Patents by Inventor Donald E. Wilt
Donald E. Wilt 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).
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Publication number: 20230347945Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a railcar coupler key in position to releasably secure a railcar coupler shank to a yoke accommodated in a sill of a railcar. The railcar coupler key retainer apparatus includes an elongated key stop adapted to be releasably secured against an interior surface of a sill side wall defining an elongated slot. The key stop is configured with a flange portion which projects beyond an exterior surface of the sill side wall defining the slot. The flange portion defines a through bore having a closed margin. A retainer is mounted to the exterior surface of the sill side wall defining the elongated slot and defines a through bore which aligns with the through bore in the flange portion of the key stop when the key stop abuts with a closed end of the elongated slot defined by the side wall of the sill.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Erich A. SCHOEDL, Donald E. Wilt, Bradley J. Haymond
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Publication number: 20230249720Abstract: A railroad freight car draft gear includes a friction clutch assembly with friction members arranged in operable combination with an actuator. Each friction member has an outer friction surface which slides along a mating friction surface. A spring assembly is provided for absorbing, dissipating, and returning energy imparted to the draft gear. Recesses are provided on the respective mating friction surfaces of the draft gear. A uniquely designed preformed friction modifying insert is pressed into each recess on the clutch assembly components. Each insert includes an elongated leg having projections extending radially outward from opposed surfaces on the insert leg. Each friction modifying insert is furthermore configured to include a convex inner contact surface to facilitate insertion and active contact along with flared inner edges to improve fit between the insert and related draft gear components.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2022Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Erich A. Schoedl, Donald E. Wilt, Andy R. Kries
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Patent number: 10328957Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Robert J. Pokorski, Keith A. Salis, Erich A. Schoedl
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Patent number: 9789888Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: MINER ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Robert J. Pokorski, Keith A. Salis, Erich A. Schoedl
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Publication number: 20170210398Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Donald E. WILT, Robert J. POKORSKI, Keith A. SALIS, Erich A. SCHOEDL
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Patent number: 9669848Abstract: An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Trinity North American Freight Car, Inc.Inventors: George S. Creighton, Aubra D. McKisic, Donald E. Wilt, Robert J. Pokorski, Keith A. Salis, Erich A. Schoedl
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Publication number: 20160052530Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: MINER ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Donald E. WILT, Robert J. POKORSKI, Keith A. Salis, Erich A. SCHOEDL
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Patent number: 8985355Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly including a housing, a spring sea, a spring and a friction clutch assembly in operable combination relative to each other within the housing. The spring includes a series of axially stacked elastomeric pads arranged between a closed end of the housing and the spring seat. An axially elongated guide rod is endwise passed through the spring seat and elastomeric pads for aligning the pads relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear assembly. The guide rod is operably inhibited from axial shifting movements during operation of the draft gear assembly. A related method for assembling the draft gear is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Donald E. Wilt
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Patent number: 8939300Abstract: A friction/elastomeric draft gear having a housing, a spring assembly arranged within the housing, and a friction clutch assembly having a wedge member and defining first sliding friction surface disposed at an angle ? relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear and a second friction surface disposed at an angle ? relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear. The spring assembly is designed in combination with the angles ? and ? of the first and second friction sliding surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis such that the draft gear consistently and repeatedly withstands between about 100 KJ and 130 KJ of energy imparted at less than three meganewtons over a range of travel of the wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the draft gear housing not exceeding 120 mm.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis, Rosie Galindo, Robert J. Pokorski, Kris C. Jurasek, William P. O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20150014267Abstract: An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.Inventors: George S. CREIGHTON, Aubra D. McKISIC, Donald E. WILT, Robert J. POKORSKI, Keith A. SALIS, Erich A. Schoedl
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Patent number: 8870002Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly having an axially elongated spring assembly comprised of an axially stacked array of individual spring units and further including cooperating instrumentalities for maintaining the spring assembly generally axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the railcar draft gear assembly during operation of the draft gear assembly while maintaining the individual spring units in generally aligned relation relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis, Lawrence W. Hanson
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Publication number: 20140202973Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly including a housing, a spring sea, a spring and a friction clutch assembly in operable combination relative to each other within the housing. The spring includes a series of axially stacked elastomeric pads arranged between a closed end of the housing and the spring seat. An axially elongated guide rod is endwise passed through the spring seat and elastomeric pads for aligning the pads relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear assembly. The guide rod is operably inhibited from axial shifting movements during operation of the draft gear assembly. A related method for assembling the draft gear is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Inventor: Donald E. WILT
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Patent number: 8590717Abstract: A railroad freight car multipiece spring seat assembly including a spring seat, a top plate, and a spring. The spring seat is adapted to operably engage one end of a spring assembly in a railroad freight car draft gear. The top plate is adapted to operably engage with each of a plurality of friction shoes arranged in the railroad freight car draft gear. The spring of the multipiece spring seat assembly is operably disposed between the spring seat and the top plate.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis
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Publication number: 20130168346Abstract: A friction/elastomeric draft gear having a housing, a spring assembly arranged within the housing, and a friction clutch assembly having a wedge member and defining first sliding friction surface disposed at an angle ? relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear and a second friction surface disposed at an angle ? relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear. The spring assembly is designed in combination with the angles ? and ? of the first and second friction sliding surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis such that the draft gear consistently and repeatedly withstands between about 100 KJ and 130 KJ of energy imparted at less than three meganewtons over a range of travel of the wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the draft gear housing not exceeding 120 mm.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2010Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: MINER ENTERPRISES, INC.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis, Rosie Galindo, Robert J. Pokorski, Kris C. Jurasek, William P. O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20130153526Abstract: A railcar draft gear assembly having an axially elongated spring assembly comprised of an axially stacked array of individual spring units and further including cooperating instrumentalities for maintaining the spring assembly generally axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the railcar draft gear assembly during operation of the draft gear assembly while maintaining the individual spring units in generally aligned relation relative to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis, Lawrence W. Hanson
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Publication number: 20120292279Abstract: A railroad freight car multipiece spring seat assembly including a spring seat, a top plate, and a spring. The spring seat is adapted to operably engage one end of a spring assembly in a railroad freight car draft gear. The top plate is adapted to operably engage with each of a plurality of friction shoes arranged in the railroad freight car draft gear. The spring of the multipiece spring seat assembly is operably disposed between the spring seat and the top plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, Keith A. Salis
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Patent number: 7044061Abstract: An elastomer spring element arranged in operable combination with structure for inhibiting localized heat deterioration of the elastomer spring element.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: William P. O'Donnell, Michael D. VanMaldegiam, Erik D. Jensen, Donald E. Wilt, Michael S. Dillon
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Patent number: 6862999Abstract: A railroad car energy absorption apparatus is disclosed. The railroad car energy absorption apparatus includes a spring assembly having an elastomer spring element arranged in operable combination with structure for inhibiting localized heat deterioration of the elastomer spring element.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: March 8, 2005Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: William P. O'Donnell, Michael D. VanMaldegiam, Erik D. Jensen, Donald E. Wilt, Michael S. Dillon
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Patent number: 6796448Abstract: A railcar draft gear housing formed from an austempered ductile iron casting having an original shape and including an open end, a closed end, and wall structure axially extending between the housing's ends. The wall structure of the housing defines an axial section between and spaced from the ends. The axial section of the wall structure is configured to withstand impact energy imparted to the housing in excess of 81,000 inch pounds while retaining and exhibiting substantially linear elasticity wherein the resultant ratio of stress to energy input remains substantially constant thereby allowing for flexible distortion of the housing in a manner promoting enhanced energy damping characteristics while allowing the casting to return to the original shape after the impact energy is released threrefrom.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: Donald E. Wilt, David G. Anderson, Andrew W. Withall
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Patent number: RE44177Abstract: A railroad car energy absorption apparatus is disclosed. The railroad car energy absorption apparatus includes a spring assembly having an elastomer spring element arranged in operable combination with structure for inhibiting localized heat deterioration of the elastomer spring element.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.Inventors: William P. O'Donnell, Michael D. VanMaldegiam, Erik D. Jensen, Donald E. Wilt, Michael S. Dillon