Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward targets that designated as one or more brake assembly components or locations on the components to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: Lightweight yokes are provided. According to some embodiments, the basic overall appearance of the yoke may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to other embodiments, the yoke is provided with an improved lightweight construction, and, yet other embodiments the yoke may be provided with an improved construction and formed from a preferred material. Yokes may be constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (?)}3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal yoke. Yokes have improved configurations which may require less metal to produce the yoke. Both, the lightweight material and improvements in configuration of the yoke structure may combine to provide a lighter weight yoke.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.

Abstract: A system, methods and devices for automating inspection of a brake system on a railway vehicle, such as a freight car or train of a plurality of cars is provided. According to preferred embodiments, the system may be configured for use in conjunction with existing braking systems currently on railway vehicles, such as those on freight cars and other railway vehicles. The system, methods and devices comprise a wireless brake monitoring sensor that includes a radar unit or circuitry and directs a beam toward a target to monitor a condition or position of a brake or brake component.

Abstract: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Abstract: A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Abstract: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Abstract: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Abstract: A knuckle thrower for a railway coupler assembly, the thrower having a knuckle actuating leg, a leg lock seat, an upper pivot structure, a lower trunnion, and stress relief feature for relieving stresses imparted on the thrower, which, according to some embodiments may include a recess provided in the perimeter wall thereof, and one or more supporting ribs.

Abstract: A process for producing a coupler and an improved coupler are provided. The process produces a coupler by constructing a mold that is a replica of the coupler and is constructed from a plurality of mold components that are selected and assembled to form a mold having the shape of the coupler. The mold components may include a front mold component section that forms the head of the coupler, a rear mold component section that forms the shank of the coupler, and, optionally one or more shelf components forming a shelf of the coupler. The front, rear and shank mold components may themselves be made from a plurality of mold components that are assembled together. The mold is formed from a consumable material, coating with a heat resistant material so that the assembled mold components are within a mold volume, and molten metal is added to the mold volume.

Abstract: Lightweight yokes are provided. According to some embodiments, the basic overall appearance of the yoke may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to other embodiments, the yoke is provided with an improved lightweight construction, and, yet other embodiments the yoke may be provided with an improved construction and formed from a preferred material. Yokes may be constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in^3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in^3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal yoke. Yokes have improved configurations which may require less metal to produce the yoke. Both, the lightweight material and improvements in configuration of the yoke structure may combine to provide a lighter weight yoke.

Abstract: A wear plate for use with a railway truck, the wear plate being configured for installation on a downwardly facing surface of a pedestal opening of a side frame of a railway truck. The wear plate includes a base and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base with inwardly disposed locking features designed to engage the pedestal when the wear plate is installed, the locking features in a preferred embodiment being configured as resilient projections that engage, clamp or drag lock onto opposite sides of the pedestal with the base of the wear plate protecting the downwardly facing pedestal surface. The wear plate may be constructed from malleable or ductile metals or plastics.

Abstract: A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Abstract: E-type and F-type yokes improve the ability of the yokes to be constructed having lighter weight yet function to handle loads from car coupling assembly components, such as, for example, a coupler mounted on the yoke. The E-type and F-type yokes have straps and openings provided in the straps, and are constructed from austempered ductile iron. Embodiments may be constructed with a tail or butt portion that includes sloped walls that form cavities in the butt portion of the yoke, where a supporting structure spans between the yoke rear wall and the draft gear seat wall.

Abstract: A railcar coupler having a head portion extending from a shank portion, the coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler has weight reduction features that also are configured to provide strength to the coupler when handling forceloads. The coupler may have a head with a front face with bores provided in the front face a cavity extending through the coupler, a guard arm with cavities formed therein, and a shank having a plurality of longitudinal cavities and adjacent ribs separating the cavities. Preferred embodiments may be constructed from an austempered metal.

Abstract: A brake beam strut protector for protecting against wear of a brake beam strut slot surface of a slot of a brake beam strut of a brake beam assembly has a body, and a wear surface on the body for contacting a brake lever positioned in the slot of a brake beam strut and for spacing the brake lever away from the brake beam strut slot surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a coupler and an improved coupler are provided. The process produces a coupler by constructing a mold that is a replica of the coupler and is constructed from a plurality of mold components that are selected and assembled to form a mold having the shape of the coupler. The mold components may include a front mold component section that forms the head of the coupler, a rear mold component section that forms the shank of the coupler, and, optionally one or more shelf components forming a shelf of the coupler. The front, rear and shank mold components may themselves be made from a plurality of mold components that are assembled together. The mold is formed from a consumable material, coating with a heat resistant material so that the assembled mold components are within a mold volume, and molten metal is added to the mold volume.