US1439660A - Brake-beam fulcrum and method of making the same - Google Patents

Description

C. E. BAUER.

Dec. 19, 1922.

BRAKE BEAM FULCHUM AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

FILED SEPT.2I, 1921.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922..

three CARL E. BAUER, OF HAIJEMGND, INDIANA.

BRAKE-BEAM FULCRUM AND IiIETHUD OF 1\TAKING THE SAME.

Application filed September 21, 1921. SerialNo. 502,243.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I. CARL E. BAUER, a oitizen of the United States, and resident of Hammond, in thecounty of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Brake-Beam Fulorum and Methodof Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway brake beams and particularly to a novel fulcrum for use in connection therewith. The method by which the fulcrum is produced is also believed to be novel and is hereinafter more fully explained.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a fulcrum adapted to be forged out of one bar of metal for use in connection with trussed brake beams. The novel portion of the fulcrum is that which is in engagement with the compression member of the beam. Many builders prefer to avoid weakening the beam to the extent of punching the web thereof inorder to provide for riveting the fulcrum to the beam. The improvement herein described relates to a construction in which the fulcrum is secured to a channel-shaped beam without the necessity for apertures therein.

The fulcrum and the method of producing it will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a plan view of a bar or blank such as I employ;

Figure 2 is an edge view thereof;

Figures 3 and 4: are front and side views respectively of the bar after the initial forging operation is completed;

Figure 5 is a view showingthe side arms of the fulcrum in perspective and illustrating the manner of attaching theeiuls of the fuloruin to a channel-shaped beam;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the fulcrum taken at right angles to that of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view showing the fulcrum in position between the tension and compression members of a beam; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the channel-shaped compression member at the point of attachment of the fulcrum thereto.

In the initial stage of the operation I provide a flat blank 10 of suitable length such as shown in Figures 1 and 2. By a forging operation the blank is flared or flattened at its ends, as indicated at 11, and also at its middle portion. as at 12. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 4:. The neXt step in the operation consists in doubling the blank upon itself at the flared portion 12, then forging the saddle or seat for the tension rod 14:. This is described and claimed. in detail in my Patent No. 1,402,392, of J an. e, 1922.

The free ends 11 of the arms are then shaped to provide the hooked over portions 15 which extend along the flanges 16 of the channel-shaped compression member and lie against the flat side of the web thereof. The flaring and thinning of the end portions serve to spread the metal and provide a much larger bearing and more secure support for the fulcrum in its engagement with the angular compression member. Suitable apertures 17 are provided in the flared portrons of the arms and when these are brought into register with notches 18 in the flanges of the compression member, a key 19 is inserted therethrough. The arms 20 of the completed fulcrum are properly held in spaced relation by means of a thimble 21 located near the compression member and engaged and held by a rivet 22. It will be noted by reason of the arrangement shown that the fulcrum will be firmly held. in position and will be efficient in. service. A fulcrum constructed as shown may be very economically manufactured by the use of a minimum amount of material.

Obviously the method and the product thereof may be varied somewhat and I do not-wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim l. The method of niakiug brake beam fulcrums which consists in provic i1g a flat blank, then thinning and flaring the ends of said blank by a forging operation and laterally bending the extremities of said flared and thinned portions to form hooks for ei'igageinent with a'beam, thendoubling said blank upon itself and providing a sad dle in the doubled end.

2. The method of making brake beam fulcrums which consists in providing a blank, then flaring the end portions and the middle portion of said blank by a forging operation, then shaping said end portions to provide-hooks for engagement with a beam,

then doubling said blank upon. itself and forging a saddle in the middle flared portion thereof.

3. The method of making brake beam fulcrums which consists in providing a flat blank, then forging the end and intermediate portions thereof to thin and flare the same, then shaping the end portions to provide lateral projections for engagement around a beam, then providing apertures in the flared end portions, then doubling the blank upon itself at the intermediate flared portion. and then forging said intermediate flared portion to provide a seat for a ten sion rod.

A brake beam fulcrum composed of a single bar doubled upon itself, a forged tension I rod seat being provided in the doubled end, the free ends of the arms being flattened and flared and having inturned flanges for engagement with a compression member.

5. A brake beam fulcrum composed of a single piece doubled upon itself and forged to provide a saddle in the doubled portion, the free ends of the arms being forged to spread the metal and provide lateral inturned flanges for engagement around the beam, means located near the free ends of the arms for rigidly holding and spacing apart the arms, and a key adapted to pass through said arms at the flared portion thereof and engage With a beam whereby to hold the fulcrum against displacement longitudinally of the beam.

Signed at Chicago, 111., this 19th day of September, 1921,

CARL E, BAUER.

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