US2713524A

US2713524A - Journal box packing unit

Info

Publication number: US2713524A
Application number: US428040A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Hagy
Original assignee: UNI PAK CORP
Current assignee: UNI PAK CORP; UNI-PAK Corp
Priority date: 1954-05-06
Filing date: 1954-05-06
Publication date: 1955-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 1972-07-19

Description

July 19, 1955 I ,1. T. HAGY 2,713,524

JOURNAL BOX PACKING UNIT Filed May 6, 1954 1, 5

INVENTOR Jo H I HAsY ATTORNEYS Unitec JGURNAL BOX PAKLWG UNIT Application May 6, 1954, Serial No. 428,040

13 Claims. (Ci. 3ii888) This invention relates to journal lubrication, and more particularly to a device for lubricating the journal boxes of railway rolling stock and other similar journals,

The provision of an effective and economical means for lubricating the journals of railway cars is an important problem in the railway industry, since inadequacy of such lubrication is a limiting factor on the practical speeds and length of non-stop hauls. In the early development of the art most railway journals were lubricated by packmg masses of yarn saturated with fluid lubricant into the journal box so that the lubricant would be supplied to the journal and bearing surfaces by capillary action. These waste and yarn packings however, were subject to what is known in the trade as waste grab, whereby portions of the packing are caused to climb the journal and become compacted under the bearing at one side, thereby preventing the proper supply of lubricant to the bearing.

Such waste grab is principally caused by distortion and bunching of the waste or yarn packing on sudden jarring of the car, as in sudden starts or stops, at which time the journal is displaced relative to the car and journal box. This displacement distorts the packing and causes it to bunch unevenly on one side of the journal box, so that the rotating journal sweeps up portions of the packing to compact it at one side of the bearing thereby cutting off the oil supply. This phenomena is emphasized by the existence of rough spots and microscopic projections on the revolving journal which aid it in forcing portions of the packing into engagement with the bearing. When the waste or yarn becomes compacted against the bearing in such a manner, its surface soon becomes glazed and hardened and this terminates the flow of lubricant to the bearing.

A further difficulty experienced with the hitherto used yarn and waste packings has been their lack of ability to prevent dirt and dust and other foreign matter from gaining access to the journal and bearing surfaces. Where such foreign matter reaches the journal and bearing surfaces it tends to score the same and also tends to clog the juncture of the journal and bearing, thereby wiping oil off the journal so that it cannot reach and properly lubricate the bearing.

Attempts to overcome these inherent disadvantages of waste and yarn lubricating packings led to the adoption of devices utilizing oil and acid resistant rubber sponges, and oil resistant'synthetic sponges. An example of such sponge lubricating units may be found in United States Letters Patent No. 2,138,971 issued on December 6, 1938, to Keller et al., No. 2,291,483 issued on July 20, 1952, to Miller, and No. 2,571,235 issued October 16, 1951 to Hamer.

While the use of such sponges overcame certain of the disadvantages which had been encountered with the yarn and waste packings, it was soon found that the sponges themselves were possessed of certain inherent drawbacks.

Patent 0 2,?l3,524 Fair-enter July 19, 1955 Thus the known oil resistant sponge materials do not have suflicient capillarity to raise an adequate supply of lubricant to the journal, and they further have a tendency to crumble and break which makes them difficult to install and remove. This tendency to crumble and break also causes the introduction into the lubricating oil of small sponge particles which tend to pack between the journal and bearing and to wipe the lubricant otf the journal so as to prevent its adequate lubrication. Crumbling which occurs at the top of the lubricating packing produces non-uniform contact with the underside of the journal so that, coupled with the low sponge capillarity, a serious shortage of adequate lubricant exists. The result of all such lubrication failure is the familiar hot box with its ensuing loss of time and money.

In my application No. 363,959, filed January 29, 1954, of which this is a continuation-in-part, there is shown a novel lubricating device for railway car journal bearings and other like bearings which combines the advantages of Waste and yarn packing lubricators with those of the sponge type lubricators while eliminating many of their inherent disadvantages.

The lubricating device of the present invention is an improvement on the lubricating device disclosed in that application and comprises a yielding resilient sponge-like body which is enclosed in a sturdy bag of some suitable material, such as canvas. The bag enclosed sponge-like body is interlaced with a large number of relatively heavy strands of yarn which form a plurality of loops on opposite sides of the bag enclosed body, to provide adequate capillarity for lifting lubricantsthrough the body.

According to this invention the front and rear edges of the unit are provided with substantially cylindrical buffers which serve the dual function of providing extra lubrication for the collar and fillet of the journal, which are the journal portions subject to the greatest wear, and adequately anchoring the lubricating unit in position relative to the journal. The front and rear edges of the bag enclosed sponge-like body are also provided with multiple thicknesses of high capillarity cloth to provide increased lubricant flow to the bufiers.

The bag is preferably of a unitary construction and is provided with a pair of integral lined pockets on opposite sides thereof for the reception of irons to facilitate insertion of the unit into a journal box. The unit is further provided with edge areas in the lubricating yarn surface which are devoid of yarn loops in order to prevent the grabbing and climbing action which causes yarn packing and inadequate lubricant supply.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a lubricating device for the jouranls of railway cars and similar journals, which combines the inherent advantages of waste and yarn packing lubricators with those of sponge type lubricators while substantially eliminating the inherent disadvantages of both.

It is another object of the invention to provide a journal box lubricating unit having a high capillarity yarn pile for supplying lubricant, and a yielding resilient oil impervious body combined therewith, to anchor said pile and to eliminate waste grab and resultant hot boxes. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a journal box lubricating unit having buffer means for supplying additional lubricant flow to the journal shoulder and fillet and for adequately anchoring tin lubricating unit against movement axially of the journal.

It is a further ob ect of the invention to provide a lubricating device of the foregoing type which may be easily installed and removed from a journal box for inspection and maintenance purposes.

It is another object of the invention to provide a removable journal box lubricating unit having iron recciving pockets on opposite edges thereof to facilitate the units insertion in a journal box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a journal box lubricating unit having a yielding resilient oil impervious body covered with a bag formed of a. single piece of cloth.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a journal box lubricating unit capable of preventing the access of dirt and foreign matter to the journal and bearing surfaces.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims and drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a journal box having a lubricator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the n vel integrated lubricating device of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of the lubricator of the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the cloth with which the spong-like member is enclosed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral it indicates a journal box in which a journal 12 rotates in contact with a journal bearing 1- in a well known manner. Between the lower surface of the journal 12 and the bottom of the journal box is located the lubricating device of the present invention, and this is indicated generally at 116. The lubricator 16 comprises a yielding, resilient, oil and acid resistant body 18 which is of a material stable at temperatures from approximately -40 to 259 F. Neoprene rubber sponge is a preferred material for the body 18, but other materials such as Duprene sponges or plastic vinyl sponges are also suitable as are sponge-like bodies such as neoprene impregnated hair. Although the spongelilte body 18 is shown as being unitary, it may also consist of a plurality of layers.

The body 18 is enclosed in a bag 29 which is made of a suitable high capillarity cloth material, preferably a heavy open straight warp canvas. The bag 20 may preferably be made of a unitary piece of cloth, such as is shown in Figure 5, having pairs of

side flaps

22, 24 and 26, 23. These flaps are oppositely spaced at the sides of the top 36 and bottom 32 of the bag and are separated by opposed tabs 34 and 36 which are joined to opposite sides of rear edge 38. The free ends of the top 3t? and bottom 32 are provided with extensions 49 and 42, the extension 4% having a length approximately equal to the length of the rear edge 38 While the extension 42 is substantially longer.

In the assembled position the placed upon the bottom 3% of the bag cloth 20 and the top 32 is folded over to cover the upper face or the body While the edge 38 covers its rear edge. The sides of the body 18 are covered by the flaps 22, 24, 2t: and 28, which are sewn together and folded over along the sides of the body as shown at 44. The elongated extension 42 of the top 32 is folded downwardly at 46, as shown in Figure 4, and then folded upwardly at 47 to form a reversely bent portion 43 which terminates in a still further reversely bent flap 50. The upper portion of the first reverse bend 48 is stitched to the upper portion of the downward fold 46, as by stitching 52, while the bend joining portions 46 and E3 is covered by the extension of the bottom 3% which forms a flap 4% sewn thereto by stitching 5%.

Suitable handles and 53 of a felt material having high wear resistance and tensile strength may be sewn to the flaps ill and 5% as by stitching all and 62. The side flaps 34 and 3:? at the back edge are folded around the joined portions of 22 and 26, and 24 and 28 to form integral pockets for receiving conventional irons for inserting the unit. These pockets are preferably sponge-like body 18 is lined with reversely bent lining elements 64 and '66 which may be made of duck or some similar material. The flaps 34, 36 are sewn on three edges to the lining elements, as shown at 68, to form pockets 70 which will not tear under the force exe ted by the irons in inserting the lubricating unit in journal boxes.

According to the invention the bag enclosed spongelilte body 18 is interlaced with a plurality of relatively heavy strands of yarn 72 which form a plurality of

loops

74 and 76 on the opposite faces of the body and This provides on each side of the lubricating device in a loose layer of yarn composed of high capillarity yarn loops. The strands 72 may be made of any yarn having the capillary ability to lift lubricating oil approximately three inches or more within twenty-four hours and might comprise such yarns as nylon, cotton, wool, rayon, Orion, and ordinary mop yarns. According to an important feature of the invention, the yarn in the body 18 and on the faces thereof is confined to a substantially central portion to leave a pair of side borders 7.; and 80 at opposite edges of the lubricating unit 16. The size of these yarn free edges depends upon the size of the lubricating unit, but in one specific example may be approximately one and a quarter to one and a half inches in width. It has been found that when the yarn layers are thus terminated short of the body edges substantially all catching and climbing of the yarn loops upon shifting of the pad is eliminated. With this structure the lubricating unit 16 may be subjected to substantial shifting without causing the loops to catch beneath the bearing 14.

The front and rear ends of the bag enclosed body 18 are provided with

buffers

82 and 84, which consist of relatively large diameter pieces of wick-like material, such as

sash cord

36 and 38. These pieces of wick-

like material

86 and 88 are enclosed in reversely bent pieces of felt 9'0 and 92, which are secured to the bag by means of stitching 94. The front buffer 82 fits snugly against the shoulder 96 of the bearing 12, while the rear butter 84 snugly contacts the surface of the fillet 98. These large diameter felt enclosed Wick buffers firmly anchor the lubricating unit 16 against movement axially of the journal 12 and also provide for extra lubrication at the shoulder 96 and fillet 98 which are the portions of the journal subject to the most wear. An adequate supply of additional lubricant is fed to these buffers by means of the plural bag layers 4s, 48, and S0 at the front end of the lubricating unit 16, and by the

multiple layers

64, and 68 of the lined pockets at the sides of the lubricating unit at the rear end thereof.

In operation the lubricating unit 16 may be inserted through the door 11 into the journal box 10. Inside the box it is placed in engagement with the underside of the journal 1.2 and with the bottom of the box 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and it is immersed in a pool of lubricant we. T he sponge-like body 18 provides the lubricator 16 with a resiliency which forces the upper yarn layer 74 into resilient engagement with a substantial are along the entire length of the underside of the journal 12. This same resiliency also forces the

buffers

82 and 84 into firm engagement with a similarly substantial are of the shoulder 96 and fillet 98.

The lower loop layer 76 becomes thoroughly saturated with oil from the pool 19%, and the oil passes upwardly by capillary action through the strands '72 to saturate the layer of loops '74 in such a manner as to continuously apply oil to the under surface of the journal 12. As will be apparent from reference to Figures 1 and 2, the heavy pile of loops 74 is anchored against movement by the sponge like body 18 and this largely prevents distortion or bunching of the loops due to sudden jarring or displacement of the journal 12 relative to the journal box 10. Where such displacement does take place the occurrence of grabbing, climbing or bunching is prevented by the fact that the loop layer 74 is confined to the substantially central portion of the body 18 and cannot reach the juncture of the journal surface and the hearing, as may be seen in Figure 2. Since the yarn layer or pile is held in resilient and yielding engagement with the underside of the journal 12, and since the grabbing and bunching with its resulting pressure and glazing of the yarn is eliminated, the oil supply to the journal is continuous and uniform over its entire surface.

The resilient sponge like body 18, being protected against breaking and crumbling by bag 20, exerts the necessary force to compensate for yarn wear and insures a continuous and adequate supply of lubricant to the journal. The

buffers

82 and 84 are urged into resilient engagement with the shoulder 96 and fillet 98 of the journal and this serves to minimize the entrance of dirt and other foreign matter into the journal box and into the pile layer 74. These built up sections of the lubricating unit 16 also prevent Wear of the edge portions of the bag 29 and provide additional lubrication and lubricator anchoring as pointed out hereinbefore.

Handles

56 and 58 permit easy removal of the lubricator device 16 for inspection, replacement, or the like, while lined pockets 70 permit quick and simple insertion of the lubricator without tearing of the bag. When one layer of yarn loops becomes excessively worn after a long period of use, the lubricator 16 may be removed, inverted, and reinserted with the unused yarn layer in engagement with the underside of the journal 12 so that the effective life of the lubricator 16 is doubled.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided according to this invention a simple, inexpensive, integrated journal and bearing lubricator having lubricant applying means of high capillarity which are urged into position by means of a resilient body which retains its resiliency over long periods of time without breaking or crumbling. The new lubricator unit substantially eliminates grabbing, climbing, or bunching of the yarn pile and provides for adequate anchoring of the unit with respect to the journal. In addition the unit provides for increased supply of lubricant to the journal shoulder and fillet.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having edges and a pair of opposed faces, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form exposed layers of yarn on the opposed faces of said body and bag, a pair of substantially parallel buffer members of a larger diameter than said yarn disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, and a plurality of layers of cloth in capillary communication with one of said buffer members joining said opposed faces of said bag.

2. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having edges and a pair of opposed faces, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form exposed layers of yarn on the opposed faces of said body and said bag, a pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, each of said buffer members comprising a wick element enclosed in a reversely bent piece of cloth sewn to said bag, and a plurality of layers of cloth in capillary communication with the cloth enclosing one of said wick elements, said layers of cloth covering one 6 edge of said body and joining said onnosed faces of said bag.

3. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having edges and a pair of opposed faces, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form exposed layers of yarn on the opposed faces of said body and said bag, a first pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, a second pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of the other of said opposed faces, all of said buffer members being substantially parallel, and a plurality of layers of cloth providing capillary communication between at least two of said buffer members across an edge of said body.

4. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having edges and a pair of opposed faces, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form exposed layers of yarn on the opposed faces of said body and said bag, a first pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, a second pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of the other of said opposed faces, all of said buffer mem bers being substantially parallel, each of said buffer member comprising a Wick member having a larger diameter than said yarn, said Wick members being enclosed in reversely bent pieces of cloth sewn to said bag, and a plurality of layers of cloth providing capillary communication between at least two of said buffer members across an edge of said body.

5. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having edges and a pair of opposed faces, a bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form exposed layers of yarn on the opposed faces of said body and bag at least one of said layers of yarn terminating short of at least two edges of said bag, a first pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, a second pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of the other ofsaid opposed faces, all of said buffer members being substantially parallel, and a plurality of layers of cloth providing capillary communication between at least two of said buffer members across an edge of said body.

6. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having a pair of opposed edges and a pair of opposed faces, a bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form a layer of exposed yarn on one surface of said bag, and a pair of cloth pockets afiixed to said opposite edges of said sponge-like body.

7. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body having a pair of opposed edges and a pair of opposed faces, a bag substantially enclosing said body, a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said body and bag to form layers of exposed yarn on the opposed faces of said body and bag, said layers of yarn terminating short of at east two edges of said bag, a first pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of one of said opposed faces, a second pair of substantially parallel buffer members disposed on opposite edges of the other of said opposed faces, a plurality of layers of cloth providing capillary communication between at least two of said buffer members across an edge of said body, and a pair of cloth pockets affixed to opposite edges of said body.

8. A lubricating device comprising; an oil resistant sponge-like body of substantially parallelopiped shape, a bag substantially enclosing said member, said bag comprising a single piece of cloth bent into U-shape so that the bottom of the U covers one edge of said parallelopiped while the legs of said U forms covers for opposite faces of said parallelepiped, said face covers and said edge cover extending beyond the edges of said parallelopiped, the parallel side extensions of said face covers being bent at right angles to said faces to form covers for opposite sides of said parallelopiped, the extensions of the edge covering forming the bottom of the U being bent at right angles to said edge to cover overlapped portions of the side extensions of said face covers, the extension of the free edge of one of said face covers being bent at right angles to said face to form the final edge cover, the extension of the free edge of said other face cover being reversely bent and such reversely bent portion bent at right angles to said face to cover said free edge extension of the other face cover, and a plurality of strands of yarn interlacing said sponge-like member and bag to form a layer of exposed yarn on one surface of said bag.

9. A lubricator for a railroad journal corn-prising a rectangular pad having substantially flat top and bottom surfaces, said pad being formed of oil-resistant, resilient sponge, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said sponge and a plurality of strands of yarn interlaced through said sponge and bag from top to bottom, said strands of yarn having loops extending above the top surface of the pad to form a yarn layer on said top surface, the strands of yarn extending through said pad serving to raise oil by capillary action to said yarn surface.

10. A lubricator for a railroad journal as defined in claim 9 in which the strands of yarn have loops extending below said bottom surface.

11. A lubricator for a railroad journal as defined in claim 9 including a projection of capillary material extending along the top edge of the front surface adapted to engage the flange of a journal to position the lubricator.

12. A lubricator for a vehicle, having a journal having a flange at its outer end and a. fillet at its inner end, a bearing for said journal and a journal box enclosing said bearing and journal, box having a lubricating well below said journal with a lubricant therein, said lubricator comprising an oil resistant, resilient sponge, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said sponge, a plurality of strands of yarn interlaced through said sponge and bag, said yarns having loops at the end thereof on one surface of said bag to form a yarn layer on said surface, whereby oil is raised by capillary action through said strands to said layer adjacent said journal for lubricating the same, a projection formed of capillary material extending along one edge o said lubricator adapted to engage said jouraoge and a projection formed of capillary iding along the opposite edge of said lubricator adapted to engage said journal and said fillet.

13. in a vehicle, a journal having a pair of axially spaced shoulders, a bearing for said journal, a journal box enclosin said bearing and journal, said box having a lubri cll below said journal with a lubricant therein, a ll. tor cornorising an oil resistant resilient sponge, a cloth bag substantially enclosing said sponge, a plurality of strands of yarn interlaced through said sponge and bag, said yarns having loops at the end thereof on one surface of said bag to form yarn layer on said surface, whereby oil is raised by capillary action through said strands to said layer adjacent said journal for lubricating the same, a projection extending along one end of said lubricator adapted to e one of said journal shoulders and a projection ex nding on the other end of said lubricator adapted to engage the other of said shoulders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 91,000 Devan June 8, 1869 2,291,483 Miller July 28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 740,392 France Jan. 25, 1933