Abstract: A method for making a railcar having a span bolster is disclosed. The method involves fabricating and joining the components of the span bolster in a manner such that a camber is built into span bolster. A camber is cut into longitudinal supports that span the length of the bolster. A jig is used to shape top and bottom plates prior to attaching the plates to the longitudinal supports, thus forming the bolster. Truck assemblies are attached to the bolster and a railcar body mounted to the combined unit.

Abstract: A method for making a railcar having a span bolster is disclosed. The method involves fabricating and joining the components of the span bolster in a manner such that a camber is built into span bolster. A camber is cut into longitudinal supports that span the length of the bolster. A jig is used to shape top and bottom plates prior to attaching the plates to the longitudinal supports, thus forming the bolster. Truck assemblies are attached to the bolster and a railcar body mounted to the combined unit.

Abstract: A bogie for a low floor type railway vehicle, in which the accuracy of the distance between left and right wheels is enhanced and which enables a vehicle body to be low-floored. The bogie has a bogie frame for supporting the body of the railway vehicle, a main axle and an auxiliary axle arranged so as to laterally extend at the front and rear in the traveling direction of the bogie frame, wheels attached to both the left and right sides of each of the axles, shaft boxes attached to both the left and right sides of each of the axles and supporting the axle, and shaft box support devices respectively supporting each of the shaft boxes by elastically joining the shaft boxes and the bogie frame together. The wheels attached to the main axle are large-diameter wheels, and the wheels attached to the auxiliary axle are small-diameter wheels having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter wheels.

Abstract: A span bolster, for carrying a heavy load of a railroad car body and distributing the load to two four wheel two axle railroad bogies or trucks, is fabricated from steel plate and has top and bottom cover plates, top and bottom reinforcement doubler plates, longitudinal spaced apart webs separating the cover plates, body bolsters at each end and a central truck bolster, all formed of metal plate joined together by welding with all critical welds being full penetration welds, and with the span bolster being stress relieved after fabrication.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle has two body portions which are pivotally connected and supported on a frame. First and second wheelsets are pivotally mounted to and support the frame. The third and fourth wheelsets are provided for supporting the other ends of the first and second body portions, remote from the frame. A steering arrangement comprising a detecting device and a guiding device are provided, which can be in the form of a mechanical linkage. The first detecting device detects changes in the angle between the frame and the first body portion, while a second detecting device detects changes in the angle between the frame and the second body portion. Corresponding first and second guide devices respond to the detected angles; the first guide device guides the first and third wheelsets to radial alignment, while the second guide device guides the second and fourth wheelsets to a radial alignment.

Abstract: A semi-articulated railway power truck has in preferred embodiment a pair of dual axle sub-trucks semi-articulated for creep force balancing turning control while retaining freedom of rocking and relative longitudinal motion. An equalized centered bolster suspension and low traction rod linkage maintain high equalization of loads and tractive forces at the wheels to provide overall high adhesion and curving efficiency.

Abstract: A truck or double bogie having forward and rear elemental bogies (1, 2). The vehicle body is carried at the middle by a spanner bolster or two longitudinal coupling beams (8, 9) which are supported, at each end and on each elemental bogie, on the ends of a transverse swingle bar (12, 13), resilient blocks (15) being inserted between the swingle bar and the bolsters (3, 4) of the elemental bogie. The buffer and coupling bodies (34) are arranged at the end of a guide shaft (32) which is freely articulated on a vertical central pivot (30) rigidly fixed to the vehicle body and on the vertical pivot (5) of the forward elemental bogie (1). The device is intended for use with bogies for railroad vehicles intended to run on poor quality track.

Abstract: A load distribution system for railway cars, in which the load is applied to the supporting structure by fixed bearing arrangements, at one pair of longitudinally spaced points, at one side of the center line of the structure and is applied to the supporting structure at another pair of correspondingly longitudinally spaced points at the other side of the center line of the structure, and aligned with the first pair of points by a pair of hydraulic cylinders which are connected to each other in a closed hydraulic system. In effect my arrangement converts a statistically indeterminate four point suspension to a statistically determinant three point suspension.

Abstract: A wheel-bogie for supporting a crane, said bogie comprising a load-carrying foot, a main frame, at least two intermediate frames and a number of wheel frames; the transfer of the load from the foot to the main frame and from said frame to the intermediate frames and then to the wheel frames is effected by means of line contact occuring between two cooperating cylindrical planes with different radii of curvature.

Abstract: An improved multiple span bolster or "schnabel" car arrangement in which a first arrangement is provided for inhibiting lifting of the lower inboard span bolster in response to compressive forces when the schnabel car halves are being transported empty and in which another means is provided for inhibiting jackknifing by restricting relative pivotal movement between the upper span bolster and a lower span bolster.

Abstract: A railway vehicle or a truck thereof having at least three wheelsets, diagonal elastic bracing being provided between each pair of adjacent wheelsets and additional diagonal elastic bracing being provided between non-adjacent wheelsets.

Abstract: A schnabel-type railroad car adapted to carry very large loads incorporating articulated end units having a massive hinge at a reduced pivot location so that the weight of the car can be carried at a central location on the trucks while still pivoting about a lesser radius to help negotiate tight turns. Special hydraulic systems permit the car to be raised and lowered and also shifted laterally to provide additional roadbed clearance.

Abstract: A span bolster arrangement for interconnecting a pair of railway trucks and mounting a railway vehicle chassis, the span bolster arrangement including a span bolster structure having side members interconnected by lateral members and being mounted on and connected to a pair of railway trucks located beneath opposite ends thereof. The span bolster structure carries a plurality of elastic chassis support pads including primary load bearing pads and secondary stabilizing pads, which pads engage the underside of a vehicle chassis. The arrangement of the pads is such that axes of the pads intersect at a virtual point on a longitudinal central plane of the span bolster structure and approximately midway between the pair of trucks and at a height substantially corresponding to rail level.

Abstract: A heavy load railway vehicle or schnabel car in which a load bridge is disposed between a pair of longitudinally spaced rail supported bogies and is supported on the bogies by arms on the ends of the load bridge which extend outwardly over the bogies and engage an outer guide means in the longitudinal center of each bogie and an inner guide means near the inner end of each bogie. Each guide means is laterally movable on the respective bogie and the inner guide means is resiliently acted upon from opposite side to bias the inner guide means toward a predetermined position on the respective bogie.

Abstract: A hot metal mixer has an elongate hollow vessel mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis adjacent each end on a cradle, each of which is supported on pairs of parallel trucks disposed on separate sets of rails. Each cradle extends transversely between the trucks of each pair and is coupled to one truck by a spherical bearing and to the other by spherical and roller bearings to permit thermal expansion and contraction, slight track misalignment and travel around curves. A pair of spouts for receiving or pouring metal are disposed in the upper side portion of the vessel and in spaced relation from the top center.