A railroad crosstie (tie) may be fabricated from a composite material including a fiber reinforced polymer shell manufactured by pultrusion or other process, and filled by a suitable material, typically selected from expanded elastomeric polymer (such as polyurethane resin or other polymer), concrete, lightweight concrete formed by conventional aggregate, sand, cement, water, and an ultra light filler such as natural materials, sawdust, beads of expanded polymer such as expanded polystyrene, microspheres of glass or plastic, a recycled wooden tie in conjunction with any of the above, or the like. Fasteners may be driven such as spikes, threaded, such as screws, lag screws, spreading screws, rivets, or the like into apertures, pilot holes, or directly into fill absent apertures therein.

A connecting device (10) for connecting an article to a carrier (14) is disclosed. The connecting device comprises a securing arrangement (12) for securing the connecting device to the article, and an attaching arrangement (26) for attaching the connecting device to the carrier. The attaching arrangement comprises a first projecting formation (28) for engaging the carrier, and a second projecting formation (32) for insertion through the carrier. When the second projecting formation is inserted through the carrier, a portion of the carrier can be received between the first and second projecting formations, thereby attaching the connecting device to the carrier.

A vacuum operated brake booster, comprises a casing including a base defining at least one hole, and at least one tube extending through the casing and configured to receive a screw for fastening the brake booster to a wall of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The tube defines a rear end with a peripheral fold forming a rear groove, and an extension extending beyond the rear groove, the extension defining a first outer edge and being configured to be folded toward an outer side of the tube to form a crimping lip. The at least one hole is bordered by a recessed ring having a form complementary to that of the rear groove of the rear end of the at least one tube. The extension is configured to be folded above a second outer edge of the recessed ring and blocked in the groove.

A vacuum operated brake booster, comprises a casing including a base defining at least one hole, and at least one tube extending through the casing and configured to receive a screw for fastening the brake booster to a wall of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The tube defines a rear end with a peripheral fold forming a rear groove, and an extension extending beyond the rear groove, the extension defining a first outer edge and being configured to be folded toward an outer side of the tube to form a crimping lip. The at least one hole is bordered by a recessed ring having a form complementary to that of the rear groove of the rear end of the at least one tube. The extension is configured to be folded above a second outer edge of the recessed ring and blocked in the groove.

An arrangement of two rail segments, consisting of at least one mounting element disposed at each rail segment, and of at least one connector in contact with the mounting elements, by means of which the rail segments can be connected to each other at the end faces thereof, wherein each mounting element is attached to the corresponding rail segment by means of a welding seam. At least one end of the welding seam ends in a region on the rail segment outside of the mounting element.

An arrangement of two rail segments, consisting of at least one mounting element disposed at each rail segment, and of at least one connector in contact with the mounting elements, by means of which the rail segments can be connected to each other at the end faces thereof, wherein each mounting element is attached to the corresponding rail segment by means of a welding seam. At least one end of the welding seam ends in a region on the rail segment outside of the mounting element.

A sacrificial mechanical link for linking a first mechanical element to a second mechanical element includes: a sacrificial element having a first end and a second end; and a first mechanical element removably connected to the first end of the sacrificial element. A method of using a sacrificial mechanical link includes: coupling a first mechanical element to a second mechanical element with a sacrificial element; and applying a force to a one of the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element to cause deformation of the sacrificial element.

An apparatus includes two halves of a rail-to-rail coupler, wherein each half carries at least one rail engagement formation comprising at least two teeth separated by at least one notch to enable engagement with a portion of a rail associated with a toy gun that incorporates at least one rail stop; and at least one passage is formed through each half that aligns with the at least one passage formed through the other of the two halves to provide a dart storage position into which a dart may be inserted when the two halves are assembled together to engage a rail associated with a toy gun.

An angle bar includes two longitudinal angled plate portions, and a corner portion connecting therebetween. The corner portion has an inner corner surface bounding an inner corner space and an outer corner surface. A stopper protrudes into the indented corner space, and has an abutment face extending across the indented corner space. A limiter protrudes into the indented corner space from the inner corner surface, and has a through hole opening in a direction along a bending line of the corner portion. A modular post assembly has at least two angle bars abutting each other, and a fixing rod extending through the through holes of the bars along the bending line and limited between the stoppers for fixing together the bars.

An angle bar includes two longitudinal angled plate portions, and a corner portion connecting therebetween. The corner portion has an inner corner surface bounding an inner corner space and an outer corner surface. A stopper protrudes into the indented corner space, and has an abutment face extending across the indented corner space. A limiter protrudes into the indented corner space from the inner corner surface, and has a through hole opening in a direction along a bending line of the corner portion. A modular post assembly has at least two angle bars abutting each other, and a fixing rod extending through the through holes of the bars along the bending line and limited between the stoppers for fixing together the bars.