US2714046A

US2714046A - Lubricating means for railway car truck journal bearings

Info

Publication number: US2714046A
Application number: US273371A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin D Barber
Original assignee: Standard Car Truck Co
Current assignee: Standard Car Truck Co
Priority date: 1952-02-26
Filing date: 1952-02-26
Publication date: 1955-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 1972-07-26

Description

F. D. BARBER July 26, 1955 Filed Feb. 26, 1952 LUBRICATING MEANS FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCK JOURNAL BEARINGS INVENTOR.

United States Patent LUBRICATING MEANS FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCK JOURNAL BEARINGS Franklin D. Barber, Flossmoor, Ill., assignor to Standard Car Truck Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 26, 1952, Serial No. 273,371

Claims. c1. 308-83) The present invention relates to lubricating means for railway car journal bearings and more particularly to an improved means for maintaining a body of oil free from contamination and in position whereby the axle journal is in direct contact with the body of oil. Still more specifically, the invention is concerned with a novel means for supporting a lubricant reservoir within a journal box in operative position with respect to the axle journal to insure thorough lubrication of the journal and bearing and to also provide an improved sealed joint between the reservoir and the axle journal so as to prevent ingress of foreign matter such as moisture and grit, and which will prevent leakage of oil.

Heretofore, where lubricant reservoirs have been employed in connection with railway car axle journals, particularly where the reservoir has been suspended from the journal bearing so that the reservoir and the hearing element cooperate to completely house the journal, relative shifting between the axle journal and journal hearing lengthwise of the journal has set up a so-called pumping action whereby changing internal pressure in the enclosed reservoir tends to force the lubricant from the reservoir through the reservoir sealing means or to draw moisture and foreign material into the reservoir through the sealing means. The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitation that is attendant upon the use of conventional sealing means in connection with enclosed lubricant reservoirs and toward this end it contemplates the provision of a novel form of resercoir seal having associated therewith a floating sealing ring assembly which is responsive to changes in internal pressure within the reservoir occasioned by such pumping action.

The provision of a reservoir seal of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention, another object is to provide a sealing means of this sort which, in addition to efficiently performing its sealing function, will be simple and relatively inexpensive to construct and install in its operative position on an axle journal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention not at this time enumerated .will become readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood.

In the accompanying single sheet of drawings forming a part of this specification, a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken substantially centrally and longitudinally through a railway car journal box having associated therewith the improved journal lubricant reservoir and seal of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. l in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

taken longitudinally through a portion of the reservoir seal in the vicinity of the journal bearing member or brass associated with the journal box.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particu lar to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved lubricating means of the present invention is shown as being applied .to the axle journal of a conventional wheel .axle 11 within the journal box 12 of a railway car truck. The journal.

box 12 is.of standard construction and is shown herein as integrally cast with

end portions

13, 14 of a truck side frame. The outer open end of the journal box is adapted to be closed by the usual closure member 15 which is pivotally carried on a pin 16 supported between lugs 17 integral with the journal box casing. Spring means 18 is provided for maintaining the closure member, 15 in either its fully opened or its fully closed position.

The inner end of the journal box 12 is provided with an opening 20 through which the axle journal 10 projects inwardly of the journal box. The journal box is provided with the usual dust guard slot 21 carrying a dust guard 22 which bears against the dust guard hearing 23 of the axle 11 to exclude dust, dirt, or other foreign material from the interior of the journal box.

A journal bearing member of brass 24 overlies the axle journal 10 and is provided with a liner of babbitt, or the like, which partly encompasses the axle journal 10. A wedge member 26 is interposed between the hearing member 24 and the top of the journal box 10 and has an end 27 bearing against a lock shoulder 28 formed integrally on the journal box.

In order to minimize axial movement of the journal relative to the bearing 24 a thrust plate 29 is secured as by welding to a flange 30 formed on the end of the bearing 24 to extend over the end collar 31 of the journal 10. A replaceable metal thrust member,32 of arcuate design is interposed between a vertical end wall of the bearing member and the end collar 31. The spacing of the thrust member 32 and the plate 29 is such as to permit a slight clearance for the end collar 31 so that only a limited degree of axial shifting movement of the bearing member 24 relative to the axle journal 10,may take place. The inner edge region of the bearing member 24 is rounded as at 33 and follows the flared inner end of theliner 25. The extreme inner end of the bearing is provided with a projecting arcuatefflange portion 34 (see also Fig. 3), the nature and function of which will become apparent as the following description ensues.

A lubricant reservoir is designated in its entirety at 35 and is adapted at all times to maintain an adequate supply of lubricant therein for application to the axle journal 10. The reservoir 35 is adapted to be suspended Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view I from the journal bearing member 24. It may be formed of any suitable rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material including sheet metal, plastic molding or oil resistant rubber. The reservoir 35, however, for the present disclosure is constructed of sheet metal or other. rigid material since by the use of such materials the inner end of the reservoir does not require additional reinforcement, as is the case of a flexible reservoir, to provide rigid attaching means for the floating seal, v

The lubricant reservoir 35 is generally of trough-like semi-cylindrical design and involves in its 'general organization a front wall 36 which is secured to the lower edge of the thrust plate 29 in sealing engagement there with in any suitable manner as for example by means of screws 37. The lower longitudinal edges of the hearing member 24 are provided with inwardly offset flanges 38 and the upper longitudinal edges of the reservoir 35 are secured as by means of screws 40 to the outer sides of the flanges 38 with the extreme edge portions of the reservoir bearing against the shoulders 41 which extend horizontally outwardly from the flanges 38. The flanges 38 and shoulders 41 afford an efficient liquid seal to prevent egress of lubricant from the reservoir at the sides thereof.

The inner end of the lubricant reservoir 35 is open, which is to say, the inner rim 42 is generally semi-circular and is preferably flared outwardly" to 'a slight degree as shown in Fig. l to rigidify the inner end marginal portion. This inner end of the lubricant reservoir. is adapted to be sealed against egress of lubricant from th reservoir along the outer surface of the axle journal adjacent its'juncture with the dust guard bearing 23. Toward this end the improved sealing means of' the present invention which has been designated in its entirety at 43 has been provided.

The sealing. means 43 above referred to is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Accordingly, the sealing means is comprised of three cooperating principal parts, namely, an inner annular split sealing ring 44 of mediumhard oil resistant material, but having some resilience, seated in and firmly held within a rigid retaining ring 45, and a flexible diaphragmatic wall in the form of a turned back cuif overlying the sealing ring. The sealing ring 44 is generally of rectilinear channel-shape in cross section with the lower flange 47 of the'channel being recessed at 47?, 47 to provide spaced apart

lips

48, 48 which have some resilience so as to bear resiliently on the cylindrical surface of the axle, for example the journal, a web or base portion 49 and an outer flanged portion 50 which is spaced from the sealing flange 47. The two flanges 47 and 50 extend in a directionfinwardly of the reservoir and the forward faces thereof terminate in substantially the same vertical plane. A garter spring 51 surrounds the sealing flange 47 and is disposed in the void existing between the two flanges 47 and 50 and serves to yieldingly maintain the

sealing lips

48, 48 in engagement with the outer surface of the axle journal 10. The metal ring 45 is generally of Z-shaped configuration in cross section and is a free floating member. It has a forward inturned flange 52 which closely overlies the forward face of the flange 50, a horizontal web closely fitting the outer perimeter 53 of the seal ring 44 and an outwardly turned relatively thickflange 54. The flexible member 46, when assembled in the sealing means 43, is of a general shape in cross section resembling a turn back cuff and has one edge region 55 thereof clamped to the flange 5 4 of the ring 45 by means of a metal clamping or draw ring 56 and annular spaced clamping screws 57. The extreme lower edge region of the member 46 overlies a portion of the inner split sealing ring 44 and serves to maintain the ring 50 against lateral shifting in the direction of the dust guard bearing. The other edge region 58 overlies the previously mentioned flange portion 34 ofthe bearing element 24 and the rigid inner marginal portion 42 of the reservoir 35 and is clamped thereto coextensively by means of a split clamping band 60 having clamping lugs 61 and a clamping nut and bolt assembly 62 associated therewith. As shown in Fig. 4, the outer annular surface of the. flange portion 34 isarcuate or trough-like in configuration and the clamping band 60 is similarly arcuate in cross section to effect .a more eflicient clamping action on the edge region 58 of the flexible cuff 46.

From the above description it will be seen that the inner flange 47 of the sealing ring 44 is normally contracted by the garter spring 51 so as to press the lips 48, .48 against the outer surface of the axle journal 10 and provides a highly effective seal against the escape of lubricant while at .the same time permitting relative rotation'of the axle journal as well as limited axial shifting movements of the latter relative to the bearing 24. The side of the flange 47 maybe recessed as at 49 to receive the garter spring 51 and hold the same against lateral shifting on the flange 47.

The end region 58 of the flexible cuff 46 is effectively clampe -.1 3 th clampin band .60 a a gut-er curved side of the laterally projecting flange 34 of the bearing 24 as well as against the outside of the inner marginal portion of the reservoir. Thus lubricant is effectively prevented from leaving the reservoir around the outside of the sealing assembly 43. The intermediate region of the assembly 43 is rendered impervious to the passage of lubricant therethrough by the fact that the sealing ring 44, split to facilitate its insertion over the thrust collar 31, istightly pressed in the metal ring 45 and, therefore, the split ends of the ring 44 are pressed tightly together.

The intermediate metal ring 45 which surrounds the sealing ring 44 and in turn is surrounded by the flexible cufl 46 is free floating. Consequently axial shifting movements of the journal relative to the journal bearing may result in a slightaxialshifting of the sealing assembly 43 as a whole.

In the initial installation of the reservoir 35 and sealing means 43, the axle19 may be removed from the journal'b'oxb y' the usual procedure and the split sealing ring applied thereto'by spreading the split ends apart sufliciently to permit the ring to pass over the thrust collar 31. The metal ring is then passed over the thrust collar 31 and fitted on the split seal ring 44. The garter spring 51 "may be applied before or after'the metal ring is applied. The journal bearing 24 with the applied thrust plate 29 may be applied in its operative position and the lubric ant reservoir isthereafter attached to the bearing element. The flexible cuff 46 having been previously fixedto the metal ring 45 is now clamped to the flange 34 and marginal portions 42 of the lubricant is rv'jir" by 'meanso'f the clamp ring 60. The assembled bearing'and reservoir completely enclose the journal and may finally be moved "to" their ultimate positions within the journalIboxf The wedge 26 may then be inserted into the journal box 12 through the front opening thereof in the usual manner of installation. When the parts are assemble'd in their final positions on the journal, the journal reservoir 35 may be filled with lubricant th fough a filling opening 63 provided for the purpose to the'desire'd level so that the lubricant level is above the lowei mostlevel of the axle journal 10. Thus, upon rotati n" of 'the axle journal, the lubricant is carried to'the b aring' surfaces of the liner 25.

While th "v ention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments which it may assume in practice, it is not intended that the same be limited to the specific qqns tru ctihn'fof the embodiment shown nor otherwise 'than b y the terms of the claims here appended.

'Iclairnz' l. The combination with a railway car axle journal the outer inner limitsof which are defined, respectively,'by an end c oila'r" and a dust guard bearing surface, a bearing member supported thereon and a lubricant reservoir member open at one end and suspended'from the rfnal bearingmember and cooperating therewith to encompass said axle journal, of means providing a flexible elosurefor the open end of said reservoir member so as to stipport a body of lubricating oil therein in contact with and partially surrounding said journal and to provide a sealed connect rilbet'ween' the journal and the inner end of the journal bearing member to prevent ingress of foreign matterland leakageofsaid oil from said reservoir member, said flexible closure and sealed connection comprising a seal ring immediately surrounding said axle journal at a location intermediate the inner end portion of said bearing and said dust guard bearing surface and having an axially extending annular flange of some resilience in contact with the journal, a garter spring encompassing 'said annular flange and exerting pressure thereon to press the said annular flange into resilient sealing engagement withthejournal, and a flex- "ibl'e diaphragmatic wall memberextending outwardly from said seal ring and ?l v in sealing engagement with the inner ends of said journal bearing member and said reservoir member.

2. The combination structure as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the inner end of the journal bearing member is provided with a lateral flange overlying said seal ring and in that an edge portion of said diaphragmatic wall encompasses said lateral flange on said bearing member and the inner edge portion of said reservoir member.

3. The combination with a railway car axle journal, a bearing member supported thereon and a lubricant reservoir member open at one end and suspended from the journal bearing member and cooperating therewith to encompass said axle journal, of means providing a flexible closure for the open end of said reservoir member so as to support a body of lubricant therein in contact with and partially surrounding said journal and to provide a sealed connection between the journal and the inner end of the journal bearing member to prevent ingress of foreign'matter and leakage of lubricant from said reservoir member, said flexible closure and sealed connection comprising a seal ring immediately surrounding said axle journal and having an axially extending annular flange of some resilience in contact with the journal, a garter spring encompassing said annular flange and exerting pressure thereon to press the annular flange into resilient sealing engagement with the journal, a rigid retaining ring surrounding and in sealing engagement with the outer perimeter of said seal ring, and a flexible diaphragmatic wall member secured to and extending outwardly from said retaining ring and secured in sealing engagement with the inner ends of said journal bearing member and said reservoir member.

4. The combination with a railway car axle journal, a bearing member supported thereon and a lubricant reservoir member open at one end and suspended from the journal bearing member and cooperating therewith to encompass said axle journal, of means providing a flexible closure for the open end of said reservoir member so as to support a body of lubricant therein in contact with and partially surrounding said journal and to provide a sealed connection between the journal and the inner end of the journal bearing member to prevent ingress of foreign matter and leakage of lubricant from said reservoir member, said flexible closure and sealed connection comprising a transversely split seal ring immediately surrounding the axle journal and having an axially extending annular flange of some resilience in contact with the journal, a garter spring encompassing said annular flange and exerting pressure thereon to press the annular flange into resilient sealing engagement with the journal, a rigid retaining ring surrounding and in sealing engagement with the perimeter of the seal ring and functioning to hold the split end portions thereof in sealing engagement with each other and provided with a radial flange extending inwardly toward the axis of said journal and overlying a side face of the seal ring intermediate said seal ring and an adjacent end of the journal bearing member, and a diaphragmatic wall member secured to said retaining ring and also secured in sealing engagement with the inner ends of said journal bearing member and said reservoir member.

5. The combination with a railway car axle journal the outer and inner limits of which are defined, respectively, by a collar and a dust guard bearing surface of greater diameter than the journal, a bearing member supported on the journal and a lubricant reservoir open at one end suspended from the journal bearing member and cooperating therewith to encompass said axle journal, of means providing a flexible closure for the open end of said reservoir member so as to support a body of lubricating oil therein in contact with and partially surrounding said journal and to provide a sealed connection between the journal and the inner ends of said journal bearing and said reservoir member to prevent leakage of said oil from the reservoir, said flexible closure and seal connection comprising a seal ring immediately surrounding and in resilient sealing engagement with said axle journal at a location intermediate the inner end portion of said journal bearing and said dust guard bearing surface, a flexible diaphragmatic wall member extending outwardly from said seal ring, and means for securing the outer marginal portion of said wall member in sealing engagement with the inner ends of said journal bearing member and said reservoir member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 727,987 Maltry May 12, 1903 1,519,072 Tarlton Dec. 9, 1924 1,701,010 Nystrom Feb. 5, 1929 1,906,840 Coady May 2, 1933 2,004,921 Blue June 18, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 71,626 Norway Feb. 3, 1947 209,265 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1924 256,632 France Aug. 31, 1948 459,453 France Nov. 6, 1913