Amsted Industries Inc.

Asf-keystone, Inc.

Keystone Industries, Inc.

John F Deppen

Horst T Kaufhold

V Terrey Hawthorne

Jay P Monaco

John J Steffen

Julius I Pershwitz

Ronald E Barker

Marlin E Clark

Charles E Burkhart

John F Oesch

Steve A Brough

Andrew G Kurtyak

Paul A Limbach

A common E/F type draft sill is provided that accommodates either Type E or Type F draft gear components, including rotary coupler applications. The draft sill is preferably cast, but may also be fabricated. The common E/F draft sill is provided with a fixed, integral spring basket of a Type F draft sill to accommodate and house standard spring-biased spring basket support systems and accommodate standard Type F draft gear. Standard vertical connection of Type F draft gear is provided. The common draft sill is also provided with the horizontal keyslot of a Type E draft sill to also accommodate attachment of Type E draft gear. A drop-in E coupler support is also available that replaces the 'spring basket' support system used with Type F draft gear so as to allow proper support of Type E draft gear. Additional standardization and reduction of specialized castings can be achieved by incorporating both body bolster pads and body bolster wings on the common draft sill. Further standardization can be realized by providing a standardized machined end sill pad that accommodates a plurality of different design specifications for application with a plurality of different railcar specifications. Even further standardization can be realized by having flange hole patterns that accept multiple types of draft gear applications. Additional standardization can be achieved by having a standardized center sill facing end and a series of 'plug-n-receiver' combinations in which an application-specific &#x201c;plug&#x201d; is provided that may be welded on the center sill facing end of the common draft sill to adapt it to a particular configuration.

Common cast draft sill for type E and F draft gear

A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position. The yoke and coupler also have a full draft position. The draft stroke of the coupler and yoke is 1&frac14; inches forward. The buff stroke of the coupler and coupler follower is at least 4&frac14; inches rearward, while the buff stroke of the yoke is 3 inches rearward. The center rod is free from compression throughout buff movement and free from tension throughout draft movement of the coupler and yoke.

Railcar draft gear assembly and system

A double acting center-of-car cushioning device mounted in the sliding sill of a rail car includes two pistons and rods, two pressure cylinders and mirror image sets of flow orifices in the pressure cylinders. The piston rods extend out from ends of the pressure cylinders and engage a fixed sill of the rail car. Movement of the pistons within the pressure cylinders forces fluid through the flow orifices resulting in efficient dampening.

Double acting center-of-car cushioning device

Growing community of inventors

New Cumberland, PA, United States of America

John F Deppen