Abstract: A rail car buffer with a capsule body and a mechanical ring spring and a hydraulic spring arranged in parallel in the body. The hydraulic spring includes an internal reservoir to receive hydraulic oil displaced during collapse of the buffer.

Abstract: The invention improves performance characteristic of coupler arrangements; and embodies a cushioning device (8) which comprises an elastomeric shock absorber (9) whose bottom part (10) is held in a rear stop block (12) supported on a rear stop (7, 7'). The opposite section of the elastomeric shock absorber is slidably mounted in the casing (13) which includes a guide (14) closed by a fixedly attached front stop block (15), with the stop block abutting the front stop (6, 6'). Inside the casing the stop block abuts the piston rod (16) of the elastomeric shock absorber.

Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for a railway car includes a housing having a cylinder bore disposed therein with an end plate closing one end of the cylinder bore. A piston assembly includes a shaft extending through the end plate and a piston disposed on the shaft and slidably received within the cylinder bore. The piston is slidable between an axially innermost position furthest from the end plate and an axially outermost position closest to the end plate. A limit pin has an interference fit within a pin bore of the end plate and extends outward therefrom toward the piston for initially limiting axially outward movement of the piston short of its axially outermost position to thereby limit a length of the cushioning apparatus prior to installation of the cushioning apparatus in a railway car.

Abstract: To obtain a defined reset for horizontal articulations for an elastic articulation of a central buffer coupling, if at least one elastic ring is used, the inner part of the housing as well as the drawbar have the greater axis of their cross-section in the vertical in the installed position. The coupling which is secured on the vehicle and a drawbar which traverses the housing are supported by a ring of rubber, plastic or similar resilient material which is prestressed normal to the coupling axle of the coupling and arranged between the housing and the drawbar. The drawbar and a side of the housing have peripheral cams directed toward each other. The housing and the drawbar have an oval cross-section and the rings are spaced by cams formed on the drawbar and portions of the housing, the ring and the housing and the drawbar have a major axis of their cross-section extending along the vertical in their installed position.

Abstract: An overtravel spring assembly including a helical-type spring secured in a cylindrical housing in a prestressed state between retaining washers inserted adjacent the opposite ends of the housing. The spring is coaxially disposed in the assembly between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of a sleeve member inserted within the spring, thereby retaining the spring in a symmetrically coiled state, that is, preventing radial distortion or buckling of the spring spring when subjected to operating stress. The entire spring assembly is retained in its assembled state by radially crimping the opposite ends of the housing against the outer radial surfaces of the retaining washers. The overtravel spring assembly is used in an automatic slack adjuster for vehicle brakes for measuring the extent of overtravel of the piston rod due to excessive wear of the brake shoes.

Abstract: During manufacture of the draft gear and before it is inserted into the railway car, the piston is positioned in the cylinder in a preshortened position. Part of the fill of flowable, normally solid material is inserted into the cylinder about the piston rod to hold the piston in the preshortened position and the remainder of the fill is inserted between the piston and the closed end of the cylinder. The part of the fill inserted about the piston rod may be in the form of a collar or in the form of particulate material introduced through a port radially opposite the piston rod. This holds the piston in the preshortened position so that the draft gear can easily be inserted into the railway car. After the railway car is put into service the part of the fill about the piston rod breaks down and the piston returns to its normal operating position.

Abstract: An elastic hinge of a central buffer coupling for rail cars, comprises a bearing housing which has at least one end with a coupling rod receiving opening into which a coupling rod extends. The interior wall of the housing has a plurality of axially spaced radially inwardly extending annular housing cam surfaces which engage between similar cam surfaces defined on a coupling rod which is inserted into the housing. A plurality of rings are arranged on the coupling rod between the coupling rod cam surfaces and they have outer peripheries which bear on the housing between adjacent housing cam surfaces. The housing interior wall and the coupling rod have an oval cross-section and the rings are held in spaced axial relationship by the coupling rod cams. The housing and the rings may be made of two semiannular parts, and the housing parts may be bolted together.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing device comprising a permanently shortened member of a thermoplastic elastomer wherein said member comprises circumferentially enlarged portions due to permanent shortening by compression of an elongated member along its longitudinal axis of at least 10% of its original length, the enlarged portions being at least partially oriented and at least one unenlarged portion, and rigid retaining means encircling said unenlarged portion of the shortened thermoplastic elastomer member.