Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a rotor for a railway roller bearing seal assembly is provided. The rotor includes an annular body rotatable about a central axis and including radially inner and outer rings. The annular body includes an intermediate portion connecting the radially inner and outer rings and spacing the radially inner ring in a first direction from a base portion of the annular body. The annular body further includes a pocket formed at least in part by the intermediate portion and a snap-fit portion axially intermediate the base portion and a free end portion of the radially inner ring. The snap-fit portion of the annular body is configured to form a snap-fit connection with a snap-fit member of a slinger that extends into the pocket.

Abstract: Railyard management system for managing, assembling, disassembling and validating train consists and monitoring railcars in the railyard. The system provides for the collection of data and the movement of data from lower processing levels to higher processing levels, where an inference engine draws inferences regarding the current state of railcars and train consists within the railyard. The inferences can be based on characteristics of a transmission signal received at their respective railcars, said railcars forming a train consist. The system can be used to track the location and orientation of railcars in the railyard and to validate order and orientation of assets in a train consist based on the characteristics of the transmission signal at said railcars.

Abstract: A truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a side frame including a spring seat below an opening. The spring seat includes a locating pocket. An end guide system is coupled to the side frame. The end guide system includes a central base configured to be received and retained by the locating pocket. At least one end guide extends outwardly and upwardly from the central base.

Abstract: A side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a base, a cap moveably coupled to the base, and one or more elastomer springs disposed between the base and the cap. The one or more elastomer springs include a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

Abstract: A dual friction draft gear assembly for a car coupling system of a rail car includes a housing having an internal chamber. One or more friction shoes are disposed within the internal chamber. A first load block has, defines, or otherwise provides a first angled interface with the one or more friction shoes. A second load block has, defines or otherwise provides a second angled interface with the one or more friction shoes.

Abstract: A system for dynamically adjusting a configuration of an intra-train communication network includes an electronic device and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium has one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the electronic device to receive one or more parameters values associated with a train consist, determine whether a potentially adverse condition that would affect intra-train communication for the train consist is anticipated based on at least a portion of the received parameters, in response to determining that the potentially adverse condition is anticipated, identify one or more updated network parameter settings that will assist in maintaining intra-train communication of the train consist during an occurrence of the potentially adverse condition by executing a machine learning model, and implement the identified one or more updated network parameter settings.

Abstract: A force analysis system and method include a truck assembly that is configured to travel along a track having rails. The truck assembly includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a bolster extending between the first side frame and the second side frame, a first wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame, a second wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame, and one or more load cells disposed within the first side frame and/or the second side frame. The load cell(s) are configured to detect forces exerted in relation to the first side frame, the second side frame, and/or the bolster.

Abstract: A safety rail system for a flatbed. The system is portable, installs and dismantles in minutes, and is adaptable to any flatbed trailer or truck having post mounting side pockets. The system collapses into a compact package for stowing and transport. The system utilizes existing post mounting side pockets to establish a fence line that supports one or more cable rails. The cable(s) of the cable rails are drawn taut to provide a firm barrier to protect equipment and personnel from falling off the edge of the flatbed.

Abstract: A truck assembly for a rail vehicle includes at least one side frame including at least one lightener hole. At least one strain gage is disposed within the lightener hole(s). The strain gage(s) is configured to detect forces exerted into or onto the truck assembly. A method of detecting forces exerted into or onto a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes disposing at least one strain gage within at least one lightener hole of at least one side frame of a truck assembly of the rail vehicle, and detecting the forces by the strain gage(s).

Abstract: A system and method include a train including a plurality of rail cars configured to travel along a track having rails. Each of the plurality of rail cars includes brakes. A braking control unit is in communication with the brakes of the plurality of rail cars. The braking control unit is configured to control the brakes of a subset of the plurality of rail cars in accordance with braking data.

Abstract: An adapter assembly of a vehicle includes a bearing adapter configured to physically contact a bearing on an axle of the vehicle, and an adapter pad nested within an opening of a side frame of the vehicle and secured to at least one thrust lug of the side frame. The adapter pad includes a base section and legs depending from the base section. The legs are compressed between the at least one thrust lug of the side frame and shoulders of the bearing adapter to exert frictional forces on the shoulders of the bearing adapter. A combination of the frictional forces exerted by the adapter pad on the bearing adapter is less than a weight of the bearing adapter, such that as the side frame rises away from the bearing during movement of the vehicle, the adapter pad rises relative to the bearing adapter.

Abstract: A knuckle of a coupler of a rail vehicle includes a leading beam having a pulling face, a lateral offset beam extending from the leading beam, a tail extending from the lateral offset beam, an extension wall extending from the lateral offset beam towards an end of the tail, and a tapered lock engagement wall extending from the extension wall to the end of the tail. The tapered lock engagement wall is angled in relation to the extension wall. The tapered lock engagement wall is configured to engage an interior face of a main body of a lock of the coupler. The interior face defines a knuckle-engaging surface that is configured to bear against the tapered lock engagement wall.

Abstract: Bulk goods are transported on a rail network to a terminal which includes a loading with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a control hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the railcars. An input to the hub is provided by a plurality of self-powered scanning stations each including an RFID reader having an antenna for reading the RFID tag of an adjacent rail car where each scanning station has two radar proximity transducers responsive to presence of a rail car where the RFID reader has a quiescent mode and the radar proximity detectors activate the reader from the quiescent mode on detection of a railcar.

Abstract: A car coupling system for a rail vehicle includes a draft sill, and a crash energy management system disposed within the draft sill. The crash energy management system includes a first end plate, a second end plate, and a central tube disposed between the first end plate and the second end plate. The central tube is configured to deform in response to a force exerted into the car coupling system that exceeds a predetermined force threshold. Deformation of the central tube attenuates at least a portion of the force.

Abstract: A car coupling system for a rail vehicle includes a first crash energy management system disposed within a draft sill. The first crash energy management system includes a first end plate, a second end plate, and a first central tube disposed between the first end plate and the second end plate. A second crash energy management system is also disposed within the draft sill. The second crash energy management system includes a third end plate, a fourth end plate, and a second central tube disposed between the third end plate and the fourth end plate.

Abstract: A crash energy management system is configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle. The crash energy management system includes a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs. A rear sub-assembly is coupled to the front sub-assembly, and includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for railway asset management. The methods comprise: using a virtual reality device to recognize and collect real world information about railway assets located in a railyard; and using the real world information to (i) associate a railway asset to a data collection unit, (ii) provide an individual with an augmented reality experience associated with the railyard and/or (iii) facilitate automated railyard management tasks.

Abstract: A side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a base, a cap moveably coupled to the base, and one or more elastomer springs disposed between the base and the cap. The one or more elastomer springs include a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

Abstract: A pallet system for shipping and storage of railing segments. The pallet system captures the corners of a plurality of railing segments, thereby diminishing the weight, footprint, and materials of construction requirements. In some embodiments, a plurality of the pallet systems can be stacked. The diminished size of the pallet system components after removal of the railing segments can be returned to the shipper in a refund exchange arrangement. In some embodiments, the plurality of railing segments is maintained in a fixed relationship using a spacer that is inserted laterally through the plurality of railing segments.

Abstract: A truck assembly is configured to travel along a track having rails, and includes a first side frame, a second side frame, and a bolster extending between the first side frame and the second side frame. One or more of the first side frame, the second frame, or the bolster includes at least a portion formed as an I-beam that includes a web having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, a first flange extending from the first end of the web, and a second flange extending from the second end of the web. A thickness of the web increases away from a first neutral axis towards the first flange and the second flange.