Abstract: An articulated coupling male connection member support assembly having an improved lubrication arrangement incorporated therein. Such support assembly includes a bottom ring bearing member supported on an upper surface of a bottom wall portion of a female connection member adjacent an outer end thereof. The bottom ring bearing member has a concave shaped spherical upper surface. An upper ring bearing member having a convex shaped spherical bottom surface is supported by such concave upper surface of the bottom ring bearing member. The upper ring bearing member has a substantially flat upper surface for supporting a bottom surface of a male connection member adjacent an outer end thereof. There is a substantially solid lubricating liner member disposed between such concave shaped spherical upper surface of the bottom ring bearing member and such convex shaped spherical bottom surface of the upper ring bearing member.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar assembly connecting adjacent ends of a pair of freight cars together includes a pair of rear draft stop members and a pair of front draft stop members engageable with and securable to a pair of side wall portions of a center sill member disposed along a longitudinal centerline of such car. Each one of at least one of the pairs of rear and front draft stop members having a substantially flat surface portion. There is an elongated drawbar member having an aperture formed therethrough. A ball member has at least a portion thereof disposed in such aperture and a race assembly is secured to such drawbar member adjacent such aperture and having an inner surface thereof surrounding such at least a portion of such ball member disposed in such aperture. A pair of elongated shaft members extend outwardly from radially opposed sides of such ball member. Each of such pair of shaft members includes at least a portion thereof being wedge shaped.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling wheel slip in a railway vehicle brake system which includes: determining whether the axle rate is in the slippage range, and generating a first output logical signal indicative thereof; comparing the axle rate and the first output logical signal to determining an energy summation value indicative of the wheel/axle set's loss of energy due to braking wheel slippage, and generating an energy summation signal indicative thereof; determining an energy loss limit and generating an energy loss limit signal at which wheel slippage has little potential for self correction; comparing the energy summation signal and the energy loss limit signal to generate a second logical output signal indicative of whether the wheel/axis set is in a slip condition that needs correction; comparing the axle rate signal, the energy summation signal and the second logical output signal to generate a wheel slip intensity signal; converting the wheel slip intensity signal to a command signal; an

Abstract: A draft gear assembly having a variable angle friction clutch mechanism is provided. The assembly includes a housing member having a compressible cushioning element disposed adjacent a closed end thereof. A seat member is disposed between one end of the compressible cushioning element and an open end of the housing member. A friction cushioning mechanism is positioned at least partially within the open end of the housing member and includes a plurality of friction surfaces disposed on a plurality of friction elements with at least one wedge member being engageable with the plurality of friction surfaces. At least one resilient member is provided-to enable the friction cushioning mechanism to exhibit a variable angle. The resilient member is engageable with at least one of the friction elements and exerts a lateral force on the friction cushioning mechanism which is at least sufficient to maintain all of the friction surfaces in frictional engagement during the useful life of the draft gear assembly.

Abstract: A method of forming a rubber seal containing a metal insert where a transfer mold having a cavity is provided with a post and a plurality of upwardly extending arcuated bosses on the base of the cavity. A metallic insert is disposed on the bosses and a flowable rubber material forced into the mold cavity and envelopes the metallic insert to form the rubber ring seal. The rubber seal produced has a plurality of spaced, aligned arcuate grooves in a flat planar surface of the base extending inwardly towards the embedded metallic insert.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a press-fit pin from a bore in an article, such as a press-fit pin in aligned bores of a cam dog for a railway brake apparatus. The apparatus has a pair of spaced jaws, moveable towards each other, one of the jaws having a peg extending outwardly therefrom and towards the other jaw, while the other jaw preferably has a groove in the end. Upon placement of an article on one jaw, and movement of the jaws together, the peg forces at least a portion of the press-fit pin from the bore and into the groove. The press-fit pin can then be grasped at the exposed portion and removed from the bore.

Abstract: This invention provides a locking wedge assembly capable of exerting a predetermined pressure in at least one direction. Such assembly removably secures a male connection member to a female connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement. Such articulated coupling arrangement used to secure one end of a first railway car to an adjacent end of said railway car in a semi-permanent fashion. The assembly includes a wedge-shaped member having a surface engageable with a surface located in an opening in a side wall portion of a cavity at an outer end of the female member and another surface engageable with a surface on a shaft member of a spherical bearing carried by such male member. An aperture is formed through such wedge-shaped member along a longitudinal axis thereof. A bolt member is disposed through this aperture and an aperture formed through a bottom wall on the outer end of such female member adjacent the side wall opening.

Abstract: A male connection member utilized in an articulated coupling arrangement is provided by this invention. Such male connection member includes a first end portion engageable with and connectable to one end of a railway car to be connected in a semi-permanent manner. This male connection member has a second end portion formed integrally with such first end portion and disposed axially opposite thereof. The second end portion includes an outer end surface configured such that it will ensure that no contact will be made between such outer end surface and any other component of such articulated coupling arrangement. An aperture is formed through such second end portion to receive a bearing assembly therein. Such aperture has a longitudinal axis disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of such male connection member and is in a substantially horizontal plane. A portion of such second end is adapted to enable securing such bearing assembly within such aperture formed in such male connection member.

Abstract: A valve spring housing for use in an adjustable regulating valve device of a railway locomotive brake valve has a cylindrical body with first, second and third sections. The first section has an outer cylindrical surface of a uninterrupted curvature, which first section can be threadedly secured to a valve pin housing, a recess to accept the end of a spiral spring, and a first flange extending radially outwardly therefrom. The second section has a convex surface on the end thereof and a second flange extending radially outwardly therefrom. The intermediate section is disposed between the first and second flanges and seats a sealing member between the flanges. A torquing tool acceptor, such as a transverse passageway is provided on the second section to enable threaded securement of the valve spring housing to a valve pin housing of a valve pin assembly in assembling the adjustable regulating valve device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides a female connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement. Such female connection member includes a center sill engaging portion disposed adjacent a first end of such female connection member and a male connection member receiving portion disposed adjacent a readily disposed second end of such female connection member. A cavity having an open top portion and an open front portion is formed in such male connection member receiving portion. Such cavity is formed by a bottom wall portion, a pair of readily opposed side wall portions which extend upwardly from such bottom wall portion and a back wall portion also extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion and between such pair of side wall portions. A radially opposed opening is formed through each of such pair of side wall portions which opening includes an arcuate portion and a generally rectangular portion.

Abstract: A shroud apparatus is provided to substantially minimize detrimental foreign matter entering into a predetermined portion of a cavity disposed at the outer end of a female connection member that receives therein the outer end of a male connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement used to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together in a semi-permanent manner. Such shroud apparatus includes a plate-like member that is positionable above and engageable with the articulated coupling arrangement in a location which will substantially prevent such foreign matter entering such cavity. The plate-like member has a predetermined size and shape such that when such shroud apparatus is viewed from the top of such articulated coupling arrangement all openings to the predetermined portion of such cavity will appear to be covered.

Abstract: An apparatus which provides versatility in securing an articulated coupling arrangement to a center sill member of a railway car is provided. Such apparatus includes a bottom wall portion which matingly engages a bottom wall of such center sill member and a top wall portion which matingly engages one of a top wall of such center sill member and a bottom surface of such railway car. A pair of vertically disposed side wall portions are disposed between such top wall portion and such bottom wall portion. Each of such pair of side wall portions have a predetermined configuration which provides such enhanced versatility in securing such articulated coupling arrangement to such center sill member.

Abstract: A masking film composition and method of masking a surface of an article to be coated with a protective coating, wherein a selected surface first is coated with a masking film consisting essentially of from over an approximate volume ratio of about 1:12, preferably about 1:4 of a fumed, colloidal silica, balance petrolatum, then applying and drying the protective coating, and then removing the masking film with a mild solvent naphtha.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a friction-type draft gear assembly including a housing having a front and a rear portion. A compressible cushioning element is positioned within the rear portion with a seating arrangement abutting one end thereof. A friction cushioning element is provided in the front portion of the housing. The assembly further includes a spring release mechanism for continuously urging the friction cushioning element outwardly from the compressible cushioning element thereby releasing such friction cushioning element after compression of such draft gear assembly.

Abstract: This invention provides a connecting pin member which facilitates a rotatable connection being achieved between a female connection member and a center bowl portion of a bolster. Such connecting pin member has a substantially round rod-like member which is tapered at each outer end thereof. A groove-like portion carrying a resilient member is disposed in an outer surface of such rod-like member. The present invention further provides a method of producing such connecting pin member as well as an improved center plate member for use with such connecting pin member. Such center plate member incorporates an arrangement for the removal of such connecting pin member if it should be accidently sheared off during service.

Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a bearing assembly to an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and such device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus is provided for use with a potentiometer or variable resistance element which does not require a mechanical connection between a contact member and an activating mechanism. This is accomplished by using a magnet in at least a portion of either the contact member or the activating mechanism while constructing at least a portion of the other of such contact member and the activating mechanism of a ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A railway vehicle controller apparatus having a housing in which a rotatable shaft having a first portion positioned within the housing and a second portion extending out of the housing is provided. A control mechanism is connected to the second portion of such rotatable shaft. Such control mechanism is operable by an operator of such railway vehicle. A detection unit is positioned within the housing to detect a rotational position of the rotatable shaft. The detection unit includes a unit to provide an electrical signal indicative of such rotational position of the rotatable shaft. Such a signal is used as an acceleration or deceleration command. A control resistance mechanism engages the rotatable shaft to provide a controlled resistance to rotation of such rotatable shaft.