Abstract: A fluid actuated friction damper having telescopically movable inner and outer bodies, the outer body having an elongated, continuous friction surface. The inner body includes a first set of friction shoes engageable with the continuous friction surface, a fluid pressure responsive device for exerting a normal force to urge the friction shoes against the continuous friction surface, and a shuttle device supporting the friction shoes for limited axial movement between end stops on the inner body. The inner body also provides fluid pressure communication between an external source of pressurized fluid and the fluid pressure responsive device when the shuttle is at one of the stops and for isolating the fluid pressure responsive device from the external source when the shuttle is moved from the one stop.

Abstract: A fluid actuated friction damper having telescopically movable inner and outer bodies, the outer body having an elongated, continuous friction surface. The inner body includes a first set of friction shoes engageable with the continuous friction surface, a fluid pressure responsive device for exerting a normal force to urge the friction shoes against the continuous friction surface, and a shuttle device supporting the friction shoes for limited axial movement between end stops on the inner body. The inner body also provides fluid pressure communication between an external source of pressurized fluid and the fluid pressure responsive device when the shuttle is at one of the stops and for isolating the fluid pressure responsive device from the external source when the shuttle is moved from the one stop.

Abstract: The spring includes a composite elastomeric body having in one embodiment a closed end and an open end. A coil spring is embedded both within the body wall and the closed end, and provides reinforcement of both the body wall and the closed end. The body may be of cylindrical, conical, or other shape, depending upon the required function of the spring. It may also take an essentially hourglass shape or the shape of a cylinder flanged at both ends. Alternately, the spring may be internally pressurized to provide load leveling or air spring effects in addition to the variable rate load versus deflection curve normally obtained. The body may be attached directly to any surface to create an airtight seal. Alternately, a closure plate may be provided to seal an open end of the coil spring.

Abstract: The fluid actuated friction damper comprises a cylinder and an expandable piston assembly made up of a piston having two spaced apart parallel end walls which form an annular chamber, and two spaced apart side walls which project toward one another and terminate in two spaced apart parallel edges. These edges define a curved opening for the chamber which fronts upon the inside of the cylinder. A curved friction member is located between these edges in this opening, and is pressed against the inside of the cylinder by an underlying flexible actuator ring. This ring has a width greater than the spacing between the side wall edges and is located inside of the side walls so that the ring simultaneously self-seals against the side walls and bulges outwardly through the opening, thereby pressing the friction member against the inside of the cylinder when the chamber is pressurized.

Abstract: The strut includes a bidirectional frictional damping assembly which provides frictional damping under rebound and jounce conditions. A separate rebound frictional damping assembly, or a separate jounce frictional damping assembly, or both, provide differential rebound and jounce damping, with and without bidirectional frictional damping.

Abstract: The system includes a hydraulically damped strut and a tubular elastomeric spring. The ends of the spring may be sealed so that the spring can be pressurized internally. An improved bearing, which permits rotative shifting of the spring and strut in response to turning effort, also is disclosed. The suspension is particularly useful in applications which heretofore involved MacPherson struts.

Abstract: The spring includes a tubular elastomeric body and an embedded coil spring composed entirely of active coils. The ends of the body are contoured with respect to the ends of the coil spring, and provide for control of the orientation of the composite spring with respect to spring seats. An end seal for composite or other tubular elastomeric springs also is disclosed.

Abstract: The strut includes a telescoping load bearing assembly that extends through a composite spring and a frictional damping assembly. The damping assembly includes one, two three or more movable damper wedges that are urged by two wedge rings against a sleeve bearing that normally provides for low friction extension and contraction of the load bearing assembly. In response to application of an axial load on the load bearing assembly, however, the damper wedges press or squeeze the sleeve bearing into gripping engagement with the load bearing assembly, which causes the sleeve bearing to apply a frictional damping force to the load bearing assembly. Elastomer layers interposed between the interactive faces of the damper wedges and the wedge rings are placed in visco-elastic shear in response to movement of the damper wedges and, hence, provide essentially frictionless movement of the damper wedges under such conditions. This enhances the sensitivity of the strut to certain road conditions.

Abstract: A frictional damping assembly operated by a load bearing air spring together provide damped, pneumatic load bearing support for a telescoping load bearing assembly. The strut is particularly suitable for use in front and/or rear suspensions of passenger vehicles.

Abstract: The truck includes two parallel damper ramp supports connected together by a transverse tie assembly. A single wheeled axle is pivotally supported from the damper ramp supports in spaced apart parallel alignment with the transverse tie assembly by two independently sprung and damped radius arms. A swivel assembly is mounted by the transverse tie assembly in overlying relation with the axle. Two yaw control assemblies respectively act between the damper ramp supports and an overhead railcar body. Each of the yaw control assemblies includes a yaw damper that provides either a damping force or both a damping force and a self-centering force in response to rotative movement of the truck. A railcar equipped with two such trucks also is disclosed.

Abstract: The railcar includes two car units interconnected by a drawbar. The drawbar and conventional outboard end couplers are mounted at the locations spaced apart along the longitudinal center lines of the car units. Each car unit is made up of a gondola carbody and two single axle trucks which support the carbody at four vertical load support points. Each carbody includes a depressed center section and a through sill which extends between the drawbar and the coupler within the center section for transmitting buff and draft forces along a rectilinear load path which coincides with the longitudinal center line of the car unit. Essentially all vertical loads imposed on the center section are transmitted to and borne by the side walls. The railcar may be of nonarticulated construction, but in either case is particularly suited for fabrication from aluminum.

Abstract: A frictional damping assembly operated by a load bearing spring assembly, either an elastomerically damped coil spring or a reinforced elastomeric spring, together provide damped, resilient load bearing support for a telescoping load bearing assembly. The strut is particularly suitable for use in front and/or rear suspensions of light weight passenger vehicles.

Abstract: The assembly includes three damper shoes that are guided by and wedged transversely between two wedge rings, one having three curved flats and the other having three planar flats that respectively contact conforming contact surfaces of the damper shoes. The assembly is particularly useful in a frictionally damped suspension strut.

Abstract: The damper includes an elongated member that is movable conjointly with a swivelable railcar truck, and a yaw control assembly mountable by an overhead carbody. This assembly grips the elongated member so that a frictional damping force is applied to it when the truck negotiates curved track. In one embodiment, the damping force obtained remains substantially constant and, in another embodiment, it is proportional to load.

Abstract: The draft gear includes a slack adjustment and cushioning assembly mountable within a female connector for pin connection with a male connector inserted therein. The assembly is made up of a follower which contacts the rear end of the male connector, a slack adjustment wedge, a buff taper plate cooperable with the wedge to take up slack during draft loads, and an elastomeric pad which acts between the buff taper plate and a backing surface to maintain slack adjustment during draft loads and to provide resilient cushioning support during a pitching force or buff load. The assembly is applicable to drawbar couplers and to articulated connectors.

Abstract: The flatcar is made up of multiple articulated units fabricated from severed portions of conventional 85 foot or 89 foot flatcars. These units may be supported by double axle trucks salvaged from the original 85 foot or 89 foot flatcars, or by new single axle trucks having new or salvaged components. Portions of the deck and center beam are removed in order to lighten each unit, but without exceeding the stability limits of the original car beam structure.

Abstract: The strut includes a reciprocative load bearing assembly and one, two or more sets of springs, either elastomeric or coil type, which operate either singularly, in parallel or in series to provide a variable rate spring force. A frictional or "coulomb" damper is operated by one or more of the spring sets to provide a variable rate damping force. The strut provides a substantially constant ride frequency over a wide range of load conditions and is especially adapted for rubber tired vehicle application.

Abstract: The strut includes a reciprocative load bearing assembly and one, two or more sets of springs, either elastomeric or coil type, which operate either singularly, in parallel or in series to provide a variable rate spring force. A frictional or "coulomb" damper is operated by one or more of the spring sets to provide a variable rate damping force. The strut provides a substantially constant ride frequency over a wide range of load conditions and is especially adapted for rubber tired vehicle application.

Abstract: A spring and damper suspension system which comprises one or more elastomeric spring elements in compressive load bearing relation to the members to be supported. A tubular housing surrounds said spring elements and supports a frictional surface or surfaces in its interior. Stabilization of the springs is achieved by mounting pairs of slidably engaged wedges between said springs. Compressive force on said wedges urges one face of each such wedge into sliding contact with the interior walls of the housing and maintains the upper and lower surface of the wedge pair, and hence the springs in proper alignment to the housing. For applications involving vehicle suspension, the tubular housing may be combined in telescoping relation with a second tubular housing for the purpose of resisting bending moments normally applied to the suspension of such vehicles.

Abstract: The suspension includes a moveable load arm assembly adapted to support a railcar axle, at least one elliptical cross-section rod spring carried by the load arm assembly in load bearing relation with a railcar body, a frictional damping surface connected to the body adjacent the load arm assembly, a frictional damping element, and a tapered operator carried by the load arm assembly in underlying relation with each rod spring such that one component of a load bearing force transmitted from the load arm assembly is applied to the rod spring as a transverse load bearing compressive force only, while a perpendicular component thereof is applied to and urges the damping element toward the friction surface. The suspension is suited for usage in railcar and rubber tired vehicle suspensions.