Horst T Kaufhold

US Patent:

6360906, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Jul 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/620983

Inventors:

Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
John J. Steffen - Aurora IL

Assignee:

Amsted Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61G 100

US Classification:

213 75R, 213 32 C

Abstract:

A pocket-casting is provided for a railcar slackless coupler having a draft gear subassembly for preloading the coupler assembly in the buff and draft directions, which pocket-casting and cooperating positive stops in a center-sill of a railcar limit the longitudinal travel and consequent loading of the slackless coupler in both the buff and draft directions for transfer of the forces to the plate-reinforced center sill to ease the shock loading on the coupler assembly.

US Patent:

6446820, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Sep 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/657297

Inventors:

Ronald E. Barker - Somonauk IL
Charles E. Burkhart - Millerstown PA
Marlin E. Clark - Etters PA
John F. Deppen - New Cumberland PA
V. Terrey Hawthorne - Lisle IL
Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
Jay P. Monaco - Mechanicsburg PA
Julius I. Pershwitz - Grantham PA
John J. Steffen - Aurora IL

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61G 710

US Classification:

213 75R, 213 62 R, 213 46 R, 213 75 R

Abstract:

A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

US Patent:

6681943, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Jan 29, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/057873

Inventors:

Ronald E. Barker - Somonauk IL
Charles E. Burkhart - Millerstown PA
Marlin E. Clark - Etters PA
John F. Deppen - New Cumberland PA
V. Terrey Hawthorne - Lisle IL
Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
Jay P. Monaco - Mechanicsburg PA
Julius I. Pershwitz - Grantham PA
John J. Steffen - Aurora IL

Assignee:

Amsted Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61G 710

US Classification:

213 75R, 213 46 R

Abstract:

A draft gear assembly is disclosed alone and in combination with a draft sill and a coupler. The draft sill has front and rear stops defining a draft gear pocket. The draft gear assembly has a yoke, a coupler follower, a rear follower, a front resilient member and a back resilient member. The yoke has top and bottom stops. The coupler follower is biased against the yoke top and bottom stops. The draft gear assembly also includes a center rod that extends through the yoke, through the back resilient member and through the rear follower. Prior to installation on a railcar, there is a shortening member on the center rod. The length of the assembly between the shortening member and the front of the coupler follower is slightly less than the longitudinal length of the draft gear pocket. After installation, the rear follower is positioned against rear stops of the draft sill. After installation, the yoke, coupler and coupler follower each have a neutral position and a full buff position.

US Patent:

63052989, Oct 23, 2001

Filed:

Mar 31, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/283081

Inventors:

Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
Douglas L. Compton - Bolingbrook IL
Brian A. Toussaint - Bolingbrook IL
Ronald G. Butler - Mundelein IL
Jeffery R. Ladendorf - Mount Prospect IL

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61D 1700

US Classification:

105420

Abstract:

The present invention provides a lightweight draft sill end casting for use with railroad cars. The cast draft sill has side walls, front and rear stops, front and rear rib sets and a center plate that are cast as a unit. The draft sill has an open area between the tops of the side walls between the front and rear stops, with a cast metal span connecting the two side walls. The cast metal span may comprise one or more spacer bars or part of a top wall. The cast metal span is in the area between the planes of the front stops and the rear stops. The front and rear stops are spaced below the tops of the side walls. In one embodiment, there are additional lightener holes in each side wall between the ribs in the rear rib set and in the pocket. The total weight of the cast draft sill is not substantially greater than the weight of a comparable fabricated draft sill of substantially the same size, and has a greater fatigue life. The total open area connecting the interior and the exterior of the draft sill between the front stop plane and the rear stop plane is at least 130 square inches.

US Patent:

58098984, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

Jan 30, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/792808

Inventors:

Horst T. Kaufhold - Aurora IL
John J. Steffen - Aurora IL

Assignee:

Amsted Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61D 4900

US Classification:

105 41

Abstract:

An improved female connecting member for an articulated connector has a ring seat for a ring within an annular groove for contacting the male member of the connector, which female member has an improved undersurface passage for a probe to provide greater access to the ring-seat undersurface and more mechanical leverage to dislodge a worn ring seat; and, in an alternative embodiment, a structure and tool are provided for removal of a ring-seat from the exposed upper ring-seat surface.

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.

US Patent:

51334674, Jul 28, 1992

Filed:

Apr 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/692704

Inventors:

V. Terrey Hawthorne - Lyle IL
Horst T. Kaufhold - Chicago IL
John F. Oesch - Alliance OH

Assignee:

AMSTED Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61G 900

US Classification:

213 59

Abstract:

An articulated railcar connector assembly includes improved wedge shim and follower block components that are shaped for improved early service life, the wedge shim having laterally spaced vertical lands to contact the assembly end wall and the follower block having a compound curvature bearing surface to receive the end of a male connector member; and both wedge and follower block may have abutting chevron-like concave and convex bearing surfaces wherein the included angle of the convex bearing surfaces exceeds the included angle of the concave bearing surfaces.

US Patent:

51159260, May 26, 1992

Filed:

Sep 26, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/568773

Inventors:

Horst T. Kaufhold - Chicago IL

Assignee:

Amsted Industries Incorporated - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B61G 920

US Classification:

213 50

Abstract:

An improved arrangement for retention of a drawbar is provided in which a single retention member of unitary construction extends laterally within the center sill and fits completely about a longitudinal portion of the butt end of the drawbar. A vertical connecting pin passes through a vertical opening in the drawbar and is also received in aligned vertical openings in the retention member to connect the drawbar to the retention member. The longitudinal draft loads of the drawbar are distributed over the entire interfacing portions of the vertical connecting pin and the retention member for transfer to striker members which are integrated with the center sill and ultimately dispose the longitudinal draft loads into the center sill. The retention arrangement is easily installed and removed and no welding is required between the retention member and the center sill.