Abstract: Disclosed is an end stabilized backing plate for an extended length brake shoe for use in a railway braking system. The backing plate includes an elongated main portion extending along a longitudinal axis. This main portion has a front face, a back face, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. A first and second pair of tab members are provided on each of the first and second end portions. These tab members extend in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the main body and function to stabilize the end portions of the extended length brake shoe which extend beyond the length of a brake head and reduce and/or eliminate cracking of these end portions of the brake shoe. A method of stabilizing end portions of an extended length brake shoe is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an end stabilized backing plate for an extended length brake shoe for use in a railway braking system. The backing plate includes an elongated main portion extending along a longitudinal axis. This main portion has a front face, a back face, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion. A first and second pair of tab members are provided on each of the first and second end portions. These tab members extend in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the main body and function to stabilize the end portions of the extended length brake shoe which extend beyond the length of a brake head and reduce and/or eliminate cracking of these end portions of the brake shoe. A method of stabilizing end portions of an extended length brake shoe is also disclosed.

Abstract: A friction wedge assembly for use in a suspension system of railroad car trucks. The friction wedge assembly comprises a cast metal wedge having a bottom face, a vertical face that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom face and a sloped face for contacting a mating surface on a bolster of such railroad car truck. There is a metal backing plate that has a first side removably engageable with the vertical face of the cast metal wedge, a means for securing the metal backing plate to the cast metal wedge and a composition liner disposed on a second side of the metal backing plate for engaging such metal wear liner on such side frame of such railroad car truck.

Abstract: A friction wedge assembly for use in a suspension system of railroad car trucks. The friction wedge assembly comprises a cast metal wedge having a bottom face, a vertical face that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom face and a sloped face for contacting a mating surface on a bolster of such railroad car truck. There is a metal backing plate that has a first side removably engageable with the vertical face of the cast metal wedge, a means for securing the metal backing plate to the cast metal wedge and a composition liner disposed on a second side of the metal backing plate for engaging such metal wear liner on such side frame of such railroad car truck.

Abstract: A brake shoe for use on a railway vehicle for reconditioning a wheel tread surface during a normal braking application including a backing plate and a first friction material extending over the brake surface of such brake shoe. It further contains a second friction material, formed as a discrete insert molded into such first friction material. Such second friction material initially is completely embedded. One surface of the insert is incrementally exposed as the first friction type material is eroded away. Such second friction material exhibits abrasive properties and is bonded to such backing plate. A third friction material is disposed as another discrete insert imbedded in the first friction type material. One surface of the abrasive third friction material being disposed as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe.

Abstract: A brake shoe is used on a railway vehicle for both applying a braking force and simultaneously reconditioning a wheel tread surface of a wheel disposed on such railway vehicle during a normal braking application on such vehicle. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate having a predetermined configuration and a first friction type material formed into a brake shoe and having a predetermined shape. There is a brake surface for engaging a wheel tread having a predetermined configuration and having a predetermined surface area. A second friction type material is formed as a discrete insert, having a predetermined shape and a predetermined width, and molded into first friction type material. One surface of the discrete insert being disposed coincidently as part of the brake surface of the brake shoe. The second friction type material exhibits greater abrasive properties than does the first friction type material.

Abstract: A brake shoe adapted to engage the tread of a railroad car wheel via which such railroad car is guidably supported on a railed track. The brake shoe comprises a backing plate which has a predetermined configuration and a means disposed on each end of the backing plate for securing such backing plate to a brake head. The brake shoe further includes a brake lining that is affixed to the backing plate and has a braking surface engageable with the wheel tread of a railroad car wheel.

Abstract: A brake shoe mounting system for railway vehicles includes a composition type brake shoe having a recessed center portion and two bracket-style backing plates integrally molded into the composition type brake shoe. There is one bracket style backing plate per each half of the brake shoe. Each bracket style backing plate further includes at least two projections extending outwardly from the convex surface of the composition brake shoe. The two projections extending outwardly are closely adjacent a first end of the brake shoe and at least one projection extends outwardly from the convex surface of the brake shoe closely adjacent the recessed center portion of the composition type brake shoe. The mounting system further includes a brakehead having a concave surface with a central projection for engaging the recessed center portion of the convex surface of the brake shoe.