A railroad car coupling system including a draft sill with front and rear stops, a coupler along with an energy management assembly for receiving and dissipating external forces experienced by the coupler. A yoke also forms part of the coupling system and is operably coupled to the coupler. The yoke includes top and bottom walls which each include two forward facing stops. A follower is mounted substantially between the top and bottom walls of the yoke for receiving forces experienced by the coupler. The follower is configured with two laterally spaced vertical extensions disposed toward opposed upper corners of the follower and two laterally spaced vertical extensions disposed toward opposed lower corners of the follower. Forward facing surfaces on the follower extensions arc arranged in generally coplanar relationship relative to each other. Rearward facing surfaces on the follower extensions are arranged in generally coplanar relationship with each other and operably engage with the forward facing stops on the yoke to enhance the distribution of forces when the follower engages the front stops on the center sill when the coupling system is in a full draft condition.

An assembly has a bearing bracket and a coupler or connection rod. The bearing bracket has an adapter to which the rod can be connected. A joint allows the adapter to swivel relative to the bracket, and the rod is attached to the adapter. The rod has a surface that extends in a plane at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The rod surface is held spaced apart from a surface of the bearing bracket by an elastic element. The surface of the rod contacts the surface of the bearing bracket, if a pushing force of a predetermined strength is applied to the rod. A group of parts of the bearing bracket are connected to the bracket such that the parts are set free to move relative to the bracket, if a pushing force of a predetermined strength is applied to the rod.

An assembly has a bearing bracket and a coupler or connection rod. The bearing bracket has an adapter to which the rod can be connected. A joint allows the adapter to swivel relative to the bracket, and the rod is attached to the adapter. The rod has a surface that extends in a plane at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The rod surface is held spaced apart from a surface of the bearing bracket by an elastic element. The surface of the rod contacts the surface of the bearing bracket, if a pushing force of a predetermined strength is applied to the rod. A group of parts of the bearing bracket are connected to the bracket such that the parts are set free to move relative to the bracket, if a pushing force of a predetermined strength is applied to the rod.

A linkage articulatedly connects a railcar end portion of a coupling rod to a railcar body. A longitudinal axis of the coupling rod, in the neutral position, coincides with the longitudinal direction of the rail-borne vehicle. The linkage includes a base plate coupled via a bearing to the railcar body. The base plate has a through opening for the coupling rod extending therethrough. A pull/push assembly includes a first supporting element arranged between the base plate and the railcar body and a second supporting element on the side of the base plate facing away from the railcar body. First and second spring units are disposed between the base plate and corresponding ones of the supporting elements. The base plate is mounted in the bearing block to pivot in a horizontal plane transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction.

A linkage articulatedly connects a railcar end portion of a coupling rod to a railcar body. A longitudinal axis of the coupling rod, in the neutral position, coincides with the longitudinal direction of the rail-borne vehicle. The linkage includes a base plate coupled via a bearing to the railcar body. The base plate has a through opening for the coupling rod extending therethrough. A pull/push assembly includes a first supporting element arranged between the base plate and the railcar body and a second supporting element on the side of the base plate facing away from the railcar body. First and second spring units are disposed between the base plate and corresponding ones of the supporting elements. The base plate is mounted in the bearing block to pivot in a horizontal plane transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction.

The invention relates to a bearing block assembly for hinging of a coupling rod to a carriage body. The bearing block assembly includes a bearing shell unit and a bearing block with a flange for connecting the bearing block assembly to the carriage body and has an open bearing shell receiving region for at least partial reception of the bearing shell unit. The bearing block assembly has at least one guide extending in a longitudinal direction over at least a section of the extension of the bearing block. The bearing shell unit connects to the bearing block via at least one tear-off element and/or at least one shear-off element and is movably guided on the at least one guide in a longitudinal direction relative to same when the connecting element is actuated, thereby releasing the connection between the bearing shell unit and the bearing block.

The invention relates to a bearing block assembly for hinging of a coupling rod to a carriage body. The bearing block assembly includes a bearing shell unit and a bearing block with a flange for connecting the bearing block assembly to the carriage body and has an open bearing shell receiving region for at least partial reception of the bearing shell unit. The bearing block assembly has at least one guide extending in a longitudinal direction over at least a section of the extension of the bearing block. The bearing shell unit connects to the bearing block via at least one tear-off element and/or at least one shear-off element and is movably guided on the at least one guide in a longitudinal direction relative to same when the connecting element is actuated, thereby releasing the connection between the bearing shell unit and the bearing block.

Articulated connectors are attached to and extend from center sills of adjacent car units of a multi-unit railroad freight car, connecting the car units to each other and to a shared truck. The center sill of each of the car units includes a top member that is of increased thickness at the outer end of the center sill. A weld extending along a shoulder that extends around the main body of s portion of the articulated connector attaches the articulated connector portion to the outer end of the center sill with ample strength to carry draft and buff train loads as well as the weight of the car unit and its lading, without the need for weld joints inside the center sill.

Articulated connectors are attached to and extend from center sills of adjacent car units of a multi-unit railroad freight car, connecting the car units to each other and to a shared truck. The center sill of each of the car units includes a top member that is of increased thickness at the outer end of the center sill. A weld extending along a shoulder that extends around the main body of s portion of the articulated connector attaches the articulated connector portion to the outer end of the center sill with ample strength to carry draft and buff train loads as well as the weight of the car unit and its lading, without the need for weld joints inside the center sill.

Various embodiments include a railroad car draft key wear protector including a first arm, a second arm spaced-apart from the first arm, a first connector integrally connected to the first arm and integrally connected to the second arm, and a second connector integrally and detachably connected to the first arm and integrally and detachably connected to the second arm, wherein the railroad car draft key wear protector is configured to be positioned on an uninstalled draft key, and is configured to be positioned on an installed draft key in situ.