US1938881A - Shock absorbing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1933. G w. WILDIN 1,938,881

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GEORGE W.WILDIN ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES SHOCK ABSORBIN G MECHANISM George w. Wildin, Pittsburgh, Pa. assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cal-dwell Westinghouse- Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application June 27, 1929. Serial No. 374,007

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms of the type especially adapted for use in draft riggings for railway rolling stock and particularly to that type comprising a casing containing spring means and a plunger or friction wedge means for transmitting shocks to the spring means.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a shock absorbing mechanism, of the above type, with novel and efiicient means for maintaining the plunger assembled with the other parts of the mechanism. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide the central wedge block of a friction shock absorbing mechanism with key means which may be projected into positions to maintain the wedge block assembled with the casing and shall be held in operative position by one of the elements of the-shock absorbing mechanism. I

Other objects and advantageswill appear in .the following more detailed description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 ma horizontal longitudinal sectional viewof a railway draft rigging embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the shock absorbing mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the central wedge block with the locking key members mounted and locked therein in their maintaining positions; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken. on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing only portions of the wedge block and the top and'bottom walls of the casing and'also showing the key members; Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 4,

except that the, key members are shown contracted to permit the application or removal of thewedge block to and from the casing; Fig. 6

is a sectional view through a wedge block embodying a modification of myinvention and Fig.

7 is'a like view through a wedge block embodying a further modification of the invention. A

In the drawings, the reference character 1 in dicates the usual spaced center or draft sills of a g5 railway. car underframe, to which aresecur'ed the usual front stop lugs 2 and rearstop lugs 3..

The reference character 4 indicates the inner end of the drawbar, to which, the usual draft yoke 5 is operatively connected. I V

Disposed Within the yoke 5, is my improved friction shock absorbing mechanism and a front follower plate 6, all of which are supported in the usual manner by a plate '7, detachably secured to plate engages the front stop-lugs 2 and the rear the sills 1, in such'a manner, that the follower 'wedging mechanism, the plates 11 being anchored to the casing, and the plates 12 being movable relative to the plates 11 under bufiing and pulling impacts.

Theforward end portions of the top and bottom walls '9 of the casing are provided with thickened portions 14, which form shoulders 15 7Q interiorly of the casing, with which shoulders,

lugs projecting from the top and bottom edges of the plates 11, engage, thus anchoring these plates against outward movement relative to the casing, inward movement of the plates being 75. stopped by their engagement with shoulders 17 on the walls 9.

' The wedging mechanism comprises longitudinally disposed Wedge blocks 18 and 19, having opposed wedging faces adapted to engage corresponding wedging faces of wedge blocks or shoes 20, disposed at opposite sides of the wedge blocks 18 and 19. g

The wedge'block 18 comprises a forward wedging portion 21adapted to receive bufling and pull- 85, ing impacts, and extending rearwardly therefrom, are top and bottom horizontally disposed flanges 22 and 23, respectively, which are connected together by centrally arranged vertically disposed webs 24 and 25 spaced apart longitudinally of the wedge block. 1

Disposed vertically in the space between the webs 24 and 25 of the wedge block, are aligned locking key members 26 and 27, having their re.- spective outer ends 28 and 29 extending through openings in the flanges 22 and 23 respectively, of the wedge block, into locking engagement ,or in such positions that they are adapted to lock with-the shoulders 15 on the top and bottom walls of the casing. The inner ends of these key mem- 1 00 bers abut each other, and are provided with rearwardly extending lugs 30 r and 31 respectively which are adapted to respectively engage shoulders 32 and 33 formed-on the web 25 to prevent unintentional movement of the members in the 19 directions of their lengths. 1

Contained in thecasing'are springs 34, 35 and 36, the springs 34 actingon the movable plates 12, and wedge block 19 through the medium of a spring plate 37, and the'springs 35 and 36 acting 1 on the wedge block 18, through the medium of a spring plate 52, a follower member 38 and a locking member 39. The follower member 38 extends through openings in the spring plate 37, and wedge block 19, and at its forward end is provided with an extension 40 which extends through a central bore in the. locking member 39 into engagement with the rear edge of the web 25 within a recess 41, and thus'maintains the locking member against vertical movement relative to the web 25.

The locking member 39 engages the rear edge of the web 25 and has forwardly extending spaced lugs 42 which overlap both sides of the web 25 and the inner ends of the locking key members 26 and 2'7 and these lugs lock the members 26 and 27 so that they cannot accidentally move out of alignment as will hereinafter more fully appear. v 1

To assemble my friction shock absorbing mechanism, the casing may be placed'in a vertical position with the open end directed upwardly, in which the springs 34, 35 and 36, spring plates 52 and 37,. follower member 38, wedge block 19 and locking member 39 are positioned in the casing, through the open end thereof, in the order named. The springs are now temporarily compressed and held compressed by pins or the like, which may be passed through openings 50, formed in the top and bottom walls of the easing, into engagement with the upper side of the spring plate 37.

While the springs are thusmaintained compressed, the wedge block 18 is inserted in the easing, but, before the inner edge of the web 25 is permitted to seat on the locking member 39 and projection 41, the ends of the locking key members 26 and 27 are inserted in their respective openings in the flanges 22 and 23 ofthe wedge block, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and then moved in the directions. of their lengths toward the casing until their inner ends are in such positions that thelugs 30 and 31 engage the shoulders 32 and 33 respectively, on the. web 25.

The inner ends of the key members are now moved toward each other in directions transversely of the web 25, until they are in vertical alignment with each other. These key members are preferably of the same thickness as the thickness of the webs 24 and 25, and after they are aligned as .just described, the wedge block, to-

gether with the positioned key members, is lowered to its'seated position on thelocking. member 39, in. which position, the lugs 42 of the locking members overlap both sides of the web 25 of the wedge block and both sides of the inner ends of the key members, thus locking said inner ends against accidental movement in directions transversely of the web 25.

It will be noted that, when the key members arealigned, the inner ends of the members are adapted toengage each other and the lugs 30 and 31 are adapted to engage the shoulders 32 and 33 respectively of the web 25 thus maintaining the key members against accidental movement in the directions of their lengths, either toward or away from the casing.

To facilitate the application and removal of the key members,.the dimensions of the openings in the flanges 22 and 23 areslightly greater than the dimensions of the outer ends of the key fmembers, and the outer end of eachkey member is provided with a curvedsurfacev 51 to prevent the binding of the ends ofthe members against the wedge block when the. members are moved,

relative to the wedge block, to or from their maintaining or looking positions.

The wedge blocks or shoes 20, and plates 11 and 12 are now positioned in the forward end portion of the casing, after which, the temporary pins may be removed from the casing, permitting the pressure of the springs to move the friction mechanism as a whole forward relative to the casing until such movement is brought to a stop by the outer ends of the key members engaging the casing shoulders 15. With the friction elements thus maintained in their assembled positions, the pressure of the springs 35 and 36 acting through the spring plate 52, maintains the follower member 38 in locking engagement with the wedge block 18 and the locking member 39, and through the medium of the follower member 38 maintains locking member 39 in position to lock the key members against accidental movement transversely of the webs of the wedge block. From the foregoing description it will be understood that the locking key members, by reason of their engagement with the casing, limit forward movement of the wedge block relative to the casing, and at the same time, permit rearward movement of the wedge block relative to the casing or forward movement of the casing relative to the wedge block.

It will be noted that in my improved friction shock absorbing mechanism there are no through slots in the walls of the casing for the reception of the locking key members, so that the strength of the casing, to withstand the forces due to the expansion of the friction mechanism, is not impaired. I

Should it be desired to disassemble the shock absorbing mechanism, the mechanism is first compressed and the springs held compressed by temporary pins in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with the assembling of the mechanism, and while the springs are held compressed, the plates 11 and 12, and wedge block 20 are removed, after which the wedge block 18 is moved outwardly until the key members 26 and 27, which are mounted in the wedge block, are out of the plane of the spaced lugs 42 of the locking members, when lateral pressure, in opposite directions, exerted manually on the inner ends of the members will cause the mem bers to move out of alignment a sufficient distance that they may be moved inwardly, past each other and when so moved, the outer ends thereof are retracted from the positions in which they are adapted to lock with the casing.

With the locking members thus retracted the wedge block 18 can be removed'from the casing.

After the wedge block 18 is removed the temporary pins may be removed from the casing so that all of the other parts of the mechanism may be easily removed.

In Fig. 6 a modification of my invention is i1- lustrated in which locking key members 55 and 56 are provided, which correspond with the key members 26 and 27, and which haveinclined faces 57 and 58 on the inwardly extending lugs formed movementnof the key membersout of, alignment.

In this modification, lugs 61 and 62, projecting inwardly from the flanges 22 and 23, are adapted to prevent vertical movement of the locking member 59 relative to the wedge block 18.

In Fig. 7 a further modification of my invention is illustrated in which a locking member 63 is provided having a. central lug 64 against which the inner ends of the key members abut. This locking member is provided with top and bottom walls 65 and side Walls 66, the side walls overlapping the sides of the inwardly extending lugs, formed on the key members, adjacent their inner ends, to prevent the key members from accidentally moving out of alignment. In this modification the wedge block may be identical with the wedge block illustrated in Fig. 6 so that vertical movement of the locking member is prevented by the lugs 61 and 62. The top and bottom flanges of the locking member are in engagement with the lugs on the key members, and since the locking member is maintained against vertical movement, the top and bottom flanges thereof will prevent movement of the key members in the directions of their lengths toward the casing.

In connection with the modifications illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 it will be understood that the locking key members are applied and removed in the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form of my invention.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to these embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, thecombination with a casing, of shock absorbing means in said casing, a plunger mounted in the end portion of said casing and normally subject to the pressure of said shock absorbing means and operative to transmit shocks delivered thereto to said shock absorbing means, a transversely divided key movable into and out of locking engagement with said plunger and casing, and means overlapping the sides of said key for maintaining the parts of said key in looking position.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, of shock absorbing means in said casing, a plunger mounted in the end portion of said casing and normally subject to the pressure of said shock absorbing means and operative to transmit shocks delivered thereto to said shock absorbing means, and means mounted in said plunger and engaging said casing for limiting relative movement between said plunger and casing, said means comprising two key 1 members the outer ends of which engage the casing and the inner ends of which abut and engage shoulders on the plunger for preventing their longitudinal movement. I

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engaging said casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having a pressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of the wedge portion, and spaced webs connecting said flanges, and means for maintaining said wedge block assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of key members mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs and having outer end'portions exing wedge tending through said flanges into positions to engage said casing and having inner end portions cooperating with each other and with one of said webs for maintaining said key members against unintentional movement in the directions of their lengths.

4'. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engaging said casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having a pressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of the wedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spacedstop shoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedge block assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of key members mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs and having outer end portions extending through said flanges into positions to engage said casing and having inner end portions adapted to engage each other and said stop shoulders for maintaining the outer ends of the key members in' positions to engage the casing.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engaging said casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having a pressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of the wedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spaced stop shoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedge block assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of key members mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs and havingouter end portions extending through said flanges into positions to engage said casing and lugs on said members extending rearwardly into engagement with said stop shoulders for 1 15 limiting the movement of said key members in directions toward the casing.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and 1 20 engaging said casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having a pressure creatportion, flanges extending rearwardly of the wedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spaced stop shoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedge block assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of key members mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs and having outer end portions extending through said flanges into positions to engage said casing and lugs on said members extending rearwardly into engagement with said stop shoulders for limiting the movement of said key members in directions toward the casing, the inner 13 5 ends of said locking members being adapted to engage with each other to prevent movement of the members in opposite directions.

7. In a friction shock-absorbing mechanism, in combination, a casing having an open end and 140 inwardly facing shoulders adjacent thereto, spring resisted friction mechanism housed within the casing and including a thrust element having transverse laterally open keyways, a pair of aligned keys seated in the waysand projecting 5 beyond the thrust element to engage the casing. shoulders, and a spring advanced bifurcated element laterally overlapping the key elements for holding them within the ways.

.8. A shock absorbing mechanism comprising a casing having inwardly facing shoulders, cooperating wedge, friction and spring elements housed within the casing and including a central thrust element having a chambered body,

5 a pair of spaced flanges crossing the chamber and. lying in a common plane, the walls of the chamber being apertured. between the flanges,

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