US2098328A

US2098328A - Spring plank

Info

Publication number: US2098328A
Application number: US689406A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph B Winship
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-09-14
Filing date: 1933-09-14
Publication date: 1937-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1954-11-09

Description

Nov. 9, 19370 R wlNSHlP 2,098,328

SPRING PLANK Filed Sept. 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1937. R. B. WlNSHlP 2,093,323

SPRING PLANK Filed Sept. 14, 1 955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jug? Patented Nov. 9, 1937 iJhiiTED STATES PATEhii" 6 Claims.

This invention relates to spring planks for car trucks.

The spring planks most commonly used in car trucks today are of rigid construction from one end to the other, and as strains and stresses are imposed upon the spring plank, due to the adjustment of the truck to various track conditions, the rigidity of the spring plank will not allow it to take th strains and stresses without danger of breakage.

is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a spring plank of novel and improved construction having suflicient resiliency to take the strains and stresses imposed thereon without danger of breakage.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following descrrption, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

l is a view in side elevation showing a portion of a side frame of a car truck with a spring plank embodying the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on 'hline 22 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows; 3 is a view looking toward one edge of the plank shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

i is a detailed view in enlarged scale showin in plan one end of the spring plank shown Figs. 1 to 3;

5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 c Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

is a View illustrating in plan one end of a modified. form of spring plank embodying the invention;

rig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line l-l of Fig. 6, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view looking toward one edge of a third modified form of the invention, certain parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction thereof;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 8, as indicated by the arrows; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views taken in the same manner as are Figs. 5 and 7 through the central portions of two other modifications of the invention.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, there are shown portions of a side frame [2 of a car truck. This side frame includes the usual columns Ma and a tension member lZb having diagonal ribs I20 projecting diagonally upwardly from the spring plank seat adjacent and joining the columns I2a.

In accordance with the invention there is providcd a spring plank A which runs between the opposed side frames I2 01 the truck and rests at its end portions E3 on the tension members 52?) of the side frames between the columns thereof. The spring plank A like every other modified form of the invention is provided with I The channels it and El terminate where the can H tral portion it joins the resilient portions 55 and these resilient portions are absolutely flat throughout the width of the plank. To retain the end portions E3 of the spring plank A in place on the side frames, so as to permit of but very slight lateral motion of the spring plank relative to the two side frames, the spring plank is provided with downwardly pressed cupped portions i8 adjacent the inner edges of the side frames and downwardly projecting flanges i9 adjacent the outer edges of the side frames. Also for this same purpose and to it the particular side frame i2 shown, the end portions 13 of the spring plank A are provided with diagonally, upwardly extending channels 2% within which the ribs E20 are received.

Referring now to the embodiment of the vention illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the spring plank B there shown like the spring plank A, is provided with an elongated central rigid portion it, end portions l3 adapted to be received on the side frames, and flat resilient portions 15 joining the elongated central rigid portions to the end portions. The central elongated por tion is made rigid by three longitudinally extending upwardly projecting channels 2i and respectively. To hold the end portions i3 of the spring plank B in place on the side frames, dowel pin openings 23 are provided in these end portions through which dowel pins (not illustrated) mounted on the tension members of the side frames may extend.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown a spring plank C which, like the others, has a arcuate central elongated rigid portion [4, end portions l3 adapted to rest on the side frames and flat resilient portions l5 connecting the central portion with the end portions. The spring plank C shown is of general channel construction and is provided with upwardly extending edge flanges 24, which are cut away to form notches 25 at the edges of the resilient portions IS. The end portions l3 of the spring plank C may be provided with any suitable means so that they will hold their positions on the side frames such as the dowel pin openings 26 illustrated.

To show that various means may be used for making the central elongated portion of the' spring plank rigid without departing from the scope of the invention, Figs. and 11 are shown. In Fig. 10, a spring plank D is provided having an elongated central rigidportion I 3 provided with other types of upwardly pressed channels 2'. and 28 than those in the other planks;

The elongated central portion l4 of the spring plank E shown in Fig. 11, is made rigid by a1- ternate upwardly and downwardly pressed V-

shaped channels

29 and 30 respectively. It will be appreciated that there are many other means that may be used for making the elongated central portion of the spring plank rigid. It will also be appreciated that it is possible to equip the end portions l3 of the spring planks with means for preventing other than very limited lateral movement of the spring planks relative to the side frames, different from the means shown,

' and these means may be adapted for use with any type of side frame without departing from the scope of the invention. 7

When anyone of the spring planks is in use, the resilient portions l5 joining the elongated central rigid portion M to the end portions I3 will take the strains and stresses imposed on the spring. plank due to variations in track conditions as the truck rides over the rails. As the portions !5 have considerable resiliency, the spring plank can flex at these portions thereof without danger of breakage, so as to allow either end portion 3 to move relative to the elongated central rigid portion l4 and with respect to the other end portion it without stressing the spring plank beyond its elastic limit. The elongated central portion of the spring plank is made rigid as by channels, ribs, ,fianges or the like, to stiffen thespring plank and take care of the column-action of the truck or vibrations. the spring plank as simple, light and strong as possible to secure all the advantages of the invention and for this reason the elongated central portion of the spring plank will preferably be desired, the elongated central portion of the plank can be made'of heavier stock than the resilient portions I5, without channeling, fianging,

It is quite desirable to make 7 grooving or corrugating the central portion, to accomplish the same result.

It will be seen that a strong, durable spring plank has been provided which can be effectively used.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigid portion, end portions adapted to rest on side frames, and flat portions joining the central portion to the end portions, said flat portions being resilient.

2. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigid portion, end portions adapted to rest on the side frame and resilient portions joining the central portion to the end portions, said end portions being equipped with means for engaging the side frames to prevent other than very limited lateral motion of the spring plank relative to the side frames, said means comprising deformations in said end portions adapted to engage with projections on the side frames.

3. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central portion made rigid by ribs, end portions adapted to rest on side frames, and flat resilient portions joining the central portion to the end portions. 7 4. A spring plank for car trucks having a channel shape in cross section in its medial and end portions, the flanges of said channel being cut away inwardly somewhat from the end portions of generally rectangular shape of the spring plank to form fiat resilient portions.

5. A spring plank for railway car trucks, comprising a substantially flat metal plate having end portions adapted to rest on the spring seats of said frames, and an intermediate portion integral with said end portions, the portions of the plank where the intermediate portion merges into the end portions being flexible, said intermediate portion being of substantial uniform width throughout and being provided with longitudinal corrugations extending substantially from end portion to end portion of the plank, the opposite side edges of the intermediate portion being substantially parallel and being in horizontal alignment.

6. A spring plank for car trucks having an elongated central rigid portion, end portions adapted to rest on the side frames and resilient portions joining the central portion to the end portions, said end portions being equipped with means for engaging the side frames to prevent other than very limited lateral motion of the spring plank relative 'to the side frames, said means comprising dowel pin receiving openings provided in said end portions.

RALPH B. WINSHIP.