Abstract: A piston assembly for reducing clearance volume in a reciprocating compressor for compensating for piston tilt and improving the volumetric efficiency of the compressor includes a piston located within a piston cylinder, the piston having a first end and a second end, a wrist pin associated with the first end of the piston, and a cylinder head/valve assembly associated with the second end of the piston, wherein at least a portion of the second end of the piston includes an angled portion. The piston having the angled portion can be used with oil free cylinders and trunk type pistons. The piston can also be used in a multiple stage, multiple cylinder compressor including a series of piston assemblies. A method of increasing the volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating compressor can also be achieved using the piston having an angled portion.

Abstract: An air compressor for a railway vehicle includes a compressor housing, at least one piston cylinder supported in the compressor housing, the at least one piston cylinder including a cylinder head and a piston, a crankshaft assembly supported by the compressor housing and linked to the piston of the at least one piston cylinder, and an unloader valve positioned on the cylinder head of the at least one piston cylinder. The unloader valve may be configured to exhaust pressurized air from the at least one piston cylinder.

Abstract: A hot wheel protection valve includes a body defining a piston passageway and at least one piston positioned within the piston passageway, a first biasing member positioned on a first end of the at least one piston and biased towards a second end of the at least one piston, a brake pipe in fluid communication with the second end of the at least one piston, a brake cylinder in fluid communication with the second end of the at least one piston, and an exhaust port defined in the body and positioned between first and second ends of the valve. Pressurized fluid may be vented from the brake cylinder via the exhaust port upon a combination of brake cylinder pressure and brake pipe pressure exceeding a force exerted by the first biasing member.

Abstract: A connecting rod for an air compressor includes a rod member, a wrist pin receiving end connected to a first end of the rod member, and a crank pin receiving end connected to a second opposing end of the rod member. A separation line for the connecting rod is provided above the crank pin receiving end. The separation line may be provided between the crank pin receiving end and the rod member. The connecting rod may include a first portion including the rod member and the wrist pin receiving end, and a separate second portion including the crank pin receiving end. The separation line may be provided between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for generating vital messages on an on-board system of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of vital messages with each processor of a plurality of different processors of the on-board system based on train data available to each processor, transmitting the plurality of vital messages from the plurality of different processors to a separate processor, and generating, by the separate processor, a final vital message based on at least two vital messages of the plurality of vital messages. A system and an apparatus for implementing the aforementioned method includes appropriately communicatively connected hardware components.

Abstract: A multistage compressor includes a first compression stage and a second compression stage connected in series with the first compression stage that receives and further compresses gas from the first stage. A first cooling element is connected between the first compression stage and the second compression stage. A second cooling element is connected to a discharge of the second compression stage. The multistage compressor further includes a cooling unit for providing cooling airflow to the first and second cooling elements. The cooling unit includes a fan and a first temperature sensor that determines a temperature of gas discharged from the first cooling element. The cooling unit is configured to increase or decrease a fan speed based on a temperature determined by the first temperature sensor. A method of controlling fan speed of a cooling fan of a compressor is also provided.

Abstract: A hot wheel protection valve arrangement including a hot wheel protection valve, the hot wheel protection valve including a body defining a passageway, a piston slidably positioned within the passageway, a bushing positioned on the piston and within the passageway, a first diaphragm provided on a first end of the piston, the first diaphragm defining a first chamber in the passageway, a second diaphragm provided on a second end of the piston, the second diaphragm defining a second chamber in the passageway, a third chamber being defined between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and an exhaust port defined in the body and in fluid communication with the third chamber, a brake cylinder line that establishes fluid communication between a brake cylinder, the first chamber, and the third chamber; and an emergency reservoir line that establishes fluid communication between an emergency reservoir and the second chamber.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for a plurality of trains, at least one of which is operating at a restricted speed, the method including: (a) transmitting, by at least one on-board computer of at least one train to at least one remote server, train location data; (b) requesting, by the at least one on-board computer from the at least one remote server, office polling data; (c) generating at least one poll registration message based at least partially on the office polling data; (d) based at least partially on the office polling data and/or the poll registration message, determining proximity of the at least one train to at least one subdivision; and (e) based at least partially on at least one of the following: train location data, office polling data, the poll registration message, or any combination thereof, transmitting, by the at least one remote server to at least one on-board computer of at least one train, train location data comprising location or position data related to at least one other train.

Abstract: A dual manual disengagement mechanism for an electric transit door operator having a disengagement shaft extending from the operator comprises a first pinion lever (3) secured to the disengagement shaft, a second pinion lever (14) intermeshed with the first pinion gear, a first cable (17) connected to the first pinion-lever via a clevis end (15) having an elongate slot, a second cable (23) connected to the second pinion lever via a clevis end (16) having an elongate slot. The length of the slots in the clevis ends is such that the pulling of one cable to rotate the disengagement shaft will not cause a tug on the other cable.

Abstract: A railroad locomotive monitoring system configuration system for a plurality of trains comprising: a monitoring system, and an on-board computer programmed or configured to: determine or receive railroad locomotive data; determine or receive railroad operation data; determine or receive configuration data; and based at least partially on at least a portion of the railroad locomotive data, at least a portion of the railroad operation data, and at least a portion of the configuration data, automatically configure at least one setting of the at least one component of the monitoring system.

Abstract: A debris eradicating brake head for use in a side frame mounted braking system in a railway vehicle. The brake head being mounted on an end of a brake beam and including a brake shoe carrier associated with the brake head, a brake shoe secured to a face portion of the brake shoe carrier, and a brake head extension extending from a side portion of the brake shoe carrier for associating the brake head within a unit guide in a side frame of the railway vehicle. The brake head extension including at least one of a first and a second tapered surface configured for breaking up and pushing debris out of the unit guide in the side frame. Eradication of debris within the side frame increases the braking efficiency of the railway vehicle as it reduces the amount of force necessary for applying the brake shoes to the wheels.

Abstract: System and computer-implemented methods and processes for data management of a plurality of target devices of a vehicle, the system including a portable computer device programmed for wireless connectivity to a network and data management activities and interaction with the target devices. The system and computer-implemented methods and processes are particularly useful in connection with trains having at least one locomotive, where the train includes multiple target devices, such as a train event recording system and the like.

Abstract: A monitoring system for detecting a condition in a vehicle, including at least one imaging device having a field of view including at least a portion of an interior cabin of the vehicle occupied by an operator of the vehicle during operation, a data storage medium configured to store parameter data in a database, the parameter data including control parameter data for the interior cabin of the vehicle, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one imaging device and the data storage medium. The at least one processor is programmed or configured to receive operational image data from the at least one imaging device, generate operational parameter data from the operational image data, compare the operational parameter data to the control parameter data, and determine if at least one operator is absent from the interior cabin and/or if at least one unauthorized display device is present in the vehicle.

Abstract: A vented cap for a main spring housing of a slack adjuster including an inner portion having an inner seal surface configured for cooperating with an elongated rod member and an outer seal surface configured for cooperating with a sidewall located at an end portion of the main spring housing. The vented end cap includes at least one opening configured to allow fluid and/or contaminants trapped within the slack adjuster and/or the end cap to drain therethrough. Various seals and/or drainage openings can also be provided along the slack adjuster to prevent the entrance of and/or allow for drainage of fluid/contaminants from the slack adjuster. A method for preventing the accumulation of fluid and/or contaminants within a slack adjuster and for protecting a critical operating area of the slack adjuster is also provided.

Abstract: An adjustment arrangement for an empty/load valve includes a body defining a channel, an adjustment beam slidably retained within the channel, and an adjustment handle connected to the adjustment beam. The adjustment handle may be configured to move between at least two positions. The adjustment handle may be configured to move the adjustment beam to at least two positions. The adjustment handle may be connected to the adjustment beam via a pin that extends through the adjustment handle and into the adjustment beam. The adjustment beam may include a protrusion that extends from the adjustment beam to act as a contact point.

Abstract: A control system for a train having at least one locomotive or control car and, optionally, at least one railroad car, operating in a track network, wherein an on-board computer determines or receives movement data and location data and generates stopping data representing an amount of force for stopping the train at a distance from a target and/or predictor data representing an estimated or predicted location or position of the train in the track network based on the movement data and the location data. A train control method is also provided.

Abstract: A broken rail detection system including: a power module having: a first electrical connection to the first rail to apply a direct current voltage; and a second electrical connection to the second rail to apply a direct current voltage; a diode shunt arrangement; a measurement device to sense or measure current; and a controller programmed or configured to: (i) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a first polarity on the railway track; (ii) determine the current resulting from the application step (i); (iii) cause at least one application of a direct current voltage of a second polarity on the railway track; (iv) determine the current resulting from the application step (iii); and (v) determine the presence or absence of a break based at least partially on the determined current.