A plate spring unit applied to a railcar bogie includes: a lower plate spring including both longitudinal direction end portions supported by the respective axle boxes from below, the lower plate spring being made of fiber-reinforced resin; an upper plate spring arranged above the lower plate spring with a gap and including a middle portion pressed from above by a pressing member provided at the cross beam, the upper plate spring being made of fiber-reinforced resin; a middle spacer sandwiched between a middle portion of the lower plate spring and the middle portion of the upper plate spring; and an end spacer sandwiched between the end portion of the lower plate spring and an end portion of the upper plate spring and allowing relative displacement between the end portion of the lower plate spring and the end portion of the upper plate spring in a longitudinal direction.

A device for force transfer between a chassis frame and a carriage body of a rail vehicle includes a plurality of lemniscate links which are connected to the chassis frame via first joints, a yoke having a middle linking point in which the carriage body can be mounted, wherein the plurality of lemniscate links are connected to the yoke via second joints and form a Z-shaped assembly, where elastically deformable elements are arranged in the in the yoke and the first and second joints, and includes limiting means for receiving impact loads that exceed the operating load so as to limit the maximum deflection of the middle linking point of the yoke in a tractive force direction parallel to a tractive force acting on the chassis frame.

A device for force transfer between a chassis frame and a carriage body of a rail vehicle includes a plurality of lemniscate links which are connected to the chassis frame via first joints, a yoke having a middle linking point in which the carriage body can be mounted, wherein the plurality of lemniscate links are connected to the yoke via second joints and form a Z-shaped assembly, where elastically deformable elements are arranged in the in the yoke and the first and second joints, and includes limiting means for receiving impact loads that exceed the operating load so as to limit the maximum deflection of the middle linking point of the yoke in a tractive force direction parallel to a tractive force acting on the chassis frame.

A rail vehicle that includes at least one car and at least one bogie that carries the car, the bogie including a chassis and a secondary suspension system between the chassis and the car, wherein the secondary suspension system includes a spring assembly mounted between the chassis and the car, the secondary suspension system including an actuator, provided with a piston extending at least partially between an upper stop secured to the car and a lower stop secured to the chassis, and a supply device of the actuator, and wherein supply device of the actuator is configured to supply the actuator such that the distance between the upper and lower stops is kept constant.

A rail vehicle that includes at least one car and at least one bogie that carries the car, the bogie including a chassis and a secondary suspension system between the chassis and the car, wherein the secondary suspension system includes a spring assembly mounted between the chassis and the car, the secondary suspension system including an actuator, provided with a piston extending at least partially between an upper stop secured to the car and a lower stop secured to the chassis, and a supply device of the actuator, and wherein supply device of the actuator is configured to supply the actuator such that the distance between the upper and lower stops is kept constant.

A friction shoe is provided for use in a railway truck. The friction shoe is placed such that it frictionally engages both a wear plate on the side frame vertical column and wear plates on the slope surfaces of the bolster to dampen the oscillating motion of the bolster when supported by spring groups in the side frame. The shoe is provided with sloped surfaces that engage complementary slope surfaces on the bolster. Wear plates are fitted and held on the sloped surfaces of the bolster and on the vertical columns of the side frames.

A friction shoe is provided for use in a railway truck. The friction shoe is placed such that it frictionally engages both a wear plate on the side frame vertical column and wear plates on the slope surfaces of the bolster to dampen the oscillating motion of the bolster when supported by spring groups in the side frame. The shoe is provided with sloped surfaces that engage complementary slope surfaces on the bolster. Wear plates are fitted and held on the sloped surfaces of the bolster and on the vertical columns of the side frames.

According to some embodiments, a load cell for determining a weight of a large object comprises a base plate comprising at least one recessed opening, a bulk metallic glass plug disposed in the at least one recessed opening of the base plate, and a top plate positioned above the base plate. A portion of the top plate is supported by the bulk metallic glass plug. The load cell further comprises a micro strain sensor coupled to the bulk metallic glass plug. The micro strain sensor is operable to determine a change in micro strain on the bulk metallic glass plug. The bulk metallic glass plug extends to a height where the top plate does not contact the base plate.

According to some embodiments, a load cell for determining a weight of a large object comprises a base plate comprising at least one recessed opening, a bulk metallic glass plug disposed in the at least one recessed opening of the base plate, and a top plate positioned above the base plate. A portion of the top plate is supported by the bulk metallic glass plug. The load cell further comprises a micro strain sensor coupled to the bulk metallic glass plug. The micro strain sensor is operable to determine a change in micro strain on the bulk metallic glass plug. The bulk metallic glass plug extends to a height where the top plate does not contact the base plate.

An articulated rail coupler comprises a base member, a female connecting member, a male connecting member, a bearing race, a first bearing seated within the bearing race and defining a vertical axis of rotation, and a second or a coupler bearing configured and sized to be received within a truck bogie bearing bowl. The male connecting member is allowed to rotate relative to the female connecting member about the vertical axis of rotation in a range of about ninety degrees, when the male connecting member and the female connecting member are coupled therebetween by the first bearing.