US20050252874A1 - Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate - Google Patents

Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050252874A1
US20050252874A1 US11/071,004 US7100405A US2005252874A1 US 20050252874 A1 US20050252874 A1 US 20050252874A1 US 7100405 A US7100405 A US 7100405A US 2005252874 A1 US2005252874 A1 US 2005252874A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
friction
draft gear
tapered
gear assembly
pair
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/071,004
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English (en)
Inventor
Dennis King
Howard Sommerfeld
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wabtec Holding Corp
Original Assignee
Wabtec Holding Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wabtec Holding Corp filed Critical Wabtec Holding Corp
Priority to US11/071,004 priority Critical patent/US20050252874A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2005/010877 priority patent/WO2005100118A1/fr
Priority to MXPA06011606A priority patent/MXPA06011606A/es
Priority to CA2561562A priority patent/CA2561562C/fr
Assigned to WABTEC HOLDING CORP. reassignment WABTEC HOLDING CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SOMMERFELD, HOWARD, KING, DENNIS W.
Publication of US20050252874A1 publication Critical patent/US20050252874A1/en
Priority to US12/152,036 priority patent/US7900785B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G9/00—Draw-gear
    • B61G9/04—Draw-gear combined with buffing appliances
    • B61G9/10—Draw-gear combined with buffing appliances with separate mechanical friction shock-absorbers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates, in general, to draft gear assemblies for use in cushioning both buff and draft shocks normally encountered by railway rolling stock during make-up and operation of a train consist on a track structure and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a draft gear assembly having a tapered plate wherein a portion of the bottom surface which contacts the third lug of the housing is angled to increase the side force on the movable plate which increases the draft gear assembly's resistance to closure and increases the capacity of the draft gear assembly.
  • Draft gear assemblies which utilize friction-type clutch mechanisms to absorb heat energy generated during service have been in widespread use in the railroad industry for many years to absorb both buff and draft shocks applied to the railway rolling stock. Many of such draft gear assemblies which were in use, prior to the present invention, are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,916,163; 3,178,036; 3,447,693; and 4,645,187. Each of the above-identified patents is owned by the assignee of the present invention. The teachings of each of these patents are all incorporated into the present application by reference thereto.
  • These draft gear assemblies are designed to receive coupler forces and dissipate them without damage to the car structure and lading.
  • the assemblies are disposed within an elongated opening located in the center sill member of the railway car along the longitudinal axis thereof and behind the shank, or innermost end, of the railway car's coupling mechanism. In this position, these friction clutch type draft gear assemblies will absorb at least a relatively large portion of both the buff and draft forces generated during service. Such buff and draft forces encountered by such railway cars are usually being applied in an alternating manner to the center sill member during normal car operation on the track.
  • draft gear assemblies must be provided with the capability of maintaining at least a certain minimum shock absorbing capacity both during making up a train consist and in-track service.
  • minimum capacity has been specified by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and is defined in the standards issued by the AAR.
  • AAR Association of American Railroads
  • friction clutch type draft gear assemblies have a specified absolute minimum capacity rating of at least 36,000 foot pounds. Any draft gear assembly with a capacity rating which is determined to be below 36,000 pounds will not receive approval from the AAR for service on any railroad car which may be used in interchange.
  • the invention comprises a draft gear assembly comprising a housing closed at one end and open at the opposed end and having a rear portion adjacent the closed end and a front portion adjacent the open end, a compressible cushioning element centrally disposed within the rear portion abutting the housing end and extending longitudinally there from, a seat means abutting the opposite end of the compressible cushioning element during application and release of a force on the draft gear assembly, and a friction cushioning means positioned at least partially within said front portion of said housing for absorbing energy during a compression of said draft gear assembly.
  • the friction cushioning means includes a pair of laterally spaced outer stationary plates having an outer surface for engaging the housing and an opposed inner friction surface, a pair of laterally spaced movable plates having an outer friction surface for movably engaging the outer stationary plates, an inner friction surface and at least one substantially flat edge intermediate said outer friction and inner friction surfaces for engaging the seat means, a pair of laterally spaced tapered plates having an outer friction and an inner friction surface wherein the outer friction surface movably and frictionally engages the inner friction surface of the movable plate, a pair of laterally spaced wedge shoes having an outer friction surface for movably and frictionally engaging an inner friction surface of the tapered plate, and a center wedge having a pair of matching predetermined tapered portions for engaging the tapered portion of the wedge shoe to initiate frictional engagement of said friction cushioning means and thereby absorb energy.
  • the housing includes three horizontal ribs for positioning and/or holding the components of the cushioning means.
  • a spring release means is provided which engages and longitudinally extends between the seat means and the center wedge for continuously urging the friction cushioning means outwardly from the compressible cushioning means to release the friction cushioning element when an applied force compressing the draft gear is removed.
  • the present invention increases the capacity and resistance to closure of the draft gear assembly by providing an angled bottom surface on the tapered plates intermediate of the inner and outer friction surface in the area where the tapered plate contacts the third horizontal lug of the housing. Providing an angle on the bottom edge surface of the tapered plates in this area increases the side force on the movable plates during the application of a buffing shock to the draft gear assembly.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a draft gear assembly of the invention incorporating one form of a presently preferred embodiment of a cushioning element for the draft gear assembly.
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a draft gear assembly of the invention incorporating an alternative embodiment of a cushioning element for the draft gear assembly.
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a draft gear assembly of the invention incorporating an alternative embodiment of a hydraulic cushioning element for the draft gear assembly.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the draft gear housing illustrating the first, second, and third horizontal lugs.
  • FIG. 5 shows two different angles on the third rib.
  • the draft gear assembly is installed in alignment with a railroad car center sill between a front and a rear draft gear lug.
  • a vertical yoke is connected to a coupler shank by a draft key with a coupler horn spaced from a striking plate and with a front follower member within the yoke which is positioned adjacent to the front lugs, all substantially in accordance with the prior art conventional practice as illustrated in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,163.
  • the assembly 10 includes a housing, generally designated as 12 .
  • the housing 12 is open at one end and has a rear portion 14 adjacent a bottom wall 16 which closes the other end of housing 12 .
  • Rear portion 14 is provided for receiving therein a compressible cushioning means, generally designated as 26 .
  • Housing 12 includes a front portion 18 adjacent the open end. Front portion 18 is in open communication with the rear portion.
  • Housing 12 additionally includes first, second, and third horizontal ribs 20 , 22 , and 24 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the compressible cushioning element 26 is centrally disposed within the rear portion 14 and has one end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface 28 of the bottom wall 16 of housing 12 .
  • the compressible cushioning element 26 extends longitudinally from bottom wall 16 where the opposite end is placed into abutting relationship with at least a portion of one surface 30 of a seat means 32 .
  • Seat means 32 is positioned within the housing 12 for longitudinal movement therein for respectively compressing and releasing the compressible cushioning element 26 during application and release of a force on the draft gear assembly 10 .
  • the compressible cushioning element 26 comprises at least one and preferably at least two springs 34 , 35 .
  • FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment for a compressible cushioning element 26 which comprises an outer coil spring 36 and an inner rubber spring 37 .
  • FIG. 3 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention in which the compressible cushioning element 26 is a hydraulic unit 38 such as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,693.
  • a friction cushioning means is positioned at least partially within the front portion 18 of the housing 12 .
  • the friction cushioning means 40 absorbs energy during application of a force sufficient to cause a compression of the draft gear assembly 10 .
  • the friction cushioning means 40 includes a pair of laterally spaced outer stationary plates 42 having an outer surface 44 and an opposed inner friction surface 46 .
  • the outer surface 44 engages the housing 12 .
  • a pair of laterally spaced movable plates 48 of substantially uniform thickness is also provided. Movable plates 48 have an outer friction surface 50 and an inner friction surface 52 and at least one substantially flat edge 54 intermediate the outer friction surface 50 and the inner friction surface 52 which edge 54 engages the seat means 32 . At least a portion of the outer friction surface 50 movably and frictionally engages the inner friction surface 46 of the outer stationary plate 42 .
  • a pair of laterally spaced tapered plates 56 is provided. The tapered plates 56 include an outer friction surface 58 and an inner friction surface 60 .
  • the outer friction surface 58 movably and frictionally engages at least a portion of the inner friction surface 52 of the movable plate 48 .
  • the tapered plates 56 include an angled or tapered edge 62 intermediate the outer friction surface 58 and the inner friction surface 60 .
  • the angle of the tapered edge 62 may range from 10-40 degrees.
  • FIG. 5 shows two different angles for the tapered edge 62 of the tapered plate 56 .
  • the laterally spaced outer stationary plates 42 and the tapered plates 56 sit on the third horizontal rib 24 of the housing 12 .
  • This angled or tapered edge 62 is in the area where the tapered plates 56 contact the third horizontal rib 24 . Tapering the area of the tapered plate where the tapered plate sits in the housing requires the area under the third rib to be built up.
  • Friction cushioning means 40 further includes a pair of laterally spaced wedge shoes 64 which have at least a portion of an outer friction surface 66 movably and frictionally engaging at least a portion of the inner friction surface 60 of the tapered stationary plate 56 .
  • Wedge shoes 64 have at least a portion of one edge 68 engaging seat means 32 and a predetermined tapered portion 70 on an opposed edge thereof.
  • a center wedge 72 is provided which has a pair of matching tapered portions 74 for engaging the tapered portion 70 of the wedge shoe 64 to initiate frictional engagement of the friction cushioning means 40 .
  • a spring release means 76 engages and extends longitudinally between the seat means 32 and the center wedge 72 for continuously urging the friction cushioning means 40 outwardly from the compressible cushioning means 26 to release the friction cushioning means 40 when an applied force compressing the draft gear assembly 10 is removed.
  • a draft gear typically has approximately 0.125′′ clearance between the bottom edges of the taper plates 56 and the seat means 32 .
  • High loading from the taper plate requires that the housing's bearing area and the cross-sectional area on the taper plate's ear remain equal to the present design so shear failures do not occur.
  • the assembled height of the spring type compressible cushioning elements 26 of FIGS. 1 and 2 increases, resulting in a reduced clearance between the bottom edges of the taper plates 56 and the seat means 32 .
  • a draft gear nearly worn out has near zero clearance between the bottom edges of the taper plates 56 and the seat means 32 .
  • the present invention's new design criteria and assembly conditions are as follows:
  • the buffing shock is transmitted from the coupler through the front follower to the central wedge 72 , causing it to act through the wedge shoes 64 and thereby compress all of the cushioning elements simultaneously.
  • These parts will furnish sufficient cushioning for light buffing shocks.
  • the follower will come against the outer ends of the movable plates 48 introducing energy-absorbing friction between the movable plates 48 and the stationary plates 42 and 56 which have been pressed together by the action of the wedge shoes 64 . As this action continues, the pressure between the adjacent surfaces of the plates has been enormously increased due to the fact that the wedge shoes 64 are loaded against the cushioning mechanism 40 .
  • the compressible cushioning element 26 is maintained in alignment by the seat means 32 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)
US11/071,004 2004-04-08 2005-03-03 Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate Abandoned US20050252874A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/071,004 US20050252874A1 (en) 2004-04-08 2005-03-03 Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate
PCT/US2005/010877 WO2005100118A1 (fr) 2004-04-08 2005-03-31 Depouille sous une plate a depouille permettant d'augmenter la force laterale sur la plaque mobile
MXPA06011606A MXPA06011606A (es) 2004-04-08 2005-03-31 Aguzamiento bajo placa ahusada para incrementar la fuerza lateral sobre la placa movil.
CA2561562A CA2561562C (fr) 2004-04-08 2005-03-31 Depouille sous une plate a depouille permettant d'augmenter la force laterale sur la plaque mobile
US12/152,036 US7900785B2 (en) 2004-04-08 2008-05-12 Taper under tapered plate to increase side force on the movable plate

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US56105004P 2004-04-08 2004-04-08
US11/071,004 US20050252874A1 (en) 2004-04-08 2005-03-03 Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/152,036 Continuation-In-Part US7900785B2 (en) 2004-04-08 2008-05-12 Taper under tapered plate to increase side force on the movable plate

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050252874A1 true US20050252874A1 (en) 2005-11-17

Family

ID=34965207

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/071,004 Abandoned US20050252874A1 (en) 2004-04-08 2005-03-03 Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20050252874A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2561562C (fr)
MX (1) MXPA06011606A (fr)
WO (1) WO2005100118A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023239598A1 (fr) * 2022-06-07 2023-12-14 A. Stucki Company Système d'amortissement de wagon de chemin de fer à déplacement étendu

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2814392A (en) * 1953-10-28 1957-11-26 Cardwell Westinghouse Co High capacity shock absorber for freight cars
US2916163A (en) * 1958-09-30 1959-12-08 Cardwell Westinghouse Co High capacity draft gear
US3178036A (en) * 1962-12-03 1965-04-13 Cardwell Westinghouse Co Friction draft gear
US4645187A (en) * 1984-09-14 1987-02-24 American Standard Inc. Draft gear assembly

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3447693A (en) 1967-11-02 1969-06-03 Cardwell Westinghouse Co Combined hydraulic cushion-friction clutch draft gear

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2814392A (en) * 1953-10-28 1957-11-26 Cardwell Westinghouse Co High capacity shock absorber for freight cars
US2916163A (en) * 1958-09-30 1959-12-08 Cardwell Westinghouse Co High capacity draft gear
US3178036A (en) * 1962-12-03 1965-04-13 Cardwell Westinghouse Co Friction draft gear
US4645187A (en) * 1984-09-14 1987-02-24 American Standard Inc. Draft gear assembly

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023239598A1 (fr) * 2022-06-07 2023-12-14 A. Stucki Company Système d'amortissement de wagon de chemin de fer à déplacement étendu

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2561562A1 (fr) 2005-10-27
MXPA06011606A (es) 2007-01-23
CA2561562C (fr) 2013-05-21
WO2005100118A1 (fr) 2005-10-27

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: WABTEC HOLDING CORP., PENNSYLVANIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KING, DENNIS W.;SOMMERFELD, HOWARD;REEL/FRAME:016696/0322;SIGNING DATES FROM 20050604 TO 20050610

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION