Abstract: A railway car axle includes a first stub axle mounted in a rigid hollow sleeve. The first stub axle has opposite inner and outer ends, and the sleeve has a first open end and an oppositely disposed first terminal end. A first bore is defined by a cylindrical wall extending from the first open end to the first terminal end. The first stub axle is journalled in the first bore so as to position the inner end of the first stub axle adjacent the first terminal end and so that the outer end of the first stub axle extends from the first open end. Separate first inner and first outer bearing housings, and corresponding first bearings, are mounted tight to the inner ends of the first stub axle or to outer housing and the first open end of the sleeve respectively so as to allow rotation of the first stub axle relative to the sleeve. A mirror image may be provided for mounting a second stub axle in the sleeve.

Abstract: A differential action railroad car wheelset axle has two individual stub axles, each having one or more annular rings or grooves on the interior ends, said interior ends of the individual stub axles being rotatably mounted within a multi-piece sleeve assembly. The axle assembly has provision for safety pins to prevent independent rotation during installation in the railcar truck frame and also a device to permit relocking or unlocking the independent axle rotation after the original safety pins have been removed. Dry lubricant coatings eliminate the need for periodic liquid lubrication or maintenance. The differential action of the wheelset reduces the horsepower requirement by approximately 30 percent while also reducing the maintenance requirements for both wheels and track in locations where horizontal curves are predominant.

Abstract: A differential wheel mounting for replacing a standard railroad axle assembly having a wheel seat portion which includes a sleeve having several sliding surfaces fixedly mounted over the wheel seat portion of the axle, a railroad wheel with a running surface for contacting a rail and a plain bearing member detachably mounted to the railroad wheel. The plain bearing member has non-metallic bearing surfaces that mate with the sliding surfaces on the sleeve so that the bearing member and the attached wheel are laterally confined on the sleeve while being rotatable about the sleeve. The plain bearing member sustains both radial and thrust loads during normal operation of a railroad car.

Abstract: A railroad car wheelset has an axle with one wheel (14A) rigidly attached. This wheel is permitted to rotate by means of journal bearings either on the extreme ends of the axle or inboard of each wheel location. At the other wheel, the axle has smooth surface and a self-lubricating bearing (54) is provided as a part of a hub on the axle. The hub is integral with the axle or press fit thereon. The axle has a boss for preventing the independently rotating wheel from migrating laterally out of proper alignment. A self-lubricating thrust bearing (32) is located between this boss and the side of the wheel to eliminate any possible galling between the two moving surfaces.

Abstract: A railroad car wheelset (10) has an axle (12) with one wheel rigidly attached as in conventional railroad practice. This wheel (10) is permitted to rotate by means of journal bearings either on the extreme ends of the axle (12) or inboard of each wheel location (14A and 14B). At the location of the other wheel, the axle (12) is provided with a smooth surface and a self-lubricating bearing (24) is provided as a pant of a hub (20) on the axle (12). The axle (12) shaft is provided with a boss (18) or other means of preventing the independently rotating wheel from migrating laterally out of proper alignment A self-lubricating thrust bearing (32) is located between this boss (18) and the side of the wheel to eliminate any possible galling between the two moving surfaces. A removable retainer plate (46) is located on the other side of the independently rotating wheel to prevent the wheel from moving laterally in that direction.

Abstract: A railroad car wheelset has an axle with one wheel rigidly attached as in conventional railroad practice. This wheel is permitted to rotate by journal bearings. At the other wheel, the axle is provided with a smooth surface and a self-lubricating bearing is provided as a part of a hub on the axle. The axle is provided with a boss for preventing the independently rotating wheel from migrating laterally out of proper alignment. A bearing is located between this boss and the side of the wheel. A removable retainer plate is located on the other side of the independently rotating wheel. Adjacent the removable retainer plate is an electrical contactor. The bearings can be comprised of a lubricant coating permanently bonded to the bearing surface of the hub. Latch elements are pivotally secured to the other wheel and engagable with locking elements operatively secured to the axle. A second wheelset has an independently rotatable wheel locked to the axle automatically in one direction.

Abstract: A modified railroad wheel and axle assembly used to replace conventional railroad wheel and axle assemblies whereupon one end of a railroad axle assembly is machined to receive a modified railroad wheel assembly thereon. The other end of the railroad axle assembly has a conventional railroad wheel member press fit thereon in a non-rotatable condition. The invention is operable to allow one of two spaced railroad wheel members on a railroad axle assembly to be slip rotatable thereon to reduce wear and tear on a railroad wheel member and the railroad rail members on which the railroad wheel member is tracking.

Abstract: A wheel set for railway vehicles, especially high speed railway vehicles in which hollow shaft sections on a shaft are connected by an elastic coupling for limited relative angular displacement of the wheels. The elastic coupling is of the deformable elastomeric, viscoelastic or hydraulic type.

Abstract: Differential mounting for railroad wheels includes an axle with a wheel fitted on one end to rotate with the axle and a second wheel carried adjacent the opposite end of the axle and mounted to rotate relative to the axle. The axle has a raised wheel seat with an axial length approximately the same as the hub of the second wheel which is generally rectangular in cross-section. Fillets define the inboard and outboard ends of the raised wheel seat and a steel sleeve is fitted over the raised wheel seat and includes an annular flange portion shaped to engage the outboard axle fillet. A collar carried within the sleeve engages the inboard fillet. Pressure plates are disposed on the inboard and outboard ends of the sleeve and include opposed stainless steel thrust bearing surfaces contiguous to the annular side faces of the wheel hub which are surfaced with a TEFLON composite, bearing material bonded thereto.