Abstract: A slackless coupler assembly having a ball and race assembly provided in the coupler butt. The ball and race assembly comprises a ball member having a substantially spherical shape and a one piece race member which is formed integrally with at least a portion of the ball member in a manner so as to enable rotational movement of the ball member with respect to the one piece race member. The outer surface of the one piece race member has a shape which is capable of being placed within an aperture of a male connection member so as to enable rotational movement of the male connection member with respect to a female connection member. A telescoping spring is provided to maintain the coupler knuckle in a substantially vertical direction. A slackless coupler assembly of the present invention eliminates the need for expensive draft gears.

Abstract: The present invention increases the capacity and resistance to closure of the draft gear assembly wherein a portion of the lug supporting plates, usually the tapered plates, within the friction cushioning device is tapered or angled to increase the side force on the movable plates which increases the draft gear assembly's resistance to closure and increases the capacity of the draft gear assembly. Additionally or alternatively a tapered or angled top surface on the housing's third horizontal rib may be provided in the area that contacts or supports the bottom surfaces of the tapered plates. Providing a taper on the third horizontal lug which mates or cooperates with an angle on the bottom edge surface of the tapered plates increases the side force on the movable plates during the application of a buffing shock to the draft gear assembly.

Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.

Abstract: A connection assembly including a one piece liner member for use in a connection assembly utilized in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The one piece liner member comprises a substantially solid member having a substantially spherical inner surface for positioning around a predetermined portion of a spherical member of a connection assembly. The male connection member of the railway coupling device includes an aperture having a predetermined configuration and an inner surface formed by this aperture. A retainer member is provided for engaging at least a portion of the inner surface of the male connection member to form a substantially spherical inner surface.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention detect bio-hazardous-sized particles in, on, and around mail. The system collects these bio-hazardous-sized particles, tests for the presence of bio-hazardous particles, generates a signal when bio-hazardous particles are detected, and prepares an analysis sample and performs real-time or near real-time analysis and optionally air treatment.

Abstract: A connection assembly for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The connection assembly comprises a spherical member and a modified male connection member wherein the male connection member includes an aperture and a portion of the inner surface of the male connection member formed by this aperture forms a part of the inner surface upon which the spherical member rotates against. The inner surface of the modified male connection member includes a portion which is engageable with a retainer member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member.

Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.

Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.

Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

Abstract: A suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement is provided. The suspension system comprises suspension members, each of the suspension members being pivotally connected at a first end with a predetermined portion of the railway vehicle truck arrangement and pivotally connected at a second end with a predetermined portion of the truck mounted brake assembly for suspending a pair of brake beams in the railway vehicle truck arrangement. At least one maintaining member is provided having at least a portion thereof connected with the truck mounted brake assembly for maintaining each of the brake beams in a predetermined plane during application and release of the railway vehicle brake assembly.

Abstract: A brake cylinder for use in a railway vehicle braking system is provided. The brake cylinder comprises a cylindrical casing engageable with the railway vehicle braking system, a hollow piston assembly which is mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylindrical casing and having a hollow portion defined by a back wall and at least one sidewall. A small piston assembly is positioned within this hollow portion and includes a first surface facing the back wall of the hollow portion and a peripheral edge portion for sealingly engaging an inner surface of the sidewall of the hollow portion. A first space is defined by the back wall of the hollow portion, at least a portion of the inner surface of the at least one sidewall and the first surface of the small piston.

Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

Abstract: A locking assembly for preventing the accidental let out of a slack adjuster is provided. The elongated rod member of the slack adjuster has a first portion positioned within at least a portion of the slack adjuster's elongated hollow housing member and a second portion extending out of an end of this elongated hollow housing. A jaw member may be provided which is engageable with this second portion of the elongated rod member at a location remote from the end of the elongated hollow housing member. The locking assembly comprises an end cap engageable with the end of the elongated hollow housing. This end cap includes a portion extending substantially parallel with the second portion of the elongated rod member. At least one aperture is formed through this parallely extending portion of the end cap.

Abstract: A power source activated handbrake release mechanism for automatically releasing a parking brake assembly for a railroad vehicle braking system is provided. The power source activated handbrake release mechanism includes a hydraulically or pneumatically activated piston assembly including a piston rod mounted for movement upon activation of a piston within the piston assembly. An elongated member is associated at one end with this piston rod such that it moves laterally with respect to a bottom surface of the piston rod upon vertical movement of this piston rod. Another end of the elongated member is secured with the release shaft of the handbrake such that the lateral movement of the elongated member results in a rotational force being applied to the release shaft causing the automatic release of the handbrake.

Abstract: A ball and race assembly having a one piece race assembly integrally formed onto the ball is provided. This ball having an integrally formed race assembly thereon has particular utility in the railway coupling industry for use in connection assemblies which are utilized in articulated coupling arrangements and slackless drawbar assemblies. The ball and race assembly comprises a ball member having a substantially spherical shape with a predetermined diameter and a one piece race member which is formed integrally with at least a portion of the ball member in a manner so as to enable rotational movement of the ball member with respect to the one piece race member. The one piece race member is a filament wound composite type material which is wound about the ball member so as to produce an outer surface which is capable of being positioned within an appropriate holding device depending upon the environment for which the ball and race assembly is to be used.

Abstract: An adapter system for use in railway vehicle braking systems for increasing the height of a slack adjuster with respect to a force transfer lever in the braking system is provided. Increasing the height of the slack adjuster in the system results in better clearance of the slack adjuster through an opening of the truck bolster through which the slack adjuster extends in single-cylinder, truck-mounted braking systems. The adapter system of the invention comprises a J-shaped member which is engageable with the transfer lever of the braking system. This J-shaped member has a first portion extending above and substantially parallel with at least a portion of the transfer lever, a second portion positioned below an end of the transfer lever, and a third portion positioned adjacent an edge of the end of the transfer lever. The transfer lever is connected between the first and second portions of the J-shaped member.

Abstract: A carrier plate assembly for use in a slackless drawbar assembly to connect together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars. The carrier plate assembly includes a carrier plate member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A crushable support member has a bottom surface thereof engageable with at least a portion of the top surface of such carrier plate member. There is an aperture formed through the crushable support member and an anchoring mechanism is engageable with the carrier plate member and extends through such aperture formed in the crushable support member for securing a locking wedge member to the carrier plate in such slackless drawbar assembly. The anchoring mechanisms including at least a threaded portion for at least one of receiving a nut thereon and for threadedly engaging a threaded aperture formed in the locking wedge member to enable tightening of such locking wedge member to the carrier plate.

Abstract: A brake valve system for a pair of railroad freight cars mechanically connected together in a substantially semi-permanent manner. Each of such pair of freight cars has a brake pipe pneumatically connected together. The brake valve system comprises a brake control valve disposed on a first one of such pair of cars and is pneumatically connected to the brake pipe and to a reservoir disposed on the first one of the pair for applying and releasing brakes disposed on both of the pair of freight cars. A vent valve is disposed on a second one of the freight cars and is pneumatically connected to the brake pipe disposed on the second one of the pair of cars for emergency venting of air from the brake pipes of the pair of cars for emergency application of the brakes of the pair of cars.

Abstract: A locking wedge assembly for use in a slackless drawbar assembly designed to connect together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway cars. Such locking wedge assembly including a locking wedge member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A crushable support member has a top surface engageable with at least a portion of the bottom surface of such wedge member. An aperture is formed through the crushable support member and an anchoring member is engaged with the locking wedge member and extends through such aperture formed in the crushable support member for securing the locking wedge member in such slackless drawbar assembly. Such anchoring member includes at least a threaded portion for at least one of receiving a nut thereon and for threadedly engaging a threaded aperture formed in the wedge member adjacent the bottom surface of such wedge member to enable tightening of such locking wedge member in place.