Abstract: Method and apparatus for heating gases cooled by an aftercooler that receives hot gases from a compressor. The method includes the steps of directing at least a portion of said hot gases to means for bypassing the aftercooler, and using the bypass means to direct hot gases to a location that receives cooled gases from the aftercooler. The hot gases are used at the location to heat the cooled gases when ambient temperature is at or below freezing, and are used downstream from the aftercooler when moisture freezes in the aftercooler.

Abstract: A connection assembly including a one piece liner member for use in a connection assembly utilized in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The one piece liner member comprises a substantially solid member having a substantially spherical inner surface for positioning around a predetermined portion of a spherical member of a connection assembly. The male connection member of the railway coupling device includes an aperture having a predetermined configuration and an inner surface formed by this aperture. A retainer member is provided for engaging at least a portion of the inner surface of the male connection member to form a substantially spherical inner surface.

Abstract: A brake disc wear indicator comprising a brake disc rotor having two opposed braking surfaces for engaging opposed brake friction pads, and at least one hole provided in the rotor at a location behind a braking surface and at a predetermined depth and distance from the braking surface such that the hole is originally invisible by the presence of brake rotor material but becomes visible when brake rotor material is worn away to the extent that the hole becomes exposed and visible.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive gapping device for socket welded fittings. The positive gapping device comprises a socket fitting having a recessed area on at least one end for receiving a pipe section that is engageable with the recessed area of the socket fitting. It further includes a gapping means disposed on one of a surface of the recessed area of the socket fitting facing an end of such pipe section and an end of such pipe section for engagement with such socket fitting. The gapping means providing a space between the socket fitting and such pipe section for reducing residual stresses that result from a welding operation.

Abstract: A lightweight backing plate for use with at least one of a railway brake shoe and a disc brake pad. Such lightweight backing plate being formed from a predetermined polymeric material selected from a group consisting of unsaturated polyester, polyphenylene sulfide, glass epoxy, phenolic polymers and various combinations thereof.

Abstract: Method of controlling a motorized door by offloading the burden to a separate motion control processor. The method includes generating, in a central processor for the door, one or more signals indicative of a predetermined door speed profile for a stroke of the door. The predetermined door speed profile provides an ideal velocity versus an elapsed time since a beginning of the stroke. The signals are communicated to a motion control processor and the motion control processor also receives door position signals from a position encoder. The motion control processor generates signals indicative of the velocity of the door based on the door position signals and it generates error signals based on discrepancies between the velocity of the door and the ideal velocity. It generates motor control signals based on the error signals and the motor control signals are communicated to the motor of the door.

Abstract: A handle assembly, of the type used in railway locomotives, which includes a base plate, a cam mount attached to the base plate, a cam disk and a shaft assembly interconnecting the mount and disk to allow rotation of the disk. The improvement includes a yoke, a bail bar, first and second bearing members anchored to the plate and first and second switches attached to the plate. Pivotally connected to the disk and accommodating a handle, the yoke rotates along with the disk as the handle is moved along its range of motion and tilts as the handle is moved perpendicularly thereto. The bail bar is rotatable between the first and second bearing members. A first mechanism imparts a rotational force to the bail bar so that its middle section presses against an upper portion of the yoke. A stop limits rotation of the bail bar to a point at which the yoke and handle attain an untilted state.

Abstract: Choke for connection to a fluid flow passage for controlling fluid flow through the passage in a predetermined direction. The choke has structure for attachment to the fluid passage. It also has an internal fluid flow passage, which has at least one constriction. One or more mesh filters are located in the internal fluid flow passage of the choke, upstream of the constriction, to remove debris from the fluid which would otherwise interfere with fluid flow through the orifice.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining and encoding the position of a control handle on a control stand of a locomotive or other railway transit vehicle utilizing a rotational, absolute encoder rigidly mounted adjacent to the axle to which the control handle is attached for pivotal motion, wherein a drive transfer means interconnecting the control handle and/or axle with encoder has a driving ratio that will permit full partial rotation of the control handle, which is typically less than 90 degrees, to rotate the encoder axle through a significantly greater rotational angle not exceeding 360 degrees, for the purpose of making fuller use of the sensitivity and resolution range of the encoder.

Abstract: A valve seal system for passageway through a valve body emerging through a first generally flat and rigid surface, having a valve member including a resilient seal with generally flat exposed surface adapted to be brought into contact with the generally flat rigid surface, and having a generally circular, raised resilient ring portion extending from the generally flat exposed surface, the raised resilient ring portion adapted to be compressed against the generally flat rigid surface to seal the resilient seals against the generally flat rigid surface when said valve member is moved to a closed position by virtue of the raised resilient ring portion being compressed against the generally flat rigid surface.

Abstract: An automated terminal test system performs a terminal test of brake equipment on a train. The system includes a test control box connected to a head of train locomotive and accessible from outside of such locomotive. Linked to such brake equipment, the test control box has a control for activating the test control box, applying and releasing the brakes, and charging and venting such brake pipe. The system also includes an end of train transceiver device connected to such brake pipe on a last railcar of such train. The end of train transceiver device monitors pressure within such brake pipe on such last railcar, senses movement of such last railcar, and communicates signals representative of such pressure monitored and such movement sensed. The system further includes a head of train transceiver device linked to such brake equipment and connected to such brake pipe on such locomotive.

Abstract: A manual release apparatus for disengaging a king pin on a truck trailer from a fifth wheel of a truck cab, including an elongated lever arm, a first end of which is pivotally attached to a side of the fifth wheel at a location spaced from the opening through which the release rod extends, a second end of which is spaced away from the fifth wheel extending horizontally from the first end, whereby the lever arm is attached to the release rod, such that a manual movement of the second end of the lever arm will cause the lever arm to be pivoted horizontally about the first end, thereby causing the release rod to be pulled outwardly to disengage the king pin from the fifth wheel. The elongated lever arm is provided with an adjustable extension arm so that the length of the lever arm can be adjusted to an extent desired to best facilitate manipulation thereof.

Abstract: For use with control valves having test ports via which various pressures may be accessed in performing an automatic single car brake test, there is provided a test plate via which such control valves may be conditioned to obtain faster charging of the brake equipment when performing the brake test with a manual single car tester. The test plate interconnects the test ports such that the test pressure supplied to the car brake pipe charges the brake equipment in by-pass of the charging choke in the control valve.

Abstract: A portable, single-car test unit for a railway freight brake control valve for manually executing pressure manipulations to evaluate the operating conditions of the control valve. The pipe bracket portion is connected to a brake pipe, an auxiliary reservoir, an emergency reservoir, a brake cylinder retaining valve and a brake cylinder each being connected to a respective fluid passageway. The test unit accesses the fluid passageways at access ports, respectively connected to each passageway. Valves are utilized in the test unit to manipulate the pressure in the fluid passageways and pressure gauges measure fluid pressure in the passageways. An operator records each pressure measurement and calculates and stores the differences between selected pairs of the pressure measurements as well as elapsed time data for the measurements.

Abstract: Inert plastic coated flexible diaphragm for sanitary pump applications includes a first body portion, disposed in center of diaphragm, which is relatively thick and exhibits a first degree of flexibility. A second body portion is formed contiguously with the first body portion and extends around periphery thereof. The second body portion is relatively thin, compared to the first body portion, and exhibits a second degree of flexibility greater than the first degree of flexibility. A sealing bead-like member is formed contiguously with such second body portion and extends around periphery thereof for sealing the flexible diaphragm in an operating position within a housing portion of such pump. A flexible plastic layer is adhered to each surface of the first body portion, the second body portion and such sealing bead-like member which will come into intimate contact with a material to be pumped. Such plastic layer having a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: An articulated coupling male connection member support assembly having an improved lubrication arrangement incorporated therein. Such support assembly includes a bottom ring bearing member supported on an upper surface of a bottom wall portion of a female connection member adjacent an outer end thereof. The bottom ring bearing member has a concave shaped spherical upper surface. An upper ring bearing member having a convex shaped spherical bottom surface is supported by such concave upper surface of the bottom ring bearing member. The upper ring bearing member has a substantially flat upper surface for supporting a bottom surface of a male connection member adjacent an outer end thereof. There is a substantially solid lubricating liner member disposed between such concave shaped spherical upper surface of the bottom ring bearing member and such convex shaped spherical bottom surface of the upper ring bearing member.

Abstract: Apparatus for indicating the condition of hand brakes on railway cars and for applying and releasing railway car parking or hand brakes automatically in response to predetermined conditions including movement of a train, wayside conditioning apparatus, wayside operating mechanism, a signal controlled by an operator and performance of predetermined railway operating procedures, such as completion of an air brake test procedure. The apparatus may respond to mechanical, electrical and electronic signals and may operate on pneumatic or electric power provided from the service air brake system of a train or from a source of power outside of such air brake system.

Abstract: A high speed frog including a ductile iron main pan casting having an integral straight approach runner, an integral straight exit runner, and an integral exit turnout runner, a movable runner having a pair of guide rails, an electric solenoid for rotating the movable runner so that one of said pair of guide rails is cooperatively associated with the stationary runner, diverts a sliding contact shoe to the turn-out runner, a mechanical deflector engageable for resetting the movable runner so that the other of the pair of guide rails engages the integral straight approach runner, and a renewable runner insert disposed between integral straight approach runner and the respective guide rails of the movable runner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.