Patents by Inventor Bradford Johnstone

Bradford Johnstone has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7549379
    Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap. The cup shaped cap includes a centrally located cut out section with an elastomer pad fitted within the cut out section. The cup shaped cap cylindrical wall sections can be coated with a lubricant or hardening substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: AMSTED Rail Company, Inc
    Inventors: Jay Monaco, Bradford Johnstone
  • Patent number: 7546807
    Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc
    Inventors: Bradford Johnstone, Daniel Schneirs, Jeffrey Ruback, Jay Monaco
  • Patent number: 7527003
    Abstract: An improved side bearing for railway cars is provided that achieves improved tracking and curving by the limitation of rock of the railway car. The side bearing comprises a base with a generally upwardly extending wall portion. A cap comprising a top section with generally downwardly extending wall portion is provided. The cap extends into or around the wall section of the base. Two coil springs are provided within the base that extend to the underside and support the cap. An elastomer spring is also provided that is located within an least of one of the coil springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ASF Keystone, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph H. Schorr, Bradford Johnstone
  • Publication number: 20080035013
    Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bradford Johnstone, Daniel Schneirs, Jeffrey Ruback, Jay Monaco
  • Publication number: 20080035012
    Abstract: A long travel constant contact side bearing for railway cars provides better handling characteristics, achieving improved tracking and curving through use of various combinations of features. The side bearing comprises a base and a generally cylindrical wall section extending upwardly from the base. A cup-shaped cap comprises a generally circular top section and a generally cylindrical wall section extending downwardly therefrom. The cap extends into the wall section of the base. At least one coil spring is provided within the base and extends to the underside of the cap. The cup shaped cap includes a centrally located cut out section with an elastomer pad fitted within the cut out section. The cup shaped cap cylindrical wall sections can be coated with a lubricant or hardening substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Jay Monaco, Bradford Johnstone
  • Patent number: 5109776
    Abstract: A railway car comprising a body and supporting truck the body having a rigid pin extending into a close-fitting socket in the truck bolster and the car body and truck bolster having close contact side bearings so that the car body and truck bolster sway essentially as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Trinity Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford Johnstone, Robert W. Lyons
  • Patent number: 5017066
    Abstract: An adjustable guide for a railway well car has a fixed guide for centering containers of a wide standard width during loading, and a retractable guide associated with and placed below the fixed guide for centering and positioning of containers of a narrower standard width. The positioning of the guides one below the other provides a stepped guide arrangement for incrementally guiding the container as it enters the well of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Tylisz, Bradford Johnstone
  • Patent number: 4782762
    Abstract: A railway car train comprises five car units. Each car unit has two end structures with a depressed well portion supported therebetween. A pair of side structures extend between the end structures and adjacent the well portion. A floor structure extends between lower portions of the side structures to form the bottom of the well portion. The floor structure includes an end beam extending transversely between lower portions of the side structures at the end of the well portion. The end structure includes a stub center sill connected to a shear plate member. A deflection member is secured to the inward end of the shear plate member. The deflection member includes a vertical wall portion and a sloping wall portion for deflecting containers into the well portion as they are loaded. The deflection member is connected with the shear plate member to form a transverse girder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford Johnstone, Phillip G. Przybylinski, Eugene R. Tylisz
  • Patent number: 4741274
    Abstract: A railway hopper car has longitudinally spaced hoppers on both sides of a center sill. The hoppers have door assemblies which may be opened and closed by a door operating mechanism. The door operating mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder which rotates a lever to move an operating rod longitudinally within the center sill. Door operating levers are rotatably supported on the railway car and pivotally connected to the operating rod to be rotated when it moves. The door operating levers are pivotally connected with struts connected with the door on the hoppers. The mechanism is configured so that all forces are substantially coplanar in a vertical plane passing through the centerline of the center sill to reduce lateral twisting forces in the mechanism. Adjustment of the length of the strut is provided for positioning of the door operating levers during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Trinity Industries
    Inventors: Ray L. Ferris, Bradford Johnstone, Emmanuel L. Komasinski, Maurico F. Rosellini, William D. Stoughton
  • Patent number: 4651650
    Abstract: An elastomeric pad placed in shear and having one portion or surface engaged with a portion of a railway car body and another portion or surface engaged by pivotal linkage means to a wheel housing dampens vibrations of a wheel and axle assembly which is resiliently mounted to the car body for rollingly supporting the car body. The pivotal linkage is elongated and connected to the wheel housing and the car body using spherical bearings to minimize wear. The linkage is attached at an angle of inclination to minimize strain on the elastomeric pad and linkage assembly caused by vertical travel of the railway car body due to varying weight loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Pullman Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene R. Tylisz, Bradford Johnstone