Abstract: A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.

Abstract: A rail anchor and a rail anchor assembly are provided for use with a concrete railroad tie. An elastomeric plate is placed on a top surface of the railroad tie. A rigid plate is placed on top of the elastomeric plate. The rail anchor is placed adjacent the elastomeric plate and the rigid plate. The rail anchor has a first end with a receiving opening and a second end with a receiving indentation to receive edges of the flanges of the railroad rail. The rail anchor has a center portion joining the two ends. The outer portion of the rail anchor extends downwardly an amount less than the thickness of the elastomeric plate and the rigid plate to avoid contact with the concrete railroad tie.

Abstract: A railway car truck includes side frames each having a pedestal formed on longitudinally opposite ends thereof. Each pedestal has an upper jaw and a lower jaw surrounding a pedestal opening. The upper jaw has a roof section above the pedestal opening and the lower jaw has an inner wall and an outer wall on opposite sides of the pedestal opening. The inner and outer walls are spaced apart from one another to define a wide pedestal opening. A bearing adapter is received in each pedestal opening. Each bearing adapter includes a concave opening to receive a bearing and a generally rectangular center section having a top surface generally opposite the concave opening. The bearing adapter has steps extending outward from sides thereof that have outer surfaces separated by a distance corresponding to the width of the pedestal opening.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner race fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. Tapered roller elements are located between and contact the inner and outer raceways. A cage is comprised of an inner ring, and outer ring, and a plurality of pocket bars and support pocket bars extending between the inner and outer rings. The support pocket bars have an overall greater thickness than the pocket bars. The cage is a generally unitary structure comprised of a nylon resin material with a fiber fill.

Abstract: A multi-cartridge cutting tool includes a body with a plurality of cartridge-receiving pockets, and a plurality of insert-receiving cartridges mounted to a respective pocket. A round cutting insert is mounted to each cartridge. The pockets are formed at predetermined distances from a central, longitudinal axis of the body to form a first group and a second group of cutting inserts such that the cutting edges of the first group of cutting inserts and the cutting edges of the second group of cutting inserts are located at different axial and radial distances from the central, longitudinal axis of the body to perform different machining operations. The cutting tool may be used as part of a railway wheel boring assembly.

Abstract: A railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The pedestal opening is formed by a roof section that includes a pad receiving opening. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of a bearing assembly. An adapter pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. The adapter pad includes a base section and a raised top section that is fit within the pad receiving opening in the pedestal roof section.

Abstract: A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.

Abstract: The system of the invention includes a method for monitoring changes in the status or condition of a Container using one or more monitoring units mounted to the Container. The monitoring units preferably include a power supply, sensors using reflective energy with programmable parameters, globally-unique sensor identification, recording capability on a timeline, long term memory and the ability to rebroadcast information on RFID radio technology. Programmable monitoring hardware in the monitoring unit detects significant changes in the sensor outputs as a triggering event. The programmable monitoring hardware includes memory for storing identification information for the Container. The sensors which can include conventional devices that detect various forms of energy including visible light, infrared light, magnetic fields, radio frequency energy and sound. In one embodiment, a monitoring unit is mounted inside a shipping Container suitable for long distance transport.

Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.

Abstract: A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.

Abstract: Railcar monitoring utilizes instrumented, flexible pads supported within the truck pedestal jaws on the bearing adapters. The pads contain sensors for monitoring temperature pressure, shifting loads, truck hunting and the like and have circuitry for processing information received from the sensors and for processing and reporting departures of performance variables to a remote source. The system cyclically activates polling each pad on a car and communicates signals of critical departures and car identity to a remote source.

Abstract: A system to remotely report the load condition of a railroad car including a mechanism to sense the load condition in the form of a switch responsive to load condition to change the state of an electrical circuit, a controller to recognize the state of the circuit and a radio wave transmitter directed by the controller to report the condition to a remote receiver. Load is sensed by recognition of the distance between two components of the car, one which remains relatively fixed regardless of the weight of the car, the other which moves relative to the first component as the car weight changes.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. An annular wear ring is positioned between the inner race and the backing ring. An improved lubricant seal arrangement is provided between the wear ring and the supporting outer raceway.

Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap. The cup shaped cap includes a centrally located cut out section with an elastomer pad fitted within the cut out section. The cup shaped cap cylindrical wall sections can be coated with a lubricant or hardening substance.

Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner case fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. An annular wear ring is positioned between the inner case and the backing ring. An annular sealant bead or a sealant ring form a seal between the shaft shoulder and the backing ring.

Abstract: An improved railway car truck is provide that includes two sideframes and a bolster. The bolster has laterally opposite ends, each end extending into and supported within a sideframe opening on a spring group. Each sideframe also has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The railway car truck also includes two brake beam assemblies supported on the railway car truck bolster and sideframes. Each brake beam assembly includes an elongated main section, a support section, and a standoff section extending between the main section and support section. Two brake hangers comprised of a leg sections and a bottom section support an end of the brake beam assembly. The brake hangers can be reversed such that the brake head support sections can be spaced laterally to adapt to different rail gauges.

Abstract: A railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of a bearing assembly. An adapter pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Protrusions extend from the adapter pad and are received in depressions in the bearing adapter to provide longitudinal stability for the adapter pad on the bearing adapter itself. Each adapter pad includes at least two wear tabs extending laterally outwardly from a top section of the adapter pad.