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The theory was tested in
December 1954 by modifying an existing car with the technology (initially known as the "Hydra-friction") in Sacramento and placing it into relatively difficult service; the car greatly exceeded expectations. The second iteration, bearing the more widely known name of
111:, the part that connects the couplings to the rolling stock. In MacCurdy's design, the coupler has an extended connection to the center of the railway car, combined with interleaved fingers at each end of the railway car helping to absorb some of the effects of acceleration.
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119:, was introduced in April 1956, and Southern Pacific built and deployed an additional 350 of these cars in summer 1957. The average damage to freight was reduced to 1/25th of previous values.
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for achievements "in the field of railway impact control and associated car design, with resulting benefits in reducing lading and rolling stock damage". In 1967,
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MacCurdy joined SRI International in 1952 with a background in shipbuilding; he was previously a naval architect.
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MacCurdy left SRI to be the chief research engineer in the
Transportation Equipment Division of
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156:... has to be one of the most significant anniversaries in the annals of the industry."
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Impact tests of cushion underframes and hydrafriction and standard draft gears
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in 1954. Cushioned rail cars based on his design are still the standard.
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107:; in particular, Southern Pacific was concerned with the
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194:A Heritage of Innovation: SRI's First Half Century
103:with SRI in 1954, and asked them to design a new
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290:. Vol. 2, no. 2. 1958. pp. 44–45.
152:noted that "The 10th anniversary of the cushion-
269:"Era of car cushioning began 10 years ago".
223:"Direct-Acting Hydraulic Pneumatic Device"
227:United States Patent and Trademark Office
134:In 1964, MacCurdy and Southern Pacific's
346:"A Research Accomplishment Acknowledged"
200:: SRI International. pp. 6-1–6-3.
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407:American railroad mechanical engineers
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334:. Vol. 20. 1965. p. 166.
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286:"Softer Rides for Rail Freight".
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221:Inventor William K. MacCurdy.
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275:. 1967-02-27. pp. 34–35.
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375:Millbrae Historical Society
253:Stanford Research Institute
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371:Millbrae Life & Times
144:George R. Henderson Medal
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402:SRI International people
302:"Railroad Hydra-Cushion"
192:Nielson, Donald (2006).
306:Timeline of Innovations
198:Menlo Park, California
124:Evans Products Company
54:Evans Products Company
364:"Train Museum News"
136:William E. Thomford
76:that developed the
66:William K. MacCurdy
23:William K. MacCurdy
140:Franklin Institute
350:SRI International
310:SRI International
207:978-0-9745208-1-0
97:Donald J. Russell
74:SRI International
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50:SRI International
40:Scientific career
16:American engineer
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379:. Retrieved
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72:engineer at
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46:Institutions
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377:. June 2008
288:SRI Journal
272:Railway Age
149:Railway Age
81:freight car
29:Nationality
396:Categories
381:2012-04-01
315:2013-07-01
232:2012-04-01
160:References
154:underframe
109:draft gear
99:connected
142:'s 1964
70:American
33:American
352:. 1964.
255:. 1955.
68:was an
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130:Legacy
91:Career
367:(PDF)
202:ISBN
83:for
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