US2487028A

US2487028A - Cushioning device

Info

Publication number: US2487028A
Application number: US616129A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur F O'connor
Original assignee: Union Asbestos and Rubber Co
Current assignee: Union Asbestos and Rubber Co
Priority date: 1945-09-13
Filing date: 1945-09-13
Publication date: 1949-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-01

Description

Nov. l, 1949 A. F. ocoNNoR CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1945 fg/ Z Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHIONING DEVICE Application September 13, 1945, Serial No. 616,129

4 Claims.

The invention relates to cushioning or shockabsor-bing devices and is particularly adapted for use as a draft gear for railway cars and as a snubber for use with the conventional truck springs of railway cars and like vehicles.

The invention is an improvement of my United States Letters Patent No. 2,239,113 of April 22, 1941.

An object is to provide a cushioning device having friction elements providing a large total friction or wearing area, as against the prior art devices of the kind which have a relatively small total wearing area, resulting in necessity for frequent renewal ofthe worn parts and frequent renewal of the entire devices.

A further object is to provide an improved cushioning device capable of many variations in capacity and resistance to compression, with slight modifications in the parts.

Another ,object is the provision of a new and novel device of its kind which may be inexpensively manufactured of readily available materials.

A further object is to provide new and novel means for securing the device in assembled position.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the .invention will Ibecome apparent from the following description, which, with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the device, in normal uncompressed position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the device, in compressed position; one half of the view being shown in section along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

.Figures 5 and 6 show alternate types of housings which may be used with the device, in place of the housing shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

In the drawings, the reference numeral I0 indicates an expandable tubular housing for substantially enclosing the parts y,of the device and maintaining them in assembled relation. A follower |2 is shown adjacent each end of the housing I0. Substantially midway between the opposed followers I2 is shown a pair of Wedge members It, in back-to-back relation and, intermediate each follower l2 and the adjacent wedge mem-ber I d, is shown two layers of segmental friction plates i6 separated by a disc I8. The housing it may be provided with any suitable number of dowels 20 projecting inwardly from the housing wall adapted for interlocking relation with the inner parts of the device, for the purpose of maintaining the housing Il)l and said linner Aparts in predetermined relationship. After the component parts have been assembled a bolt' 22, with suitable nut, may be used as shown to unify the assembly.

The housing I0 may comprise a resilient metallic tubular member, preferably made of spring steel, with a slit or opening 24 traversing one of the longitudinal walls of the housing. The opening 2l! may extend perpendicular to the planes of the opposed ends iof the housing or may extend diagonally thereto. While I have shown the dowels 2U as comprising round pins, I contemplate the use of any suitable shapes which may serve the purpose. The dowels 2l] may comprise pins screwed into suitable holes in the housing wall, pins drive-fitted into suitable holes in the housing wall or pins extending thru suitable holes and peened over or welded to the outer surface of the housing walls. I contemplate the use of the alternate design of housing shown in Fig. 5, as a means of increasing the capacity of the device shown in Figs. l to 4, inclusive. The housing 25 of Fig. 5 may comprise a split tubular member similar to housing lil and may 'be embraced by a closely fitting outer split tubular member 2S; the split sides of the

members

25 and 26 being preferably opposite each other. I also contemplate the use of alternate housing 28 comprising an expandable tubular member having a cross-sectional configuration substantially approximating a spirally wound member having double walls throughout a portion thereof. Where the housings of Figs. 5 and 6 are used, I contemplate utilizing the frictional advantages of the double walls of the housings during oompression and release of the cushioning device, as well as the additional resistance to compression,

as in the case where a device of high load capacity is required. The housings of Figs. 5 and 6 may lbe providedwith dowels or similar detent members as may be used with housing II).

The follower I2 may comprise a cupped member provided with a substantially at base portion on one side provided with a laterally disposed annular iiange adapted to abut the adjacent end portion of the housing Ill when the device is fully compressed. The base portion may be provided with an inwardly extending central cavity 32 adapted to accommodate and receive the centering boss on the conventional spring plate, when the device is used as a snubber on a railwa3T car truck. A flat annular portion 34 may be provided in parallel, spaced relation with the base flange 3G and a central outwardly extending tapered portion 35 terminating in a circular flat end portion 38. An aperture 4i! may extend axially through the ilat end Iportion 33 providing communication with the cavity 32.

The wedge member I4 may comprise a circular disc-like portion 42 provided on one side with a centrally and outwardly disposed tapered portion 44 terminating in a -circular at end portion 46, vand may be provided on the other side with an integral disc-like portion 48, of smaller' diameter than the disc-like portion 42. A central aperture may extend through the wedge member I4.

The disc I8 may comprise a flat circular plate having a central aperture therethrough.

The friction plates I6 may best be described by stating that one layer thereof may be made by providing a central tapered hole through a circular fiat plate and then cutting said plate into four or more segments; each of the resulting segments forming a friction plate Iii. As best shown in Fig. 2, I have shown the outer arcuate edges ci the friction plates IE5 as coinciding with the inner surface of the unexpanded housing I0.

Inasmuch as the arcuate edge portions of the friction plates It (as best shown in Fig. 2) coincide with the inner surface of the unexpanded housing Il?, these edge portions will not register closely with the inner surface of the expanded housing Iii. I contemplate making the said arcuate edge portions of any radii intermediate the radii of the expanded and unexpanded housing. I also contemplate the use of any desired number of friction plates I5 in each layer in excess of the four segments per layer illustrated in the drawings.

The device is equally adaptable as a draft gear or as a snubber for railway cars, the illustrated embodiment of the invention being a snubber. It is particularly pointed out that one of the important objects is the provision of a friction device having relatively large total friction area. It will be seen (as best shown in Fig. 3) that the friction plates lf3 will be in frictional engagement with the housing IQ during compression and release of the device. The tapered surfaces of the friction plates It and the adjacent tapered portions of the followers l2 and wedge members I4 will be in frictional relation during compression and release of the device. 'Ihe surfaces of the friction plates I6 which contact the discs I8 will be in frictional engagement therewith during closing and opening of the device. Where the alternate housings of Figs. 5 and 6 are used additional friction will occur between the inner and outer portions of these housings.

The load capacity of the invention may be greatly varied by the selective use lof the housings shown in the drawings and by modifying the degree of taper in the several parts.

The housings illustrated in the drawings serve the purpose of resisting compression of the device, provide friction to absorb shock and work and also act to return the integral device to a predetermined position upon release of compressive force.

An important object is to provide a new and novel friction cushioning device wherein the frictional wear on the several parts thereof is widely distributed as against prior art devices wherein the friction and :frictional wear is concentrated at a few concentrated points, requiring frequent renewal of the worn parts.

'It is to be understood that the invention is not limited .to the particular shape or number of elements shown in the drawings. The number of layers of friction plates I6 may be more or less than shown in the drawings. While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

While I have shown the housing I as being made of metal, I contemplate the use of any hard material, such as ber board or plastics; in fact any hard material having the required resiliency to permit the expansion of the housing and its unaided return to unexpanded positionl I claim:

1. A cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed for resilient radial expansion, a conical wedge member mounted in the body, means in the body for limiting movement of said wedge member in one direction, a complementary conical wedge member movable axially into the body, a series of segments around each of the wedge members and engaging the body and the wedge members respectively, and a disc lying between the sets of `segments vand .engaging the adjacent faces thereof.

2. A cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed for resilient radial expan- 3. A cushioning device comprising a tubularv resilient body formed for resilient radial expansion, a pair of conical wedge members lying base to base centrally in the tube, a pair of complementary conical wedge members movable axially into the ends of the body, a series of segments around each of the wedge .members engaging the body and the respective wedge members and movable axially and radially when the last named wedge members are moved, and discs between the adjacent series of segments.

4. lA cushioning device comprising a tubular resilient body formed for `resilient radial expansion, a pair of conical wedge members lying base to base centrally in the tube, a pair of complementary conical wedge members movable 'axially into the ends of the body, a series of segments around each of the wedge members engaging the body and the respective wedge members and movable axially and radially when the last named wedgemernbers are moved, and a tension fastenling extending centrally through the wedge mem- 5 bers and engaging the complementary wedge Number members to limit axial separation thereof. 1,503,192 ARTHUR F. OCONNOR. 1,616,411 1,620,630 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,700,133 The following references are of record in the 1:939'433 flle of this pal-tent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 10 426,370 799,698 Westinghouse Sept. 19, 1905 439,295 1,169,863 Peycke Feb. 1, 1916 315,941 1,427,309 Mather Aug. 22, 1922 Name Date Langton July 29, 1924 Caneld Feb. 1, 1927 Brenne Mar. 15, 1927 Kressig Jan. 29, 1929 Symington Jan. 29, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Mar. 10, 1926 Germany Jan. 6, 1927 Great Britain July 25, 1929