Articulated rail coupler

Abstract

An articulated rail coupler comprises a base member, a female connecting member, a male connecting member, a bearing race, a first bearing seated within the bearing race and defining a vertical axis of rotation, and a second or a coupler bearing configured and sized to be received within a truck bogie bearing bowl. The male connecting member is allowed to rotate relative to the female connecting member about the vertical axis of rotation in a range of about ninety degrees, when the male connecting member and the female connecting member are coupled therebetween by the first bearing.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A railcar, comprising:
 a first end;   a second end disposed opposite the first end along a longitudinal axis of the railcar;   a first tapered edge surface in each end from the first and second ends; and   a second tapered edge surface in the each end from the first and second ends.   
     
     
         23 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising a notch disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in one end from the first and second ends. 
     
     
         24 . The railcar of  claim 23 , wherein the notch is sized to receive therewithin an end of a female connecting member of an articulated coupler. 
     
     
         25 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a notch disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in one end from the first and second ends; and   a female connecting member of an articulated coupler, the female connecting member having end being sized to be received within the notch.   
     
     
         26 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising a cavity disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in one end from the first and second ends. 
     
     
         27 . The railcar of  claim 26 , wherein the cavity is sized to receive therewithin an end of a male connecting member of an articulated coupler. 
     
     
         28 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a cavity disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in one end from the first and second ends; and   a male connecting member of an articulated coupler, the male connecting member having end being sized to be received within the cavity.   
     
     
         29 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising an articulated rail coupler rigidly attached to one end from the first and second ends. 
     
     
         30 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a female connecting member of an articulated coupler rigidly attached to one end from the first and second ends; and   a male connecting member of the articulated coupler rigidly attached to another end from the first and second ends.   
     
     
         31 . The railcar of  claim 30 , wherein the female connecting member comprises:
 a base member;   a void through a thickness of the base member;   a first end disposed at a distance from a surface of the base member; and   a second end with two walls, a bore in one wall from the two walls and an aperture in another wall from the two walls, the aperture and the bore defining a rotational axis of the female connecting member.   
     
     
         32 . The railcar of  claim 30 , further comprising a housing with a peripheral wall defining a hollow interior and with one end being rigidly attached to the female connecting member. 
     
     
         33 . The railcar of  claim 32 , wherein the peripheral wall further includes a concave portion disposed adjacent a longitudinally opposite end, the concave portion being sized and shaped to clear an axle of a truck bogie of the railcar. 
     
     
         34 . The railcar of  claim 33 , further comprising a railcar coupler extending from a longitudinally opposite end of the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The railcar of  claim 34 , further comprising a shock absorbing member disposed within the hollow interior 
     
     
         36 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising a cavity disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in one end from the first and second ends and a notch disposed centrally about the longitudinal axis in another end from the first and second ends. 
     
     
         37 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a cavity in one tapered edge surface from the first and second tapered edge surfaces; and   an abutment on an another tapered edge surface from the first and second tapered edge surfaces, the abutment sized and shaped to be received within the cavity.   
     
     
         38 . The railcar of  claim 22 , further comprising two truck bogies.