US2094034A - Railway brake beam - Google Patents

Description

Sept1 28,-1937. E. G. Bussi:`

' RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM Filed May' 7L 1937 2 Sheets-:Sheet 1 lll Sept. 28,v 1937.

E. G'. Bus'sE 2,094,0344

RAILWAY BRAKE'BEAM y Fi'led May 7, 1957 2` sneaks-sheetl 2 Patented Sept. 28, 1937 RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM Edwin G. Busse, Chicago, Ill.,l assigner to Chicago Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application May 7, 1937, Serial No. 141,204

15 Claims.

The inventionrelates to railway rolling stock brake beams of the truss type which include a compression member, a strut at the middle thereof, and a tension member extending over the strut, there being tensioning devices secured to the ends of the tension member and bearing against the ends of the compression member either directly or through thrust blocks seated on the ends of the compression member.

yUsually these thrust blocks take the form of brake heads through which the end portions of the tension member pass, with nuts or other devices for anchoring the extremities of the tension member to the brake head. Some brake beam assemblies 'include a separate thrust block element receiving the thrust from the tension member anchorage device and transmitting this thrust to the compression member, leaving the brake head free of the clamping action of the anchorage device.

It is well known in the art that the tension members of the truss type of brake beam frequently break adjacent to their anchorage. To avoid this breakage it has been proposed to increase the sizes of tension members either throughout their length, or at their end portions only by upsetting the ends. Each of these proposed arrangements involves additional expense and is not as eiective as desired.

Other proposed arrangements have been directed to eliminating the application of transverse forces to the tension member of the beam by use of pivotal or yielding elements in the connection between the parts, but the theoretical operation of such arrangements have not been borne out in' practice.

The main object of the present invention is to avoid breakage of that portion of the tension member of a truss type brake beam which is adjacent to the anchorage of the tension member to the end of the compression member. lThis ref sult is to be obtained by structure which is simple, eiective, and economical and Without requiring a brake head and associated parts which cannot be interchanged with A. A. R. (American Association of Railroads) standard heads.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the inventionl Figure 1 is a top view of a truss type brake beam embodying one form of the invention.

Figure v2 is a front view of the same beam.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through one end of the beam and is taken approximately on the line 3-3 'of Figure 2.

Figures 4 to 11 are sections similar to Figure 3 but illustrate, respectively, other modications of the invention.

The brake beam of Figures 1, 2, and 3 includes a compression member I of U cross section, a tension member 2 of solid round bar section, a strut 3 which mounts the brake lever (not shown) in the usual manner, and brake heads 4 each seated at 5 upon an end portion of the compression member. The tension rod extends through each brake head from side to side of the latter and projects outwardly beyond the outer side of the brake head which is provided with an opening large enough to easily clear the tension rod. These major parts of the brake beam are the same as previously constructed, and the brake beam is assembled in the usual manner.

A tensioning device 6 is threaded onto the end portion of the tension rod and is tightened against the outwardly facing bearing -1 on the brake head to thrust the latter against its seat on the compression member and to anchor the end portion of the tension rod to the brake head. Preferably the tensioning device includes an integral extension 8 comprising a sleeve tting closely around the tension rod for a substantial distance beyond the innermost thread on the latter. Preferably extension 8 does not bear, transversely of its axis, against the head.

Any trussed brake beam device deects and twists when subjected to the heavy' forces applied in the application of the brakes and these forces create movement between the assembled parts notwithstanding their initially tight assembly. The arrangement illustrated will permit the brake head to weave or work on the beam without changing the relation or position between the base of the nut and its seat and without interfering with such exing of the rod as is necessary to accommodate the relative movement between the parts, but the distribution of bending forces to the rod is spread over a greater length oi.' the rod and the creation of destructive bending strains in the rod tending to shorten its life is minimized.

Figure 4 illustrates a construction in which the compression member II, tension member I2, and the 'head Il are the same as previously described but the tensioning device comprises two separate elements, the nut I6 and the sleeve I8 being formed independently of each other. Sleeve I8 includes a flange I9 resting against the outwardly facing bearing I1 on the brake head and transfmitnng the thrust of the nut direct to the brake head. After the brake beam is assembled, the nut and sleeve will function as a unit, corresponding to the tension device 6-8 previously described, and possesses similar advantages in bracing the end of the rod. Preferably the portion of the ange Il bearing on the brake head is given the contour of a spherical segment and when the nut is tightened the thrust of the curved surface against the metal defining the opening inthe brake head will cause the sharp corner of the latter to disappear, due to pressure or `wear, or both. and give, in effect, a socket bearing adapted to accommodate slight swivellng movement of the sleeve member on the brake head when the forces applied to the beam are so great as to impel such movement.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which the compression member 2l and the tension member 22 are the same as previously described but the point of its anchorage to the head and the transverse forces transmitted to the rod or spread over a substantial length of the rod, thereby attaining the main object of the invention.

Other arrangements for securing the desired results are shown in Figures 6 and 7 in which the rod bracing feature is located exteriorly of the head. In Figure 6, the tension member 21 retains its maximum diameter throughout the width of the head 28 and for a short distance outwardlyv therefrom, as indicated at 29. The rod bracing sleeve-nut has a relatively heavy section 30 with a cylindrical interior portion fitting closely over rod portion 29 and has an interiorly threaded portion 3| spaced from the head andv engaging the threaded portion 32 of the rod.

In Figure 7, the lighter section 33 of the sleeve nut is seated against the bearing 34 on the head and the heavy non-cylindrical part 35 of the sleeve nut is spaced from the head.

In each of Figures 6 and '1, the face of the sleeve nut engaging the brake head has rounded outer corners and may rock on the flat bearing oii'ered by the brake head to facilitate the weaving of the tension member and compression member relative to each other without changing the relation between the tension rod and the sleeve nut irrespective of whether the relative movement is in the plane of the beam, or is vertical or diagonal to the plane of the beam.

Figure 8 illustrates a separate nut 31 and sleeve 38 corresponding generally to that shown in Figure 4 but the end portion 39 of the tension rod is shown upset to a larger diameter than the body 40 of the rod. Sleeve 38 extends beyond the threads along the upset portion 39 and distributes the transverse forces over a larger area of the rod than is effected by the usual nut anchorage.

The structure shown in Figure 9 is very similar to that of Figure 3 described above, but the inner face of the nut 4I is rounded, forming a rockerlike bearing on the outer face of the brake head 42 and thus accommodating the weaving action flange 49 on sleeve ln is provided with a similar ball face to it against seat 45, thus a more extended ball and socket bearing area is provided thanwill occur in the structure shown in Figure 4.

In all of the above described forms of the invention, the brake head will serve as a thrust block to receive the pressure from the tensioning device andto transmit it to the end of the compression member'f the beam.

It is to be understood, however, that the essential feature of the invention may be embodied in a structure utilizing a separate thrust block, and an illustrative example oi such a combination is shown in Figure 11 in.which the thrust block 5| is mounted on the compression member 52 and has a cylindrical periphery on which the brake head 53 may rotate to readily ,bring the contour of the brake shoe (not shown) flush with the wheel tread. 'I'he tensioning device 54 may be formed as in any of the previously described structures andV preferably has its thrust block engaging face provided with a spherical or rounded contour to facilitate the rocking or swivellng movements referred to above.

Except in Figure 5, clearance is shown between the inner wall of .the brake head, or thrust block, and the tension rod of the brake beam but this clearance is not essential to all the aspects of the invention and will -be immaterial in many installations.

The brakeheads shown in Figures 6 and 7 embody no departure whatever from the standard A. A. R. heads in general use. 'I'he brake heads shown in Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9, and the brake head and thrust block shown in Figure 11, are modified onlyto the extent of having the tension rod opening slightly enlarged, and the head shown in Figure 10 has the additional countersunk socket-like seat provided therein, but none of these arrangements require the use of different heads. In other words, the invention may readily be embodied in the millions of brake beams now in use without the expense of 're-v placing the heads now on the beams. Obviously this statement does not apply to the structure shown in Figure 5 in which the head is provided with the integral tension rod embracing sleeve 2l.

All forms of the invention attain the specific object of preventing substantial bending of the tension member of the beam adjacent its anchor to the compression member of the beam and thereby attain the general object of avoiding breakage of the tension memberat this point, which breakage has been a very serious problem in the maintenance of railway rolling stock.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants earlier application filed March 5, 1,936 and bearing Serial No. 67,229.

Other modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the novel features clearly described above, and the exclusive use of `various structures coming within the scope of the Vand the other sidev of said head clearing said tension member anddevice, thestructure including means extending alongside of a part of said tension member and engagingvthe same to vpreing against said brake he'ad, the structure in-'l cluding rigid means other than the parts mentioned for resisting bending of said tension member adjacent to where it is engaged by said device.

3. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a thrust block thereon, a tension vmember, and a sleeve device enclosing the end portion oi' said tension member seated on and extending within said thrust block and movable on said block with said tension member and embracing and reinforcing said tension member for a substantial distance inwardly from the point of seating of said tension member on said thrust block.

4. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a brake head thereon having a lateral opening, a sleeve-like device seated against the outerv face of said brake head and projecting through and having play in said opening, a tension member extending through said device, said device and tension member including means holding them in unitary assembly with each other.

5. In a truss typel` brake beam, a compression member, a brake head thereon having a lateral opening, a sleeve-like device seated against the outer face of said brake head and y'projecting through and having play in said opening, a tension member extending through said device, said device and tension member including meansv holding them against substantial relative movementtransversely of their axis and throughout the length of said device.

6. In atruss type brake beam, a compressi member, a thrust block thereon, a'tension member, and structure anchoring said tension member on said thrust block-and movable on said thrust block with said tension member to accommodate movement of said thrust block relative to said tension member but closely surrounding said tension member to reinforce the same and increase the resistance to bending of said tension member adjacent the point o! anchorage.

7. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compressionmember, a tension member, .a standard A. 4.1%. brake head seated on said compression member and including an outwardly facing bear- ,.-A ing, a nut threaded on said tension member-and seated against said bearing, the structure including a one-piece annular element engaging the periphery of saidtensiommemberliadiacent nid nut.

and snugly embracing said tension member inwardly ot its threaded portion.

9. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compression member, a tension member, a brake head seated on said compression member, a nut threaded onto said tension member and bearing against vsaid brake head, said nut including a sleeve ntting around the unthreaded end portion of said tension member to prevent bending of the same adjacent said nut. f

10. Ina truss type brake beam, a compression member, a thrust block thereon, a tension memberhaving an end portion extending throughsaid thrust block, a nut threaded onto said tension member, a seat on said thrust block opposing said nut, and a device having a ilat annular bearing on said nut and seat and gripped between said nut and said seat and constructed and arranged to resist bending of said end portion of said tension member at the base of the threads on said tension member.

11. In a truss type brake beam structure, a compression member.' a brake' head seated thereon, a tension member extending through said l head from side to side, a tensioning device on the wall to wall. and a tensioning device on the end of said tension member, the outer side wall of said head having an outwardly facing bearing for said f tensioning device and having an inwardly extending sieeve spaced from the other side wall and disposed to enclose the corresponding portion of said tension member to hold it against bending.

v 13. Ina truss type brake beam structure, a compression member, a brake head seated thereon, a tension member extending through said'head from side to side, a tensioning device on the end of said tension member, the outer wall of said head forming a seat for said tensioning device and the inner wall of said head substantially clearing said tension member and device, the structure including means for positively resisting bending o! said tension member where engaged by said device.

. 14. In a truss type brake beam, a compression member, a-tension member, a brake head seated on said compression member, and a sleeve device closely surrounding and secured to saidtension member and extending ltherewith through said brake head and including a shoulder bearing against said brake head, the opening in said 'head for said tension member and sleeve device providing for rocking o! the latter on said head.

15. A brake beam structure as specified in claim 13 in which the surface of said tensioning device engaging said brake head is rounded to facilitate the rocking of the tensioning device on 'the brake head seat therefor.

v EDWIN G. RUSSE.

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