Abstract: A draft gear assembly for use with railcars having coupler members is provided. The draft gear assembly has front and back ends and comprises a yoke, a coupler follower, a front resilient member, an intermediate stop member, and a back resilient member. The yoke has a back wall, a top wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly, and a bottom wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly. The coupler follower is positioned between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front end of the draft gear assembly. The front resilient member is positioned between the coupler follower and the intermediate stop member. The back resilient member is positioned between the intermediate stop member and the yoke back wall. The front and back resilient members are compressible.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly for use with railcars having coupler members is provided. The draft gear assembly has front and back ends and comprises a yoke, a coupler follower, a front resilient member, an intermediate stop member, and a back resilient member. The yoke has a back wall, a top wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly, and a bottom wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly. The coupler follower is positioned between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front end of the draft gear assembly. The front resilient member is positioned between the coupler follower and the intermediate stop member. The back resilient member is positioned between the intermediate stop member and the yoke back wall. The front and back resilient members are compressible.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar assembly joining railcars includes a drawbar, each end of the drawbar being joined to a yoke surrounding a cushioning unit and a follower block confined between forward and rear stops in a conventional sill pocket. The cushioning unit includes a front plate, an elongate spacer block and a compressed stack of elastomer pads sandwiched between the plate and block. Tightening wedges and shims are not used. The compressed pad stock holds the cushioning unit between the stops with a preload of about 50,000 pounds to prevent binding between the drawbar and the follower plate from causing derailments. The preload also holds the cushioning unit tight in the pocket.