US2260508A

US2260508A - Springing for railway trucks

Info

Publication number: US2260508A
Application number: US340027A
Authority: US
Inventors: Isaac M Chambers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-06-12
Filing date: 1940-06-12
Publication date: 1941-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1958-10-28

Description

Oct. 28, 1941. 1'

Filed June 12, 1940 W! TNESSES: N-

V f Mi i W2 l. M. CHAMBERS SPRING-ING FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS FIG; Z

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Baas M dhambers;

A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 28, 1941.

I. M. CHAMBERS SPRINGING FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS Filed June 12, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 Fla 3. l8 .S z0

: I E I i 31.

f ii-g. LIJL E I 4? 1 -35 32 33 21 35 AIM P INVENTOR:

' M Baas M immbam;

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. .28, 1941. I. M. CHAMBERS SPRINGiNG FOR RAILWAY TRUCKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1940 FG 6 33 3% I??? "Fl INVENTOR:

W1 TNESSES;

@fiw

m m 0 W trated. Accordingly,

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sramomo FOR RAILWAY muons Isaac M. Chambers, Narberth, Pa. Application June12, 1940, Serial No. 340,021

Claims.

This invention relates to railway trucks and the like, and especially to springing suitable for bolster type'trucks. An important aim of the invention is to provide a wider range of elasticity without necessity for making trucks larger than usual. The invention permits of a soft, yielding spring action for light loads, combined with a stiffer action for-heavy loads. In suitable forms of embodiment, the invention allows of easy adjustment or replacement to take care of wear, and

tion will appear from the following description of species or forms of embodiment, and from the drawings. All the features and combinations illustrated or described are of my invention, so far as novel.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of one side of a railway truck conveniently embodying the invention, including the corresponding side frame and bolster end, certain parts being partly broken away or in section; Fig, 2 is a side view .of the truck, certain parts being partly broken away; Fig. 3 shows a transverse section through the truck, taken as indicated by the line and arrows HIIII in Fig. 1, on a larger scale; Fig. 4 shows a transverse section taken as indicated by the line and arrows IV-IV in Fig. 2, one of the parts shown in Fig. 2 being omitted; and Fig. 5 shows a section taken as indicated by the line and arrows V-V in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of a truck similar to that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating a modification; and Fig. 7 is a corresponding fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3.

The drawings show only one side of the truck, since the other side may be just like that illusthere is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a side frame Ill, resembling those of present standard freight car trucks in general design and construction, with one end of a transverse bolster II that carriesthe load of the car body,

as usual. Besides the usualaxle-box jaws or housings lt-with openings IS, the side frame H! has the window opening I! in the upper part of which the end of the guided for up and down movement relative to the frame. As shown in Fig. 1, the bolster end has vertical stop flanges I6, l6 which engage and coact with the usual guideways l1, H at opposite sides of the window opening M, to determine the longitudinal position of the bolster II in the window l4, and to keep the side frame l0 truly upright. Above and below the window M are the usual top and bottom side frame members l8, l9.

Two types of springing are here shown, which in practice are preferably used in conjunction with one another: viz., a torsional type of spring 20, and a cushion type of spring 2|. Each cushion spring 2I is preferably arranged under the bolster II, and (especially in the absence of a spring plank, which is not here shown) in the window 14, on the bottom member IQ of the side frame. The torsion spring 20, however, need not be limited in size, capacity, and range of deflection by the restricted dimensions of the window space; Such torsion springs 20 may be arranged lengthwise of the truck, alongside the side frames lll,preferab1y at the outer side of the latter, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. With this arrangement, the whole length of the side frame III is available to accommodate and mount the springs 20, which may thus be made of ample strength and elasticity.

As shown in Fig. 1, the spring 20 consists of a long torsion member having its ends anchored to the ends of the side frame l0 outside of or beyond the axle-box housings l2, l2, as by engagement in bracket-hubs 23 which are shown asintegrally attached to the ends of the side frame III, while the mid-portion of the member 20 is connected to the end of the bolster II at, in, or through the window ll. For this purpose, thereis shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a crank-arm 25 whose hub 26 surrounds and is anti-turningly connected or engaged with the mid-portion of the torsion member 20, and whose free end 21 engages under or in the end of the bolster ll. Thus the two ends of the torsion member 20 are oppositely twisted under the load of the bolster. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, diametral pins 28 normally ex-.- tend across the otherwise open outer ends ofthe bracket hubs 23, to prevent endwise displacement of the torsion member 20, but may be removed to permit withdrawal of the member 20 from the bracket and

crank hubs

23, 26, 23. As shown in Figs. 1," 2, and 3, the torsion member 20 is of rectangular section, and the openings bolster H is engaged and 5 for it in the

hubs

23, 26, 23 are correspondingly shaped, to give effective anti-turning engagement or keying of the member in these hubs.

Thus no special work on the torsion member 20 is required to provide for its anti-turning engagement or anchorage in the

parts

23, 26, 23. While preferably in a single length from one anchorage 23 to the other, as shown in Fig. 1, the torsion bar 20 may if desired be made in two 3 sections abutting endwise in the-middle of the crank hub 26, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Preferably, the torsion member 20 is of laminated construction, (rather than a mere onepiece bar), consisting of a bundle or pile of superposed spring strips 29, Figs.

elastic qualities. Also, the laminated bar will twist more under a given torque and bolster load than would a single solid bar of the same crosssection.

Bearing maybe provided on the side frame ID for sustaining the mid-portion of the

torsion

30, 30. In the present instance, the anti-turning or torque-transmitting connection of the member 26 to the crank 25, is made directly to the crank-hub 26,-the trunnions 3|, 3| being of larger internal bore than the greatest cross-dimension of the member 20, so that the crank trunnions 3|, 3| do not transmit the torque at all, but merely serve to sustain the middle of the member 20. As shown in Figs. 2, 3,- and bearing

blocks

32, 32 with substantially semicircular bearing surfaces for the trunnions 3|,

3|, and the trunnions 3|, 3| have corresponding removable

semi-circular wear plates

33, 33. The

brackets

30, 36 are shown provided with seats for the

trunnion bearings

32, 32 which are open transversely of the trlmnion axes, in an upward direction, so that the bearings can be removed from said seats by a corresponding movement. As shown in Fig. 3, the crank-arm 25 has a recess 34 provided with a renewable wear-block 35 at its bottom, cylindrically concaved about an axis fore and aft of the truck, and the end of the bolster II has a corresponding flat-surfaced renewable wear block 36. Housed and hed in the crank-end recess 34 is a roller 31 (with axis fore and aft of the truck), interposed between the wear-

blocks

35, 36.

1, 3, 4 and 5. This laminated construction of the torsion member 20 has the advantage that the strips 29 are relatively thin and can be better heat-treatedthan a solid bar could be, so as to have superior 400 mounted on them between the supporting

brackets

30, 30 and the end-

anchorage hubs

23, 23. As shown in Fig. 5, the clips 400 consist of integral rectangular metal straps or boxes pro- 4, the supporting

brackets

30, 30 have removable Connecting the supporting

brackets

30, 30

there is a fore-and-aft web 36 of L-shaped crosssection, and, at the outer ends of the

brackets

30, 30 are

transverse webs

39, 39, Fig. 4, with

round holes

46, 40 therein for the torsion member 20. A removable sheet metal cover 4| coacts with the

parts

30, 38, 39to form ahousing for enclosing the crank 25 with its trunnions 3|, 3| and vided with elastic (rubber) pads 42!], metal backing plates 430, and shake-proof set-screws 44 taking through the clips and bearing against the plates 430', so as to clamp the spring strips 29 tightly together.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cushion spring 2| is of highly elastic material, preferably suitably vulcanized rubber, and consists of a massive molded rubber block or buffer resting on the lower side frame member |9 that forms the bottom of-the window opening I 4. Sheet metal shims or spacers 45 are interposed between the rubber cushion 2| and the side frame member |9 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The rubber cushion or spring 2| is preferably held in place by a surrounding metal frame or housing 46 bolted to the member l9 around the base 0f the spring block 2|, through the spacers 45. The base of the rubber cushion 2| has a shouldered flange 41 that engages in a correspondingly shouldered rabbet of the housing 46. Above the base of the cushion 2|, the wall of the housing 46.diverges from the cushion 2|, thus affording some clearance for outward expansion of the rubber. As here shown, this divergence results partly from an inward concavity of the cushion sides, and partly from an outward flare of the housing wall on a curvature which increases upward and merges at the top of the housing into a rounded lip 48.

The diverging housing 46 around the cushion 2| allows latezaf outward expansion of the cushion when it mpresses vertically under the load of the bols er I yet also limits and controls the lateral expansion and the flow of the compressed rubber. To allow some lateral expansion of the rubber in the base of the cushion 2|, notwithstanding the normally close engagement of the housing 46 around it, the cushion block is shown with anarrow but deep longitudinal cavity 49 extending upward into it from its bottom surface. As shown, the top or loading surface of the rubber cushion 2| is cylindrically rounded (about an axis fore and aft of the truck), so that its rate of deflection under the bolster load diminishes progressively until it becomes engaged with the bolster over its own full width. This and the control of the cushion expansion by the flared housing 46 give a gradual build-up in the load capacity of the cushion: i. e., a diminishing rate of deflection relative to load. Even under sudden heavy overload, the cushion 2| will not go As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is an interval-'- 71 between the top loading surface of the cushion spring 2| and the coacting bottom surface their

bearings

32, 32, and protecting them from I dust and dirt. As shown in Figs. 2 an 3, the upper and lower edges of the-cover 4| are secured to the web 33 and to the side-frame top member l6 by screws 42. Sheet metal or leather covers 43, 43 fitted to the torsion member 20 cover the,

holes

43, 40 to exclude dust and dirt from the bearings at 32, 32.

= As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring strips 2 are held together securely by clips or clamps of the bolster end so that the spring 2| does not come into action until the torsion spring 20 has deflected more or less. This interval 71. can be varied and regulated by increasing or reducing the number and thickness of the spacers 45; and thus the spring action can be made easier or stiffer, as desired. It can also be varied, of course, by changing the torsion spring 26, or by changing the hardness or the shape of the rubber spring 2|. The actionof both the springs 20 and 2| is naturally very quiet, and the rubber spring 2| has a large ability to absorb vibration and shock, and to minimize their transmission to the lading of a car equipped with such spring- Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate a construction like that of Figs. 1-5 in which a spring cushion 2 la whose elastic rubber is in shear replaces the cushion 2| of Figs. 1-3, which is in compression. This cushion 2 la comprises a series or pack of upright elastic rubber cushion strips 52 extending lengthwise of the truck in the window opening I4 of the side frame l0, alternating with relatively thin upright metal abutment strips. As shown, there are metal strips 53 at the outer sides and in the midst of the pack, resting on the bottom frame member I90, and between adjacent strips 53 there are other metal strips 54 whose upper edges are arranged to engage the bottom of the bolster II, and may be thickened or headed as shown to prevent them from slipping down-' ward between the rubber strips 52. ,Also, the faces of the rubber strips may be cemented or vulcanized to the abutting surfaces of the metal strips 53, 54. When the cushion 2la is unstressed, as shown, the lower edges of the strips 54 are spaced a suitable height above the bottom of the bolster window, to allow adequate deflection of the cushion 2ta under the bolster load. Preferably the edges of the rubber. strips 52 are reduced or bevelled toward the metal strips 54, as shown. The cushion 2la is preferably enclosed and held upright in a metal housing 46a between whose sides it fits snugly (but not tightly), and spacing shims 45 are shown interposed between the housing 46a and the cushion 2la and the bottom side-frame member l9a. When the descending bolster ll engages and depresses the

metal parts

54, 54, the rubber strips 52 undergo a sort of shearingand bending deformation, accompanied by compression between the sides of the housing 45a, which resist expansion of the cushion 2la as the latter is deformed under the bolster load. Thus the cushion 2| a powerfully resists'defiection and deformation.

Various parts and features shown in Figs. 6 and '7 are marked with the same reference characters as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1-3, (with addition of a letter where such distinction appears necessary) as a means of dispensing with repetitive description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastic torsion member extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster at a substantial distance from the anchorage of said torsion member to the side frame, and thus elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame through said torsion member; and a spring cushion in the window opening of said side frame under the bolster, for engaging the bolster and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame.

2. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastic torsion member extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster at a substantial distance from the anchorage of said torsion member to the side frame, and thus elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame through said torsion member; and an elastic rubber cushion in the window opening of said side frame under the bolster for sustaining the latter and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame.

3. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels,'and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastic torsion member extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster at a substantial distance from the anchorage of said torsion member to the side frame, and thus elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame through said torsion member; an elastic rubber cushion in the window opening of said side frame under the bolster for sustaining the latter and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame; and a housing around said rubber cushion affording clearance for limited lateral expansion of the latter concurrently with its yielding under the load on the bolster, but thereafter confining said cushibn and thus controlling its further expansion and yielding.

4. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastic torsion member extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster at a substantial distance from the anchorage of said torsion member to the side frame, and thus elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame through an elastic rubber cushion in the window opening of said side frame under the bolster for sustaining the latter and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame; and a housing engaged around the base of said rubber cushion to hold it in place, while thereabove diverging around the cushion, when the latter is unstressed, to permit lateral expansion of the cushion when it yields under the bolster, but under heavier bolster loads confining the cushion and thus controlling its expansion and yielding.

5. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sus-. taining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastic laminated torsion member, consisting of a bundle of superposed spring strips, extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster said torsion member;

stress due to increasing load on 1 ber inelastically transmitting the load on the bolster t the side frame.

6. In a truck of the characted described, the combination with a side frame having provision comprising a housing for said crank, trunnions, and bearings including a cover removably mounted on said side frame.

9. In a truck of the characterdescribed, the combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and 1 also provided at its cuterside with lateral bearing and anchorage brackets at a substantial distance apart, and a load-sustaining bolster asso- 1 ciated with said side frame and movable up and down relative thereto; 01 a longitudinal elastic laminated torsion member consisting of a bundle of superposed spring strips extending along the outside of said side frame in its said bearing and anchorage brackets, and anchored by the latter against turning, and a crank attached to said torsion member extending inward therefrom in- 1 to position for engaging the bolster; and anchorage means for said torsion member attached to the side frame at a substantial distance from said crank,'whereby the load on the bolster is elastically transmitted to the side frame through said torsion member.

7. In a truck of the character described, the

1 combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a crank having trunnions, and itself extending into said window opening to engage the bolster to sustain a the same; a longitudinal elastic torsion member extending along the outsideof said side frame r through said crank and its trunnions, and antiturningly engaged in said crank; supporting brackets for said crank trunnions on the outer side of said side frame, at either side of its said window opening, having bearing seats that open transversely of the trunnion axes, and bearings for said trunnions seated in said bearing seats, and removable therefrom by a corresponding movement and anchorage means for said torsion member attached to the side frame at a substantial distance from said crank, whereby the load on the bolster is elastically transmitted to the side frame through said torsion member.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 further torsion member; and an elastic cushion in the' window opening of said side frame under the bolster, for sustaining the latter and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame,

comprising a pack of rubber cushion strips and interposed abutments, part of said abutments resting on the bottom of the bolster window, while the rest of them are spaced therefrom and arranged to engage the bolster.

10. In a truck of the character described, the

combination with a side frame having provision for mounting the truck axles and wheels, and also having a window opening, and a load-sustaining bolster movable up and'down relative to said side frame in said window opening, of a longitudinal elastictorsion member extending lengthwise of the truck and anchored to said side frame against turning; means for connecting said torsion member to the bolster at a substantial distance from the anchorage of said torsion member to the side frame, and thus elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame through said torsion member; an elastic cushion in the window opening of said side frame under the bolster, for sustaining the latter and coacting with said torsion member in elastically transmitting the load on the bolster to the side frame, comprising a pack of rubber cushion strips and interposed abutments, part of said pansion of said elastic cushion strips as the bolster load deforms the cushion. 1

ISAAC M. CHAMBERS.