Coupling device for controlling axial thrust forces

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle; wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomeric-type material; wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle; wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomeric-type material; wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress.

Claim 32

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said flange-like portion of said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least one pressure sensing means is positioned at least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 33

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said flange-like portion of said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least one pressure sensing means is positioned at least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 34

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from a elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion of said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 35

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from a elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion of said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 36

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said generally hollow housing member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried thereby and said at least one pressure sensing means is positioned at least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material and said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material which is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 37

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said generally hollow housing member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried thereby and said at least one pressure sensing means is positioned at least partially within said at least one cavity, wherein said apparatus further includes a pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material and said pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material which is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said resilient spring-like element.

Claim 38

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element include an aperture formed therethrough to enable passing a portion of said rod-like member through said aperture, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a substantially identical amount of prestress as said at least one resilient spring-like element.

Claim 39

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element include an aperture formed therethrough to enable passing a portion of said rod-like member through said aperture, wherein said at least one resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned between said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a substantially identical amount of prestress as said at least one resilient spring-like element.

Claim 40

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is substantially identical, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element.

Claim 41

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is substantially identical, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element.

Claim 42

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flame-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is substantially identical, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element.

Claim 43

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flame-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is formed from an elastomer-type material, wherein said elastomer-type material forming each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is substantially identical, wherein said elastomer-type material forming said each of said first pressure transfer element and said second pressure transfer element is softer than said elastomer-type material forming said each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element.

Claim 45

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on aid rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 46

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on aid rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 58

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 59

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 60

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle: (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 61

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle: (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 62

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 63

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on a portion of an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; and (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least one resilient spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned to face a predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient spring-like element and said at least a second resilient spring-like element is formed as a generally solid element from an elastomer-type material, wherein said rod-like member forms at least a portion of a coupling jaw member of such coupling mechanism, wherein said flange-like portion on said rod-like member includes at least one cavity formed therein adjacent said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least one pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned and at least a second cavity formed therein adjacent said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder in which said at least a second pressure sensing means is at least partially positioned, wherein said apparatus further includes a first pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least one pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least one resilient spring-like element and a second pressure transfer element disposed intermediate said at least a second pressure sensing means and said predetermined end of said at least a second resilient spring-like element, wherein said apparatus further includes a summation unit which receives a positive signal from first one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means and a negative signal from a second one of said at least one pressure sensing means and said at least a second pressure sensing means, said summation unit generates a signal representing a resulting axial force according to both an amount of said axial force and a direction of said axial force from said positive signal and said negative signal.

Claim 64

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned within said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied within said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned within said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element and said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element include an aperture formed therethrough to enable passing a portion of said rod-like member through said aperture, wherein said at leas one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress and said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned between said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a substantially identical amount of prestress as said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element.

Claim 65

An apparatus for measuring an axially directed force which is transmitted in at least one predetermined direction by a coupling mechanism utilized to connect one end of a first vehicle to an adjacent end of a second vehicle, said axially directed force being transmitted during movement of such first vehicle and such second vehicle over at least one of a roadway surface and a railway surface, said apparatus for measuring said axially directed force comprising: (a) a generally hollow housing member, said generally hollow housing member having a capability of being engaged with at least one of such one end of such first vehicle and such adjacent end of such second vehicle; (b) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a first predetermined plane, said first predetermined plane being disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (c) a rod-like member, at least a portion of said rod-like member being disposed for axial movement within said generally hollow housing member, said rod-like member having a longitudinal axis which is disposed at least substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member; (d) a flange-like portion, said flange-like portion being disposed on an outer surface of said rod-like member intermediate each end of said rod-like member; (e) at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member faces said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member in a substantially parallel manner and is disposed in a first plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member; (f) at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element having a first end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end thereof positioned to abuttingly engage said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member; (g) at least one pressure sensing means positioned within said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied within said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element in said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such first vehicle and such second vehicle, wherein said apparatus further includes: (h) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being located in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said generally hollow housing member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said generally hollow housing member being substantially parallel to one another; (i) at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member, said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member facing said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and being in a second predetermined plane which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said rod-like member, each of said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder being carried by said flange-like portion of said rod-like member being substantially parallel to one another; and (j) at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element, a first end of said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and an opposed second end of said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned to abuttingly engage said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member, wherein said apparatus measures an axial force transmitted by a coupling vehicle in a pair of substantially axially opposed directions and said apparatus further includes at least a second pressure sensing means positioned within said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element for measuring an amount of pressure being exerted by an axial force being applied to said at least a second resilient spring-like element in a substantially axially opposite direction to said at least one predetermined direction by such coupling mechanism during operation of such vehicle, wherein each of said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element and said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element include an aperture formed therethrough to enable passing a portion of said rod-like member through said aperture, wherein said at leas one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned between said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least one load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a predetermined amount of prestress and said at least a second resilient elastomer-type spring-like element is positioned between said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said generally hollow housing member and said at least a second load bearing load transfer shoulder carried by said flange-like portion on said rod-like member under a substantially identical amount of prestress as said at least one resilient elastomer-type spring-like element.