Amsted Rail Company, Inc.

A bogie assembly includes a side frame that includes a first frame attachment portion and a second frame attachment portion. A bolster is operably coupled with the side frame and includes a bolster attachment portion. The bogie assembly includes a linkage system having a first connector link, a second connector link, and a center link. The center link is coupled with the bolster attachment portion of the bolster. The first connector link extends between a first end that is coupled with the first frame attachment portion and a second end that is coupled with the center link. The second connector link extends between a third end that is coupled with the center link and a fourth end that is coupled with the second frame attachment portion.

Systems and methods for operating a multi-purpose radio circuit (MPRC) of a locomotive. The methods comprise: establishing a connection between MPRC and a positive train control terminal located on the locomotive of a train consist (wherein a yard communication function of MPRC is disabled and a wireless gateway function of MPRC is enabled); performing the wireless gateway function by MPRC to manage a network of the train consist and/or a railcar of the train consist while the train consist is in route to a switch yard; detecting, by MPRC, that the locomotive is entering a geofence of the switch yard; enabling the yard communication function of MPRC responsive to said detecting; and performing the yard communication function to wirelessly communicate information from MPRC that is useful for switch yard management.

A system and method for detecting the operational status of a brake system on a railcar. The system receives from a sensor an indication of the magnitude of a braking force applied by the braking system in response to an instruction to increase or decrease the braking force. It compares the response to possible responses of the braking system in view of the instruction provided. Based on the comparison, the system generates at least one of a message and/or an alert indicating the status of the brake system. Additional sensors, including a pressure sensor on a brake pipe of the railcar, can be added for additional functionality.

A braking system and method includes primary and secondary cylinder assemblies. The primary cylinder assembly includes an expandable structure that controls movement of a first piston rod. The secondary cylinder assembly includes a second piston rod disposed within a second cavity of a second housing. A compressed fluid moves from the primary assembly to the secondary cylinder assembly responsive to the expandable structure expanding. The second piston rod moves from a resting state to a compressed state responsive to at least some of the compressed fluid being received by the secondary assembly. A fluid control assembly controls a position of a valve between an open position and a closed position to allow or prohibit the compressed fluid from moving between the primary and secondary assemblies.

A system and method for monitoring the operating condition of a wheelset on a railcar comprising a sealed unit mounted on or near a wheelset of the railcar for collecting data from the wheelset and performing AI analyses on the collected data to determine the operational condition and predict failure modes for the wheelset. Results are communicated off-railcar wirelessly via one or more of several different methods.

A hubcap includes a monolithic main body. The monolithic main body includes (i) a sidewall having an annular cross-section, a hub end, and a vent end opposite the hub end, (ii) an end-cap abutting and spanning across the vent end, and (iii) a flange abutting and at least partially surrounding the hub end. The flange has an outer flange-surface facing the vent end and, opposite the outer flange-surface, an inner flange-surface that defines an annular channel.

System and methods for detecting an operational status of a valve or passageway on a railway asset. The methods may comprise: resiliently biasing a magnet in a direction away from a wireless sensor node coupled to the passageway; determining that the passageway is in an open position when the wireless sensor node is neutrally polarized (the data collection device being neutrally polarized when the magnet is distant therefrom); causing the magnet to move in a direction towards the wireless sensor node responsive to a cover of the passageway being closed; and determining that the passageway is in a closed position when the wireless sensor node is magnetically polarized (the wireless sensor node being magnetically polarized when the magnet is proximate thereto).

A system and method for detecting the operational status of a brake system on a railcar. The system receives from a sensor an indication of the magnitude of a braking force applied by the braking system in response to an instruction to increase or decrease the braking force. It compares the response to possible responses of the braking system in view of the instruction provided. Based on the comparison, the system generates at least one of a message and/or an alert indicating the status of the brake system. Additional sensors, including a pressure sensor on a brake pipe of the railcar, can be added for additional functionality.

A knuckle of a coupler of a rail vehicle includes a main body including a recess formed in one or more surfaces. One or more weld fillers are disposed within the recess. A method of forming a knuckle of a coupler of a rail vehicle includes forming a recess in one or more surfaces of a main body, and disposing one or more weld fillers within the recess.

In one aspect, a mobile railway asset monitoring apparatus is provided that includes a magnetometer and a processor. The magnetometer is configured to detect a magnetic field produced by the earth and influenced by components of the mobile railway asset. The magnetometer is operable to detect a change in the magnetic field caused by relative movement of the components of the mobile railway asset. The processor is operatively connected to the magnetometer and configured to determine a parameter of the mobile railway asset based at least in part upon the change in the magnetic field caused by the relative movement of the components.