Abstract: A method of casting an object, usually a railroad wheel, is provided. A graphite mold having a drag section and a cope section has an opening in the drag section allowing molten metal to be fed upwardly by pressure into the cast object cavity. A stopper pipe assembly extends through centrally located openings in the cope section and the drag section. The hub core seals against an opening in the drag section upon cessation of pouring to keep molten metal in the cavity in the mold. The hub core assembly is comprised of refractory material which the molten metal contacts thereby allowing the reuse of the hub core assembly.

Abstract: A method of casting an object, usually a railroad wheel, is provided. A graphite mold having a drag section and a cope section requires a plurality of riser openings in the cope section to ensure proper dimensional accuracy of the cast railroad wheel by allowing molten metal to continue to feed downwardly through the riser openings to the cast wheel cavity during initial cooling. The riser openings are lined with an improved insulating material in an accurate manner such that the insulating material is added between a machined riser opening in the graphite cope mold section and a mandrel inserted in the riser opening.

Abstract: A drill press is provided that is specially adapted for drilling openings into a cylindrical block. The cylindrical block is placed on an indexing plate that is circular and capable of rotational movement on the drill press table around the center axis of the cylindrical block and indexing plate. An indexing plate support is used to help precisely rotate the indexing plate. The drill press can drill a plurality of openings through the cylindrical block at the same radial distance from the center axis of the block without need to move the drill spindle.

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: A bottom fed fluid distribution system is provided which may be used to uniformly distribute fluid to an underlying structure. The distribution system comprises a distribution pan, fluid transporting flume, and inlet chamber. The fluid transporting flume is positioned inside the back edge of the distribution pan and is elevated above the bottom of the pan. The flume has an opening in its bottom to allow fluid to flow downwardly into the distribution pan. The inlet chamber is located at the back edge and at one side of the distribution pan. Fluid flows into the bottom of the inlet chamber and then into the flume. As the fluid is flowing all along the length of the flume, a portion of the fluid flows downwardly through the opening in the bottom of the flume and into the distribution pan.

Abstract: A three piece freight railcar truck with a truck bolster having distal ends that extend outward of the truck side frames to beneath the sides of a rail car body and the bolster ends have seats for self leveling bearings which directly support the car body at the side sills.

Abstract: A fifth wheel for an over the road tractor having a locking bolt that may be cocked so as to latch and unlatch respecting movement to engage a king pin retaining jaw.

Abstract: A railroad brake shoe friction composition is prepared in the absence of a volatile solvent by first preparing a fluid paste bonding matrix containing an uncured rubber compound, a blend of highly polymerized cashew nut shell liquid resin with a reactive diluent and high surface area inorganic fillers, and thereafter adding other fillers and reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curvilinear transition duct for use with a centrifugal fan that affords optimal fan efficiency without undue duct length. The duct comprises a top section of generally concave planar shape when viewed from above and a bottom section. Side sections join the top and bottom sections to form a four sided structure having an inlet opening at one side and an outlet opening at the other side. The preferred bottom section is of a generally longer longitudinal length than the top section. Further, the preferred duct has a plane in contact with the edges of the inlet opening which intersect a plane in contact with the outlet openings at a level above the duct. The angle formed between the planes would be 1.degree. to 60.degree..

Abstract: A railroad car coupler arrangement which limits the lateral movement of square butt couplers to prevent excess longitudinal misalignment, particularly on railroad cars having single axle trucks. The coupler includes a head and shank which fit into a coupler pocket. An end wall of the shank engages a follower plate which is in contact with a draft gear cushioning device. The shank end wall has a vertically-extending recess and the follower plate has a cooperating, vertically-extending projection which interfits with the recess to limit lateral movement of the coupler shank relative to the coupler pocket transversely of the longitudinal centerline of the car.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for filtering, including a plurality of separate filter media beds progressively decreasing in granular media size in the direction of filtration flow. One embodiment of the invention includes two separate media beds comprised of two intimately contacting granular layers of different granular size. A second embodiment of the invention includes three separated media beds. In this embodiment the first bed consists of a single media layer and the second and third beds are comprised of two intimately contacting media layers of different granular size. In both embodiments, the filtration flow rate through each successive separate bed is less than that in the immediately preceeding bed.