A level control system for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes at least one level control cylinder and one level control piston, the level control piston being movably guided in the level control cylinder in order to adjust the level of the rail vehicle, the level control piston having an outer piston sleeve and a piston main body at least partially accommodated in the piston sleeve, and the piston main body being slidable relative to the piston sleeve for wear readjustment and being lockable and/or fixable in at least two adjustment positions.

A level control system for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes at least one level control cylinder and one level control piston, the level control piston being movably guided in the level control cylinder in order to adjust the level of the rail vehicle, the level control piston having an outer piston sleeve and a piston main body at least partially accommodated in the piston sleeve, and the piston main body being slidable relative to the piston sleeve for wear readjustment and being lockable and/or fixable in at least two adjustment positions.

A truck assembly for a rail vehicle includes at least one side frame including at least one lightener hole. At least one strain gage is disposed within the lightener hole(s). The strain gage(s) is configured to detect forces exerted into or onto the truck assembly. A method of detecting forces exerted into or onto a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes disposing at least one strain gage within at least one lightener hole of at least one side frame of a truck assembly of the rail vehicle, and detecting the forces by the strain gage(s).

A railway freight car truck is provided with an elastomeric suspension device between the bolster end and the sideframe spring support surface. The elastomeric device is usually of an elongated oval shape. The elastomeric device takes the place of one or more rows of coil springs that comprise the suspension resting on the sideframe support surface. The freight car truck bolster is supported on the coil springs under empty car conditions and both the coil springs and the elastomeric device under fully loaded car conditions.

A railway freight car truck is provided with an elastomeric suspension device between the bolster end and the sideframe spring support surface. The elastomeric device is usually of an elongated oval shape. The elastomeric device takes the place of one or more rows of coil springs that comprise the suspension resting on the sideframe support surface. The freight car truck bolster is supported on the coil springs under empty car conditions and both the coil springs and the elastomeric device under fully loaded car conditions.

A railway truck includes two parallel side frames, a suspension spring assembly supported by the side frames, and a bolster transversely mounted between the side frames and supported by the suspension spring assembly. Each side frame has at least one vertical support face, and the bolster has at least one sloped support face. A friction shoe includes a bottom base engaging and supported by a support spring, and a sloped wall engaging the sloped support face of the bolster. The friction shoe prevents bolster side wall wear.

A railway truck includes two parallel side frames, a suspension spring assembly supported by the side frames, and a bolster transversely mounted between the side frames and supported by the suspension spring assembly. Each side frame has at least one vertical support face, and the bolster has at least one sloped support face. A friction shoe includes a bottom base engaging and supported by a support spring, and a sloped wall engaging the sloped support face of the bolster. The friction shoe prevents bolster side wall wear.

A friction shoe includes a bottom base engaging and supported by a pair of support springs, and a sloped wall engaging the sloped support face of a bolster. The bottom base includes a cylindrical spring lug that has a center opening that extends through the spring lug. The bottom surface of the spring lug is flat and smooth and is configured to engage an additional concentrically nested support spring. The additional spring increases the force between the vertical support face of the wedge and the vertical wear plate of the side frame.

A friction shoe includes a bottom base engaging and supported by a pair of support springs, and a sloped wall engaging the sloped support face of a bolster. The bottom base includes a cylindrical spring lug that has a center opening that extends through the spring lug. The bottom surface of the spring lug is flat and smooth and is configured to engage an additional concentrically nested support spring. The additional spring increases the force between the vertical support face of the wedge and the vertical wear plate of the side frame.

A railcar truck and adapter pad system for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck. Many different features of the pad and/or the adapter-pad interface are configured to improve stiffness characteristics to satisfy both curving and high speed performance of the railcar truck.