Contour Patents (Class 213/151)
  • Patent number: 8714378
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a first mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a first coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes providing a second mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a second coupler knuckle mold cavity. The second coupler mold cavity of the second mold section is offset from the first coupler mold cavity of the first mold section. The method includes closing the first and second mold sections and at least partially filling the first and second coupler knuckle mold cavities with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: McConway & Torley LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Maxeiner, Anthony J. Sicilia
  • Patent number: 8695818
    Abstract: A core assembly for forming the interior spaces of a railcar coupler knuckle has a first transition section between the C-10 portion of the core and the finger portion of the core. The first transition section has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side and the first and second sides form the vertical axis of the first transition section and the third and fourth sides form the horizontal axis of said first transition section. The vertical axis of the first transition section has a height along a horizontal plane of the vertical axis of at least 2.5? and the horizontal axis of said first transition section has a width along a vertical plane of the horizontal axis of at least 0.925?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bedloe Industries LLC
    Inventors: F. Andrew Nibouar, Jerry R. Smerecky, Kelly Day, Vaughn Makary, Nick Salamasick
  • Patent number: 8418863
    Abstract: An improved lock for a railroad coupler, said improvement comprising a chamfer on a knuckle shelf seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Bedloe Industries LLC
    Inventors: Jerry R. Smerecky, Thomas A. Marchese, Eric W. Larson
  • Publication number: 20120312768
    Abstract: An improved lock for a railroad coupler, said improvement comprising a chamfer on a knuckle shelf seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Bedloe Industries LLC
    Inventors: Jerry R. Smerecky, Thomas A. Marchese, Eric W. Larson
  • Patent number: 8302790
    Abstract: Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Dumey
  • Publication number: 20090289021
    Abstract: An improved lock for a railroad coupler, said improvement comprising an increased chamfer on a knuckle shelf seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jerry R. Smerecky, Thomas A. Marchese, Eric W. Larson
  • Publication number: 20090289022
    Abstract: An improved coupler body having an area of increased material in the upper lock chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Jerry R. Smerecky, Thomas A. Marchese, Eric W. Larson
  • Patent number: 5582307
    Abstract: A railway car coupler includes a knuckle that is rotatable about a pivot pin. The knuckle is comprised of a tail section, a hub and a nose section. The knuckle is usually made of steel in a casting operation. The pivot pin opening in the knuckle is cylindrical with generally straight walls with a reduced diameter centrally located cylindrical relief area. The nose has a blunt end, and a thicker internal reinforcing section is made by having an end of the face core extend a lesser distance toward the pivot pin opening. The transition area between the tail and the nose is formed by parabolic shaped upper and lower sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: V. Terry Hawthorne, Horst T. Kaufhold, George G. Schwinn
  • Patent number: 4984696
    Abstract: An improved railway coupler head is provided having a modified lock chamber which is asymmetrical about its longitudinal center line such that the rear horn wall has a greater length on the guard arm side than the knuckle side of the longitudinal center line and the knuckle side wall has a shorter length than the guard arm side wall. The modified lock chamber creates an increase in the section area of the top face of the coupler head and allows for a reduction in stress concentration as the forces transmitted through the top face are distributed over the increased section area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Amsted Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Russell G. Altherr
  • Patent number: 4206849
    Abstract: A railroad car coupler having a knuckle in an open position further includes a lock which rests on a tail portion of the knuckle. By providing a continuous clearance between a leg portion of the lock and an end wall of the knuckle tail portion, lock drop reliability is increased substantially upon the knuckle being swung from the open position to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: John W. Kaim
  • Patent number: 4146143
    Abstract: An automatic coupler of the Janney-type has a guide horn rigidly connected to the coupling head below the knuckle and extends forwardly and laterally with respect to the knuckle. The guide horn is shaped to have on its upper face a plurality of guide and support surfaces. A second plurality of guide and support surfaces are formed on the underside of the rigid catch jaw which is spaced horizontally from the pivotable knuckle. The guide surfaces on the guide horn and underside of the jaw engage respectively guide surfaces on the underside of the jaw and a guide horn of a similar coupler when such couplers are in the coupled position so as to prevent relative vertical displacement of the coupled coupling heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Schelle
  • Patent number: 4090615
    Abstract: An improved coupler knuckle wherein the tail surface contour is formed by a mathematical function curve so that upon closing the portion of the surface, which interfaces with the lock becomes closer to the knuckle pivot thus providing increased clearance for the lock movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert Edward Martin
  • Patent number: 4024958
    Abstract: The front face of an Association of American Railroads (A.A.R.) type E coupler knuckle, forward of the knuckle pivot center when the knuckle is in closed position, is formed of intersecting surfaces, one of which slopes rearwardly at an angle of approximately 12.degree. with the other surface and intersects the other surface at a location between the longitudinal axis of the coupler and a line parallel to that axis through the pivot pin hole, thereby ensuring complete closing and locking of the mating knuckles of couplers approaching under maximum angling conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Amsted Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Horst Thomas Kaufhold
  • Patent number: D371342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Teracom Components AB
    Inventor: Hans O. Lundback