A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame includes an arm. The arm is elongate and is configured to be supported at one end by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame. The crank handle assembly also includes a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom. The knob is supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm. The arm and the knob cooperatively define a crank handle longitudinal axis. The knob, in the aligned position, is aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis is straight. The knob, in the misaligned position, is misaligned with the arm, and the crank handle longitudinal axis is nonlinear.

A crank handle assembly for actuating a panel of a fenestration unit relative to a frame includes an arm. The arm is elongate and is configured to be supported at one end by the frame for rotation to actuate the moveable panel relative to the frame. The crank handle assembly also includes a knob that is moveably attached to an opposite end of the arm and that extends therefrom. The knob is supported for movement between an aligned position and a misaligned position relative to the arm. The arm and the knob cooperatively define a crank handle longitudinal axis. The knob, in the aligned position, is aligned with the arm and the crank handle longitudinal axis is straight. The knob, in the misaligned position, is misaligned with the arm, and the crank handle longitudinal axis is nonlinear.

Disclosed is a hopper car gate assembly including a frame configured for attachment to a hopper car body. The frame defines an opening and includes a beam, wherein the beam has a slot formed therein. A stop plate is removably attached to the beam to selectively obstruct the slot. The assembly has a door supported by the frame. A stop block is attached to the door, wherein the stop block is located on the door such that when the door is inserted into the frame the stop block is aligned with the slot. With the stop plate attached to the beam, the stop block engages with the stop plate to define an open position and prevent further movement of the door in the open direction. With the stop plate detached from the beam, the stop block passes through the slot to allow removal of the door from the frame.

Disclosed is a hopper car gate assembly including a frame configured for attachment to a hopper car body. The frame defines an opening and includes a beam, wherein the beam has a slot formed therein. A stop plate is removably attached to the beam to selectively obstruct the slot. The assembly has a door supported by the frame. A stop block is attached to the door, wherein the stop block is located on the door such that when the door is inserted into the frame the stop block is aligned with the slot. With the stop plate attached to the beam, the stop block engages with the stop plate to define an open position and prevent further movement of the door in the open direction. With the stop plate detached from the beam, the stop block passes through the slot to allow removal of the door from the frame.

A gatebox system for delivering fire retardant fluid from a firefighting aircraft. A first and second gate opening are formed through a lower portion of a gatebox. The gates are hingedly connected along edges of the openings. One or two drive shafts in the gatebox are rotatable in gates-closing and gates-opening directions. Crank arms are fixed to the drive shafts and coupled to the gates by connecting links, which define an over-center geometry while the gates are at a closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the first gate induces torque on the drive shaft in the gates-closing direction. Rotation of the drive shafts in the gates-opening direction enables control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.

A gatebox system for delivering fire retardant fluid from a firefighting aircraft. A first and second gate opening are formed through a lower portion of a gatebox. The gates are hingedly connected along edges of the openings. One or two drive shafts in the gatebox are rotatable in gates-closing and gates-opening directions. Crank arms are fixed to the drive shafts and coupled to the gates by connecting links, which define an over-center geometry while the gates are at a closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the first gate induces torque on the drive shaft in the gates-closing direction. Rotation of the drive shafts in the gates-opening direction enables control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.

The present invention relates to a door operator system (1) for opening and closing an opening (2), comprising a drive unit (10), a door frame (3) and a door (8), wherein the drive unit (10) is mounted to the door (8) and adapted to move the door (8) between an open (O) and closed position (C), the door frame (3) comprise at least a first frame section (4) adapted to be mounted at a first side (5) of the opening (2), a second frame section (6) adapted to be mounted at a second side (7) of the opening (2), a first track unit (31) moveably connected to the first frame section (4), and a second track unit (32) moveably connected to the second frame section (6), the door (8) is at a first side moveably connected to the first track unit (31) and at a second side moveably connected to the second track unit (32), wherein the door frame (3) is adapted to move the door (8) between the closed position (C) and an intermediate position (I) and to guide the door (8) between the intermediate position (I) and the open position (O).

A tailgate lifting apparatus is provided that includes: a first cog, a second cog, and a housing fixedly attached to a dump body. Preferably, the first cog is fixedly attached to a lower hinge pin of the tailgate, the second cog is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the second cog meshes with the first cog. The housing includes a ratcheting mechanism that selectively engages the second cog, the device therewith operable therewith to maintain the tailgate in a plurality of positions between a fully opened and fully closed positions.

A tailgate lifting apparatus is provided that includes: a first cog, a second cog, and a housing fixedly attached to a dump body. Preferably, the first cog is fixedly attached to a lower hinge pin of the tailgate, the second cog is rotatably coupled to the housing, and the second cog meshes with the first cog. The housing includes a ratcheting mechanism that selectively engages the second cog, the device therewith operable therewith to maintain the tailgate in a plurality of positions between a fully opened and fully closed positions.

A slide-and-swing wing system includes at least one rail profile. At least two wings, each displaceably mounted in the at least one rail profile via two support elements The at least one rail profile has a lateral outlet opening for unlatching a support element of a wing. One wing functions as a door leaf which, with all other wings in the latched state, is pivotable into the remaining opening. A closure mechanism makes it possible to prevent the door leaf from being opened and includes a drive, and also an operating part, via which the drive can be actuated. The door leaf is displaceable, via the drive, in the rail profile in the direction of the adjacent wing to such an extent that no support element of the door leaf is aligned with the outlet opening, thereby preventing a support element from coming out through the lateral outlet opening.