in a block mold into with the moldable material is introduced and allowed to harden. The block is fixed in the inner tray to extend under the bottom of the block and along a lower region of the peripheral wall. The resilient member may form a part of the block mold, so that a mold member combined with the resilient member delimit the mold for the block. The moldable material is introduced and adheres directly to the inner tray of the prefabricated resilient member.




b

Leveling rail joints with oblique support

A joint between connected ends of two rails of different height is provided with a connector/juncture bar member which is configured to fit with and engage corresponding surfaces formed on the rails when the rails are connected together. The joint so formed is one with increased strength, with ease and accuracy of alignment during assembly.




b

Methods and apparatus for establishing electrical connections to a railroad rail

A method of making an electrical connection to a railroad rail includes fastening a wire bonding assembly to a railroad rail, the wire bonding assembly including first and second spaced apart washer plates contacting the rail and a metal bar supported by the washer plates. The metal bar is electrically connected with the rail with a first conductive lead contacting a selected point on the rail and a selected point on the metal bar. A second conductive lead is connected to another selected point on the metal bar for establishing an electrical connection to the rail from an electrical device.




b

Adjuster for track-mounting assembly

A mounting plate fixed to a longitudinally extending rail is secured by a plurality of bolts in a substrate. The mounting plate is formed at each bolt with an array of ridges. An adjuster plate formed with a vertically throughgoing transversely elongated slot through which the respective bolt extends has a lower face formed with an array of downwardly projecting generally complementary to the ridges of the mounting plate and an upper face formed with a central recessed seat defined between two longitudinally extending and parallel edges at a predetermined transverse spacing. A gauge plate formed with two parallel outer edges spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the seat edges and with an eccentric circular hole of a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the shank of the respective bolt that extends vertically through the circular hole fits in the seat.




b

Ballast anti-flight railroad sleeper

A ballast anti-flight sleeper characterized by having on the upper face two surfaces endowed with sufficient inclination as to prevent the accumulation of ballast over this side of the sleeper, with this geometric topology being the main claim; the fundamental elements in the same figure: track (1), ballast anti-flight sleeper (2), ballast (3) and the elements to anchor and secure the track (4).




b

Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data read from data bearing records

Automated banking machines operate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. Each of the automated banking machines includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. Transactions are authorized responsive at least in part to correspondence between card data and stored data corresponding to authorized users. Entities responsible for operating the automated banking machines may receive messages that include information or update code items for software or firmware usable in the banking machines for which they have operational responsibility.




b

Trackbed liner and related methods

A trackbed liner which has a particular utility in a railway trackbed, as well as in other trackbeds such as tram trackbeds. The trackbed liner may include an upper support layer; a lower support layer; and at least one middle filtration layer of a material having a plurality of pores and which is normally impermeable to liquid water. In use and under the load of a vehicle acting on the trackbed, the filtration layer permits passage of liquid water upwardly therethrough but restricts the passage of solids materials, so as to restrict pumping erosion of material located beneath the liner. The trackbed liner may be used to renovate a trackbed comprising ballast contaminated with clay particles. The method includes removing contaminated ballast; laying the trackbed liner; and locating fresh ballast on an upper surface of the liner to provide a renovated trackbed.