Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a gate in the frame. A conventional rack and pinion opening and closing drive moves the gate between open and closed positions on the frame. An inertial latch mechanism latches the gate in the fully closed position. Actuation of the opening and closing drive displaces the latch to automatically unlatch the gate. Upon impact, an inertial mass bears directly against the latch and transmits a latching force holding the latch closed and preventing opening of the gate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the wetting or providing moisture throughout a container of a powdery dry material such as an emission control baghouse dust. A collection hopper container is provided which usually comprises a box like structure with a sealable cover or top. A supply of low-pressure steam is provided to a plurality of conduits that extent through the cover and extend downwardly into the collected powdery material. By the injection of low-pressure steam through the plurality of conduits and outwardly into the powdery material through openings in the conduits, moisture is provided throughout the powdery material to lessen the dusty nature of the material to enable further processing to be accomplished more readily.

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: An assembly apparatus, kit and method of making roller chain of different pitch are disclosed. The apparatus and kit include a main drive mechanism rotatable about its central longitudinal axis and a plurality of assembly stations. Each assembly station has a movable assembly mechanism to act on a workpiece and a drive train to move the assembly mechanism in response to rotation of the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a drive shaft substantially perpendicular to the main drive mechanism axis. One of the assembly stations is movable in a direction parallel to the main drive mechanism axis between a plurality of positions to vary the distance between the assembly stations without disconnecting the connection between the drive train and the main drive mechanism. Each assembly station has a locator unit for moving a workpiece. The locator units have workpiece supports to provide a continuous path between assembly stations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for collecting fumes from an arc furnace of the type typically used in metal foundries. The system provides an electrode hood with extended sides for improved collection of fumes from the vicinity of the electrodes. It also provides a movable spout hood for collection of fumes when metal is tapped. A combination of a tilting manifold and stationary duct are used to maintain a path for collecting fumes throughout the entire range of motion of the furnace. The stationary duct has a group of dampers that open and close as the furnace tilts. Variable position dampers may be provided at the electrode hood and furnace door. In the bag house, there is a dust containment assembly to limit the movement of the collected dust. A variable speed fan may be used with the system.

Abstract: Improvements in cast metal sideframes for railway trucks are disclosed, along with improvements in the processes of casting such products and the cores used in the casting process. A radial draft is provided on the casting surrounding a bolt hole at a core parting or joint line so that nuts and washers may be evenly loaded. The radial draft is formed on the sideframe column, on the side opposite the side to which a wear plate is mounted. The bolts for mounting the wear plate extend through the bolt hole, and the nuts and washers connected to the bolts bear against the tapered radial draft surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing cast steel railway wheels. After pouring and removal from the mold, the steel wheel is processed in various steps including processing in an annealing and a tempering furnace. The wheel is then passed through a wheel cooling tunnel where the wheel is cooled from approximately 900.degree. F. to about ambient temperature.

Abstract: Improvements in the method of making cast metal bolsters for railway trucks are disclosed. The bolster is cast in a mold using a one-piece center core. The center core has a first end inboard of the first outboard end of the mold and a second end inboard of the second outboard end of the mold. The one-piece center core extends from the first end across the center area of the mold to the second end. It has surfaces to define interior surfaces of the bolster top wall, bottom wall and side walls on both sides of the bolster central transverse plane and bolster central longitudinal plane. Two one-piece end cores are also used. Each one-piece end core has surfaces shaped to define the interior surfaces of the bolster top wall, bottom wall and side walls from a position inboard of one friction shoe pocket to the first outboard end of the bolster.

Abstract: Cast iron pipe and other elongated hollow articles are lined with a cementitious mortar for certain applications, such as the transmission of potable water or sewage. To improve the resistance to attack from acids and to provide a crack and holiday free cement lining, a calcium alumina cement is used to line the article. A plasticizer such as fireclay is added to the calcium alumina cement prior to its application. The cement lined article is then coated with an asphaltic based coating and then cured in a high humidity environment.

Abstract: A fifth wheel for trucks is disclosed. Such fifth wheels usually are mounted on truck tractors and receive kingpins that are mounted on truck trailers. An operating rod is provided to manually disengage the kingpin locking mechanism. In one embodiment the fifth wheel plate is mounted on bases with trunnion pins. The bases are secured to the truck tractor. Retaining pins are received in flanges and serve to block axial movement of the trunnion pins. The retaining pins are disposed parallel to the top surface of the plate and are perpendicular to the axes of the trunnion pins. The retaining pins and flanges may be spaced far enough below the fifth wheel support surface so that a misfed kingpin cannot contact them. Alternatively, or in addition, the retaining pins may be under a protector that extends over the length of the retaining pin to prevent a misfed kingpin from striking the retaining pins.

Abstract: An abrasive material grinding wheel for grinding the plate front face of an as-cast railroad wheel to remove sprues and riser pads has a projecting and leading edge to extend the ground surface into close proximity to a hub and fillet section of the railroad wheel, which grinding wheel has a reduced wall thickness, a recess for receiving a retaining flange to reduce the elements extending from the outer face of the grinding wheel, and a sloped outer grinding surface projecting the leading edge and providing a grinding-wheel surface adequate to grind the entire riser pad from the plate front surface between the wheel rim and the front hub fillet, and to generally retain the grinding wheel outer surface contour during multiple grinding operations.

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: A railway truck assembly has an arrangement for constraining the free travel clearance between the mated bolster and side frame at the side frame window, and more particularly for reducing or eliminating the clearance or separation gap between the bolster lands and the side frame column wall at the outer edges of the bolster lands and the column wall for reduction of truck warping during service.

Abstract: In a bottom-pouring casting apparatus having a holding tank, a ladle in the tank and a tank cover, which seals the ladle in the tank, a pouring tube and holding casting are disclosed for mounting on and through the tank cover to provide the pouring tube in the molten metal of the ladle, which tube and holding casting are have similarly tapered outer and inner walls for mating at assembly thereby utilizing gravity and mechanical pressure on the tube holding assembly to more tightly secure the tube agains the holding casting to avoid driving the tube from the holding casting and rendering it inoperable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite turnbuckle comprising a pair of co-axial and spaced annular end fittings. Each end fitting has a threaded interior surface and an outer surface. The end fittings are made of metal. The turnbuckle has a body that extends between the end fittings. The body includes a non-metallic material. The end fittings are secured to the body to limit relative axial movement between the end fittings and the body. The turnbuckle may be used in connection with riggings of sailing vessels, for example.

Abstract: A robotic welding method for making a heat exchanger having tubes and inlet and outlet headers is disclosed. The headers have planar tubesheets and covers. The planar tubesheets are welded to the inlet and outlet ends of tubes. The tubesheets have two co-linear edge portions and a third edge intersecting a line through the two co-linear edge portions. The tubesheet has interior edges defining holes through which the ends of tubes extend. A robotic welding system is provided, with a sensor, a welding apparatus and a controller for controlling the movement and operation of the welding apparatus. The tubesheet is scanned to find the first and second co-linear edge portions, the third intersecting edge portion, and the face of the tubesheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for collecting fumes from an arc furnace of the type typically used in metal foundries. The system provides an electrode hood with extended sides for improved collection of fumes from the vicinity of the electrodes. It also provides a movable spout hood for collection of fumes when metal is tapped. A combination of a tilting manifold and stationary duct are used to maintain a path for collecting fumes throughout the entire range of motion of the furnace. The stationary duct has a group of dampers that open and close as the furnace tilts. Variable position dampers may be provided at the electrode hood and furnace door. In the bag house, there is a dust containment assembly to limit the movement of the collected dust. A variable speed fan may be used with the system.

Abstract: A cooling tower is disclosed that is resistant to lateral displacement while minimizing the number and type of parts, and while limiting the amount of horizontal bracing. The cooling tower has a fiber reinforced material skeletal frame. Moment-transferring connections are provided in the connections between the elements of the skeletal frame and between the skeletal frame and the base on which it sits. Further cost savings may be realized by using separable parts made of wood instead of fiber reinforced material. The moment-transferring connections between the frame members are made by bonding the joined elements to a mounting plate. The moment-transferring connections between the frame and the base are made by bonding the frame members and the base to footings. A method of constructing such a cooling tower is also disclosed. Diagonal bracing may be provided at preselected joints.

Abstract: A method and system for cutting hub bores in metal railroad wheels is disclosed. The system includes a lead and second torch for cutting the hub bores. In the method, the lead torch is moved to an initial position above the wheel. The lead torch is energized and moved to cut through a part of the wheel. The second torch is moved to an initial position above the wheel. The second torch is then energized and moved to cut through a part of the wheel. The entire hub bore is cut in the wheel. Additional torches may also be provided. A gantry system for supporting the lead and second torches is disclosed. The gantry system includes lead and second linear movement means arranged parallel to each other and a third linear movement means perpendicular to the lead and second linear movement means. The gantry system also includes a lead torch carriage means for supporting the lead torch and a second torch carriage means for supporting the second torch.

Abstract: A reduced weight fifth wheel generally mountable on a tractor for coupling between a tractor and a trailer, which fifth wheel has the approximately the same bearing surface area, a more continuous surface area by elimination of a lever-bar pin port in the bearing surface, thinner support ribs and smaller fillets, a shorter longitudinal length with a wider kingpin receiving slot for receipt of a trailer kingpin, with a locking-jaw mechanism having a redesigned lever-bar pin and pin-receiving port to enable reduction of the weight and to enhance production casting practices.