Abstract: A plasma actuator includes a first electrode disposed on a substrate, covered by a dielectric layer, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric layer. In operation, the plasma actuator creates a plasma region, altering air flowing over the actuator. The plasma actuator in various embodiments: has no moving parts, helps to improve fuel economy by reducing aerodynamic drag, improves vehicle stability control under severe unsteady flow environments, reduces wind noise around a vehicle on which the actuator is used, and reduces emission and CO2 foot print through the fuel economy improvement.

Abstract: A controller for a spring wing on a frog that utilizes a floating piston rod carrying a fixed piston valve and a free-moving piston head is provided. When the piston rod is actuated by the opening movement of the spring wing, the piston valve separates from the piston head briefly, allowing oil to flow through the piston head in a relatively unrestricted manner. The piston head is spring biased towards the piston valve; upon contact between the piston head and the piston valve, the oil flow through the piston head stops, helping to hold the spring wing in the open position. When the spring wing begins to close, the adjustable oil flow through the controller allows the piston rod to move at a controlled rate, thereby controlling the closure rate of the spring wing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for opening and securing a railroad frog. The system is provided with a body member and a plurality of attachment members, which are selectively securable with the body member. The attachment members are structurally configured to secure to different structural features along spring wing rails and fixed structures positioned opposite the spring wing rail. Manual actuation of a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the body member advances opposing first and second attachment members toward one another, moving the spring wing rail into an open position. Wedge members, coated in a non-slip material are provided as an additional means for securing the spring wing rail in an open position.

Abstract: A rail switch frog (1) includes a movable frog point (5) slidingly guided within a base frame (2), which frog point is movable into abutment on the wing rails (6, 7) and laterally supported in its abutment positions by supporting elements (10) fixed to the base frame (2). An end-position securing device (12) is provided for resiliently pressing the frog point (5) in its abutment position against the wing rail (6, 7) and the supporting elements (10), which end-position securing device is arranged within the space delimited by the base frame (2) and is connected with the base frame (2), or the supporting elements (10), as well as with the frog point (5).

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly having a selectively releasable hold-open subassembly for the spring wing rail is provided with a combined compressible shock absorber and compression spring that are functionally connected to the assembly spring wing rail and to the assembly base plate, and that function to generate an opposing force in connection with opening movement of the spring wing rail and an augmented force in connection with closing movement of the spring wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork frog assembly is provided with a base plate, a spring wing rail supported by and movable laterally relative to the base plate, and a hold-down subassembly attached to the spring wing rail and to the base plate, the hold-down subassembly comprising, in combination with a horn housing, a horn element having a cross-section area moment of inertia about a transverse horizontal axis intersecting the cross-section area center of gravity that is smaller than the cross-section area moment of inertia about a transverse vertical axis intersecting the cross-section area center of gravity.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail multi-position holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in each spring wing rail open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the multi-position holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a spring wing rail latch holdback subassembly that continuously retains the spring wing rail in a spring wing rail fully open position when activated by the wheels of a railcar traversing the frog assembly, and that automatically deactivates the latch holdback subassembly and releases the spring wing rail from retention in an open condition and for complete closing after the last railcar wheel has passed through the frog assembly.

Abstract: A spring rail frog includes a movable wing rail, a fixed wing rail and a nose rail. The movable wing rail is provided with a bendable portion and a non-bendable portion. The bendable portion can include any or all of a reduced width base portion, a reduced width head portion and an increased width web portion. The height of the movable wing rail can also be smaller in height than the height of the nose rail. A fixing plate can also be provided between a base plate and the movable wing rail to adjust the relative height of the movable wing rail and the nose rail. The movable wing rail extends beyond a spacer block disposed between the movable wing rail and the fixed wing rail. The movable wing rail extends away from the nose rail a predetermined distance for connection to the lead rail.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly is provided with multiple rail-closer subassemblies, preferably of the nested and counter-wound compression spring-type, that co-operate with the assembly spring wing rail, and that are laterally spaced-apart with respect to each other along the angled rail portion of the frog assembly spring wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a switched magnet that immediately retains a frog flexible wing rail in its open position in response to a railcar wheel passing through the frog assembly, and that delayably releases the frog flexible wing rail from its open position for subsequent closure by an included frog compression spring.

Abstract: A spring rail frog is disclosed that includes a movable wing rail, a fixed wing rail and a nose rail. The movable wing rail is provided with a bendable portion and a non-bendable portion. The bendable portion can include any or all of a reduced width base portion, a reduced width head portion and an increased width web portion. The height of the movable wing rail can also be smaller in height than the height of the nose rail. A fixing plate can also be provided between a base plate and the movable wing rail to adjust the relative height of the movable wing rail and the nose rail.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork spring frog installation having a conventional wing rail with attached wing rail horn fitting is provided with an improved co-operating hold-down comprising a weld block element component, a separate, readily replaceable, riser component supported by the weld block component, a housing component positioned over the wing rail horn fitting and supported by the weld block component, and bolt-type fastener devices joining the hold-down components into a unitary structure.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork frog is provided with a relatively fixed rigid wing rail, a relatively movable spring wing rail, a base plate, and at least one roller outrigger and ramp plate assembly which is attached to the spring wing rail and to the base plate, and which functions to cause limited upwards vertical movement of the spring wing rail relative to the base plate when the spring wing rail is moved laterally relative to the rigid wing rail by the engaged wheel flange of a passing rail car.

Abstract: A railroad spring frog assembly for trackwork installations includes a rigid rail and a flexible spring wing rail. The flexible spring wing rail is rigidly affixed between one end which engages a wing point rail and the other end which connects to a closure rail at the toe end of the frog support means. When a rail car enters the frog and a wheel flange engages the spring wing rail to pass between it and the long point rail the spring wing rail bends away from the long point rail to define a flangeway therebetweeen.