Abstract: A damping convoluted air spring for use in vehicle axle/suspension systems includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a bellows. The bellows includes a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe operatively connected to one another. The first lobe being in fluid communication with the second lobe. The second lobe being in fluid communication with said third lobe. The first lobe operatively mounted on the top plate. The third lobe operatively mounted on the bottom plate. The second lobe includes a fixed volume under pressure to provide damping to the air spring during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An elastomeric element for mounting a current collection device includes an inner hub member; an outer ring defining an exterior annular surface of the elastomeric element; and an intermediate ring of elastomeric material disposed between the inner hub member and the outer ring. The outer ring includes a plurality of segments individually connected to the intermediate ring and wherein the outer ring comprises at least one locking feature configured to be engaged to prevent rotation of the elastomeric element within a housing.

Abstract: A locomotive (or other rail vehicle) truck and method for distributing weight asymmetrically to axles of the truck includes a first axle of a truck uncoupled from a traction system of the locomotive and a first suspension assembly coupling the first axle to the truck for applying to the first axle a first portion of a locomotive weight. The truck also includes a second axle coupled to the traction system and a second suspension assembly coupling the second axle to the truck for applying a second portion of the locomotive weight to the second axle that is greater than the first portion so that weight is asymmetrically distributed to the first axle and the second axle so as to transmit a corresponding incremental amount of tractive effort for a given amount of a driving torque applied to the second axle via the traction system of the locomotive. The axle weight distribution involves relatively slight weight distribution compared to the nominal weights normally carried by the axles.

Abstract: A railway truck is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The railway truck may include a first axle, a second axle, and a plurality of wheels connected to each of the first and second axles, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction. The railway truck may also include a frame having a top side configured to face a bolster assembly and a bottom side configured to face a track. The railway truck may further include a longitudinal traction link pivotally connected between the frame and the equalizer above the top side of the frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a railway truck has pairs of inverted “J” metallic profiles that are longitudinally attached to the ends of the respective sides of the railway truck. The front ends of the “J” metallic profiles are being interconnected and rigidly conformed to each another by a tubular bar transversally located in front of the front wheels and behind the back wheels of the railway truck, thus providing stability and squaring to the truck as a whole in relation to the railway tracks.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly for a railway truck is provided. The truck includes at least two wheel axle sets and brake discs mounted to the wheel axle sets. Extending between the wheel axle sets is a longitudinally extending truck frame. Also extending between the wheel axle sets and supporting the truck frame via primary springs are equalizer beams that further extend beyond the wheel sets and through an opening in the truck frame. Disc brake calipers are mounted to the equalizer beams with the caliper engaging the brake discs of the wheel sets. The assembly results in the brake discs and calipers being unsprung. In other words, the brake discs and calipers do not move relative to each other.

Abstract: On an outer periphery of a link 30 for connecting a member car body 20 and a bogie car frame 11, vessel is provided and 42 into which particle shaped members 41 are inserted. A rotation vibration generated from a drive system of a running electric motor 14, a transmission apparatus and a shaft coupling is transmitted to the link 30. The vibration energy generated at link 30 is converted to the kinetic energy in response to the collision of the particle-shaped members 41 contained in the vessel 42 so that the vibration at the link 30 is reduced. Accordingly, the propagation of the vibration to a car body can be restrained. The particle-shaped members 41 can be inserted into a cylindrical portion 31 of the link 30. Further, the particle-shaped members 41 can be inserted movably into a column 32. In a railway vehicle having a bogie car, the vibration caused by the unbalance of the drive system can be restrained and the noise in a car accompanied with the vibration can be reduced.

Abstract: This damping device comprises: two symmetrical jacks (10, 10′), extending respectively between each support member (8, 6) and the housing (4), each jack (10, 10′) defining two chambers (24, 24′, 26, 26′) filled with a hydraulic fluid (16, 16′), two hydraulic lines (28, 28′) establishing fluid communication between, on the one hand, the first chambers (24, 24′) of the jacks and, on the other hand, the second chambers (26, 26′) of the jacks, two branch lines (30, 30′) opening into two accumulators (32, 32′) containing a compressed gas, and means (34, 36, 40, 42) capable of providing a controlled flow rate of the fluid outside the said chambers (24, 24′, 26, 26′) and means (38, 44) capable of providing a controlled flow rate of the fluid to the accumulators. The intensity of damping of the transverse and hunting components can be independently adjusted.

Abstract: A railway vehicle truck assembly comprises the following, in part: wheel sets having longitudinally spaced, transversely extending axles, and wheels mounted to the axles; transversely spaced longitudinally extending truck frames mounted to the axles; and a transversely extending bolster mounted to the truck frames. The bolster has a center bowl and opposed, elongated bolster arms extending from the center bowl. An underslung equalizer beam is located below the axles and mounted to the axle boxes. Brake beam guides are located in the equalizer spring seats which are located on the underslung equalizer beam. The equalizer beam is hot-box detector compatible so as to not interfere with the axle bearing detection scanners located alongside the railroad track.