Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to deflection that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The truck may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable stiffness bracing device comprising: a rectangular frame (100) having a solid quarter cylinder (101) at each angle of the rectangular frame (100); a pair of leaf spring (200) attached at each end of the rectangular frame (100) at the solid quarter cylinder (101); a steel rail (300) fixed on top middle of the rectangular frame (100); a core (400) fixed at the tip of each leaf spring (200), the core (400) is slidable along the steel rail (300); a cubic core (500) located in the middle of the core (400); and a rod cable (600) passes through each end of the rectangular frame (100) and the core (400) and ended at the cubic core (500) located in the middle of the core (400). The above provision is advantageous as the present invention deploys wholly mechanical in retrofitting and rehabilitation of structures.

Abstract: A railway car truck having a pair of side frames and a bolster and a transom extending transversely between the side frames. A respective rocker seat is rigidly and permanently attached to each end of the transom and is pivotally supported on a rocker bar that is supported by the tension member of a sideframe. The pivotal connection between the rocker seat and the rocker bar disposes the transom perpendicular to the side frame and provides pivotal movement of the side frame with respect to the transom. The railway car truck is assembled by inserting the ends of the bolster and transom into the window of a side frame, and then inserting the rocker bar through a passageway in the side frame to a position under the rocker seat and on the bottom tension member of the side frame. Springs are then inserted between the transom and the bolster such that the bolster is resiliently supported on the side frame.

Abstract: A roll control mechanism for use with a swing motion railway car truck. The control mechanism comprises a transom stop adapted to be attached to the transom of the truck. The transom stop includes a convex cylindrical surface having a tip that is adapted to engage a bolster stop attached to the bolster of the truck to limit lateral movement of the side frames of the truck. The convex cylindrical surface of the transom stop provides a low point of contact between the tip of the transom stop and the bolster stop thereby reducing the magnitude of the overturning movement created by such contact.

Abstract: A railroad car truck or bogie is described as having a pair of sideframes between which are mounted a bolster and either a transom or pair of tie rods which, in turn, are attached to a pair of rocker seats which extend into the sideframes and over open, U-shaped channels that are formed in the sideframes midway between the opposing ends of the sideframes. A pair of hardened steel bearings are maintained in spaced coaxial relation in each of the channels. Each of the bearings has at least a parti-cylindrical head which extends in the direction of the adjacent, juxtaposed rocker seat which is provided with a vertically aligned, matingly curved recess for receiving the head of the adjacent bearing. The recesses have a larger radius of curvature to facilitate relative rocking motion between the rocker seats and bearings. Means are provided for limiting the rocking motion between the rocker seats and bearings. Also described is a unique rigid connection between the ends of the tie rods and the rocker seats.

Abstract: A rail vehicle guide and support arrangement including a bogie having independent wheels, has a crossbeam fastened to a vehicle body, so as to be perpendicular to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, in proximity to one end of the body. Two longitudinal members each equipped with at least two wheels are mounted on an articulation member carried by the crossbeam on each side of the vertical lane, and connected to each other by a brace which is mounted on a ball joint. Each longitudinal member is provided with an articulation and each is composed of a longitudinal frame member articulated to the crossbeam and extended by a directional arm which is articulated, about a substantially vertical pivot, to the longitudinal frame member and is equipped at its free end on a wheel. Each directional arm is connected to the brace by rods forming a deformable quadrilateral which ensures correct orientation of the wheels while traversing curves.

Abstract: An improved swing-motion truck in which the transom has been replaced by a pair of transverse radius or tie rods for coupling the two rocker seats of the two side frames of the truck. The ends of the rods are directly coupled to anchor brackets formed as part of the side-frame rocker seats via an elastomeric connection. The suspension springs of the railway freight car truck are seated directly upon the upper flat surface of the two rocker seats of the side frames of the truck, so that lighter-weight freight cars may be accommodated, without a friction-dependent coupling between the rocker seats and rods interconnecting the rocker seats, and where an overall lower height truck results to provide a low-deck car. The cooperating limit stops for lateral motion of the truck are mounted directly on the rocker seats themselves.