US1436728A

US1436728A - Driving-box wedge adjustment

Info

Publication number: US1436728A
Application number: US543461A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene L Schellens
Original assignee: Franklin Railway Supply Co
Current assignee: Franklin Railway Supply Co
Priority date: 1922-03-13
Filing date: 1922-03-13
Publication date: 1922-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1939-11-28

Description

E LVSCHELLENS ban/me BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAR-.13., 19 22.

.latented Nov. 28, 1922.

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E. L. SCHELLENS v omvme BOX-WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3, I922. 1,436,728.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. L. SQHELLENS.

DRIVI NG BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 13. I922.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

Fate-rated Nov. 28, 1621 2;.

UNET S @F ii EUGENE L. SCHELLENS, 01" POIN'IE CLAIRE, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASE-IGNOE T9 FEANK- LIN RAILWAY SUPPLY- COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DRIVING-BOX WEDGE ADJUSTMENT.

Application filed March 13, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. Sonar.- LENS, a citizen "of the United States, residing at Pointe Claire, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Box W edge Adjustments, oil which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the adjustment of automatic wear compensating devices or mechanism for journal boxes, particularly wear compensating wedges for the driving boxes of locomotives. I aim to make the adjustment of the compensating devices as easy and convenient as possible; to make the mechanism simple, rugged, durable, and proof against serious maladjustment; and to afford plain and definite indications of when, on the one hand, the cumulated wear so great as to require readjustment, and of when, on the other hand, the best readjustment has been properly made.

How these and other advantages can be secured through my invention will appear from my description hereinafter of the best embodiment of the invention known to me.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a steam locomotive driving box with provision for adjustment according to my invention. The box proper and the compensating wedges are here shown in transverse section, while the adjusting mechanism proper, the pedestel jaws of the locomotive frame, and the pedestal binder are shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the adjusting mechanism on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing an axial midsection through the adjusting mechanism and associated parts, taken par allel with the plane of the paper in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4t is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 3, taken as indicated by the line 4 4. in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view oi the adjusting mechanism.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section taken as indicated by the line 66 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a'wear or abutnent plate shown in Figs. 2 to 4:.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view 01' another part of the mechanism, in association with the wedge bolt.

The locomotive frame 13 in Fig. 1. has the usual pedestal jaws 141, 15 wherein is mount- Serial No. 543,461.

ed for vertical play the driving box 16, with glbs 17, 18 on its pedestal faces. The frame 13 has also the usual pedestal binder 19. Between the driving box gib 18 and the adjacent pedestal jaw 15 (which has an in clined face) are interposed two

wedges

20, 21 which afford automatic compensation for wear of the driving box and he pedestal jaws,in a manner well understood in the art. The main wedge 20 is attached to one end of the rod or bolt 22 that extends down through an opening in the pedestal binder 19. This wedge 20 is automatically and yieldingly pressed home by mechanism of my invention, collectively indicated at Not only does the mechanism 23 serve in the automatic adjustment of the compensating

device

20, 21, but it is itself adjustable to assure proper action of said device.

Referring, now, to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it will be seen that in the present instance, the bolt 22 is so attached or connected to the wedge 20 as to be rotatable. This attachment is effected very simply, by engagement of the circumi erentially grooved upper end 24 of the bolt 22 with shoulders 25 at the sides of a fore and aft groove in the lower end of the wedge 20.

From Figs. 1 to 8 generally, it will be seen that the wedge actuating mechanism 23 comprises a helical compression spring 26 acting through a nut 27 threaded on the bolt 22. As shown, the upper end of the spring 26 is seated and engaged around a central bossor ridge 28 on the lower side of the nut 2?, while the lower end of said spring is seated and engaged against a mem ber 30, which thus serves as an abutment for the sprii'ig. Surrounding the bolt 22 within the spring 26 is an auxiliary helical compression spring 31, which is seated and acts on the boss or ridge 28 at its upper end and on the bottom of a shallow annular depression 33 in the member 30 at its lower end. Rotation of the nut 27 with the bolt 22 is prevented by free-sliding, antiturning connection of said nut with a hollow part 35, which serves as a means of support for the

springs

26 and 31 and the interposed abutment m mber 30, and also as a housing about the springs and the nut. As shown, free-sliding, anti-turning connection of the parts is effected by engagement of diametrically opposite radial and vertical lugs 36 on the nut 27 in corresponding vertical slots 37 in the upper end of the part 35. The part it will be seen, is fixedly secured to the lower side of the pedestal binder 19, by means of bolts 38 taking through ears or lugs 39 on said part 35.

As here shown, the lower portion 41 or the bolt 22 projects and is exposed below the part 35, and is squared to afford a convenient hold for a wrench or other means for turning the bolt. Byturning the bolt 22 one way or the other, the nut 27 can be moved up or down with reference to the

parts

30 and 35, and the compression or initial tension of the

springs

26 and 31 thus varied. The part 30 is in tree-sliding, antiturning connection with the bolt 22, by virtue of the squared form of the bolt at 4.1. and the corresponding square shape and size or the opening in said part 30 through which the bolt extends, so that the

parts

22 and 30 are constrained to turn together without the latter interfering with the necessary endwise movement of the bolt from time to time. In the present instance, the part 30 not only rests or bears on the internal flange or bottom l2 of the cup-like part 35, but also has a reduced lower portion that projects through the round opening in the lower end oi the part 35 and is made hexagonal at 43 to ali'ord a convenient hold for a wrench. or the like. Thus the member 30 is adapted to serve as an actuator for turning the bolt 22 to adjust the initial tension of the

springs

26 and 31. For this purpose it presents the advantage over direct actuation of the bolt 22 that its vertical position is not affected by wear of the

wedges

20, 21 and the box 16.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 4;, it will be observed that the apertures 37 in the housing 85 render. the lug portions 36 of the nut 27 plainly visible, so that they may cooperate with the part 35 to afford an indication of the state of adjustment of the

springs

26 and 31 from time to time. As shown, the slots 37 are of such length as to permit a range of adjustment greater than desirable for any particular spring.

Accordingly, the lug 36 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a conspicuous index mark A, and the part has two pairs of coacting index marks B, B and G, C at different heights. B, B and C, C are so determined and located that when A registers with B, B, (as shown), the

springs

26 and 31 are compressed to a proper maximum degree; while when the mark A comes to register with G, C, the springs will be so relaxed (through upward movement of the wedge 20 due to wear at the box 16) as to require readjustment of the mechanism, by tightening of the nut 27 on the springs.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 2, 3, 1-. 5 and 8. it will be seen that on the bottom of the member are four equally spaced, low, radial, arc-shaped projections or protuberances s5, and that in the bottom or the bracket support 35 are corresponding shallow, arc-shaped, radial. depressions or recesses 46. By means of these projections 4:5 and depressions 6 at the abutting surfaces of the

parts

30 and 35, the member 30 1S held or locked against turning and loosening of the nut 27 thereby in consequence of vibration; also, overtightening oi the nut 27, so as to compress the springs solid and so cause binding or jamming of the wedge 20, is efi'ectually prevented. This latter result follows from the fact that it the member 30 is turned down so as just to make the spring substantially solid, its projections l5 will rest on. the flat surface of the support 35 so close to the depressions at that a slight further turn will bring them into said depressions and relax the spring; and the resistance to still further turning of the nut such as to carry the projections out 0]. the depressions will then be so great that even the most careless workman will give up the attempt. Leaving the projec tions as just about to enter a depression 416 with the springs solid, will, again, be harmless, because the pressure on the wedges 21') and 21 thus created will not be augmented suliiciently to cause actual jamming (by heating up and expansion ot the parts in service) before vibration will have caused the nut 27 to unscrew till the pressure is relaxed and the projections 45 drop into the adj acent been turned past by the workman. By the

parts

30 and 35 in cooperation, therefore, overtightening on the

springs

26 and 31 by turning the bolt 22 is eilectually prevented.

As shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4: and 7, the part 30 is provided. or supplemented with a sort of wear plate or racing 50, of relatively thin sheet metal, embossed to conform to its upper surface. In the present instance, this part 50 has anti-turning connection with the part 35, by engagement of a pcripheral lug 51 on the part 50 in a slot aperture in the lower portion ot the part 35. This part 50 obviates scoring of the part 30 by the spring ends, and. is not so scored itself, because it remains stationary along with the springs when the part 30 turns.

What I claim is:

1. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt, an adjusting nut thereon, and an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut.

2. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; and a rotary actuator for turning the bolt affording abutment for said spring.

3. Adjusting means for a compensating depressions 46 that they had last llO wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; and a rotary actuating member about the lower portion of the bolt in free-sliding, anti-turning connection therewith.

4:- Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; supporting means for said spring; and a rotary actuator for turning the bolt projecting below said supporting means.

5. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; and supporting means for said spring cooperating with said nut to indicate the adjustment of the wedge.

6. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; supporting means for said spring; and a rotary actuator for turning the bolt affording abutment for the spring and cooperating with said supporting means to prevent overtightening on the spring.

7. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; supporting means for said spring; and means for preventing overtightening on the sprin by turning of said bolt.

8. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; and supporting means for said spring in free-sliding, anti-turning engagement with said nut.

9. Adjusting means for a compensating Wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; a rotary actuator for turning the bolt to tighten the spring; with means for prelZenting overtightening on the spring there- 10. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; supporting means for said spring in free-sliding, anti-turning engagement with said nut; and a rotary actuator for turning the bolt interposed between said spring and said support and projecting below the latter.

11. Adjusting means for a compensating wedge comprising a rotatable wedge bolt; an adjusting nut thereon; an actuating spring for the wedge acting through said nut; a housing about said spring and nut, in free-sliding, anti-turning engagement with the latter, and apertured to render the same visible and afford an indication of the adjustment of the spring; and a rotary member in said housing about said bolt in free-sliding, anti-turning connection therewith, affording abutment for said spring and cooperating with said housing to prevent overtightening on the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EUGENE L. SCHELLENS.