EP0456222A1 - Lageraufbau für einen gelenkigen Kupplungsmechanismus - Google Patents

Lageraufbau für einen gelenkigen Kupplungsmechanismus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0456222A1
EP0456222A1 EP91107502A EP91107502A EP0456222A1 EP 0456222 A1 EP0456222 A1 EP 0456222A1 EP 91107502 A EP91107502 A EP 91107502A EP 91107502 A EP91107502 A EP 91107502A EP 0456222 A1 EP0456222 A1 EP 0456222A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bearing assembly
connection member
assembly
coupling apparatus
articulable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91107502A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0456222B1 (de
Inventor
William D. Walace
Edward Jr. Lynch
David W. Jr. Daugherty
Wajih Kanjo
Michael G. Hawryszkow
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Westinghouse Air Brake Co filed Critical Westinghouse Air Brake Co
Publication of EP0456222A1 publication Critical patent/EP0456222A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0456222B1 publication Critical patent/EP0456222B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G5/00—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for
    • B61G5/02—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for for coupling articulated trains, locomotives and tenders or the bogies of a vehicle; Coupling by means of a single coupling bar; Couplings preventing or limiting relative lateral movement of vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61F—RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES
    • B61F5/00—Constructional details of bogies; Connections between bogies and vehicle underframes; Arrangements or devices for adjusting or allowing self-adjustment of wheel axles or bogies when rounding curves
    • B61F5/02—Arrangements permitting limited transverse relative movements between vehicle underframe or bolster and bogie; Connections between underframes and bogies
    • B61F5/16—Centre bearings or other swivel connections between underframes and bolsters or bogies

Definitions

  • This invention relates to railway car coupling devices and, more particularly, it relates to a bearing assembly used in an articulated-type coupling device which connects one end of a first railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner.
  • the outer end surface of the male connection member must include a convex configuration which abuts against a complimentary concave surface formed on a front face of a follower member.
  • the follower member is carried within the rear portion of the cavity formed in the other end portion of the female connection member.
  • a wedge element is provided to urge the follower member and the male connection member forward. In this manner, the rear surface portion of the aperture formed in the male connection member is maintained in contact with the pin member.
  • the present invention provides a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling arrangement.
  • Such articulated coupling arrangement being utilized to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together, in a substantially semipermanent manner.
  • the coupling arrangement has a male connection member secured to one end of a first railway car and a female connection member secured to an adjacent end of a second railway car.
  • Such bearing assembly includes a substantially spherical member having a predetermined diameter.
  • a race assembly formed by at least two members is provided. Each of such members forming the race assembly have a substantially spherical inner surface. This inner surface is positioned around a portion of the spherical member.
  • An outer surface of such race assembly has a substantially identical size and a substantially identical configuration as a predetermined size and predetermined configuration of an aperture formed in one end of such male connection member.
  • Such race assembly enables requisite movement of such male connection member in relation to such female connection member in each of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range of angles measured from each of a centerline of such spherical member disposed in a vertical direction and a longitudinal axis of such articulated coupling arrangement disposed in a horizontal direction.
  • the final essential element of such bearing assembly is a pair of shaft members.
  • a longitudinal axis of such pair of shaft members being in a substantially horizontal plane.
  • One of such pair of shaft members being engageable with a respective one of an opening formed through each of a pair of upstanding side wall portions of a cavity formed in one end of such female connection member.
  • At least a portion of each of such pair of shaft members having a substantially identical configuration as at least a portion of a predetermined configuration of such opening.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus in which a minimum number of components must move relative to one another during operation of such railway cars.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which is relatively simple to assemble and disassemble.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which can be adapted to any of the presently approved lengths for such railway cars, and can operate on all of the various curves in the tracks presently in use.
  • An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which can be more easily maintained in proper working order.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which requires a minimum amount of machining of the finished components.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which will be lighter in weight than presently used articulated coupling devices.
  • Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which will be cost-effective.
  • FIG. 1 Therein illustrated is one presently preferred embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling apparatus, generally designated 10, constructed in accordance with the principals of this invention.
  • This apparatus 10 can be retrofitted to existing railway cars, if desired, and is capable of connecting together, in a substantially semipermanent manner, at least one end of a first railway car (not shown) to an adjacent end of a second railway car (not shown).
  • Such apparatus 10 includes a male connection member, generally designated 20, a female connection member, generally designated 30, a bearing assembly, constructed according to this invention and generally designated 40, and a means, generally designated 50 for securing the bearing assembly 40 to such articulated coupling apparatus 10 in a semipermanent fashion.
  • the male connection member 20 is adapted at a first end 12 thereof to be engaged with and connected to one end of a center sill member (not shown) disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of one of such first and such second railway cars.
  • first end 12 of the male connection member 20 Prior to being secured in place, such first end 12 of the male connection member 20 is positioned within the center sill portion for a predetermined distance which is between about 6 to 10 inches and about 8 inches being preferred. Because such first end 12 of the male connection member 20 must fit within the center sill member, its outer dimensions are controlled by the inner dimensions of such center sill member.
  • the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 is generally an elongated rectangular-shaped element.
  • the outermost end 18 of such second end 14 has a convex shape in a plane which extends in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
  • the bottom wall portion 22 of such second end 14 is tapered upwardly starting from a predetermined position and extending toward such first end 12.
  • Such tapered portion has a taper of at least about 10 degrees. The purpose of this tapered portion of such bottom wall 22 of the male connection member 20 is to allow flexing in a horizontal plane when the cars are moving over hilly terrain.
  • the aperture 16 includes a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. Such aperture 16 is formed through a predetermined portion of the second end 14 of such male connection member 20. This aperture 16 has a longitudinal axis that is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of such male connection member 20 and lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
  • the female connection member 30 includes a first end 24 configured such that it will enable such female connection member 30 to be engaged with and connected to an adjacent end of a center sill member (not shown) disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of an opposite one of such first and such second railway cars (not shown).
  • a cavity 26 is formed in a second end of the female connection member 30.
  • This cavity 26 receives therein at least a portion of each of the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 and such aperture 16 formed through such second end 14 of the male connection member 20.
  • This cavity 26 is formed by a substantially horizontally-disposed bottom wall portion 32, a substantially vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 connected along a bottom edge thereof to a rear edge of such bottom wall portion 32, and a pair of vertically-disposed side wall portions 36 connected along a bottom edge thereof to the bottom wall portion 32 and along a rear edge thereof to such back wall portion 34.
  • An inner surface of each of such bottom wall portion 32 and such rear wall portion 34 and such pair of side wall portions 36 define a predetermined size and a predetermined shape of the cavity 26 which is open adjacent a top and front surface thereof.
  • An opening 38 is formed through a predetermined portion of each of the side wall portions 36.
  • Each opening 38 includes a slot-like portion adjacent an upper surface of a respective side wall portion 36.
  • Each opening 38 has a predetermined configuration.
  • the apparatus 10 includes a bearing assembly 40.
  • Such bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42. At least a predetermined portion of such spherical member 42 is positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20.
  • Such spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter.
  • the spherical member 42 includes a pair of axially-opposed flat surfaces 61.
  • Such bearing assembly 40 has a race assembly 44, having a substantially spherical inner surface positioned around such predetermined portion of the spherical member 42, is positioned within the aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30 in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range.
  • Such race assembly 44 includes an outer surface which is substantially identical to such size and such shape of such aperture 16 formed through the male connection member 20.
  • First securing means is engageable with such race assembly 44 and such second end 14 of said male connection member 20 for securing race assembly 44 and spherical member 42 to such second end 14.
  • a pair of shaft members 46 extend outwardly a predetermined length from axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical member 42. One of such pair of shaft members 46 being engaged in a respective one of such opening 38 formed through each of the side wall portions 36 of such cavity 26. At least a portion of each of shaft members 46 having a substantially identical configuration as at least a portion of such predetermined configuration of such opening 38 formed through such side wall portions 36.
  • a second securing means, generally designated 50, is engageable with at least one of such pair of shaft members 46 and a portion of such opening 38 for securing such bearing assembly 40 to such female connection member 30 and thereby securing the male connection member 20 to such female connection member 30 to form the articulable-type coupling apparatus 10.
  • such spherical inner surface of race assembly 44 will have a substantially identical radius as the radius of spherical member 42.
  • such spherical inner surface of race assembly 44 will be slightly larger than the radius of spherical member 42.
  • such coupling apparatus 10 further includes a lubricating liner 48 disposed intermediate such inner surface of race assembly 44 and spherical member 42.
  • lubricating liner 48 be formed in at least two pieces. It is also preferred that lubricating liner 48 be bonded to such inner surface of race assembly 44. Such bonding of lubricating liner 48 to such inner surface of race assembly 44 preferably being accomplished by an adhesive material.
  • the bottom wall portion 32 of such cavity 26 further includes a center plate member 52 which matingly-engages a center bowl (not shown) of a bolster portion (not shown) of a railway car truck (not shown).
  • a center plate member 52 which matingly-engages a center bowl (not shown) of a bolster portion (not shown) of a railway car truck (not shown).
  • Such center plate member 52 includes a vertically-disposed hole 54 adjacent a bottom surface 56 thereof.
  • Such hole 54 is located substantially in the center of such center plate member 52.
  • the coupling apparatus 10 further includes a vertically-disposed pin member (not shown) which is engageable in such hole 54 in center plate member 52 and a vertically-disposed hole (not shown) in such center bowl of such bolster.
  • the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 has a predetermined configuration adjacent an outermost end 18 thereof.
  • This predetermined configuration of such outermost end 18 of such second end 14 is a substantially convex shape in each of a vertically-disposed plane and a horizontally-disposed plane.
  • the vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 of such cavity 26 formed in such second end of such female connection member 30 has a predetermined configuration which is a substantially concave shape in at least one of a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.
  • the predetermined shape of the aperture 16, formed through such second end 14 is substantially round. Additionally, this aperture 16 includes a beveled portion 59 adjacent at least one predetermined outer surface thereof.
  • the race assembly 44 includes a complimentary beveled ledge portion 62 which abuttingly-engages such beveled portion 59 adjacent such outer surface of such aperture 16 formed through such second end 14 of such male connection member 20.
  • race assembly 44 is formed in at least two pieces, which are substantially identical.
  • spherical member 42 and such pair of shaft members 46 be formed as a single piece.
  • the first securing means 60 engageable with each of race assembly 44 and second end 14 of the male connection member 20, can be a weldment or a plate member (not shown) bolted to such second end 14.
  • such pair of side wall portions 36 include a tapered portion adjacent the front surface of such cavity 26 and adjacent such vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 of such cavity 26 to enable the second end 14 to rotate about such spherical member 42 in a horizontal direction.
  • the predetermined configuration of opening 38 formed through each of the side wall portions 36 at least includes a generally round portion engageable with a portion of a respective one of such pair of shaft members 46.
  • such bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42. At least a predetermined portion of such spherical member 42 is positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20. Such spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter.
  • a bore 43 is formed through such spherical member 42.
  • the bore 43 has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape.
  • a longitudinal axis of such bore 43 lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
  • a pin member 45 which has a horizontally-disposed axis, is provided. Such pin member 45 extends through the bore 43 for a predetermined length on each side of axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical member 42. A portion of such pin member 45 is disposed within the bore 43 of the spherical member 42 and has a substantially identical size and a substantially identical shape as the size and shape of such bore 43 thereby enabling a press-fit. At least a portion of such length on each side of such spherical member 42 has a substantially identical size and identical configuration as such predetermined configuration of the opening 38.
  • a race assembly 44 having a substantially spherical inner surface, is positioned within the aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30 in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range.
  • Such race assembly 44 includes an outer surface which is substantially identical to such size and such shape of such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
  • Hand Tools For Fitting Together And Separating, Or Other Hand Tools (AREA)
  • Connection Of Plates (AREA)
EP19910107502 1990-05-08 1991-05-08 Lageraufbau für einen gelenkigen Kupplungsmechanismus Expired - Lifetime EP0456222B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US52186190A 1990-05-08 1990-05-08
US521861 1990-05-08

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0456222A1 true EP0456222A1 (de) 1991-11-13
EP0456222B1 EP0456222B1 (de) 1995-04-19

Family

ID=24078453

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910107502 Expired - Lifetime EP0456222B1 (de) 1990-05-08 1991-05-08 Lageraufbau für einen gelenkigen Kupplungsmechanismus

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0456222B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3004384B2 (de)
AU (1) AU651820B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2042117C (de)
DE (1) DE69108977T2 (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0582035A1 (de) * 1992-08-04 1994-02-09 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Gelenkiger Kupplungsmechanismus
EP0680864A1 (de) * 1994-05-04 1995-11-08 Westinghouse Air Brake Company U-förmiges Verbindungsglied für eine spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung mit einem Kugelgelenk
EP0701937A1 (de) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Aufnehmendes Verbindungselement für eine spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung
EP0701938A1 (de) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung mit einem Kugelgelenk
GB2296226A (en) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Aeg Schienenfahrzeuge An articulated coupling for railway vehicles
CN104960540A (zh) * 2015-07-29 2015-10-07 齐齐哈尔轨道交通装备有限责任公司 一种铁路车辆及其关节连接器
CN109094596A (zh) * 2018-10-09 2018-12-28 中车眉山车辆有限公司 一种转向架与车辆连接结构

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5065679A (en) * 1990-05-08 1991-11-19 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Articulated coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together in a semipermanent manner
DE102006036245A1 (de) * 2006-08-03 2008-02-07 Schaeffler Kg Gelenkkupplung für Schienenfahrzeuge
DE102008038059B4 (de) 2008-08-16 2018-02-08 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG Kupplung zum Kuppeln zweier vorzugsweise schienengebundener Fahrzeugeinheiten
DE102008057055A1 (de) 2008-11-13 2010-05-20 Schaeffler Kg Kupplungseinheit
KR102025901B1 (ko) * 2018-03-22 2019-09-26 한국철도기술연구원 대륙철도차량용 연결기 어댑터

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2206592A (en) * 1939-02-25 1940-07-02 American Locomotive Co Articulated locomotive
US3396673A (en) * 1966-09-08 1968-08-13 Amsted Ind Inc Articulate railway car connector and truck
US3476040A (en) * 1967-06-02 1969-11-04 Zaven Oganezovich Karakashian Articulated railway car connector and truck

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5065679A (en) * 1990-05-08 1991-11-19 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Articulated coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together in a semipermanent manner

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2206592A (en) * 1939-02-25 1940-07-02 American Locomotive Co Articulated locomotive
US3396673A (en) * 1966-09-08 1968-08-13 Amsted Ind Inc Articulate railway car connector and truck
US3476040A (en) * 1967-06-02 1969-11-04 Zaven Oganezovich Karakashian Articulated railway car connector and truck

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0582035A1 (de) * 1992-08-04 1994-02-09 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Gelenkiger Kupplungsmechanismus
EP0680864A1 (de) * 1994-05-04 1995-11-08 Westinghouse Air Brake Company U-förmiges Verbindungsglied für eine spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung mit einem Kugelgelenk
EP0701937A1 (de) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Aufnehmendes Verbindungselement für eine spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung
EP0701938A1 (de) * 1994-09-19 1996-03-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Spielfreie Zugstangenanordnung mit einem Kugelgelenk
GB2296226A (en) * 1994-12-21 1996-06-26 Aeg Schienenfahrzeuge An articulated coupling for railway vehicles
GB2296226B (en) * 1994-12-21 1998-04-15 Aeg Schienenfahrzeuge An articulated coupling for railway vehicles
CN104960540A (zh) * 2015-07-29 2015-10-07 齐齐哈尔轨道交通装备有限责任公司 一种铁路车辆及其关节连接器
CN109094596A (zh) * 2018-10-09 2018-12-28 中车眉山车辆有限公司 一种转向架与车辆连接结构
CN109094596B (zh) * 2018-10-09 2024-02-06 中车眉山车辆有限公司 一种转向架与车辆连接结构

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69108977D1 (de) 1995-05-24
EP0456222B1 (de) 1995-04-19
CA2042117A1 (en) 1991-11-09
JP3004384B2 (ja) 2000-01-31
JPH04228363A (ja) 1992-08-18
CA2042117C (en) 2001-07-17
AU7642891A (en) 1991-11-14
AU651820B2 (en) 1994-08-04
DE69108977T2 (de) 1995-08-31

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