Abstract: A turbocharger compressor housing apparatus comprises a compressor housing and diffuser. These components are configured to provide an interference fit when assembled. An annular projection extends outwardly from one of such components toward the other of the components and engages the other of the components to form an annular joint. One of the compressor housing and diffuser comprises a recess positioned to collect debris generated during the interference fit to prevent the debris from reaching the annular joint. A second recess can be provided at the opposite side of the projection to accommodate deformation of the projection during assembly of the diffuser and compressor housing. The recesses can be annular and can, along with the projection, be included in the diffuser.

Abstract: A stator core assembly for use in an electrical machine is provided. The stator core assembly includes a plurality of core components. Each core component forms an arcuate section of the stator core assembly. Each core component is comprised of at least two core component sections, with each core component section adjacent another core component section. Each core component section is formed of a ferrous magnetic powder metal particles which are generally mutually insulated. Such ferrous magnetic powder metal particles are pressure formed into the core component section.

Abstract: A steel alloy, particularly adapted for the manufacture of railway wheels is provided. Such alloy comprises essentially, in weight percentage, carbon 0.67-0.77, manganese 0.70-0.85, silicon 0.65-0.85, phosphorus less than 0.025, sulfur less than 0.025, chromium 0.18-0.25, molybdenum 0.08-0.12, with the balance essentially iron. Another lower carbon alloy comprises essentially, in weight percentage, carbon 0.16-0.45, manganese 0.90-1.10, silicon 0.50-0.70, phosphorous less than 0.035, sulfur less than 0.035, nickel 1.0-1.5, chromium 0.40-0.60 and molybdenum 0.40-0.60.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

Abstract: The number of cores used in casting bolsters and sideframes is reduced. End cores and a center core are placed in a mold with cope and drag portions. Each core includes integrally-formed portions for defining portions of the interior surfaces of the bolster or sideframes. The integrally-formed portions may include a portion for defining the side window of the sideframe formed integrally with other portions, and may include a pedestal portion formed integrally with other portions. The integrally-formed portions may contact both the cope and drag portions of the mold. The end cores may include integrally formed core prints for supporting the core in the mold. The integrally-formed portions of the center core include connections that are formed integrally with the other portions. Molten metal is introduced into the mold to cast the bolster or sideframe.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a transfer mechanism interposed between the first and second conveyors. The first conveyor has an input end, an output end, and a pair of laterally spaced belts rotating between its input and output ends. The belts define an upper drive run which travels in a direction from the input end towards the output end. The second conveyor has an input end adjacent the output end of the first conveyor and a distally spaced output end. The second conveyor includes a pair of laterally spaced belts rotating between its input and output ends. The belts define an upper drive run which travels in a direction from the input end towards the output end. The transfer mechanism includes first transfer pulley positioned inwardly of the output end of the first conveyor and a second transfer pulley positioned inwardly of the output end of the second conveyor.

Abstract: The number of cores used in casting sideframes is reduced. A pair of end cores and a center core are placed in a mold with cope and drag portions. Each core includes integrally-formed portions for defining portions of the interior surfaces of the sideframes. The integrally-formed portions may include a portion for defining the side window of the sideframe formed integrally with other portions, and may include a pedestal portion formed integrally with other portions. The integrally-formed portions may contact both the cope and drag portions of the mold. The end cores may include integrally formed core prints for supporting the core in the mold. The integrally-formed portions of the center core include connections that are formed integrally with the other portions. Molten metal is introduced into the mold to cast the sideframe.

Abstract: An arrangement of operating stations and equipment for the rapid preparation and transport of molten metal ladles and pouring tanks with covers to a pouring station of a pressure-pouring operation, and a method of providing the moving, placement and transport of the ladles and pouring tanks for the minimization of the loss of time between end of the first stage of pouring and initiation of the second stage of pouring.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting a cast iron pipe from a centrifugal casting machine and for also breaking the continuity of an annular sand core used to form the bell end of the pipe. The apparatus has a carrier member on which are mounted extractor carrier jaw assemblies and core continuity breaking members. The extractor jaw assemblies are movable between extended and retracted positions. One end of the carrier member is inserted into the bell end of the pipe while the pipe is in the casting machine. The extractor jaw assemblies are retracted as the carrier member enters the pipe. As the carrier member enters the pipe, the core continuity breaking members plow through parts of the sand core to break the continuity of the sand core. The extractor jaw assemblies are then extended to contact the interior surface of the pipe wall and the apparatus is retracted, pulling the pipe out of the mold in the casting machine.

Abstract: A friction shoe is provided for use in a railway freight car truck. A freight car truck comprises two laterally spaced sideframes with a bolster extending transversely between said sideframes. The bolster has two ends each of which extends into an opening in each sideframe and is supported by a spring group in each sideframe opening. A friction shoe is provided in a sloped pocket between each bolster end and a vertical face of the sideframe. The friction shoes are themselves comprised of a sloped wall, a vertical rear wall extending from a lower part of the rear wall to a lower part of the sloped wall, and side support walls. The friction shoe provides damping for the bolster supported on each spring group. The friction shoe of the present invention also includes generally circular openings in the side support walls.

Abstract: A system for removing waste material from the bell end of a cast iron pipe is disclosed. The system has both a cleaning assembly and an exhaust system. The cleaning assembly has a plurality of wire brushes mounted on a shaft. The shaft is mounted on a cart that also supports a movable part of the exhaust system. The cart moves the wire brushes and part of the movable part of the exhaust system into and out of the bell end of the pipe. A motor on the cart rotates the shaft and brushes, and a tilt mechanism tilts the brushes down to contact the pipe. The pipe is rotated about its central longitudinal axis as the brushes contact and clean the pipe. The rotating brushes clean the sand core from the end of the pipe, and the waste sand is drawn by the exhaust system to the bag house where it is filtered. The exhaust system also includes a stationary duct. The stationary duct has a door and a chute. Larger chunks of waste sand can be removed from the exhaust system through the door and chute.

Abstract: An extended end-sill assembly for a railcar, which assembly is produced by mating a front-sill casting and back-sill casting having a transition region therebetween wherein the endsill includes a cast-in-place center plate, a support arrangement for a cushioning apparatus and a wide-mouthed end for greater lateral travel of the coupler shank arm, and such dual casting assembly is inapposite to present production of such endsill assemblies that require fabrication of numerous plates, pieces and braces.

Abstract: A three piece stabilized railway car truck is provided with dimensions corresponding generally with an AAR nominal 100 ton size truck and a load carrying capability satisfactory for use with railway cars having a 315,000 pound gross weight on rail rating. Various components of the truck have been modified to improve the fatigue life of each component and the overall service life of the resulting railway truck.

Abstract: A pocket-casting is provided for a railcar slackless coupler having a draft gear subassembly for preloading the coupler assembly in the buff and draft directions, which pocket-casting and cooperating positive stops in a center-sill of a railcar limit the longitudinal travel and consequent loading of the slackless coupler in both the buff and draft directions for transfer of the forces to the plate-reinforced center sill to ease the shock loading on the coupler assembly.

Abstract: A riser topping gathering system and method are disclosed. The system and method are used in gathering riser topping material from the riser cavities of the cope portion of a mold. A capture hood includes high-pressure air outlets and is connected to a duct system, collector and air moving mechanism. The capture hood is moved into contact with the top of the cope mold portion. The air moving mechanism pulls a stream of ambient air over the top of the cope mold portion while high pressure air is pulsed into the riser cavities through the high air pressure outlets. The pulses of high-pressure air activate the riser topping materials and raise them out of the riser cavities and into the path of the ambient air in the capture hood. The moving ambient air carries the riser topping material out of the capture hood and into the duct system. The air and riser topping material is moved to the collector where the riser topping material is separated from the air.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight draft sill end casting for use with railroad cars. The cast draft sill has side walls, front and rear stops, front and rear rib sets and a center plate that are cast as a unit. The draft sill has an open area between the tops of the side walls between the front and rear stops, with a cast metal span connecting the two side walls. The cast metal span may comprise one or more spacer bars or part of a top wall. The cast metal span is in the area between the planes of the front stops and the rear stops. The front and rear stops are spaced below the tops of the side walls. In one embodiment, there are additional lightener holes in each side wall between the ribs in the rear rib set and in the pocket. The total weight of the cast draft sill is not substantially greater than the weight of a comparable fabricated draft sill of substantially the same size, and has a greater fatigue life.

Abstract: A draft sill end casting with a locking center pin is disclosed. The draft sill has an open member with an elongate channel aligned with the central aperture of its center plate. A support shelf is within the elongate channel. A center pin has an upper retainer key supported on the shelf, and the center pin extends through the elongate channel to the exterior of the draft sill. The lower end of the center pin has a slot. When mounted on a truck bolster, a lower retainer key is slid through slots in the bolster walls and through the slot in the lower end of the center pin. The two retainer keys, support shelf and bolster walls lock the center pin in position, limiting axial movement of the center pin and limit rotation of the center pin. Thus, the draft sill and truck bolster are locked together to limit relative vertical and horizontal movement between them. The shelf may include rotation stops to limit rotation of the upper retainer once it is in place.

Abstract: A roller-chain bushing with a stress-relief opening centrally located along the seam of a rolled or roll-formed bushing has a tapered or relief segment at each bushing end to permit compressive fitting of the bushing ends into a link-plate hole thereby minimizing deformation of the bushing end, which tapered or relief segment is locally deformed or worked at a specific location prior to forming the bushing and the tapered segment is provided in a bushing region diametrically opposite the seam to reduce barreling of the bushing at mating of the bushing with the roller link-plate, and positioning of the tapered region along the chain pitch line at the point of stress concentration during chain assembly reduces the initial wear of the pin and bushing from initial chain loading.

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. The furnace is tilted when metal is tapped. A tilting duct is connected to provide a path for emissions drawn into the hood on the furnace. The tilting duct moves with the furnace. A stationary duct leads to the bag house. The tilting duct and stationary duct meet at an interface and have facing openings that 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 to limit air intake to the portion of the stationary duct opening that is adjacent the tilting duct opening.