Abstract: Prior art railcar bolsters and friction shoe assemblies were constructed such that the friction shoe was tightly restrained within the friction shoe pocket. The present invention utilizes a friction shoe sled for promoting lateral sliding of the friction shoe assembly within a laterally wider bolster friction shoe pocket. The sliding mechanism incorporates the use of an pad is countersunk into the floor of the friction shoe pocket and the base of the sled. The sled is fitted underneath the friction shoe to support the friction shoe biasing spring as well as the friction shoe. The top of the sled has a post attached to it, for insertion into the bottom of the friction shoe biasing spring. The bottom of the sled preferably has the elastomeric pad attached to it, although it can be smoothly machined, so that the bottom surface of the sled slides along the elastomeric pad anchored to the friction shoe pocket floor.

Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A method for grinding cast steel railroad wheels is provided. The apparatus comprises a railroad wheel support assembly that includes a roller assembly to receive and grasp the railroad wheel and rotate the railroad wheel about its center axis. A grinding assembly is also provided that includes a motor operatively connected to a grinding wheel. The motor and grinding wheel are mounted to a support assembly. The railroad wheel support assembly oscillates about an axle assembly during grinding. The grinding assembly is designed to advance the grinding wheel laterally into the railroad wheel during grinding. The lateral advancing of the grinding wheel and oscillating of the railroad wheel are controlled to achieve a finish grinding of the selected surface of the railroad wheel to a preselected contour.

Abstract: A slackless railcar coupler assembly, which is mountable in a railcar center sill, has a draft gear subassembly operable against a rear stop, and a slackfree coupler apparatus mounted in a coupler pocket forward of said draft gear subassembly, which subassembly and apparatus are connected to provide a dynamic load in both the buff and draft directions to avoid a mechanical, longitudinal stress load on the coupler assembly and railway car.

Abstract: The present invention involves the addition of a device attached to each of the follower block side walls in order to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the follower block side walls and the center sill side walls. The preventative device comprises an elastomeric wear pad attached to a base plate, a base plate being anchored to each of the follower block side walls. The pads are made of a softer, low-friction material, compared to the carbon steel side walls. Since the elastomeric wear pads are softer than the center sill side walls, only the restrictive means will wear, thereby preventing destruction of the center sill side walls no matter how much slack has been developed in the coupling system. The present invention is also adaptable to either E or F type couplers.

Abstract: The present invention involves structurally changing an American Association of Railroads (AAR) standard 100 ton sideframe so that it is statically and dynamically capable of handling a 110 ton payload; this is accomplished by reducing two weak points on the sideframe. The first weak point is located in the sideframe upper compression member, near the vertical support column, and the second weak point is the upper portion of the area comprising the lower diagonal tension member core support hole. Stresses in the this area are reduced by gradually extending the zone where cross-sectional wall thicknesses normally experience an abrupt change. The gradual decrease in cross-sectional areas increases the static strength of the sideframe by increasing the elastic or ultimate loading limits. In the second area metallic mass is added, thereby increasing the section modulus of the sideframe near the core support hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and the method to treat process water of heat exchange systems with fluid flow through the system at an idling or inoperative system mode, which system may have a biocidal treatment arrangement coupled thereto.

Abstract: Iron pipe and other hollow articles are lined with a cementitious mortar containing a quantity of polymer particles and the pipe is rotated about its axis so as to stratify the mortar and develop a polymer rich inner surface that is subsequently cured, dried and heated to the polymer fusion temperature and then coated with a continuous layer of pure polymer.

Abstract: A railcar connector assembly includes an elastic pad held in a cage that is interposed between parts of the assembly to provide limited slack of an amount approximately equal to a dimension that the pad extends from the cage.

Abstract: In a casting mold, refractory filled segments are provided between adjacent riser seats to provide more uniform and more controlled cooling of the molten metal to reduce microporosity in the cast product.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structural assembly that includes at least four vertically extending columns which form corners of the structural assembly. Wall panels extend between adjacent columns, with at least two wall panels vertically stacked and connected to each other, to form a structural wall assembly between adjacent columns. The ends of each of the wall panels are attached to flanges that extend from each of the columns. A structural column is provided in the center of the structure and braces extend from each of the corner columns to the riser. Beams also extend from the central riser outwardly to certain of the wall panels, usually connecting to the wall panels at a location equidistant between the columns. A roof structure is provided, the edges of which are received in spaces in certain of the top wall panels. In a cooling tower application of the present invention, a fan assembly is supported on the top of the central column water inlet riser and includes a fan shroud supported by the roof.

Abstract: A large anti-vortexing nozzle is provided which may be used in a distribution system comprising multiple nozzles to uniformly distribute fluid to an underlying surface. The nozzle is non-clogging, operates at very low spray pressures, and evenly distributes fluid over a wide area due to its ability to eradicate vortex formations within the nozzle. The nozzle comprises a main body with integrally formed anti-vortexing ears extending upward from the top of the nozzle into the pipe and an underlying dual pyramid shaped deflecting apparatus. In operation, the nozzle produces consistent and continuous, multiple uniform flat planes of fluid because the nozzle now will not sputter, vibrate or induce air because ears on the nozzle eliminate vortex pair formations which are detrimental to nozzle performance.

Abstract: A tread brake shoe for a railroad wheel has a cross-section with a bidirectional laminate structure, which includes a core element of a high-friction material for contacting the wheel tread and, at least one low-friction element positioned on the high-friction material sidewall for contact with the wheel flange and to inhibit wheel flange contact with the high friction material.

Abstract: A cooling system with at least one cooling tower and multiple upper pans or distribution manifold pipes is provided with a strainer tank assembly at the tower lower end in proximity to the sump to receive incoming fluid for cooling, which strainer tank includes a screen to strain particulate material from the inlet fluid communicated to the tower upper end and to equally distribute this fluid at the lowest elevation at a pressure with a higher static pressure component than its dynamic pressure component to avoid a requirement for a flow control valve to provide relatively quiescent fluid for fluid distribution to the tower and fluid transfer media therein. A pressure relief baffle in the strainer tank is operable in response to a fluid overpressure condition to bypass the screen and open fluid communication to avert catastrophic failures within the fluid circuit.

Abstract: A railway car with a slackless drawbar arrangement for unit trainservice and the like is provided and includes a drawbar having a section which is fabricated. The fabricated intermediate section is cut from a section of seamless pipe or tubing or can be fabricated from plate, while the coupling end pieces attached to each end of the shank are cast members made from typical casting methods. The coupling end pieces can be cast into standard fixed or rotatable drawbar ends or even be a combination thereof with rotational capability. The geometric shape of the intermediate section is varied, depending upon the application, so that resistance to torsional or bending loads is maximized. The fabricated shank portion is hollow, as well as part of the body of the coupling end pieces, thereby reducing the railcar's weight and costs to manufacture.

Abstract: The present invention provides an outlet connection for use in a lined basin. A structural steel basin, usually part of a cooling tower, includes a fiberglass reinforced polyester liner. Such liner is desired to provide corrosion resistance and watertightness to the steel basin. The outlet connection includes a piping section of cylindrical shape affixed to a backing plate. The piping section passes through an opening in the liner, with the backing section and another backing plate holding gaskets compressed against the liner. The piping section extends through an opening in a basin wall section, and a closure plate is affixed to the basin wall section. The closure plate also has an opening corresponding to the outer surface of the piping section, and is held to the piping section along the sides of said opening by welding or other similar means.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding cast steel railroad wheels is provided. The apparatus comprises a railroad wheel support assembly that includes a roller assembly to receive and grasp the railroad wheel and rotate the railroad wheel about its center axis. A grinding assembly is also provided that includes a motor operatively connected to a grinding wheel. The motor and grinding wheel are mounted to a support assembly. The railroad wheel support assembly oscillates about an axle assembly during grinding. The grinding assembly is designed to advance the grinding wheel laterally into the railroad wheel during grinding. The lateral advancing of the grinding wheel and oscillating of the railroad wheel are controlled to achieve a finish grinding of the selected surface of the railroad wheel to a preselected contour.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling, air which apparatus includes an indirect evaporative cooler, a direct-contact ice-water chiller, a reheat coil component, an ice-thermal-storage component and an ice-manufacturing refrigeration chiller to provide alternative air-flow paths and alternative component combinations. The method provides alternative fluid-flow paths through electable combinations of the several components to effect the desired lowering of air temperature, relative humidity and air density in the cooled air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a railway car coupler arrangement whereby a standard yoke, follower, and draft gear are removed from the center sill and replaced with a short yoke member, a spacer block member and slackless drawbar arrangement, namely, a pocket casting wedge shim, and follwer, easily converting the coupler arrangement to a drawbar arrangement without modifying the center sill. The short yoke member, spacer block and slackless arrangement fit exactly within the space formerly occupied by the draft gear pocket casing. The drawbar arrangement maintains the same degrees of angling freedom as the coupler since the drawbar is connected and pivoted from the same pin location as when the coupler was installed. The short yoke member is also designed to more uniformly distribute draft loads to the center sill by transferring forces from the connecting pin into the short yoke member, which in turn transfers those forces into abutting center sill front stops, left intact from the coupler arrangement.

Abstract: A large nozzle is provided which may be used in a distribution system comprising multiple nozzles to uniformly distribute fluid to an underlying surface. The nozzle is non-clogging, operates at very low spray pressures, and evenly distributes fluid over a wide area. The nozzle comprises a main body and an underlying dual pyramid shaped deflecting means. In operation, the nozzle produces multiple uniform flat planes of fluid. When used in a distribution system comprising a plurality of nozzles, the planes of fluid from one nozzle intersect with planes of fluid from other nozzles multiple times in all directions about the nozzle to disperse the fluid. The nozzle is also provided with a flow reducing insert means and a flow directing device. A novel method of fastening the large nozzle to the header pipe is also provided.