For Strato, Atlas doesn’t shrug
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
The appropriately named Atlas line of knuckles, couplers and yokes from Strato, Inc., showcased at Railway Interchange 2015 (Booth 3709, RSI), are produced with “an optimum manufacturing process that ensures consistent dimensions for proper fit and function, longer fatigue life and smoother surface finish to reduce the amount of stress risers and minimize crack initiation.”
“The Atlas product line has been in the field for seven years,” notes Strato CEO Mike Foxx. “The results from railroads and car owners show dramatic maintenance savings.” For example, the E-Knuckle, which is approved by the Association of American Railroads Coupling System and Truck Casting Committee, “exceeds AAR M-216 knuckle fatigue test requirements of an average 600,000 cycles before a failure occurs, and is averaging one million cycles,” he says. “The failure rate for this knuckle is one-third that of others.” This number can also be expressed as a 3:1 changeout ratio.
The Atlas E-Knuckle is manufactured with AAR M-201 grade E steel. It fits all E and E/F couplers. The matching E-Yoke offers “a wider strap that is 26% wider at this critical transition point to reduce cracks and stretching,” Strato says. “Its smooth surface eliminates stress riders that can lead to cracks, and eliminates grinding that can cause surface discontinuities. Its shorter nose makes it easy to install and remove, and its zero-draft-angle key slot with parallel pulling faces prevent key slot damage, resulting in longer life for both yoke and key. Casting and performance studies from railroads have shown conventional E-yokes, excluding premature failures, last an average of 800,000 miles. Reconditioned yokes last an average of 650,000 miles.”
