Railway rolling stock inventions 06/08

20080148992 - Trolley with tractor drive for use in curved enclosed tracks and system including the same: An enclosed track system comprising an enclosed track having at least one curve and a trolley for negotiating the curve. The trolley includes an externally located drive section and a rolling section having first and second roller portions located within the track. The first roller portion includes rollers for rolling... Agent: Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein, Cohen & Pokotilow, Ltd.

20080148993 - Hybrid propulsion system and method: A hybrid propulsion system includes a prime mover system, a driving system, an energy storage system, a regenerative braking system, and a control system usable to control operation of the prime mover, driving, energy storage, and regenerative braking systems. The control system receives inputs of geographic location, speed, and terrain... Agent: Andrews Kurth LLP

20080141896 - Constant contact side bearing assembly for a railcar: A constant contact side bearing assembly for a railcar having a bolster with an upper surface and a walled receptacle upstanding from the upper surface of the bolster. An inner surface of the walled receptacle defines an open-top cavity wherein the side bearing assembly is accommodated. The constant contact side... Agent: Law Office Of John W. Harbst

20080141897 - Energy absorber for counterbalance mechanism: An energy-absorbing device for use with a counterbalance mechanism to relatively harmlessly absorb energy potentially released should a component of the counterbalance mechanism fail. A frame is attached to a portion of the counterbalance mechanism and supports an impact receiving member, and a plurality of deformable support members. In the... Agent: Chernoff, Vilhauer, Mcclung & Stenzel

20080134930 - Train car compensator for platform gap spacing: Compensating landing plates automatically deploy from a subway or railroad car as its doors open in spanning any gap spacing between the car and a station platform where the car stops.... Agent: Charles I. Brodsky

20080127852 - Rail road freight car with damped suspension: An auto rack rail road freight car is provided for carrying low density, relatively high value, relatively fragile lading. The car has trucks that have multiple dampers in a four corner arrangement in the sideframes. The dampers may include damper wedges having primary and secondary wedge angles. The spring groups... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20080127853 - Rail road freight car with damped suspension: An auto rack rail road freight car is provided for carrying low density, relatively high value, relatively fragile lading. The car has trucks that have multiple dampers in a four corner arrangement in the sideframes. The dampers may include damper wedges having primary and secondary wedge angles. The spring groups... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP

20080127854 - Hopper car side construction and method: A hopper car has arcuate side sheets that are bent over the forming members of the structure to give a generally outwardly bulging shape. The upper margin of the side sheet is kinked inwardly of the radius of curvature of the larger portion of the side sheet more generally, such... Agent: Hahn Loeser & Parks, LLP