Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic coupling (1) between rail vehicle wagons, comprising: an end support (2) or curved head (8) in turn comprising a screwed straight area (5), an intermediate deformation area (6) and an end coupling area (7), the end (8) of the coupling area (7) being curved, an end support (3) or straight head (8?) in turn comprising a screwed straight area (5?), an intermediate deformation area (6?) and an end coupling area (7?), the end (8?) of the coupling area (7?) being straight, and an enclosing case (4) covering the end coupling area (7) of the support (2) and the end coupling area (7?) of the support (3), such that the supports (2) and (3) are attached to one another by draw connection means and by elastic elements. The walls of the intermediate area 6 of the support 2 are curved inwards, and the walls of the intermediate area 6? of the support 3 are curved outwards.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling having a coupling head, a coupling rod and a shock absorber including a destructively-configured force-absorbing member in the form of a deformable tube. The invention provides additional functionality of extendability and retractability to the coupling rod, the and for the central buffer coupling to include a controllable linear drive for the axial displacement of the coupling rod relative the fixing plate and for the bearing block to include a first bearing block component against which adjoins the coupling head-side end of the deformable tube, and a second bearing block component to which the vehicle-side end of the coupling rod is articulated, whereby the second bearing block component is axially displaceable relative the first bearing block component by means of the linear drive.

Abstract: An improved pre-clean chamber of a semiconductor processing system minimizes the generation of particulates during processing, thereby decreasing contamination levels that can adversely affect plasma vapor deposition film properties while also decreasing operational costs. The pre-clean chamber comprises an insulator collar that insulates the outside diameter surface of a wafer pedestal, thereby mitigating the etching of the wafer pedestal during etching. The pre-clean chamber further comprises a gas trench cover that directs a suitable etching gas from a gas inlet trench into streams that are focused up and towards the center of the chamber to reduce the extent to which gas bombards the chamber cover. The pre-clean chamber also comprises a bellows cover which protects the bellows of a wafer lift during etching, further reducing the dislodgment of particulates during etching.

Abstract: An extended end-sill assembly for a railcar, which assembly is produced by mating a front-sill casting and back-sill casting having a transition region therebetween wherein the endsill includes a cast-in-place center plate, a support arrangement for a cushioning apparatus and a wide-mouthed end for greater lateral travel of the coupler shank arm, and such dual casting assembly is inapposite to present production of such endsill assemblies that require fabrication of numerous plates, pieces and braces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight draft sill end casting for use with railroad cars. The cast draft sill has side walls, front and rear stops, front and rear rib sets and a center plate that are cast as a unit. The draft sill has an open area between the tops of the side walls between the front and rear stops, with a cast metal span connecting the two side walls. The cast metal span may comprise one or more spacer bars or part of a top wall. The cast metal span is in the area between the planes of the front stops and the rear stops. The front and rear stops are spaced below the tops of the side walls. In one embodiment, there are additional lightener holes in each side wall between the ribs in the rear rib set and in the pocket. The total weight of the cast draft sill is not substantially greater than the weight of a comparable fabricated draft sill of substantially the same size, and has a greater fatigue life.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight draft sill end casting for use with railroad cars. Weight reductions are achieved and adequate strength is maintained by using a set of front ribs and back ribs, with angled top and bottom ribs. The back rib set has a single central rib along the central plane of the draft sill. A single horizontal center plate rib is also used in the area of the center plate. The side ribs at the center plate have larger lightener holes. Holes are also provided in the bottom wall of the casting. Larger lightener holes are provided in the area of the draft sill pocket. These holes are moved upwardly to lower the center of gravity of the draft sill. The draft stops may be spaced from the top wall of the draft sill and from the bottoms of the side walls.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination rear draft stop and bolster spacer plate apparatus which includes a rear wall portion, a pair of side wall portions connected along a rear edge thereof to a respective outer edge of the rear wall portion. There is top wall portion formed adjacent the upper edge of each of the rear wall portion and the pair of side wall portions. A first cavity is formed through the top wall portion. A bottom wall portion is formed adjacent a bottom edge of each rear wall portion and the pair of side wall portions. A second cavity is formed through this bottom wall portion. The final essential element is a pair of front wall portions which have an outer surface thereof engageable by a draft gear to limit rearward movement of such draft gear when a buff load is exerted thereon.

Abstract: A castable draft gear pocket blockout apparatus for use in retrofitting slackless drawbar coupler assemblies to existing railroad cars having draft gear pockets, the blockout apparatus being a cast metallic structure having a web, a top flange and a bottom flange connected along the upper and lower sides of the web, and the first and second end flanges connected to the first and second vertical sides of the web.

Abstract: A combined center plate/center filler construction for the underframe of a railway car is provided with sloped, corner circumferential sections at the upper portion of the center plate to allow for the complete welding of the center plate to the undersurfaces of a pocket-receptacle of the underframe, so that one continuous welding operation may be performed. The upper portion of the center plate has four corner positioning projections the upper horizontal surfaces of which are coplanar with the horizontal plane containing the joinder of the center plate to the center filler.

Abstract: A modular center filler for railway vehicles comprising an inverted U-shaped core member fitted between front and rear cover plates and securely attached to a bottom cover plate to which a center plate is attached. Downwardly extending legs of the core are aligned with corresponding inner, beveled edges of the center plate which receive high forces during transit as a car rocks back and forth. The core member is positioned to receive these forces and transmit them into the center filler structure, car bolster and car body framing for even distribution throughout the vehicle.

Abstract: A unitary cast draft sill for welding to the center sill of a railroad car comprises a unitary cast structure with the following elements and features: A horizontal top wall has a pair of side walls depending therefrom with a bottom portion having flanges extending horizontally outward from the side walls. A vertical inboard end wall joins the bottom portion, the side walls and the top wall and has a transition element extending from the inboard side portion thereof to telescopically enter adjacent portions of a railroad car center sill. A center filler plate pocket is formed by the inboard end wall, portions of the side walls and the top wall and an internal vertical wall spaced in the outboard direction from the inboard end wall to form a cavity opening at the bottom portion to accept and mount a center filler plate in welded relation. Rear draft lugs are formed at the outboard side of the internal vertical wall and adjoin the side walls.

Abstract: A modular center filler and center plate may be constructed as a unit away from the car and adapted for connection to the center sill webs of a railway vehicle. The center filler has a thick bottom plate which extends beneath the center sill and has pairs of interconnected longitudinal and transverse sill reinforcing plates arranged in a double I-beam manner. The center plate has longitudinally extending attached skirts, and bevels are provided which allow the car to rock at the bevel lines. Forces transmitted through the center plate at the bevels are absorbed and distributed by the associated longitudinal plates and other bolster and center filler structural elements.

Abstract: A modular rear draft lug and center filler construction for railway vehicles comprising a pair of rear draft lugs which extend from the draft sill area along each side of the inside of the center sill and continue through the center filler area to rear draft lug stops. A number of slotted plates are fitted over portions of the draft lugs and attached to a bottom cover plate which nests into the center sill. A center plate has a mounting skirt with upwardly extending flanges to abut each end of the bottom cover plate to resist longitudinal impact forces. The rear draft lugs are mechanically attached to the center sill and the center filler plates, center plate and rear draft lug stops may be easily installed after the rear draft lugs are attached. The riveted construction provides for even force distribution and alignment and ease of replacement should damage or failure occur.

Abstract: In accordance with the present structure, in a railway hopper car a corrugated bolster web extends vertically between a bolster cover plate and the end hopper slope sheet. The vertically extending corrugations act as reinforcements in the web which web has at least some of the corrugations positioned over the side bearings and center plate.

Abstract: A center filler arrangement for railway vehicles provides a large center filler bottom lug welded in position and having mounting recesses for front and rear center filler plates to interconnect the side webs of a center sill to provide a rigid, dimensionally stable, flat surface for attachment of a center plate.

Abstract: A fabricated center filler and center plate construction for the underframe of a railway car in the area where the body bolster intersects the center sill. The fabricated center filler includes four interconnected, vertical walls and a bottom floor plate secured by welding thereto. The center filler is secured by welding to the vertical sidewalls of the center sill with the floor plate of the center filler positioned flush with the lower surfaces of the center sill flanges. Opposed ends of the center filler floor plate preferably are overlapped by portions of the bottom cover plate of the bolster and are secured by welding hereto. A king pin receiving tube is secured by welding within a hole formed in the floor plate of the center filler, the tube having its upper end positioned within the confines of the center filler and having its lower end positioned below the floor plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to railway cars having a tubular-like sill in the underframe and a standard Z type draft sill at each end and a transition sill telescoping into and connecting the draft sill to the tubular sill.