Abstract: A cushioning apparatus for a railway car employs a shortened yoke having a draft gear housing integral with the yoke. A stack elastomeric pads is provided in the housing, and a second stack of elastomeric pads and corresponding rigid metal plates, is positioned in the sill behind the modified yoke to absorb buff loads on the coupler. In embodiments, the entire assembly may be placed in a sill having forward stops, intermediate stops, and rear stops.

Abstract: A position detection device configured for use with a locking differential is configured to determine a position of an armature in relation to a stator. The stator has a primary coil. The armature moves relative to the stator between engaged and disengaged positions corresponding to the locking differential being in a locked and unlocked state. The position detection device includes a secondary coil disposed proximate to the primary coil. The secondary coil is configured to determine a change in inductance based on movement of the armature. The change in inductance is indicative of a change in position of the armature relative to the stator.

Abstract: A wire supporting structure supporting an electric wire extending between a bogie and a carbody in a railcar includes: a support supported by the carbody and including a fitted portion; a carbody-side coupling device supported by the carbody; an electric wire connected to an electrical apparatus of the bogie; an electric wire-side coupling device provided at a tip end of the electric wire and connected to the carbody-side coupling device; and a bracket connected to a part of the electric wire, the part being located close to the electric wire-side coupling device, the bracket including a fitting portion fitted to the fitted portion of the support, the bracket being supported by the support with the fitting portion fitted in the fitted portion.

Abstract: A car includes a car equipment protection structure, The car equipment protection structure includes an underframe, couplers and guide members. Each of the guide members is provided on a railcar inner side of an attached flange portion of the underframe to which the couplers are attached. Moreover, the guide members respectively include inclined surfaces, each of which is opposed to at least a part of the coupler. Each of the inclined surfaces is inclined toward the railcar inner side as it extends downward.

Abstract: A draft sill with special rear draft lug for a railcar is disclosed. In some embodiments, a rear draft lug comprises a metallic body. The rear draft lug further comprises a boss extending along a transverse portion of the metallic body. The boss is configured to be coupled to a first vertical reinforcement plate. The rear draft lug also comprises an overhang portion extending from the boss along the transverse portion. The overhang portion configured to be coupled to the first vertical reinforcement plate. In some embodiments, the boss and the overhang portion are configured to be coupled to the first vertical reinforcement plate with a weld.

Abstract: A spring retention device particularly well suited to use on railcars. The spring retention device has first and second fingers that oppose each other at inclined interior surfaces to define an opening. The interior surfaces overlap and are inclined relative to opposed substantially parallel and planar surfaces with which the first finger is substantially aligned between aside from its terminal end which is bent so the first finger extends outwardly from the first planar surface. The opening terminates in an enlarged portion that has an interior surface defining the perimeter of the enlarged portion. The interior surface of the enlarged portion is substantially perpendicular to the planar surfaces. Springs having eyes that have their wire bent in substantially the same plane may be inserted through the opening, then when turned to align with the enlarged portion, the spring contained therein will be prevented from backing out of the opening.

Abstract: A railroad gondola car has a hopper carried between two trucks. The hopper has convergent end and side slope sheets that feed a bottom discharge. The bottom discharge has a pair of longitudinal doors. The car has a very short draft installation that includes a removable coupler carrier bar, and the main shear plate has a removable draft gear installation cover. The rear draft stop extends longitudinally inboard past the truck center. The couple arrangement includes an AAR Type E shank with an AAR Type F coupler There is a machinery space above the end section shear plate. It is overhung by the slope sheet that is substantially unobstructed by any other primary structure. The pneumatic cylinder is mounted on an angle in this unobstructed machinery space, oriented longitudinally over the draft sill beneath the main drag link of the mechanical transmission, and above the main pivot of the driving input lever of the transmission. The main lever is bifurcated, and straddles the pneumatic cylinder.

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 supporting device is provided to vertically support a coupling rod of a coupling pivotably articulated in the vertical direction to a car body underframe by a bearing block. The supporting device makes contact with the coupling rod by a support, wherein the supporting device includes a mount connected to the support which is fixed to the car body underframe of the vehicle. In order to enable the interference-free retraction of the central buffer coupling toward the car body in the event of a crash, the mount includes a connecting element by which the support is connected to the mount and which defines a rotational axis about which the support can rotate relative the connecting element.

Abstract: A rail vehicle having a vehicle body (WKA) comprising on at least one vehicle end a compression zone (STA) located behind an end carrier (ETR) of the vehicle body, and having a central buffer coupling (KUP) extending from a substantially vertical pivot axis (SWA) to the vehicle end and connected to said vehicle body via a coupling carriage (KSL) wherein said coupling carriage (KSL) is attached to said end carrier (ETR) and extending from said end carrier (ETR), bridging said compression zone (STA), towards the vehicle center, and which is guided longitudinally slidable on the vehicle body (WKA).

Abstract: A rail road car has draft sills, and draft gear mounted in the draft sills, by which loads are passed along the train line of cars. The draft gear is mounted to the drafts sill webs between front and rear draft stops. The front and rear draft stops have portions that protrude beyond the plane of the inner face o the draft sill webs. The rear draft stops have a boss that extends past the plane of the inside face of the draft sill web, such that the peripheral weld about the boss may tend to be placed in stress in the plane of the web.

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 liner for use in a draft sill to protect the sill from damage and wear caused by draft gear movement. The draft gear is attached to a coupling to transmit moving forces from the coupling to the car causing. The draft gear is isolated from the side walls of the draft sill by the liner to reduce wear on the draft sill as the draft gear absorbs and cushions impacts from the buff and drag events. These impacts may cause the followers, yoke and resilient members move toward the side walls and contact the liner disposed between the draft gear and the draft sill for protecting the side walls from damage and wear.

Abstract: A towing arrangement intended for train couplers includes a bar (8), which at a rear end has an axially projecting pin (10), which projects through a through hole (40) in a plate (11), which on both sides is surrounded by shock-absorbing spring members (12), which always aim to hold the pin in a starting position in relation to the plate, and against the action of which the pin together with the bar are axially movable. The plate (11) is included in a mandrel (16) equipped with a cone (19), which mandrel is inserted into a deformation tube (17), more precisely into a wide, front tube section (22), which via a waist (23) transforms into a thinner, rear tube section (21), which is deformable by the mandrel (16). A deformation tube is also described.

Abstract: A clamping arrangement (3) for the fixation of a towing arrangement (2), equipped with a mounting flange (14), in a mounting pocket (6) included in a vehicle underframe (1) and being of the type that includes front and rear pairs of stop lugs (11, 12). The clamping arrangement includes a form-stiff insert (4) as well as a clamping device (5), which is applicable between the insert (4) and the mounting flange (14) of the towing arrangement (2) in order to press apart these and thereby clamp the mounting flange (14) against the front pair of lugs (11). A railway vehicle, e.g. a railroad car, provided with a towing arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for a railway drawbar, which reduces stress in two piece machine bolts inserts in emergency release mechanisms, includes a two sided threaded stud which screws into a release rail using one of the threaded stud ends, passes through a drawbar body, and is secured to the drawbar body by a nut screwed onto the other threaded stud end.

Abstract: A railcar draft gear housing formed from an austempered ductile iron casting having an original shape and including an open end, a closed end, and wall structure axially extending between the housing's ends. The wall structure of the housing defines an axial section between and spaced from the ends. The axial section of the wall structure is configured to withstand impact energy imparted to the housing in excess of 81,000 inch pounds while retaining and exhibiting substantially linear elasticity wherein the resultant ratio of stress to energy input remains substantially constant thereby allowing for flexible distortion of the housing in a manner promoting enhanced energy damping characteristics while allowing the casting to return to the original shape after the impact energy is released threrefrom.

Abstract: A railcar draft gear housing is disclosed. The railcar draft gear housing is formed from an austempered ductile iron casting and includes an open end, a closed end, and wall structure axially extending between the housing's ends. The wall structure of the housing defines an axial section between and spaced from the ends. The axial section of the wall structure is configured to withstand impact energy imparted to the housing in excess of 81,000 inch pounds while retaining and exhibiting substantially linear elasticity wherein the resultant ratio of stress to energy input remains substantially constant thereby allowing for flexible distortion of the housing in a manner promoting enhanced energy damping characteristics.

Abstract: A wear plate assembly adapted to engage a friction wedge of a railroad car truck. The wear plate assembly includes a base member having an upper wear member adapted to engage the friction wedge. The upper wear member is formed from a first material such as steel. The wear plate assembly includes a lower wear member located adjacent to and below the upper wear member. The lower wear member is adapted to engage the friction wedge and is formed from a second material such as cast iron. The upper wear member has a coefficient friction with the friction wedge of approximately 0.30 and the lower wear member has a coefficient friction with the friction wedge of approximately 0.15. When a rail car is at tare weight the friction wedge will slidably engage the upper wear member and when the rail car is at fully laden weight the friction wedge will slidably engage the lower wear member.

Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.

Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

Abstract: A retainer member for use in either an articulated coupling arrangement and/or a slackless drawbar arrangement for retaining a spherical member in an operating position within a male connection member for connecting together adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway vehicles in a semi-permanent manner is provided. The retainer member comprises a one piece circular member which is engageable with at least a portion of an inner surface formed by an aperture in a modified male connection member. The circular member is engageable within this aperture of the male connection member to hold the spherical member within the aperture of the male connection member and to form a substantially spherical surface upon which the spherical member rotates against, enabling the male connection member to rotate with respect to the female or car connection member of the railway coupling device.

Abstract: A railcar coupler carrier wear plate is formed in an “L” shaped section for ease of insertion and replacement in a coupler carrier and for efficient manufacture, the coupler carrier wear plate being retained in the coupler carrier with a bracket arrangement that can be readily affixed to the coupler carrier as by welding and which can also be adapted to protect the coupler carrier wear plate in the event of a coupler override.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar coupler assembly for use in combination with a railway car having a center sill wherein the drawbar has a shank portion extending to an enlarged truncated butt end portion defining essentially a convex, hemispherical buff load bearing surface, with an aperture at the axis of the hemispherical buff load bearing surface, and includes a rear support block having a concave hemispherical buff load bearing surface on one side adapted to engage the convex, hemispherical buff load bearing surface on the drawbar.

Abstract: A non-metallic wear plate assembly for railroad car couplers comprises a wear plate of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having an upper surface with side edges and a middle portion therebetween, the upper surface of the wear plate sloping downwardly from the side edges to the middle portion, and a number of counter-bored holes in the wear plate with a larger diameter and a smaller diameter with the larger diameter of the counter-bored holes facing up, the wear plate being mounted on a steel filler plate by weld washers which are positioned in the holes and are welded to the filler plate, with optional weld washer plugs being positioned in the holes above the weld washers and flush with the upper surface of the wear plate. A method of using the non-metallic wear plate for railroad car couplers to center a coupler and protect it against wear.

Abstract: A support housing for supporting a slackless drawbar coupler assembly within a center sill of a railway car, in which the slackless drawbar assembly has a drawbar pivotally attached within a spool by a pivot pin, the support housing including a generally rectangular three-dimensional body having a generally rectangular, three-dimensional cavity in an underside surface, a forward end wall and a pair of generally parallel side wall portions with a pair of opposed and axially aligned apertures through the generally parallel side wall portion of the cavity, each aperture adapted to receive a disk pin insertable therethrough and also insertable through one each of a second pair of opposed and axially aligned apertures through parallel side walls of the spool, such that said spool is pivotal within said cavity on the axially aligned disk pins.

Abstract: A carrier plate assembly for use in a slackless drawbar assembly to connect together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway freight cars. The carrier plate assembly includes a carrier plate member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A crushable support member has a bottom surface thereof engageable with at least a portion of the top surface of such carrier plate member. There is an aperture formed through the crushable support member and an anchoring mechanism is engageable with the carrier plate member and extends through such aperture formed in the crushable support member for securing a locking wedge member to the carrier plate in such slackless drawbar assembly. The anchoring mechanisms including at least a threaded portion for at least one of receiving a nut thereon and for threadedly engaging a threaded aperture formed in the locking wedge member to enable tightening of such locking wedge member to the carrier plate.

Abstract: A self-lubricating plastic coupler carrier wear plate is formed in a generally T-shape having an outer flange and an inner flange conforming to said T-shape, said web being notched proximate said inner flange for adequate clearance with railcar draft gear.

Abstract: A locking wedge assembly for use in a slackless drawbar assembly designed to connect together, in a substantially semi-permanent fashion, adjacently disposed ends of a pair of railway cars. Such locking wedge assembly including a locking wedge member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A crushable support member has a top surface engageable with at least a portion of the bottom surface of such wedge member. An aperture is formed through the crushable support member and an anchoring member is engaged with the locking wedge member and extends through such aperture formed in the crushable support member for securing the locking wedge member in such slackless drawbar assembly. Such anchoring member includes at least a threaded portion for at least one of receiving a nut thereon and for threadedly engaging a threaded aperture formed in the wedge member adjacent the bottom surface of such wedge member to enable tightening of such locking wedge member in place.

Abstract: A method of preassembling a slackless type drawbar assembly prior to installation into an end portion of a center sill member secured to a railway freight car. The method comprising the steps of providing a carrier plate member having a means for securing such carrier plate member to a flange portion of such center sill member. Securing a pair of radially opposed and axially aligned shaft support members to a top surface of the carrier plate member. Positioning a drawbar assembly on top of the shaft support members and securing in place. Positioning at least one crushable wedge support member on the top surface of such carrier plate member adjacent the shaft support members. Setting a pair of radially opposed locking wedge members on such at least one crushable support member. Securing the locking wedge members to such at least one crushable support member and the carrier plate member without distorting such at least one crushable support member.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a railcar locates within a center sill of the railcar. The shock absorber has a housing that moves relative to the center sill. A backstop is welded to the center sill for retaining the piston shaft. The backstop has a top, a bottom and two parallel sides. The height of the backstop from the bottom to the top is substantially less than the center sill. The sides of the backstop are welded to the sidewalls of the center sill in a position which provides an upper clearance between the top of the backstop and the top wall of the center sill and a lower clearance between the bottom of the backstop and the bottom of the center sill.

Abstract: A non-binding, slack-adjusting, gravity wedge member for use in a railway slackless drawbar system, the wedge member having a pair of opposed friction faces at an inclined angle to each other, with a first of the faces having at least one recess therein adapted to receive an elastomeric body bonded therein such that an outer, flat surface of the elastomeric body is exposed and spaced outwardly from and parallel to the first face, such that the elastomeric body has an exposed outer flat surface of at least about 35 square inches, and a hardness of at least about 50 durometers.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar assembly joining railcars includes a drawbar, each end of the drawbar being joined to a yoke surrounding a cushioning unit and a follower block confined between forward and rear stops in a conventional sill pocket. The cushioning unit includes a front plate, an elongate spacer block and a compressed stack of elastomer pads sandwiched between the plate and block. Tightening wedges and shims are not used. The compressed pad stock holds the cushioning unit between the stops with a preload of about 50,000 pounds to prevent binding between the drawbar and the follower plate from causing derailments. The preload also holds the cushioning unit tight in the pocket.

Abstract: A railroad car coupling mechanism is described as having a yoke which is disposed within, I) a carsill which is attached to the underside of a railroad car adjacent each of the opposing ends of the car, and II) a striker which is secured to the subsill and railroad car. The striker and carsill carry front and rear stops between which the yoke extends and engages the front stops. At least one resilient load cushing device is disposed between the straps of the yoke for cushioning loads impacting the car coupling mechanism. At least one wedging device is disposed within the yoke straps, in tandem, with the load cushioning device, for taking up any slack which develops from worn parts within the yoke. At least one wedging mechanism is disposed outside the yoke between the back end of the yoke and the rear stops to, likewise, take up slack and insure that the yoke remains firmly, in place, between the front and rear stops.

Abstract: The invention improves performance characteristic of coupler arrangements; and embodies a cushioning device (8) which comprises an elastomeric shock absorber (9) whose bottom part (10) is held in a rear stop block (12) supported on a rear stop (7, 7'). The opposite section of the elastomeric shock absorber is slidably mounted in the casing (13) which includes a guide (14) closed by a fixedly attached front stop block (15), with the stop block abutting the front stop (6, 6'). Inside the casing the stop block abuts the piston rod (16) of the elastomeric shock absorber.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar assembly connecting adjacent ends of a pair of freight cars together. Such assembly includes a first pair of vertically disposable rear draft stop members and a first pair of radially opposed front draft stop members engageable with and securable to respective ones of a pair of side wall portions of a center sill member disposed on a first car. Each of such first pair of rear and front draft stops include a flat and respectively facing surface portion formed thereon. Additionally, each flat surface portion on at least one of such first pair of rear and front draft stops include a taper. There is a drawbar member provided which has a predetermined length. A first aperture is formed through this drawbar adjacent a first end thereof. There is a first ball member provided which has at least a portion thereof disposed in such first aperture. A first race assembly is secured to such drawbar adjacent such first aperture.

Abstract: An integral yoke member casting having a back wall portion, a first side wall portion formed integral with the back wall portion adjacent a first outer edge thereof. The first side wall portion has a front face portion which is engageable with a rear face portion of a front stop secured within a center sill member. A second side wall portion is formed integral with the back wall portion adjacent a second outer edge thereof. The second side wall portion includes a front face portion which is engageable with a rear face of another front stop secured within such center sill member. A top wall portion extends between inner surfaces of the first and second side wall portions and outwardly from such rear wall portion past the front faces of both the first and second side wall portions. There is a bottom wall portion which extends between such inner surfaces of such first and second side wall portions and outwardly from such rear wall portion past the front faces of both the first and second side wall portions.

Abstract: An integral single piece yoke casting for connecting one end of a railway car. Such single piece yoke casting includes a first side wall portion having a front face portion which engages at least a portion of a rear face of a front stop member secured within a longitudinal opening of a center sill member. A second side wall portion having a front face portion engages at least a portion of a rear face of another front stop member secured within such longitudinal opening of such center sill member. A horizontally disposed top wall portion, having a third predetermined length and a horizontally disposed bottom wall portion, having a fourth predetermined length, in conjunction with the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion form a generally rectangular yoke casting.

Abstract: A drawbar assembly having a rear draft stop engageable with a block out member. A tapered wedge member engages a tapered surface on the block out member. A follower member engages a front face of the tapered wedge. A concave surface is formed in a front face portion of the follower member. Such follower member is movable within the open end of a yoke casting. Such yoke casting includes first and second side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. A first and second aperture are formed through the top wall and bottom wall, respectively. A pair of front draft stop members engage a respective side wall of such center sill. A drawbar having a butt end portion is movably disposed within a second opening in such yoke casting. Such drawbar includes a vertically disposed pin receiving opening formed in such butt end and a two piece pin bearing block having a hemispherical outer surface is disposed in a hemispherical recess formed in such pin receiving opening.

Abstract: A draft stop member in a car coupling arrangement includes a rectangular block-like member. An arcuate portion extends forward from the rear face and inward from the stop upper surface and terminates before a longitudinal centerline thereof. Another arcuate portion extends forward from the rear face and inward from the stop bottom surface and terminates before such centerline. A triangular block-like member formed integral with an inner portion of the rectangular member includes another arcuate portion beginning inward from the stop upper surface and terminating before the centerline. Another arcuate portion begins inward from the stop bottom surface and terminates before the centerline. A nose member formed integral with an inner portion of the triangular member includes an arcuately shaped end disposed axially opposed to the rear face of the rectangular member. A tapered upper surface extends inward toward such rear face from one end of the arcuately shaped end and upward from the centerline.

Abstract: A drawbar bearing block for a slackless drawbar system which connects adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars in a semi-permanent manner. Such bearing block includes a top portion supported and retained in a hemispherical recess which extends partially around a pin opening formed in a pin receiving opening disposed in a butt end of a drawbar. Such top portion of the bearing block has an outer surface which closely matches a surface of such hemispherical recess and an inner surface having a cylindrical shape to receive a pin therein. There is at least one recessed opening formed in the top portion adjacent a bottom surface and an outer surface thereof. A bottom portion is supported and retained in such hemispherical recess and assists in supporting and retaining such top portion in the hemispherical recess. Such bottom portion of the bearing block includes an outer surface which closely matches the surface of such hemispherical recess and an inner surface having a cylindrical shape to receive a pin therein.

Abstract: An improved drawbar connection for railroad cars reduces slack between cars and results in improved train handling. The drawbar connection fits in a standard draft gear pocket and utilizes a standard yoke, standard follower and standard coupler pin, thereby permitting the application of drawbars with minimal structural modification to cars originally equipped with conventional couplers. The usual draft gear is replaced by a filler which is relatively rigid. The filler includes a follower block, a wedge, a filler block and may include a mini-draft gear having a maximum travel of about one-half inch.

Abstract: A railway car connection system for a railway car having a center sill. Such connection system includes a sliding yoke. The sliding yoke having a front pocket portion open at a front end thereof. The front pocket portion is formed by a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and a pair of radially opposed side wall portions which form a continuous outer wall. Such continuous outer wall has an outer cross section complementary to an interior cross section of such center sill and capable of both being received therein and sliding longitudinally thereof. The top wall portion has a first bore therethrough and the bottom wall portion has a second bore therethrough concentric with such first bore. A rear block portion having a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and side wall portions each adjacent the corresponding top wall portion, bottom wall portion and side wall portions of such front pocket portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a railway car for hauling stacked containers. The railway car comprises a coupler and draft assembly having a vertical dimension that is substantially reduced over conventional railway car systems. The reduced height of the coupler and draft assembly allow three tiers of containers to be stacked on the railway car without exceeding A.A.R. height requirements.

Abstract: A slackless railcar coupler assembly, which is mountable in a railcar center sill, has a draft gear subassembly operable against a rear stop, and a slackfree coupler apparatus mounted in a coupler pocket forward of said draft gear subassembly, which subassembly and apparatus are connected to provide a dynamic load in both the buff and draft directions to avoid a mechanical, longitudinal stress load on the coupler assembly and railway car.

Abstract: The present invention involves the addition of a device attached to each of the follower block side walls in order to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the follower block side walls and the center sill side walls. The preventative device comprises an elastomeric wear pad attached to a base plate, a base plate being anchored to each of the follower block side walls. The pads are made of a softer, low-friction material, compared to the carbon steel side walls. Since the elastomeric wear pads are softer than the center sill side walls, only the restrictive means will wear, thereby preventing destruction of the center sill side walls no matter how much slack has been developed in the coupling system. The present invention is also adaptable to either E or F type couplers.

Abstract: A drawbar for a slackless drawbar system comprises an elongated bar having a load support portion adjacent its one end for connection to one of a pair of adjacent cars in a train, a pin receiving opening extending through the load support portion, a hemispherical recess extending partially around the pin receiving opening and a pin bearing having a hemispherical outer surface receivable in the hemispherical recess and a cylindrical inner surface to receive a pin. The pin bearing preferably is constructed of two symmetrical halves retained in the hemispherical recess by a retaining clip of spring material and the pin receiving opening is provided with a recess to receive the pin bearing retaining clip. The drawbar is provided with a second load support portion at its other end which may be the same as the load support portion at its one end or which may be different if required to connect to a railway car with a different form of coupling.

Abstract: A slackless drawbar system includes a support member comprising a top plate, a bottom plate and a pair of spaced apart side plates joining the top and bottom plates to form a hollow rectangular member closely fitting inside the rectangular longitudinal opening of a railway car center sill. A back wall joins the top and bottom plates and the pair of side plates at a point spaced from one end of the support member and the top and bottom plates are provided with aligned bores each of which has a bushing therein, one of which bushings receives one end of a cylindrical pivot pin and the other of which bushings receives the other end of the pivot pin. The side plates of the support member are secured to the railway car center sill through weld slots in the center sill and at weld chamfers provided at each end of each of the side plates. The support member also includes reinforcing ribs connecting the back wall to the side plates and to the top and bottom plates.