Abstract: A system for measuring rail wear includes an assembly movable along a railroad track and having displacement pickups adapted to respectively bear upon points on a top surface and on an inner side surface of each rail for the measuring of rail wear at these surfaces. Entered into the system are unworn top and side rail surface measurements taken relative to a known unworn feature of the rail at selected points. The assembly includes a probe element for each rail which bears upon an unworn portion of the worn rail so as to facilitate measurement of rail wear by the pickups in relation to the unworn top and inner side rail measurements. With the use of transducers, the pickups are adapted to generate signals in accordance with the mechanical displacement of the top surface and the side surface points relative to the measured unworn top and side surface points which signals are then converted to analog voltage levels which may be displayed on digital panel meters.

Abstract: The coupler height of a railway car is adjustable by means of a shim disposed between the coupler carrier and the wear plate and inserted through an opening provided at one side of the striking casting. An enlarged central portion of the shim extends toward the draft bar yoke of the coupler to avoid any reduction of bearing surface between the coupler carrier and the wear plate. A portion of the shim also lies within the side opening, which opening is defined by an enlarged outwardly extending portion of the striking casting having holes therein in axial alignment with a hole in the shim portion for the reception of a fastener to retain the shim in place. The aligned holes are offset from the longitudinal centerline of the shim so as to effect a misalignment of the holes upon incorrect insertion of the shim.

Abstract: A rail car coupler, with the shaft thereof bearing against a coupler carrier, is vertically adjustable by means of serrated lock plates intermeshing with similarly serrated coupler carrier brackets. A minimum adjustment is therefore made possible equal to the size of a tooth of the serrations. Opposed bearing surfaces of the coupler carrier respectively lie in planes containing a trough between a pair of adjacent teeth of the bracket serrations and containing an apex of one of the teeth of the bracket serrations so as to permit a further relative adjustment of the planes containing the bearing surfaces by an amount equal to at least one-half the size of a tooth of the serrations when the coupler carrier is inverted 180.degree.. Serrations may be provided on opposed surfaces of the bracket to facilitate a half-space adjustment by inverting the brackets.

Abstract: A rail car coupler, with the shaft thereof bearing against a coupler carrier, is adjusted vertically by means of serrated lock plates intermeshing with similarly serrated coupler carrier brackets. Vertically spaced fastener openings in the lock plates are so disposed relative to the teeth of the serrations thereof as to permit relative adjustment of the brackets equal to the size of a tooth of the serrations while the lock plates are in a first position. And the lock plates permit a fine adjustment of the brackets upon relative movement thereof equal to one-half the size of a tooth of the serrations when the lock plates in one embodiment are inverted 180.degree. into a second position relative to the first position thereof. In another embodiment, such fine adjustment is effected as the brackets and the coupler carrier are inverted into a second position relative to a first position thereof. The lock plates in this embodiment are fixedly secured in place.

Abstract: An improved anchor structure for use with concrete railroad ties. A modular base plate is cast into the concrete tie with integral upwardly projecting shoulders extending from the base plate which complement it to present a seat to support a steel railroad rail. An anchoring portion is also integral with each shoulder and extends downwardly to anchor the device in the tie. The shoulder also presents an opening for receiving a retaining spring clip. A resilient rubber or fiber pad is disposed on the seat between the rail and the base plate. The pad is characterized by laterally projecting tabs which abut the bridging portion on either side to preclude lateral movement of the pad. The retaining spring clip engages the rail base and also has a leg projecting through the opening. A curvilinear portion of the clip complementally engages an arcuate segment of the briding portion while a second leg is disposed in a groove presented by the bridging portion.