MXPA99006046A - Railway truck sideframe with reinforced columns - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a sideframe for use in a traditional three piece railway freight car truck comprising a pair of laterally spaced sideframes supporting a bolster extending between the sideframes. Each sideframe comprises an elongated top compression member, two diagonal compression members extending generally downwardly at acute angles from near the ends of the top compression member, and a bottom member joining the other ends of the diagonal tension members. Two column members also extend vertically between the bottom member and the topcompression member. Such column members are strengthened by two ribs that extend laterally across the structure of the column member between sidewalls of the column member.

Description

RAILROAD TRUCK LENGTH WITH REINFORCED COLUMNS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to railway freight wagon trucks, more particularly to railway wagon truck rails having an improved and reinforced column member. The rail freight wagon trucks are usually comprised of three coupling pieces where each truck includes two side rails laterally of each other, each stringer includes an opening located centrally formed by vertical columns. Such a centrally located opening is usually referred to the cross-member or receptacle openings and is adapted to receive the ends of a cross-member extending laterally from a longitudinal cross-section. The ends of each stringer aligned laterally to receive an established axle wheel in what is usually called the stringer guard plate fork. Typically, three pieces of rail freight wagon trucks are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,363,276; 4,838,174 and 5,718,177. A rail freight truck beam is comprised of an elongate upper compression member extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to the rail truck. The spar also comprises two diagonals extending to the tension members which generally extend downward at an acute angle near the ends of the upper compression member. A longitudinally extending bottom member joining the lower ends of the diagonal tension member. The column members generally extend vertically between the bottom member and the uppermost member from a point near the junction of the diagonal tension members and the bottom member. Such column members form the crossbar opening in the crossbar. An upper portion of the bottom member of a spar is usually referred to as the lower spring seat of the spar which is adapted to receive the spring group in which the ends of the crossbar are supported. The ends of the cross-piece laterally between each crossbar with the ends of the cross-piece extending in the cross-member receptacle and supported on a spring group. It should be understood that the spar is a structural member designed to be largely hollow to achieve weight saving. It should be understood that the spar is a unitary cast steel structure made in an operation to melt the smelter. Consequently, it is possible to reinforce the stringer by adding several supporting structures that should be part of the unitary stringer. However, such addition of reinforced members is always balanced against the need to lighten the weight of freight car trucks. From time to time, certain designed freight wagons exhibit varying degrees of decreased performance when exposed to lighten capacity service. For example, certain variable railroad freight wagon trucks experienced cracking in their spar columns when they used 125 ton freight car service. Such freight car truck stringers generally used the column support shown in US Patent No. 4,363,276, "wherein a simple horizontal support flange provides lateral support for the columns." Consequently, it is an object of the invention. present invention provide an improvement and the reinforced rail truck beam It is another object of the present invention to provide a rail truck beam having an improved and reinforced column structure whereby it particularly provides an improved and reinforced cross-member receptacle. invention provides an "improved and reinforced column member of a rail truck spar. Each stringer of a rail freight truck is formed of a unitary cast steel structure.

Each stringer includes an elongated upper compression member extending longitudinally and parallel to the railroad track. Two end sections each extend longitudinally from each end of the upper compression member and from the guard plate fork adapted to receive the shaft supporting the end of the wheel assembly. Two diagonal tension members generally extending downward near the end of the upper compression member at an acute angle to the upper compression member. A bottom member extends longitudinally and attached to the lower ends of the diagonal members. Two column members are spaced longitudinally from one another and vertically extended between the bottom member and the upper compression member. The column members form the cross-member opening or receptacle of each crossbar. The upper surface of the bottom member is referred to as the lower spring seat and is adapted to receive the spring group in which the spring end is supported. Each column is a structural member that generally has a cross section comprised of the main section extending laterally to the width of the column member. Two support sections of the wear plate longitudinally projected inward toward the cross member opening from the lateral ends of the main section of the column member. Two walls project longitudinally outwardly out of the cross member opening from the lateral ends of the main section of the column member. A first support flange is provided because it has a flat section generally extended out laterally from the main section of the spar column and from the joined sections of the two walls. Such a first support flange is usually aligned vertically and approximately between the wear plate latch on the spar column. A second support flange is comprised of a flat section that generally extends laterally laterally from the main section of the spar column and from the joined sections of the two walls of the column member. The second support flange is spaced vertically downwardly of the first support flange, usually in alignment with the bottom of the column wear plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railway truck with two beams and a crosspiece; Figure 2 is a side view of a stringer according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a partial side view of a stringer according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a stringer according to the present invention along lines 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of a stringer column according to the present invention along line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of another portion of a stringer column according to the present invention along line 6-6 of Figure 3. With reference now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings , a railway truck according to the present invention is generally shown at 10. The rail truck 10 comprises spars 12 and 14 which are identical and are laterally spaced from one another. The set of axle wheels 18 and 20 are received in the guard plate openings 27 and 29 formed with respect to the end sections 26 and 28 of each spar. The crossbar 16 extends laterally between the stringer 12 and 14 and is received in the cross-member openings immediately to the ends of the guard plate of both stringers. The cross member opening 40 is shown in Figure 2 of the stringer 12.

With reference now to Figure 2 of the drawings, the stringer 12 is comprised of a longitudinal elongate upper compression member 24 that rips the longitudinal sections of the upper part of the stringer 23 and the ends into the end sections 26 and 28. It is seen that the guard plate opening 27 is formed from a lower portion of the end section 26 and the guard plate opening 29 is formed from a lower portion of the section 28. The diagonal tension members 30 and 32 extend down from the upper compression member 24 to a point near the end sections 26 and 28. The angle at which the diagonal tension members 30 and 32 extend approximately 45 degrees. The bottom section 34 extends longitudinally and joins the lower end sections of the diagonal tension members 30 and 32. The column members 36 and 38 are spaced longitudinally from one another and extend vertically from an upper portion of the bottom section 34 near their junctions with the diagonal tension members 30 and 32 to a lower surface of the upper compression member 24. It is noted that the combination of a lower portion of the upper compression member 24, in the upper portion of the bottom section 34 and the column member 36 and 48 form a generally regular cross-member opening. The upper surface of the bottom section 34 is also referred to as a lower spring seat 42. It should be understood that the side members 12 and 14 are unitary cast steel structures. Such structures are cast in accordance with the practice of modern casting which includes a use of cores from the structural components of the stringer 12 as a hole generally such that each structural component such as a compression member 24 and the bottom section 34 are generally holes, each comprised of a bottom section and an upper section and two side sections attached to the upper and bottom sections Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, a cross-sectional view of the crossbar 12 is provided as along the lines 4-4 from Figure 3. The compression member 24 is observed located at the front bottom member 34 and the lower seat of the spring 42. The upper compression member 24 is observed to have a cross-sectional structure rectangular generally as a bottom member 34. The lower spring seat 32 is observed to have certain elevated location structures for placing springs in which the end of the cross member 16 rests. The wear plate 44 is a flat rectangular structure which is fixed to the column of the spar 36 by bolts which pass through the hole of the bolt 52 and 54 in the column of the spar 36. The wear plate 34 is adapted to abut a surface flat vertical of a friction horseshoe that dampens the device acting to dampen the oscillation of the cross member 16 supported on the dock group of the railroad truck 10. Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, taken along line 5 -5 of Figure 3, the upper support flange 46 is shown as extending longitudinally outwardly of the main section 60 of the column 36. The wear plate support sections 62 and 64 extended longitudinally inward toward the opening of cross member 40 from the lateral ends of the main section 60 of the column 36. The side walls 66 and 68 project outwards longitudinally towards the openings and cross member 40 from the lateral ends of the main section 60 of the column 36. Extended laterally between the side walls 66 and 68 is the upper support flange 46. The upper support flange 46 is a unitary cast portion of the spar 36. upper support flange 46 is a planar structure which generally has a middle section 70 and radiated end sections 72 and 74 extended to and adjacent to the projected sections of the side walls 66 and 68. The uppermost support flange 46 is generally located vertically between the latch holes 52 and 54 of the spar column. Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3, a lower cross-sectional view of the spar column 36 is shown followed by the cross-sectional view of Figure 5. Such a cross-sectional view of the column 36 shows a similar structure as that of Figure 5, with sections 82 and 84 similar wear plate support extending longitudinally inwardly towards the cross-member opening 40 from the lateral ends of the main section 61 of the stringer column 36, furthermore the side walls 86 and 88, project outwards longitudinally from the cross member opening 40 from the lateral ends of the main section 61 of the column 36 of the crossbar. The lower support flange 48 is part of a unitary fused structure of the spar column 36. The lower support flange 48 is comprised of a planar structure that generally extends between the side walls 86 and 88. The lower support flange 48 it includes a middle section 90 and sections 92 and 94 radiated each extending to an intersection with walls lateraj.es 86 and 88 respectively. It is noted that the lower support flange 48 provides additional support for spar columns 36. This is especially necessary with the increased load carried by the daily freight wagon trucks where the vertical oscillations of the traverse are cushioned by the flexural contact of the vehicle. a friction horseshoe whose vertical phase makes contact with the wear plate 44 on the spar column 36. It is further understood that in the similar support flanges are a part of the column of the spar 38 but for reasons of brevity are not described in detail herein.

Claims (3)

CLAIMS 1. A stringer for use in a rail car, the stringer of a unitary cast steel structure is characterized in that it comprises a longitudinally extending elongated upper compression member, two end sections each extending longitudinally from one end of the upper compression member and each formed of a guard plate fork, two diagonal tension members each extending at an acute angle with the upper compression member near the end of the upper compression member, a bottom member extending longitudinally and attached to the diagonal tension members to a lower end of each diagonal tension member, two column members longitudinally spaced from each and extending vertically between the bottom member and the upper compression member, column members that form a vent opening therebetween, each of the column members has a structural cross section comprised of a main section extended laterally transverse to the width of the column member, two wear plate support sections each projected longitudinally inward, towards the one-way crossmember opening side of the main section, and two walls each projected longitudinally outwardly from a side end of the main section, each of the walls extends vertically by almost the full height of the column member, and a first support flange comprising a flat section generally extending outwardly laterally from the main section and the joined sections of the two walls of the column member, and a second support flange comprising a flat section which generally extends laterally laterally from the main section of the sections joined the two side walls of the member of column, the second support flange spaced vertically below the first support flange. The stringer according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising two vertically aligned wear plate latches in the main section of the column member, with the first support flange aligned vertically and approximately between the plate latch openings of wear. The stringer according to claim 2, further characterized in that it comprises a generally rectangular wear plate generally held against the main section of the column member by the latches extending towards the wear plate latch openings, and where the section support flange is aligned vertically and approximately with a bottom flange of the wear plate. . The stringer in accordance with the claim

1, characterized in that the first support flange extends approximately 2.54 centimeters (1.0 inches) from the main section of the column member, and wherein the first support flange includes an inner flange extending from each of the walls to a acute angle and extends through the acute sections to form a lateral medial section generally parallel to the main section of the column member. The stringer according to claim 1, characterized in that the second support flange extends approximately 3.91 centimeters (1.5 inches) from the main section of the column member, and wherein the second support flange includes an inner flange which it extends from each of the side walls at an acute angle and extends through the arcuate sections to form a middle section, generally parallel to the main section of the column member. 6. The spar for use in a rail car truck, the spar of a one-way cast steel structure generally characterized in that it comprises: an elongated upper compression member, two diagonal tension members, each generally extending downward at an acute angle to almost one end of the compression member, a bottom member attached to the diagonal tension members to a lower end of each diagonal tension member, two members of column extending vertically and generally between the bottom member and the upper compression member, the column members form a cross member opening therebetween, each of the column members having a generally structural cross section, comprising a main section extending laterally, and two lateral sections extending perpendicular and generally to and outwardly, from the main section, an upper support flange comprising a flat structure that generally extends outward from the main section of the members of column and of the attached sections from the two lateral walls of the member of olumn, and a lower support flange comprising a flat structure that generally extends outwardly from the main section of the column member and from the adjoining sections of the two side walls of the column member, the lower support flange spaced down vertically of the support flange. 7. The stringer in accordance with the claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises two wear plate latches aligned vertically in the main section of the column member, with the upper support flange vertically aligned approximately between the wear plate latch openings. The stringer according to claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises a generally flat, generally rectangular wear plate held against the main section of the column member by latches extending towards the wear plate latch openings, and in wherein the lower support flange is aligned vertically and approximately with the bottom flange of the wear plate. The stringer according to claim 6, characterized in that the upper support flange extends approximately

2.54 centimeters (1.0 inches) from the main section of the column member, and wherein the upper support flange includes an interior angle that is extends from each of the walls at an acute angle and extends toward the arcuate sections to form a lateral medial section generally parallel to the main section of the column member. The stringer according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower support flange extends approximately

3.81 centimeters (1.5 inches) from the main section of the column member, and wherein the lower support flange includes an inner flange which extends from each of the walls at an acute angle and extends towards the arched sections to form a lateral medial section generally parallel to the main section of the column member