US2880680A

US2880680A - Snubbed truck

Info

Publication number: US2880680A
Application number: US515642A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank P Quinn
Original assignee: American Steel Foundries
Current assignee: American Steel Foundries
Priority date: 1955-06-15
Filing date: 1955-06-15
Publication date: 1959-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1976-04-07

Description

April7, 1959 F RQUINN 2,880,680

SNUBBED TRUCK Filed June 15. 1955 United States Patent O SNUBBED TRUCK Frank P. Quinn, University City, Mo., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 15, 1955, Serial No. 515,642

6 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 224) This invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to snubbing and supporting arrangements for a railway car truck.

The invention comprehends a novel arrangement wherein side frames are resiliently supported adjacent their respective ends by spaced wheel and axle assemblies and a bolster is supported by the side frames.

Although antifriction type bearings have been employed successfully in journal arrangements for high speed passenger car trucks, their use in freight car trucks has presented problems.

As modern rolling stock permits freight cars to be pulled at relatively high speeds, it is highly desirable that a journal arrangement be provided which will successfully accommodate antifriction bearings,

After extensive research and experimentation, it was discovered that by providing for controlled freedom of lateral motion between the side frame and the Wheel and axle assemblies, an arrangement utilizing antifriction bearings would prove highly successful.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a railway car truck arrangement affording maximum freedom of lateral motion between the side frames and the Wheel and axle assemblies.

Another object is the provision of an arrangement affording both primary and secondary clearances between the side frames and the wheel and axle assemblies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway car truck supporting arrangement, wherein the side frame is resiliently supported from a yoke saddled on the journal box of the wheel and axle assembly.

Another object is the provision of a journal supported side frame arrangement that may be adapted to a journal box housing either friction or antifriction bearings.

Another object is the provision of a snubbing arrangement, wherein friction means carried in the side frame adjacent the journal opening cooperate with a yoke to dampen the vertical oscillation of the frame.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement for resiliently supporting the side frame from the journal box which comprises a yokesaddled on the journal box to resiliently support the side frame and friction means in the frame frictionally engaging the yoke to dampen the vertical oscillation of the truck.

Another object of the invention is the provision of self.

2,880,680 Patented Apr. 7, 1959 "ice Figure 3a is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 3a-3a of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

It will be noted that certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views when they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Describing the invention in detail, and referring to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that the railway car truck comprises a side frame indicated generally at 10 which is'supported by a wheel and axle assembly indicated generally at 11.

The side frame comprises tension and

compression members

12 and 14, respectively, which are merged at their ends to form end portions 16. The endportions each comprise spaced inner and

outer pedestal jaws

18 and 20, respectively, which define a journal opening 24 therebetween.

The side frame is of preferably tubular construction and is provided with a spring cavity 26 in each end portion 16 immediately adjacent the upper portion of journal opening 24. The end portion 16 is provided with a spring seat 28 at the upper end of the spring cavity 26.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the

pedestal jaws

18 and 20 each have a friction pocket 30 adjacent the journal box opening 24.

1 Each friction pocket comprises outboard and inboard side walls 32 and 34 which are interconnected by rear, top, and

bottom walls

36, 38, and 40, respectively. The upper side of the bottom wall or floor 40 may be provided with a spring seat 42. The friction pockets each contain a wall 44 sloping upwardly toward the journal opening and formed integrally with the top and bottom Walls. Each Wall 44 presents spaced wedge surfaces 46 on the underside thereof.

`Outer pedestal jaw 20 may be provided/with a generally horizontal plate 50, secured thereto as by nut and bolt assembly 52, which is operative to retain the journal assembly, as hereinafter described, in position.

Positioned in each friction pocket 30 is a substantially box shaped friction shoe 54. Each shoe 54 comprises a generally vertical front wall 60 presenting an outer friction surface 62, spaced forwardly sloping walls 56 presenting Wedge surfaces 58 on the upper sides thereof, and spaced side walls 64 interconnected by a top Wall 68 which has a spring seat on the underside thereof. A

y spring 72, interposed between the bottom wall 40 of the pocket and spring seat 70 of the friction shoe, resiliently supports the shoe within the pocket. v

The wheel and axle assembly 11 may be provided with either friction or antifriction type bearings (not shown) housed in a journal box 76 which is disposed within the journal opening 24 of the side frame.

The journal box 76, as seen in Figure 1, is representativeA of any standard journal box comprising a relatively flat upper Wall 78 and generally curved lower wall 79,

ywhich are interconnected by integrally formed vertical side walls 80. The outer sides of wall 80 present horizontally spaced vertically extending flanges 81 defining a vertical slot 83 therebetween, the function of which is hereinafter described.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be seen that a substantially U-shaped yoke 82 is positioned in journal opening 24 and saddled over the journal box 76. The yoke 82 preferably comprises a flat horizontal top Wall 84, provided on its upper side lwith a spring seat 86, and depending vertical side walls 88. The side Walls 88 are spaced from each other to form an opening 90 therebetween for receipt of the journal box 76. The inner sides of Walls 88 present tongues 92 of appreciable width extending vertically within journal box slots 83 so as to I engage the flanges 81 of the journal box,

By forming tongues 92 of lesser width than the distance between the flanges 31 of the journal box, a primary set of clearances is afforded between the respective members. As best seen in Figure 3a the clearance between yoke tongue 92 and journal box flanges 81 are as small as practicalA Working tolerances will permit for interchange of parts and assembly of the device, thus permitting only minimal lateral movement between the journal box and yoke so that as a practical matter, the journal box and yoke will move laterally as a unit.

The outer sides of the walls 88 may be provided with friction surfaces 93 which may be frictionally engaged by surfaces 62 of the friction shoe 54 whereby lateral as well as vertical movement between the side frame and yoke is snubbed or damped by the engagement between the side frame and the friction shoe. Flanges 9d preferably formed integrally with the walls 88 of the yoke serve to engage the outer Walls of the side frame to retain the yoke in position laterally with respect to the side frame.

As best seen in Figure 2, a secondary set of clearances is afforded between anges 94 and the outer walls of the side frame. The clearances of this secondary set are ap preciable and, of course, in excess of the clearances between the yoke tongue 92 and journal box flanges 81, as can be seen in Figure 3, and therefore permit limited free lateral movement between the side frame and wheel and axle assemblies, which movement is snubbed by shoes 54 in the manner previously described.

A preferably coil spring 95 may be positioned between the spring seats 86 of the yoke and 28 of the side frame, respectively, to afford resilient support for the side frame from the yoke.

In the embodiment illustrated, a bearing pad 96 is positioned between the upper surface of the upper journal box wall 78 and the undersurface of the yoke horizontal top wall 845s. lt will be understood that as the weight of the truck frame is carried by the yoke, through spring 9S, which rests on the journal box roof, or on the bed 96, which in turn rests on the journal box roof, relative vertical movement between the journal box and the yoke is virtually non-existent so that they can be considered to move vertically as an integral unit for all practical purposes. Thus, the snubbing action between

related friction surfaces

62 and 93 of the shoe and yoke, respectively, also serves to snub vertical movement of the truck frame relative to the wheel and axle assemblies associated with the journal boxes.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the tension and compression members of the side frames are spaced from each other intermediate their ends to form a substantially rectangular bolster opening 98 having sides defined by spaced vertical columns 10ft which are formed integrally with and interconnect the tension and compression members.

A bolster 102 may be supported by the side frames in any desired manner. In the embodiment illustrated, the bolster presents an end section 104 which is received in the bolster opening 98 and supported by the tension member 12 of the side frame. The bolster end section 104, as seen in cross section, is preferably rectangular and comprises substantially horizontal fiat top and bottom walls 106 and 198, respectively, interconnected by spaced vertical side walls 110. provided with spaced depending flanges 112 which serve to retain the bottom wall surface 114 of the bolster andv the upper surface 116 of the tension member in rm continuous engagement and to limit the motion of the bolster in a direction transversely of the truck.

Referring now to Figure 4, it will be noted that the embodiment illustrated herein comprehends an arrangement wherein self-aligning bearing means are interposed between the bolster and the side frame.

In this embodiment, the lower surface 11411 of the bolster end section and upper surface 116er of the tension' The bottom wall 108 may beV member are formed concavely, as seen in-section, to receive and retain an antifriction bearing 117a therebetween. It will be apparent that because of the shape of the opening of the bearing surfaces, the bearing tends to seek its lowermost position and thus is self-aligning. In this embodiment it will be noted that more clearance is afforded between the flanges 112a and the tension member 12 to permit greater lateral motion `of the bolster with respect to the side frame.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the side frame is shown as having friction means in both pedestals. However, if desired, the friction shoe snubbing arrangement can be limited to one pedestal in which case the other pedestal will be provided with a conventional friction plate engageable with the friction surface of the adjacent vertical wall of the yoke.

To assemble the journal arrangement, the friction shoes and springs are inserted from the inner sides of the pedestal and temporarily pinned in position by pins (not shown). The pad or block 96 is placed over the journal box and the yoke is saddled over the plate so clearance is provided between tongues 92 of the yoke and flanges 81 of the journal box. Springs 9S are then placed in the spring seat of the yoke and the side frames, and the bolster is positioned between the side frames. After assembly, the retaining pins are removed from the friction shoes.

I claim:

l. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprising spaced pedestal jaws delining a journal opening therebetween, a journal box positioned in said opening, a substantiallyy U-shaped yoke positioned over said.' box in said opening, said yoke having a top wall supported by said journalV box and presenting a spring seat on the upper side thereof and having depending spaced side walls formed integrally with said top Wallv and presenting outer friction surfaces and inner journal box engaging surfaces, spring means interposed between said spring seat and said frame to resiliently support said frame from said yoke, said jaws defining pockets adjacent said journal opening, wedge surfaces in said pockets, a friction shoe positioned in each of said pockets and presenting a wedge surface engageable with the wedge surface of the pocket and a friction surface engageable with the adjacent friction surface of said yoke and spring means in each of said pockets compressibly interposed between the friction shoe and a wall of the pocket and being operable to urge the wedge and friction surfaces of the related shoe into engagement with the wedge and friction surfaces of the pocket and yoke, respectively.

2. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprising spaced pedestal jaws dening a journal opening therebetween, said jaws each having a pocket therein adjacent said opening, wedge walls in said pockets, a journal box in said opening, a yoke positioned in said opening between said journal box and said frame and having an upper wall and side Walls depending therefrom, spring means positioned between said upper wall and said frame, a friction shoe positioned in each of said pockets having wedge and friction walls engageable with the Wedge walls of the pockets and the adjacent side wall of the yoke, respectively, and spring means in each of said pockets operable to urge the wedge and friction Walls of the related shoe into engagement with the wedge and friction walls of the pocket and yoke, respectively.

3. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame having spaced pedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, a pocket in one of said jaws adjacentsaid opening, a Wedge wall in said pocket, a journal box in said opening, a yoke saddled on said box in said opening, means interconnecting said journal box and yoke to restrict lateral movement therebetween, spring means interposed between said yoke and said frame, in-

terlockingI means interconnecting the yoke and frame assoso and aording limited lateral movement therebetween, and means to damp both vertical and lateral movement between the yoke and side frame, said last mentioned means comprising a friction shoe disposed in said pocket having wedge and friction walls engageable with the pocket wedge wall and a vertical friction wall of the yoke, respectively, and spring means in said pocket operable to urge the wedge and friction walls of the shoe into frictional engagement with the wedge and friction walls of the frame and yoke, respectively.

4. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprising spaced pedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, a substantially U-shaped yoke removably positioned in said opening, said yoke comprising a horizontal wall and spaced vertical walls formed integrally therewith and depending therefrom, said horizontal wall presenting a spring seat on the upper side thereof, said vertical walls presenting friction surfaces on the outer sides thereof, and presenting tongues on the inner sides thereof, a journal box positioned under said horizontal wall and intermediate said vertical walls presenting anges on the sides thereof engageable with said tongues to restrict lateral movement between the yoke and journal box, spring means positioned on said spring seat to resiliently support said frame from said yoke, and friction snubbing means positioned in said jaws and engageable with the friction surfaces of the vertical Walls of said yoke to damp vertical movement of the side frame relative to the yoke and journal box.

5. In a railway car truck, the combination of a side frame comprising spaced pedestal jaws defining a journal opening therebetween, a journal box positioned in said opening, a yoke positioned in said opening, said yoke being supported by and embracing said journal box, said yoke having vertical abutment surfaces engageable with oppositely facing vertical abutment surfaces ofthe journal box to permit minimal lateral movement between the yoke and journal box, said yoke having other vertical surfaces engageable with oppositely facing vertical abutment surfaces of the side frame jaws to permit limited lateral movement between said yoke and jaws which movement is in excess of said first mentioned movement, and spring means interposed between the yoke and the side frame to support the latter by the former.

6. A railway car truck according to claim 5, and including friction snubbing means carried by at least one of saws for engagement with said yoke to damp both vertical and lateral movement between the yoke and side frame.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,194,349 Barber Aug. 15, 1916 2,063,739 Hedgcock et al. Dec. 8, 1936 2,355,450 Leese Aug. 8, 1944 2,720,848 Couch Oct. 18, 1955 2,777,402 Rossell Ian. 15, 1957