The invention provides a bracket for mounting external equipment to the underside of rolling stock, the bracket comprising first and second plates, and at least one joining member disposed between the first and second plates; wherein the joining member(s) are joined to the first plate by a plurality of joints and joined to the second plate by a plurality of joints. The invention also provides a rolling stock assembly comprising a bracket, a method for mounting external equipment to an underside of rolling stock, and a method for manufacturing a bracket for mounting external equipment to the underside of rolling stock.

A brake energy recovery module for an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes a motor module and a battery module. The brake energy recovery module includes a first detecting unit, a signal decoder, a power converting unit and a control unit. The first detecting unit is electrically connected to the motor module to detect a first voltage of the motor module. The signal decoder generates a first signal and a second signal according to plural operation signals of the motor module. The power converting unit is electrically connected to the motor module and the battery module. The control unit is electrically connected to the first detecting unit, the signal decoder and the power converting unit. The control unit controls the power converting unit to adjust the first voltage to provide the battery module with a second voltage according to the first voltage, the first signal and the second signal.

A system for supplying at least one electrical load or energy storage device with direct current by way of a plurality of electrical generators that are mounted to at rollers, in particular track rollers or support rollers, of a cable car system. The output of each of the generators leads to a respective AC/DC converter. All AC/DC converters are controlled or regulated by a control unit to the extent that at least approximately identical constant voltages are present at their outputs. The outputs of all AC/DC converters are connected to one another and are connected to the at least one load or energy storage device.

A power generator assembly including a rotating part and a non-rotating part is provided. It is proposed that the rotating part includes first and second, circumferentially adjacent generator units. Each generator unit includes at least one coil, at least one permanent magnet and two pole shoes having pole surfaces facing radially outward. The non-rotating part includes an arc-shaped saddle adaptor of ferromagnetic material arranged with a radial distance to the pole surfaces. The saddle adaptor is configured to close a magnetic circuit passing via the pole shoes through the coil in a rotational position where the saddle adaptor overlaps with the pole shoes of a generator unit. According to the invention, a pole shoe of the first generator unit and an adjacent pole shoe of the second generator unit have the same magnetic polarity.

A power generator assembly including a rotating part and a non-rotating part is provided. It is proposed that the rotating part includes first and second, circumferentially adjacent generator units. Each generator unit includes at least one coil, at least one permanent magnet and two pole shoes having pole surfaces facing radially outward. The non-rotating part includes an arc-shaped saddle adaptor of ferromagnetic material arranged with a radial distance to the pole surfaces. The saddle adaptor is configured to close a magnetic circuit passing via the pole shoes through the coil in a rotational position where the saddle adaptor overlaps with the pole shoes of a generator unit. According to the invention, a pole shoe of the first generator unit and an adjacent pole shoe of the second generator unit have the same magnetic polarity.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a well component disposed between a pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. An end section comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component; an end platform disposed near an end of the railcar; and a connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform. A pair of ladders may be coupled to each end of the end platform. A first handrail may extend between the ladders and along an outside edge of the end platform. A second handrail may extend from a ladder, along an inside edge of the end platform, along an edge of the connecting platform, and along an inside edge of the well platform. A third handrail may extend along an edge of the well platform adjacent to the well component.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a railcar body comprising at least one end or side arranged in a generally vertical plane. The railcar comprises a staggered ladder coupled to the railcar body and extending in a generally vertical direction. The staggered ladder comprises a plurality of steps that are staggered such that at least one step proximate a bottom of the ladder is offset from the generally vertical plane of the railcar body by a greater distance than at least one step proximate a top of the ladder. The railcar further comprises a staggered handrail coupled to the rail car body and proximate the staggered ladder, wherein a bottom portion of the staggered handrail is offset from the vertical plane of the railcar body by a greater distance than a top portion of the staggered handrail.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar. A well component supported by the pair of trucks is disposed between the pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well. A step is coupled to the well platform and extends into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. A handrail is proximate the step, the handrail is sized to accommodate a hand of the operator. The handrail may be positioned above the step and below the well platform.

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar. A well component supported by the pair of trucks is disposed between the pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. At least one end section of the pair of end sections comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well. A step is coupled to the well platform and extends into the well component to facilitate operator egress from the well component to the well platform. A handrail is proximate the step, the handrail is sized to accommodate a hand of the operator. The handrail may be positioned above the step and below the well platform.

According to some embodiments, a method of improving weld fatigue performance in a railcar weld comprises identifying a railcar weld subject to dynamic loads; determining the railcar weld is prone to fatigue; applying an impact treatment to the railcar weld using transducer coupled to one or more pins, wherein the one or more pins are configured to contact the railcar weld without interference from other portions of the railcar. According to some embodiments, an impact treatment device for a railcar comprises a transducer coupled to one or more pins for imparting an impact to a railcar weld. The transducer and the one or more pins are configured to put the one or more pins in contact with the railcar weld without interference from other portions of the railcar. The transducer comprises one of an ultrasonic transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, or a pneumatic transducer.