An end-of-car system for railcars is provided comprising an asymmetric draft gear mechanism offering shock absorption to a railcar when the latter is subjected to buff or draft forces. The end-of-car system may be retrofitted to railcars having a different type of shock absorption system.

An end-of-car system for railcars is provided comprising an asymmetric draft gear mechanism offering shock absorption to a railcar when the latter is subjected to buff or draft forces. The end-of-car system may be retrofitted to railcars having a different type of shock absorption system.

A vehicle coupler including a coupling head and a dampening device attached thereto. A beam is provided and configured to attach to the vehicle. A housing assembly is connected to the beam and configured to receive a portion of the dampening device. A first release mechanism in the form of a shear ring is arranged within the housing assembly and is configured to provide a releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing assembly. A second release device in the form of a plurality of shear elements provides a releasable connection between the beam and the housing assembly. A preload mechanism may also be provided for applying an initial shearing force on the plurality of shear elements.

A railcar end unit is operable to be mounted in a center sill between buff and draft sill stops. The buff and draft end bodies are configured to be shiftably mounted relative to the center sill to engage the respective sill stops and to shift axially relative to one another along a unit axis. The end unit includes a buff spring pack operably mounted between the end bodies and compressible along the unit axis from a neutral condition to a compressed condition.

A railcar end unit is operable to be mounted in a center sill between buff and draft sill stops. The buff and draft end bodies are configured to be shiftably mounted relative to the center sill to engage the respective sill stops and to shift axially relative to one another along a unit axis. The end unit includes a buff spring pack operably mounted between the end bodies and compressible along the unit axis from a neutral condition to a compressed condition.

A draft gear assembly for use with railcars having coupler members is provided. The draft gear assembly has front and back ends and comprises a yoke, a coupler follower, a front resilient member, an intermediate stop member, and a back resilient member. The yoke has a back wall, a top wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly, and a bottom wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly. The coupler follower is positioned between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front end of the draft gear assembly. The front resilient member is positioned between the coupler follower and the intermediate stop member. The back resilient member is positioned between the intermediate stop member and the yoke back wall. The front and back resilient members are compressible.

A draft gear assembly for use with railcars having coupler members is provided. The draft gear assembly has front and back ends and comprises a yoke, a coupler follower, a front resilient member, an intermediate stop member, and a back resilient member. The yoke has a back wall, a top wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly, and a bottom wall extending from the back wall toward the front end of the draft gear assembly. The coupler follower is positioned between the butt end of the coupler shank and the front end of the draft gear assembly. The front resilient member is positioned between the coupler follower and the intermediate stop member. The back resilient member is positioned between the intermediate stop member and the yoke back wall. The front and back resilient members are compressible.

A vertical spring support device for a coupler, comprises a support platform, a bracket, a support rod, a support spring, a wear sleeve and a locknut; the support spring is sheathed on the support rod, and an upper end of the support spring is resisted against a lower surface of the support platform while a lower end of the support spring is resisted against an upper end face of the bracket; an upper end of the support rod is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the support platform, while a bottom end of the support rod passes through the bracket and is then in threaded connection to the locknut via the wear sleeve; the support platform comprises a vertical support platform plate and a horizontal support platform plate, and a lower surface of the horizontal support platform plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the support rod; and, the vertical support platform plate is vertically fixed on one side of the horizontal support platform plate close to the buffer shell.

A vertical spring support device for a coupler, comprises a support platform, a bracket, a support rod, a support spring, a wear sleeve and a locknut; the support spring is sheathed on the support rod, and an upper end of the support spring is resisted against a lower surface of the support platform while a lower end of the support spring is resisted against an upper end face of the bracket; an upper end of the support rod is fixedly connected to the lower surface of the support platform, while a bottom end of the support rod passes through the bracket and is then in threaded connection to the locknut via the wear sleeve; the support platform comprises a vertical support platform plate and a horizontal support platform plate, and a lower surface of the horizontal support platform plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the support rod; and, the vertical support platform plate is vertically fixed on one side of the horizontal support platform plate close to the buffer shell.

A railcar end unit is operable to be mounted in a center sill between buff and draft sill stops. The buff and draft end bodies are configured to be shiftably mounted relative to the center sill to engage the respective sill stops and to shift axially relative to one another along a unit axis. The end unit includes a buff spring pack operably mounted between the end bodies and compressible along the unit axis from a neutral condition to a compressed condition.