Abstract: A railcar yoke for a railcar energy absorption/coupling system. The yoke includes a rigid and elongated top wall joined to and axially extending from a back wall toward an open forward end of the yoke along with a rigid and elongated bottom wall joined to and axially extending from said back wall toward the open forward end of the yoke. The top and bottom walls of the yoke are separated by a distance whereby allowing an energy management system to be disposed therebetween. Each of the top and bottom walls of the yoke have two forward-facing stops thereon and which extend in opposed lateral directions from each other. The forward-facing stops on the top wall of the yoke are arranged in a generally coplanar relationship with the two forward-facing stops on the bottom wall of the yoke.

Abstract: A railcar energy absorption/coupling system including a cushioning assembly arranged in operable combination with a coupler and a yoke. The cushioning assembly is positioned in a draft pocket defined by a draft sill on a railcar between the front and rear stops. The yoke consists of a back wall along with top and bottom walls which are joined to and axially extending from the back wall toward a forward end of the cushioning assembly. The back wall of the yoke is disposed to contact the rear end of the cushioning assembly. The top and bottom walls of the yoke are operably coupled to a shank portion of the coupler toward a forward end of the yoke. The top and bottom walls of the yoke each include stop members which extend in opposed lateral directions from each other and limit draft travel while maximizing buff travel and limit total combined travel of the energy absorption/coupling system.

Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.

Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.

Abstract: A housing for a railway car draft gear assembly for cushioning buff and draft shocks includes a rear portion engageable with the rear stops of such railway car and a front portion configured for attachment to a coupler arm. Opposed ends of the front and rear portions are provided with complimentary flanges for removable attachment of the front portion to the rear portion with threaded fasteners.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly including a housing having an open front and closed rear portions. A compressible cushioning element is positioned within the rear portion with a seating arrangement abutting one end thereof adjacent the open front portion. A friction cushioning element is provided in the open front portion of the housing. A spring release mechanism continuously urges the friction cushioning element outwardly from the compressible cushioning element thereby releasing such friction cushioning element after compression of such draft gear assembly. A compressible cushioning element includes a hydraulic cylinder having a slidable piston to define a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber.

Abstract: A friction-type draft gear assembly includes a housing having an open front and closed rear portions. A compressible cushioning element is positioned within the rear portion with a seating arrangement abutting one end thereof adjacent the open front portion. A friction cushioning element is provided in the open front portion of the housing. A spring release mechanism is adapted for continuously urging the friction cushioning element outwardly from the compressible cushioning element thereby releasing such friction cushioning element after compression of such draft gear assembly. A compressible cushioning element includes a hydraulic cylinder having a slidable piston to define a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber. A metering pin disposed within the piston has aworking portion of a decreased diameter for increasing shock absorbing capacity of such draft gear assembly.

Abstract: Since the bandwidth-intensive applications such as Internet access, electronic commerce, multimedia applications, and distributed computing are rapidly increasing the volume of telecommunication traffics, optical networks become an essential backbone of telecommunication networks. The optical networks have shown a superior performance/cost ratio for both long-haul and short-haul routes and the emerging dense wavelength division multiplexing and all-optical network technologies have promised a potential to improve speed, capacity and connectivity of telecommunication networks. The present invention provides a multifunctional intelligent optical module (IOM) by integrating a multitude of photonic, electronic, and micro mechanical elements into a single module.

Abstract: An articulated coupling having a center coupling and a plurality of side bearings or couplings coaxial along a lateral axis to facilitate yaw and pitch between two cars while restricting roll. The side bearings each have a cylindrical member on one car received in a cylindrical recess associated with another car. The center coupling includes a mating of two spherical members with one of the member longitudinally movable to allow pitch. The axes of the cylindrical side bearings are coaxial and include the center of the spherical center coupling.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly to cushion and absorb impacting forces on a railroad car coupler system includes a housing containing a spring package. Through a follower the spring package interacts with a set of friction shoes. The shoes are positioned in friction shoe seats in a friction bore section of the housing. Each seat includes a wear liner in a recess formed on an inner surface of the housing friction bore section. The shoes in turn engage a wedge which extends from the housing to connect with other elements of the coupler system. The liners are made of a selective steel initially deformed by the impacting forces. This deformable quality allows wider dimensional variations between the shoes, liners, and the housing recesses. After deformation the liners fit properly in the recesses and the shoes in the seats to optimize areas of contact therebetween.

Abstract: A hollow plunger extends into the cavity of the draft gear body. The inner end of the plunger is expansible. One or more wedges are held by the body adjacent the inner end of the plunger, and shoes are positioned between the wedge(s) and the inner side of the inner end of the plunger. Spring elements positioned within the plunger are in compression between the outer end of the plunger and the shoes. When the plunger is forced into the body the shoes are wedged outwardly against the expansible portions of the plunger which in turn are forced into contact with the body. There may be one or a plurality of successive stages of wedges and shoes.