US1795822A - Follower block - Google Patents

Description

March, 10,I 1931.

D. s. BARRows FOLLOWER BLOCK Filed May 1e, 1927` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @d @.5 WW wm s. M n L March 10 ,1931. v D. s. BARRows 1,795,822

FoLLowER BLOCK Filed May 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 10,y 1931 Daitarn' s, yisilitiwws, olioofiiisTEiR, NEW Yoii{`,filssieiion :do THE siiiiiaon coiaP'ANY, or NEW YORK, N.'Y., A com?oiziitrion'or1 MARYLAND Appiic'afioll fired iway 16,

Thisinteiitiqreiate n l ging and morepartiiilarly, to ,a follower 'so'oiatedf difaift' for .for es therebetween and providing means ioroon-:L

neeting tlie draft gear with the'urdegrfranie of the l car. I

The principal @Ejea 'f myinvnabn, gaierally-considereol, to provide ya follower block for railway draft in wliiliftlie endl Walls' tliereof are connected together by giving a frusto-pyramidal elle`C'tCe'rtaiiiL of fi said Walls beingpiefera'bly inclined transl vrseli and( dsfalaliliffved ab, 'that Said structure maybe approximately cylindrical or frusta-conical.

follower blool; v for railway draftfrigging'in wliiclithe front and rearwallstliereofare joinedy a hollow lapfprfoXiniately cylindris` cal web forrigidifyingtbe lstrliioture thereofy for"y 3properly transmitting forces between said front and rear walls.

Another .Qbieft my investi@ is te; Dra: Yide a Jiollower blockliaving front, and rear walls joining .a holler appleexmatlif ',Cyliria drioal, structure rneetingsintermediate por;

tions oft saidwalls,V strutnre inter-rv rupted to provide atransversely extending. I u l i r .A

, 2,' showing still'anotlier modification of my' slot for receiving an associated draft ley further objectof my invention is to .pro-

vide a Afollower ,bloclt lfor railwaydraft rigging` comprising end walls and side walls con?,

neoting'said endwallslv said side walls joinedby a Webbedportion providinga slot for the reception l et an'. associated draft 'lr`ey f yention relating'to the parti'eul'ar arrangeproperly reinforc!- @their objects 19h27'. ySeriai Nel 1913525.y

will b'eeoiiieapparent as' tli desorijtion prof-i` o tudinaly ,seetion,' 'snowing' agkfollowfer 'bleekA ergbo'iyiig'my iiiyentijtii l the' batter ai asSQ'-, elatedy coiipler,.tliefiontend' o'f'an' as" Cf ted crisliioiiing" device,v andfaiiassoei tedfd'raft life"` beine illustrated `diagranffinaticially) by l dotand dash lineslm i i Figure Q'is` an end elevation,v pfartlyin' s'e'c tionof the follower' bloc'lt'on theilin 52x-Qy of Figui@ 1'@ 11V 4 'A Figure l ia)fraglnentary .se'ition'al View COYGSPQDQ i0, .FigiireA 2, biitv showing a slight odiiication.

Fieiilesg and 6' eeffragnntary, viis Corresponding respectivelyto Figures l andy 2,bu't. slfrowing` another ii'iofflifica'tion.Y l

@Figures 7 and are' fragmentary. views correspondingrespectively, to Figures I and 2; 'showing a further inoditication.J

',Fgures-HQ an'ed'llOl, are fragmentary views@ corresponding, respectively, to Figuresl and 2, showing' a stillfurtlier modiiication.'

igiir'es l1 and l2 are fragmentary views,

corresponding, ife'speetively7` to vFigures l and 2', sligwing'an additional modification. .y i, *k Y ,Figures 13 and 1,4 are fragmentary views',

Corresponding,respectively,l to 'Figiire's 1 and,V

igiirell is' a fragmentary view Corre" spending to' Figure 2 andl showing'l a stilly further embodiment of Inyinventiong l leferring toV tlie'ydrawings' in detail', like parts" being designated bywlilre reiferenceyv eliaraeterg and rfirst oonsiderfing the e1nbdiinentof my invention illiistrated in Figres 1*,2 and 3,'tl1ere shown affront,l follower bloei.; the front lend"l of which ,is adapt-ed for engagement with. the :butt of a lcoupler 2; iifidicateclv cliagraniinatioally by vdot .and dash lines;'and'thei"ear face or wall of whichis adapted to engage the front end of a draft gear or cushioning device 3, indicated diagranimatically by dot and dash lines. The follower block 1 is provided with a transversely extending slot 4, adapted to receive a draft key 5, indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines. Such a block is adapted for use with Farlow two-key or three-key draft rigging such as illustrated, for exani ple, in the Patent No. 1,126,663 to T. l-l.l Symington or in the latent No. 841,757 to l. O. lVright et al. but, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to such forms of draft rigging nor is it limited to use as a front follower for, upon slight modification, for example such as suggested in the Patent No. 1,293,300 to D. S. Barrows, it may be utilized as a rear follower.

Considering the drawings, it will be seen that the front end of the blocl must resist the load from the relatively small butt of the coupler and, as said coupler angles in every direction, there is applied to the front end of the block, whenrthe coupler is under buff, concentrated loads which successively but irregularly act on the front wall of said block along the path of an approximate circle. On the rear wall of the block, the entire bufling load frequently has to be resisted where said wall engages the small end of an associated draft gear or cushioning device which is properly considered in the form of a relatively small circle, which circle may approximate the circle upon which the buiiing for-'ce from the coupler is applied. n

In order to properly take care or the forces which are required to be transmitted through I the block in accordance with the foregoing explanation, I have provided for the substanf. tially direct transmission of said forces from one end wall to the other. A preferred em;- bodiment of the invention comprises utilizing a longitudinal hollow substantially cylin-r drical web connecting the front and rear walls of the block, interrupted, however, at its sides to provide a slot for the passagel of an associated draft lrey. T he walls of this cylindrical structure may be an expansion of the walls which provide the slot or they may be superimposed on said walls above and .below the same but preferably involve an expansion of said walls rather than a superpositioning thereon because of the difliculty o-f securing and venting the segmental cores necessary. in the case of superpositioning. My invention, however, is not limited to the use of a hollow cylindrical web as any practical structure, approximating a circular or multi-sided prism, certain of the walls of which are inclined transversely of the block, may be employed instead of a hollow cylindrical struc'- ture. If desired,` and especially when the engaging ends of the coupler and cushioning device are much different in size, the structure may be frusto-conical or frusto-pyramidal so that the junctions between the connecting structure and the end walls of the follower block approximately underlie, respectively, the peripheries of the engaging coupler and cushioning device.

With the above considerations in mind, it will be seen that the form of follower block illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 involves a front wall 6, the front face of which, when the block if adapted for use as a front follower, is preferably provided with a forwardly extending coupler-engaging and centering lug 7 of any usual or desired character, and a rear wall 3. Connecting the vertical or side edges of the walls 6 and 3 are side walls 9 and 1G, said side walls, in turn, being preferably connected by a hollow webbed structure 11Y in which the slot 4 is provided.

The follower blocl is advantageously, al-` tliougli not necessarily, provided with a top wn il or web 12 and a bottom wall or web 13, said wall in the present embodiment, diver-gin `glitlv from the front wali 6 to the no l., L .j p' eaL wane, as inustiated particuiai y in ig- For rigidifying the block andproviding for the more direct transmission of forces between the walls 6 and 3 thereof, a hollow structure 14 is provided extending longitudinally of the bloclr between the walls 9, 10, 12 and 13 thereof and joining intermediate portion of said end wall Said structure, in the present embodiment, is substantially cylindrical except that portions thereof are omitted for permitting the slot 4 to be continuous between the side walls of the block. rl`he sides of the cylindrical structure 14, therefore, merge with the adjacent portions of the transverse hollow structure 11 as indi- 1 cated at 15.

The upper and lower portions of the cylindrical structure 14 are preferably bracedV and connected to the upper and lower webs 12 and 13, respectively, by preferably vertical webs 16. Longitudiiially extending preferably vertical webs 17 are desirably provided intermediate the webs 16 and the side walls of the block, whereby said top and bottom walls, said transverse webbed structure 11 and said longitudinal approximately cylindrical reinforcement 14 are rigidly tied together. ln order to provide for core-removal and lighten the weight of the casting 1, the side walls 9 and 10 are preferably apertured above and below the slot 4 as indicated at 18 and the intermediate webs 17 are correspondingly apertured as indicated at 19.V Although the webbed structure 11 is discontinued after it joins with the cylindrical reinforcement 14, yet those portions of said structure, adjacent the ends of the slot 4, are preferably continued the full width of the block 1 as indicated at 20. Y

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 4, a follower block"` is` there: shown" .which be identical withv thatV illustrated in Figures 1", andy 3f except that two wa-ibsjl'ta are"employedv con-y ,3 necting the cylindrical structure '111'T with the top and bottom walls'rather than merely a single webr 16 as previously disclosed. Inasmuo'h as Figure 4 only-shows the top half of the casting, there is illustrated only the e. top wall lfthetop portion of't'l1e`trahs5 verse slotted hollow web? 11a, the side walls 9a and 10ffand the frontdwall'l. It will noted" that, in substituting Atwov connecting webs 16 for the one web, that pfortion vof the longitudinally extending cylindrical'` rein- A provided',saidfwallsl 9a and 10 and the webs forcement 14u-between said webs isiomitted to facilitate core-removal.y As ingthe previfous emb0diment, intermediate longitudinally. extending vertical webs 17e may be 17a-beingapertured as indicated at`18a, and

19a'for asimilar purpose. 1 ,l f -v Referring now tothe embodiment of my inventionillustrated in'Figures 5 andr 6, a

construction'identical withthat of the em-A Referring now. togthe embodimentof my invention'illustrated in Figures/y and v8, a'

construction is there disclosedr which is identical with 1 that shown 1in Figures 1, 2 and 3 except that the cylindrical reinforcing portion is replaced by a .hollow four-sidedprism ofprismoidalweb 14C, the walls of said structure preferably extending' at an .angle of forty-iive'degrees with respect .to the' slotted transverse reinforcement 11c which connects thesidewalls 9,c and 10G. vAs in the: first embodiment,the upper and lower portions of said hollowprism v14@ are connected to the upper and lower walls,l the'upper wall 12',3 only being illustrated, by means of aLV web 16C. Except a-s specifically described, the construction of the present embodiment maybe identical with lthat 'of the first embodiment.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, a

construction is there disclosed in which a hollow prismlfd connectingpthey frontwall 6@ and the rear wall 8d ispiovided instead of the hollow cylindrical structure 11i of the first embodiment. Said prism 14d, in the present embodimenh'has atop-'wall 15d and the side wallsare formed by, or merged with,y

the, intermediate longitudinally extending webs 17d. lAs inthe firstembo'diment, kof

course',l the sidewalls ofthe4 prism are inthe lower section (not affilata tiene aa of ai@ tat;'sveglivalleie-` forcemen'tll and said transverserandlon'-v gitudina'l reinforcements merge together.v at y their intersections, `that portion of the trans'- verse'V reinforcement 11d, between the side walls' of the prismy or the intermediatewebs' 17d of the followerglbeing omitted asl in, the irstf embodiment'. The topv and bottomwalls ofthe reinforcing prisinllld 'mayy be, respecf tively, connected to the vtop and bottom walls is illustrated, longitudinally 'extending'- webs 16d` aperture'd'as indicated at 2,1y to fal-u cilitate core-removal and lighten the'weight of the 'ca-sting'.L `Except as specifically described, the' construction 'of the presentem# bodiment may be identical with that of the first] embodiment. l

m-,Referringfno'w to the embodiment invention illustrated in Figures lland 12, a construction is therel disclosed which is substantially identical' with; that ofthefirst] embodiment except thatV the transverse" slotted'4 reinforcement '11e fis" continued through 'the longitudinal cylindrical reinforcement 14e and provisionfo'r; holding and rem"o'vingthe core, betweensaid longitudinal andy transverse reinforcern'ents',v` is' made by an" aperture 21e in the longitudinal web 16e connecting said cylindrical reinforcement 14 with the top 22,' 151'0 provide access :to-the corespace between said rein-.forcement and the slotted transverse reinforcement 11e.

Y and bottom walls lof the-"follower, the top wall 12e only being illustrated. ThisV aperture 21e is'continue'd' through the cylindrical vreinforcement 14:e` as indicated at 'i Except as specifically s ofthe followenthe t'op ywall12d only oifwhichy *"7 sag aff

described,the construction of the-present' embodiinent may be substantially identical withV that of the first embodiment.

invention illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, a

constructionV is there disclosed in which the; longitudinal yreinforcement 111f is plus or star-1 shaped'rather thaincylindrical or prismoidal as invthejother embodiments. YThat is, said tudinal webs 111r which preferably merge,` respectively, adj acentthe top and bottom ofthe transverse slottedreinfor'cement 11f, flaring upwardly and 'downwardly to, respectively,

y uit Referring now to the embodimentv of my j .longitudinal reinforcement involves longiy intersect and merge with the top' and bottom walls of the follower, the top wall 12,.t only being'illustrated. Said webs 1415 preferablyV incline at angles of approximately forty-five degrees with respect to said transverse remforcement 11f. In the present embodiment, the construction may be considered to corre-l i spend with that illustrated in Figures 7 and 8', thevwalls ofthe hollow longitudinal Aprism 14c there' shown lbeing revolved' through ninety degrees with the centers of said walls maintained in substantially the same position. `Inotherk words, the reinforcingvwebs 14" of the present embodiment function substantially like the walls of the hollow prism 14C of Figures 7 and 8 except that they are inclined Vat ninety degrees with respect to the inclination of the referred to embodiment.

In the present embodiment, theouter ends of the webs lef may be considered as merging with the intermediate webs 17f and the central longitudinal web 16f does not connect with the reinforcement lef. In this case, the reinforcing webs ltf are preferably apertured, as indicated at 22fito provide for coreplacing and removal. The rear or draft gear engaging end of the follower may be provided with a lug 23 for engaging in a corresponding aperture in the front of the associated cushioning mechanism or draft gear and holding the same in proper assembled relation with respect thereto. It will be appreciated that the employment of said lug 28 is analogous to that of the lug 7for coupler engaging purposes and such a. lug may be used on any or all of the embodiments of my invention here illustrated or contemplated or all of said embodiments may be unprovided therewith. Except as specifically described, the construction and function thereof may be substantially identical with that of the first embodiment.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure l5, a construction is there disclosed which is substantially identical with that of the first embodiment except that the reinforcement 14g, connecting the front and rear walls of the casting, is a hollow hexagonal prism rather than a hollow cylinder, that is, the walls of said structure preferably slope from the central longitudinal web 16g toward the intermediate longitudinal webs 17g, meeting said latter webs at points above and below the transverse slotted reinforcement 11g. It will, therefore, be apparent that the only material diderence between the, embodiment here illustrated and that illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3 is that the webs, defining the hollow reinforcement 14g, are plane and angularly disposed with respect to each other forming a hexagonal prism rather than being curved to form a hollow cylinder. It will be appreciated, however, that said prism may be considered as an approximate cylinder in that the walls thereof follow closely the contour of a cylinder so that it functions in substantially the same manner. The connecting web 16g, instead of being imperforate, is formed with apertures V21g above and below the transverse slotted reinforcement 11g for lightenin the weight of the casting and facilitating lcore-removal. Except as specifically described, the construction of the present embodiment may be identical with that of the iirst embodiment.

In accordance with the foregoing disclosure, it will be observed that I have provided a form of block which is particularly adapted to eliiciently transmit stresses between the end walls or faces-when forces are applied either from the coupler Vto the front wall thereof or from the cushioning device or draft gear to the rear wall thereof. Of course, the longitudinal intermediate reinforcement, which is preferably cylindrical or approximately cylindrical either in actual contour or in function, is particularly adapted for transmitting forces from one end wall directly to the other but it will be understood that,'when draft forces are applied to the gear, said forces are efficiently transferred from the rear wall of the block, through the longitudinal reinforcement, to the transverse slotted reinforcement and, from thence, through the connecting key to the underframe of the car. Although this form of block is peculiarly adapted to the ordinary form of coupler butt, it is also desirable for use with any coupler, for example one having a swivel butt, inasmuch as with increasing severity of service, an increased column area for the direct transmission of is desirable. Although several desirable embodiments of my invention have been illustrated, I do not wish to be limited to the exact features there shown asmy invention broadly comprises all formsembodying the spirit of my invention embraced within the scopeV of the ,appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claii l. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to engage the butt of an Vassociated coupler and the end of an associated cushioning device, and webs extending longitudinally between said end walls and spaced to leave a slot for an associated draft key, said webs, intermediate the sides of the block, being spaced more widely apart so as to more directly transmit stresses between the end walls received, respectively, from the butt of said coupler and the end of said cushioning device.

2. A. follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and the end of an associated cushioning device, web portions connecting intermediate parts of said end walls and provided with a slot for thereception of an associated draft key, certain portions of said webs being inclined transversely with respect to said slotted portions for efficiently transmitting stresses between said end walls.

3. A. follower blocl for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and the end of a cushionino' device, and webs extending longitudinally between intermediate portions of said end walls, portions of said webs being inclined transversely of the bloclr in order to directly transmit stresses between the end wallsv thereof. Y

4. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to, respecasl directly transmitting forces received thereon' from one wall to another.V

5. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end walls'adaptcd to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and thel front end of an associated cushioning device, a hollow approvimately cylindrical structure extending between said walls and oining intermediate portions thereof for directly transmitting forces received on one of said walls to the other, said structure being formed with a transverse slot for receiving an associated draft key. Y

6. A. follower bloeit for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and the end of an associated cushioning device, sidewalls extending longitudinally and joining the vertical edges of said end walls, a transverse webbed structure oining said side walls and slotted for the reception of an associated draft key, and 'a longitudinally extending hollow approximately cylindrical structure connecting said end walls and intersecting said transverse webbed `structure intermediate said side walls.

7 A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end walls adapted to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and the end of an associated cushioning device, top, bottom and side walls extending longitudinally and connecting the corresponding edges of said end walls, and a hollow approximately cylindricalr structure extending between and joining with said end walls, at the ends thereof, betweensaid top, bottom and side walls for directly transmitting forces received on said end walls and rigidifying the block.

A8. A follower block for railway draft rigging comprising end wallsadapted to, respectively, engage the butt of an associated coupler and the end of an associated cushioning device, side walls connecting the corresponding edges of said end walls, websextending substantially parallel to said side walls and connecting intermediatey portions of said end walls and additional webs extending diagonally from said first mentioned webs and connecting intermediate portions of said end walls for rigidifying the construction anddirectly transmitting forces between said end walls.

9. A follower block for railwaydrafty rigging comprising end walls, one of which is adapted to engage the end of an associated cushioning device, side walls connecting said tending transversely toward the center of the -ally and longitudinally between said end walls and disposed between the Lipper and lower edges thereof, eachv web having a portion between the side edges thereof spaced a greater' distance from the other web than the remainder to efficiently transmit forces loetween the vend walls.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

end walls Vand slotted for the reception of 'an 'l associated draft key, said slottedfportions ex-

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