Abstract: An articulated railcar connector assembly includes improved wedge shim and follower block components that are shaped for improved early service life, the wedge shim having laterally spaced vertical lands to contact the assembly end wall and the follower block having a compound curvature bearing surface to receive the end of a male connector member; and both wedge and follower block may have abutting chevron-like concave and convex bearing surfaces wherein the included angle of the convex bearing surfaces exceeds the included angle of the concave bearing surfaces.

Abstract: The draft gear includes a slack adjustment and cushioning assembly mountable within a female connector for pin connection with a male connector inserted therein. The assembly is made up of a follower which contacts the rear end of the male connector, a slack adjustment wedge, a buff taper plate cooperable with the wedge to take up slack during draft loads, and an elastomeric pad which acts between the buff taper plate and a backing surface to maintain slack adjustment during draft loads and to provide resilient cushioning support during a pitching force or buff load. The assembly is applicable to drawbar couplers and to articulated connectors.

Abstract: A railway coupler arrangement which eliminates the conventional yoke strap, thereby enabling a larger draft gear to be employed in the coupling without increasing the overall size of the sill. The invention also provides a novel assembly for facilitating a rotary coupler arrangement in which the diameter of the rotary shank can be increased over prior art rotary butt couplers.