Ireco, Inc.

Other

David R Early

Rudolph E Nadherny

Barry T Glass

Rudolph E Naderney

A two-piece anchor assembly has a retainer and an interlocking link. The link is a unitary component that is formed by a single forging step. The link is secured to the floor of a railway flatcar by the retainer. A steel band is connected at one end to a load bearing surface of the link of a first anchor assembly and at another end to a load bearing surface of the link of a second anchor assembly. A tensile force is then applied to the steel banding and crimped with a clip in order to secure cargo. The load bearing surface has an enhanced banding radius, which reduces the risk of band breakage when the steel band is subjected to a high tensile force by preventing 'creasing' at contact locations.

Lading tie anchor link with enhanced banding contact surface

A removable adapter system allows a freight car sidewall with lading tie anchors to accommodate rub rails for cargo transportation and to remove the rub rails when desired. Bolts specially configured to fit between a lading tie anchor and the associated indentation in the sidewall are spaced apart for aligning vertical strips. The vertical strips include a plurality of attachment members which hold rub rails that run from at or spaced from the front or back wall of the freight car to at or spaced from the door opening. The adapter system can be applied and removed with standard hand tools, so the sidewall is easily changed from a lading tie anchor system to a rub rail system and back to a lading tie anchor system.

Removable rub rail system for railway cars

A retainer having an elongated body secures one end of a cargo-engaging strapping to a wall anchor of a cargo transport unit wall. In operation, a loop is formed in the strapping and passed from a first side of the anchor to a second side, where the retainer is inserted within the loop, such that the loop engages a portion of a strapping-engaging surface of the retainer body. Then the loop is pulled toward the anchor until the retainer seats against the anchor. Finally, the portion of the strapping extending from the first side is pulled toward the second side, whereby a loose end of the loop is secured against the anchor. The retainer prevents strapping slippage along the anchor, which preserves the tension in the strapping and prevents the cargo from shifting and becoming damaged. The retainer also allows for improved application and removal of the strapping.

Strapping retainer for lading and method for using the same

Lading tie anchor

A lock comprising a laser adapted to emit a beam of light along a given path. A plurality of photo-diodes are electrically connected together and located at spaced apart positions defining a unique pattern. A key having a light reflecting means is adapted to be located in the path of the laser beam. The reflecting means when located in the laser beam path reflects light back to the photo-diodes in the unique pattern to cause the lock to be unlocked. In another embodiment, the photo-diodes are located in an array which is scanned to determine if light is reflected from the reflecting means of the key in a unique pattern.

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Carol Stream, IL, United States of America

David R Early