Amsted Industries Inc.

Ronald E Barker

Horst T Kaufhold

V Terrey Hawthorne

Jay P Monaco

John J Steffen

Julius I Pershwitz

John F Deppen

Marlin E Clark

Charles E Burkhart

A Kenneth Wilson

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 valve including a cast or nodular iron body and a cast or nodular iron valve member having sealing surfaces which seal the fluid passage in the closed position of the valve member. At least one of the sealing surfaces in the closed position is formed by a bonded powder metal layer having high wear and corrosion resistant properties.

Valve with improved sealing structure

Growing community of inventors

Somonauk, IL, United States of America

Ronald E Barker