US2620744A

US2620744A - Railway car truck side frame

Info

Publication number: US2620744A
Application number: US83946A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Gray; Charles V Gagen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-03-25
Filing date: 1949-03-25
Publication date: 1952-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1969-12-09

Description

Dec. 9, 1952 w. E. GRAY ETIAL 2,620,744

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAME Filed March 25, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 av on QM. wh

SN r 99 m val 1949} wh 1 l U u v A J 27222" mzzmmzf fa s 5012 es ZZ a gen.

Dec. 9, 1952 w. E. GRAY EI'AL 2,620,744

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1949 [72 veniors- UL'ZZZ'Q??? E rqy, Charles 2/ a gen.

Dec. 9, 1952 w. E. GRAY arm.

Filed March 25, 1949 I Ill-Q fira y, d gen v liggs z Q Q Patented Dec. 9, 1952 RAILWAY CAR TRUCK SIDE FRAME William E. Gray, West Lafayette, and Charles V. Gagen, La Fayette, Ind.

Substituted for application Serial No. 712,974, November 29, 1946. This application March 25, 1949, Serial No. 83,946

Claims.

The present invention relates to side frames for railway car trucks, and more particularly to frames of the built-up type, comprising a plurality of pre-formed structural steel elements, welded together to form a unitary frame.

This application is a substitute for our previous application, Serial Number 712,974, filed November 29, 1946, now abandoned.

Up to the present time, in commercial practice, railway car truck side frames have been produced as unitary cast structures. In the production of such castings, regardless of the extreme care exercised, both in the molding operation and in attempting to employ molten metal of desired characteristics, the castings produced frequently contain various defects, such as resulting from porosity of metal, caused by slag pockets, and sand pockets, and also resulting from shrinkage stresses. Defects of this nature are frequently not visible as a result of careful inspection, examination, or testing of the castings, but often manifest themselves upon a careful examination made incident to an investigation following the breakage of such a side frame, such as occurs as a result of wrecks or collisions. It is well known that a relatively high percentage of freight train wrecks are directly attributable to inherent defects in the cast truck side frames.

We are cognizant of the fact that several patents have heretofore issued on proposed welded type side frames. However, toour knowledge, up to the present time, there has not been made commercially available to railway car manufacturers, any built-up type of welded structural steel truck side frames, which are capable of withstanding the rigorous conditions of normal operation of such equipment. As is well known, truck side frames are subjected to relatively great impact loads, and relatively severe vibration, together with extremely great twisting strains and stresses. Moreover, these conditions of use are further aggravated by the fact that such equipment is subject to fatigue caused by their use in wide temperature ranges, varying from approximately amaximum temperature of l30+ F. to approximately a minimum temperature of 60- F.

Railway car manufacturers have for many years sought a side frame construction, capable of efficient use under normal operating conditions, and which would be of reduced weight so as to permit obtaining a greater revenue load by reason of a reduction in weight in side frames, and which, in turn, would effect reduction in cost of maintenance in both the railway car, as

well as the roadbed.

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide an improved form of builtup railway car truck side frame, fabricated from a plurality of pre-formed structural steel elements, welded together to form a unitary structure which is capable of eflicient use under all normal operating conditions, and which is capable of being economically manufactured.

Another object is to provide an improved built-up side frame of the character indicated, which is comparatively light in Weight, and having adequate strength in the various elements and components, capable of withstanding severe impacts, shocks, vibrations and relatively high stresses and strains, as well as twisting stresses and strains, together with resistance to fatigue under usual temperature changes.

A further object is to provide an improved side frame construction, formed of a plurality of structural steel elements, capable of being easily and efiiciently welded together to form a unitary structure of hollow formation, which is fully enclosed to reduce possibility of collection of dust, dirt and moisture, and which reduces possibility of deterioration by the elements.

Another object is to provide an improved sideframe construction using structural steel shapes of uniform size throughout their length so that they can be easily produced by a rolling operation in order to decrease their cost.

Still another object is to provide an improved side-frame design and construction which is adapted to have most of the welding done on automatic welding machines so as to secure better welds with lower costs.

Another object is to provide an improved sideframe design and construction in which the junctions between the elements of certain members are rounded with substantial radii so as to prevent stress concentration at these points.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description,

taken in connection with the accompanying Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view through an intermediate portion of the frame and a bolster guide lug, taken substantially as indicated at line 5--5 on Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a disassembled, perspective view of the various elements or components of the side frame per se; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged, perspective side elevational view of a unitary sub-assembly of the side frame.

It is to be understood that all of the elements comprising the side frame per se, are preferably formed of high tensile strength alloy' steel, in'

order to utilize minimum thickness of metalwhile obtaining a desired or adequate'strength'throughout the various portions of the frame, and thus obtaining a relatively strong, durable side frame structure of minimum weight. The construction of the frame is such as to lend itself for assembly by the use of present-day automatic weldingapparatus which makes possible, economical manufacture thereof.

The built-up unitary side frame indicated generally at In in Figure 1 of the drawings, in cludes a structural steel tension member indicated generally at l I and a structural steel compression member indicated generally at l2. The'tension element includes a central or intermediate portion 14, extending substantially horizontally, the opposite ends ofwhich merge into a pair of diagonally and upwardly and outwardly extending portions 15. The compression element includes an intermediate or central portion H, extending substantially horizontally, the ends of which merge into downwardly sloping portions IS. The outer ends of said portions [8 are adapted to be weldedto the extreme upper ends oftthe' diagonal portions l5- of the tension element. The'tension-and compression elements are formed in U-shaped cross section, andare provided with a pair of spaced apart side flanges ZB a-nd M, respectively. As'shown in the drawings, the elements, when positioned in operative relation, are disposed with their flanges-extending' toward each other. The side flanges 2i of thecompression element, adjacent the outer ends thereof, are cut back withrespect to the web portion of said element, as clearly seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, so that the ends of the side flanges abut, and are adapted to be welded to the edges of the sideflanges of the tension element, adjacent the outer ends of the latter, and with the outer ends of the web portion 'ofthe compression element abutting, and welded to the inner face of the web of the tension element,

adjacent the extreme ends thereof. The tension and compression elements are adapted to surround and be welded to an internal unitary sub-assembly, as disclosed in Figure 7 of the drawings, as will be presently described, and-at the same time, the ends of said tension and compression elements are welded together as above mentioned. I

The internal sub-assen'ib-ly of the side frame as represented in Figure '7 of the drawings, is composed of a plurality of pro-formed elements or components, welded together as a unitary subassembly. Said sub-assembly includes a bolster frame '25 of generally rectangular form, and a pair 'of generally triangular truss frames 26. Each of said frames is formed in U-shaped cross section, and is provided with apair of spaced apart, outwardly extending sideflanges a and respectively. The flanges of the respective frames are spaced apart a distance equal to eachother,

and equal to the spacing of the flanges of the respective compression and tension elements. These frames are formed from structural steel plate, and have their ends abutting on the upper legs thereof, as clearly seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, and their abutting ends being welded together as indicated at 25b and 28b respectively, forming integral, relatively rigid unitary frames. The triangular frames 26 are connected to the bolster frame '2'5-at opposite ends thereof, with the upright leg of each triangular frame positioned with the edges of its flanges 26a in abutment with the edges of the flanges 25a of the upright portions of the rectangular bolster frame,

' and said flanges being welded together at their planes of' abutment, as indicated at 28 in the drawings.

For convenience in manufacture and for obtaining maximum strength, the bolster frame, as well as the two triangular frames are formed with rounded corners. Thus, when the triangular frames are welded tothe bolster frames, gaps are formed, adjacent opposite ends of the line of con tact of the respective flanges thereof. Welded in the gaps, at the-upper ends of the connection of the bolster frame and triangular frames are two pair of gusset plates ilfl 'shaped to fit the contour of the round corners of the respective frames; and their top edges beingshaped to lit a corresponding portion of the contour of-the compression element l2. Thesegusset platesare welded to the bolster frame and-triangular frames as indicated at 3 I.

To fill the gaps formed at the lower end of the connection of the bolster frame to the triangular frames, we provide a pair of combina-- tion gusset elements, as indicatedgenerally at 33 which include gusset portions 3 2 at opposite ends, which are shaped: to correspond to thecontourof the gaps. referred to' and which portions 34 are interconnected by horizontally extending web portions 35 which are adapted toxfit around themarginal edge of the flanges 25a of the lower horizontal portion of the rectangular bolster frame; Thesegusset portions '34 are welded, as indicated at 38 to the edges of the flanges of the bolster frame, and triangularframesat: the rounded corners thereof, and the web portions 35 are. welded with their upper edgesin' abutment with the edge of said flanges 25a atthe bottom horizontal portion of theloolster frame as indicated at 39.

The purpose of the web portion 35'of the combination gusset plates is to increase the section of metal below the bolster frame, so the sub,- assembly frame, when finally assembled with the compression and tension elements, is of a desired strength, and capable of withstanding the usual or normal loads, and twists and strains imposed upon the frame. By usingthese combination gusset plates to increase the section of metal below the bolster frame for providing adequate strength in a highly stressed location, it is possible to form the bolster frame and 'alsothe tension member from U-shaped metal sections having uniform flange heights throughout their lengths. This greatly simplifies their construc- Zion and results in decreased cost of fabricaion.

Connected to the outer rounded corners of each of the triangular frames 26 are a pair of gusset plates 4!) of generally triangular shape, having a contour corresponding to the, contour of the flanges 26a at said corners of the triangular frames, and the gusset plates-being welded to the edges of said flanges as indicated at 4|. It is to be understood that the shape of the gusset plates is such as to complete the contour with the triangular frames to correspond to the contour of the tension and compression elements, when finally attached thereto. Thus the elements described, namely the bolster frame, triangular frames and the gusset plates, when welded together form a unitary sub-assembly as clearly seen in Figure 7 of the drawings, the upper marginal edge of which corresponds to the contour of the compression element, and the lower edge, including diagonal leg portions of the triangular frames, corresponding to the contour of the tension element. The parts comprising the internal sub-assembly may be quick ly and easily assembled, and welded together as a unitary structure, by placing of the parts in suitable jigs or fixtures to expedite mass production.

After the sub-assembly is completed as a unitary element, the tension element H and the compression element i2 are then welded in position, as indicated respectively at and 45 around the entire marginal edges of the subassembly, with the edges of the flanges of the respective elements abutting and being welded to the edges of the flanges of the bolster frame and triangular frames, and to the respective gusset plates. elements are connected togetherby the flanges 2! of the compression element I2 being welded, as indicated at 8 to the end portions of the flanges 20 of the tension element II and with the projecting portion of the web of the compression element being welded as indicated at.

49 to the outer ends of the inner surface of th web of the tension element. a

The side frame thus produced is relatively light in weight and of extremely rigid construction, capable of withstanding stresses, strains,

shocks, and vibrations, as well as temperature fatigue, such as may be encountered in normal operational conditions. It will be noted that the construction is such that any section through A either the tension or compression element, at any plane of connection with the bolster frame or the triangular frames, or through the connection between the triangular frames and bolster frames, is of tubular cross section, proaccumulation of dust, dirt and moisture, and

which tends to reduce possible deterioration by the elements.

Welded to the inner faces of the Webs of the upright portions of the bolster frame, as indicated at 56 are bolster guide lugs 51 which are formed of structural steel, and of generally U-shaped cross section, as clearly seen in Figure 5 of the drawings. The upper ends of the guide lugs are closed by end plates 52 welded within the U-shaped form of the guide. Thus the guide is of hollow, totally enclosed formation, providing adequate strength for its intended function.

Mounted upon the top of the web of the lower horizontal portion of the bolster frame, is a spring seat 55, of generally rectangular shape, welded in position as indicated at 56. The spring The tension and compression seat is further reinforced in its connection to the side frame by a plurality of gussets 58 welded 6 to the underside of said seat 55 and to the adjacent outer wall of the side frame as clearly seen in the drawings.

Disposed at the opposite ends of the side frame are journal boxes, indicated generally at 60 which are preferably of the built-up type, formed of a plurality of structural steel parts Welded together. The journal boxes are adapted to be rigidly connected to the opposite ends of the side frame by a plurality of gussets 80, welded as indicated at 8| to the top of the top of the journal box, and as indicated at 82 to the outer surface of the web of the upper ends of the tension element II. The outer edge of said gusset plates are preferably shaped to constitute a continuation of the general contour of the compression element [2. The boxes are also connected to the side frame by a pair of gussets 84 welded at 85 to the side wall of the box and Welded at 86 to the outer surface of the web of the tension element H.

Although we have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, manifestly itis capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as we may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, a tension element having an intermediate horizontal portion merging at opposite ends into diagonally and upwardly and outwardly extending portions, a compression element welded at its opposite ends to the ends of said diagonally extending portions of the tension element, said elements being formed of U-shaped cross section with the flanges of the respective elements extending toward and in alignment with each other, a generally rectangular bolster frame of U-shape cross section having its flanges extending in an outwardly direction, said frame being mounted between said elements and having its flanges, of the two substantially horizontally extending portions thereof, aligned edgewise With the edges of the flanges of the respective tension and compression elements and welded edgewise to the adjacent flanges of the compression element and adapted to be structurally interconnected edgewise to the aligned flanges of the tension element, two generally triangular frames of .U-shape cross section, having their flanges extending in an outwardly direction, disposed at opposite sides of the bolster frame, with the flanges of the respective legs of each of said triangular frames aligned edgewise and being welded respectively to the edges of the flanges of the upright portions of said bolster frame and edges of the flanges of said tension and compression elements, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed with rounded corners, defining openings between said frames and said tension and compression elements, and gusset plates fitted in each of said openings and welded around their entire marginal edges to the edges of the flanges of said frames and tension and compres sion elements, whereby to produce a hollow, totally enclosed side frame body.

2. In a built-up structural car truck side frame a tension element having an intermediate horizontal portion merging at opposite ends into diagonally and upwardly and outwardly extending portions, a compression element Welded at its opposite ends to the ends of said diagonally extending portions of the tension element, saidLelements being formed of U-shape cross. section with the flanges of the respective elements extending toward and in alignment witheach other, a generally rectangular bolster :frame of U-shape cross section having its flanges'extende ing in an outwardly direction, said frame being mounted between said elements. and having the edges of the flanges of the top leg thereof aligned with and welded to the edges of-the'depending flanges of the compression element, and a pair of spaced, apart plates interposed between and aligned with and welded at opposite marginal edges respectively to the aligned edges of-the flanges of the bottom leg of said bolster frame and to the aligned edges of the, upstandinglegs ofthe tension element.

3.. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, an integral prefabricated sub-assembly compris ing an upright and generally rectangular shaped bolster frame, a pair of. generally triangular shaped. frames arranged at opposite ends of the bolster frame with one leg of eachotriangular frame, disposed in abutment with an upright leg ofthebolster frame, the other legs of each triangular f-rameextending outwardly and converging together, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed of U-shaped cross section, with the flanges thereof extendingin an outwardly direction, the edges of the flanges of each of said one leg of the triangular frames being aligned with and welded to the edges of the flanges of the corresponding upright legs of the bolster frame, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed with rounded corners, defining gaps at opposite ends of the connections of the upright legs of said frames, gusset plates disposed in. said gaps and having their edges welded to the edges of said frames, and a separate set of gusset'plates welded to the edges of the outer corner of each of the flanges of the triangular frames.

4. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, an integral, prefabricated sub-assembly comprising an upright and generally rectangular shaped bolster frame, a pair of generally triangular shaped frames arranged at opposite ends of the bolster frame with one leg of each triangular frame disposed in abutment with an upright leg of the bolster frame, the other legs of each triangular frame extending outwardly and converging together, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed of U-shaped cross section, with the flanges thereof extending in an outwardly direction, the edges of the flanges of each of said one leg of the triangular frames being aligned with and welded to the edges of the flanges of the corresponding upright legs of the bolster frame, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed with rounded corners, defining gaps at opposite ends of the connections of the upright legs of said frames, a plurality of pairs of spaced apart gusset plates, positioned in said gaps and at the outer corners of the triangular frames and welded in abutting relation to the marginal edges of the flanges of said frames; a tension element, and a compression element, said elements being of U-shaped cross section and formed for a close flt in total surrounding relation to the sub-assembly, with the edges of the flanges of the respective elements being secured respectively to the adjacent edges of the flanges of said bolster frame, and triangular frames and to said spaced apart gussets, to provide a totally enclosed, unitary side frame body.

5.- In a built-upstructural car trucksideframe, an integral, prefabricated sub-assembly comprising-an upright and generally rectangular shaped bolster frame, a pair of generally triangular shaped frames arranged at opposite ends of the bolster frame with one leg of eachtriangular frame disposed in abutment with an upright leg of the bolster frame, the other'legs of each triangular frame extending outwardly and convergin together, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed of U-shapedcross section, with the flanges thereof extending in an outwardly direction, the edges of the flangesof eaeh'of' said one leg of the triangular frames being'alignedwith and welded to the edges ofjthe, flanges of the corresponding upright legs of the'bolster frameysaid bolster. and triangular frameseach being formed with rounded corners, defining gaps'at opposite ends oftheconnections of the upright legs 'of-said frames, a plurality of pairs of spaced apart gusset plates, positioned in said gaps and at the outer corners of the triangular frames. and welded in abutting relation to the marginal edges of the flangesof said frames; and a pair of spaced apart plates aligned with and welded at corresponding edges to theedges of the flanges of the bottom leg of said bolsterframe.

6. In a, built-up structural car truck. side frame, a prefabricated outer sub-assembly comprising a tension channel and a compressionchannel, said tension and compression channels bein welded together at theircends, and having theirv flanges aligned and spaced apart the same distance along the entire length of. said channels, said flanges extending inwardly along theentire interior periphery of the outer sub-assembly; and an inner sub-assembly having an outer peripheral contour substantially the same as. the inner. peripheral contour of the outer subassembly, saidinner sub-assembly. along. its entire peripheral length presenting a pair of outwardly extending flanges spaoedapart the same distance, the peripheral flanges of said inner and outer sub-assemblies being spaced'apart the same distance and adapted to be. aligned edgewise with each otherand to be welded to each other along theiradjacent edges, whereby said built-up frame comp-rises a.continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam tension member and a. continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam compression member integrally formed with the interiors of said box beams in communication with each other.

'7. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, a prefabricatedouter sub-assembly comprising a tension channel and a compression channel, said tension andcompression channels being welded together at their ends and having their flanges aligned and spaced apart the same distance along the entire length of said channels, said flanges extendin inwardly along the entire interior periphery of the outer sub-assembly; an inner subassembly having an outer peripheral contoursubstantially the same as the inner peripheral contour of the outer sub-assembly, said inner subassembly along its entire peripheral length presenting a pair of outwardly extending flanges spacedapart the same distance, the peripheral flanges of said inner and outer sub-assemblies being spaced apart the same distance and adapted to be aligned edgewise with each other and to be welded to each other along their adjacent edges, whereby said built-up frame comprises a con tinuous totally enclosed hollow box beam tension member and a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam compression member integrally formed with the interiors of said box beams in communication with each other; and said inner sub-assembly having formed integrally therein a pair of spaced columns adapted to extend substantially vertically between the tension and compression box beams.

8. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, a prefabricated outer sub-assembly comprising a tension channel and a compression channel, said tension and compression channels being welded together at their ends and having their flanges aligned and spaced apart the same distance along the entire length of said channels, said flanges extending inwardly along the entire interior periphery of the outer sub-assembly; an inner subassembly having an outer peripheral contour substantially the same as the inner peripheral contour of the outer sub-assembly, said inner subassembly along its entire peripheral length presenting a pair of outwardly extending flanges spaced apart the same distance, the peripheral flanges of said inner and outer sub-assemblies being spaced apart the same distance and adapted to be aligned edgewise with each other and to be welded to each other along their adjacent edges, whereby said built-up frame comprises a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam tension member and a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam compression member integrally formed with the interiors of said box beams in communication with each other; and said inner sub-assembly having formed integrally therein a pair of totally enclosed box beam columns adapted to extend substantially vertically between the tension and compression box beams, with the interiors of said hollow box beam columns in communication with the interiors of said tension and compression box beam members.

9. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, a prefabricated outer sub-assembly comprising a tension channel and a compression channel, said tension and compression channels being welded together at their ends and having their flanges aligned and spaced apart the same distance along the entire length of said channels, said flanges extending inwardly along the entire interior periphery of the outer sub-assembly; an inner sub-assembly having an outer peripheral contour substantially the same as the inner peripheral contour of the outer sub-assembly, said inner sub-assembly along its entire peripheral length presenting a pair of outwardly extending flanges spaced apart the same distance, the peripheral flanges of said inner and outer sub-assemblies being spaced apart the same distance and adapted to be aligned edgewise with each other and to be welded to each other along their adjacent edges; whereby said built-up frame comprises a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam tension member and a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam compression member integrally formed with the interiors of said box beams in communication with each other; said inner sub-assembly comprising an upright and generally rectangular shaped bolster frame, a pair of generally triangular shaped frames arranged at opposite ends of the bolster frame with one leg of each triangular frame disposed in abutment with an upright leg of the bolster frame, the other legs of each triangular frame extending outwardly and converging together, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed of U-shaped crosssection, with the flanges thereof extending in an outwardly direction, the edges of the flanges of each of said one leg of the triangular frames being aligned with and welded to the edges of the flanges of the corresponding upright legs of the bolster frame, said bolster and triangular frames each being formed with rounded corners, defining gaps at opposite ends of the connections of the upright legs of said frames, gusset plates disposed in said gaps and having their edges welded to the edges of said frames, and a separate set of gusset plates welded to the edges of the outer corners of each of the flanges 0f the triangular frames.

10. In a built-up structural car truck side frame, an inner sub-assembly having along its entire peripheral length a pair of outwardly extending flanges spaced apart the same distance, said spaced flanges having inner edges and being interconnected therebetween along the entire length thereof; a tension channel and a compression channel adapted to be welded together at their ends and having inwardly extending flanges along their entire length spaced apart the same distance as the flanges on said inner sub-assembly, the inner peripheral contour of said channel flanges, when the tension and compression channels are secured together at their ends, being substantially the same as the outer peripheral contour of the inner sub-assembly, the edges of the outwardly extending flanges 0f the inner subassembly and the edges of the inwardly extending flanges of the tension and compression channels being aligned edgewise and adapted to be welded to each other along their adjacent edges, whereby said built-up frame is formed with a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam tension member and a continuous totally enclosed hollow box beam compression member integrally formed, with the interiors of said box beams in communication with each other.

WILLIAM E. GRAY. CHARLES V. GAGEN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,195,111 Slick Aug. 15, 1916 1,246,381 Benner Nov. 13, 1917 1,283,049 Benner Oct. 29, 1918 1,610,058 Kadel Dec. 7, 1926 2,181,709 Schenck et al Nov. 28, 1939 2,338,684 Cottrell Jan. 4, 1944 2,393,046 Keller Jan. 15, 1946 2,443,980 Fish June 22, 1948