US2743969A - Lubricating mechanism for railway car axle - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1956 e. F. coucH 2,743,969

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor- Glenn F Couch FIG. 4

his Attorney May 1, 1956' G. F. COUCH 2,743,959

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

Glenn E Couch W /3 is Attorney Inventor May 1, 1956 G. F. COUCH LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor: Glenn P. Couch his At tor ney United States Patent LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Glenn F. Couch, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January 22, 1951, Serial No. 207,147

2 Claims. (Cl. 308-84) This invention pertains to a lubricating mechanism for an axle of a railway car.

,An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved lubricating mechanism which is so arranged and constructed that a lubricant under pressure is supplied to an axle of a railway car.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved lubricating mechanism arranged to supply lubricant under pressure to a bearing of a railway car axle with safety means incorporated into the mechanism so that the pressure can obtain only a predetermined value.

. A further object of the present invention is the provi sion of an improved lubricating mechanism for a railway car axle with the mechanism being so arranged as to constantly supply lubricant under pressure to the axle and with additional means, to afford a by-pass of lubricant when a predetermined pressure has been attained.

The above broad and many detailed objectsof this invention will become apparent to'those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains upon a review of the succeeding detailed description of an exemplified form of this invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional view of a journal box and the associated side frame illustrating an embodiment of applicants invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the parts shown in Figure l with parts broken away to better reveal the construction.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view with the left-hand portion thereof being taken substantially on lines 3-3 of Figure 1 and the right-hand portion thereof being taken substantially on lines 3a--3a of Figure 1, each view taken in the direction indicated by the arrows at the ends of said section lines.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view partially in elevation, the section being taken on lines 4a-4a of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical detailed section taken on lines 5-5 of Figure 2, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows adjacent the ends of the section line; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal detailed section on lines 6-6 of Figure 2.

. Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein an illustrative form of the present invention is disclosed and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral 1 is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, a lubricating mechanism for an axle for use in a railway vehicle. Forming a part of a running gear of a railway vehicle is a wheel and axle assembly only an axle '2 of which is illustrated in the drawings. The axle has a portion or journal 3 thereof extending into a housing comprised partly of a journal box 4 and forming a part of the journal box is a roof or top wall 5 through which vertical loads of the vehicle are carried to the axle. This journal box illustrated is of the separable type but need not be so limited.

i this rear location. The journal box roof has at opposite sides thereof, side walls 9 depending from the roof and conveniently provided with indentations 10 which open upwardly and outwardly of the journal box. Extending downwardly from the side frame web are spaced jaws 11 4 which have shoulder portions 12 accommodated, in a loose fashion, by the indentations. Thus a suitable interlock is present in the journal box-side frame association to not only keep these two components in a predetermined relationship but also afford some degree of flexibility at this juncture. The side walls are joined together, well below the area of the axle, by a bottom wall 13 which, together with related parts of the side wall, define a well or cellar 14 in which a fluid lubricant may be contained. All of the above is by way of supporting structure which may be changed or altered as desired and since other details of construction of the side frame particularly and the journal box generally, except as hereinafter noted form no part of the present invention, no minute description will be herein contained but reference is hereby made i to the various figures of the drawings for such details.

Completely encircling the axle is a shell or hearing 15 made preferably of a thin walled structure, suitably lined so as to reduce as much as possible in such a structure, the frictional forces between the bearing and axle. Also forming an integral part of the journal box is an inner circular wall or collar 16 of such diameter as to neatly accommodate the shell. This inner wall, merging and rigid with the roof and side Walls, is of a length as viewed in Figure l, to back up substantially completely the area of the shell which is in full bearing relation with the axle and thereby not only affords adequate support for the shell but also transmits all service loads to which the journal box is subjected in service to the bearing.

Now it will be appreciated that a lubricant must be supplied to an inner surface 17 of the bearing to reduce the frictional load on this surface and thus prolong the life of the bearing. Many arrangements present themselves for. supplying lubricant, preferably of a fluid type, to the axle-bearing contact area; however, a favored arrangement embodied in the illustrated construction contemplates supplying the necessary lubricant under pressure and maintaining a constant supply to the affected area.

Toward this end there is built into the journal box as an integral part thereof a housing or cage 18 formed by circular walls 19 upstanding from the bottom wall of the journal box and terminating in horizontally spaced, vertically extending terminal flanges 20. The cage extends from a forward or leading edge 21 of the journal box toward the rear thereof for only a short or predetermined position transversely of the journal box or, in spaced alignment with a longitudinal axis of the axle as most clearly viewed in Figure 2. More specifically, the pump is formed in part by a body 23 somewhat cylindrical in configuration and as such is neatly threaded or insertable into the cage. Acting as a closure member of the'housing to seal oif the front or access opening 24 of the journal box is a lid or cover 25 blanketing the access opening and suitably and thoroughly bolted as at 26 to the journal box to be made a fixed part thereof. Since it is intended to maintain a fluid lubricant in the journal box to sub stantially a level indicated by the diagrammatic line 27 a full and adequate seal should be established at the journal box-lid juncture and toward this end a sealing gasket 28 preferably of a laminated nature is interposed between the cover and journal box proper. With this association it is believed that no loss of lubricant will develop at the forward end of the journal box. It may be here noted that a suitable removable plug 29 is provided in the cover at a location in horizontal alignment with the proposed lubricant level for the purpose of either inspection or the addition of lubricant to the journal box. Outstanding horizontally from the pump body is a stud or stalk 30 which projects through the gasket and cover to have associated therewith a rotatable element or nut 31. Thus it will be noted that by this association the pump may be first locked to the cover and then this assemblage associated with the journal box. Of course, also to be noted is that by the pump body being locked to the lid, the pump will be restrained from moving or shifting longitudinally of the journal box from its illustrated, fixed or predetermined position.

Forming a part of the pump is a cylinder 32 having upper and lower end portions 33 and 33a, respectively, of tubular design extending axially from a central enlargement 34 the latter of which is substantially square in plan and disposed upon the pump body intermediate the terminal flanges 26]. This association of central enlargement and terminal flanges maintains the pump in an upright. or fixed position. The lower end portion of the cylinder is press fitted into a suitable aperture 35 in the pump body so as to render the cylinder a fixed part of the body. it will be here noted that the cylinder and body could, if desired, be made as an integral or single component but it is preferred to make them separately so that the cylinder may be of bronze and the body of cast iron and thus not only reduce the cost of the pump but also extend its service life.

Arranged to move axially of the cylinder is a reciprocal piston or plunger 35 having a shank 37 arranged to be guidingly received neatly by and move axially in the cylinder. It is, of course, preferred to have the diameter of the piston shank and the bore of the cylinder of such diameters as to have a rather close sliding fit between the piston and cylinder. The shank intermediate its ends, is provided with a relief or recess 38 and the intermediate enlargement of the cylinder has associated therewith, a pin or screw 39 which extends through the cylinder to have a free inner end thereof project with the piston recess. or travel of the piston is limited or confined and while during a normal travel of the piston the screw extremity will not be engaged by the piston this arrangement is such that an abnormal travel of the piston will be arrested. At an upper extremity of the piston or plunger there is formed an integral head 4-9 of slightly greater diameter than the shank which, in effect, depends from the head.

Extending about the piston shank is a resilient element characterized by a compression spring 41 which has an upper end in subjacent relation to the piston head and a lower end mounted upon the intermediate enlargement of the cylinder. As this compression spring is initially stressed it functions as a force medium in urging the piston in an extended manner. Stated in another manner the spring urges the piston outwardly of the cylinder to from an axis 47 of the axle and this distance is, as-willbe hereinafter made apparent, one-half of the effective downward movement of the pistonysee Figure l, particularly, Extending into the thimble or collar is a drive By this arrangement of recess and pin the throw' shaft 48 which is secured thereto by a rivet 49. Mounted on the drive shaft in abutting relation with the collar is an inner raceway 50 which is surrounded by a cage or roller means 51 with this last named means backed up by a circumambient outer raceway 52. The inner and outer raceways with the interposed roller means forms a frictionless eccentric means driven by the axle and as will be noted an outer surface 53 of the outer raceway bears upon the piston head so that any rotative movement of the axle will be reflected by a downward thrust of the piston against the force of the spring 41. It has been observed in a commercial form of the invention herein contained that the outer raceway does not revolve during a rotary motion of the axle but rather merely rocks forth and back which is desired and intended because then the outer surface 53 and its companion piston head will not become worn in service. The reason for this non-rotary action of the outer raceway is believed to be or attributed to the fact that the frictional force, however slight, at the outer raceway-piston head contact is of sufiicient value to hold the outer raceway against the motion of the fric tionless roller means.

Mounted in the pump body adjacent a lower extremity thereof is an inlet valve 54 which is spaced 2. predeter mined distance above the journal box bottom wall due to the presence of a relief or undercut 55 formed in the pump body. This inlet valve is preferably in axial alignment with the piston. The inlet valve is formed in part by a valve body 56 press fitted into the pump body to be made an integral part thereof. The valve body has a valve seat 57 against which bears a ball or shiftable closure member 58. In slightly spaced relation to the shift able closure member, the inlet valve body has a transverse pin 59 so as to limit movement of the ball away from its seat. Also extending substantially axially of the pump body there is provided a main or cross-port 60 which communicates with the cylinder bore and the inlet valve so that upon a movement of the piston outwardly of the pump, fluid lubricant will be drawn into the pump or cross-port thereof through the inlet port. As will be noted, a following downward movement of the piston will cause the ball to be reseated, thereby leaving the crossport charged with lubricant.

The forward end of the pump body is provided with an exit or discharge valve 61 having a valve seat 62 defining a discharge port 63 which communicates with the main or cross-port. Leading from the discharge valve is a discharge passageway 64 which opens outwardly of the pump body toward the journal box cover. The discharge passageway is formed by cross drillings with one of such drillings closed or sealed off by a suitable plug 65 having downstanding therefrom, a suitable finger 66 which terminates a predetermined or slight distance from a displaceable element or ball 67. This ball 67 is normally seated upon the discharge valve seat and any unseating movement therefrom is limited by the finger. Accordingly, assuming the cross-port charged with lubricant as above set forth, a return or downward movement of the piston will close the inlet port and cause the discharge port to be opened by the lubricant under pressure unseating the ball 67 to thereby allow the lubricant to be forced into the discharge passageway.

The journal box cover is provided with a canal or circular passageway 68 which extends about the cover inwardly from a periphery thereof, and except as hereinafter noted, is sealed or blocked off by the gasket. This circular passageway therefore extends continuously in an uninterrupted manner about the cover to form a suitable lubricant conduit. The gasket has, adjacent its lower extremity, an aperture 69 which affords communication between the discharge passageway and circular passageway; see Figure 5. Accordingly, as lubricant under pressure is forced into the discharge passageway the lubricant is then free to enter the circular passageway.

- The journal box roof is provided with a conduit or horizontal passageway 70 communicating with the circular passageway by reason of an opening 71 conveniently positioned in the gasket. By this arrangement therefore the lubricant forced into the circular passageway may only escape therefrom into the journal box horizontal passageway. The horizontal passageway leads rearwardly from the forward extremity of the journal box, and the roof of the journal box somewhat beneath the side frame web is formed with a cored chamber 72 which is fed with lubricant by the horizontal passageway. This cored chamber extending a substantial distance across the top of the journal box to form an adequate supply reservoir has reentrant openings or areas 73 which, in the absence of the shell or bearing, would open into the journal box interior. Actually the reentrant openings are restrictively exposed to an outer surface of the shell and accordingly the shell. has formed therein a pair of conveniently spaced access openings 74 which lead through the shell lining to reach the area of the axle. What may be considered as the mouth 75 of each access opening in the bearing lining proper is extended preferably longitudinally of the bearing and thus an extended area on each side of a vertical center line of the axle will be charged with the lubricant to constantly and properly and freely lubricate the contacting area of the axle and shell.

It is to be here noted that so long as the railway vehicle is in motion the axle is rotating and thus operating the pump. It is conceivable that if the pump is operated over a long period of time the pressure of the lubricant in the inter-communicating passageway from the pump to the shell may greatly exceed a degree which is believed required. By way of illustration or example only, it is thought that a pressure of twenty pounds should not be exceeded in the intercommunicating passageways, however, the pump arrangement is such that it can develop a pressure far in excess of an amount believed sufficient. Accordingly, a by-pass means is incorporated in the pump structure. Such a by-pass means is characterized by an escape or release valve seat 76 which is formed in the pump body and defines an extremity of the cross port. Against this release valve seat is a shiftable or displaceable element or ball 77 resiliently urged by a coil spring 78. Forming a back-up for the coil spring is a cap 79 having extending axially thereof a bleed port 80 so that any lubricant finding its way beyond the release valve will escape through the coil spring and bleed port to the free interior of the journal box. Now the valve of the coil spring is such that upon the pressure in the inter-communicating passageway reaching a predetermined valve, such as the illustrated twenty pounds, the force of this coil spring will be overcome to allow the pumped lubricant to escape from the pump and not be dispatched through the discharge valve into the passageway leading to the axle. Of course, when the pressure in the passageway becomes lower than that re quired, the coil spring will keep the ball 77 seated to permit the passageway to be charged to a desired or redetermined degree.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from the spirit of this invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a lubricating mechanism, the combination with a railway car axle, a journal box and a lid closing an opening therein, of a lined bearing encircling said axle within said journal box, a pump in said journal box and having a body secured to said lid, intercommunicating ways formed in said lid and journal box and leading from said pump to an inner surface of said bearing, a reservoir in said ways, spaced intake and exhaust valves in said pump body, a piston in said body and selectively operating said valves for charging said reservoir through said ways, anti-friction means projecting from and eccentrically mounted on said axle for actuating said pump, and a safety valve in said pump body and separate from said ways, said safety valve permitting escape of lubricant from said pump on attainment of a predetermined pressure in said ways.

2. In lubricating mechanism for a railway car axle, the combination with a journal box having an access opening and a lid closing said opening, of a shell sleeved to said axle within said journal box and having an antifriction lining, an access opening extending through said shell to said axle, a collar integral with top and side walls of said journal box and spaced above a bottom wall thereof, said collar completely encircling said axle and sleeve and fixing said sleeve against radial and rotary movement relative to said journal box, a well in said journal box underlying said collar for containing lubricant, a pump having a chambered body in said well and secured to said lid, eccentric means connected to said axle for driving said pump, spaced intake and exhaust valves within said pump body and leading respectively to said access opening and well, and a regulator valve in and connected to said intake and exhaust valves only through said pump body for regulating the pressure of the oil pump to said access opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent

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