| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 213075000 | COUPLINGS | 75 |
| 20080223806 | SWIVEL FITTING - A brake hose support according to the invention comprises: a bracket fixedly attached to the yoke of the coupling apparatus of a rail car and a swivel fitting attached to the bracket which is rotatable around a pivot center. The swivel fitting can be rotated so that the angle of the end hose opening with respect to the angle cock is adjustable. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080264891 | Automatically foldable coupler - The present invention relates to a central buffer coupling ( | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080277366 | Automatic central buffer coupling - The invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling having a coupling head, a coupling rod and a shock absorber including a destructively-configured force-absorbing member in the form of a deformable tube. The invention provides additional functionality of extendability and retractability to the coupling rod, the and for the central buffer coupling to include a controllable linear drive for the axial displacement of the coupling rod relative the fixing plate and for the bearing block to include a first bearing block component against which adjoins the coupling head-side end of the deformable tube, and a second bearing block component to which the vehicle-side end of the coupling rod is articulated, whereby the second bearing block component is axially displaceable relative the first bearing block component by means of the linear drive. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090050594 | INSERT FOR RAIL CAR COUPLING - A shell-like insert made from a low-friction material is useful in a coupler for railway cars. The coupler may have a male connector on one car and a female connector on the other. The connectors conform to each other and provide a clearance space therebetween. The male connector may include a ball stud and the female connector may provide a socket for the ball. The insert conforms to the clearance space and is made from a low-friction material, such as PTFE, a filament wound composite or an epoxy-impregnated PTFE and glass-fiber material, or the like. A railway car assembly may include two cars joined by a coupler as described herein. The cars may be joined by providing a rear follower and a front follower in the female connector to provide the socket, and positioning an insert in the socket between the ball and one or both followers. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090101615 | Articulated Joint Coupling - An articulated joint coupling ( | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090289024 | RAILWAY COUPLER CORE STRUCTURE FOR INCREASED STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIFE OF RESULTING KNUCKLE - A finger core for forming the front part of a knuckle for a railcar, said finger core comprising a single opening to form a single rib at the horizontal center line of the resulting knuckle. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090294396 | CENTRAL DATUM FEATURE ON RAILROAD COUPLER BODY AND CORRESPONDING GAUGES - A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090308830 | KNUCKLE PIN FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE COUPLER - A knuckle pin retainer for a railroad car coupler adapted for disposition in an aperture formed by a knuckle coupler assembly for connecting adjacent railroad car. The pin retainer includes a pivot pin with a retaining member installed within the pivot pin. The retaining member extends diametrically from a slot in the elongate shaft and is spring-loaded and rotatable within a slot in the shaft. A spring member is disposed within the slot between a back wall of the slot and the retaining member. The spring member is biased to expose the retaining member outside of the slot. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100270254 | METHOD FOR LIMITING THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF CAR BODIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER - A method for limiting the angle between the longitudinal axes of car bodies of a multi-part rail vehicle connected to each other via a joint, wherein each car body is supported on only one bogie. The angle is actively influenced by an electrically controlled activation member connected to the joint, until the angle assumes a setpoint value. The setpoint value is determined from the pivot angles (relative angles) of the bogies relative to the associated car bodies. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110174755 | MIDDLE BUFFER COUPLING FOR RAIL-BOUND VEHICLES - What is described is a middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles, comprising two coupling halves ( | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110226718 | HOLDING DEVICE FOR COUPLER ADAPTER USED IN RAILCAR - A holding device holds a coupler adapter which is connectable to a coupler of a railcar. The holding device includes: a holding frame configured to detachably hold the coupler adapter; a holding frame supporting portion provided at a carbody end portion of the railcar to support the holding frame; a fixing member configured to fix the coupler adapter and the holding frame to the holding frame supporting portion; and a lifting and lowering portion connected to the holding frame to lift and lower the holding frame and the coupler adapter. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110240585 | COUPLING UNIT - A coupling unit for a semi-permanent connection of two wagons of a rail vehicle, which has a first housing and a second housing, which is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the first housing. A bearing outer ring with a hollow spherical inner bearing surface is fastened to the second housing and is guided in sliding fashion on a bearing inner ring with a spherical outer surface. The bearing inner ring is seated with an inner bore on a shaft fastened to the first housing. The shaft has, on a first end, one or two flattened portions and, on a second end, one or two second flattened portions. At least one clamping piece is provided which bears against one of the flattened portions and an opening region in the first housing, thereby preventing the shaft from rotating. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110253663 | SEMI-PERMANENT VEHICLE COUPLER FOR LIGHT RAIL - The present invention relates to a semi-permanent vehicle coupler for a light rail, which comprises a buffer end and a buffer-free end. The buffer end comprises a buffer, a joint bearing connected with the buffer and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer-free end comprises a left pull ring, a joint bearing connected with the left pull ring and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer is a double-acting buffer and comprises a shell, a left end cover, a right pull ring, elastic bodies, a central shaft and a middle partition plate, wherein the central shaft passes through the centers of the left end cover and the right pull ring and is glidingly contacted with the left end cover and the right pull ring, one end of the central shaft extends out of the left end cover, the middle partition plate is fixedly arranged on the central shaft and divides the inner part of the shell into two elastic body accommodating cavities, and the elastic bodies are positioned in the two elastic body accommodating cavities; and the other end of the left pull ring is provided with a lug boss, one end of the central shaft extending out of the left end cover is also provided with a lug boss, and the two lug bosses are connected through a connecting ring. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20130082021 | CASTING PROCESS FOR RAILCAR COUPLER THROWERS - A method for casting a thrower for a railcar coupler includes creating a mold box that is vertically parted in halves, each half defining a side of a thrower cavity and that includes at least a portion of a sprue at a location above the thrower cavity, the thrower cavity also being oriented vertically; pouring molten metal into the mold box through the sprue and into the thrower cavity while the mold is oriented vertically; and shaking out the mold box to release the thrower after the thrower has cooled. Creating the mold box may be executed through a cold shell process. The halves of the mold box may include reflective images of the sides of two thrower cavities and an ingate connected between the sprue and one of the two thrower cavities. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130213921 | CENTRAL DATUM FEATURE ON RAILROAD COUPLER BODY AND CORRESPONDING GAUGES - A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130313214 | APPLICATION OF WEAR PLATE TO ARTICULATED CONNECTOR LOAD BEARING BOTTOM SURFACE - A method for reconditioning a railcar connector is provided. The method comprises machining a portion of a casting to create a wear plate application surface, positioning a wear plate on the wear plate application surface, and welding the wear plate to the wear plate application surface. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20140284297 | Automated Coupler Positioning Device - A coupler for a railway car including a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane, and a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor. The coupler positioning device includes a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie relating to an angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car, and at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism. The controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20150321679 | COUPLER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF A COUPLER WITH SELECTABLE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS - A process for producing a coupler and an improved coupler are provided. The process produces a coupler by constructing a mold that is a replica of the coupler and is constructed from a plurality of mold components that are selected and assembled to form a mold having the shape of the coupler. The mold components may include a front mold component section that forms the head of the coupler, a rear mold component section that forms the shank of the coupler, and, optionally one or more shelf components forming a shelf of the coupler. The front, rear and shank mold components may themselves be made from a plurality of mold components that are assembled together. The mold is formed from a consumable material, coating with a heat resistant material so that the assembled mold components are within a mold volume, and molten metal is added to the mold volume. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20160137212 | RAILCAR ENERGY ABSORPTION/COUPLING SYSTEM - A railcar energy absorption/coupling system including a cushioning assembly arranged in operable combination with a coupler and a yoke. The cushioning assembly is positioned in a draft pocket defined by a draft sill on a railcar between the front and rear stops. The yoke consists of a back wall along with top and bottom walls which are joined to and axially extending from the back wall toward a forward end of the cushioning assembly. The back wall of the yoke is disposed to contact the rear end of the cushioning assembly. The top and bottom walls of the yoke are operably coupled to a shank portion of the coupler toward a forward end of the yoke. The top and bottom walls of the yoke each include stop members which extend in opposed lateral directions from each other and limit draft travel while maximizing buff travel and limit total combined travel of the energy absorption/coupling system. The energy absorption/coupling system has a neutral position, a full buff position disposed a first predetermined distance from the neutral position, and a full draft position disposed a second predetermined distance from the neutral position, with the full buff and full draft positions for the energy absorption coupling system being disposed in opposite directions from the neutral position. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20090014402 | Electro-mechanical coupler for use with model trains - A coupler for use with model trains. The coupler includes a body member; a knuckle pivotally mounted on the body member, where the knuckle is in either an open state or a closed state; a locking pin disposed on the body member, where the locking pin is operable for maintaining the knuckle in the closed state when the locking pin is in a first position, and for allowing the knuckle to transition to the open state when the locking pin is in a second position; and an actuator wire coupled to the body member and the locking pin. In operation, the actuator wire contracts in length when an electrical signal is supplied thereto such that the locking pin is transitioned to the second position when said electrical signal is supplied to the actuator wire. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090114614 | Remote-Controlled Model Railway Vehicle Coupling Device - An improved remote-controlled model railway vehicle coupling device comprising a coupler configured with a channeled shaft having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end forming an aperture designated for pivotably mounting within a housing, the distal end forming a head designated for limiting the pivotable displacement of a knuckle; the knuckle operable to pivot between a closed and an open position. An electronically automated locking assembly is substantially carried within the shaft of the coupler. The locking assembly includes a thermo-mechanical actuator capable of using an electric current to provide thermal energy to transpose between a martensite phase length and a shorter austenite phase length; where the martensite and austenite phase lengths of the thermo-mechanical actuator respectively define a first and a second length of the locking assembly. The locking assembly further includes a bias-spring operable to both encourage the thermo-mechanical actuator towards its martensite phase length and urge the distal end of the locking assembly towards the knuckle for substantial engagement with the proximal end of the knuckle to lock it in its closed position, accordingly. The first length of the locking assembly is operable to substantially engage the knuckle in its closed position, while, when activated, the second length is suitable to disengage the knuckle to permit the knuckle to freely pivot towards it open position. A spring is provided along the knuckle; the spring operable to urge the knuckle towards its open position when the locking assembly is disengaged. The coupler comprises two interconnected elements defining a bottom member and a top member cooperating to receive the locking assembly therein. The bottom and top members are configured to permit a suitable portion of the locking assembly to project therethrough to contact a pair of wipers; the wipers, configured to both slidably contact the locking assembly and project from the housing, are operable to communicate an electric current between a conventional power source designated for energizing the track of a model railroad layout, a conventional electronic command device carried aboard the scale model railroad vehicle provided for administering the electric current, and the locking assembly. A housing, comprising a partial housing and a cover cooperating as securely interconnected elements, is provided to both pivotably receive the coupler for mounting along the end of the scale model railroad vehicle and receive the wipers along its interior such that they are suitably disposed for contacting the locking assembly. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090272711 | DEVICE TO IDENTIFY VEHICLES OF A MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN SET BY MEANS OF REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE COUPLING PAIRS - In order to create a system in the case of a model railway train which is composed of locomotives and wagons via remotely controllable coupling pairs by means of which, for remote control capability purposes, the sequence of the individual vehicles in the train as well as the location of a wagon in front of or behind a driving locomotive can be identified automatically, the invention proposes that a decoder be arranged in all the vehicles in the train, that these be connected to one another by a data bus, and that the capability be provided to subdivide the latter into two group areas, specifically into a group which is located in front of and a group which is located behind the locomotive, with the coupling pairs for pulling even long trains being stable, and being composed of an active coupling part and a corresponding mating coupling, each having a train hook in the form of a two-armed rocker lever. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20110036800 | AUTOMATIC COUPLER FOR MODEL RAILROAD CAR - In an automatic coupler for a model railroad car, a coupler body includes a knuckle coupler member formed of a coupler trunk having a knuckle portion and an engagement portion, and a receiving coupler member formed of a coupler trunk having a receiving portion and an engagement portion. A holder includes a lower holder member having a holder plate, a holder shaft projecting from the holder plate and adapted to engage with the engagement portions, and a spring portion adapted to surround the engagement portions. The holder plate, holder shaft, and the spring portion are integrally formed, and an upper holder member is adapted to be fixed to the lower holder member with the coupler body interposed between. The coupler body and the holder have a guide mechanism that allows the coupler body to follow a curve when the car travels on the curve. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110253664 | Model train coupler with linear actuator - A model train coupler which can be opened using a remote signal. The coupler design includes an upper arm and a lower arm, both of which pivot around a common axis. The two arms are mounted in a coupler box which is attached to a piece of rolling stock. One of the arms includes a knuckle located outside the coupler box. The other arm includes a latch positioned to open and close against the knuckle. A linear actuator links the two arms together. When an electrical current is applied to the linear actuator, the latch is rotated away from the knuckle, thereby opening the coupler. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20130256254 | MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER - A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130284689 | TOY CAR CONNECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A toy train car including a coupler or hitch. The coupler includes a first connector (e.g., socket) configured to be connected to the train car and a second connector (e.g., ball) configured to be connected to the train car. The first connector can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. The second connector also can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. Each train car can include a first connector and a second connector. The first and second connectors are configured to couple together to link a plurality of train cars together. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140001141 | SELF-CONTAINED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140202974 | MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER - A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position. | 07-24-2014 |
| 213076000 | Combined car and air train line | 2 |
| 20140251937 | COUPLER HEAD WITH COUPLER HOUSE MADE OF SHEET METAL - Coupler head includes a coupler house for containing components included in a mechanical coupling and for supporting a front plate. The coupler house has two separate elongate shell-shaped house parts, which in mutually opposite and open long sides are individually joined to the outside of a beam running centrally in the coupler head and in a rear end is adapted to be coupled to a drawbar and in a front end adapted for bearing a main shaft included in the coupling, the parts being joined to the outside of the beam by welding seams running in the beam's longitudinal direction, whereby tractive forces are transferred from the coupling to the drawbar via the beam without loading the parts and seams, while thrust forces are transferred from the plate to the beam and the drawbar via the parts and seams without loading the coupling, its main shaft and the latter's bearing. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140263146 | Assembly for Extendable Rail-Supported Vehicle Coupler - A railcar coupler assembly allowing rotation of a coupler between a stored position within the railcar and an extended position for engagement with the coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler can be locked into either the stored or extended position with a locking pin. A corresponding rotatable brake pipe is also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
| 213077000 | Counterpart | 38 |
| 20130299441 | OVER-CENTER SPRING COUPLER - A mating cam coupler device includes a coupler head having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion. A male cam is associated with the first lateral portion. A male cam locking mechanism is disposed within the first lateral portion and is operably connected with the male cam. A female cam is associated with the second lateral portion. A female cam locking mechanism is disposed within the second lateral portion and is operably connected with the female cam. The male cam is positioned to engage the female cam of an opposing coupler and the female cam is positioned to engage the male cam of the opposing coupler and operation of the male cam locking mechanism is triggered by engagement of the male cam with the opposing female cam and operation of the female cam locking mechanism is triggered by engagement of the female cam with the opposing male cam. | 11-14-2013 |
| 213078000 | Link or bar type | 2 |
| 213088000 | Hook and catch | 1 |
| 213089000 | Pivoted hooks | 1 |
| 213090000 | Horizontally swinging | 1 |
| 20130146558 | MECHANICAL COUPLING IN A DRAFTGEAR - A mechanical coupling, particularly in a draftgear in rail vehicles, includes a central plate ( | 06-13-2013 |
| 213098000 | Pin and link | 1 |
| 20150290750 | Application of Wear Plate to Articulated Connector Load Bearing Bottom Surface - A method for reconditioning a railcar connector is provided. The method comprises machining a portion of a casting to create a wear plate application surface, positioning a plate on the wear plate application surface, and welding the wear plate to the wear plate application surface. | 10-15-2015 |
| 213100000 | Interengaging hooks and knuckles | 35 |
| 20100326943 | Railcar Coupler System and Method - A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The guard arm portion comprises a minimum height less than a height of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110163059 | Railcar Coupler System and Method - A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110168655 | USE OF NO-BAKE MOLD PROCESS TO MANUFACTURE RAILROAD COUPLERS - A railroad coupler assembly having at least a body and a knuckle both formed in a no-bake manufacturing process, the body and the knuckle having dimensional tolerances of distances between features that wear during operation that are about half those obtained from a body and a knuckle manufactured by a green sand process, resulting in increased fatigue life compared to the body and the knuckle manufactured by a green sand process. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20160016595 | USE OF NO-BAKE MOLD PROCESS TO MANUFACTURE RAILROAD COUPLERS - A railroad coupler assembly having at least a body and a knuckle both formed in a no-bake manufacturing process, the body and the knuckle having dimensional tolerances of distances between features that wear during operation that are about half those obtained from a body and a knuckle manufactured by a green sand process, resulting in increased fatigue life compared to the body and the knuckle manufactured by a green sand process. | 01-21-2016 |
| 213104000 | Horizontally swinging | 31 |
| 213109000 | Janney type | 31 |
| 213139000 | Gravity locks | 1 |
| 213145000 | Vertically sliding | 1 |
| 213148000 | With anticreep | 1 |
| 20110073555 | Coupler and Anti-Creep Mechanism For The Same - An anti-creep mechanism for coupler includes a lower lockpin rod, a coupler shank and a rotation shaft. The rotation shaft is disposed in an elongate mounting hole of the lower lockpin rod and a circular mounting hole of the coupler shank so that the lower lockpin rod and the coupler shank are hinged together. A boss is axially disposed on an upper surface of the rotation shaft, and a groove is axially provided in a wall of the mounting hole of the coupler shank above the rotation shaft to receive the boss of the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft is axially movable relative to the lower lockpin rod and the coupler shank and has two operating positions. When the rotation shaft is moved to the first operating position, an inner end portion of the boss is positioned in the elongate mounting hole of the lower lockpin rod, and a top wall of this elongate mounting hole abuts against the boss. If this lower lockpin rod is rotated in a coupler unlocking direction, the anti-creep bulge of the lower lockpin rod abuts against the anti-creep surface of the coupler shank. When the rotation shaft is moved to the second operating position, the boss is positioned in the groove of the mounting hole of the coupler shank, and the top wall of this elongate mounting hole abuts against an outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft. The anti-creep mechanism for coupler of the present invention has a reliable dual anti-unlocking performance for coupler. Besides, the present invention further discloses a coupler. | 03-31-2011 |
| 213151000 | Contour | 3 |
| 20090289021 | RAILCAR COUPLER LOCK WITH INCREASED CHAMFER ON THE KNUCKLE SHELF SEAT - An improved lock for a railroad coupler, said improvement comprising an increased chamfer on a knuckle shelf seat. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090289022 | RAILWAY COUPLER BODY IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE KNUCKLE ROTATION - An improved coupler body having an area of increased material in the upper lock chamber. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20120312768 | RAILCAR COUPLER LOCK WITH CHAMFER ON THE KNUCKLE SHELF SEAT - An improved lock for a railroad coupler, said improvement comprising a chamfer on a knuckle shelf seat. | 12-13-2012 |
| 213152000 | Knuckle and head interengagement | 1 |
| 20130206716 | COUPLER - A coupler for a rail wagon includes a coupler body. The body includes a shank and a head located at an end of the shank. A coupler latch member is mounted to an end of the head. The latch member includes a protruding portion for receipt in a recess of the head. The protruding portion includes at least two adjacent projecting lugs, and the recess includes at least two corresponding adjacent shoulders behind which each lug is located when the latch member protruding portion is received in the head recess. | 08-15-2013 |
| 213155000 | Knuckle and knuckle pins | 25 |
| 20090065463 | Plastic knuckle pin lock - The KNUCKLE PIN LOCK is designed to fit an American Association of Railroads articulated locklift assembly's connector and up the bottom part of the attached toggle to a point where it would contact the bottom of the lock of the rail car knuckle. When the knuckle is in the closed or locked position, the knuckle pin lock when applied, would make opening the knuckle to separate a rail car from another rail car impossible. The Knuckle Pin Lock blocks the accidental or malicious disconnection of rail cars by blocking the ability of anyone or anything pulling up on the operating lever to open the knuckle. This mechanism can be made from plastic, metal, wood or any other rigid material. The thickness of the material depends on the type of material used. For instance, a plastic unit would be approx. 1/8″ thick. The larger “key” shaped holes are where fastening devices such as multi-purpose zip-ties would be threaded through and around the toggle and tightened. This secures the Knuckle Pin Lock to the locklift assembly. The smaller holes allow the device to be removed easily by breaking the plastic unit off when no longer needed on the rail car. When the unit is made from metal, the holes make it lighter and easier to handle. In this design, a more permanent fastening device such as a chain may be used. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090289023 | KNUCKLE FORMED FROM PIVOT PIN AND KIDNEY CORE AND ISOLATED FINGER CORE - A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a knuckle mold cavity; positioning a first internal core within either the cope mold or the drag mold portions, the first internal core configured to define a kidney cavity and a pivot pin hub as a single void within the knuckle; positioning a second internal core within either the cope mold portion and the drag mold portion, the second internal core configured to define a finger cavity; closing the cope and drag mold portions with the two internal cores therebetween; and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the knuckle, wherein the first internal core defines the kidney cavity and the pivot pin hub of the coupler knuckle, and wherein the second internal core defines the finger cavity of the knuckle. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090294395 | KNUCKLE FORMED WITHOUT A FINGER CORE - A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity includes a finger section; positioning at least one internal core within either the cope mold portion or the drag mold portion, the at least one internal core configured to define a kidney cavity and a pivot pin cavity within a coupler knuckle; closing the cope and drag mold portions with the single core therebetween; and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle, wherein the at least one core defines the kidney and pivot pin cavities, and the finger section of the mold cavity defines at least one finger cavity of the coupler knuckle. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20110068077 | KNUCKLE FOR A RAILWAY CAR COUPLER - A knuckle for a railway coupler system is made without internal voids or cores. Instead, external pockets are formed on the front face and tail portion surface to reduce weight. The knuckle is formed by investment casting, which permits a pulling face to be provided without a draft angle or parting line typical of a cast part. As a result of these innovations, the knuckle according to the invention has an improved fatigue life. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110266242 | Coupler Knuckle System and Method - A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a first mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a first coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes providing a second mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a second coupler knuckle mold cavity. The second coupler mold cavity of the second mold section is offset from the first coupler mold cavity of the first mold section. The method includes closing the first and second mold sections and at least partially filling the first and second coupler knuckle mold cavities with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20120000877 | Knuckle Formed Through The Use Of Improved External and Internal Sand Cores and Method of Manufacture - A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle, said method includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion. The cope and drag mold portions have internal walls that define at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity. At least one chill core is positioned within one of the cope mold portion and the drag mold portion. The cope and drag mold portions are closed, with the at least one core therebetween, and the closed cope and drag mold portions and the chill core define a parting line. The mold cavity is filled with a molten metal, which solidifies after filling to form a casting. The casting includes a pulling face portion defined by the chill core, and a central section of the pulling face portion does not contain the parting line and requires no finish grinding upon its formation. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120037586 | Railway coupler knuckle - Railway coupler knuckle apparatus are described herein. An example railway coupler knuckle includes a tail portion, a hub portion and a transition portion joining the tail portion and the hub portion. The hub portion includes a generally cylindrical pivot pin passage having a longitudinal axis. The railway coupler knuckle has a cavity formed inside the tail portion and at least a portion of the transition portion and a first wall extends between surfaces of the cavity adjacent the transition portion. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120217217 | KNUCKLE FORMED WITHOUT A FINGER CORE - A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity includes a finger section; positioning at least one internal core within either the cope mold portion or the drag mold portion, the at least one internal core configured to define a kidney cavity and a pivot pin cavity within a coupler knuckle; closing the cope and drag mold portions with the single core therebetween; and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle, wherein the at least one core defines the kidney and pivot pin cavities, and the finger section of the mold cavity defines at least one finger cavity of the coupler knuckle. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120228256 | KNUCKLE FORMED FROM PIVOT PIN AND KIDNEY CORE AND ISOLATED FINGER CORE - A railroad coupler knuckle includes a single, solid rib at a horizontal centerline of the knuckle that passes through a pivot pin hub thereof. The single, solid rib extends generally from a flag hole of a finger cavity of the knuckle to an opposite side of the knuckle from the flag hole. In another aspect, a railcar coupler knuckle includes a tail section, a hub section, and a nose section. The tail, hub, and nose sections define internal cavities including (i) a combined void that defines a pivot pin hub cavity and a kidney cavity and (ii) an isolated finger cavity. The combined void is formed using a first internal core during manufacturing of the coupler knuckle. The isolated finger cavity is formed using a second internal core during manufacturing of the coupler knuckle, such that molten alloy substantially separates the combined void and the isolated finger cavity. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120292280 | RAILCAR COUPLER KNUCKLE CORES WITH REAR CORE SUPPORT - A core assembly for creating interior spaces in a railcar coupler knuckle is designed to be set in a cavity with cope and drag sections. The cavity is shaped to form a railcar coupler knuckle and includes a first wall that forms the substantially vertical outside wall of the tail of the knuckle. The core includes a kidney section with a rear core support section that extends at least 0.5″ outside the first wall of the cavity when the core is set in the drag. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120292281 | RAILCAR COUPLER CORE WITH VERTICAL PARTING LINE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A method of casting a core includes the steps of preparing a first half of a corebox, preparing a second half of a corebox such that the parting line of a core formed from the first and second coreboxes runs along the vertical axis of the core. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120292282 | RAILCAR COUPLER KNUCKLE CORES AND KNUCKLES PRODUCED BY SAID CORES - A core assembly for forming the interior spaces of a railcar coupler knuckle has a first transition section between the C-10 portion of the core and the finger portion of the core. The first transition section has a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side and the first and second sides form the vertical axis of the first transition section and the third and fourth sides form the horizontal axis of said first transition section. The vertical axis of the first transition section has a height along a horizontal plane of the vertical axis of at least 2.5″ and the horizontal axis of said first transition section has a width along a vertical plane of the horizontal axis of at least 0.925″. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130277325 | KNUCKLE PIN FOR RAILWAY CAR COUPLER - An improved knuckle pin for use in a railway car coupling is illustrated and described. In one example, the pin comprises a shank extending along a longitudinal axis and having a first end. A head is positioned on the first end of the shank, and includes an abutment surface and a top surface opposite the abutment surface. At least one lug extends from the top surface of the head along the longitudinal axis to provide a point of engagement for a hand or hand tool to allow rotation of the pin about the longitudinal axis. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20140110368 | COUPLER KNUCKLE PIN - An improved polymeric knuckle pin with at least one indented area that elastomer rings rest in. The indented area is strategically placed in an area on the shaft of the pin where the coupler-knuckle connection exerts impact, force, and stress on the pin. The elastomer rings in the indented area provide cushion to the pin from the impact, force, and stress, allow the pin to avoid hard contact with the coupler and knuckle, distribute the loads exerted by the coupler and knuckle more evenly, realign the coupler and knuckle positions, and protect the pin itself from surface cuts and scratches. The elastomer rings on the shaft of the pin improve the life of both the coupler-knuckle assembly and the pin. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140116976 | COUPLER KNUCKLE - An improved coupler-knuckle assembly is comprised of a coupler body, a knuckle, and at least two knuckle retainer plugs. The knuckle has an internal coring geometry that increases the cross-sectional area of the throat portion of the knuckle compared to previous designs. The present invention's knuckle design includes a top and a bottom tapered holes in the knuckle with a locking groove at the bottom of each tapered hole for the knuckle retainer plugs to snap into. The knuckle retainer plugs are inserted through the coupler body and into the tapered holes in the knuckle. The improved coupler-knuckle assembly of the present invention reduces fatigue on the coupler, knuckle, and knuckle pin, prevents misalignment of the coupler-knuckle assembly, and prevents knuckle pin breakage. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140209554 | RAILCAR COUPLER KNUCKLE CORES AND KNUCKLES PRODUCED BY SAID CORES - A knuckle may include a throat portion having a throat side wall with at least three sections, a first section closest to the knuckle tail, a third section closest to the knuckle pulling face, and a second section between said first and third sections. The wall thickness of said first section may be less than 10% different than the wall thickness of said second section. The throat portion may also include a tail stop side wall with at least three sections, a first section closest to the knuckle tail, a third section closest to the knuckle pulling face, and a second section between said first and third sections. The wall thickness of said first section may be less than 10% different than the wall thickness of said second section. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140217051 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A COUPLER KNUCKLE AND IMPROVED COUPLER KNUCKLE - 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. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140217052 | COUPLER KNUCKLE - 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. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140319092 | RAILCAR COUPLER CORE WITH VERTICAL PARTING LINE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - A method of casting a core includes the steps of preparing a first half of a corebox, preparing a second half of a corebox such that the parting line of a core formed from the first and second coreboxes runs along the vertical axis of the core. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140360963 | RAILWAY VEHICLE COUPLER - A railcar coupler having a head portion extending from a shank portion, the coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler has weight reduction features that also are configured to provide strength to the coupler when handling forceloads. The coupler may have a head with a front face with bores provided in the front face a cavity extending through the coupler, a guard arm with cavities formed therein, and a shank having a plurality of longitudinal cavities and adjacent ribs separating the cavities. Preferred embodiments may be constructed from an austempered metal. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150048044 | USE OF NO-BAKE MOLD PROCESS TO MANUFACTURE RAILROAD COUPLERS - A railroad coupler assembly having at least a body and a knuckle both formed in a no-bake manufacturing process, the body and the knuckle having dimensional tolerances of distances between features that wear during operation that are about half those obtained from a body and a knuckle manufactured by a green sand process, resulting in increased fatigue life compared to the body and the knuckle manufactured by a green sand process. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150114921 | FRONT INSTALLED SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAVING OVERLOAD PROTECTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION - Disclosed is a front installed suspension system having overload protection. The system comprises a mounting seat ( | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150321680 | KNUCKLE THROWER - A knuckle thrower for a railway coupler assembly, the thrower having a knuckle actuating leg, a leg lock seat, an upper pivot structure, a lower trunnion, and stress relief feature for relieving stresses imparted on the thrower, which, according to some embodiments may include a recess provided in the perimeter wall thereof, and one or more supporting ribs. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150375762 | Railway Car Coupler and Knuckle System and Method - A railway car coupler system includes a railcar coupler comprising a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a coupler pivot pin hole for receiving a pivot pin for coupling the railcar coupler to the first coupler knuckle. The pivot pin hole has a longitudinal axis. The coupler head portion comprises top and bottom coupler pulling lugs each having a respective coupler pulling lug engagement face. At least one of the coupler pulling lug engagement faces of the top and bottom coupler pulling lugs is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160031457 | Railcar Coupler Knuckle Cores and Knuckles Produced by Said Cores - A knuckle may include a throat portion having a throat side wall with at least three sections, a first section closest to the knuckle tail, a third section closest to the knuckle pulling face, and a second section between said first and third sections. The wall thickness of said first section may be less than 10% different than the wall thickness of said second section. The throat portion may also include a tail stop side wall with at least three sections, a first section closest to the knuckle tail, a third section closest to the knuckle pulling face, and a second section between said first and third sections. The wall thickness of said first section may be less than 10% different than the wall thickness of said second section. | 02-04-2016 |
| 213159000 | Uncoupling devices | 1 |
| 213166000 | Rotating horizontal shafts | 1 |
| 213170000 | Vertical link to lock | 1 |
| 20110049078 | Coupler Draft Gear, Double-Side Operating Coupler and Lower Lockpin Rotation Shaft Assembly - A lower lockpin rotation shaft assembly includes a lower lockpin rotation shaft body, an outer end portion thereof having a first coupler lifting bar hole, an intermediate portion thereof having a connecting key; and a lower lockpin rotation shaft bush, an outer end portion of the lower lockpin rotation shaft bush having a second coupler lifting bar hole, and an inner end portion of the lower lockpin rotation shaft bush being operatively connected to an inner end portion of the lower lockpin rotation shaft body. Further, the present invention further provides a double-side operating coupler and a coupler draft gear having the above lower lockpin rotation shaft assembly. The coupler draft gear further includes two coupler lifting bars and two coupler lifting bar seats. Each of the coupler lifting bars is inserted in a keyhole-shaped through hole of corresponding coupler lifting bar seat, and the coupler lifting bar has a restrained segment at a fitted portion of the coupler lifting bar with the coupler lifting bar seat. Coupler heads of the two coupler lifting bar are inserted through the keyhole-shaped through holes of the two coupler lifting bar seats and then coupled with the first coupler lifting bar hole and the second coupler lifting bar hole of the double-side operating coupler. There is a gap between the restrained segment of each coupler lifting bar and walls of the rectangular hole of the keyhole-shaped through hole. | 03-03-2011 |
| 213000000 | Link or bar type | 5 |
| 213178000 | Hook and link | 2 |
| 20160001797 | Top Operating H Tightlock Coupler - A system comprising a type H tightlock coupler comprising a channel and an inner chamber, the channel running from a top side of the type H tightlock coupler to the inner chamber, and an anti-creep shelf disposed on an interior surface of the inner chamber, a plug comprising a first surface operable to contact the anti-creep shelf, the plug configured to fit at least partially within the channel, a link comprising a second surface operable to contact the anti-creep shelf and a hook, the link configured to fit at least partially within the channel, and a lock comprising a slot operable to receive the hook, the lock configured to fit at least partially within the inner chamber. | 01-07-2016 |
| 213179000 | Pivoted hook | 1 |
| 20130105431 | SHOCK-ABSORBING COUPLER HEAD FOR A COUPLING ARRANGEMENT | 05-02-2013 |
| 213182000 | Headed link and shouldered slot | 1 |
| 213183000 | Pivoted head | 1 |
| 20150329127 | Coupler Torsion Spring Centering Device - A coupler for a railway vehicle includes a coupler anchor and a coupler centering device having a pair of arm sub-assemblies. Each arm subassembly has an upper centering arm connected to a lower centering arm via a torsion bar extending through the coupler anchor. The lower centering arms are connected by a cross link such that movement of one of the upper centering arms causes a corresponding movement of both of the lower centering arms. Each upper centering arm engages a roller that rolls along a curved surface of the centering arm when the coupler is rotated horizontally toward the upper centering arm. A centering stop element prevents the movement of the opposing upper centering arm to generate a restoring force in the torsion bars that facilitates horizontal movement of the coupler. The coupler centering device may be disengaged from an active centering position to facilitate servicing of the coupler. | 11-19-2015 |
| 213185000 | Beveled link and sliding catch | 1 |
| 20100270253 | Linkage for the articulated connection of a coupling rod to a railcar body - The invention relates to a linkage for the articulated connection of a coupling rod to a railcar body, wherein the linkage comprises includes a base plate connectable to the railcar body in which a through-hole is configured through which a railcar body-side end section of the coupling rod extends and a drawgear arranged on the railcar body-side end section of the coupling rod. The drawgear has a front spring plate affixed to the coupling rod in front of the base plate in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod and a rear spring plate affixed to the coupling rod behind the base plate in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod. To achieve effective anti-rotation protection, the front spring element and/or rear spring element engages with the base plate such that the rotational forces transmitted from the coupling rod to the base plate is conducted at a right angle without slip. | 10-28-2010 |
| 213188000 | Pin and open link | 1 |
| 20100006531 | COUPLING FOR RAIL VEHICLES - An articulated coupling for rail vehicles is composed of a fork head having two fork pieces and of a coupling link. The coupling link accommodates a spherical joint which is traversed by a pin secured in the fork head. To fasten the pin in the fork piece, there is provided a wedge which is arranged in the axial direction of the pin and has a concavely curved surface adapted to the cylindrical curvature of the surface of the pin. | 01-14-2010 |
| 213211000 | Uncoupling devices | 2 |
| 20110266243 | DRAFT GEAR - A lower locking pin body for the hinge joint between a lower locking pin and a lower locking pin hook has a suspending hole of a coupler lock lifter to facilitate it rotating surrounding the lower locking pin hook under the effect of the hole. There are two coupler suspending holes which are respectively arranged on each side ends of the lower locking pin body to facilitate the workers opening the coupler on either side of a car. A two-side operating coupler with above said lower lock pin body and a draft gear are provided, wherein the draft gear also includes two lock lifters and two lock lifter seats. The lock lifters are mounted into a key-shaped hole of the lock lifter seats, and the lock lifter has a limiting segment on the matched position. Two hook head ends of the lock lifters pass respectively out from the key-shaped holes of the coupler lock lifter seats and hang with the coupler lock lifter suspension hole of the two-side operating coupler. It has clearance between the limiting segment of the coupler lock lifter and a stripe-shaped hole wall of the key-shaped hole. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20190144013 | AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR COUPLERS | 05-16-2019 |
| 213075000 | Toy train | 9 |
| 20080223806 | SWIVEL FITTING - A brake hose support according to the invention comprises: a bracket fixedly attached to the yoke of the coupling apparatus of a rail car and a swivel fitting attached to the bracket which is rotatable around a pivot center. The swivel fitting can be rotated so that the angle of the end hose opening with respect to the angle cock is adjustable. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080264891 | Automatically foldable coupler - The present invention relates to a central buffer coupling ( | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080277366 | Automatic central buffer coupling - The invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling having a coupling head, a coupling rod and a shock absorber including a destructively-configured force-absorbing member in the form of a deformable tube. The invention provides additional functionality of extendability and retractability to the coupling rod, the and for the central buffer coupling to include a controllable linear drive for the axial displacement of the coupling rod relative the fixing plate and for the bearing block to include a first bearing block component against which adjoins the coupling head-side end of the deformable tube, and a second bearing block component to which the vehicle-side end of the coupling rod is articulated, whereby the second bearing block component is axially displaceable relative the first bearing block component by means of the linear drive. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090050594 | INSERT FOR RAIL CAR COUPLING - A shell-like insert made from a low-friction material is useful in a coupler for railway cars. The coupler may have a male connector on one car and a female connector on the other. The connectors conform to each other and provide a clearance space therebetween. The male connector may include a ball stud and the female connector may provide a socket for the ball. The insert conforms to the clearance space and is made from a low-friction material, such as PTFE, a filament wound composite or an epoxy-impregnated PTFE and glass-fiber material, or the like. A railway car assembly may include two cars joined by a coupler as described herein. The cars may be joined by providing a rear follower and a front follower in the female connector to provide the socket, and positioning an insert in the socket between the ball and one or both followers. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090101615 | Articulated Joint Coupling - An articulated joint coupling ( | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090289024 | RAILWAY COUPLER CORE STRUCTURE FOR INCREASED STRENGTH AND FATIGUE LIFE OF RESULTING KNUCKLE - A finger core for forming the front part of a knuckle for a railcar, said finger core comprising a single opening to form a single rib at the horizontal center line of the resulting knuckle. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090294396 | CENTRAL DATUM FEATURE ON RAILROAD COUPLER BODY AND CORRESPONDING GAUGES - A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090308830 | KNUCKLE PIN FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE COUPLER - A knuckle pin retainer for a railroad car coupler adapted for disposition in an aperture formed by a knuckle coupler assembly for connecting adjacent railroad car. The pin retainer includes a pivot pin with a retaining member installed within the pivot pin. The retaining member extends diametrically from a slot in the elongate shaft and is spring-loaded and rotatable within a slot in the shaft. A spring member is disposed within the slot between a back wall of the slot and the retaining member. The spring member is biased to expose the retaining member outside of the slot. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100270254 | METHOD FOR LIMITING THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF CAR BODIES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER - A method for limiting the angle between the longitudinal axes of car bodies of a multi-part rail vehicle connected to each other via a joint, wherein each car body is supported on only one bogie. The angle is actively influenced by an electrically controlled activation member connected to the joint, until the angle assumes a setpoint value. The setpoint value is determined from the pivot angles (relative angles) of the bogies relative to the associated car bodies. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110174755 | MIDDLE BUFFER COUPLING FOR RAIL-BOUND VEHICLES - What is described is a middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles, comprising two coupling halves ( | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110226718 | HOLDING DEVICE FOR COUPLER ADAPTER USED IN RAILCAR - A holding device holds a coupler adapter which is connectable to a coupler of a railcar. The holding device includes: a holding frame configured to detachably hold the coupler adapter; a holding frame supporting portion provided at a carbody end portion of the railcar to support the holding frame; a fixing member configured to fix the coupler adapter and the holding frame to the holding frame supporting portion; and a lifting and lowering portion connected to the holding frame to lift and lower the holding frame and the coupler adapter. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110240585 | COUPLING UNIT - A coupling unit for a semi-permanent connection of two wagons of a rail vehicle, which has a first housing and a second housing, which is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the first housing. A bearing outer ring with a hollow spherical inner bearing surface is fastened to the second housing and is guided in sliding fashion on a bearing inner ring with a spherical outer surface. The bearing inner ring is seated with an inner bore on a shaft fastened to the first housing. The shaft has, on a first end, one or two flattened portions and, on a second end, one or two second flattened portions. At least one clamping piece is provided which bears against one of the flattened portions and an opening region in the first housing, thereby preventing the shaft from rotating. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110253663 | SEMI-PERMANENT VEHICLE COUPLER FOR LIGHT RAIL - The present invention relates to a semi-permanent vehicle coupler for a light rail, which comprises a buffer end and a buffer-free end. The buffer end comprises a buffer, a joint bearing connected with the buffer and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer-free end comprises a left pull ring, a joint bearing connected with the left pull ring and a mounting seat, wherein the joint bearing is connected with the mounting seat through a coupler yoke key; the buffer is a double-acting buffer and comprises a shell, a left end cover, a right pull ring, elastic bodies, a central shaft and a middle partition plate, wherein the central shaft passes through the centers of the left end cover and the right pull ring and is glidingly contacted with the left end cover and the right pull ring, one end of the central shaft extends out of the left end cover, the middle partition plate is fixedly arranged on the central shaft and divides the inner part of the shell into two elastic body accommodating cavities, and the elastic bodies are positioned in the two elastic body accommodating cavities; and the other end of the left pull ring is provided with a lug boss, one end of the central shaft extending out of the left end cover is also provided with a lug boss, and the two lug bosses are connected through a connecting ring. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20130082021 | CASTING PROCESS FOR RAILCAR COUPLER THROWERS - A method for casting a thrower for a railcar coupler includes creating a mold box that is vertically parted in halves, each half defining a side of a thrower cavity and that includes at least a portion of a sprue at a location above the thrower cavity, the thrower cavity also being oriented vertically; pouring molten metal into the mold box through the sprue and into the thrower cavity while the mold is oriented vertically; and shaking out the mold box to release the thrower after the thrower has cooled. Creating the mold box may be executed through a cold shell process. The halves of the mold box may include reflective images of the sides of two thrower cavities and an ingate connected between the sprue and one of the two thrower cavities. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130213921 | CENTRAL DATUM FEATURE ON RAILROAD COUPLER BODY AND CORRESPONDING GAUGES - A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130313214 | APPLICATION OF WEAR PLATE TO ARTICULATED CONNECTOR LOAD BEARING BOTTOM SURFACE - A method for reconditioning a railcar connector is provided. The method comprises machining a portion of a casting to create a wear plate application surface, positioning a wear plate on the wear plate application surface, and welding the wear plate to the wear plate application surface. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20140284297 | Automated Coupler Positioning Device - A coupler for a railway car including a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane, and a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor. The coupler positioning device includes a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie relating to an angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car, and at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism. The controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20150321679 | COUPLER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF A COUPLER WITH SELECTABLE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS - A process for producing a coupler and an improved coupler are provided. The process produces a coupler by constructing a mold that is a replica of the coupler and is constructed from a plurality of mold components that are selected and assembled to form a mold having the shape of the coupler. The mold components may include a front mold component section that forms the head of the coupler, a rear mold component section that forms the shank of the coupler, and, optionally one or more shelf components forming a shelf of the coupler. The front, rear and shank mold components may themselves be made from a plurality of mold components that are assembled together. The mold is formed from a consumable material, coating with a heat resistant material so that the assembled mold components are within a mold volume, and molten metal is added to the mold volume. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20160137212 | RAILCAR ENERGY ABSORPTION/COUPLING SYSTEM - A railcar energy absorption/coupling system including a cushioning assembly arranged in operable combination with a coupler and a yoke. The cushioning assembly is positioned in a draft pocket defined by a draft sill on a railcar between the front and rear stops. The yoke consists of a back wall along with top and bottom walls which are joined to and axially extending from the back wall toward a forward end of the cushioning assembly. The back wall of the yoke is disposed to contact the rear end of the cushioning assembly. The top and bottom walls of the yoke are operably coupled to a shank portion of the coupler toward a forward end of the yoke. The top and bottom walls of the yoke each include stop members which extend in opposed lateral directions from each other and limit draft travel while maximizing buff travel and limit total combined travel of the energy absorption/coupling system. The energy absorption/coupling system has a neutral position, a full buff position disposed a first predetermined distance from the neutral position, and a full draft position disposed a second predetermined distance from the neutral position, with the full buff and full draft positions for the energy absorption coupling system being disposed in opposite directions from the neutral position. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20090014402 | Electro-mechanical coupler for use with model trains - A coupler for use with model trains. The coupler includes a body member; a knuckle pivotally mounted on the body member, where the knuckle is in either an open state or a closed state; a locking pin disposed on the body member, where the locking pin is operable for maintaining the knuckle in the closed state when the locking pin is in a first position, and for allowing the knuckle to transition to the open state when the locking pin is in a second position; and an actuator wire coupled to the body member and the locking pin. In operation, the actuator wire contracts in length when an electrical signal is supplied thereto such that the locking pin is transitioned to the second position when said electrical signal is supplied to the actuator wire. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090114614 | Remote-Controlled Model Railway Vehicle Coupling Device - An improved remote-controlled model railway vehicle coupling device comprising a coupler configured with a channeled shaft having a proximal and distal end, the proximal end forming an aperture designated for pivotably mounting within a housing, the distal end forming a head designated for limiting the pivotable displacement of a knuckle; the knuckle operable to pivot between a closed and an open position. An electronically automated locking assembly is substantially carried within the shaft of the coupler. The locking assembly includes a thermo-mechanical actuator capable of using an electric current to provide thermal energy to transpose between a martensite phase length and a shorter austenite phase length; where the martensite and austenite phase lengths of the thermo-mechanical actuator respectively define a first and a second length of the locking assembly. The locking assembly further includes a bias-spring operable to both encourage the thermo-mechanical actuator towards its martensite phase length and urge the distal end of the locking assembly towards the knuckle for substantial engagement with the proximal end of the knuckle to lock it in its closed position, accordingly. The first length of the locking assembly is operable to substantially engage the knuckle in its closed position, while, when activated, the second length is suitable to disengage the knuckle to permit the knuckle to freely pivot towards it open position. A spring is provided along the knuckle; the spring operable to urge the knuckle towards its open position when the locking assembly is disengaged. The coupler comprises two interconnected elements defining a bottom member and a top member cooperating to receive the locking assembly therein. The bottom and top members are configured to permit a suitable portion of the locking assembly to project therethrough to contact a pair of wipers; the wipers, configured to both slidably contact the locking assembly and project from the housing, are operable to communicate an electric current between a conventional power source designated for energizing the track of a model railroad layout, a conventional electronic command device carried aboard the scale model railroad vehicle provided for administering the electric current, and the locking assembly. A housing, comprising a partial housing and a cover cooperating as securely interconnected elements, is provided to both pivotably receive the coupler for mounting along the end of the scale model railroad vehicle and receive the wipers along its interior such that they are suitably disposed for contacting the locking assembly. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090272711 | DEVICE TO IDENTIFY VEHICLES OF A MODEL RAILROAD TRAIN SET BY MEANS OF REMOTELY CONTROLLABLE COUPLING PAIRS - In order to create a system in the case of a model railway train which is composed of locomotives and wagons via remotely controllable coupling pairs by means of which, for remote control capability purposes, the sequence of the individual vehicles in the train as well as the location of a wagon in front of or behind a driving locomotive can be identified automatically, the invention proposes that a decoder be arranged in all the vehicles in the train, that these be connected to one another by a data bus, and that the capability be provided to subdivide the latter into two group areas, specifically into a group which is located in front of and a group which is located behind the locomotive, with the coupling pairs for pulling even long trains being stable, and being composed of an active coupling part and a corresponding mating coupling, each having a train hook in the form of a two-armed rocker lever. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20110036800 | AUTOMATIC COUPLER FOR MODEL RAILROAD CAR - In an automatic coupler for a model railroad car, a coupler body includes a knuckle coupler member formed of a coupler trunk having a knuckle portion and an engagement portion, and a receiving coupler member formed of a coupler trunk having a receiving portion and an engagement portion. A holder includes a lower holder member having a holder plate, a holder shaft projecting from the holder plate and adapted to engage with the engagement portions, and a spring portion adapted to surround the engagement portions. The holder plate, holder shaft, and the spring portion are integrally formed, and an upper holder member is adapted to be fixed to the lower holder member with the coupler body interposed between. The coupler body and the holder have a guide mechanism that allows the coupler body to follow a curve when the car travels on the curve. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110253664 | Model train coupler with linear actuator - A model train coupler which can be opened using a remote signal. The coupler design includes an upper arm and a lower arm, both of which pivot around a common axis. The two arms are mounted in a coupler box which is attached to a piece of rolling stock. One of the arms includes a knuckle located outside the coupler box. The other arm includes a latch positioned to open and close against the knuckle. A linear actuator links the two arms together. When an electrical current is applied to the linear actuator, the latch is rotated away from the knuckle, thereby opening the coupler. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20130256254 | MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER - A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130284689 | TOY CAR CONNECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A toy train car including a coupler or hitch. The coupler includes a first connector (e.g., socket) configured to be connected to the train car and a second connector (e.g., ball) configured to be connected to the train car. The first connector can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. The second connector also can be positioned in the front or rear of the train car. Each train car can include a first connector and a second connector. The first and second connectors are configured to couple together to link a plurality of train cars together. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140001141 | SELF-CONTAINED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140202974 | MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED MODEL RAILROAD COUPLER - A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position. | 07-24-2014 |
