Abstract: An improved coupler knuckle with an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission the interior having a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section of the coupler knuckle.

Abstract: A wear plate for use with a railway truck, the wear plate being configured for installation on a downwardly facing surface of a pedestal opening of a side frame of a railway truck. The wear plate includes a base and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base with inwardly disposed locking features designed to engage the pedestal when the wear plate is installed, the locking features in a preferred embodiment being configured as resilient projections that engage, clamp or drag lock onto opposite sides of the pedestal with the base of the wear plate protecting the downwardly facing pedestal surface. The wear plate may be constructed from malleable or ductile metals or plastics.

Abstract: A rerailer device for rerailing a railway vehicle onto a track, the device including a body with a ramp adapted to support a wheel of a railway vehicle thereon, a sloped face provided on said body and being configured with a slope that declines in a preferred direction toward the track on which the railway vehicle wheel is to be rerailed, and support means for supporting said sloped surface and railway vehicle wheels thereon, where the support configuration, material or combinations of configurations and materials facilitate lightweight construction.

Abstract: A rerailer device for rerailing a railway vehicle onto a track, the device including a body with a ramp adapted to support a wheel of a railway vehicle thereon, a sloped face provided on said body and being configured with a slope that declines in a preferred direction toward the track on which the railway vehicle wheel is to be rerailed, and support means for supporting said sloped surface and railway vehicle wheels thereon, where the support configuration, material or combinations of configurations and materials facilitate lightweight construction.

Abstract: A polymer spring has a hollow tubular polymer body, wherein the first end portion of the body, the second end portion of the body, and the mid-portion of the body together substantially maintain an annular cylindrical column structure throughout the length of the body from the first end portion of the body to the second end portion of the body, such that the mid-portion of the body has a substantial portion that is in direct alignment with the first end portion of the body and the second end portion of the body when the spring is compressed to eliminate or reduce the chances of the spring failing caused by the spring folding or buckling and to reduce material fatigue in the polymer spring associated with folding or buckling.

Abstract: A resilient pad having a base with two side arms and two side lips for resiliently holding the base on a pedestal wear plate, the pad being configured with dome shaped portions disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of the pad and being spaced apart from each other, where the pad, when installed with a pedestal wear plate serves to improve the force load handling and preferably re-distributes the load bearing surface from the edges and center of the adapter to the flat load bearing surface of the adapter, thus eliminating load on areas that have no support. Because the spring arms do not depend on bending of the base for their resiliency, the pad of the invention provides improved service stress capabilities and allows for longer life of the wear plate.

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending a device such as the end of a depending air brake hose from a railcar. A flexible strap of a synthetic resin such as moldable polyurethane is suspended from the railcar body, for example, by attachment to an apertured fitting on the railcar coupler. Elongated resilient wire clips are provided to attach the free end of the air hose. The wire clips are generally configured with a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through a selected attachment aperture, a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated manually compressible elongated arms extending away from the latching end portions and a return portion joining the arms. The clip is further provided with a retainer operative when the arms are interlocked for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip is exerted laterally of the clip arms.

Abstract: A lubricator for the wheel flanges of railway vehicle wheels comprises an arm carrying a lubricating pad and a mounting element formed integrally with the arm. The mounting element fits into the entrance of the key slot in the brake beam head beside the brake retainer key. The key head fits in a groove in the top of the mounting element to retain the lubricator in place. When the lubricant is exhausted, the key is partially withdrawn to allow removal of the mounting element and the lubricator is replaced. When partially withdrawn, the key still retains the show on the brake beam head.

Abstract: A suspension device for supporting an air brake hose on a rail car is disclosed. The device includes a strap having a clevis at one end and a plurality of apertures in spaced relation lengthwise along the strap. A clevis pin is used to attach the clevis to a lug on the coupling of the air brake hose. The strap is inserted through a fitting on the coupler of the railcar and received within the bore of a collar. A through hole in the collar receives a strap pin that also extends through the apertures in the strap to lock the collar in place. The collar prevents the strap from passing through the bracket. The suspension device is provided as a kit wherein all of the components are integrally molded together and connected by sprue portions. A method of molding the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending a device such as the end of a depending air brake hose from a railcar. A flexible strap of a synthetic resin such as moldable polyurethane is suspended from the railcar body, for example, by attachment to an apertured fitting on the railcar coupler. Elongated resilient wire clips are provided to attach the free end of the air hose. The wire clips are generally configured with a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through a selected attachment aperture, a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated manually compressible elongated arms extending away from the latching end portions and a return portion joining the arms. The clip is further provided with a retainer operative when the arms are interlocked for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip is exerted laterally of the clip arms.

Abstract: A lubricator for the wheel flanges of railway vehicle wheels comprises an arm carrying a lubricating pad and a mounting element formed integrally with the arm. The mounting element fits into the entrance of the key slot in the brake beam head beside the brake retainer key. The key head fits in a groove in the top of the mounting element to retain the lubricator in place. When the lubricant is exhausted, the key is partially withdrawn to allow removal of the mounting element and the lubricator is replaced. When partially withdrawn, the key still retains the show on the brake beam head.

Abstract: An indicator device indicating the travel of an air bag-type brake actuator when brakes are applied includes a stationary indicator plate having a cut out extending alongside the path of travel of the actuator. The cut out includes side edges positioned at acceptable minimum and maximum actuator expansion distances giving an indication of proper functioning of the brakes. The device further includes an integral mounting arm for mounting on a plate in the fixed end of the actuator. The mounting arm includes a slot for receiving an upper edge of the stationary measuring plate and a stud on a resilient portion of the arm. An aperture on the stationary measuring plate receives the stud when the arm is mount on it.

Abstract: A support assembly suspends the end of an elongated flexible member such as the end of an elongated railroad air brake hose in a predetermined elevation. The assembly includes an elongated suspension strap having spaced apertures which are elongated lengthwise of the strap and resilient wire attachment clips, each formed of a single piece of wire. One of the clips attaches the strap to a fixture on the end of the rail car and another attaches the strap to the end of the air hose. Each clip has a first end terminating in a hook which is dimensioned to pass through a selected strap aperture when the clip is angularly positioned relative to the length of the strap but which is retained within the aperture when the clip is oriented lengthwise of the strap. The clips further comprise a first arm which extends from the hook, and a second arm which is joined to the first to form a U-shaped portion which is capable of being grasped by the hand of a worker.

Abstract: A non-metallic wear plate assembly for railroad car couplers comprises a wear plate of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having an upper surface with side edges and a middle portion therebetween, the upper surface of the wear plate sloping downwardly from the side edges to the middle portion, and a number of counter-bored holes in the wear plate with a larger diameter and a smaller diameter with the larger diameter of the counter-bored holes facing up, the wear plate being mounted on a steel filler plate by weld washers which are positioned in the holes and are welded to the filler plate, with optional weld washer plugs being positioned in the holes above the weld washers and flush with the upper surface of the wear plate. A method of using the non-metallic wear plate for railroad car couplers to center a coupler and protect it against wear.

Abstract: In a freight car truck assembly, an insert for converting a substantially flat, inclined, bolster pocket back wall into a pair of inclined surfaces for biasing a pair of split wedges laterally outwardly against side walls of the bolster pocket to create a space between the pair of split wedges. The insert is provided with a centrally located fin which projects into the space between the split wedges and engages against a side frame friction surface to control the location of the insert in the bolster pocket through frictional interference as the fin rubs against the friction surface. The insert can be loosely mounted in the bolster pocket without any need for welding the insert in place.

Abstract: A corner protector for protecting the top corners of stacks of lumber from being indented or frayed by tie-down cables in a railroad freight car, comprises a sidewall connected at its top to a top wall at right angles to the sidewall along a fold line so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of a stack of lumber and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber, cable alignment tabs on top of the top wall for aligning the tie down cable, cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and detaining the tie down cable, whereby when the protector is mounted on the corner of a stack of lumber it is protected against being contacted and indented by the tie down cable, the cable is protected against wearing and fraying caused by contacting the corner of the stack of lumber, and the corner protector may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable and inserting the protector under the cable and mounting the protector on the top corner of the stack

Abstract: An improved adapter assembly for use in a railcar truck where an axle and bearing are loosely journaled in the pedestal area of a side frame, the adapter assembly being mounted above the bearing in the pedestal opening and including a novel adapter and a novel adapter pad which is mounted on top of the adapter, the adapter together with the bearing, axle and wheels being capable of predetermined lateral movement relative to the side frame.

Abstract: A telescoping bridge plate for auto rack railroad cars for supporting automobiles being driven between railroad cars comprises a top plate with corrugations providing top surfaces separated by grooves, with the top plate having an overlapping end portion and a locking end portion, a bottom plate with corrugations providing top surfaces which seat beneath the top surfaces of the top plate, and grooves which seat beneath the grooves of the top plate, with the bottom plate having an overlapping end portion and a locking end portion, and with the top plate overlapping end portion and the bottom plate overlapping end portion being in sliding overlapping engagement.

Abstract: In a railway car truck assembly, a bearing adapter assembly includes an adapter and an adapter pad positioned between the adapter and a corresponding side frame end. The adapter is provided at each longitudinal end thereof an adapter opening having a lateral dimension greater than the lateral width of a corresponding thrust lug in a corresponding pedestal opening at the corresponding side frame end. The adapter pad is provided with longitudinal end portions depending down into respective ones of the adapter openings and including thrust lug openings each having with a lateral dimension approximately equal to the lateral width of the corresponding thrust lug to prevent significant relative lateral movement between the corresponding side frame end and the adapter pad.

Abstract: A deck double plug assembly for plugging first inboard and second outboard deck holes in the deck of converted railroad autorack cars comprises a first plug connected to a second plug base assembly by a connector portion. The second outboard plug assembly is clamped to the deck to cover and plug the second outboard deck hole, whereby the deck plug assembly may be installed by one person. The method of installation from the top surface of the deck includes the steps of loosely assembling the second outboard plug assembly, holding the second deck plug assembly and pushing the first plug downwardly through the second outboard deck hole, inserting the first inboard plug into the first deck hole from underneath the deck, and clamping the second plug assembly to the deck surrounding the second deck hole.