Abstract: A pin puller for extracting the main connector pin from an articulated connection such as in articulated railroad cars has concentric inner and outer sleeves relatively translatable by a hydraulic ram. The inner sleeve has legs which rest on top of the female articulated connector, straddling the main connector pin. The legs define a slot and support a platform. The outer sleeve has a cylindrical skirt which houses a boss, and is closed on top by a cover. The skirt and boss carry a first pin for connecting a yoke. The yoke has a second pin which connects to a loop in the top of the main connector pin. The ram rests on the platform and pushes the outer sleeve cover upwardly, causing the yoke and main connector pin to move upwardly also. The yoke can be interchanged with another yoke to accommodate other applications.

Abstract: An improved drawbar connection for railroad cars reduces slack between cars and results in improved train handling. The drawbar connection fits in a standard draft gear pocket and utilizes a standard yoke, standard follower and standard coupler pin, thereby permitting the application of drawbars with minimal structural modification to cars originally equipped with conventional couplers. The usual draft gear is replaced by a filler which is relatively rigid. The filler includes a follower block, a wedge, a filler block and may include a mini-draft gear having a maximum travel of about one-half inch.

Abstract: An articulated railroad flat car for transporting four short or three long semi-trailers comprises two units connected by a drawbar. A plurality of semi-trailer hitches are mounted on the units. The hitches are suitably spaced for securing either three long trailers or four standard trailers, using overhead loading or circus loading. When three long trailers are loaded, the middle trailer is attached to a hitch on one of the units and has its tandem resting on the other unit. The unit on which the tandem rests has a widened floor section at its end adjacent the drawbar to accommodate turning or skewing of the tandem when the car negotiates a curve.

Abstract: In a railway trailer hitch, a wear resistant and crack resistant insert is removably attached to a fixed portion of the head which is subject to wear or cracking in service. The insert is made of a material which reduces or avoids wear and cracking of the fixed portion. If wear or cracking does occur, it tends to take place in the insert. An old insert can be easily and quickly removed and a new insert inserted into the head so that the hitch is not taken out of service to repair or replace the top plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for permitting automatic and manual machining of critical wear surfaces of railroad truck side frames. A fixture is rotatably mounted on a base. The railroad truck side frame is mounted on the fixture with the fixture and side frame in a first or vertical position. The side frame is first leveled vertically on the fixture with respect to leveling plates and then aligned horizontally before it is rigidly clamped to the fixture. Pivotably mounted gauges are then used to determine the exact location of the pedestal roof areas of the side frame with respect to the fixture, and this positional information from the gauges is manually transferred to adjustable stop dogs that engage limit switches that control the movement of a machining head. The fixture is then rotated 90.degree. and locked in that position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for machining the bolster bowl surface, the bolster pocket surfaces, the fulcrum pin hole surface and the bolster gib surfaces of railroad truck bolsters. The apparatus includes a base, a fixture mounted for rotation on the base and clamps on the fixture for clamping the bolster rigidly to the fixture. A locating template is utilized to properly position the bolster on the fixture, and once properly positioned and clamped, the fixture can be rotated and locked in a plurality of different positions to permit machining of the various surfaces. To machine the bolster pocket surfaces, the fulcrum pin hole surface, and the bolster gibs, a first machining (milling) head is provided that is movable along three perpendicular axes.

Abstract: In a railway trailer hitch, a wear resistant and crack resistant insert is removably attached to a fixed portion of the head which is subject to wear or cracking in service. The insert is made of a material which reduces or avoids wear and cracking of the fixed portion. If wear or cracking does occur, it tends to take place in the insert. An old insert can be easily and quickly removed and a new insert inserted into the head so that the hitch is not taken out of service to repair or replace the top plate.