Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle system determine one or more of a route parameter of a route on which the vehicle system is moving or a vehicle parameter of the vehicle system. The system and method also determine whether a ratio of a lateral force exerted by one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route to a vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route increases to a value exceeding a designated threshold as a result of the one or more route parameter of vehicle parameter that is determined. The ratio of the lateral force to the vertical force exerted by the one or more wheels of the vehicle system on the route is reduced to a value less than the designated threshold by changing an operation of the vehicle system.

Abstract: A plasma actuator includes a first electrode disposed on a substrate, covered by a dielectric layer, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric layer. In operation, the plasma actuator creates a plasma region, altering air flowing over the actuator. The plasma actuator in various embodiments: has no moving parts, helps to improve fuel economy by reducing aerodynamic drag, improves vehicle stability control under severe unsteady flow environments, reduces wind noise around a vehicle on which the actuator is used, and reduces emission and CO2 foot print through the fuel economy improvement.

Abstract: In a double frog for track crossings with two opposing noses that are realized in a common material block and to which a check rail with at least one guide surface for a wheel is assigned, the check rail region featuring the guide surface is separably fastened on a check rail mounting that is realized in one piece with the material block.

Abstract: Wrought steel for producing parts for railway, railway crossings or railway switches including (in weight percent): 0.01-0.15% carbon; at most 0.5% silicon; 10-15% manganese; at least 0.6 to 3.95% molybdenum; optionally one or more of the following elements: i. 0.05 to 0.2% nickel, and/or ii. 0.05 to 0.2% cobalt, and/or iii. 0.02 to 0.30% Cr, and/or iv. 0.05 to 0.2% copper, v. at most 5 ppm H, vi. at most 0.20% V, vii. at most 0.10% Nb; viii. at most 0.20% Ti and/or Zr, ix. at most 50 ppm B; x. at most 250 ppm N; xi. at most 0.2% Al, xii. at most 0.08% S, xiii. at most 0.08% P; xiv. at most 1.5% W; and balance iron and inevitable impurities; and a method of producing the wrought steel and its use.

Abstract: In a double frog for track crossings with two opposing noses that are realized in a common material block and to which a check rail with at least one guide surface for a wheel is assigned, the check rail region featuring the guide surface is separably fastened on a check rail mounting that is realized in one piece with the material block.

Abstract: The invention may be described as including a crossing panel assembly for a railway intersection, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor. The present invention may be used for single and multiple crossings as will be appreciated from the description and drawings. The invention may be described as including a crossing panel assembly for a railway intersection, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor. The present invention may be characterized as a frog containing panel system assembled with an array of castings that form a full flange bearing crossing to provide a rail intersection.

Abstract: The invention may be described as including a crossing panel assembly for a railway intersection, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor. The present invention may be used for single and multiple crossings as will be appreciated from the description and drawings. The invention may be described as including a crossing panel assembly for a railway intersection, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor. The present invention may be characterized as a frog containing panel system assembled with an array of castings that form a full flange bearing crossing to provide a rail intersection.

Abstract: Locking device for crossings with movable frog point, including a cradle support with a central recess into which a movable frog point with transverse displacement in order to place thereof in two steady end positions is housed; characterized in that it comprises a pair of side left (10) and right (11) boxes, a transverse slide (9) through central part of which is connected to a movable frog point (8) being coupled in said side boxes (10-11), a widger (14) axial displacement of which carries the transverse slide (9) being guided inside said transverse slide (9), the widger (14) further comprising some depressions (30) into which the bottom of the locking rollers (25) is housed during the relative displacement of the widger (14) with respect to the transverse slide (9) and also during the whole movement of both elements (9-14).

Abstract: The invention is a frog panel assembly for a railway turn-out switch, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor.

Abstract: The invention is a frog panel assembly for a railway turn-out switch, as well as a rail intersection design and a frog casting therefor.

Abstract: A swing nose crossing has the swing nose housed in an insert component which itself is mounted within the wing rails of the swing nose crossing. The cradle provides the lateral faces against which the swing nose abuts.

Abstract: Locking device for crossings with movable frog point, including a cradle support with a central recess into which a movable frog point with transverse displacement in order to place thereof in two steady end positions is housed; characterized in that it comprises a pair of side left (10) and right (11) boxes, a transverse slide (9) through central part of which is connected to a movable frog point (8) being coupled in said side boxes (10-11), a widger (14) axial displacement of which carries the transverse slide (9) being guided inside said transverse slide (9), the widger (14) further comprising some depressions (30) into which the bottom of the locking rollers (25) is housed during the relative displacement of the widger (14) with respect to the transverse slide (9) and also during the whole movement of both elements (9-14).

Abstract: A swing nose crossing has the swing nose (18) housed in an insert component (24) which itself is mounted within the wing rails (20, 22) of the swing nose crossing. The cradle (24) provides the lateral faces against which the swing nose abuts.

Abstract: In a switch including a switch frog (1) with a movable frog point (2) and wing rails (5, 6), wherein the wing rails (5, 6) in the region of the frog point (2) each have a rail profile which is lower than that of a standard rail, the wing rails (5, 6) are designed as Vignol rails whose region configured with a lower rail profile is produced by metal-forming departing from the Vignol rail profile.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for opening and securing a railroad frog. The system is provided with a body member and a plurality of attachment members, which are selectively securable with the body member. The attachment members are structurally configured to secure to different structural features along spring wing rails and fixed structures positioned opposite the spring wing rail. Manual actuation of a tensioning mechanism that is coupled with the body member advances opposing first and second attachment members toward one another, moving the spring wing rail into an open position. Wedge members, coated in a non-slip material are provided as an additional means for securing the spring wing rail in an open position.

Abstract: A grooved rail core piece including a core piece intersection area formed by intersecting grooves as an overflow area. The core piece has two construction profiles with interconnected outer fishing surfaces (22,24) extending in a longitudinal direction. In order to enable the intersection area of the core piece to be renewed in a simple manner, the intersection-point area of the core piece includes an interchangeable insert (36) which is arranged in a recess in an at least positive fit, the recess being defined by the sections of the construction profiles and by the sections of the lining parts (30,32) disposed in the outer fishing surfaces (22, 24), and the insert is fixed by means of at least two wedge elements (38, 40) which can be clamped in the lining parts. The lining parts and the construction profiles are connected by means of at least one clamping element protruding there through in a non-positive fit.

Abstract: An improved railway frog having opposite side flangeways, each flangeway comprising a channel with an ending width greater than a corresponding channel width of a conventional frog. The improved frog channel further comprising a first segment and a second segment. The second segment having an outside wall angled greater than a corresponding first segment outside wall in relation to an inner wall of the channel.

Abstract: A rail switch frog (1) includes a movable frog point (5) slidingly guided within a base frame (2), which frog point is movable into abutment on the wing rails (6, 7) and laterally supported in its abutment positions by supporting elements (10) fixed to the base frame (2). An end-position securing device (12) is provided for resiliently pressing the frog point (5) in its abutment position against the wing rail (6, 7) and the supporting elements (10), which end-position securing device is arranged within the space delimited by the base frame (2) and is connected with the base frame (2), or the supporting elements (10), as well as with the frog point (5).

Abstract: A cross frog of a grooved rail junction plate having a cross frog tip movably arranged on a sliding plate, wing rails running along the same, as well as auxiliary rails that transition into connecting bars, which delimit a respective groove with an allocated section of wing rail. In order to adjust the cross frog tip within the desired range and to make possible a problem-free exchange in the case of a repair or upgrade with a simple design, it is proposed that the cross frog tip transition without connection into the auxiliary rails.

Abstract: Concrete railroad ties are made having steel plates cast directly into the concrete railroad tie so that the top surface of each steel plate is even with the top surface of the concrete railroad tie. Fasteners for the rails can be welded to anywhere within the steel plate. Additionally, each steel plate can be cast into one of two different positions of the concrete railroad tie thus, creating more flexibility as to the positions of the rail fasteners on the railroad tie and reducing the length of the steel plate needed by half to three inches. By utilizing this assembly, the amount of concrete the patterns needed in a turnout is reduced.

Abstract: A railway frog insert assembly comprises a casting defining the heel and toe sections of a frog. The portion of the casting intermediate the heel and toe sections consists of an integral spine extending between the heel and toe sections. The height of the spine is below the level of the flangeways in the vicinity of the point. An intermediate point section, the base of which is hollowed out, is removably seated over the spine. The top surface of the intermediate section defines the point, a small portion to the toe side of the point, a small portion to the heel side of the point, and the flangeways in the vicinity of the point.

Abstract: A railway frog has a pair of wing rails with converging and diverging portions. A point member is located between forward portions of the wing rails. The forward portion of at least one of the rails has a section adjacent the point that has the rail head removed. A replaceable wear component having a head is located on an upper surface of the web of the wing rail. The wear component has a skirt that bolts to the flange of the wing rail. The wear component is formed of manganese steel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cross frog (10) for points and crossings, comprising a cross frog tip (14) and wing rails (16, 18) and running rails (20, 22) situated either side of this point, each with a basic course (38) aligned with a main or secondary track (26, 28). The aim of the invention is to reduce the wear around the cross frog tip without reconstructing the cross frog tip itself or the guard rails allocated thereto or realigning them in relation to each other. To this end, at least one of the running rails deviates from its basic course in the area of the cross frog tip, in such a way that the movement of a rail vehicle running through the main or secondary track is influenced through its wheel frame or bogie axle, away from the cross frog tip.

Abstract: The rigid frog for switch points and crossings with two wing rails (1, 2) and a frog point (3, 6, 4, 5) arranged therebetween, which forms with the wing rails switch openings (11) that run at an acute angle relative to each other, is characterized in that the frog point and the wing rails are elastically joined by anchor clamps on each foot side to ribbed plates (247-253). The previous unit of a rigid frog with wing rails and HB bolted point is thus resolved to individual rails. The individual rails each have their own intrinsic elasticity so that the frog behaves like a normal rail in the track in terms of oscillation and damping behavior. The previously used filling plates are no longer required. Beneath the rails are plates with which a height adjustment, especially of the wing rails (1, 2), can be effected, so that wear of the traversed surface of the wing rails can be compensated for in terms of height by changing the thickness of the spacers. The spacers (42, 43) can be elastic.

Abstract: An improved cast insert for a railway frog has two extensions extending in substantially the same direction away from the body portion of the casting and the end of each of the extensions has a cross sectional profile corresponding to the profile of the head and web of a rail but including only one side of what would normally be the base of a rail. A frog assembly is made by providing such an insert, machining each of two rails to also remove one side of the base near the end of the rail and attaching the machined end of each of the two rails to the end of one of said extensions such that the sides of the rails from which the base has been machined away face one another.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of a railroad track part, in particular a large points part, with rail parts such as a frog point and connecting rails, and the track part obtained. The track part is made of materials of differing composition, one of which is a carbon steel and one of which is an austenitic manganese steel, which are connected by welding and are subsequently subjected to a joint heat treatment. To permit joining of the materials without negative effects on their properties, the parts are joined directly by electron beam welding or indirectly via an intermediate layer comprising a nickel-based alloy, the joined parts then being heated to a temperature T and held over a time t such that for the austenitic manganese steel, solution annealing takes place, and for the carbon steel, austenitizing takes place.

Abstract: A spring rail frog includes a movable wing rail, a fixed wing rail and a nose rail. The movable wing rail is provided with a bendable portion and a non-bendable portion. The bendable portion can include any or all of a reduced width base portion, a reduced width head portion and an increased width web portion. The height of the movable wing rail can also be smaller in height than the height of the nose rail. A fixing plate can also be provided between a base plate and the movable wing rail to adjust the relative height of the movable wing rail and the nose rail. The movable wing rail extends beyond a spacer block disposed between the movable wing rail and the fixed wing rail. The movable wing rail extends away from the nose rail a predetermined distance for connection to the lead rail.

Abstract: A signal processing unit for a controller of a trolley pole switch is disclosed. The trolley pole switch switches the path of travel that an energy collector takes through the switch at a junction of catenaries at which a turn catenary and a straight catenary diverge from the straight catenary. The signal processing unit includes an input stage, a detection stage, turn and straight signal demodulation stages and an output stage. The input stage conditions modulated signals, each of which indicating a request to switch the path of travel through the trolley pole switch to the desired catenary diverging therefrom. The detection stage generates a validation signal if the conditioned modulated signal falls within a predetermined band. If the turn demodulation stage receives a conditioned modulated turn signal from the input stage and the validation signal from the detection stage simultaneously, it generates a low logic signal.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork intersection assembly such as a crossing intersection or a turnout intersection is provided with at least one flange-bearing frog subassembly which has railcar wheel flangeways of uniform depth throughout the frog planform that co-operate with trackwork traffic rails, with easer subassemblies that are positioned exterior to but abut the frog subassembly, that have sloping flange support surfaces, and that may be removed from or adjusted in the assembly without moving or adjusting either the frog subassembly or the co-operating trackwork traffic rails.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork spring wing frog assembly is provided with multiple rail-closer subassemblies, preferably of the nested and counter-wound compression spring-type, that co-operate with the assembly spring wing rail, and that are laterally spaced-apart with respect to each other along the angled rail portion of the frog assembly spring wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad frog assembly is provided with a switched magnet that immediately retains a frog flexible wing rail in its open position in response to a railcar wheel passing through the frog assembly, and that delayably releases the frog flexible wing rail from its open position for subsequent closure by an included frog compression spring.

Abstract: A spring rail frog is disclosed that includes a movable wing rail, a fixed wing rail and a nose rail. The movable wing rail is provided with a bendable portion and a non-bendable portion. The bendable portion can include any or all of a reduced width base portion, a reduced width head portion and an increased width web portion. The height of the movable wing rail can also be smaller in height than the height of the nose rail. A fixing plate can also be provided between a base plate and the movable wing rail to adjust the relative height of the movable wing rail and the nose rail.

Abstract: An electronic controller for controlling a trolley pole switch is disclosed. The trolley pole switch switches the path of travel that an energy collector of a trolley pole takes through the trolley pole switch at a junction of power conduits diverging from the trolley pole switch. The electronic trolley pole switch controller includes a signal processing device and a power controlling device employed in tandem to control the frog solenoids of a trolley pole switch. The signal processing device detects and processes a plurality of modulated signals. Each modulated signal represents a request to switch the path of travel that the energy collector takes through the trolley pole switch to a desired one of the power conduits diverging therefrom.

Abstract: A power controlling unit for use with a radio board of a trolley pole switch controller is disclosed. The trolley pole switch has at least one frog for switching the path of travel that an energy collector takes through a junction of catenaries. The power controlling unit includes three reduction stages, a chopper control stage, and two output stages. A first reduction stage reduces power received from one catenary to an initial power level. The chopper control stage outputs two pairs of alternating signals. Controlled by a first pair of alternating signals, a second reduction stage reduces the initial power level to a secondary power level to operate the radio board. As long as it receives the initial power level, the third reduction stage reduces the secondary power level to a primary power level to operate the power controlling unit.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork frog assembly is provided with a pair of wing rail components, with a centrally positioned body component comprising an integrally formed V-shaped point element having a pair of gauge lines, an integrally formed pair of wing elements having a pair of guard lines, and integrally formed flangeways separating said point element from said pair of wing elements, and with fasteners joining the body component wing elements to the wing rail components in a manner whereby the point element gauge lines are truly parallel to the wing element guard lines and are uniformly separated from said wing element guard lines uniformly by a distance of approximately 13/4-inches.

Abstract: A railroad trackwork railbound frog assembly having a toe point element is provided with a pair of spaced-apart wing rail elements each having a notch recess feature, a pair of reversible and interchangeable spaced-apart wing rail insert elements, usually fabricated of a manganese alloy steel or a high-strength, low-alloy steel material that is harder than the material from which the wing rail elements are manufactured, installed in abutting relation to the wing rail element notch recesses, spacer blocks that maintain the separations between the toe point, wing rail, and wing rail insert elements, and bolt-type fastener devices joining the elements of the frog assembly into a unitary structure.

Abstract: An improved railroad trackwork frog is provided with a relatively fixed rigid wing rail, a relatively movable spring wing rail, a base plate, and at least one roller outrigger and ramp plate assembly which is attached to the spring wing rail and to the base plate, and which functions to cause limited upwards vertical movement of the spring wing rail relative to the base plate when the spring wing rail is moved laterally relative to the rigid wing rail by the engaged wheel flange of a passing rail car.

Abstract: An improved frog is provided with an interchangeable insert for a railroad turnout, such as a frog or crossing. The frog has a new modular interchangeable insert, which permits easy changing of worn pieces in situ.The insert is a solid, unitary piece of high strength steel of two different geometrical shapes. An upper part of the insert is triangular in shape having a flat or planar base surface. A lower part of the insert is of a rectangular, planar sided member of box shape and serves as the web, running from the front to rear of and through the center and beneath the triangular upper part.

Abstract: An improved railroad turnout frog with a continuous running surface is provided. The frog provides for continuous running of the rolling stock and includes a mobile point with a triangular shape. The mobile point is located in a portion of the frog which would be void and otherwise provide no structural support.

Abstract: A railbound manganese frog assembly having ramps and grooves adapted to receive the false flange formed on the rim of a worn railroad car wheel to prevent the flange from impacting components of the frog assembly.

Abstract: A frog tip that can be moved relative to the wing rail is proposed, in which the contact surfaces each curve away from the frog tip and the wing rails in a lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A process for producing a crossing frog with moving point (1) for very long railway switches incorporated in long welded rails. The frog also comprises a cradle (2) in two elements (3 and 4), one molded and the other not molded. The method comprises welding, on a point side of the frog, the molded element (3) of the cradle (2) to the rolling rails (7) of an intermediate track of a branch, fixing parts (5 and 5') to the moving point (1) so as to form the non-molded element (4) of the cradle (2); rigidifying the non-molded element (4); interconnecting, by means of a non-welded joint, the subassembly formed by the molded element (3) welded to the rolling rails (7) and the subassembly formed by the non-molded element (4) formed by the parts (5 and 5') and the moving point (1), and finally, welding the moving point (1) to the rolling rails (9) on a heel side of the frog.

Abstract: A crossing frog with moving point (1) for very long railway switches incorporated in long welded rails, comprises a cradle (2) in two elements (3 and 4), one molded and the other not molded. One element (3) is of molded steel, of which at least the two ends (3A and 3B) on the point side and the two ends (3C and 3D) on the heel side are shaped as a rail profile. However, only the rail profile of the two ends (3A and 3B) effectively serves for rolling, the non-molded element (4) being mainly made up of parts (5 and 5') produced integrally as rails and connected to the two ends (3C and 3D) on the heel side of the molded part (3). Neither the rail profile of the two ends (3C and 3D) nor the rail profile of the parts (5 and 5') effectively serves as rolling surface, the moving point (1), for its part, being produced integrally as rails of which all the upper faces effectively serve as rolling surface.

Abstract: In a reversing device for the movable parts of a railway switch, in which movable wing rails are, in their end positions, alternately engaging the frog and are supported in their engaging positions by supporting rods extending in the longitudinal direction of the wing rails and which are slideably guided on the sleepers or, respectively, base plates, the supporting rods include at least one thrust support cooperating, for the purpose of shifting the wing rails relative to the frog, with thrust supports of the wing rails. In this case, at least one of the mutually cooperating surfaces of the thrust supports of a wing rail and/or supporting rod is formed of a wedge surface passing over into a supporting surface extending in essentially parallel relation to the longitudinal direction of the supporting rod. The supporting surface cooperates, in the position in which the wing rail contacts the frog, with the thrust support of the wing rail.

Abstract: A railroad spring frog assembly for trackwork installations includes a rigid rail and a flexible spring wing rail. The flexible spring wing rail is rigidly affixed between one end which engages a wing point rail and the other end which connects to a closure rail at the toe end of the frog support means. When a rail car enters the frog and a wheel flange engages the spring wing rail to pass between it and the long point rail the spring wing rail bends away from the long point rail to define a flangeway therebetweeen.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a frog for switches, in particular for rapid transit switches, with a junction rail mounted in a rotatable manner and adapted to close a gap between pairs of rails of straight or branch track, the improvement comprising that the two ends of the junction rail have the shape of an isosceles triangle and the corresponding ends of a transit rail taper on one side, whereby a continuous rail-head profile is formed when the junction rail abuts the transit rail.

Abstract: A conveying and storage system for wheeled pallets has tracks each formed by a pair of generally parallel rails. The pallet has grooved wheels at one side for riding on the upper edge of one rail and a roller on the other side for riding on the upper edge of the other rail. At the intersection of the tracks, the two wheel engaging rails are interconnected by a frog on which the peripheries of the grooved wheels roll. Where a wheel engaging rail crosses a roller engaging rail, the roller engaging rail is interrupted and elevated pads are provided that are coplanar with the upper edges of the rails. The pads are arranged to support the rollers as they negotiate the gap in the roller engaging rail.

Abstract: According to the invention a railway turnout comprises two wing rails and a point, carried on a frog, which includes a nose, the running surface of which is substantially co-planar with the running surfaces of the rail of the turnout, the wing rails being provided with tread surface inserts inclined upwardly above the plane of the running surfaces, the incline of the wing rails extending longitudinally along the wing rails towards the heels thereof and commencing at a point corresponding to the point of deviation from the gauge line, of the wing rail, the tread surface of the wing rails being shaped, in cross section, from the edge adjacent the gauge line, at an angle corresponding to the shape of the average worn car wheel and the angles of the incline and the slope being dependent on the taper on the wheels and on the angle of deflection of the turnout.

Abstract: Railbound frogs for track work installation and so constructed as to strengthen the heel extension, to resist movement of the running rails away from the heel end of the frog and to prevent damage due to what is known as a "false flange" on the car wheel.

Abstract: Ferrous metal casting of manganese steel susceptible to austenization to develop minimum yield strength of about 75,000 psi and elongation of about 30% min. consisting essentially of:C--0.85Mn--14Si--0.6Cr--4Ni--3.6V--0.4balance essentially iron except for impurities.