Abstract: A vertical spring support device for a coupler, comprises a support platform, a bracket, a support rod, a support spring, a wear sleeve and a locknut; the support spring is sheathed on the support rod, and an upper end of the support spring is resisted against a lower surface of the support platform while a lower end of the support spring is resisted against an upper end face of the bracket; an upper end of the support rod is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the support platform, while a bottom end of the support rod passes through the bracket and is then in threaded connection to the locknut via the wear sleeve; the support platform comprises a vertical support platform plate and a horizontal support platform plate, and a lower surface of the horizontal support platform plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the support rod; and, the vertical support platform plate is vertically fixed on one side of the horizontal support platform plate close to the buffer shell.

Abstract: A supporting device for vertically supporting a coupling rod pivotably articulated in the vertical direction to a car body underframe of a rail-borne vehicle comprises a support able to be brought into contact with the coupling rod and a mount connected to the support and able to be fixed to the car body underframe of the vehicle. The support can move relative to and in the direction of the mount upon exceeding a critical external force acting on the support in the vertical direction. In order to disassociate the response curve of the supporting force from the spring characteristic of a spring element associated with the supporting device, a force-transmitting mechanism is provided enabling the at least one spring element to be coupled to the support and to the mount such that the spring element is elastically deformed by the support moving relative to the mount.

Abstract: An extended end-sill assembly for a railcar, which assembly is produced by mating a front-sill casting and back-sill casting having a transition region therebetween wherein the endsill includes a cast-in-place center plate, a support arrangement for a cushioning apparatus and a wide-mouthed end for greater lateral travel of the coupler shank arm, and such dual casting assembly is inapposite to present production of such endsill assemblies that require fabrication of numerous plates, pieces and braces.

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: In a railway coupler connection, an improved slackless connection in which an arcuate conical surface is provided about the butt end of a vertically restrained coupler member which is seated within the pocket of a self-adjusting follower member having a corresponding arcuate conical surface about a pocket therein. The corresponding arcuate conical surfaces interface in mated alignment in order to permit horizontal angling of the coupler member while restraining the butt end of the coupler member in a lateral and longitudinal position within the center sill. As in-service wear occurs, the self-adjusting follower member will drop with respect to the coupler member to maintain this zero-slack arrangement. The coupler member may be placed in the upper portion of the center sill permitting a lower center sill height while staying within the coupler height range specified by the American Association of Railroads.

Abstract: A railway car underframe comprises a center sill having bell mouth draft housings at opposite ends thereof. The housings accommodate the use of drawbars or shank type couplers. With the use of a shank type coupler a draft housing extension is secured to the bell mouth housings. The housings include structural shear elements interengageable with each other to align and secure the housings in rigid relation. The housings include connector plates secured together by fasteners with said connector plates longitudinally spaced apart to provide vertical spaces. Wedge elements having open end vertically spaced recesses are driven into the vertical spaces to provide for rigid metal to metal contact with the spaces accommodating the fasteners. Proper alignment, securement, and quick assembly therefore is achieved.

Abstract: A striker for a railway vehicle comprises a casting having an endless rib projecting outwardly from each side wall to reinforce a key slot for a draft key. The endless ribs present continuous surfaces for welding the striker to a sill of a railway vehicle. Above and below the endless rib on each side wall are inwardly-displaced side wall sections to inwardly shift the neutral axes of the wall sections for resisting imposed loads. In a second embodiment, weld sites above and below the endless ribs are formed. High-strength load transfer for pull forces is achieved at weld sites at the rear portion of the casting. Load transfer is supplemented by lower-strength weld sites at the forward portion of the casting. Other weld sites are formed along vertical parts of front draft lugs.

Abstract: A rotary railroad car coupler assembly is described as having a unique carrier which is designed for limited angling or tilting in the vertically elongated chamber of the striker, as the coupler rotates. The projecting lugs of the carrier which interlockingly engage the stops in the chamber of the striker, have sloping sides which diverge from the sidewalls of the chamber in a direction away from the coupler, rather than being parallel to the sidewalls as are the sides of the lugs of AAR Standard carriers. This improvement eliminates chattering that is normally occasioned when AAR Standard carriers are used in connection with a rotary railroad car coupler assembly and helps to prevent undue stress of the striker caused when the carrier becomes momentarily frozen or bound up in the striker as the coupler rotates.

Abstract: A composite coupler carrier assembly for railroad cars comprising a lower metallic attachment plate shaped and arranged to be mounted on the car structure supporting the coupler shank, and an upper planar polymeric bearing body of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene that defines an upwardly facing planar bearing surface on which the coupler shank rides. The metallic attachment plate and the polymeric bearing body are fixed to each other by the practice of a spin welding technique involving the forming of a plurality of apertures of frusto-conical edging in the attachment plate, in which the small sides of the apertures are on the same side of the plate, and placing the underside of the polymeric bearing body against said side of the mounting plate, and spin welding in each aperture, to the bearing body, a polymeric disc that is of the same material as the bearing body, and that is proportioned to thereby anchor the attachment plate to the bearing body.

Abstract: A wear member for use between a pair of relatively movable components of a railway vehicle and method of making the same are provided wherein the wear member has a support provided with a continuous supporting surface. Polymeric material is attached to the support and is supported by the continuous supporting surface thereof whereby the polymeric material has an outer antifriction wear surface. A comparatively rigid load-carrying member is embedded in the polymeric material and the load-carrying member serves to maintain the polymeric material free of substantial indentation under conditions of high impact loads applied simultaneously against the load-carrying member and the polymeric material, the load-carrying member having a peripheral side surface being engaged by the polymeric material completely around the entire peripheral side surface so that the load-carrying member is completely surrounded at the peripheral side surface thereof by the polymeric material.

Abstract: A wear member is provided for use between a pair of relatively movable components of a railway vehicle. The wear member is mounted on a support having a continuous supporting surface, with polymeric material having an antifriction wear surface to support the same against the continuous supporting surface while providing integral reinforcement for the polymeric material.

Abstract: A snap-on coupler bearing plate for application to resiliently supported coupler carriers of AAR standard F type interlocking coupler applications, in which the bearing plate is in the form of a channel shaped member formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics that is shaped to overlie and be snap fitted to the load support plate of the coupler carrier. The bearing plate is of integral one piece construction and defines an upwardly facing slide surface on which the coupler wear plate rides that is characterized by effecting resurfacing of the coupler wear plate surfacing engaging same to make such wear plate surfacing effectively resistant against wear.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coupler shank bearing arrangement for supporting a railroad car coupler on its coupler carrier, and more specifically, to a railroad car coupler support arrangement in which the familiar coupler wear plate that rides on the coupler carrier is replaced by a bearing arrangement of the plane bearing type that provides for essentially wear free support of the coupler on its carrier. The coupler shank lower wall is formed with an elongate mounting slot at the location of application of the conventional wear plate, and extending longitudinally of the coupler shank, to which slot is applied a one piece bearing structure formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics.