Abstract: A slackless drawbar comprising a female member with one end engaging an end of a car body center sill and another end extends outwardly from the center sill end. A cavity formed in such other end defined by inner surfaces of the back wall, top wall and pair of side walls and open at a bottom and outer end thereof. Openings are formed through each side wall. A male member includes a first end movably disposed in such cavity and a second end. An aperture is formed through such male member first end. A portion of a spherical shaped member is disposed in such aperture. A pair of shaft members extend from outer surfaces of such spherical member. A portion of each shaft member is disposed in respective side wall openings. Each shaft member has a flat surface formed thereon. A race having a portion thereof disposed in such aperture and secured to such male member. The race inner surface is disposed around the spherical member.

Abstract: Slackless drawbar includes female member, having a cavity, engaging end of a railway car. Openings through first and second side walls of cavity. A male member has portion movably disposed in cavity. An aperture formed through such male member. A ball has portion disposed in such aperture and shafts extending from outer surfaces thereof. A portion of one shaft disposed in one opening and a portion of another one disposed in another opening. Such shafts have flat surface portions. A race assembly disposed in such aperture and secured to male member. An inner surface of race surrounds such ball. A second female member, having a cavity, engages end of second car. Openings are formed through second pair of side walls. Another male member has portion movably disposed in second cavity. An aperture formed through the second male member. Another ball includes portion disposed in second aperture and shafts extending from outer surfaces thereof.

Abstract: A wear and lubricating liner having a cup-shaped wear liner assembly which includes a first bottom plate portion. An aperture is formed centrally through such first bottom plate and a first upstanding wall portion is connected at a bottom thereof to an outer perimeter of such first bottom plate. A lubricating liner assembly having at least one substantially solid lubricating material with a bottom surface thereof disposed adjacent and in contact with an upper surface of such bottom plate and a vertically disposed ring-like solid lubricating material. An outer surface of such ring-like lubricating material is disposed adjacent and in contact with an inner surface of such upstanding wall of the wear liner. A protective cover member includes a second bottom plate portion having a bottom surface disposed adjacent and in contact with an upper surface of such at least one solid lubricating material. Another aperture is formed centrally through such second bottom plate.

Abstract: A constant tensioning device in the form of an elastic member interposed in the handbrake chain between a railway car handwheel and a handbrake lever of the railway car brake apparatus for maintaining tension in the handbrake chain in accordance with the applied handbrake force, irrespective of such shifting of the railway car relative to its truck, as would otherwise cause slack to develop in the handbrake chain and thereby cause an undesired loss of handbrake force.

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 bearing assembly having a removable shaft member. The shaft member has a center portion is designed such that rotation of the ball portion of the bearing assembly on the center portion is prevented. A first end portion extends outwardly from one end of the center portion and has a diameter substantially equal to an arcuate portion formed in a first side wall portion of a cavity located at one end of the female connection member. A flat face portion engageable by a wedge member is provided on the first end portion. A locking device is engageable with the first end portion to secure the ball portion against lateral movement in a first direction. A second end portion extends outwardly from the other end of the center portion and has a diameter also substantially equal to a diameter of an arcuate portion in a second side wall portion of the cavity. A flat face is formed on the second end portion which is engageable by another wedge member, thereby securing the male member to the female connection member.

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: 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: 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: 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 a strengthening mechanism for a female connection member used in a articulated coupling arrangement. Such female connection members include a first end portion configured for connection to one end of a railway car center sill member and a second end portion formed integrally with such first end portion. A cavity is formed in such second end portion and is defined by a bottom wall portion, a rear wall portion and a pair of side wall portions. Such cavity being open adjacent the front and top surface thereof. An opening is formed through a portion of each of such side wall portions. Each such opening includes a slot-like portion and a generally arcuate portion spaced below such slot-like portion.

Abstract: Provided is an articulable spherical connection for a railway coupling arrangement. The connection includes a male connection member having a spherical connection portion secured to one end of a body portion and a female connection member having a split body portion. Each body portion of such femal connection member having a spherical cavity formed therein to receive a portion of the spherical connection portion of the male connection member therein. A securing device is provided to secure such split body portion together around the spherical connection portion of the male member.

Abstract: An assembly mechanism is provided for removably securing a bearing assembly carried by a male connection member to a female connection member of an articulated coupling system. Such assembly mechanism includes at least one vertically disposed lug member secured to an outer surface of a vertically disposed side wall of a cavity formed in one end of such female connection member adjacent an opening formed in such side wall portion. There is at least one horizontally disposed lug member secured to such outer surface adjacent another portion of such opening in such side wall portion. A locking member is engageable with each of such vertical lug member and such horizontal lug member and a portion of a shaft-like member extending outwardly from such bearing assembly. The locking member removably secures such shaft-like member against rotation in such opening.

Abstract: A handbrake system for use with a truck-mounted, single-cylinder brake rigging including truss-type brake beams, there being a single handbrake pivotal lever supported intermediate its ends by a twisted transfer link that is, in turn, fixed to the brake rigging transfer lever. A fulcrum end of the handbrake lever is free to engage the bearing surface of a thrust block mounted on the brake beam at the juncture of the beam tension and strut members in order to allow the point of engagement between the fulcrum end and the bearing surface to change with rotation of the handbrake lever. In addition, the fulcrum end of the handbrake lever is arranged with two, spaced-apart arcuate segments that successively engage the bearing surface of the thrust block during rotation of the handbrake lever to change its lever ratio and, accordingly, limit the degree of rotation of the handbrake lever.

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: A trigger mechanism is taught which actuates an overtravel control apparatus of a slack adjuster in a railway vehicle brake rigging in response to the measured travel distance of a brake cylinder piston rod. The triggering mechanism includes an elongated hollow member secured to one end of the slack adjuster housing. An abutment surface carried by an extension member secured to one end of the overtravel control apparatus which moves reciprocally within the hollow member. A pivotal connection is secured adjacent an aperture formed in the wall of the hollow member. A lever device is pivotally connected to such pivotal connection and positioned to engage at one end thereof the abutment surface and having the other end movable in response to the brake cylinder piston rod travel distance.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a double-acting compression actuatable slack adjuster to adjust the slack in the brake rigging of a railway vehicle which includes a pair of elongated members movable with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction. One of the elongated members is hollow and the other member includes a threaded portion housed within the hollow member. A positioning device carrying a pair of opposed abutting surfaces is threadedly engaged with the threaded portion of the one member. A pair of opposite facing abutment surfaces are positioned within the hollow member. A first urging device is positioned to urge the positioning device into a disengaged position. A second urging device overcomes the force of the first urging device and urges an abutting surface on the positioning device into engagement with an adjacent abutment surface. An overtravel control device is provided which is activated by a trigger device.