US2926031A - Dust guard for journal boxes - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 23, 1960 J. D. HERR ETAL DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES Filed June 21, 1957 INVENTORS ,0]Z/Il D.H81Im BY Dwk mmm '5:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent DUST GUARD FOR JOURNAL BOXES John D. Herr and Dick W. Mount, Minerva, Ohio Application June 21, 1957, Serial No. 667,103

2 Claims. (Cl. 286-6) The invention relates to dust guards for the journal boxes of railway cars, and more particularly to a dust guard comprising a plurality of pivotally connected arcuate sections forming a complete annulus.

Under present practice, the dust guards in general use in the journal boxes of railway cars usually comprise a single member of wood which is placed in the journal box before the axle is assembled therein. This construction also requires removal of the journal from the journal box before the dust guard can be removed, when it is necessary to replace the dust guard.

The American Railroad Association has issued orders to have all waste removed from journal boxes and to have the same replaced by mechanical or semi-mechanical lubricators. For this reason a more efficient dust guard is now necessary because many of the types of lubricators that will replace waste will be at least partially defeated in their purpose by an excess of contamination in the journal box.

Owing to the fact that such dust guards as are at present in common use are generally formed of wood, such as plywood, considerable trouble has been experienced in the past because of breakage of dust guards in use, damage to the dust guard frequently being caused by the insertion of the journal into the journal box.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dust guard for journal boxes which will overcome the above-mentioned objections and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such a dust guard comprising a plurality of arcuate sections, pivotally connected together to form a complete annulus adapted to fit around the journal.

A further object is to provide a dust guard of the character referred to which may be inserted into the journal box while the journal is located therein, and which may be removed from the journal box without first removing the journal therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust guard of this type formed of metal such as aluminum, or comprising molded plastic sections.

A further object is to provide such a dust guard constructed so that it may revolve with the axle, or in which the axle may revolve.

A still further object is to provide a dust guard of this character having vanes thereon for circulating air to cool the journal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a dust guard formed of a plurality of pivotally connected sections with spring means for holding the same around the axle.

Another object is to provide a dust guard of the type referred to having a peripheral eye or loop in its upper side for engagement by a hooked tool for removing the dust guard from the journal box.

A further object is to provide such a dust guard in which the arcuate sections thereof are of generally channel cross-sectional shape.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved dust guard in the manner illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter described in detail.

In general terms the invention may be briefly described as comprising a dust guard for a railway car journal box. The dust guard is formed of a plurality of arcuate sections of cast metal such as aluminum, or of molded plastic, pivotally connected together to form a complete annulus. t

The abutting end sections of the dust guard are normally disconnected, so that the dust guard may be easily inserted into a journal box after the same is assembled on a car truck. Means, such as a coil spring, is provided for detachably connecting these sections together after the dust guard is installed in the journal box, and for compensating for wear.

Spring means are provided at the pivotal points in the dust guard for urging the several arcuate sections thereof toward the axle. The dust guard is so constructed and assembled that it may revolve in the dust guard chamber of the journal box, or the axle may revolve within the dust guard in event that the dust guard may accidentally be held against rotation in the dust guard chamber.

Each of the arcuate sections forming the dust guard is preferably of generally channel cross-sectional shape, and vanes are formed thereon for circulating air to cool the journal. An eye or loop is provided at the top of the dust guard for engagement by a hooked tool for easily removing the dust guard from the journal box.

Having thus briefly described the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the improved dust guard, in

which Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional railway car journal box, showing the dust guard embodying the invention installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the journal box showing the manner in which the dust guard may be inserted after the journal box is assembled with the axle therein;

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the dust guard;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of spring at a pivotal joint; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge view of the modification of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, a conventional type of railway car journal box is indicated generally at 10.

The journal portion of a car axle 11 is shown at 12, located within the journal box, the upper side of the journal contacting the usual brass or bearing 13, which is held in position within the box by the conventional key 14, which is normally locked in position by the key lock 14'.

The journal box is provided at its outer end with the usual cover 15. Packing or waste may be located in the journal box for lubricating the journal, or any desired type of lubricating device may be provided therefor, but since neither the packing nor the lubricating device forms any part of the present invention, they are not shown.

As is customary in such journal boxes, a dust guard chamber or well 16 is provided in the inner end of the journal box. This chamber or well is in the form of a recess extending entirely around the journal box and completely closed at the bottom and sides, and having the inner and outer walls 17 and 18 respectively, with the usual circular central openings 19 for the reception of the axle 11.

The improved dust guard to which the invention pertains is indicated generally at 20, and is adapted to be located within the well 16 and around the axle 11 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This dust guard is so constructed that it may be inserted into the well and around the axle, or removed therefrom, while the journal box is assembled upon the truck frame with the axle received therein.

For this purpose the dust guard is formed of a plurality of arcuate sections pivotally connected together to form an annulus, normally open at one point so that it may be inserted into the well in the journal box and located around the axle.

Four of such arcuate sections are shown in the drawings. The two central sections are indicated generally at 21 and 22, pivotally connected to each other at 23.

The two end sections are indicated generally at 24- and 25, the section 24 being pivoted to the section 21 at 26, and the section 25 being pivoted to the section 22 at 27. The other ends of the sections 24 and 25 are normally unattached so that the annular dust guard may be separated at this point for easily and readily inserting it into the well of the journal box and around the axle, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The arcuate sections of the dust guard may be cast or otherwise formed of aluminum or other suitable material, or may be molded of any suitable plastic material, and each section is preferably of substantially channel cross-sectional shape, having the peripheral flanges 28 at each side thereof.

The arcuate section 22 has a recess 29 in one end thereof receiving the ear or extension 30 upon the adjacent end of the arcuate section 21, which is pivoted in said recess by the pivot pin 23. A similar ear 31 is formed upon the other end of the arcuate section 21 and received in a similar recess 32 in the arcuate section 24, being pivoted therein by the pivot pin 26.

Upon the other end of the arcuate section 22, an car 33 is formed, which is received in the recess 34 in the adjacent end of the arcuate section 25 and pivoted therein by the pivot pin 27. Anear 35 is formed upon the other end of the arcuate section 24 to be received within the recess 36 in the free end of the arcuate section 25.

As shown in the drawings, suflicient space is provided between the opposed ends of the end sections 24 and 25 so as to compensate for wear on the inner surfaces of the dust guard sections and to permit the sections to be held in contact with the journal.

There is no pivot pin at this point, as the free ends of the arcuate sections 24 and 25 are normally detached so that the annular sectional dust guard may be opened at this point in the manner shown in Fig. 3, to be inserted into the dust guard well 16 of the journal box, the sections 24 and 25 thereof being inserted in opposite sides of the axle 12 in the manner shown in said figure.

For the purpose of urging the several pivoted sections toward the axle, after the dust guard is inserted as shown in Fig. 2, springs such as the leaf springs 37, are provided adjacent to the pivotal points of the dust guard.

One of these leaf springs is shown in Fig. 2 as connected to the peripheral portion of each ear 30 and 31 of the arcuate section 21 and extending over the adjacent pivotal points for engagement with the adjacent end portions of the sections 22 and 24, and one spring 37 is attached to the peripheral portion of the car 33 of the section 22 and extends over the pivotal point 27 for engagement with the arcuate section 25. These springs are located between the peripheral flanges 28 of the sections.

For the purpose of connecting the sections 24 and 25 together, after the dust guard has been installed, so as to hold the same around the axle 12, a coil spring or the like as indicated at 38 may be attached to suitable books or studs 39 adjacent to the free ends of the sections 24 and 25.

This spring may be assembled upon the dust guard after the same is installed in the well 16 and around the axle 12, by rotating the dust guard to bring the sections 24 and 25 to the top where the studs or books 39 will be accessible for attachment of the coil spring 38.

The dust guard, when assembled around the axle, may be so constructed and proportioned that it will fit snugly upon the axle so that it will rotate therewith, in event the dust guard may he accidentally wedged or stuck in the dust guard chamber.

In case the dust guard is so mounted upon the axle that it will rotate therewith, means may be provided for circulating air around the axle to cool the same, such means being shown as vanes 40 located radially upon the several sections of the dust guard between the peripheral flanges 28 thereof.

For the purpose of easily removing the dust guard from the journal box, in the event it is desired to replace or repair the same, one or more eyes or loops 41 may be provided at spaced points upon the several sections of the dust guard for engagement by a hooked tool or the like for pulling the dust guard upwardly out of the well.

For this purpose it will be understood that in the event the coil spring 38 is used to connect the free ends of the arcuate sections 24 and 25 together, the dust guard should first be rotated so as to bring this coil spring to the top where it will be accessible through the open top of the well in order that the spring 38 may be removed, after which the dust guard may be again rotated around the axle to bring the pivotal point between the sections 21 and 22 upward in order that a hooked tool may engage the proper eye or loop 41 to pull the dust guard upward out of the well 16 and out of engagement with the axle 12.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modification of the spring means at the pivotal points for urging the pivoted sections of the dust guard toward the journal. Adjacent portions of two pivoted sections of the dust guard are indicated generally at 45 and 46. The section 45 has a spaced pair of ears 47 at its end, between which is received the reduced end 48 of the section 46.

The two sections are pivotally connected together by the pivot pin 49, located through the cars 47 of the section 45 and through the reduced end 48 of the section 46. A substantially V-shape recess 50 is formed in the outer side of the reduced end portion 48 of the section 46.

Within the recess 50 is located a spring having the coil 51 located around the pivot pin 49 and the outwardly diverging arms 52 terminating in the oppositely disposed end portions 53 contacting the peripheral portions of the sections 45 and 46 and urging them inwardly around the pivot pin 49, so as to hold the pivoted sectioned dust guard around the journal.

From the above it will be obvious that a simple, efficient and durable dust guard is provided which overcomes the disadvantages and objections to prior art dust guards, and which is so constructed that it may be inserted into the well of the journal box and located around the axle or removed therefrom, while the axle is assembled within the journal box.

This of course is a great advantage, as in such dust guards as are now generally in use, it is necessary that the one-piece dust guard, or at least the lower section of two-piece dust guards be first inserted into the well be fore the journal box is assembled upon the truck to re ceive the journal portion of the axle.

As above pointed out, this frequently causes damage to the portion of the dust guard previously installed. Furthermore, in dust guards such as are at present in use, in order to remove a dust guard for replacement, it is necessary that the journal box be knocked down or disassembled from the truck, with the axle removed from the journal box in order to remove the dust guard the journal box.

It will also be evident that the improved dust guard will not interfere with jacking up the journal box for repairs so that the key may be removed in order to remove and replace the brass.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used'for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents therwf obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A dust guard for a journal box having a well at its inner end formed by spaced inner and outer walls with openings therethrough receiving an axle, saidwellhaving an open upper end through which the dust guard is inserted said dust guard comprising a plurality of arcuate sections pivotally connected together and forming a complete annulus located around the axle within said well, means holding the dust guard upon the axle so that it will rotate therewith, within said well, and vanes upon the dust guard for circulating air around the axle.

2. A dust guard for a journal box having a well at its inner end formed by spaced inner and outer walls with openings therethrough receiving an axle, said well having an open upper end through which the dust guard is inserted said dust guard comprising a plurality of arcuate sections pivotally connected together and forming a complete annulus located around the axle within said well, said arcuate sections being of channel cross section, means holding the dust guard upon the axle so that it will rotate therewith, and transversely disposed vanes in said channels for circulating air around the axle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,196 Godley Apr. 28, 1891 688,754 Tazewell Dec. 10, 1901 751,306 Lafferty Feb. 2, 1904 1,121,316 Williams Dec. 15, 1914 2,017,615 Bary Oct. 15, 1935 2,223,519 Hornschuch Dec. 3, 1940 2,397,753 Sale Apr. 2, 1946 2,638,363 Bryant May 12, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 296,770 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1929 468,847 Germany Nov. 24, 1928

Images