Abstract: A cable operated piston travel indicator for readily viewing an amount of piston travel of a fluid actuated cylinder assembly positioned in a remote location is provided. The cable operated piston travel indicator of the invention is particularly applicable in the railway vehicle braking industry as an aid in performing pre-departure terminal tests of the air braking equipment of each car of the train. The cable operated piston travel indicator comprises an inner movable cable which is associated and movable with a piston. An outer shielding member encloses this inner movable cable and includes a clear cap with an indicating device thereon for viewing the movement of the inner cable member with respect to the indicating device. The end of the shielding member which includes the indication device thereon may be placed at a readily viewable location so that the amount of piston travel may be easily viewed at any time.

Abstract: Air pressure actuated and hydraulic applied railway car parking brake system includes air source to actuate. A control valve receives air from source to initiate air communication. Pneumatic to hydraulic pressure intensifier receives air in first chamber therein from valve. A second intensifier chamber is connected at open first end thereof with partially open second end of first chamber. Hydraulic fluid is disposed in second chamber adjacent closed second end thereof. A force transmitting cylinder, in fluid communication with second chamber, exerts force on brake beam carrying brake shoes thereon which are brought and maintained in frictional engagement with a respective surface of tread portion of a pair of wheels during system operation. A piston member, disposed for reciprocal movement in first chamber, is linearly displaced when a first surface thereof is acted on by air communicated to intensifier.

Abstract: A pressure actuated force transmitting cylinder includes a housing member having first and second elongated portions. An end cap closes one end of the housing in a fluid tight manner. A connection is formed through such first portion for communicating fluid to such cylinder. A clutch having a first clutch surface is disposed on such housing and a piston-like member is disposed for reciprocal movement in such housing. A seal disposed around a peripheral portion of such piston-like member provides a chamber to receive such fluid. An elongated rod-like member, having a threaded portion, is connected to such piston-like member. A threaded nut member is threadedly engaged with such threaded portion. A trigger mechanism is disposed around a portion of such rod-like member adjacent such nut member. A disc-like member is disposed around such trigger.

Abstract: A railway car system includes at least one reservoir containing a predetermined volume of a fluid type media. At least one cylinder is activated in a first direction by such fluid type media and is spring released in an axially opposed second direction. At least one fluid media type pump is connected for fluid communication between such at least one reservoir and such at least one cylinder. Such pump being connected to receive the fluid type media from such at least one reservoir via a first fluid supply line and to communicate such fluid type media to such at least one cylinder during a parking brake application via a second fluid supply line and to return such fluid type media from such at least one cylinder via such second fluid supply line to such at least one reservoir via such first fluid supply line when such parking brake is released. A pump activation device is connected to such at least one pump for initiating communication of such fluid type media.

Abstract: An interlocking mechanism positioned intermediate each end of a drawbar member portion of a slackless drawbar assembly which includes an elongated member engageable at a first end thereof to an end of a first male connection member and at an axially opposed second end to an end of a second male connection member of such drawbar assembly. At least one of such elongated member and such end of such first and such second male members include at least a hollow portion so that one of such elongated member can be disposed in such at least a hollow portion of such end of such first and such second male members, and such end of such first and such second male members can be disposed in the at least a hollow portion of such elongated member. A first aperture, having a first predetermined shape, is formed through the elongated member adjacent at least one predetermined first end and such axially opposed second end thereof.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar comprising a female member with one end engaging an end of a car body center sill and another end extends outwardly from the center sill end. A cavity formed in such other end defined by inner surfaces of the back wall, top wall and pair of side walls and open at a bottom and outer end thereof. Openings are formed through each side wall. A male member includes a first end movably disposed in such cavity and a second end. An aperture is formed through such male member first end. A portion of a spherical shaped member is disposed in such aperture. A pair of shaft members extend from outer surfaces of such spherical member. A portion of each shaft member is disposed in respective side wall openings. Each shaft member has a flat surface formed thereon. A race having a portion thereof disposed in such aperture and secured to such male member. The race inner surface is disposed around the spherical member.

Abstract: Slackless drawbar includes female member, having a cavity, engaging end of a railway car. Openings through first and second side walls of cavity. A male member has portion movably disposed in cavity. An aperture formed through such male member. A ball has portion disposed in such aperture and shafts extending from outer surfaces thereof. A portion of one shaft disposed in one opening and a portion of another one disposed in another opening. Such shafts have flat surface portions. A race assembly disposed in such aperture and secured to male member. An inner surface of race surrounds such ball. A second female member, having a cavity, engages end of second car. Openings are formed through second pair of side walls. Another male member has portion movably disposed in second cavity. An aperture formed through the second male member. Another ball includes portion disposed in second aperture and shafts extending from outer surfaces thereof.

Abstract: This invention provides a locking wedge assembly capable of exerting a predetermined pressure in at least one direction. Such assembly removably secures a male connection member to a female connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement. Such articulated coupling arrangement used to secure one end of a first railway car to an adjacent end of said railway car in a semi-permanent fashion. The assembly includes a wedge-shaped member having a surface engageable with a surface located in an opening in a side wall portion of a cavity at an outer end of the female member and another surface engageable with a surface on a shaft member of a spherical bearing carried by such male member. An aperture is formed through such wedge-shaped member along a longitudinal axis thereof. A bolt member is disposed through this aperture and an aperture formed through a bottom wall on the outer end of such female member adjacent the side wall opening.

Abstract: A bearing assembly having a removable shaft member. The shaft member has a center portion is designed such that rotation of the ball portion of the bearing assembly on the center portion is prevented. A first end portion extends outwardly from one end of the center portion and has a diameter substantially equal to an arcuate portion formed in a first side wall portion of a cavity located at one end of the female connection member. A flat face portion engageable by a wedge member is provided on the first end portion. A locking device is engageable with the first end portion to secure the ball portion against lateral movement in a first direction. A second end portion extends outwardly from the other end of the center portion and has a diameter also substantially equal to a diameter of an arcuate portion in a second side wall portion of the cavity. A flat face is formed on the second end portion which is engageable by another wedge member, thereby securing the male member to the female connection member.

Abstract: A male connection member utilized in an articulated coupling arrangement is provided by this invention. Such male connection member includes a first end portion engageable with and connectable to one end of a railway car to be connected in a semi-permanent manner. This male connection member has a second end portion formed integrally with such first end portion and disposed axially opposite thereof. The second end portion includes an outer end surface configured such that it will ensure that no contact will be made between such outer end surface and any other component of such articulated coupling arrangement. An aperture is formed through such second end portion to receive a bearing assembly therein. Such aperture has a longitudinal axis disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of such male connection member and is in a substantially horizontal plane. A portion of such second end is adapted to enable securing such bearing assembly within such aperture formed in such male connection member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: A shroud apparatus is provided to substantially minimize detrimental foreign matter entering into a predetermined portion of a cavity disposed at the outer end of a female connection member that receives therein the outer end of a male connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement used to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together in a semi-permanent manner. Such shroud apparatus includes a plate-like member that is positionable above and engageable with the articulated coupling arrangement in a location which will substantially prevent such foreign matter entering such cavity. The plate-like member has a predetermined size and shape such that when such shroud apparatus is viewed from the top of such articulated coupling arrangement all openings to the predetermined portion of such cavity will appear to be covered.

Abstract: An apparatus which provides versatility in securing an articulated coupling arrangement to a center sill member of a railway car is provided. Such apparatus includes a bottom wall portion which matingly engages a bottom wall of such center sill member and a top wall portion which matingly engages one of a top wall of such center sill member and a bottom surface of such railway car. A pair of vertically disposed side wall portions are disposed between such top wall portion and such bottom wall portion. Each of such pair of side wall portions have a predetermined configuration which provides such enhanced versatility in securing such articulated coupling arrangement to such center sill member.

Abstract: This invention provides a connecting pin member which facilitates a rotatable connection being achieved between a female connection member and a center bowl portion of a bolster. Such connecting pin member has a substantially round rod-like member which is tapered at each outer end thereof. A groove-like portion carrying a resilient member is disposed in an outer surface of such rod-like member. The present invention further provides a method of producing such connecting pin member as well as an improved center plate member for use with such connecting pin member. Such center plate member incorporates an arrangement for the removal of such connecting pin member if it should be accidently sheared off during service.

Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a strengthening mechanism for a female connection member used in a articulated coupling arrangement. Such female connection members include a first end portion configured for connection to one end of a railway car center sill member and a second end portion formed integrally with such first end portion. A cavity is formed in such second end portion and is defined by a bottom wall portion, a rear wall portion and a pair of side wall portions. Such cavity being open adjacent the front and top surface thereof. An opening is formed through a portion of each of such side wall portions. Each such opening includes a slot-like portion and a generally arcuate portion spaced below such slot-like portion.

Abstract: Provided is an articulable spherical connection for a railway coupling arrangement. The connection includes a male connection member having a spherical connection portion secured to one end of a body portion and a female connection member having a split body portion. Each body portion of such femal connection member having a spherical cavity formed therein to receive a portion of the spherical connection portion of the male connection member therein. A securing device is provided to secure such split body portion together around the spherical connection portion of the male member.

Abstract: An assembly mechanism is provided for removably securing a bearing assembly carried by a male connection member to a female connection member of an articulated coupling system. Such assembly mechanism includes at least one vertically disposed lug member secured to an outer surface of a vertically disposed side wall of a cavity formed in one end of such female connection member adjacent an opening formed in such side wall portion. There is at least one horizontally disposed lug member secured to such outer surface adjacent another portion of such opening in such side wall portion. A locking member is engageable with each of such vertical lug member and such horizontal lug member and a portion of a shaft-like member extending outwardly from such bearing assembly. The locking member removably secures such shaft-like member against rotation in such opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a bearing assembly to an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and such device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.