Abstract: An efficient and effective computerized apparatus and method for determining the effects of railroad car humping on cargo in railroad cars. The invention broadly comprises a twelve-wheel test cart mounted on a pair of rails for simulating a rail car; an impact structure for simulating rail cars during humping; an electric motor drive unit for accelerating and propelling the test cart toward the impact structure, a series of hydraulic accumulator springs and valves for decelerating the test cart during the humping of the test cart with the impact structure, and a programmed computer for controlling test variables. The test apparatus allows the levels of severity to be readily changed and the test cart to be positively coupled to the impact structure or to rebound from the impact structure.

Abstract: A method for making a hydropneumatic accumulator with a replaceable bladder for an active vehicle suspension comprising the steps chemically treating a resilient single layer bladder with a gas to provide imperviousness of a compressible gas through the bladder, bonding a spherical bumper to a closed end of the bladder, engaging an inward facing seal portion extending around an "open mouth" portion of the bladder with an external groove extending around a cylindrical cap to close off the "open mouth" portion, slideably mounting the cap and said bladder in the interior of an accumulator housing to divide the housing into a first sealed chamber for a hydraulic liquid and a second sealed chamber for a compressible gas; and engaging a detachable ring with a groove in the interior of the accumulator housing to retain the cover and the bladder in the housing.

Abstract: In a crank press having a pedestal and a rotatable crank shaft journaled thereon and connected to a reciprocal top platen guidably mounted on the pedestal to form work pieces, the improvement which comprises a hydraulic motor mounted on the pedestal having a reversible drive shaft connected to the crank shaft, and a hydraulic transmission connected to the hydraulic motor. The transmission includes a pump assembly connected to a reservoir for delivering the pressure fluid selectively under the control of a servo directional valve in a closed hydraulic loop to the hydraulic motor for selective forward and reverse drive together with a safety control to automatically neutralize the pump assembly and control automatic braking of the hydraulic motor drive shaft.

Abstract: The vacuum indicator has a body with an attachment shank having a fluid passage. A cylinder bore is located in the body and communicates with the passage. An end plug having a bore and a counterbore is threaded into the body. The bore of the end plug terminates at the inner end in a first annular flat abutment surface which faces one end of the body. The counterbore terminates in a second annular flat abutment surface which is located between the inner and outer ends of the plug and forms one end of the plug bore. A piston is nested in the cylinder bore and has a piston rod secured thereto, with the piston rod projecting axially through and outwardly of the end plug. An annular bearing element is located in the plug bore and surrounds the piston rod. The piston has an annular end surface facing the first abutment surface. A compression spring is interposed at its ends between one end of the cylinder bore and the piston and yieldably biases the piston towards the first abutment surface.

Abstract: The pressure indicator has a body provided with an attachment shank having a pressure fluid passage. A cylinder bore is located in the body and communicates with the passage. An end plug having a bore and a counterbore is threaded into the body. A piston is nested in the cylinder bore and has a piston rod axially extending through the cylinder bore and projecting through and outwardly of the plug. A compression spring is interposed between the plug and piston and yieldably biases the piston towards the fluid passage against the pressurized fluid. The improvement resides in the provision of a backup bushing nested within the plug bore which axially and guidably receives the piston rod. A cylindrical slide seal of a permanently lubricated material is nested within the plug bore and projects into and depends from the bushing in sealing engagement with the piston rod.

Abstract: The pressure indicator has a body provided with an attachment shank having a pressure fluid passage. A cylinder bore is located at one end of the body and communicates with the passage. An end plug having a bore and a counterbore is threaded into the body. The bore terminates at the plug inner end in a first annular flat abutment surface. The counterbore terminates in a second annular flat abutment surface which is located between the inner and outer ends of the plug and forms one end of the plug bore. A piston is nested in the cylinder bore having a piston rod axially extending through the cylinder bore and projecting through and outwardly of the plug. A compression spring is interposed between the plug and piston and yieldably biases the piston towards one end of the cylinder bore. The piston is variably movable longitudinally against the spring on application of pressure to the pressure fluid passage.

Abstract: The pressure indicator has a body provided with an attachment shank having a pressure fluid passage. A cylinder bore is located at one end of the body communicating with the passage and has a threaded open end. An end plug having a bore and a counterbore is snugly threaded into the open end. A piston is nested in the cylinder bore and has a piston rod axially extending through the cylinder bore and projecting through and outwardly of the plug. A compression spring is interposed between the plug and piston and yieldably biases the piston towards said one end of the cylinder bore. The piston is variably movable longitudinally against the spring on application of pressure to the shank passage. The improvement resides in the provision of a bushing nested within the plug bore which axially and guidably receives the piston rod. A cylindrical slide seal of plastic material is nested within the plug bore and projects into and depends from the bushing in sealing engagement with the piston rod.

Abstract: An anti-vibration pad of deformable material for use in securing a conduit to a channel member. The conduit is held by means of a channel member with inwardly turned flanges and by two metal straps enveloping the pad and conduit and held together at one end by a nut and bolt combination and by the channel members inwardly-turned flanges at the other end. The pad is in the form of a split sleeve having metal strap retainer flanges on each side of the split on each end of the pad and a flat base from which extends two L-shaped protrusions whose thickness extends substantially the width of the upper portion of the pad. The horizontal leg of the L-shaped protrusion is adapted to be engaged below the inwardly turned flanges of the channel member.