Leonard D Thomason

US Patent:

62727591, Aug 14, 2001

Filed:

Apr 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/289879

Inventors:

Terry L. Reichenbach - Sebring OH
Les L. Unger - Washingtonville OH
Terry L. Tilley - Salem OH
Leonard D. Thomason - Collinsville IL

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G01B 500

US Classification:

33203

Abstract:

A gauge is provided that is useful in measuring the horizontal wheelbase of a railway freight car truck sideframe. The gauge itself is comprised of a main horizontal body section usually of a single piece of aluminum bar stock. A stationary depending leg extends downwardly and is affixed to near one end of the main horizontal body section. A bearing slide assembly is affixed to the main horizontal body section near its other end. A measuring leg depends from the bearing slide assembly and is movable along the bearing slide assembly. An indicator scale is associated with the measuring leg so that its relative position with regard to the main horizontal body can be readily measured from a scale affixed thereon. The stationary depending leg is brought into contact with one edge of a pedestal jaw of the railway freight car sideframe, and the measuring leg is moved into contact along the bearing slide assembly with an opposite edge of the opposite pedestal jaw. A measurement reading of the wheelbase of a sideframe is then made.

US Patent:

63249952, Dec 4, 2001

Filed:

Jun 4, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/326766

Inventors:

Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
Douglas L. Compton - Bolingbrook IL
Leonard D. Thomason - Collinsville IL
Jeffery R. Ladendorf - Mount Prospect IL
Brian A. Toussaint - Bolingbrook IL

Assignee:

Amstead Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61F 516

US Classification:

1051994

Abstract:

Center filler plates for mounting on draft sills of railway car underframes are disclosed. The center filler plates have four pockets surrounding a hub. The pockets are shallower than in the prior art, and the walls defining the pockets meet in radii having larger radii of curvature than in the prior art. The shallower pockets and larger radii of curvature facilitate removal of the casting from the molding sand in the cope and drag sections of the mold. The formation of burned-in sand is limited in the present invention, and any burned-in sand that does form is also more easily removed from the center filler plates of the present invention. The base portion of the center filler plates is not as high as in the prior art. The ribs of the center filler plate and the walls of the hub are thicker than in the prior art to provide the needed strength to the center filler plates. In one embodiment, the ribs taper toward the hub, and the hub is shorter than the surrounding web; a tool may be inserted through the kingpin hole, expanded to bear against the tapered surfaces of the ribs; a machine may be used to lift the center filler plate and move it into position on the draft sill.