Abstract: A gondola car for hauling bulk cargo has a stub sill for receiving longitudinal loads. A shear plate is connected with the stub sill, and longitudinal side sills and connected as by welding to side portions of the shear plate. Side walls extend upwardly from the side sills. The shear plate has an opening therein adjacent the longitudinally inward end of the weld to the side sill for reducing stress in the end of the weld. Cover structure overlies the opening, and side wall support structure is connected with the cover structure and engages the side walls to support them.

Abstract: Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car as it is moved. Additionally, to further enhance the energy efficiency of the car, the cargo carrying structure is formed predominantly of a light weight weldable metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and the side support members are placed on the interior wall of each side to provide a smooth, minimized air flow resistant side surface.

Abstract: A railway car body structural arrangement has a bolster fabricated from plates and formed on the upper surface of a bottom closure member of the body of a railway car and rigidly affixed to a bolster post at each side of the car. The lower portions of the bolster posts are affixed to the bolster assembly adjacent to the upper surface of the bottom closure member to enable use of a continuous side sill member on the car. Bearing surfaces which limit the transverse angular movement or roll of the car body with respect to a truck are attached to and project downward from a lower surface of the frame of the truck which is supportingly and pivotally engaged with the center sill substantially directly beneath the bolster.

Abstract: An elastomeric pad placed in shear and having one portion or surface engaged with a portion of a railway car body and another portion or surface engaged by pivotal linkage means to a wheel housing dampens vibrations of a wheel and axle assembly which is resiliently mounted to the car body for rollingly supporting the car body. The pivotal linkage is elongated and connected to the wheel housing and the car body using spherical bearings to minimize wear. The linkage is attached at an angle of inclination to minimize strain on the elastomeric pad and linkage assembly caused by vertical travel of the railway car body due to varying weight loads.

Abstract: A light weight, aerodynamically efficient gondola car for hauling bulk cargo, such as coal, ores and grains, has a cargo carrying structure formed of welded aluminum. A side sill member formed of extruded aluminum has side and bottom connective portions which are continuously welded to the sides and bottom respectively, and a strength portion which remains substantially unwelded in assembly to thereby retain its full strength.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a centersill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted and in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle trucks with two wheels are utilized.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a center sill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle suspensions with two wheels are utilized. The sill also includes a separator in the form of a channel which includes flanges at its sides which are secured to the vertical walls of the sill. The separator extends substantially the length of the slots and is effective to resist lateral forces tending to buckle during operation while not adversely affecting the high torsional flexibility which is required in the sill structure.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a center sill having a central section and opposite end sections. The sill includes spaced vertical walls, and upper and lower walls which are slotted in registry the length of the central section, and which form in cross section a spaced I-beam construction. The construction provides a sill having high torsional flexibility which is necessary to accommodate the railway car to track conditions tending to derail the car when single axle suspensions with two wheels are utilized. The sill also includes a separator in the form of a channel which includes flanges at its sides which are secured to the vertical walls of the sill. The separator extends substantially the length of the slots and is effective to resist lateral forces tending to buckle or permanently deform the sill during operation, while not adversely affecting the high torsional flexibility which is required in the sill structure.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for securing trailers to a platform or deck of a railway flat car comprises an upright pedestal pivotally connected so that it and a fifth wheel plate can be attached to the kingpin of a trailer. The hitch includes a diagonal assembly pivotally connected to the pedestal and being rockable therewith. The diagonal assembly comprises diagonally extending outer thrust members and a central thrust member. A pair of laterally spaced upright support plates are rigidly connectd to the platform or deck. The outer thrust members support in spaced relation a plurality of resilient members on their inner surfaces. The resilient members are also connected to the support plates. Other similar resilient members are connected to the inner surfaces of the upright support plates and these are also connected to the central thrust member thereby providing a completely cushioned trailer hitch.

Abstract: Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car as it is moved. Additionally, to further enhance the energy efficiency of the car, the cargo carrying structure is formed predominately of a lightweight weldable metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and the side support members are placed on the interior wall of each side to provide a smooth, minimized air flow resistant side surface.

Abstract: A railway flat car is supported on an underframe which includes suspension support frames provided with single axle suspensions. The frames include longitudinally spaced bolsters including horizontal frame structures on which leaf springs are supported which are also carried by journals supporting the single axles. The ends of the leaf springs are supported by vertical spaced hanger straps pivotally connected at their lower ends to support brackets which are fixed to the bolster structures of the support frames. In the present improvement the brackets are welded into recesses provided in the bolsters providing an improved structure minimizing stress problems. The brackets become an integral part of the bolster structures.

Abstract: The wheel and axle assembly of a single axle wheel truck for a railway car is prevented from exceeding acceptable lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to fixed body portions of the railway car by an axle stop arrangement positioned laterally outboard of the wheel truck springs. This axle stop arrangement controls the wheel set movement relative to the car body and, due to its laterally outboard positioning, engagement between the axle stop structure and the wheels is prevented.

Abstract: Pivot mounts for enabling pivotal attachment of support struts of a fifth wheel hitch assembly to the deck of a raiway car are provided with a fabricated inverted U shaped torque box or beam fixed transversely between upright pivot mount plates of the center sill mounted hitch on the railway car for structural strength and rigidity. Due to the torque box the mount is sufficiently rigid to preclude the need to attach the pivot mount to the inside of the box sill of a railway car.

Abstract: A railway car underframe includes a sill structure having at one end a cushion pocket disposed rearwardly of a draft structure which is readily adapted to support a drawbar assembly having at its rear end an impact head extending into the pocket and engaging a cushion. The cushion is spaced from one end of the pocket by a removable spacer assembly which is removed when a larger cushion is disposed in the pocket and a shank coupler assembly is utilized. The draft structure includes attaching means to which a bell mouth housing is removably secured when the coupler assembly replaces the drawbar assembly. The structure includes a member which is a combination having a draft lug function, for coupler application, and a draft keyslot function for drawbar application.

Abstract: A railway car underframe comprises a center sill having bell mouth draft housings at opposite ends thereof. The housings accommodate the use of drawbars or shank type couplers. With the use of a shank type coupler a draft housing extension is secured to the bell mouth housings. The housings include structural shear elements interengageable with each other to align and secure the housings in rigid relation. The housings include connector plates secured together by fasteners with said connector plates longitudinally spaced apart to provide vertical spaces. Wedge elements having open end vertically spaced recesses are driven into the vertical spaces to provide for rigid metal to metal contact with the spaces accommodating the fasteners. Proper alignment, securement, and quick assembly therefore is achieved.

Abstract: The hatch of a lading container, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper when the locking arrangement is unlocked. An over-center locking arm has two spaced catches which co-act with two latches on a latching arrangement to selectively provide a sealed, a pressure blow-off, and a hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable adjustment of the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch.

Abstract: Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car as it is moved. Additionally, to further enhance the energy efficiency of the car, the cargo carrying structure is formed predominately of a light weight weldable metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and the side support members are placed on the interior wall of each side to provide a smooth, minimized air flow resistant side surface.

Abstract: A rear pivot mount assembly for a fifth wheel hitch assembly for railway cars has a multiplanar support beam which coacts with a transverse support plate to tie together and rigidify the components of the pivot mount. The multiplanar support beam and transverse support plate affectively transfer loads imposed upon a pivotal connection to the outside of a center sill which provides the longitudinal and load bearing support for the railway car.

Abstract: A railway car underframe center sill includes a drawbar structure which includes a rigid housing structure adapted to fit into the cushion pocket of the sill supporting the cushion. The rigid housing is readily removable if desired and includes a rigid end plate having a truncated opening which contains a truncated hemispherical reaction member which pivots in any direction. The drawbar is supported on the center sill for movement in true rotation and is provided at its inner end with an impact head at all times in flush contact with the hemispherical reaction member. The end of the drawbar includes a drawbar key structure secured in place by means of the draft key. The housing structure is securely maintained in position against a stop by a wedge member which is self-adjusting downwardly as wear may occur and thus insures a contact rigid effective assembly.This assembly provides a slackless condition in the drawbar attachment between companion units of a railway freight car.

Abstract: The brake beams of a single axle railway car wheel truck are swingingly suspended from a body portion of the car and engage with the axle housings of the wheel and axle assembly to enable the brake beams to move laterally and longitudinally with the wheel and axle assembly when this assembly is forced to move with respect to the body portion of the car. Movement of the brake beams with the wheel and axle assembly enables the brake heads on the brake beams to be properly aligned with braking surfaces on the wheels under substantially all operating conditions of the wheel truck even though substantially all of the weight of the brake beam and actuator assemblies is borne by the body portion of the railway car.