AU728388B2 - Fabricated support - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 o* o*ooo* .o *o* o h fo s

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: FABRICATED SUPPORT Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE SIGNAL COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 C:WINWORESHARONMNDREW\GENERALICAPFORMS DOC -la FABRICATED SUPPORT The present invention relates to a fabricated support for a brake actuator suitable for attachment to a rolling chassis. The invention is principally, although not exclusively concerned with brake actuators for rail bogies, trolleys or the like and it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that specific application. However, it is to be appreciated that the invention as hereinafter described is not restricted to that application.

Rail bogies are generally used to support a carriage, cargo hold or the like, and typically include two pairs of wheels spaced on either side of a load supporting member. The bogie also normally includes a braking mechanism for application against one or more of the wheels, so as to retard movement of the carriage or cargo hold to which it is attached. Such braking mechanisms are actuated by suitable actuating means and the present invention concerns a 15 fabricated support for supporting such a brake actuator.

S'In the past, brake assemblies used on rail bogies (particularly those intended for trucks designed to service heavy loads) have utilised cast iron support beams. A broadly used configuration has utilised two such cast iron support beams in spaced parallel relation, connected together by push rods 20 attached to separate actuators housed within the respective cast iron support beams. Brake shoes attached to locating seats formed by castings at the ends of the respective support beams are moved towards and into contact with wheels on either side of the brake assembly by the actuators which can urge the cast iron beams apart.

Generally in such arrangements, the actuators are located within openings provided in the cast iron beams. Whilst cast iron beams used in such assemblies provide the requisite strength and durability to meet the demands of heavy rail cars, they are costly, heavy and expensive to replace and repair.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brake assembly that overcomes some of the deficiencies of the prior arrangements discussed above.

-2- According to the present invention there is provided a fabricated support for a brake actuator that has an actuator housing and an actuating rod extending through a forward end of said housing, said support including first and second structural members, said first structural member being fixed to and supporting a forward portion of said housing and said second structural member being fixed to and supporting a portion of said housing rearward of said forward portion, said first and second structural members being arranged for connection to a rolling chassis.

The actuator is preferably a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator having an actuator housing. The actuator housing may be of any suitable shape although it is preferably cylindrical.

For the purposes of this description, the expression "forward portion" is to be understood as relating to the portion of the actuator in the region **proximate to that from which the actuating shaft or rod extends, while the S. 15 expression "rearward portion" relates to the portion of the actuator in the region of the opposite end to the forward portion.

It is preferred that the first structural member is fixed to and supports an underside region of the forward portion of the actuator, so as to support that portion of the actuator. The first structural member is preferably attached to 20 the outer surface of the actuator housing. The second structural member can be fixed to and support the rearward portion of the actuator at the rear wall of the actuator housing.

The respective structural members may take any suitable configuration to support the brake actuator as required. Thus, the first structural member may for example be a beam member, such as a channel member, I beam solid rod or an RSJ, which is curved or formed in a manner to support the underside of the actuator. Likewise, the second structural member may also have a curved or formed configuration to extend about the rear of the actuator.

Alternatively the structural members may comprise two or more linear sections connected or formed at angles to one another. The configurations of each structural member may be achieved by pressing, forging, or otherwise bending the structural member, or any other appropriate method. Equally, the first and second structural members may include facility for attachment to the actuator, such as including bores or apertures for receiving fastening elements, or including bracing members or brackets for engagement with the actuator.

Formation of each structural member may be achieved by any suitable means. As described above, any suitable means can be employed to fix the first and second structural members to the actuator. For example, the members could be welded to the actuator housing by any suitable welding technique or alternatively, and more preferably, detachable attachment means can be used for fixing purposes and such attachment means could be in the form of locating brackets or braces which fix the respective members by suitable releasable fasteners, such as nut and bolt fasteners. Suitable locating brackets may be formed integral with the actuator housing or the structural **members, or such brackets or braces may be fixable to the housing or 15 structural members by suitable fastening means.

In a preferred form of the invention, the first and second structural members extend at either end from common regions or points and diverge from those regions or points in order to support the brake actuator. At each common region or point, the ends of the respective structural members may be 20 connected, such as by welding, bolting or riveting. Alternatively, a suitable bracket or sleeve may accommodate the respective ends in fixed relationship.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the fabricated support includes brake heads provided for carrying a brake friction material for braking action against the wheel of a rail bogie or the like. The brake heads can be provided at any suitable location and in a preferred embodiment, the brake heads are provided at end regions of one or both of the first and second structural members. In a most preferred form, the brake heads are connected to the fabricated support in the region at which the first and second structural members are joined at common points and in that form, the brake heads may be attached to the respective structural members by a suitable bracket. The brake heads are preferably releasably connected to the fabricated support, so -4that if damaged can be replaced as necessary. Preferably the brake heads are attached by riveting and the rivets may be drilled out to remove a brake head which has been damaged.

Various parts of the fabricated support can be cast, although the invention contemplates a fabricated casting rather than a solid casting. For example, the first and second structural members may be cast and connected in any suitable manner to the brake heads, or other relevant components.

The fabricated support may include additional structural members either attached to the first and/or second structural members and/or to the actuator.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided an assembly including a pair of opposed fabricated supports each for supporting a brake actuator that has an actuator housing and an actuating rod extending through a forward end of said housing, each of said supports including first and second structural members said first structural member being fixed to and 15 supporting a forward portion of said housing and said second structural member being fixed to and supporting a portion of said housing rearward of said forward portion, said first and second structural members being arranged for connection to a rolling chassis, each of said actuating rods extending into connection with the respective opposed fabricated support, so that rod 20 movement promotes movement of one or both of said opposed fabricated supports.

The fabricated supports may include additional structural members and in one preferred embodiment both include a support member attached to the first and second structural members for supporting the actuator. Alternatively, the actuator can be attached directly to the first and second structural members.

The support member(s) may take any suitable form, such as a bracing facility connected in any suitable manner to said first and second structural members.

Connection of the actuating shafts to the fabricated support can be accomplished by any suitable means but in one preferred embodiment, the fabricated support preferably includes connection means to connect to the actuating rod or shaft of the opposed actuator. The connection means may be connected to one or both of the first and second structural members and in one form, the connection means may include a C-shaped channel capable of accommodating the distal end of the actuating shaft of an opposed actuator.

Preferably, the channel includes a pair of bores extending through opposed sides of the channel, for receiving a locating pin or the like therethrough. In this arrangement, the distal end of the actuating shaft preferably also includes an opening suitable to receive the locating pin and thus fix the distal end within 10 the channel. Clearly, there will be many other arrangements to accomplish the required connection.

In the above arrangement, the pair of opposed fabricated supports can *0 operate to apply a braking force to a rail bogie having two pairs of wheels. The o brake actuators each act to push the fabricated supports apart, thereby forcing 15 the brake shoes carrying the friction material into contact with the bogie wheels.

In each form of the invention, it may be appropriate and it is preferred that the housing of the relevant actuator forms part of the fabricated support.

That is, the fabricated support can be arranged in such a manner that the 20 actuator housing itself becomes a structural member which has a load bearing capability. By utilising the actuator housing in this manner, the requirement for additional structural members can be reduced or eliminated, with a corresponding weight reduction in the overall assembly. Additionally, a cost advantage arises in view of the reduced number of components necessary to support the brake actuator.

By manipulating the structural members and actuator housing in the manner described, the rigidity of the assembly is also maintained to the levels required under operating conditions. Thus, the fabricated support of the invention has favourable advantages compared to known prior art arrangements.

-6- The attached drawings show an example embodiment of the invention included in an assembly of the foregoing kind. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fabricated support according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a pair of opposed fabricated supports of the kind shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of Fig. 2 in which the opposed fabricated supports are connected together.

Figure 4 shows a rail bogie in which the pair of fabricated supports of Fig. 3 are installed.

Figure 1 shows a fabricated support for a brake actuator according to one embodiment of the invention. The fabricated support 10 includes a first *:15 structural member 11 and a second structural member 12.

The first and second structural members 11 and 12 combine to support a brake actuator 13. The brake actuator 13 includes a housing 14 and an actuating rod or shaft 15 which extends through one end of the housing 14.

The brake actuator can be considered to have a forward portion and a 20 rearward portion, with the forward portion being supported by the first structural member 11 and rearward portion being supported by the second structural member 12.

The first structural member 11 supports the underside part of the brake actuator front portion and is connected thereto by any suitable means which are not seen in Figure 1. The second structural member 12 supports the rear surface 16 of the brake actuator by way of a pair of brackets 17. Each of the brackets 17 is fixed to the rear surface 16 of the brake actuator 13, by way of securing bolts 18 which are threadably received within lugs 19 extending outwardly of the rear surface 16.

The fabricated support 10 further includes a connecting bracket 20 for receiving and connecting the distal end 24 of a complimentary actuating shaft from an opposed brake actuator. This arrangement is more clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The connecting bracket 20, as shown in Figure 1, is connected at a front end to the first structural member 11 and at a rear end to the second structural member 12. The bracket 20 includes a shaped channel in which opposed sides 21 and 22 include bores 23, which are sized to receive a securing pin 33 or the like.

Referring to Figure 2, a pair of opposed fabricated supports 10, which are substantially identical, are shown in spaced relationship. From Figure 2, it can be seen that the connecting brackets 20 are aligned to receive the distal ends 24 of the actuating rods 15. The distal ends 24 are cylindrical and include a central opening which can be aligned with the bores 23 of the connecting brackets 20, so that a securing pin inserted through the bores 23 oooo also passes through the distal ends 24, thereby securing the actuating rods to the connecting brackets 20. Figure 3 illustrates this connection. A bracket and hose for hydraulic supply is shown at 34 in Figure 2.

The opposed fabricating supports 10 as shown in Figure 3 are arranged to be attached to a rail bogie 25 of the kind shown in Figure 4. The rail bogie includes two pairs of wheels 26 and 27 supported on respective axles 28 and 29 and a load supporting member 30 extending across the bogie 20 parallel to the axles 28 and 29, for supporting a rail carriage or cargo hold or 9.

the like.

While the overall assembly of the rail bogie illustrated in Figure 4 obscures some of the componentary of the fabricated support 10, various parts of the fabricated supports and the actuators 13 can be seen. Also, it is evident from Figure 4 as to the operation of the brake shoes 31 against the bogie wheels 26 and 27.

Referring to Figure 3, actuation of the brake actuators 13 causes extension of the actuating rods 15, so as to separate the respective fabricated supports a distance equal to the travel of the actuating rods 15. By this mechanism, the brake heads 32 which carry braking friction material 31, are caused to engage the respective wheel surfaces 26 and 27 to impart a -8retarding force against rotation of those wheels and thus the rail bogie is caused to brake.

The arrangement shown in the drawings provides a light weight, high strength fabricated assembly which is easily maintained by providing few movable joints. The fabricated support advantageously is suitable for use with most known brake actuators, although customised actuators can also be utilised. Additionally, the provision of removable brake heads provides advantage over other systems which have fixed brake heads, as worn or damaged brake heads can be easily replaced. The assembly is further advantageous because the brake actuators can be removed as single sealed units and are not required to be dismantled.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or i 15 additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

o• ,o 0o

Claims (26)

1. A fabricated support for a brake actuator that has an actuator housing and an actuating rod extending through a forward end of said housing, said support including first and second structural members, said first structural member being fixed to and supporting a forward portion of said housing and said second structural member being fixed to and supporting a portion of said housing rearward of said forward portion, said first and second structural members being arranged for connection to a rolling chassis.

2. A fabricated support according to claim 1, said first structural member being fixed to and supporting, in use, the underside of the housing.

3. A fabricated support according to claims 1 or 2, said second structural 15 member being fixed to and supporting the rear of the housing.

4. A fabricated support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first structural member is a beam member. *o

5. A fabricated support according to claim 4, said first structural member being either a channel member, or an I beam, or a solid rod.

6. A fabricated support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein respective ends of said first and second structural members extend from common regions to positions at which they are fixed to and support the respective portions of said housing.

7. A fabricated support according to claim 6, wherein said respective ends of said first and second structural members are connected together.

8. A fabricated support according to claim 7, wherein said first and second structural members are connected together by welding, bolting or riveting, or by a bracket or sleeve.

9. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, wherein said first and/or said second structural members are curved to support the respective portions of said housing.

A fabricated support according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said first and/or said second structural members having two or more linear sections connected or formed at angles to one another. see* 0:0.

11. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, said first and second structural members being formed by pressing, forging or bending.

12. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, said first and/or second structural members including facility for attachment to said housing.

13. A fabricated support according to any one of claims 1 to 11, said first 20 and/or second structural members being welding to the said housing. S. o S.

14. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, further including brake heads for carrying brake friction material, said brake heads being attached to or adjacent the respective ends of one or both of said first and second structural members.

A fabricated support according to claim 14, when dependent on claim 6, said brake heads being attached to or adjacent said common regions.

16. A fabricated support according to claim 14 or 15, said brake heads being releasably attached to said respective ends. -11-

17. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, including connecting means for connecting to an actuating rod of another actuator.

18. A fabricated support according to claim 17, said connecting means including a bracket for receiving a distal end of the actuating rod of said another actuator and having openings through which a securing pin can be inserted.

19. A fabricated support according to any preceding claim, wherein said brake actuator is hydraulic or pneumatic.

*20. An assembly including a pair of opposed fabricated supports each for supporting a brake actuator that has an actuator housing and an actuating rod extending through a forward end of said housing, each of said supports oO° including first and second structural members said first structural member 9* 9 being fixed to and supporting a forward portion of said housing and said second structural member being fixed to and supporting a portion of said housing rearward of said forward portion, said first and second structural 20 members being arranged for connection to a rolling chassis, each of said •i actuating rods extending into connection with the respective opposed fabricated support, so that rod movement promotes movement of one or both of said opposed fabricated supports.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein said pair of opposed fabricated supports are each fabricated supports according to any one of claims 2 to 19.

22. An assembly according to claim 20 or 21, said assembly being arranged on a rail bogie such that actuating movement of said actuating rods outwardly of said respective housings results in separating movement of said opposed -12- fabricated supports and return movement of said supports occurs upon reverse movement of said actuating rods.

23. A rail bogie including an assembly according to any one of claims 20 to 22 and being arranged for brake actuation against a wheel or wheels of said bogie.

24. A fabricated support substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

25. An assembly according to claim 20, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 2 to 4. p

26. A rail bogie substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4. PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: *S WESTINGHOUSE BRAKE SIGNAL COMPANY (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED 2 G cu^Bo~k