US2552019A

US2552019A - Railway truck bolster

Info

Publication number: US2552019A
Application number: US29321A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry W Stertzbach
Original assignee: Buckeye Steel Castings Co
Current assignee: Buckeye Steel Castings Co
Priority date: 1948-05-26
Filing date: 1948-05-26
Publication date: 1951-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-08

Description

May 8, 1951 H. w. STERTZBACH RAILWAY TRUCK BOLS'I'ER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1948 H. w. STERTZBACH 2,552,019

RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER May 8, 1951 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 26, 1948 y 1951 H. w. STERTZBACH 2,552,019

RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1948 May 8, 1951 H. w. STERTZBACH RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 26, 1948 tension member of the bolster.

Patented May 8, 1951 RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER Barry W. Stertzbach, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Go-

lumbus, Ohio Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,321

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to bolsters adapted for use in railway car trucks and more particularly pertains to such members which are arranged transversely of railway cars and extend between the side frames of four-wheel car trucks.

An early type of bolster for a railway car truck was formed with a rolled steel channel compression member and a rolled plate-shaped tension member provided with a king post therebetween at the mid point of the bolster span. Such a bolster when considered from a theoretical stress standpoint was more properly a truss as distinguished from a. beam. Another development in the art has been that of a cast steel bolster somewhat similar in shape and arrangement and provided with an abrupt change in width at the zone where the tension member joined the side walls of the compression member. As the test requirements for bolsters progressively increased and as now required by the Association of American Railroads, designs of the open side bolsters and bulb-section type of bolster havebeen gradually superseded by what is known as the full box section type of bolster. In substantially all of the box section bolsters, a center post has been provided bearing directly and medially on the bottom member of the box section and supporting the center plate adjacent the king pin opening. The center post transmits a portion of the burden imposed on the center plate to the bottom or The center post while serving as an effective reinforcement of the center plate is more or less an idle member in so far as its utility in resisting beam bending is concerned. Other than its function of supporting the center plate, the center post is objectionable because it causes higher stresses where it is supported by the bottom member. The center post arranged within the box section of the bolster also presents a number of disadvantages from a foundry practice standpoint in casting the bolster.

One of the objects of the present invention is to devise a bolster devoid of a center post and to thereby remove its objectionable characteristics and at the same time retain the desirable function of the center post reinforcing the bolster in the vicinity of the center plate by redistribution of the metal in the side walls and by overall reorganization of the bolster.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the weight of the bolster and thereby reduce the cost of this member and at the same time provide a bolster having proper load carrying characteristics with respect to deflection and stress limits 2 as required by the Association of American Railroads.

Another object of the invention is to so con struct a bolster for a railway car truck to carry the load on the center portion of the bolster without the use of a center post and thereby remove the thrust imposed on the medial portion of the bottom member of the bolster by the center post.

A still further object of the invention is to so construct the bolster that the bottom member will be narrower at the central portion than the top member and having side walls extending upwardly from the bottom member and joining the top member intermediate the side edges thereof so as to provide support for the center plate.

A further and more detailed object of the invention is to so construct the bolster that the bottom wall will be relatively narrow and so distribute the weight of the metal in the side walls and the bottom member particularly at the central portion of the bolster and to eliminate the center post without sacrificing any of the load carrying characteristics and at the same time providing a bolster that may bemore readily cast in a molding operation and to remove a number of the metal junctions in bolsters of the prior art.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein several exemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a railway car truck bolster exhibiting the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the bolster with the section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and omitting some of the reinforcing ribs to more clearly illustrate the depending side flanges.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the bolster shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of that portion of the bolster shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the bolster.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified bolster.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the portion of the bolster shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further modification.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 4.

The present invention is directed to a bolster for a railway car truck of the four-wheel type and is so designed as to facilitate the casting of the bolster in a foundry operation. The molding of the bolster is simplified by the removal of the center post which has in the past been mounted under the center plate for supporting a portion of the load on the bottom or tension member of the bolster. Another feature of the invention is to provide a bolster wherein the tension member is substantially narrower throughout the central portion and to eliminate the center post so as to reduce the weight of the bolster and thereby render the manufacture less costly and at the same time to provide a bolster having the necessary strength to resist deflection within the standards required by the Association of American Railroads. Another feature of the invention is to so distribute the metal particularly in the central portion of the bolster and to so arrange the side walls in this zone that the load imposed upon the center plate is distributed through the side walls to the bottom member without being transmitted to the medial portion of the bottom plate. Another important characteristic of the invention pertains to the arrangement of the side walls at the central portion of the bolster inwardly from the side edges of the top or compression member.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 6, a bolster exhibiting the invention and of a type which may be employed with a brake rigging for a railway car truck in which the brake lever connecting rod passes under the bolster and accordingly centrally placed openings through the bolster walls are not required in this "rods under type. As shown in this portion of the drawings, the top is formed as an inverted channel having a top plate 12 and parallel downwardly extending flanges I4 and H5. The central portion of the bottom member [8 is materially narrower in transverse width than the top plate I2. This bottom member l8 accordingly requires less metal than a box type bolster and while the thickness thereof is slightly greater than the bottom plate of the old type bolster of the same capacity, this bottom plate [8 requires less steel or metal in the formation of the bolster. The bottom member I8 may be provided with a plurality of openings I! and a central opening l9 to reduce weight of the bolster. The bottom member of the bolster in the region of these openings is reinforced by ribs 2| and. 23.

A bolster embodying the present invention includes

side walls

20 and 22 which are substantially vertical and extend upwardly from the edges of the bottom plate I8 and join the top member I2 inwardly of the depending flanges I4 and IS. The bolster is provided with a center plate 24. The

side walls

20 and 22 by reason of the narrow spacing therebetween serve to provide suificient support for the center plate 24 and permit the avoidance of the usual center post construction as employed in most prior types of commercially used bolsters. A king-pin pocket 25 is provided within the bolster in vertical alignment with an opening 21 in the center plate 24. The king pin pocket structure is supported by a bridge 29 which extends transversely of the bolster and joins the

side walls

20 and 22 as shown in Fig.2.

Outwardly from the central portion of the bolster the

side walls

20 and 22 terminate short of and do not extend entirely to the top plate 52 and openings 26 are thereby formed in the bolster as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and i. In this region outwardly of the center, the

side walls

28 and 22 diverge from each other in proceeding outwardly from the center of the bolster as will be apparent from the consideration of Fig. 5. The

side walls

20 and 22 ultimately attain the width of the top member l2 at approximately the zone indicated by the line 28 in Fig. 4 which also defines the outer end of the openings 24. At this zone the

side walls

20 and 22 merge in common planes with the flanges l4 and i6. Beyond the line 28, the

side walls

20 and 22 may continue to diverge from each other in proceeding to the end of the bolster or these side walls may be arranged parallel to each other as shown in a modified bolster structure of Figs. 7 to 10. The shape and dimensions of the outer end por tion of the bolster may be altered as required for any particular load capacity or end structure desired for the bolster.

In carrying out the invention, the center plate '24 is further supported by means of transverse ribs 30 extending between the side walls 28- and 22 and ribs 32 extending between these side walls and the flanges I4 and [6 as shown particularly in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. The bolster may also be provided with longitudinal ribbing as indicated at 34 and side bearing supports 36 may be provided in the bolster. The bolster may be further lightened by openings 35 in the top plate l2 with the edges of these openings reinforced by ribs 31. The end structure of the bolster may be varied as required for cooperation with any par ticular type of side frame and the end structure shown in the drawings is merely for the purpose of completing an illustration of the general overall organization of the bolster.

The bolster shown in Figs. '7 and 10 is of the rods through type and represents another form for a railway car truck. In this embodiment, the center plate is indicated at 4|]- which is arranged at the mid-point of the top member 42 of the bolster. Throughout the central portion of the bolster, the top 42 is formed as an inverted channel having a top plate and substantially parallel downwardly depending flanges 44 and 46. At the central part of the bolster, the bottom member 48 is much narrower than the top plate 42. Substantially vertical side walls 5|] and 52 extend upwardly from the edges of the bottom plate 48 and join the top plate 42 inwardly of the flanges 44 and 46 as shown in Fig. 10. These side walls 50 and 52 are thereby spaced relatively close to each other and form some medial support under the center plate 40 and thereby replace the usual center post construction which involves difiiculties in the casting operation and which transmits a portion of the load imposed on the center plate to the bottom member of the bolster. These side walls 5!] and 52 may be substantially parallel as shown in Fig. 10 or these side walls may converge toward each other at the top portion as shown in Figs. 2 and 6'where the

side walls

20 and 22 are spaced from each other at a less width adjacent the top of the bolster than the width of the bottom plate [8.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 10 and in a region outwardly of the central portion of the bolster, the side walls 50 and 52 do not extend entirely to the top plate 42 and openings 56 are thereby provided as will be evident from a consideration of Figs. 8 and 10. In this region of the bolster and outwardly of the'central portion, the side walls 50 and 52" diverge outwardly as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 9 and ultimately attain the width er the top plate 42 at the zone indicated by the line 58 in Fig. 8. This line also marks the outward end of the openings 56 where the side walls 50' and 52 merge in a common plane with the flanges 44 and 46. Thereafter, the side Walls 50 and 52 continue in a parallel relationship to the end of the bolster as shown particularly in Fig. 9.

In this embodiment, the center plate 40 may be further reinforced and supported by means; of transverse ribs 60 extending between the side walls 50 and 52 and transverse ribs 62 extending between the flanges 44 and 46 and the side walls. The bolster may be provided with a side bearing support 64. Longitudinal ribbing 66 may also be provided in the bolster for adding the necessary strength characteristics. In the bolster shown in Figs. '7 to 10, openings are provided in the side walls 50 and 52 to accommodate the brake lever connecting rod which may pass through these bolster openings and form a part of the brake rigging.

The bolster shown in Fig. 11 is adapted roa use with vacuum operated type brakes as employed in some foreign countries, and particularly in South America. In such a brake system, the brake levers are vertical and are located on the longitudinal center line of the truck. A single opening H is accordingly provided in the

opposite side walls

20 and 22 of the bolster to permit the brake lever connecting rod to pass therethrough. The rods through arrangements of the bolster as shown in Fig. 11 and in Figs. 7 to 10 have the advantage over the rods under type in that no safety device for the lever connecting rod is required. The bolster herein disclosed in Fig. 11 is Well adapted to the use of a central opening at H for the rods through brake rigging because the usual center post construction has been eliminated.

In the construction of the bolster herein described, the casting operation is facilitated by the absence of the center post and the attendant junctures of this center post structure with other parts of the bolster and the casting problem is thereby materially simplified. The bolsters herein described are also particularly well suited to high tensil steel design so as to provide relatively light weight bolsters but it will be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to improvements in any particular grade of steel or other types of metal which may be employed in forming the bolster assembly. The narrower bottom plate tends to make the bolsters herein described. more nearly conform to theoretical beam action both as to calculated stresses and deflection. The removal of the conventional center posts avoids the medial thrust on the bottom plate and the relatively close positioned side walls provide adequate support for the center plate of the bolster without the center post. Even though some of the sections of the bolster walls of the present design are slightly heavier (an advantage from the foundry standpoint), the net result of the removal of the center post and other structural features of the bolster, provides a reduction in the weight and accordingly a saving in the amount of metal required in casting the bolster.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific structural features of the bolster, it will be understood that changes may be made in detailed features and in the general organization of the bolster structure. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried by said compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member at said central portion inwardly from the side edges thereof, said side walls being joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, and said walls merging with said flanges outwardly of the central portion of the bolster.

2. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried by said compression mem-v ber, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at said central portion, an integral connection between the edges; of the bottom member and the side walls throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, and said side walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with the edges of the top member and said flanges.

3. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried by said compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at the central portion, said side Walls being integrally joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bolster, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with the edges of the top member and said flanges,

' and transverse ribs between said depending flanges and said side walls.

4. In a bolster, a top compression member, a center plate carried by said compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at the central portion, said side walls being integrally joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center plate and merging with the edges of the top member and said flanges, and said side walls having openings therein intermediate the center of the bolster and the point where the side walls merge with the plane of said flanges.

5. In a bolster, a top plate having parallel side edges, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member throughout the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at the center of the bolster, said side walls being joined to edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the side edges of said top member overhanging said side walls at the central portion of the bolster, and a center plate forming a part of the top plate overlying the flanges and the upper edges of the side walls with the flanges and the side walls constituting the supporting means for the center plate.

6. In a bolster, a top member having parallel side edges, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said side walls being integral with the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls diverging from each other in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with said flanges short of the ends of the bolster.

7. In a bolster, a top having parallel side edges throughout the central portion, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof at the central portion, said side walls being joined with the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls flaring outwardly in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with said flanges, transverse ribs between said depending flanges and said side walls, and transverse ribs between the side walls at the central portion of the bolster.

8. In a bolster, a top member, a center plate carried by said top member, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said side walls being joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls diverging from each other in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with said flanges, said side walls having openings therein intermediate the center of the bolster and the point where the side walls merge with the plane of said flanges, and means reinforcing the bolster under the center plate.

9. In a bolster, a top member having parallel side edges, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member, substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the bottom member and joining the top member inwardly from the side edges thereof, said side walls being joined to the edges of the bottom member throughout the entire length of the bottom member, depending flanges carried by the outer edges of said top member, said side walls diverging from each other in proceeding from the center of the bolster and merging with said flanges short of the ends of the bolster, and said side walls having aligned openings therein adjacent the center of the bolster.

10. In a bolster, a top compression member, depending flanges carried by the side edges of said top member, a center plate carried by said compression member, a bottom member of narrower width than said top member at the central portion of the bolster, side walls, said bottom member having its outer edges oined to said side walls throughout the entire length of the bottom member, said side walls extending substantially vertically from the edges of the bottom member and substantially in alignment with the depending flanges and joining the top member at said central portion inwardly from the side edges thereof.

HARRY W. STERTZBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,045 Bush Nov. 29, 1904 831,251 Stucki Sept. 18, 1906 1,189,608 Miyasaki July 4, 1916 1,733,675 Stertzbach Oct. 29, 1929 1,873,055 Sherman Aug. 23, 1932 1,931,620 Ott Oct. 24, 1933