Abstract: Composition friction materials particularly adapted for use in making railroad brake shoes include an elastomer such as synthetic rubber or natural rubber. The elastomer forms part of a bond for the remaining friction ingredients. The elastomer, solvent and nonsolvent absorbing granular abrasive materials of the composition are mixed in a manner such that the elastomer is quickly reduced to a paste-like consistency to which the remaining ingredients are added and mixed to form pellets which can be conveniently formed into brake shoes.

Abstract: A three-piece dampener assembly provides means to depress vertical and horizontal oscillations between ends of a bolster of a railroad car truck and side frames of the truck. This assembly includes a control or friction shoe having an outer vertical engaging surface for contact with a vertical wear plate of a pocket formed in the side frame and an inner projecting triangular-shaped segment. The triangular segment is covered by a relativley low friction adapter and engages a like triangular-shaped wedge slot formed in a control or friction shoe housing. The housing further includes an inclined wear surface for engaging with a complementary inclined friction surface formed in the bolster and a bottom surface for supportive engagement with a coil spring carried in the side frame pocket below the bolster.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for determining the Brinell hardness of railway vehicle wheels comprising a receiving means to accept and retain the wheel in a substantially vertical position; an elevator to raise and lower the receiving means in a substantially vertical plane; a polishing attachment to polish at least a portion of the wheel being held by the receiving means; and a Brinell testing device to determine the hardness of the wheel at one or more points which have previously been polished by the polishing attachment.

Abstract: Filter apparatus and method comprising a pair of filter shells having communicating flow passages and a filter media between the shells. Upon the clogging of the filter media, the inflow of liquid is stopped, the shells drained of remaining liquid and separated to allow the filter media to be removed and replaced. The shells can be interlocked when closed, and a mechanism is provided to hold one shell in locked engagement against the other when filtering. The one shell can then be released to allow the shells to separate when the filter media is to be replaced.

Abstract: A method of producing a high density iron-base material by a powdered metal process includes blending powder of a substantially eutectic alloy with carbon particles to increase the difference between the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the blend. The blend is then compacted and sintered at a temperature between the solidus and liquidus temperatures to achieve the desired high density.

Abstract: A plurality of articles to be conveyed and stored for selective delivery to meet an intermittent demand each has an upper end in selective contact with a pair of elongated fixed ride bars extending from a load station to a distant unload station. The upper ride bars form in part a support for the upper ends of the articles. A lower end of each article is in contact with and supported on an elongated movable ride bar positioned below the upper bars so as to maintain the articles in an inclined orientation. By reciprocating the lower ride bar, the articles are walked from the load station to the unload station where they may be accumulated and stored in a damage-resistant stacked condition ready for selective release as required.

Abstract: A braking system for a railroad car truck having its front and rear wheelsets so connected to permit each wheelset to yaw as the truck proceeds about curved trackage includes a front and rear brake beam and brake shoes attached thereto for engagement with the front and rear wheelsets. Each brake beam is pivotally connected to a front and rear brake lever, respectively, which are in turn pivotally connected to a front and rear swingable arm of the truck. During yawing or horizontal rotational movements of the wheelsets and the swingable arms in which the wheelsets are journaled, the brake beams and truck levers move complementary to each other so that when a braking force is applied to the truck levers, the rotational position of the wheelsets is unaffected by the braking force as the brake shoes engage the wheelsets.

Abstract: A filter device wherein inlet and outlet chambers are spaced from each other by a segment of filter media is positively locked in a condition whereat the chambers are sealed with respect to each other and the atmosphere by a hydraulic power device to which hydraulic pressure fluid is delivered at a predetermined pressure value. Filtrate is then delivered to the inlet chamber at a pressure which increases in value as the filter media becomes fouled with particulate.

Abstract: An improved railroad car truck side bearing assembly comprising two spring means spaced apart in a manner so as to concentrically envelop the side bearing mounting holes of a railroad car truck bolster; a base for mounting to a railroad car truck bolster and having pockets at each of its longitudinal extremities for receiving one end of a spring means so as to retain the spring means in its desired location, the base further having a centrally located upstanding projection partially enveloping the two spring means and also provided with a side wall having angularly and laterally disposed surfaces; a cap having pockets in its longitudinal extremities to receive and retain the other ends of the spring means, the cap having a pair of centrally located depending members which co-operatively interengage the projection of the base, the cap also being provided with a side wall having angularly and laterally disposed surfaces to co-operatively engage the similar surfaces located on the base.

Abstract: A bolster for a railway car truck having an obstacle-free cavity located below a center plate so as to more readily accommodate truck linkage members, brake apparatus and other associated mechanical components. The obstacle-free cavity is defined by a top and a bottom member, sidewalls each having an elliptical opening therein and two spaced vertically inclined lateral ribs which distribute the weight of a body of the car between the top and bottom members.