Pennsy Corporation

Advanced Truck Systems Corp.

Manuel Tavares

Zachary Ryan Brook

Michael James Schmidt

Wayne H Murphy

Aaron Stern

Perry Levitt

John Rudibaugh

Jeffrey Houtmann

Rail car side screen protector

A knuckle pin, coupling system, and method for producing a knuckle pin are provided, the knuckle pin having a cylindrical body with a longitudinal slot therein separating vertical edges of the cylindrical body, with one or more first retaining elements that span outward of the cylindrical body, and a second retainer that includes one or more of opposing apertures, and bendable legs. A method for producing the knuckle pin is provided, where a blank is stamped into a workpiece that corresponds to the pin to be produced, and the stamped workpiece is rolled to produce the pin with the slot.

Knuckle pin

A steering mechanism for a rail vehicle includes two steering arms, each including a pair of support arms that have a joining component with a recess. The two steering arms are articulated in a manner that maintains a minimum separation between the steering arms so that the arms can rotate relative to one another. The minimum separation is maintained by an insert that installs into the joining component recesses components of each of the steering arms. The insert has two sides, each side having a flexible material and forming a shape that mates with the recess. The insert provides resistance to the rotation between the first and second steering arms, and the resistance depends on the stiffness of the flexible material of the insert.

Railway car truck system

The sideframe and bolster of a railway car truck are constructed such that basic overall sideframe and bolster appearance is maintained, but the actual material it is constructed of is changed. The material used is changed from cast steel to an austempered metal, such as, cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3. This immediately allows for a reduction in weight. A second benefit is that iron is easier to pour than steel and actually increases in volume, slightly, as metal cools compared to steel which shrinks. Efficient use of materials is improved, meaning less metal is used to make the same final shape, as a way of reducing the sideframe and bolster weight. Both factures combined allow for a lighter weight railway car truck, sideframe and bolster, while utilizing standard designs.

Lightweight fatigue resistant railcar truck, sideframe and bolster

The coupler system of a railway car truck is constructed such that basic overall appearance may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to one embodiment, the coupler is constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal coupler and components thereof. A second benefit of embodiments of the present invention provides for a more efficient use of materials, meaning less metal is used to make the same final shape, as a way of reducing the coupler weight. Both factures combined allow for a lighter weight coupler, while utilizing the standard designs. Alternate coupler configurations are disclosed for further reducing coupler weight.

Lightweight coupler

Lightweight yokes are provided. According to some embodiments, the basic overall appearance of the yoke may be maintained, but the actual material of which it is constructed is changed. According to other embodiments, the yoke is provided with an improved lightweight construction, and, yet other embodiments the yoke may be provided with an improved construction and formed from a preferred material. Yokes may be constructed from cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in{circumflex over (&#x2003;)}3, thereby allowing for a reduction in weight over steel. A suitable austempering process is used to produce the austempered metal yoke. Yokes have improved configurations which may require less metal to produce the yoke. Both, the lightweight material and improvements in configuration of the yoke structure may combine to provide a lighter weight yoke.

Lightweight yoke for railway coupling

A coupler having a support provided through the body of the coupler and a plurality of openings in the coupler which are configured as open cavities. The coupler structure includes a shank that has a vertical support as well as lateral support. The coupler may be configured with a double I-beam structure with openings into the shank. Cores that may be fixed to the mold may be used to form the coupler and produce the openings in the shank.

Coupler for a railway vehicle, cores and method for production

An improved method of production of a coupler knuckle, a core assembly for production of a coupler knuckle, and coupler knuckle having an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission. The knuckle interior has a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section thereof.

Coupler knuckle, cores and method of production

A process for producing a coupler knuckle and an improved coupler knuckle design are provided. The process produces a coupler knuckle by constructing a mold having the shape of the coupler knuckle. The mold is coated with a material that is resistant to melting at the molten melt temperatures of the molten metal used to form the knuckle. With the mold coated, the cavities in the mold interior are filled by placing an inert material therein. The molten metal used for forming the knuckle contacts the mold and consumes it, while the coating serves to provide a shape for the knuckle.

Process for producing a coupler knuckle and improved coupler knuckle

A process for forming a cross-linked thermoplastic elastomer is disclosed herein. The cross-linked thermoplastic elastomer is a thermoplastic cross-linked copolyester and is preferably formed by heating a first mixture containing a thermoplastic elastomeric base material, a monomeric diisocyanate comprising between 1 to 10% of the total weight of the first mixture, and a second mixture of a first diamine and a second diamine comprising between 1 to 10% of the total weight of a total reaction product. The heated first mixture, which is flowable, is injected into at least one injection molding device, with the second mixture injected at predetermined intervals to create a homogeneous reaction product. The reaction product may be injected into a mold to produce articles.

Cross-linked thermoplastic co-polyester elastomer, method of making same, and articles composed thereof

The sideframe and bolster of a railway car truck are constructed such that basic overall sideframe and bolster appearance is maintained, but the actual material it is constructed of is changed. The material used is changed from cast steel to an austempered metal, such as, cast austempered ductile iron; whereas cast iron has a density, 0.26 lbs/in^3, which is approximately 8% less than steel, 0.283 lbs/in^3. This immediately allows for a reduction in weight. A second benefit is that iron is easier to pour than steel and actually increases in volume, slightly, as metal cools compared to steel which shrinks. Efficient use of materials is improved, meaning less metal is used to make the same final shape, as a way of reducing the sideframe and bolster weight. Both factures combined allow for a lighter weight railway car truck, sideframe and bolster, while utilizing standard designs.

An improved coupler knuckle with an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission the interior having a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section of the coupler knuckle.

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Doylestown, PA, United States of America

Manuel Tavares