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: An improved railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. The bolster has laterally opposite ends, each end extending into and supported within a sideframe opening on a spring group. Each sideframe also has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The railway car truck also includes a transom extending into and supported within a sideframe opening. The spring group is supported at each transom end. A lateral damping cylinder is connected between the bolster and the transom. A vertical damping cylinder is connected between the bolster and the sideframe.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing bearing seal for use in a roller bearing is provided. A steel coil of a preselected width is fed into a ring rolling machine to form a closed coil ring. The closed coil ring is then welded along the butted joint. The welded closed coil ring is then fed to a series of pre-forming machines wherein the desired profiles of the final bearing seal are formed.

Abstract: Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion.

Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly includes a base wall extending between a rear end and front end. The base wall has opposite side edges. The base wall has a tapered thickness between the rear end and the front end with the base wall being thicker proximate to the rear end and being narrower proximate to the front end. The brake beam wear liner also includes side walls extending from the opposite side edges and flanges extending outward from the side walls generally opposite the base wall. The side walls and the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly.

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.

Abstract: A novel two-piece backing ring assembly for a railcar axle is presented. The backing ring assembly has an annular body affixed to the fillet of the journal and a locking ring for further affixing the annular body into position on the journal. The locking ring has an inboard end affixed to the dust guard of the shaft and an outboard end for engaging a slot in the annular body. The locking ring assembly may be retrofitted to older generation railcar axles to increase the structural rigidity of the bearing assembly and minimize fretting wear caused by railcar axle deflection.

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 bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with two cones defining an inner raceway fitted around the journal portion of an axle. A cup defines an outer raceway that combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A spacer separates the cones, and a spacer support is provided to position and support the spacer.

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

Abstract: An improved side bearing for railway cars is provided that achieves improved tracking and curving by the limitation of rock of the railway car. The side bearing comprises a base with a generally upwardly extending wall portion. A cap comprising a top section with generally downwardly extending wall portion is provided. The cap extends into or around the wall section of the base. A spring is provided within the base that extends to the underside and supports the cap. A base insert is provided of varying thickness to support springs of the same preselected height to provide preselected varying load capacities.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the status of a railcar handbrake having a hand operated handle, which device has a load bearing member configured to be inserted in the linkage of a railcar handbrake system so that the force applied to the brake system passes through the load bearing member. A strain gauge mounted on the load bearing member measures the strain. The information from the strain gauge is indicative of the force applied by the handbrake to the brake and is used to determine the status of the handbrake. Means for determining motion of the railcar is also provided. In one form, if it is determined that the brake is on and the railcar is in motion, information, such as an alarm, is transmitted. A system and method of monitoring a railcar handbrake are also provided.

Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly includes a base wall extending between a rear end and front end. The base wall has opposite side edges. The base wall has a tapered thickness between the rear end and the front end with the base wall being thicker proximate to the rear end and being narrower proximate to the front end. The brake beam wear liner also includes side walls extending from the opposite side edges and flanges extending outward from the side walls generally opposite the base wall. The side walls and the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly.

Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly of a railway car truck includes a base wall having an inner surface and an outer surface extending between opposite side edges, and having a base wall thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof. The brake beam wear liner also includes sidewalls extending from the opposite side edges. The sidewalls have inner surfaces and outer surfaces, and have a sidewall thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof. The inner surfaces of the sidewalls and the inner surface of the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly. The brake beam wear liner also includes flanges extending outward from the sidewalls. The flanges have inner surfaces and outer surfaces, and have a flange thickness between the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces thereof. The base wall thickness is greater than the sidewall thickness.

Abstract: Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is presented having a novel lubricant sealing design that, in one embodiment, combines the sealing advantages of both a labyrinth-like seal in combination with a contact seal. The improved seal includes a non-rotating seal case working in closely spaced cooperation with a rotor to form a channel. The rotor is attached and turns with the shaft, inducing flow in the channel. Lubricant leakage is impeded by the tortuous fluid path formed by the convoluted channel of the labyrinth-like seal and the fluid shear forces developed by the turning shaft. Any lubricant leakage is further impeded by a resilient seal contacting the surface of the rotor and constricting the channel.

Abstract: A rail anchor and a rail anchor assembly are provided for use with a concrete railroad tie. An elastomeric plate is placed on a top surface of the railroad tie. A rigid plate is placed on top of the elastomeric plate. The rail anchor is placed adjacent the elastomeric plate and the rigid plate. The rail anchor has a first end with a receiving opening and a second end with a receiving indentation to receive edges of the flanges of the railroad rail. The rail anchor has a center portion joining the two ends. The outer portion of the rail anchor extends downwardly an amount less than the thickness of the elastomeric plate and the rigid plate to avoid contact with the concrete railroad tie.

Abstract: A railway car truck includes side frames each having a pedestal formed on longitudinally opposite ends thereof. Each pedestal has an upper jaw and a lower jaw surrounding a pedestal opening. The upper jaw has a roof section above the pedestal opening and the lower jaw has an inner wall and an outer wall on opposite sides of the pedestal opening. The inner and outer walls are spaced apart from one another to define a wide pedestal opening. A bearing adapter is received in each pedestal opening. Each bearing adapter includes a concave opening to receive a bearing and a generally rectangular center section having a top surface generally opposite the concave opening. The bearing adapter has steps extending outward from sides thereof that have outer surfaces separated by a distance corresponding to the width of the pedestal opening.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided having a roller bearing with an inner race fitted around the journal portion of an axle. An outer raceway combines with the inner raceway to receive roller elements. A backing ring is centered to the shaft fillet. Tapered roller elements are located between and contact the inner and outer raceways. A cage is comprised of an inner ring, and outer ring, and a plurality of pocket bars and support pocket bars extending between the inner and outer rings. The support pocket bars have an overall greater thickness than the pocket bars. The cage is a generally unitary structure comprised of a nylon resin material with a fiber fill.

Abstract: A multi-cartridge cutting tool includes a body with a plurality of cartridge-receiving pockets, and a plurality of insert-receiving cartridges mounted to a respective pocket. A round cutting insert is mounted to each cartridge. The pockets are formed at predetermined distances from a central, longitudinal axis of the body to form a first group and a second group of cutting inserts such that the cutting edges of the first group of cutting inserts and the cutting edges of the second group of cutting inserts are located at different axial and radial distances from the central, longitudinal axis of the body to perform different machining operations. The cutting tool may be used as part of a railway wheel boring assembly.