Abstract: Protective devices, methods and systems for installation on a railway car interior, such as an autorack car designed to transport automobiles. The protector covers structures of the railway car that could potentially damage the automobiles being transported. The protectors may be provided in different lengths to provide a suitable span of coverage of a railway interior structure. The protector has a body with a beaded segment that provides a protective barrier between the automobile, such as its door, and the railway post or other structure. The protectors can be mounted with fasteners or may include integral fastening elements for self-mounting to the railcar. The protector may be formed by assembling together a plurality of sections to provide a protector having a desired length for the installation location. Self-connecting features may be provided on the protector sections for assembly of the protector sections without the need for tools or other equipment.

Abstract: A protector for a railway car interior, such as an autorack car designed to transport automobiles. The protector is installed on and covers the sidewall of a railway car to provide a barrier between the car and the sidewall to prevent damage to automobiles being transported in the rail car. The protector has two flanges that extend outward of the body and are deflectable to provide an expanded zone of protection when contacted by an object. The protector may be provided in different lengths to provide a suitable span of coverage of a railway interior structure when the protectors are arranged adjacently, horizontally along a sidewall of the rail car at suitable heights to provide protection. The outwardly projecting flanges provide a protective barrier between the automobile, such as a door panel, and the railway sidewall or other structure. A railcar configured with protectors also is provided.

Abstract: Protective devices, methods and systems for installation on a railway car interior, such as an autorack car designed to transport automobiles. The protector covers structures of the railway car that could potentially damage the automobiles being transported. The protectors may be provided in different lengths to provide a suitable span of coverage of a railway interior structure. The protector has a body with a beaded segment that provides a protective barrier between the automobile, such as its door, and the railway post or other structure. The protectors can be mounted with fasteners or may include integral fastening elements for self-mounting to the railcar. The protector may be formed by assembling together a plurality of sections to provide a protector having a desired length for the installation location. Self-connecting features may be provided on the protector sections for assembly of the protector sections without the need for tools or other equipment.

Abstract: A protector for a railway car interior, such as an autorack car designed to transport automobiles. The protector is installed on and covers the sidewall of a railway car to provide a barrier between the car and the sidewall to prevent damage to automobiles being transported in the rail car. The protector has two bumpers that are connected to a body and are deflectable to provide expanded zones of protection when contacted by an object. The protector may be provided in different lengths to provide a suitable span of coverage of a railway interior structure when the protectors are arranged adjacently, horizontally along a sidewall of the rail car at suitable heights to provide protection. The outwardly projecting bumpers provide a protective barrier between the automobile, such as a door panel, and the railway sidewall or other structure. A railcar configured with protectors also is provided.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for component deconvolution by a mixture model based on methylation information. A mixture model may be trained agnostic of labels or known component contributions. A system generates a methylation signature for each of a plurality of training samples. The methylation signature may be based on a count or a percentage of a methylation variant(s) expressed in the methylation sequence reads of a training sample at each genomic region of a plurality of genomic regions. The system may train the mixture model using maximum likelihood estimation to deconvolve the component contributions. The mixture model may comprise component submodels and a deconvolution submodel. The component submodels predict a component likelihood based on the methylation signature. The deconvolution submodel predicts the component contributions based on the component likelihoods.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for component deconvolution by a mixture model based on methylation information. A mixture model may be trained agnostic of labels or known component contributions. A system generates a methylation signature for each of a plurality of training samples. The methylation signature may be based on a count or a percentage of a methylation variant(s) expressed in the methylation sequence reads of a training sample at each genomic region of a plurality of genomic regions. The system may train the mixture model using maximum likelihood estimation to deconvolve the component contributions. The mixture model may comprise component submodels and a deconvolution submodel. The component submodels predict a component likelihood based on the methylation signature. The deconvolution submodel predicts the component contributions based on the component likelihoods.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: The sideframe and bolster of a railway car truck are constructed such that basic overall sideframe and bolster appearance is maintained, but the actual material it is constructed of is changed. The material used is changed from cast steel to an austempered metal, such as, 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. This immediately allows for a reduction in weight. A second benefit is that iron is easier to pour than steel and actually increases in volume, slightly, as metal cools compared to steel which shrinks. Efficient use of materials is improved, meaning less metal is used to make the same final shape, as a way of reducing the sideframe and bolster weight. Both factures combined allow for a lighter weight railway car truck, sideframe and bolster, while utilizing standard designs.

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: 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: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Abstract: An improved method of production of a coupler knuckle, a core assembly for production of a coupler knuckle, and coupler knuckle having an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission. The knuckle interior has a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section thereof.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: An improved method of production of a coupler knuckle, a core assembly for production of a coupler knuckle, and coupler knuckle having an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission. The knuckle interior has a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section thereof.

Abstract: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.