US2305027A - Spring plankless truck - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1942. A. H. ol-:LKERs SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June '7,' 1940 Y INVENTOR.

De. 15, 1942. A H QELKERS 2,305,027v

SPRING PLANKLEss .TRUCK Filed June '7, 1940 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1942 SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK Alfred H. Oelkers, Chicago,

Ill., assigner to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 7, 1940, Serial No. 339,239

26 Claims.

My invention relates to a four wheel railway car truck and more particularly to such a form of truck commonly designated spring plankless quick wheel change type.

My invention constitutes an improvement upon the type of truck shown in my United States patent, No. 2,194,447, issued March 19, 1940.

In my said patent, a type of quick wheel change truck is shown wherein the side frames are maintained in proper squared relationship by a transverse load carrying member or bolster, wherein said bolster is xed in position with relation to each side frame through the medium of a resilient bar supported on the outboard face of each side frame and connected to the bolster or load carrying member by means of downwardly directed jaws formed thereon. In the improved form shown herein, the resilient bar, forming a means of connection between the side frame and bolster, is supported within the side frame, thereby eliminating the possibility of its loss, and in addition, an adjustable means is provided suitable for varying the exing of said bar to accommodate varying conditions.

A general object of my invention is a form of quick wheel change spring plankless truck wherein the connection between the side frame and bolster is frictional in character and wherein under normal operating conditions the side frame will be free of engagement with the bolster except through the medium of the before-mentioned flexible member.

My invention comprehends an arrangement wherein a flexible bar, approximating in length the distance between the journal boxes of the side frame, may be inserted in said side frame above the journal box at either end thereof and positioned by the lugs formed on the inboard faces of the walls of the side frame adjacent each journal box, said flexible member extending through suitable openings in each column and overlying the load carrying member or bolster, and said bolster being afforded lugs on the top face thereof for transmitting thrusts therefrom to the adjacent columns of the side frame.

My inventionv further contemplates such a structure as that above described which is particularly suitable where the quick wheel change feature is desired since the flexible member may easily be released from engagement with the f bolster and the bolster raised from the supporting spring group on which it is seated and thus removed from the bolster opening. This may be accomplished without the removal of the exible bar which may be released at the ends and raised to permit the disengagement of the bolster end as above set forth.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a four wheel railway car truck embodying my invention, only one-half the truck being-shown inasmuch as the opposite sides are similar in arrangement and structure.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the truck structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the vertical plane bisecting the truck transversely andas indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 3A is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternate section through the compression member of the side frame.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the modied arrangement for exing the ends of the retaining bar.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially in the transverse plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Describing my novel structure in greater detail, the truck comprises the side frame generally designated 2 of truss form comprising the compression member 4 and the tension member 6 merging at their ends adjacent the journal boxes B, 8 forming the usual means of connection to the spaced wheel and axle assemblies I0, Ill. Each side frame comprises the integral guide columns I2, I2 dening with said tension and compression members the spaced window openings I ll, I4 and the central bolster opening I6. Below said bolster opening, the tension member is widened (Figure 3) to form the spring seat I 8 aiording a seat for the spring group generally designated 20 and comprising the bottom spring plate 22, thetop spring plate 24, coil springs 26, 26, and the friction absorbing device 28, said top and bottom spring plates being afforded positioning means in engagement respectively with the bolster 29 as at 30, 30 and With Said side frame as at 32, 32. Inwardly of the spring seat, the side frame is afforded the integral bracket .'34 serving as support for a brake beam guide or leveling means. At the juncture of each column I2 with the compression member 4, the usual inboard brake hanger brackets 35, 35 are supported with jaws in alignment with the adjacent wheels.

The end of the bolster 29 projects through the bolster opening I6 for seating upon the spring group 20, as already mentioned. The columns I2, I2 are each aiorded vertical guide surfaces along their upper portions, said guide surfaces being` extended by the lnboard flanges 3S, 36 and the outboard flanges 38, 38 formed on the columns for that purpose. The guide surface on each column therefore comprises a widened area extending from the outboard edges of the flanges 33 to the inboard edges of the flanges 36 and entirely across the columns at the lower portions of the guide surfaces, while at the top, each guide surface is interrupted by the slot 39 (Figure 3) within which is received the flexible bar 45, as hereinafter described. On the top wall of the bolster end are formed spaced inboard lugs 4l), 4i! Y and spaced outboard lugs 42, 42 affording along their opposite edges thrust engagement as at 44, 44 with the flexible retaining bar 46 whose horizontal mid-portion overlies said bolster.

The flexible bar 4S is formed of spring steel stock as a single plate member, and the ends of said bar may be afforded camber as desired in order to accommodate it to the particular features of the truck side frame wherein itis embodied. The opposite cambered ends of the bar 46 ,project through appropriate openings in the tops of theV columns l2, l2 extending between the lateral wallsthereof Yasiat 48, 48 and extend across the window openings I4, I4, the opposite ends of the side frame thus affording ready inspection cf all parts thereof. Each end of the exible retaining bar is afforded abutment as at 50 with inwardly directed llugs 52, 52 integrally formed onrthe inner faces of the lateral walls of the side frame structure. Adjustable flexing of each end of the bar is afforded by a threaded bolt 54 bearing as at 56 upon the top of said bar, said threaded bolt being secured in the top wall of the compression member 4 by means of spaced nuts 58, 58 threaded thereon above and below said Wall.r Seats are afforded onthe inner and outer surfaces of the top wall of the compression member for the nuts 58, ,58A and adjacent said bolt. Said compression member top wall is cored .f

out as at Gli to affordconvenient access for adjustment of said bolt andnut assembly. Each side frame is afforded an opening 62 above the journal box and extending longitudinally of the frame to accommodate the application or removal of the flexible bar 46. Said bar may be applied or removed Vfrom either end of the side frame, and when in position between the beforementioned lugs 52, 52 at opposite ends of the frame may be flexed as desired by application of the adjusting bolts 54, 54. If desired, the inner wall ofthe compression member 4 may be offset as indicated at 64 (Figure 3A) to accommodate the bar 46 so that it may be raised until its bottom surface will be Vflush with the top margin ofthe bolster opening I6.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modified key arrangement for flexing the ends of the bar 46 wherein the side walls Yof theside frame are afforded aligned vertical slots 66, 66 for reception of the key 68. The said key may have a maximum vertical dimension approximately equal to the length of the slots 66, 65 so that it may be inserted therethrough, and atv the upper edges of said key are afforded the retaining lugs 10, lli, said key being held in its normal position at the top of the slots 6B, 66 by the fiexure of the bar 46,

Itwill thus be seen that I have provided a novel arrangement wherein a flexible bar forms a sole means of tying together the side frame and bolster of a spring plankless car truck of quick wheel change type and wherein the squaring means thus afforded is augmented by relatively wide guide columns formed on the bolster for emergency engagement therewith, t the same time, my arrangement facilitates the quick disengagement of the bolster from the bolster opening of the side frame and thus prompt dismantling of the truck for wheel change. In my novel arrangement, lateral thrusts between the side frame and bolster are transmitted through the medium of the flexible bar 4G as already described, while longitudinal thrusts between the side frame and the bolster are absorbed at the widened guide surfaces of the columns. Relative torsional movement between the side frame and bolster is first taken up in the flexible bar 46 and then limited by engagement of the sides of the bolster with the guide surfaces of the columns.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a four wheel railway car truck of quick wheel change spring plankless type, a truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends with integral journal boxes, integral columns forming with said members a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end projecting into said bolster opening and positioned on said spring group, a flexible bar supported in said side frame longitudinally thereof and afforded abutment at its opposite ends adjacent said journal boxes, said bar extending through longitudinally aligned openings in said columns over said bolster end and interlocking with said bolster end in said bolster opening, and means secured in said side frame for adjustably flexing the ends of said bar, said compression member having over said bolster opening a box-section with the bottom wall thereof offset to form a longitudinal channel for reception of said bar above said bolster opening to facilitate the removal therefrom of said bolster end.

2. In a four wheel railway car truck of spring plankless quick wheel change type, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end extending into said bolster opening and positioned on said spring group, longitudinally aligned openings in the ends of said frame and in said columns, a exible bar extending through the alignedV openings in said columns, abutments therefor adjacent opposite ends of said side frame, and adjustable means mounted in each end of said frame for varying the flexure of said bar, said compression member having a box-section over said bolster opening with the bottom wall thereof afforded an offset portion forming a longitudinal channel therein for the reception of said bar above said bolster opening to facilitate the application or removal of said bolster.

3. In a four wheel railway car truck, spaced side frames of truss type, each having tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming a bolster opening, a'bolster extending between said frames with its opposite ends received in said openings, a spring group on each frame affording support for the adjacent bolster end, and a flexible bar confined within each frame and interlocked with the adjacent bolster end against relative lateral movement, and means fixed in the opposite ends of each frame for Iadjustably flexing the associated bar and urging it into engagement with the adjacent bolster end, each of said columns having along its upper portion a bolster guide surface defined by inboard and outboard flanges and interrupted centrally thereof `by a vertical slot affording a passageway for said bar, said compression member having a box-section over said bolster opening with the bottom wall thereof offset to define a longitudinal channel therein for accommodation of said bar and to facilitate removal of said bolster end from said bolster opening.

4. In a four wheel railway car truck, spaced side frames of truss type, each having tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming a bolster opening, a bolster extending between said frames with its opposite ends received in said openings, a spring group on each frame affording support for the adjacent bolster end, a flexible bar confined within each frame and interlocked with the adjacent bolster end against relative lateral movement, and means fixed in the opposite ends of each frame for adjustably flexing the associated bar and urging it downwardly into engagement with the adjacent bolster end, each of said columns having along its upper portion a bolster guide surface defined by inboard and outboard flanges and interrupted centrally thereof by a U'-shaped slot affording a way for said bar.

5. In a four wheel railway car truck of quick wheel change spring plankless type, a truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends with integral journal boxes, integral columns forming with said members a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end projecting into said bolster opening and positioned on said spring group, a flexible bar supported in said side frame longitudinally thereof and afforded abutment at its opposite ends adjacent said journal boxes, said bar extending through longitudinally aligned openings in said columns over said bolster end and interlocking therewith in said bolster opening, thrust engaging means consisting of spaced lugs on said bolster end affording control of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end by said bar, means secured in said side frame for adjustably flexing the ends of said bar, and openings in the ends of said frame aligned with said column openings for insertion or removal of said bar.

6. In a four wheel railway car truck, a side frame having integral tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends, integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member, a bolster end extending within said opening and supported on said spring group, and a flexible bar confined in said side frame and extending longitudinally thereof through said columns over said bolster end, thrust engaging means consisting of spaced lugs on said bolster end affording control of Vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end by said flexible bar, means fixed on the ends of said frame in abutment with the ends f said bar for adjustably flexing said bar into engagement with said bolster,v each? of said columns having a bolster guide surface along the upper portion thereof and being interrupted centrally thereof by a Vertical channel affording passage for said bar, and openings in the ends of said frame aligned with said column openings for insertion or removal of said bar.

7. In a four wheel railway car truck, a side frame having integral tension and compression lateral oscillation of said bolster end by said flexible bar, each of said columns having a bolster guide surface along the upper portion thereof, said surface being defined by inboard and outboard flanges and being interrupted centrally thereof by a vertical channel affording passage for said bar, and openings in the ends of said frame aligned with said column openings for insertion or removal of said bar.

8. In a four wheel railway car truck of spring plankless quick wheel change type, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a

bolster end extending into said bolster opening and positioned on said spring group, longitudinally aligned openings in the ends of said frame and in said columns, a flexible bar extending through the aligned openings in said columns, abutments therefor adjacent opposite ends of said side frame, and means on the top of said bolster engaging said bar to limit relative lateral motion therebetween, said compression member having a box-section over said bolster opening, the botton wall thereof being offset to form a longitudinal slot for reception of said bar clear of said bolster opening.

9. In a four wheel railway car truck of quick wheel change spring plankless type, a truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends with integral journal boxes, integral columns forming with said members a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end projecting into said bolster opening and positioned on said spring group, a flexible bar supported in said side frame longitudinally thereof and afforded abutment at its opposite ends adjacent said journal boxes, said bar extending through longitudinally aligned openings in said columns over said bolster end and interlocking therewith in said bolster opening, and a longitudinal slot in the bottom wall of said compression member over said bolster opening to accommodate said bar and facilitate removal of said bolster end from said bolster opening.

10. In a four wheel railway car truck of quick wheel change type, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end 4 extendinginto said bolster opening andpositioned on said spring group, longitudinally aligned openings inthe ends of said frame and in said columns, a flexible bar extending through the aligned openings in said columns and overlying said bolster end, abutments therefor" adjacent opposite ends of said side frame, thrust engaging means on said bar and said bolster end characterized by spaced lugs on said bolster end which afford control of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end by said flexible bar, and adjustable means mounted in each end of said frame for Varying the pressure of said bar on said bolster end.

l1. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends `and spaced integral columns forming therewith a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, each. of said columns having along its upper portion a bolster guide surfaceidened vby inwardly and outwardly directed guide flanges and interrupted centrally thereof by a vertical slot, said slots being aligned longitudinally of said frame, openings in the ends of-said frame aligned with said before-mentioned slots for reception of an associated flexible member, and stop means adjacent the ends of said frame affording abutments for said associated member.

l2. In a four wheel railway car truck, spaced side frames of Vtruss type, each having tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming a bolster opening, a bolster extending between said frames with its opposite endsV received in said openingsa spring group on each frame affording support" for the adjacent bolster end, and a flexible bar confined within each frame and interlocked with the adjacent bolster end against relative lateral movement, and means fixed in the opposite ends of each frame for adjustably flexing the confined bar and urging it downwardly into engagement with the adjacent bolster end.

13. In a four wheel railway car truck, a side frame having integral tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends, integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, vertical slots in said columns aligned longitudinally of said frame, a spring group seated on said tension member, a bolster end extending within said opening and supported on said spring group, and a flexible bar confined in said side frame and extending longitudinally 4thereof through said columns and bearing on said bolster end, thrust engaging means consisting of spaced lugs on said bolster end affording control of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end by said flexible bar, and means fixed in the ends of said frame in abutment with the ends of said bar for adjustably urging said bar into engagement with said bolster.

i4. In a four wheel railway car truck of spring plankless quick wheel change type, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member,- and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening and spaced window openings, a spring seat on said tension member beneath said bolster opening, a spring group thereon, a bolster end extending into said bolster` opening and positioned on said spring group, longitudinally aligned openings in the ends of said frame and in said columns, a flexible bar extending through the aligned openings in said columns and bearing on the top of said bolster end, and

interengaging thrust 'means characterized by spaced lugs on saidbolster end affording control of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster by said flexible bar.

l5. A truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming therewith a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, and longitudinal openings at opposite ends of said frame aligned with longitudinal openings in said columns for reception of an associated flexible bar, each of said columns having a widened bolster guide surface formed by inwardly.

and outwardly directed guide lugs, the lower portions of said guide surfaces extending entirely across said columns and the upper portions thereof being interrupted centrally thereof by said aligned openings, said compression member having a box-section over said bolster opening with a longitudinal slot therein affording a recess for said bar clear of said bolster opening.

lf3. In a four wheel railway car truck, a side frame having integral tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends, integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, vertical slots in said columns aligned longitudinally of said frame, a spring group seated on said tension member, a bolster end extending within said opening and supported on said spring group, and a flexible bar confined in said side frame and extending longitudinally thereof through said columns and bearing on said bolster end, thrust engaging means characterized by spaced lugs on said bolster end which afford control by said flexible bar of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end, and adjustable means secured in the opposite ends of said frame for varying the flexure of said bar against said bolster end.

17. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming therewith a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, each of i said columns having along its upper portion a bolster guide surface defined by inwardly and outwardly directed guide ilanges and interrupted centrally thereof by a vertical slot, said slots being aligned longitudinally of said frame, and

` openings in the ends of said frame aligned with said. before-mentioned slots for reception of an associated flexible member, said compression member having a longitudinal slot in the bottom wall thereof in vertical alignment with said beforementioned slots.

18. In a four wheel railway car truck, a side frame having integral tension and compression members merging adjacent their ends, integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, vertical slots in said columns aligned longitudinally of said frame, a spring group seated on said tension member, a bolster end extending within said opening and supported on said spring group, and a flexible bar confined in said side frame and extending longitudinally thereof through said columns and bearing on said bolster end, and thrust engaging means consisting of spaced lugs on said bolster end affording control by said flexible bar of vertical and lateral oscillation of said bolster end.

19. A truss side frame having compression and tension members merging adjacent their ends and spaced integral columns forming therewith a central bolster opening and spaced window openings, and longitudinal openings at opposite ends of said frame aligned with longitudinal openings in said columns for reception of an associated iiexible bar, said compression member having a box-section over said bolster opening with the bottom wall thereof oiset at opposite sides thereof to form a longitudinal channel in vertical alignment with said column openings.

20. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns merging therewith to form a central bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, aligned vertical slots in said columns, a flexible member extending through said slots, a bolster end confined in said bolster opening between said spring group and said flexible member, and means xed in the ends of the frame for exing said flexible member.

21. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns merging therewith to form a central bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, aligned vertical slots in said columns, a iiexible member extending through said slots, a bolster end confined in said bolster opening between said spring group and said exible member, lateral guides on said bolster ends for said flexible member, and means xed in the ends of the frame for flexing the confined member and urging it into engagement with the adjacent bolster end.

22. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns merging therewith to form a central bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, aligned vertical slots in said columns, a flexible member extending through said slots, a bolster end coniined in said bolster opening between said spring group and said flexible member, means xed in the ends of the frame for adjustably iiexing the coniined member and urging it into engagement with the adjacent bolster end, and a recess in said compression member above said bolster opening for reception of said exible member to facilitate removal of said bolster end.

23. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns dening a central bolster opening, longitudinally aligned slots in said columns, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a flexible bar in said slots, a bolster end extending into said opening and resiliently confined between said group and said bar, engaging means on said bar and said bolster, and means fixed in the ends of the frame for iiexing said bar.

24. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a central bolster opening, longitudinally aligned slots in said columns, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a iiexible bar in said slots, a bolster end extending into said opening and resiliently confined between said group and said bar, and means in the ends of said frame for adjustably iiexing said bar.

25. In a railway car truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns deiining a central bolster opening, longitudinally aligned slots in said columns, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a iiexible bar in said slots, a bolster end extending into said opening and resiliently confined between said group and said bar, means in the ends of said frame for adjustably flexing said bar, and a recess in said compression member over said opening for reception of said bar in removal of said bolster end from said bolster opening.

26. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a bolster opening and upstanding columns at opposite sides thereof, aligned slots through said columns, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster end received within said opening and supported on said means, a flexible member extending through said slots and bearing on the top of said end, and means in the ends of said frame for flexing said member.

ALFRED H. OELKERS.

Images