GB1066851A - Cushioned low level railway vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

1,066,851. Railway vehicle draw-gear; railway vehicles. PULLMAN Inc. May 27, 1963 [Jan. 17, 1963], No. 21004/63. Headings B7L and B7T. A cushion underframe railway car comprises a centre sill 12 having a neutral axis positioned below the coupler line of draft, sliding sill 18, Figs. 1, 2, provided with couplers positioned at opposite ends so that their longitudinal axis C. Fig. 10, lies substantially on the coupler line of draft and on the longitudinal neutral axis Nss of the sliding sill, which neutral axis lies in a plane joining axes N of members 32 at either side of the sill. The railway, piggyback or box car 10, Fig. 1, comprises a fixed centre sill 12 from which there extends cross-bearers 14 and end sills 16 supporting side sills 17, and a sliding sill 18 mounting couplings and housings at each end supported by the sill 12 so that under buff and draw forces the sill 18 slides and compresses a centrally mounted cushion device 21, Fig. 6, comprising side springs 97 and a telescopic hydraulic constant force shock-absorber 22 surrounded by a return spring 77. The sill 12 may be deeper between the bogie pairs and includes side plates 24, Figs. 5, 8, top and bottom plates 27, 26, and tie-plates 28. The car is provided with a floor 29 and intermediate floor plates 68 supported by flanges 31 and gussets 13, and an assembly 92 covering the shock-absorber is detachably secured to the underframe. The sliding sill 18 comprises solid side members 32, Figs, 2, 5, 6 and 8 supporting coupling houses 34, see also Fig. 4 (not shown). and guided in angles 64 provided with wearplates 69, the ends 106, 107 of the members 32 being spaced apart in the unloaded position. A pocket for the cushion device 21 is formed in the sill 12 by a cut-out in the plate 27 and includes a base-plate 79 fixed between the sill side plates 24. Underframe stop lugs 81, 82, Figs. 2, 7, contact the shock-absorber followers 75, 76, and cross-members 84, 86 on the sill 18 also contact the followers to effect compression of the shockabsorber. The sill members 32 are connected by springs 97 and tie-rods 98 and by side-plates 88, horizontal plates 89. 91. and vertical lates 101 maintaining the shock-absorber 22 in alignment with the centre line of the car. In operation, when a draft force operates on one coupler only the force is transmitted from the coupler to the sliding sill members 32 and then through the plates 101 and 88 to the tie-rods 98. The sliding sill followers at the opposite end to the application of the draft force may then compress the shock-absorber alone against the opposing underframe stop for its full length of travel if necessary. In normal buff operation both the shock-absorber and the springs are compressed In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), the sliding sill is mounted on top of the cover-plate.