Abstract: A double skin structure of a railcar bodyshell includes: a harmonica type structural portion in which a closed space is quadrangular when viewed from a car longitudinal direction; and a truss type structural portion which is located adjacent to the harmonica type structural portion and in which a closed space is triangular when viewed from the car longitudinal direction. A thickness reduced portion is formed in at least one of a region between a car width direction middle portion of a roof bodyshell and a car body circumferential direction middle portion of a cantrail. The thickness reduced portion having a bodyshell thickness that is made small by arranging an inner wall of the thickness reduced portion at a car exterior side of the inner wall of a region adjacent to the region in which the thickness reduced portion is formed.

Abstract: A folding-canopy main body used for a train through-passage includes an outward folding-canopy body and an inward folding-canopy body. The folding-canopy main body is vertically provided and extends along a front-back direction. The inward folding-canopy body is formed by connecting at least two pieces of internal canopy cloth which arch inwards to form a U shape along the front-back direction, the outward folding-canopy body is formed by connecting at least two pieces of external canopy cloth which arch outwards to form a U shape along the front-back direction, and the end portions of two adjacent pieces of internal canopy cloth and the end, portions of two adjacent pieces of external canopy cloth are all clamped and riveted by U-shaped parts.

Abstract: An expandable probe for filling a water tank in an aircraft from a body of water includes an inflatable hose having a proximal end fixed with a housing in the aircraft, a distal end fixed with a scooping head, an elastomeric internal conduit, and an inflatable bladder substantially surrounding the conduit. The conduit has a proximal end in communication with the water tank of the aircraft and a distal end fixed with a water scoop of the scooping head. An air supply is adapted to inflate and extend the inflatable hose to an extended configuration extending outside an open rear end of the housing below the lower side of the aircraft. Lowering the aircraft allows the scooping head to contact the body of water such that water enters the scoop and travels up the conduit to the water tank.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for spacing railcars of a train apart from each other with a predetermined gap in between. Embodiments include a railcar spacing tool having a hydraulic cylinder with brackets at opposing ends for contacting the frame of each of a pair of adjoined adjacent railcars to be spaced from each other, and a cylinder support frame attached to the cylinder and movably attached to a support vehicle such that the support frame is movable from a retracted position to an extended position where the brackets are between the frames of the pair of railcars. After moving the cylinder support frame to the extended position, the brackets are positioned in contact with the railcar frames, and the cylinder is engaged to create the predetermined gap between the railcars. The railcars' brakes are applied to preserve the gap, and the spacing tool is then removed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for decentralized rail signaling and positive train control. A decentralized train control system may include a plurality of wayside units, configured for placement on or near tracks in a railway network, and one or more train-mounted units, each configured for use in a train operating in a railway network that support use of the decentralized train control system. Each train-mounted unit may configured to receive communicate with any wayside unit and/or train-mounted unit that comes within range, with the communicating including use of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and for generating control information based on the UWB signals, for use in controlling one or more functions associated with operation of the train.

Abstract: The coupler system of a railway car truck is constructed such that basic overall appearance may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to one embodiment, the coupler is constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal coupler and components thereof. A second benefit of embodiments of the present invention provides for a more efficient use of materials, meaning less metal is used to make the same final shape, as a way of reducing the coupler weight. Both factures combined allow for a lighter weight coupler, while utilizing the standard designs. Alternate coupler configurations are disclosed for further reducing coupler weight.

Abstract: Vacuum tube railway system comprising a vacuum tube mounted on a ground support, a magnetic levitation railway track mounted inside a wall forming the vacuum tube for guiding a magnetic levitation railway vehicle, the vacuum tube assembled in sections along the ground support, at least some of a plurality of sections of vacuum tube being coupled together by a dilatation joint configured for hermetically sealing a dilatation gap between said sections of tube. The dilatation joint comprises at least first and second support plates mounted on an outer surface of the tube wall, a first support plate fixed to a first section of vacuum tube and a second support plate being fixed to a second section of vacuum tube, the support plates extending longitudinally over the dilatation gap over a length (L1) greater than a maximum dilatation gap (G).

Abstract: Lightweight yokes are provided. According to some embodiments, the basic overall appearance of the yoke may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to other embodiments, the yoke is provided with an improved lightweight construction, and, yet other embodiments the yoke may be provided with an improved construction and formed from a preferred material. Yokes may be constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal yoke. Yokes have improved configurations which may require less metal to produce the yoke. Both, the lightweight material and improvements in configuration of the yoke structure may combine to provide a lighter weight yoke.

Abstract: A Rail Drone can include: a payload interface, a drivetrain, and a rail platform(515). The Rail Drone can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The Rail Drone can integrate a standardized payload interface and an autonomous electric road vehicle platform into a rolling stock architecture. The Rail Drone can be a stand-alone, payload-agnostic, motive element which can be independently or cooperatively capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances at various cruising speeds.

Abstract: A dual mode vehicle that operates on both guided rails and roadways includes a capsule, a carriage, a left motor, a right motor, a road drive system, a rail drive system, a pod control unit, and at least one battery. The carriage includes a spherical frame-housing, a left wheel housing, and a right wheel housing. A spherical cabin of the capsule is attitudinally mounted within the spherical frame-housing. The left motor is adjacently mounted to the left wheel housing. The right motor is adjacently mounted to the right wheel housing. The left and right motors are operatively coupled with the road drive system through the at least one battery and the pod control unit to operate a roadways transportation mode. The left and right motors are operatively coupled with the rail drive system through the at least one battery and the pod control unit to operate a railway transportation mode.

Abstract: A tube infrastructure includes a first tube; a second tube that is coupled to the first tube; and a fluid tank that is disposed to surround a coupling region of the first tube and the second tube and is filled with a fluid to seal the coupling region, wherein the fluid tank allows negative pressure to be maintained inside the first tube and the second tube.

Abstract: A device for setting up a level crossing for crossing a track section having two rails, comprising one or more mouldings forming at least one part of a traffic surface of the railway crossing across the rails, and at least one moulding holder fixable to one of the two rails, wherein the moulding(s) is/(are) detachably attachable to at least one of the two rails by means of the moulding holder, wherein the moulding holder comprises two holding clamps fixable to the rail in juxtaposition to each other on both sides of the rail, and wherein the two holding clamps can be braced to each other such as to clamp the rail foot between the two holding clamps.

Abstract: Rail fastening system for fastening at least one rail (2) to a rail substrate, preferably a solid travel path, which comprises: a rail support plate (1) arranged for holding the rail (2), wherein the rail (2) in the mounted state is in contact with the rail support plate and is fastened thereto by a rail mount (1a, 1b, 1c); a base plate (3) arranged for fastening the rail support plate (1) on the rail substrate, wherein the rail support plate (1) in the mounted state is fastened on the base plate (3) by way of one or more, preferably two, retaining elements (6) and the base plate (3) is in contact with the rail substrate; wherein the base plate (3) is of multi-part, preferably two-part, construction so that this is adjustable to different dimensions of the rail support plate (1).

Abstract: A self-driving steel coil transport vehicle capable of active steering includes a load-bearing device, bogies mounted below the load-bearing device, and wheels mounted under the bogies. Two bogies are provided and arranged in a front-rear manner along the running direction of the transport vehicle. Four wheels are mounted under each bogie, and the load-bearing device is articulated with the two bogies, respectively. The transport vehicle is drivable in both a straight line and curves.

Abstract: Provided herein are transit systems for travel overhead of streets, having: at least a first vehicle and a second vehicle; a main track on which the vehicles travel, the main track having a suspended overhead rail over the streets by a support structure, such that the vehicles travel at an elevated level overhead of street level; docking stations for the vehicles to lower to the street level for loading and/or unloading passengers and/or cargo; a two-position switch at each docking station, having cables enabling vertical movement of the vehicle, and a replacement track; wherein the two-position switch allows for docking of the first vehicle while the second vehicle passes the docked first vehicle, by enabling lowering of the first vehicle from the elevated level to the street level, and the replacement track providing a track portion for the second vehicle on which to pass the first vehicle.

Abstract: A track system on which a skater dolly can roll, comprising one or more pairs of rails and one or more rail clamps. Each rail clamp supports one or two pairs of rails. Rails held side-by-side are parallel to each other. Rail clamps can also secure two rails in end-to-end configuration. The distance between rails can be about 5/16 of an inch. The track system can include a skater dolly, the load-bearing wheels of which are angled 20-30 degrees away from vertical to provide clearance past the rail clamps. The skater also has stabilizing wheels that are approximately perpendicular to the load-bearing wheels, and which secure the skater to the rails when the skater is in a non-upright e.g. upside-down orientation. The system can include a motor pulley system that moves the skater along the rails.

Abstract: A method for compensating for a loss of traction of a rail vehicle, preferably a freight locomotive, in a track curve, is particularly pertinent when the rail vehicle is starting up and/or is on an incline. Comparably unfavorable frictional conditions between a track and at least one driven track wheel of the rail vehicle are changed into comparably favorable frictional conditions by actively steering the track wheel on the rail.

Abstract: A rail vehicle contains a roof, a securing device, and a body. The securing device has at least a first securing unit and at least a second securing unit, and the first securing unit and the second securing unit are arranged offset relative to each other and are configured to secure the roof to the body. The first securing unit contains a fixed bearing, the fixed bearing is configured to prevent a movement of the roof relative to the body, and the second securing unit has a floating bearing, the floating bearing is configured to allow a movement of the roof in a longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle and to prevent a movement of the roof perpendicularly to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.

Abstract: An auto-rack bridge plate locking assembly including a support bracket, a guide tube, a slidable locking pin partially positioned in the guide tube, a handle assembly removably attachable to the locking pin, a fixed pivot pin partially positioned in the guide tube, and a spring positioned in the guide tube between the pivot pin and the locking pin. An auto-rack railroad car bridge plate may include a plate configured to extend from one auto-rack railroad car to an adjacent auto-rack railroad car with the locking assembly connected to the plate and configured to pivotally attach the plate to one of the auto-rack rail road cars.