CA1213836A - Brake system for railway vehicle and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
BRAKE SYSTEM FOR RAILWAY VEHICLE
AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
A brake system for a railway vehicle and method of making same are provided and such brake system comprises a brake rod member, a horizontal supporting member which is adapted to support the rod member for sliding movements thereon, and an antifriction component carried by the supporting member with the component serving to minimize wear and enable anti-friction movements during the sliding movements and wherein the component comprises a solid strip portion of substantially rectangular cross-sectional config-uration with the system further comprising at least one self-contained clip device for locking the strip portion against the supporting member and the clip device comprises a pair of resilient parallel legs and locking projections extending from the outer end portions of the parallel legs toward each other, with the clip device being disposed with the parallel legs embracing opposed vertical surfaces of the supporting member and with the projections snap lock-ed beneath a bottom surface thereof.

Description

3 ~

~ackground of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a brake system fora railway vehicle and method of making the same.

2. Prior Art Statement The brake system of a railway vehicle conven-tionally includes an actuating cylinder, brake snoes for the vehicle, and suitable mechanical devices interconnected between the cylinder and shoes. The entire brake system is operated by a conventional control system.
Accordingly, in such a conventional brake system it is kno~n to provide a brake rod member, a support structure for the brake rod member, with the support structure having a horizontally disposed supporting member which is adapted to support the rod member for sliding movements thereon, and an antifriction component made primarily of an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material and carried by one of the members with the component serving to minimi~e wear and enable antifriction movements during the sliding movements and as diselosed in U.S~ Patent No.
4,0799818.
It is also known in the art to provide a w~ar member for use between a pair of relatively movable components of a railway vehicle with ~he wear member comprising a support having a continuous supporting ~ 3 ~

surface, an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material having an antifriction wear surface, and a metal grid-like structure for attaching the polymeric material to the support and supporting same against the continuous supporting surface while providing integral reinforcem~nt for the polymeric material and as disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,238,039.
However, in the brake system disrlosed in the abovementioned patent, the antifriction component has the deficiency of comparatively high cost which is due to the large amount of polymeric material required and the complex configuration thereof.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved brake system for a railway vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method oE making a brake system of the character mentioned.
Other aspe~ts, embodiments, objects, and ad-vantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings.
Summary In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved brake system for a railway vehicle whicn overcomes the above-mentioned deficiency.
By one aspe~t of this lnvention, tnere is pro-vided in a brake system for a railway vehicle com-prising, a brake rod member, a support strueture for 33~

said brake rod member, said support structure havinga horizontally disposed supporting member which is adapted to support said rod member for sliding move-ments thereon, and an antifriction component ~ade primarily o~ an ultra high molecu~ar weight poly-meric material and carried by one of said members, said component serving to minimize wear and enable antifric~ion movements during said sliding movements, the improvement in which said component comprises a solid strip portion of subs~antially rectangular cross-sectional configuration and said system further comprises self-contained clip means for locking said strip portion against said supporting member, said clip means comprising a pair of resilient parallel legs and a locking projection extending from the outer end portion of each parallel leg toward the other parallel leg, said clip means being disposed with said parallel legs embracing opposed vertical surfaces of said supporting member and with said pro-jections snap locked beneath a bottom surface thereof.
By another aspect of this invention, ther~ isprovided in a method of making a brake system for a railway vehicle comprising ~he steps of, providing a brake rod member, fastening a support structure for said brake rod member on said v~hicle, said sup port structure having a horizontally disposed supporting member which is adapted to support said rod member for sliding movements thereon, providing an antifriction component made primarily of an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material, and attaching said component on one of said members, said component serving to minimize wear and enable antifriction movements during said sliding movements, the improvement in which said step of providing said component comprises providing a solid strip portion of substantially rectangular cross-sectional configur-ation, and said attaching step comprises providing self-contained clip means and locking said strip portion against said supporting member with said self-contained clip means, said clip means comprising a pair of resilient parallel legs and a locking pro-jection extending from the ou~er end portion of each parallel leg toward the other parallel leg, said clip means being disposed during said locking step with said parallel legs embracing opposed vertical sur-faces of said supporting member and with said proj ec-tions snap locked beneath a bottom surface thereof.
Brief Descrip~ion of the Drawings The accompanying drawings show present preferred embodiments of this invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating an exemplary railway vehicle in the form of a railway car which utilizes one exemplary embodiment of the ~ 21 ~ ~ 3 ~

brake system of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a view, taken essentially on the line 2-2 of FIG. l, illustrating an antifriction component supported on a horizontally disposed sup-porting member of a support s-tructure and such component serves to minimize wear between a brake rod member slidably supported on the supporting Member and such supporting ~ember;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line 3-3 of FIG. l;
FIG. 4 i5 an exploded isometric view of the parts illustrated in FIG. 3 particularly showing the antifriction component and clip means consisting of a pair of clips for snap locking the component in position;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an antifriction component comprising the brake system of this invention and associated clip means defined by a pair of clips made of synthetic plastic material;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-seetional view, which is similar to FIG. 3, of the assembled components illustrated in FIG. 5 and also taken through one of the clips;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an anti-friction componen~ of this invention which has integral . - 5 -~ 3 ~

clip means defined as an integral part ther~of;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the parts illustrated in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is an isometric view with parts in cross section and parts broken away illustrating ano~her exemplary embodiment of an antifriction com-ponent and associated clip means;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken essentially on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 with the structure of FIG. 10 installed on its sup-porting member; and FIG. 12 is an isometrie view of the anti-friction component and its clips as shown in FIG. 10 exploded away from its supporting member.
Detailed Description Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a railway vehicle in the form of a railway car 15 and such car has a brake system which i~ designated generally by the reference numeral 16.
The brake system 16 may be of any type known in th~
art and may comprise a suitably supported actuating cylinder 17 (indicated schematically), brake shoes 18 for the car, a mechanical linkage system 20 ~etween the cylinder and shoes, and a conventional con~rol system 21 which is also shown schematically. A more ~ 3 ~

detailed presentation of all cooperatin~ components of the brake system has not been presented in this disclosure to keep the presentation simple and easily understandable. Only those coopera~ing parts of the brake system 16 particularly applicable to this invention will now be described in detail.
The bral;e system 16 and in particular the mechanical linka~e SySteM 20 thereof comprises a plurality of brake rod members including a brake rod member which is designated by the reference numeral 23. The system 20 also comprises a sup-port structure 24 for the brake rod member 23 and such support structure 24 is often referred to as a support hanger.
The support hanger or structure 24 of this example is a substantially U-shaped structure which has a pair of vertically disposed arms each designated by the same reference numeral 25, and a horizontally disposed supporting member 26. The support arms ar~ suitably fixed to the railway car 15 at the top portions thereo~ and in this example of the inven~ion such support arms 25 are welded to a member 27 by welds 30 and the member 27 is in turn detachably fixed to the underside of the body of the railway car 15. The horizontally disposed supporting member 26 of the support structure 24 is particularly adapted to support the rod member 23 ~ ~ 3 ~ ~ ~

for sliding reciprocating movements thereon and such movements are designated schematically by the double arrow 31 in FIG. 1.
The brake system 16 comprises an antifriction component 32 which is carried by the member 26 and is engaged by the rod member 23. The component 32 serves to minimize wear and enable antifriction rnove-ments during sliding movements of the rod 23 on the horizontally disposed supporting member 26. The antifriction component 32 is made of an ultra high molecular weight (UH~) polymeric material and pre-ferably the component 32 is made of U~v~ polyethylene having a molecular weight of at least two million.
Preferably the molecular weight of the polymeric material defining the component 32 is in the range of four to six million; however, such molecular weight may be even greatex. The preferred technique for determining ~his molecular weight is referred to as the intrinsic viscosity test and is widely used in the United States.
The component 32 comprises a solid strip por-tion of substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration and the cross-sectional configuration being referred to is any cross section taken perpen-dicular to the elongate dimension or longitudinal axis of such component 32.
The brake system 16 also comprises self-cnntained ~ 6 clip means which is designated generally by the reference numeral 33 for locking the strip portion 32 against the support member 26. The clip means 33 comprises at least one clip and in this example of the invention comprises a set of two clips each desig-nated by the same reference numeral 34. Each clip 34 o~ the clip means comprises a pair of parallel legs each designated by the same reference numeral 35 and a locking projection 36 extending from the outer end portion of each parallel leg 35 toward the other parallel leg 35. The clips 34 of the clip means 33 are dis-posed with their parallel legs 35 embracing opposed vertical surfaces, each designated by the same refer-ence numeral 37 in FIG. 3, of the supporting member 2~ and with the locking projections 36 snap locked beneath a bottom surface 40 of such supporting mem~
ber 26.
Each locking projection 36 has a cam surface 41 and a locking part 42. Each cam surface 41 is adapted to urge its associated leg 35 outwardly from an associa~ed vertical surface 37 during installation of the strip portion or component 32 against the sup-porting member 26; and, once the locking part 42 of a particular locking projec~ion 36 clears the bottom surface 40 its associated leg 35 snaps inwardly to-ward the other leg 35 of the pair with the locking part 42 beneath the bottom surface 40.

~ 2~ ~ 3 ~

As will be readily apparent from FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 of thP drawings the strip portion or component 32 in this ex~mple is a separate elongate strip and the clip means comprises the previously mentioned pair of substantially U-shaped clips 34. Each U-shaped clip 34 has a bight 43 with the abovedescribed pair of legs 35 extending outwardly from such bight 43. Each clip 34 is adapted to be disposed with its bight 43 against a top surface of the strip portion or component 32 and with the parallel legs 35 also embracing opposed ver~ical surfaces of such strip which are disposed in vertical aligllment with the opposed surfaces 37 of supporting member and the vertical surfaces of the strip which are so disposed in vertical alignmen~ are each designated by the same reference numeral 45 and illustrated in FIGo 3 of the drawings.
Each locking porjection 36 is defined as an angled end poxtion which adjoins the terminal end 46 of its leg 35 as an integral part thereof. In addition, each angled end portio~ has an outside surface which defines the cam surface 41 and a reversely fonmed or bent terminal tip 47 which defines the locking part 42 at the base of such tip.
The elongate strip or component 32 has a pair of substantially identical elongate cutout slots therein, each of which is designated by the same

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reference numeral 50. Each cutout slot is of roughly rectangular cross-sectional configuration and ex-tends inwardly from the top surface 51 of the compon-ent 32; and, each cutout slot is preferably disposed with its elongate aimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or the elongate dimension of the elongate strip or component 32.
~ ach U-shaped clip 34 of the clip means 33 has its bight 43 which is adapted to be disposed in nested relation within an associated cutout slot 50, In particular, the width of each slot 50 is slightly larger than the corresponding width of the bight 43.
Also, ~he thickness of the bight 43 and the depth of its associated cutout slot 50 is such that the top surface of the bight 43, with the clip 34 snap locked in position, is such that the top surface of the bight 43 is beneath the top surface 51 of the component 32 and as illustrated fypically at 52 in FIG~ ~.
Each U-shaped clip 34 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 is preferably made of a metallic material;
and, any suitable m tallic material known in the art may be used for this purposP. However, preferably such clip is made of a ferrous metal which has a resilient character and is such that the locking pro-jections thereof will readily snap lock in position once the clip is installed around an associat~d ~3~33~

component 32 and its horizontally disposed supporting member 26.
The brake system 16 may utilize other embodi-ments of coopera~ing components of this invention and such other embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12 and are comprised of modifications of the antifriction component 32 and clip means 33 which are designated by the same reference numerals 32 and 33 followed by the reference lett rs A, B~ and C, in FIGS, 5-6, 7-9, and 10 12 respectively; and, this has been achieved for ease of description and under-standing of the invention. The cooperating components of FIGS, 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12 are completely inter-changeable with the previously described similar com-ponents of FIGS, ~-4.
The co~ponent 32A of FIGS. 5 and 6 is particu-larly adapted to be supported on the horizontally dis-posed supporting member 26 in a similar manner as the component 32 previously described and using similar clip means 33A. However 9 the clip means 33A is defined by a pair of clips 34A ea~h of which i~ made of a synthetic plastic material. Each clip 34A ha~ parallel legs 35A and locking projections 36A; and, each clip 34A has a bight 43A which is particularly adapted to be received within an associated cutout slot 50A. In addition, the locking projection 36A of each clip 34A
also has a c m surface 41A and which terminates in a locking par~ 42A, as seen in FIG. 6.
The manner of installing the strip or component 32A in position is substantially the same as previous-ly described in connection with the installation of the component 32, with the exception that the plastic clips 34A are used instead of metal clips. The plastic clips 34A may be made of any suitable synthetic plastic material known in the art which is resilient in character and capable of being used as described earlier for clips 34 with the loc~ing projections 36A
snap locked in position beneath the bottom surfac 40 of the horizontally disposed supporting member 26.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 the strip portion 32B and the clip means 33B are defined as a single-piece structure which is designated by the reference numeral 53B. The struc-ture 53B is made of a single polymeric material and has a homogeneous character throughout. In particular, the structure 53B has its portion 32B and its integral parallel legs 35B preferably made of an ultra high molecular weight ~U~MW) polymeric material su~h as polyethylene which has a molecular weight as previous-ly described.
The single-piece structure 53B may be made utilizing any technique known in the art; however, preferably such structure 53B is made by extruding an elongate workpiece which is then cut so that the ~Jl'3~

lPngth thereof enables the structure 53B to bereceived snugly between the supporting arms 25 of an associated support structure 24 while resting portion 32B against the top surface of the horizontally dis-posed supporting member 26 with parallel legs 35B
thereof snap locked around member 26.
Each parallel leg 35B of structure 53B has a locking projection 36B and a cam surface 41B. In addition, it will be seen that a locking part is also provided on each locking projection 36B and defined as a planar shoulder 42B which is disposed substantially perpendicular to its leg 35B. Further, in the single-piece structure 53B the parallel legs 35B extend from opposite side portions 54B of the strip 32B as an integral part thereof and as illus-trated in FIGS. 8-9.
The strip portion of FIGS. 10-12 is also a separate elongate strip and is designated by the reference numeral 32C; and, the clip means 33C in this example also consists of a pair of metal clips 34C. Fur~her, each clip 34C is subs~antially identical to the previously described clip 34 and has a pair of resilient parallel legs 35C and locking projections 36C. Each locking projection 36C has a cam surface 41C and a locking part 42C.
However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 each clip 34C is disposed with its bight fixed against 33~i a botto~ portion or surface 56C of the strip 32C.Further, the strip portion or strip 32C has a grid-like metal structure whieh is preferably in the form ~of an expanded metal structure 57C e~bedded therein.
The expanded metal structure 57C is fixed to the bight 43C of each clip 34C by suitable means such as by weld means or spot welds 60C and the polymPric portion oE the component 32C is formed in position against the bights 43C of clips 34C while enveloping the grid-like structure 57C and serving as a matrix therefor. The weld means or spot welds 60C serve as means fixing the componen~ 32C to the clip means 33C and in particular to the two clips 34C defining the clip means 33C. The technique for for~ing the component 32C in a fixed manner a~ainst ~he bights 43C of the clips 34C is similar to the teclmique deScribed in the previously r.lentioned United States Patent i~io. 4,23~,039.

The procedure for installing the component 32C
with its integral clip means 33C, defined by clips 34C, on an associated horizontally disposed sup-porting member 26 is basically the same as previously described and will not be repeated.
In tnis disclosure of the invention a plurality of two clips have been illustrated in connection with the fastening of the strip portion or components 32, ~ 3 ~

32A, and 32C in position. However, it will be appreciated that in each instance a single clip may be used to define the clip means or more than two clips may be used, as desired.
Further, in the presentation of FIGS. 7-9 a single-piece structure 53B made of an ultra high molecular weight polymeric ma~erial is defined having component strip portion 32B and integral legs 35B
on opposite sides which extend along the full length of the strip portion 32B. However, each leg on each side of strip portion 32B need not necessarily extend along the full length thereof but may be pro-vided essentially as a plurality of int~gral legs having the general overall appearance of the legs of the structure illustrated in FIG. 10, for example;
and, this may be achieved by cutouts in the legs 35B.
In this disclosure of the invention the presentation for each embodiment has been of a single brake rod member 23 and support structure for such brake rod member together with an associated antifriction component. However, it is ~o be under-stood that a plurality of brake rod members similar to member 23 are provided in a brake system and each would be supported with support structure and an antifriction component as described h~rein.
While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods of practicing the same, have - ~6 -~ ~ 3 ~ ~ ~

been illustrated and described, it will be recognizPdthat this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (3)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a brake system for a railway vehicle comprising, a brake rod member, a support structure for said brake rod member, said support structure having a horizontally dis-posed supporting member which is adapted to support said rod member for sliding movements thereon, and an antifriction component made primarily of an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material and carried by one of said members, said component serving to minimize wear and enable antifriction movements during said sliding movements, the improvement in which said component comprises a solid strip portion being a separate elongate strip of substantially rectangu-lar cross-sectional configuration; and said system further comprises self-contained clip means for locking said strip portion against said supporting member, said clip means comprising a pair of resilient parallel legs and a locking projection extending from the outer end portion of each parallel leg toward the other parallel leg, said clip means comprising at least one substantially U-shaped clip having a bight with said pair of parallel legs extending outwardly from said bight, said clip being disposed with its bight against a top surface of said strip and with said parallel legs also embracing opposed vertical surfaces of said strip which are disposed in vertical alignment with said opposed surfaces of said supporting member and being disposed with said parallel legs embracing opposed vertical surfaces of said supporting member and with said projections snap locked beneath a bottom surface thereof; each locking projection having a cam surface and a locking part, each cam surface being adapted to urge its associated leg out-wardly from an associated vertical surface during instal-lation of said strip portion against said supporting member and once its locking part clears said bottom surface the associated leg snaps inwardly toward the other leg of said pair with the locking part beneath said bottom surface, each locking projection being defined as an angled end portion adjoining the terminal end of each leg as an integral part thereof, said angled end portion having an outside surface defining its cam surface and a terminal tip defining its locking part; said elongate strip having a cut-out slot therein extending inwardly from a top surface thereof and said U-shaped clip has the bight thereof disposed in nested relation with said slot.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said clip is made of a metallic material.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said clip is made of a synthetic plastic material.