The invention relates to a ground terminal and to a method for discharging electric currents from a rotor part of a vehicle (such as a rail vehicle or the like, that has an axle) to a stationary stator part of the vehicle. The ground terminal includes a retaining device and a terminal element. The retaining device is connected to the stationary stator part of the vehicle in electrically-conductive manner, the terminal element is disposed on and connected to the retaining in electrically-conductive manner. The terminal element is made mostly of graphite and subjected to a contact force by means of a spring device of the retaining device to realize an electrically-conductive sliding contact between a sliding contact surface of the terminal element provided for realizing the sliding contact and a terminal surface of the rotor part. The terminal element has an arc-shaped cross-section at least in portions thereof, an outer surface of the cross-section forming the sliding contact surface at least in sections. The sliding contact surface abuts radially against the terminal surface of the rotor part.

The invention relates to a ground terminal and to a method for discharging electric currents from a rotor part of a vehicle (such as a rail vehicle or the like, that has an axle) to a stationary stator part of the vehicle. The ground terminal includes a retaining device and a terminal element. The retaining device is connected to the stationary stator part of the vehicle in electrically-conductive manner, the terminal element is disposed on and connected to the retaining in electrically-conductive manner. The terminal element is made mostly of graphite and subjected to a contact force by means of a spring device of the retaining device to realize an electrically-conductive sliding contact between a sliding contact surface of the terminal element provided for realizing the sliding contact and a terminal surface of the rotor part. The terminal element has an arc-shaped cross-section at least in portions thereof, an outer surface of the cross-section forming the sliding contact surface at least in sections. The sliding contact surface abuts radially against the terminal surface of the rotor part.

A railroad car bearing adapter assembly configured to be employed in combination with a high warp restraint truck (with or without an auxiliary or original warp restraint system), and including a low profile thickness and relatively longitudinally narrow roller bearing adapter, a low profile adapter shear pad with a shear stiffness in a range of 85,000 lbs/in to 125,000 lbs/inch, and side wear pad that in combination total clearance in a range of 0.09 inches to 0.36 inches between the side frame thrust lugs and the adapter with the side wear pads. This overall combination reduces wheel wear and damage, reduces fuel consumption, reduces the need for railroad track repair, improves high speed stability and curving performance for both empty cars and loaded cars, provides more truck stability under a loaded car in shallow curves and while encountering certain perturbations, and provides optimum curving performance that enables the axles to better align with curves of relatively high degrees.

A railroad car bearing adapter assembly configured to be employed in combination with a high warp restraint truck (with or without an auxiliary or original warp restraint system), and including a low profile thickness and relatively longitudinally narrow roller bearing adapter, a low profile adapter shear pad with a shear stiffness in a range of 85,000 lbs/in to 125,000 lbs/inch, and side wear pad that in combination total clearance in a range of 0.09 inches to 0.36 inches between the side frame thrust lugs and the adapter with the side wear pads. This overall combination reduces wheel wear and damage, reduces fuel consumption, reduces the need for railroad track repair, improves high speed stability and curving performance for both empty cars and loaded cars, provides more truck stability under a loaded car in shallow curves and while encountering certain perturbations, and provides optimum curving performance that enables the axles to better align with curves of relatively high degrees.

An elastomeric pad is provided for use in a railway car truck that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of an axle bearing assembly. An elastomeric pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Contact buttons extend from the top surface and bottom surface of the elastomeric pad and are received in openings in the elastomeric pad. A conductor provides an electrical connection between the contact buttons.

An elastomeric pad is provided for use in a railway car truck that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of an axle bearing assembly. An elastomeric pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Contact buttons extend from the top surface and bottom surface of the elastomeric pad and are received in openings in the elastomeric pad. A conductor provides an electrical connection between the contact buttons.

A method is provided for operating a rail vehicle having a ground contact on a wheel set. The ground contact includes a housing unit, a contact device, and a sensing device. The contact device has a contact piece which is disposed on a contact surface of an axle. An electrical sliding contact is formed between the contact surface and the contact piece. The ground contact also includes a measuring unit having a measuring device. At least one sensor of a sensing device of the measuring device is disposed on the contact device and/or adjacent to the contact device. A measured value of the contact device is registered by the sensing device, and the measured value is processed by the processing unit of the measuring device. A parameter describing an operating state of the wheel set and/or a guide rail is determined.

A method is provided for operating a rail vehicle having a ground contact on a wheel set. The ground contact includes a housing unit, a contact device, and a sensing device. The contact device has a contact piece which is disposed on a contact surface of an axle. An electrical sliding contact is formed between the contact surface and the contact piece. The ground contact also includes a measuring unit having a measuring device. At least one sensor of a sensing device of the measuring device is disposed on the contact device and/or adjacent to the contact device. A measured value of the contact device is registered by the sensing device, and the measured value is processed by the processing unit of the measuring device. A parameter describing an operating state of the wheel set and/or a guide rail is determined.

An elastomeric pad is provided for use in a railway car truck that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of an axle bearing assembly. An elastomeric pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Contact buttons extend from the top surface and bottom surface of the elastomeric pad and are received in openings in the elastomeric pad. A conductor provides an electrical connection between the contact buttons.

An elastomeric pad is provided for use in a railway car truck that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of an axle bearing assembly. An elastomeric pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. Contact buttons extend from the top surface and bottom surface of the elastomeric pad and are received in openings in the elastomeric pad. A conductor provides an electrical connection between the contact buttons.