US1741651A - Shock-absorbing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1929. J. F. O'CONNOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Fild Sept. 6, 1927 2 shuts-sheet 1 1929. J. F. O'CONNOR 1,741,651

' SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM med se t. 6. 192'! 2 Shoots-Shoot 2 Ju/ewr Wm .9 W op Patented Dec. 31, 1929 entree srATss PATENT: OFFICE JOHN F. OCONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLI'IQ'OI53, ASSIGNOR'TO W. H, "MINER, INQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION .OF DELAWARE SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM:

Applicationfiled September 6, 1927. 'SeriaI No. 217,809.

This invention relates to improvement in shock absorbing mechanisms.

One ob ect of the invention is to provlde a shock absorbing mechanism of high capacity 1 specially adapted for railway draftriggings,

including relatively movable. follower members and interposed laminated spring means in the form of disc members of channel shaped section. Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism comprising relatively movable follower members and spring resistance means interposed between said. follower members, including a main spring resistance co-operating with spring followers, and auxiliary spring resistance means of lesser capacity interposed between the spring followers and the main followers, adapted to be compresse d during the initial portion of the compression stroke, together with positive stop meanslimiting the compression of said auxiliary spring resistance means.

In thedrawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is ahorizontal sectional view ofa portion of a railway draft rigging illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sec tional view corresponding substantially. to

30 the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the front end portion of another embodiment of my invention corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4: is an end -eleVa-.

tional view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3.

.In said drawings, referring first to the em-.

bodiment ofv the inventlon illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicate channel shaped center sills of a railway car underframe, to the inner-sides ofwhich are secured the usual front stop lugs 11-11 and rear stop lugs 1212. The rear endportion of the draw bar is designated by 18, to which is operative 1y connected a yoke 14, of well known form. The shockabsorbing mechanism proper, a .front main follower 15 and arear main follower 16are disposed within-the yoke, the yoke in turn being supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 17 secured an inwardly corresponding casin The front and rear follower casings A and Bare substantially in the form of box-like members, each having a cylindrical central opening 19, and outer end walls 20. The end walls 20 co-operate with'thefront and rear followers .15 and 16, respectively, having flat bearing thereon. The follower casing A has the central bore 19 thereof enlarged at the rear end, as indicated at 21 and telescopically receives a cylindrical extension 22 on the rear follower casing 13. The casings are so proportioned, that relative approach of the same will be limited by the front end of the cylindrical portion 522 of'the casing B coming into engagement-with the end wall of the opening 21 of the casing A, and the rear end of the extension of the casing A coming into abutment with the shoulder at the inner end of the cylindrical portion 22 of the casing B.

Each of the casings A andB is p'rovided'with extending central hollow boss 23 formed integral withthe end wall 20 of the The spring resistance means comprises the central main spring resistance D and front and rear auxiliary spring resistance elements E E. The spring followers C C, which are in the form of relatively heavy discs, are interposedbetween the spring resistance D and the auxiliary spring resistance members E-E. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the spring followers are normally spaced from the inner ends of the enlargementson the front and rear casings A and B,the enlarge- .ments e23 acting as pressure transmittlng posts to limit relative movement of the easings and the spring followers The spring resistance D comprises a plurality of disclike members, eachof the disc-like members being provided with a central opening adapted to freely accommodate the retainer bolt G. The body portion of each disc-like plate between the periphery thereof and the central perforation is curved in cross-section, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In other words, each spring plate is in the form of a dished annular member. The discs forming the spring resistance D are so arranged that two adjacent members have the concave surfaces of the dished portion opposite, so that there is contact between the same at two spaced annular zones, one contact zone being at the peripheries of the discs and the other zone near the central portion thereof. The convex outer surfaces of the pairs of discs are in face to face contact thus providing bearing 7 contact on an annular zone.

The auxiliary spring resistance members E also comprise a plurality of plate-like members, in the form of dished rings. In other words, each spring plate of the auxiliary spring resistance members E is in the form of a channel shaped ring. The ring members of each spring resistance E are arranged in pairs, the members of each pair having the concave faces thereof opposed thereby providing bearing contact at two spaced annular zones, one zone being at the peripheries of the rings and the other along the edges at the openings of the rings. As shown, the outer convex surfaces of adjacent pairs are in abutment, thereby providing bearing engagement on an'annular zone. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the ring members of the spring resistance elements E surround the bosses or posts 23 of the front and rear follower casings A and B, the openings in the ring members being of such a size as to freely accommodate the posts 23.

The mechanism is held assembled and of over-all uniform length by the retainer bolt G, which has its opposite ends anchored within the bosses or posts 23 of the front and rear follower casings Aand B. The bolt is so adjusted as to place both the spring resistance D and spring resistance members E under initial compression.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, as illustrated in Figures l and 2, assuming a compression stroke, is as follows: The casings A and B will be moved relatively toward each other upon relative approach of the main followers and 16 thereto, compressing the spring resistance elements D and E. The spring resistance elements E are of lesser capacity than the spring resistance D, and consequently will be compressed to a greater extent than the spring resistance D during the first part of the compression stroke. The compression of the spring members E and D during the rela tive approach of the main followers A and B will continue until the spring followers CC are engaged by the posts 23, whereupon further compression of the auxiliary spring resistance elements E will be prevented and the main spring resistance D will be compressed between the spring followers C during the re mainder of the compression stroke. The described action will continue either until the actuating force is reduced, or movement of the follower casings A and B is limited by engagement of the inner ends of the same. During release, upon the actuating force being re duced, the expansive action of the spring resistanee elements D, E and E will restore all of the parts to a normal position, outward separation of the casings A and B being limited by the retainer bolt G.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 4c, the same comprises broadly front and rear follower casings H and K of hollow box-like form provided with a cylindrical bore. As most clearly shown in Fig. t the'casings are provided with intercngaging arm-like extensions 30, the front follower casing I-I being provided with said extensions on the opposite sides thereof, while the rear casing is provided with the extensions 30 at the top and bottom sides thereof. The extensions 80 of the front and rear follower casings interengage and are provided with bevelednieeting faces as most clearly shown in Fig. i. The spring resistance means M, comprising a plurality of disc-like plate members, is disposed within the casings H and K and has bearing on the end walls of the casings. The disc-likemembers M are of substantially the same design as the disc-like members D described in connection with the first form of the invention, with the exception that they are not provided with central perforation.

The mechanism is held of over all uniform length and maintained assembled by retainer bolts N, which are disposed at the four corners of the casings, the casings being provided with longitudinal bores to receive the shanks of the retainer bolts N. The operation of the improved shock absorbing mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 and t,'is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that there is no preliminary spring action, the entire set of discs, comprising the main spring resistance N, being compressed throughout the compression stroke of the mechanism.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, the casings A and B, employed in connection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be provided with openings 31 at the four corners thereof to avoid heavy section of metal atv these points. It will be evident that when the central bolt Gris omitted discs of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be employed in place of the perforated discs D illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

WVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the combination with relatively movable main follower casings having cylindrical interior spaces, one of said casings having a cylindrical end section telescoped with the inner end of the other casing; of spring followers interposed between said main followers; a spring resistance comprising a plurality of co-acting ring shaped spring plate elements interposed between said spring followers and fitted within said spring spaces; additional spring resistance means interposed between the spring followers and main followers; and abutment means on said main followers cooperating with the spring followers for limiting relative movement of said, main and spring followers.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower cas-' ings having central interior abutment posts thereon; of laminated spring ring members within said casings, said ring members surrounding the abutment posts; front and rear spring followers co-operating with said laminated members, said spring followers being normally spaced from the posts and engaged thereby before full compression of the mechanism; and a main spring resistance interposed between said spring followers.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day of September, 1927.

JOHN F.. OCONNOR.

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