A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.

A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.

A railcar draft gear assembly specifically designed to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs of energy imparted thereto while not exceeding a force level of 900,000 lbs. and while having a wedge member of the draft gear assembly travel in an inward axial direction of less than about 4.5 inches relative to an open end of the draft gear.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a draft box wear liner configured for insertion between a draft gear and a draft box of a rail car coupling system.

The present invention relates to a draft box wear liner configured for insertion between a draft gear and a draft box of a rail car coupling system.

A shear-off device for a train coupler comprising a safety ring having an inner periphery formed with a thread for threaded engagement, and further comprising a radially inwards depending shear flange, the shear flange reaching in radial direction from the inner periphery towards the center axis of the safety ring, the shear flange having a flange base adjoining the inner periphery and a flange point reaching radially inside of the inner periphery.

A shear-off device for a train coupler comprising a safety ring having an inner periphery formed with a thread for threaded engagement, and further comprising a radially inwards depending shear flange, the shear flange reaching in radial direction from the inner periphery towards the center axis of the safety ring, the shear flange having a flange base adjoining the inner periphery and a flange point reaching radially inside of the inner periphery.

Coupler device for a coupling, in particular of a rail vehicle, is provided with a drawbar with spring elements mounted thereon in order to dampen the tension and pressure forces incurred, with a plate arranged between these, and a support flange secured to the rail vehicle. The plate bears the drawbar and is held on the support flange and connected at its outer circumference in each case with a carrier disk, each in an opening of the support flange, by overload elements arranged adjacent to one another. The overload elements are sheared off in the event of an overload in the pressure or tension direction of the drawbar. Accordingly, a secure connection is formed between the support flange and the plate, which, in the event of a crash or an overload, can be detached in a functionally reliable manner, but which in normal operation ensures a perfect coupling linkage.