Abstract: A cast steel railway wheel includes a hub that has an axial bore. A rim is concentric with the bore. A plate extends substantially radially from the hub to the rim. The plate has a front face and a rear face. The plate has a plurality of spokes that extend between the hub and the rim. Adjacent spokes have different thicknesses defined between the front face and the rear face.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible garment rail assembly that can be stacked with similar garment rail assemblies.

Abstract: A brake beam assembly for a railway car truck includes a brake beam mounted between opposed side frames of the railway car truck with opposite right hand and left hand ends. A strut is coupled to the brake beam and has opposite right hand and left hand ends coupled to the brake beam. Brake heads are coupled to the brake beam and struts proximate to the right hand and left hand ends thereof. Each brake head holds a brake shoe configured to engage a wheel of the railway car truck. Paddles extend from the brake heads. The paddles have distal ends configured to be received in wear liners in corresponding side frames of the railway car truck. A separation distance between the distal ends of the paddles is adjustable.

Abstract: An improved coupler-knuckle assembly is comprised of a coupler body, a knuckle, and at least two knuckle retainer plugs. The knuckle has an internal coring geometry that increases the cross-sectional area of the throat portion of the knuckle compared to previous designs. The present invention's knuckle design includes a top and a bottom tapered holes in the knuckle with a locking groove at the bottom of each tapered hole for the knuckle retainer plugs to snap into. The knuckle retainer plugs are inserted through the coupler body and into the tapered holes in the knuckle. The improved coupler-knuckle assembly of the present invention reduces fatigue on the coupler, knuckle, and knuckle pin, prevents misalignment of the coupler-knuckle assembly, and prevents knuckle pin breakage.

Abstract: A railway car hatch cover includes an exterior shell cover, a gasket, and a mounting ring. The exterior shell cover has an outer-side and an under-side. The gasket is a vented gasket or a non-vented gasket, and the gasket is mounted to the mounting ring. The mounting ring is secured to the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The mounting ring is removable, and the gasket is replaceable with a second gasket. The second gasket can be vented or non-vented. The mounting ring is reinstallable on the under-side of the exterior shell cover. The replaceable gasket allows a single hatch cover to function as a vented hatch cover or a non-vented hatch cover depending on the type of gasket installed.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A stabilized railway car truck consists of two side frames and a holster. The bolster has laterally opposite ends, each end extending into and supported within a side frame opening on a spring group. The stabilized railway car truck also includes a transom extending into, and supported within, a side frame opening. The spring group is supported at each transom end. Each side frame has a pedestal opening at each end that receive a rotating lug to accept a elastomeric steering pad and bearing adapter. The attachment of the side frames and transom is a rigid pivotal connection. Friction shoes between the side frames and bolster provide damping of an initial low to a high rate friction once engaged. The pivotal decoupling of the side frame and transom, and the lateral movement of the friction shoes to the bolster, eliminates track displacement irregularities from reacting at the bolster and into the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

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 method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A method of forming a mold for use in the casting of a steel railway freight car truck component is provided. A cope mold is formed by providing a near net shape oversize impression of a cope pattern of a product to be cast in a flask. A cope pattern of the product to be cast is then placed on the flask forming a spacing between the cope pattern and the oversize impression. A resin coated sand is then blown to form a sand layer between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern. The resin sand is set to form a mold of a thickness between the oversized impression in the flask and the cope pattern of the product to be cast. The drag mold is formed in a similar manner.

Abstract: A railcar handbrake wheel of polymeric composition including an outer ring connected to a hub by at least two spokes. The hub containing an insert or core molded into the hub. The core is a shaft member having a first end and a second end, with a head connected to the first end. The head on the first end of the core having a greater cross-sectional area than the second end of the core. The core containing an opening extending from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A brake beam assembly for a railway car truck includes a brake beam mounted between opposed side frames of the railway car truck with opposite right hand and left hand ends. A strut is coupled to the brake beam and has opposite right hand and left hand ends coupled to the brake beam. Brake heads are coupled to the brake beam and struts proximate to the right hand and left hand ends thereof. Each brake head holds a brake shoe configured to engage a wheel of the railway car truck. Paddles extend from the brake heads. The paddles have distal ends configured to be received in wear liners in corresponding side frames of the railway car truck.

Abstract: A brake beam assembly for a railway car truck includes a brake beam configured to be mounted between opposed side frames of the railway car truck, a strut extending from the brake beam and brake heads coupled to the brake beam proximate to right hand and left hand ends thereof. Each brake head holds a brake shoe configured to engage a wheel of the railway car truck. Paddles extend exterior of the brake heads. The paddles have distal ends received in corresponding guide brackets of the side frames to guide movement of the brake beam. Paddle caps cover the distal ends of the paddles. The paddle caps are configured to be received in brake beam wear liners in corresponding side frames of the railway car truck. The paddle caps have a lower coefficient of friction than the paddles.

Abstract: A novel assembly for a railcar axle bearing is presented. The assembly includes a backing ring affixed to the fillet of the journal of an axle and a locking ring for further affixing the backing ring the journal. The locking ring has an inboard end affixed to the dust guard of the axle and an outboard end for engaging the backing ring. The looking ring may include a resilient sealing ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, are variably spaced using a resilient member to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting ultrasonic test data from a railway wheel with an ultrasonic testing apparatus is described. The railway wheel is supported by two drive rollers, each having an indentation which engages with and rotates the wheel. An indexing transducer moves across the rotating wheel, collecting ultrasonic test data while a fixed transducer correlates a reference position on the wheel to the collected test data. To maintain the accuracy of the reference position to the collected test data, it is desirable to maintain the rotational stability of the wheel, minimizing any dynamic instability caused by dimensional tolerances in the wheel. To mitigate instabilities resulting from dimensional tolerances, the indentation of the drive rollers, which engage and drive the flange of the wheel, is adjustable by the flexing design of the drive rollers to maintain frictional contact between the wheel and the drive roller.