Abstract: A railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus and methods of making and using the same are provided. Specifically, the railcar deck channel pivoting side wall apparatus comprises a pivoting side wall arranged within a railcar deck channel to allow for the easy installation and/or removal of chain assemblies on railcar decks for the transport of heavy items thereon.

Abstract: A railroad communication system includes a radio transmitter for generating radio communications signals and a length of railroad rail coupled to the radio transmitter. The length of rail is disposed on a set of nonconductive railroad ties to form a transmission line for radiating the radio communications signals to a radio receiver in a vicinity of the length of railroad rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling elevated trains for travel both above as well as below a vertically tiered pair of tracks by having wheels both in the upper and lower area of the train with the ability to switch, at the end of the line, from traveling on the upper tracks using lower wheels to traveling on the lower track using upper wheels. The method and apparatus of switching between upper and lower tracks enables trains to be moved between multiple levels serving as passing loops as well as vertical depots.

Abstract: A traction device to engage a track of a tracked vehicle includes spaced apart longitudinal ribs and spaced apart transverse ribs forming a matrix, with at least one longitudinal rib having first gripping elements spaced apart to engage a track of a vehicle having lugs spaced at a first pitch and at least one other longitudinal rib having second gripping elements spaced apart to engage a track of a vehicle having lugs spaced at a second pitch. A number of third gripping elements are arranged across a width of each of the transverse ribs, and the transverse ribs are spaced to engage a track of a vehicle having lugs spaced at a third pitch.

Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross-beam supporting a carbody; pair of axles at both cross-beam sides in car longitudinal direction and extending in car-width direction; bearings at both car-width direction sides of each axle and rotatably supporting axles; axle-boxes accommodating respective bearings; plate-springs supporting both car-width direction end-portions of the cross-beam and extending in car longitudinal direction, both car longitudinal direction end-portions of each plate-springs supported by axle-boxes; pressing members at both car-width direction end-portions of the cross-beam placed on respective car longitudinal direction middle-portions of plate-springs, lower surface of a portion of each pressing member having a convex downward circular-arc shape in side-view, the portion pressing the plate-spring, a middle-portion upper surface of each plate-spring having convex downward circular-arc shape in side-view, the middle-portion pressed by the pressing member, and a lower surface curvature of the pr

Abstract: An auto reset zip line assembly comprising a cable running along the circumference of two pulleys that are spaced apart forming a closed loop is provided. A pair of rigid frames are fixedly coupled to the cable at an equal distance from each other. The pulley includes a wheel having a rim that has a continuous trough along the circumference to retain the cable. The wheel is rotatably mounted on a shaft and the shaft is mounted to a hosing. The pulleys include a mechanism to suspend a zip line assembly between two vertical supports. The auto reset zip line assembly further comprises a braking mechanism and a pair of guarding plates coupled to the housing to prevent derailing and entangling of the cable. The invention is advantageous by providing a safe zip line assembly that obviated the need of returning a trolley to the starting point of the zip line.

Abstract: A railroad car truck for a railroad freight car, such as an autorack car, has a bolster mounted cross-wise between two sideframes. The bolster ends are mounted on respective spring groups carried by the sideframes. The bolster can translate laterally relative to the sideframes. The side frames are mounted to swing laterally relative to the wheel sets, and hence relative to the rails. Resistance to lateral deflection is provided by the resistance of the sideframes to the pendulum swinging motion, and by shear in the spring groups. The truck has a doubled damper arrangement of dampers in a four-cornered layout at each end of the bolster, giving a flexing resistance to yaw between the sideframes and the bolster ends. The doubled damper arrangement works against large wear plates mounted on the sideframe columns. The large wear plates are mounted normal to the dampers and square to the sideframes.

Abstract: A device (100) for transmitting an electrical current between two elements that are movable relative to each other, by a strip (30) containing carbon, which extends in a longitudinal direction and is designed to rub against one of the elements so as to transmit an electrical current, the transmission device including: a strip holder (6), and bearing structure (10) designed to exert force on the strip (30), which urges same against the holder (6), the force being transverse relative to the longitudinal direction, wherein the bearing structure (10) and/or the holder (6) are shaped so as to occupy only a portion of the length of the strip (30) in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Bumper guard and side post guard apparatuses prevent vehicles from being damaged when stored and transported within an auto-rack railcar, such as when vehicle doors are opened, where vehicle doors may otherwise contact the side panels and side posts of the auto-rack railcar. Methods of using the same are further provided.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a scattering material located at a contact point between a rail and a wheel of a rail vehicle wherein the scattering material improves the force closure between the rail and the wheel. The method reads in a motion signal that represents a motion of the wheel caused by the scattering material located on the rail and evaluates the motion signal to analyze the scattering material located on the rail.

Abstract: An anti-collision system for railcars and locomotives and, more particularly, to a distance ranging and worker coupling protection system utilizes remote-sensing radar techniques for use with a locomotive and railcar. The anti-collision system may include an object detector device attached to a railcar or a locomotive that detects objects in a path of the railcar and the locomotive and a train display device electrically connected to the object detector device. The anti-collision system may also include an emergency action device which enables a crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to a locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized. The object detector device may include a remote sensor, a radio, and a microprocessor programmed to include data-logging to record and log all data from the anti-collision system.

Abstract: A travelling device for an apparatus for rehabilitating pipelines, including an adjustable undercarriage and a support device to which the undercarriage is fastened. The undercarriage includes a plurality of wheel sets, each wheel set having at least two wheels, wherein the wheels of a wheel set are rotatably mounted on a wheel holding element. The wheel holding element includes a spacer positioned intermediate the at least two wheels, the spacer configured so that the wheels of the wheel sets do not jam in the pipeline when moving the device.

Abstract: A steering system for a locomotive truck may include a first axle and a plurality of primary bearing adapter assemblies, each primary bearing adapter assembly may include a bearing adapter and a swiveling back plate, wherein each bearing adapter may be disposed around the first axle.

Abstract: A base plate includes a lateral support section and a lateral contact surface which delimits a supporting area formed on a top side of the base plate for a foot of a rail. A through-hole leading from the top side to the underside of the support section is formed into an edge area of the support section abutting the lateral contact surface. The through-hole has a basic shape which is angular in cross-section. The surface of the edge area meets with the contact surface in an upper marginal edge. A lateral surface of the through-hole assigned to the contact surface at least over a partial area of its height changes into an inclined surface which rises in the direction of the upper marginal edge of the contact surface and ends at the surface of the edge area.

Abstract: A railcar truck and adapter pad system for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck. Many different features of the pad and/or the adapter-pad interface are configured to improve stiffness characteristics to satisfy both curving and high speed performance of the railcar truck.

Abstract: A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.

Abstract: A locomotive consist includes a first locomotive unit that receives a power command from a throttle signal or a dynamic brake signal from MU trainlines, a second locomotive unit with an energy storage system electrically connected to one or more second unit traction motors, and a hybrid control system on the first locomotive unit. The hybrid control system intercepts the throttle signal or the dynamic brake signal from the MU trainlines, calculates first and second alternate power commands for the first and second locomotive units, respectively, that when added together equal the power command received on the MU trainlines, communicates the first power command to the first locomotive prime engine or dynamic braking system, and communicates the second power command to the second locomotive unit.

Abstract: An amusement park ride having a car with seating options above a track, below the track or adjacent to the track such that a rider may experience different thrill levels depending on the position of the car in relation to the track. The car may have a swiveling arm to position the car above, lateral to, or below the track. Alternatively, ride may have multiple cars arranged above, lateral to, or below the track for the rider to choose which position to ride in. In lieu of or in addition to the car seating options, the may have adjustable shoulder restraints that allow the rider to use the shoulder restraints or not. The shoulder restraints may be flexible or rigid, but rotatable from an upright configuration to a sideways configuration.

Abstract: A cord reel assembly including a single, continuous cord having stationary and retractable segments, with the stationary segment including multiple connectors and sheath covering such connectors where the connectors twist and untwist relative to the sheath in response to the retract and extension of the retractable segment.

Abstract: A guide track includes a guide rail having a guide groove opened upward in which guide wheels are inserted, and formed with guide surfaces for causing each of the guide wheels to roll at both sides of a traveling course in a width direction; conductor rails that are placed at both sides of an outside of the traveling course in the width direction with respect to the guide groove to perform contact electricity supply by pressing a power collection shoe of a power collector of a track-based vehicle; a first insulator that supports the conductor rails with respect to the guide rail; and insulation plates that are provided at both sides of the conductor rail in the width direction, and are provided in parallel to the conductor rail and in parallel to a pressing direction of the power collection shoe.