Abstract: A wire rope comprising an outer rope layer and an inner rope layer of wire strands is provided. The inner rope layer itself is comprised of multiple layers, usually in a parallel laid, coreless arrangement. The inner and outer rope layers are contrahelically laid and are usually lubricated. A thermoplastic or elastomer can be utilized to encapsulate the lubricant within the inner rope layer or within both the inner and outer rope layers.

Abstract: A railroad brake shoe comprising a composition friction element prepared for engagement with a wheel of a railroad car includes an arcuate-shaped metal backing plate to which the friction element is supportively joined. The backing plate includes a semicircular-shaped attaching bracket which has a pair of brake shoe key windows formed in an upper and a lower member of the bracket. Each window has an angularly offset outer sidewall which forms part of a gripping edge. The attaching bracket of the brake shoe is fitted between spaced carrier lugs formed in a brake shoe head located at each end of a brake beam associated with the railroad car. To secure the brake shoe to the brake head a brake shoe key is inserted in a vertical recess formed in the brake head so as to pass through the key windows in the brake shoe. The key engages the gripping edges in the brake shoe attaching bracket to form a wedging action which inhibits movement of the key during use.

Abstract: This invention relates to a railway car coupler having an improved anticreep protection assembly so as to prevent inadvertent uncoupling during movement of the railway car along a track. The improvement comprises the provision of a chamfered locklift connector or a chamfered coupler structure that lies in the path of movement of the connector so that an anticreep prong of the connector may be free to engage with a front face ledge of the coupler head to provide positive anticreep protection against accidental unlocking of the coupler.

Abstract: A railway coupler connection is provided for use in a coupler shank-yoke or a drawbar-yoke configuration. Self adjusting slack reduction is provided by a wedge shaped shim or an angled follower block. Vertical and horizontal angling of the coupler connection is provided for by the curved shape of the contacting surfaces of the butt portion of the shank or drawbar and the follower block and the yoke.

Abstract: A railway wheel lifter and inverter is provided. A railway wheel enters a receiver device from a wheel conveyor. The receiver device is rotated about a shaft such that the wheel is lifted to a second conveyor and is inverted in the process. A second receiver device is affixed to the same shaft such that a complete lifting and inverting operation is accomplished in a one-half rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve having an improved valve position indicator so as to provide an accurate indication of the valve position from a distance. The improvement comprises the provision of indicators affixed to a member connected directly to the valve closure member so that the indicators may be positioned relative to viewing windows of an extension post of the valve to provide a corresponding open or closed valve position.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle truck having a single wheelset includes a pair of spaced side frames. The side frames are joined into a rigid unit by a pair of transversely positioned crossbars. The crossbars are positioned one each on each side of the wheelset which has its axle ends journaled in bearings carried in turn in a pedestal jaw centrally formed in each side frame. Projecting inwardly from each end of the side frames is a bracket which forms part of a set of upper pivot connections with an upper end of a swing arm. A laterally positioned crosstie assembly is joined through a pair of spaced end caps with a lower end of each swing arm to form a set of lower pivot connections. Each crosstie assembly end cap has a pair of spring cups containing a set of springs which operatively support a body of the railroad vehicle thereabove.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle truck having a single wheelset includes a pair of spaced side frames. The side frames are joined into a rigid unit by a pair of transversely positioned transom cross bars. The cross bars are positioned one each on each side of the wheelset which has its axle ends journaled in bearings carried in turn in a pedestal jaw centrally formed in each side frame. Projecting inwardly from each end of the side frames is a bracket which forms part of a set of upper pivot connections with an upper end of a swing arm. A laterally positioned crosstie assembly is joined through a pair of spaced end caps with a lower end of each swing arm to form a set of lower pivot connections. Each crosstie assembly end cap has a pair of spring cups containing a set of springs which operatively support a body of the railroad vehicle thereabove.

Abstract: Helical coil springs for use in such active load supporting functions as railway car trucks, require end forming such that tapered ends are provided which fit flat against the surfaces to be resiliently supported. A process and an apparatus for forming such spring ends by flame cutting is provided.

Abstract: A railway coupler having a coupler head and a support shelf extending from the lower portion and in some couplers, from the upper portion as well, of the coupler head is provided. A chamfer is provided on the front and side edges of the support shelf and also on the front and side edges of the auxiliary interlocking lug to decrease the possibility of the raising of one coupler during an adverse vertical angling coupling operation.

Abstract: A multi-rate side bearing for a railway truck is provided. The side bearing comprises a base plate and an upper plate, with two resilient devices located between the base plate and the upper plate. The resilient devices usually are elastomeric pads of different compression rates and shear stiffness. Under unloaded car conditions, only one pad is in load supporting contact, but under loaded car conditions, both resilient devices contact the upper and base plates to provide load support and car body-truck motion damping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow rate measuring device in a liquid flow including a torque detecting member having its longitudinal plane fixedly mounted at an acute angle relative to the direction of liquid flow. Energy from the liquid flow provides a torsional stress on the mounting means. A torque detecting device is provided to detect the torsional stress and converts such measured torque into a flow rate of the liquid flow.

Abstract: A side frame for a single axle railway truck is provided. The side frame has top and bottom and spaced side walls. The side frame has a generally hollow cross section, with an upper middle portion, downwardly sloped intermediate portion and lower outer portions. The top and bottom walls have decreasing thickness inwardly from the end of the outer portions.

Abstract: A drawbar assembly comprising a drawbar and a buffing block device constructed and arranged so as to provide a turning moment which tends to align the horizontally displaced adjacent ends of the railway vehicle to which the drawbar is connected when said drawbar is operating under buff loading.

Abstract: Reinforced thermoplastic impregnated lubricated wire ropes are provided in the present invention. A method of reinforcing and filling the thermoplastic material with fibers, mineral fillers and powders is also provided.

Abstract: A truck for a railroad car has a front and rear wheelset with axle ends rotatively carried in a front and rear steering arm, respectively. The steering arms are carried in pedestal jaws of a right and left side frame with resilient pads interfacing between the steering arms and the side frames. The resilient pads allow each wheelset and steering arm to rotate or yaw to an out-of-square condition with respect to the side frame as the railroad car proceeds, for example, around a curve in the track on which the car is traveling. This rotational movement is selectively regulated by a joint connecting the front and rear steering arms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve position indicator for buried valves having a rotatably operated shaft extended to ground level. A sealed gear box unit non-rotatably mounted inside the valve position indicator has a transmission mechanism mounted about the operator shaft to effectively move an indicating device at a predetermined arc distance for every shaft revolution. Adjustable indicator plates are angularly disposed on the cover of the gear box unit to provide open and closed reference points for the indicating device. The plates are securable in a manner to permit application to valves requiring different number of turns to move the valves between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing complex metallic plates. A hollow metal piece, which will form the outer layer, is first made. A powder which will form the inner layer is then filled within the hollow metal piece. The multi-layer plate is then manufactured by hot-rolling the metal piece.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a device for removing risers or the like from metal castings. The device generally includes a frame on which there is mounted a power actuated means for fracturing and separating the riser from the casting and a retaining and locating means which serves to locate and retain the power actuated means in a position in which it is operative to strike the riser and separate it from the casting.

Abstract: Powder metal first pressed into a green briquette having an inner cavity is then sintered to form a rigid part. The inner cavity of the part is next sized in a lap-like operation by a spherical-shaped tool. The tool is rotated in an orbital pattern comprising a series of elliptically-shaped cycles. As the tool rotates, small successive portions of a surface of the cavity are contacted by the tool. This lap-like interaction between the tool and cavity surface not only sizes the cavity to an exact dimension but improves the wear quality of the cavity surface by increasing the density of a wall of the cavity as well as providing an improved surface finish.