US2097083A

US2097083A - Leaf spring car truck

Info

Publication number: US2097083A
Application number: US587036A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Shafer
Original assignee: National Malleable and Steel Castings Co
Current assignee: National Malleable and Steel Castings Co
Priority date: 1932-01-16
Filing date: 1932-01-16
Publication date: 1937-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-26

Description

Oct. 26, 1937. J. A. SHAFER 2,097,033

LEAF SPRING CAR 'rnuck Original Filed Jan. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 6 Z0 Za/ Z 5a 36 5d,

Uct26,1937. J. A. $HAF.ER 2,097,0253v LEAF SPRING CAR TRUCK Original Filed Jan. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elwvwtoz:

Oct. 26, 1937.

J. A. SHAFER LEAF SPRING GAB TEL 10K Original Filed Jan. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet :s

Oct. 26, 1937. J, A; A ER 2,097,0s3

LEAF SPRING CAR- TRUCK v Original Filed Jan. 16, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 26, 1937 LEAF SPRING can 'raUcx James A. Shafer, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable, & Steel Castings 00., V Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 16, 1932, Serial No. 581,030

' Renewed March 19, 1937 4 Claims. -(cl. 1o5-197) This invention relates to car trucks, and more particularly to an improved construction in which provision is made for leaf springs between the bolster and the side frame members. One

object of the invention resides in a construction of this character which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is readilyassembled and disassembled. Another object is to provide 'an improved truck embodying both leaf springs and coil springs. Still another object is the provision of means for tying together the side frame members by means of the bolster and springs in such manner that the necessity of a spring plank is eliminated. A. further object is to devise means for draining off water from such a construction. Other objects are to insure against dislodging of the springs and to provide against damage to the construction by reason of over solid blows. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better apparent in connection with the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: t f

Fig. 1 is a. side elevation partly in section of a portion of one side of a car truck embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a car truck embodying a modified form of my invention.

' Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 3 looking in the'direction of the arrows.

In the drawings there is shown a side-frame member A comprising generally an upper portion thatthey are free to move slight predetermined distances, their movement in fore and aft direc- 60 tion being limited by solid stops 6 formed on the frame member A, whilemovement in the other direction is checked by curved portions Id which join the side walls 2a and 2b and the floor 2c. The portion 2 is divided by inwardly projecting 65 flanges I which extend into the space between the walls 2a and 2b, and ,Ioln shelf 4, as best shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the pedestals. 5 supports leafsprings "which are preferably of the elliptic type comprising upper and lower springs to and 8b, with wedges or shims! between their respective ends, each springv including a suitable number of leaves and extending transversely of the side frame. For receiving thesesprings the lower frame por- 1 tion 2 has window openings 2e through which 10 the ends of the springs extend transversely, while the center portions of the springs lie in the area between the planes of side walls 2a and 2b. For positioning each spring 81) on the corresponding pedestal, the spring is provided adjacent its mid- 15 portion with a. spring engaging member or band IIlb which has a downwardly projecting boss IIb formed thereon for seating, preferably snugly, in corresponding central opening I 2b in the pedestal. The other spring to has a corresponding 20 member Illa with upstanding boss IIa, preferably directly above the boss I Ib.

It will be understood that in assembling this part of the construction it is merely necessary first to place the pedestals 5 on-the floor lc, by 25 passing them through the openings 2c, The springs may then be inserted one at a time, the lower spring being located on the pedestal and the wedges between the spring ends being inserted. The upper spring will then rest against 30 the side walls at the top of openings 2e.

In the construction described it is desirable to make provision for drainage of water from the side frames and for this purpose there are provided generally horizontal passages in in the 35 base of the pedestal and openings I3 inthe floor of the frames, the passages communicating with v these openings in any suitable manner.

The bolster B is preferably supported directly onthe springs to tie the side frames together and thus eliminate the necessity for spring plank. To accomplish this, the bolster has downwardly projecting lugs I4 formed at its .ends, there preferably being two spaced lu'gs at either end of the bolster for support by the respective I springs. These lugs are provided with central openings I! which are somewhat larger than bosses IIa, which they are adapted to surround.

The bottoms of these hollow .lugs are adapted to seat directly on the flat upper surfacesof memvided between-the lugs and the walls of the openings. For convenience in casting the bolside walls of openings l6, while excessive displacement of the springs is prevented by abutment of boss II a against the inner walls of the hollow stud l4. Angling action of the bolster is limited by reason of the fact that there are two studs at either end, each of which is confined as to horizontal movement by the walls of the opening through which it extends. Provision. is made for taking care of over solid blows by abutment of the bottom of the: bolster against shelf 4. Onthe other hand, such blows may be taken by abutment between members Illa and lllb, or by both these features acting simultaneously, according to the arrangement of the parts.

The opening 3 is made large enough to permit the end of the bolster including stud l4 to enter it, .to provide for assembly of the parts by simply jacking up the bolster while the side frame is passedover the end thereof. The bolster is then lowered so that it rests on the springs, the weight thereon depressing them to a position such asthat shown. The openings 3, studs l4 and other cooperating parts arepreferably so proportioned that even in the most expanded position of the springs there is no danger of the bolster abutting against the frame at the top of the'openings.

The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 save that provision has been made for coil springs to furnish additional spring capacity, where .desired. It will be understood that the construction which will now be described is such that the coil springs, spring plates and bolts may be simply omitted, when leaf springs alone are sufficient, without the need for any change in the bolster, side frame or leaf spring features. At the same time, the combination of leaf and coil springs has been found to be particularly effective. Referring especially to Fig. 4, the bolster B is shown as formed at the center portion of either end with spring receiving pockets Y20 and 2| of any convenient shape, but preferably circular. Springs 22, 23 are shown as consisting of inner and outer coils arranged between the bolster B and shelf 4 for supporting the one on the other, and may bear on the shelf through spring retaining plates 24, having projections 24a which extend into the lower portions of said springs for centering the same. The upper ends of the springs may bear directly against the bolster B, which latter may be provided with spring centering lugs 25 extending downwardly into the springs. These lugs 25 and the projections 24a may have openings for receiving pins or bolts 26 for retaining the springs, spring plates and bolster in assembled relation when the side frame is removed. 1

It will thus be appreciated that the same bolster and side frames may be employed with or without the coil springs. Moreover, the construction including the coil springs maybe assembled and disassembled in simple fashion, in the same manner indicated in the description in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Among the advantages of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is the dampening effect which leaf springs have upon the oscillations of coil springs. That is to say, under certain speed and track conditions the oscillations of coil springs have a tendency to increase harmonically, with highly undesirable results, whereas these oscillations are damped by the leaf springs.

If desired, the coil springs may be shorter than standard or placed under initial compression by employing relatively short bolts 26 or other convenient means, so that light loads are supported on the leaf springs alone and heavy loads on both leaf and coil springs, the latter becoming operative after the leaf springs have been compressed a predetermined amount. Under these conditions should the bolster recoil beyond the point where the coil springs are active, the recoil forces will be correspondingly diminished, and the coil springs themselves will break up any tendency toward regular period of vibration of the coil springs on the next descent of the bolster.

It will be understood that in the constructions described, the bolster not only supports the car frame on the springs but also ties together the side frame members of the truck, thus reducing the number of essential parts, while at the same time permitting the employment of leaf springs, as is highly desirable on account of their superior riding qualities. Moreover, these advantages are incorporated in structure which is simple to assemble and which is exceptionally sturdy.

The terms and expressions which I.have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I haveno intention of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described, or portions of them, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of ,the invention.

Features shown or described but not claimed herein are claimed in my copending application Serial No. 459,480, filed June 6, 1930, which has matured into U. S. Patent No. 1,973,664, granted Sept. 11, 1934, and in my copending application Serial No. 600,398, filed March 22, 1932, to which reference is hereby made.

I claim:

1. In a car truck, in combination, a bolster, a side frame having a window opening for receiving an end of the bolsterand a shelf below said window, a box-shaped portion formed on the side frame below the shelf, a pair of transversely extending leaf springs, the side walls of said box-shaped portion having openings through which the ends of said. springs extend, a pair of projections on said end of the bolster extending through openings in said shelf, said projections having recesses in the under sides thereof, and a boss carried by each of said springs and extending upwardly into the recess in a corresponding one of said lugs for limiting movement of said spring with respectto the bolster.

2. In a car truck, in combination, a bolster, a side frame having a window opening for receiving an end of the bolster and a shelf below said window, a box-shaped portion formed on the side frame below the shelf, a pair of transversely extending leaf springs, the side walls of said box-shaped portion having openings through which the ends of said springs extend, a pair of pedestal members movably mounted on the floor of said box-shaped portion, stop means limiting movement of said members, each of said members having a recess-therein and an enlarged opening therebeneath, horizontal passages in each of said members communicating with the enlarged opening therein, openings in the floor of said box-shaped portion communicating with said enlarged and horizontal openings, a projection carried by each of saidsprings and extending into the recess in the corresponding pedestal member, and interengaging means between said springs and said bolster.

3. In a car truck, in combination, a. bolster, a side frame having a window opening for receiving an end of the bolster and a shelf below said box-shaped portion having openings through which the ends of said springs extend, apair of projections on said end of the bolster extending through openings in said shelf, said projections engaging said springs, each of said springs having members engaging the leaves thereof adja- I cent their mid portions for abutment under oversolid blows.

4. In a car truck, in combination, a bolster,

ceiving an end of the bolster and a shelf below said window, a box-shaped portion formed on the side frame below the shelf, a pair of transversely extending leaf springs, the side walls of said box-shaped portion having openings through which the ends of said springs extend, a pair of pedestal members movably mounted on the floor of said box-shaped portion, stop means limiting movement of said members, each of said members having a recess therein and an enlarged openingtherebeneath, horizontal passages in each of said members communicating with the enlarged opening therein, openings in the floor of said box-shaped portion communicating with said enlarged and horizontal openings, a projection carried by each of said springs and extending into the recess in the corresponding pedestal member, and interengaging means between said springs and said bolster, said interengaging means comprising projections on said bolster passing through openings in said shelf and having recesses receiving bosses on said springs.

. JAMES A. SHAFER.