Method of manufacturing and energy absorption apparatus for a railroad car

A method of manufacturing an elastomeric spring for a railroad car, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elastomeric member having an initial shape including an initial height between opposed ends thereof, said elastomeric member being formed from an elastomeric material having an elastic strain to plastic strain ratio greater than 1.5 to 1;
• and
• compressing said elastomeric member in a predetermined repetitive pattern beyond a plastic limit thereof to permanently deform the initial shape thereof and transmute said elastomeric member into said elastomeric spring, with said predetermined repetitive pattern effectively simulating predetermined wear of said elastomeric spring while permitting said elastomeric spring to provide a substantially constant predetermined preload force after said elastomeric spring in arranged is operable combination with said railroad car.

A method for manufacturing an elastomeric spring for a railroad car energy absorption apparatus including first and second members arranged in axially spaced relation relative to each other, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elastomeric member having an initial shape including an initial height between opposed first and second generally parallel ends thereof, said elastomeric member being formed from an elastomeric material having an elastic strain to plastic strain ratio greater than 1.5 to 1;
• and
• compressing said elastomeric member in a predetermined cycle and in a predetermined repetitive pattern to permanently deform the initial shape thereof and transmute said elastomeric member into said elastomeric spring with said predetermined repetitive pattern applied to said elastomeric member simulating predetermined wear of said elastomeric spring while permitting said elastomeric spring member to maximize and maintain a substantially constant elastomeric spring preload force to be applied between said members after said elastomeric spring is arranged in operable combination therewith.