Elastomer cushion unit for railcar

A device, comprising:

• a first housing comprising a first wall, a first closed end, a first open end and a first hollow interior;
• a second housing comprising a second wall, a second closed end, a second open end and a second hollow interior, the second hollow interior sized to receive the first wall therewithin;
• and
• a spring disposed within each of first and second hollow interiors between the first closed end and the second closed end, the spring including elastomeric units disposed in a series with each other, each elastomeric unit configured with an elastomeric pad and a rigid plate disposed in a surface to surface contact with the elastomeric pad, the rigid plate having apertures through a thickness of the rigid plate, the thickness defined by a pair of surfaces spaced apart from each other, and excluding any projections on each surface from the pair of surfaces;
• the first wall designed for a reciprocal linear movement within the second hollow interior between a first position where the first open end being disposed at a distance from the second closed end and a second position where the first open end being disposed in a direct contact with the second closed end;
• the spring extending past the first open end when the first housing is disposed in the first position.

A device, comprising:

• a railcar yoke comprising an open front end designed to receive therewithin a shank of a coupler, a rear wall, two straps connecting the open front end with the rear wall and defining a yoke cavity between the open front end and the rear wall, a first aperture through wall thicknesses in the open front end and a second aperture through a thickness of the rear wall;
• a coupler follower disposed within the yoke cavity adjacent the open front end and in a direct contact with an end of the shank;
• a draft pack disposed within the yoke cavity between the coupler follower and the rear wall to absorb each of a buff load and a draft load from a railcar through the coupler;
• and
• a buff pack disposed external to the rear wall to absorb the buff load, the buff pack comprising:
• a first housing comprising a first wall, a first extremity, a first open end, a first hollow interior and a first aperture through a thickness of the first extremity,
• a second housing comprising a second wall, a second extremity, a second open end, a second hollow interior, and a second aperture through a thickness of the second extremity, the second wall sized to receive the first wall therewithin,
• a spring disposed within each of first and second hollow interiors between the first extremity and the second extremity, the spring comprising a stack of elastomeric pads and rigid plates at least interposed between the elastomeric pads, the spring further comprising aligned axial apertures in each elastomeric pad and in each rigid plate and apertures in the each rigid plate around a respective axial aperture, the each rigid plate excluding any projections on each of a pair of surfaces of the each rigid plate, and
• a rod passed through aligned apertures in the spring and through the second aperture, the rod comprising an abutment sized and shaped to be received within the first aperture,
• first and second housings being designed for a reciprocal linear movement relative to one another between a first position where the first open end being disposed at a distance from the second extremity and a second position where the first open end being disposed in a direct contact with the second extremity.

A device, comprising:

• a housing at least including:
• a first extremity,
• a second extremity opposite the first extremity along a length of the device defined by first and second extremities,
• a wall, the wall having a first edge at the first extremity and a second edge disposed at a distance from the second extremity, the wall partially extending along the length and defining a hollow interior;
• and
• a spring at least partially disposed within the hollow interior in a direct contact with at least one extremity from the first and second extremities;
• and
• a sensor positioned and operable to sense a presence or an absence of a contact between the wall and the second extremity.

A device, comprising:

• a first housing at least including a first wall, a first closed end, a first open end and a first hollow interior;
• a second housing at least including a second wall, a flange with an aperture, a second open end and a second hollow interior, the second hollow interior sized to receive the first wall therewithin;
• a third housing at least including a third and wall, a third open end, a second closed end, and a third hollow interior;
• a spring being disposed within each of the first hollow interior, the second hollow interior and the third hollow interior and in a direct contact with each of first and second closed ends, the spring being sized to pass through the aperture;
• the first wall designed for a reciprocal linear movement within the second hollow interior between a first position where the first open end being disposed at a distance from the flange and a second position where the first open end being disposed in a direct contact with a portion of the flange.

A device, comprising:

• a first housing comprising a first wall, a first closed end, a first open end and a first hollow interior;
• a second housing comprising a second wall, a second closed end, a second open end and a second hollow interior, the second hollow interior sized to receive the first wall therewithin;
• and
• a spring disposed within each of first and second hollow interiors between the first closed end and the second closed end, the spring including elastomeric units disposed in a series with each other, each elastomeric unit configured with an elastomeric pad and a rigid plate disposed in a surface to surface contact with the elastomeric pad, the rigid plate having apertures through a thickness of the rigid plate, the thickness defined by a pair of surfaces spaced apart from each other, and excluding any projections on each surface from the pair of surfaces, the elastomeric pad and the rigid plate further having axial apertures sized to receive a peripheral surface of a projection therethrough, the projection extending from an interior surface of at least one closed end from first and second closed ends.