Abstract: A housing for a railroad car draft gear is disclosed. The draft gear housing has an axially elongated tubular portion comprised of layers. At least one of the layers of the draft gear housing is formed from a filament wound structure or composite material, and an additional layer may be steel.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for pivotally interconnecting a door to a trailer body is disclosed. The hinge assembly includes a hinge plate having a mounting portion and a hinge portion. The mounting portion of the hinge plate is configured to permit attachment to the door, while the hinge portion of the hinge plate defines an elongated closed passage opening at opposite ends thereof. Bearing structure is non-rotatably accommodated within the passage for forming a bearing connection between the hinge plate and a pivot member endwise extending through the hinge portion of the hinge plate. The bearing structure includes a cap formed integral therewith and extending from opposite ends of the passage.

Abstract: A discharge gate assembly for a railway hopper car that satisfies the new AAR requirements and specifications and includes a frame defining a generally rectangular discharge opening with a gate slidably mounted on the frame for endwise horizontal movement between opened and closed positions. An operating shaft assembly is supported on opposite frame extensions for rotational movement about a fixed axis. The operating shaft assembly is operably coupled to the gate. A lock assembly is operably coupled to the operating shaft assembly and includes a vertically displacable stop member mounted for vertical and rotational movement about a fixed axis extending above the path of movement of the gate and in fore-and-aft relationship relative to an edge of the gate. When the gate is in its closed position, the stop member extends downwardly and into engagement with the gate edge to positively prevent the gate from substantial movement toward an open position.

Abstract: A shock absorber strut that includes inner and outer tubes which slide one over the other in a telescopic relationship. In the space confined between closed ends of the tubes, a stack arrangement of compressible elastomeric material pad assemblies is provided to function as shock absorber medium. Each assembly has a pad of compressible material having a central opening, a metal plate having a corresponding central opening and abutting one end of the pad, and a flanged bearing through said openings and abutting the plate to the pad. The pad has ends provided with a series of different sized bores cooperating to define flow spaces for compressed elastomer material to avoid contact with the guide rod. A guide rod extends substantially through the strut through the bearings. The entire arrangement of the bearing provides a glide path for the guide rod. Each plate has a plurality of holes, sub-peripherally located, the holes having torn and jagged protrusions engageable with the pad end.

Abstract: A shock absorber strut that includes an inner and an outer tube which slide one over the other. The combination of a keeper ring and a series of key stops secures the tubes while allowing independent motion therebetween. An elastomeric material contained within the tubes functions as the shock absorber material and bearing surfaces allow for easy movement between the tubes. A method is also provided for replacement of one of the bearing surfaces without removal of the entire strut from the vehicle even though the elastomeric material is under preload.

Abstract: A wheel assembly, and a method and apparatus for fabricating the same, are disclosed. The wheel assembly includes an annular bearing hub and an annular tread layer of thermoplastic elastomeric material, such as a copolyester polymer elastomer material, about the bearing hub. The tread layer has an initial free radial thickness. The material is such that upon being radially compressed at least thirty percent of its initial radial thickness the material will retain a substantial portion of the thickness reduction after being compressed. The method and apparatus include applying a radial force by means of a cone-shaped wedge member from within the tread layer while the outer periphery of the tread layer is radially contained, the radially applied force being sufficient to compress the tread layer at least thirty percent of its initial radial thickness. The bearing hub is moved axially into the compressed annular tread layer immediately behind the cone-shaped wedge member.