Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing railcar coupler headcores includes providing a first corebox having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least one rotor core cavity. The method further comprises at least partially filling the at least one rotor core cavity with a first sand resin to form at least one rotor core. The method also includes providing a second corebox having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least one headcore cavity. The at least one rotor core is positioned within the second corebox. The method also comprises at least partially filling the at least one headcore cavity with a second sand resin to form at least one headcore.

Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a wheel includes a cope mold portion with internal cope mold walls and a drag mold portion with internal drag mold walls. The internal cope mold walls and internal drag mold walls define at least in part perimeter boundaries of a wheel cavity. The wheel cavity includes a cavity center portion configured to form a wheel center portion of a wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity center portion, a cavity plate portion configured to form a wheel plate portion of the wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity plate portion, and a cavity flange portion configured to form a wheel flange portion of the wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity flange portion. The system includes a chill component positioned within the wheel cavity adjacent the cavity flange portion. The chill component is configured to provide directional solidification from the cavity flange portion toward the cavity plate portion of molten alloy in the wheel cavity.

Abstract: A system comprising a type H tightlock coupler comprising a channel and an inner chamber, the channel running from a top side of the type H tightlock coupler to the inner chamber, and an anti-creep shelf disposed on an interior surface of the inner chamber, a plug comprising a first surface operable to contact the anti-creep shelf, the plug configured to fit at least partially within the channel, a link comprising a second surface operable to contact the anti-creep shelf and a hook, the link configured to fit at least partially within the channel, and a lock comprising a slot operable to receive the hook, the lock configured to fit at least partially within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A railway car coupler system includes a railcar coupler comprising a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a coupler pivot pin hole for receiving a pivot pin for coupling the railcar coupler to the first coupler knuckle. The pivot pin hole has a longitudinal axis. The coupler head portion comprises top and bottom coupler pulling lugs each having a respective coupler pulling lug engagement face. At least one of the coupler pulling lug engagement faces of the top and bottom coupler pulling lugs is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing railcar yokes includes providing a cope mold portion having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least two upper yoke mold cavities. The method further comprises providing a drag mold portion having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of at least two lower yoke mold cavities. A slab core is positioned within the drag mold portion. The slab core is configured to define at least in part perimeter boundaries of the at least two upper yoke mold cavities and the at least two lower yoke mold cavities. The cope and drag mold portions are closed with the slab core therebetween. The method also comprises at least partially filling the at least two upper and at least two lower yoke mold cavities with a molten alloy to form a first, second, third, and fourth yoke.

Abstract: A metal casting riser sleeve system includes a cope mold portion and an outer riser sleeve portion positioned in the cope mold portion. The outer riser sleeve portion encloses a central outer riser sleeve portion passageway between an outer riser sleeve portion bottom end and top end. The system also includes an inner riser sleeve portion that forms a central inner riser sleeve portion passageway between an inner riser sleeve portion bottom end and top end. The inner riser sleeve portion is slidably positioned within the outer riser sleeve portion passageway. The inner riser sleeve portion is operable to slide upward such that the inner riser sleeve portion top end is above the outer riser sleeve portion top end and such that a riser sleeve system passageway is formed between the inner riser sleeve portion top end and the outer riser sleeve portion bottom end.

Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a first mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a first coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes providing a second mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a second coupler knuckle mold cavity. The second coupler mold cavity of the second mold section is offset from the first coupler mold cavity of the first mold section. The method includes closing the first and second mold sections and at least partially filling the first and second coupler knuckle mold cavities with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.

Abstract: A railway car yoke includes a nose end and at least two straps adjoining the nose end. At least one top strap adjoins a top portion of the nose end and at least one bottom strap adjoins a bottom portion of the nose end. The railway car yoke also includes a butt end adjoining the at least two straps such that the nose end and the butt end are separated by the at least two straps. The butt end comprises at least one concave contour along an outside surface of the butt end. The outside surface is a surface along the butt end opposite the nose end that extends from a top surface of the at least one top strap to a bottom surface of the at least one bottom strap.

Abstract: A railcar coupler system that includes a yoke comprising a front end, a rear end, a top strap, and a bottom strap. The top strap and the bottom strap are positioned between the front end and the rear end. The front end comprises an internal bearing surface that is obliquely angled with respect to a central axis of the yoke that extends from the front end to the rear end of the yoke. The system also includes a connector configured to rotate within the yoke such that an axis of rotation of the connector is substantially aligned with the central axis of the yoke when the connector is positioned within the yoke. The connector includes an external bearing surface that is obliquely angled with respect to the axis of rotation of the connector and configured to correspond to the internal bearing surface of the yoke.

Abstract: A railway car yoke includes a nose end and at least two straps adjoining the nose end. At least one top strap adjoins a top portion of the nose end and at least one bottom strap adjoins a bottom portion of the nose end. The railway car yoke also includes a butt end adjoining the at least two straps such that the nose end and the butt end are separated by the at least two straps. The butt end comprises at least one concave contour along an outside surface of the butt end. The outside surface is a surface along the butt end opposite the nose end that extends from a top surface of the at least one top strap to a bottom surface of the at least one bottom strap.

Abstract: A railway car coupler head contour gauge includes a cylindrical portion configured to be rotatably coupled to a coupler head. The railway car coupler head contour gauge also includes a pulling lug gauging portion, and a contoured gauging surface that is configured to align with a contour face of a top pulling lug of the coupler head during gauging. The coupler head contour gauge may also include a convex portion configured to align with a buffing shoulder of the coupler head.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a wheel includes a cope mold portion comprising internal cope mold walls and a drag mold portion comprising internal drag mold walls. The internal walls define at least in part perimeter boundaries of a wheel cavity. The wheel cavity comprises a cavity center portion configured to form a wheel center portion of a wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity center portion, a cavity plate portion configured to form a wheel plate portion of the wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity plate portion, and a cavity flange portion configured to form a wheel flange portion of the wheel after solidification of a molten alloy in the cavity flange portion. The system includes a chill component configured to provide directional solidification from the cavity flange portion toward the cavity plate portion of molten alloy in the wheel cavity.

Abstract: A railcar coupler system that includes a yoke comprising a front end, a rear end, a top strap, and a bottom strap. The top strap and the bottom strap are positioned between the front end and the rear end. The front end comprises an internal bearing surface that is obliquely angled with respect to a central axis of the yoke that extends from the front end to the rear end of the yoke. The system also includes a connector configured to rotate within the yoke such that an axis of rotation of the connector is substantially aligned with the central axis of the yoke when the connector is positioned within the yoke. The connector includes an external bearing surface that is obliquely angled with respect to the axis of rotation of the connector and configured to correspond to the internal bearing surface of the yoke.

Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The guard arm portion comprises a minimum height less than a height of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a first mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a first coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes providing a second mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a second coupler knuckle mold cavity. The second coupler mold cavity of the second mold section is offset from the first coupler mold cavity of the first mold section. The method includes closing the first and second mold sections and at least partially filling the first and second coupler knuckle mold cavities with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.

Abstract: A railway car coupler head contour gauge includes a cylindrical portion configured to be rotatably coupled to a coupler head. The railway car coupler head contour gauge also includes a pulling lug gauging portion, and a contoured gauging surface that is configured to align with a contour face of a top pulling lug of the coupler head during gauging. The coupler head contour gauge may also include a convex portion configured to align with a buffing shoulder of the coupler head.

Abstract: A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler.