Abstract: A mounting interface for attaching supporting components to a buffer of a rail vehicle. The interface has a mounting body with a component fastening region and an attachment region that is different therefrom. The component fastening region is equipped with fastening elements and/or holes for attaching the components. The attachment region is formed in such a way that it can be fastened to at least two fastening points at the rear side of a buffer flange using buffer screws. There is also described a buffer system and a rail vehicle with such a mounting interface.

Abstract: A wheel traction device is adapted for providing traction for a wheel of a vehicle to escape from a mud ground during rotation of the wheel, and includes: a guiding unit having a guiding portion adapted to abut against the wheel; a bearing unit that is detachably connected to the guiding unit, and that has a bearing portion adapted to be positioned on the mud ground such that, during rotation of the wheel, the bearing unit and the guiding unit are prevented from being driven by the rotation of the wheel to move relative to the mud ground, thereby allowing the wheel to roll over the bearing portion under guidance of the guiding portion; and a fastening unit that detachably fastens the bearing and guiding units together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a platform door control apparatus based on a double 2-vote-2 architecture, including a security communication and logic processing module, a driver collection module, and a maintenance module, the security communication and logic processing module is separately connected to the driver collection module and the maintenance module, and both the security communication and logic processing module and the driver collection module are devices using the double 2-vote-2 architecture. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages of effectively improving linkage efficiency of a signal system and a platform door system, and the like.

Abstract: An underframe end structure without a bolster beam for a rail vehicle, including an underframe end beam, an underframe edge beam, a coupler mounting base, coupler support beams, and oblique support beams, where the front of the coupler mounting base is connected to the underframe end beam through the oblique support beams, two sides of the coupler mounting base are connected to the underframe edge beam through the coupler support beams, so that quadrilateral frame structures are respectively formed on the two sides of the coupler mounting base, the oblique support beams form an included angle of 55° to 80° with a forward opening, and the coupler support beams form an included angle of 120° to 140° with a backward opening.

Abstract: A transaxle of a rail vehicle includes: a power assembly; an axle body; a running wheel; a guiding frame; a horizontal wheel; and a connecting rod component, including a first transverse pull rod and a second transverse pull rod, where when the rail vehicle turns left, the horizontal wheel cooperates with a rail beam to drive the guiding frame to swing and drive the first transverse pull rod to move together, and the second transverse pull rod is driven by the first transverse pull rod to drive the running wheel to swing to the left, and when the rail vehicle turns right, the horizontal wheel cooperates with the rail beam to drive the guiding frame to swing and drive the first transverse pull rod to move together, and the second transverse pull rod is driven by the first transverse pull rod to drive the running wheel to swing to the right.

Abstract: A system for electrically connecting a vehicle to track electrodes, the system comprising vehicle electrodes configured to be electrically connected with a respective one of the track electrodes; actuators operatively connecting the vehicle electrodes to a structure of the vehicle for displacement of the vehicle electrodes relative to the structure of the vehicle, the actuators operable to vary distances between the vehicle electrodes and the track electrodes; sensors operatively mounted to one of the vehicle or track electrodes, the sensors detecting variations in the distances; and a controller operatively connected to the actuators for actuating the actuators as a function of the variations in the distances detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a plurality of electric traction motors, each mechanically coupled to at least one drive wheel to generate traction. At least one traction power converter is connected on an AC voltage side to at least one electric traction motor to supply the electric traction motor with electric power. A traction control unit for controlling at least one traction power converter is provided and is designed to control the at least one traction power converter while the vehicle is moving based on electrical output alternating quantities of the at least one traction power converter. A rotational movement of the at least one drive wheel of the vehicle during standstill of the vehicle is not detected by a separate detection unit based on the output alternating quantities.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for a rail vehicle includes two steering arms, each including a pair of support arms that have a joining component with a recess. The two steering arms are articulated in a manner that maintains a minimum separation between the steering arms so that the arms can rotate relative to one another. The minimum separation is maintained by an insert that installs into the joining component recesses components of each of the steering arms. The insert has two sides, each side having a flexible material and forming a shape that mates with the recess. The insert provides resistance to the rotation between the first and second steering arms, and the resistance depends on the stiffness of the flexible material of the insert.

Abstract: A rolling vehicle track including a first wall and a second wall each positioned between and connected to a third wall and a fourth wall. The track further includes a bracket having a first bracket portion, a second bracket portion, a third bracket portion, and a fourth bracket portion, the first bracket portion connected to the third wall, and the fourth bracket portion connected to the first wall. The track further includes the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall defining a first quadrilateral chamber. The track further includes the first bracket portion, the second bracket portion, the third bracket portion, and the first wall defining a second quadrilateral chamber, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, the fourth wall, and the bracket are interconnected without welding.

Abstract: To locate a shunt, the shunt includes an RF transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit an identifier of the shunt such as the configured shunt frequency. The shunt may include switches or memory locations that may be configured by an installer to correspond to the configured shunt frequency. Other embodiments employ switches or sensors influenced by jumpers installed in the shunt to configure the frequency of the shunt. A portable device receives a transmission including the identifier and displays it along with an indication of the received signal strength of the transmission, and maintenance personnel move the portable device along the track to locate the highest received signal strength, which indicates the location of the shunt. The shunt may also include a test circuit that may be configurable to generate a test frequency, determine a parameter indicative of shunt performance, and output a signal based on the parameter.

Abstract: An arrangement for driving a locomotive has various energy-provision systems. The locomotive contains a main energy-provision system as the main system and a drive system. Energy provided by the main system is supplied to the drive system as drive power and is used by the drive system for moving the locomotive. A railroad car carries at least one additional energy-provision system as an auxiliary system. The auxiliary system is used in a manner which is temporally offset from the main system in order to supply drive power to the drive system. Components which can be used by both the main system and the at least one auxiliary system are implemented only once and are used jointly by both the main system and the auxiliary system. Components which are used exclusively by the auxiliary system are arranged on the railroad car.

Abstract: An arrangement for driving a locomotive has various energy-provision systems. The locomotive contains a main energy-provision system as the main system and a drive system. Energy provided by the main system is supplied to the drive system as drive power and is used by the drive system for moving the locomotive. A railroad car carries at least one additional energy-provision system as an auxiliary system. The auxiliary system is used in a manner which is temporally offset from the main system in order to supply drive power to the drive system. Components which can be used by both the main system and the at least one auxiliary system are implemented only once and are used jointly by both the main system and the auxiliary system. Components which are used exclusively by the auxiliary system are arranged on the railroad car.

Abstract: A third rail paddle system includes a support assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle, a pivot connection attached to the support assembly and that defines a range of up and down movement, and a third rail paddle assembly having an arm unit and a paddle. The paddle assembly is attached to the pivot connection for the paddle to contact a third rail and move up and down relative to the third rail when the support assembly is attached to the vehicle. One of the pivot connection, the paddle assembly, or the support assembly includes a stop element that limits the range of the up and down movement and prevents the paddle assembly from moving downwards to a bottom of the range of movement.

Abstract: A grade crossing control system includes a track circuit with a grade crossing predictor (GCP) system coupled to rails of a railroad track at a grade crossing, wherein a railroad vehicle travelling on the railroad track causes a change of impedance when entering the track circuit, and wherein the GCP system generates grade crossing activation signals in response to the change of the impedance of the track circuit, wherein, for detecting the change of impedance, the GCP system includes a first transmitter transmitting a first signal over the track circuit and a first receiver detecting a first response signal, a second transmitter transmitting a second signal over the track circuit and a second receiver detecting a second response signal, wherein the first transmitter and the first receiver are preprogrammed to a first frequency, and wherein the second transmitter and the second receiver are preprogrammed to a second frequency.

Abstract: An anchoring assembly for fastening a railway rail to an underlying foundation, the anchoring assembly including a base plate configured to receive the rail, a fastener configured to fasten the base plate to the underlying foundation, and a rigid sleeve defining a passage through which a stem of the fastener passes. The base plate comprises an opening and the sleeve is configured to extend through the base plate opening, the sleeve extends a distance greater than a thickness of the base plate such that the sleeve extends from a top surface of the base plate and beyond a bottom surface of the base plate when installed, and the sleeve is configured such that a compressive load applied by the fastener when installed is transmitted through the sleeve to the underlying foundation.

Abstract: A highway grade crossing gate mechanism having a smart cam system capable of measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time is provided. The gate mechanism includes a DC motor, a cam system, and a controller. The DC motor is coupled to a main shaft for driving a gate arm between a vertical position and a vertical position. The cam system includes manually adjustable cams coupled to the main shaft that move contacts to open or close at some preset angular rotation in order to set operational features of a crossing gate. An internal sensing device is disposed internal to the cam system measuring a parameter of the gate mechanism in real time. A controller controls the motor and receives and stores the parameter. The parameter may be transmitted to an external network giving accurate feedback of the state of the gate mechanism in real time.

Abstract: The invention relates to the supplemental generation of energy from operation of a train, and specifically to the generation of energy in connection to the rotation of disc brake rotors in combination with generators. Rotation of the disc brake rotors creates rotational energy that is transmitted to the generators, which then transmits the energy to a series of batteries for storage. The batteries may be stored in the platform for the train and/or within the train car itself. Energy from the batteries may be utilized by removal of the batteries from the train or through a number of outlets, sockets or connectors associated with the train car or platform.

Abstract: An anti-collision system for railcars and locomotives provides a distance ranging and worker coupling protection system utilizing remote-sensing radar techniques for use with a locomotive and railcar. The anti-collision system may include an object detector device attached to a railcar or a locomotive that detects objects in a path of the railcar and the locomotive and a train display device electrically connected to the object detector device. The anti-collision system may also include an emergency action device which enables a crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to a locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized. The object detector device may include a remote sensor, a radio, and a microprocessor programmed to include data-logging to record and log all data from the anti-collision system.

Abstract: A crossing gate mechanism includes a gate mechanism enclosure defining an interior space, external wires located substantially outside the gate mechanism enclosure, and a terminal board positioned within the interior space of the gate mechanism enclosure. The external wires are connected to the terminal board. The terminal board is coupled to and swingable relative to the gate mechanism enclosure.

Abstract: A railroad wheel impact load detection test panel includes a secondary instrumentation rail proximate a field side of a primary or running rail of a section of railroad track, and elevated a prescribed distance so that the wheels of a rail car traverse the instrumentation rail within the test panel. The instrumentation rail includes an optical strain gauge to sense the wheel impact load. The sensed impact data is correlated with wheel damage signatures to identify wheels to be restored or replaced before failure occurs.