US3504806A

US3504806A - Angle cock and mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: US3504806A
Application number: US753606A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles L Spees
Original assignee: Union Tank Car Co
Current assignee: Union Tank Car Co
Priority date: 1968-08-19
Filing date: 1968-08-19
Publication date: 1970-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1987-04-07

Description

April 7, 1970 c. SPEES 3,504,806

ANGLE COCK AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19, 1968 7/ [far/a Z. 5 9245 1/ 1/ pm flaw/MW! [/44 %//amqw.

United States Patent "ice 3,504,806 ANGLE COCK AND MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Charles L. Specs, Elkhorn, Wis., assignor to Union Tank Car Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 753,606 Int. Cl. B61g /06 US. Cl. 213-1 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An angle cock and mounting assembly for the trainline system of railway rolling stock. The angle cock unit and its mounting structure are so constructed that a passed coupler riding up onto a unit and subjecting it to an excessive amount of stress merely causes the unit to shift without damage to it, the mounting structure, or the trainline.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to railway rolling stock. It deals particularly with the brake or trainline equipment for such rolling stock and, more precisely, to the trainline connections between railway cars.

In a conventional railway tank car, for example, a trainline pipe segment extends along one side of the cars centerline, beneath the tank, and is secured to underframe structure of the car. Protruding from each end of the car, adjacent the conventional car coupler, is mounted an angle cock unit from which a hose connection extends. The hose connection is employed to flexibly interconnect the trainline pipe segments of coupled cars, and the angle cock unit includes a suitable valve mechanism for opening an dclosing communication between the trainline pipe segments of adjacent cars.

During normal operation of a train of coupled cars, the interconnected trainlines pipe segments provide, in a conventional manner, a conduit for compressed air employed to operate the brakes on the individual cars. When the individual cars are uncoupled, the hose connections are disconnected after the angle cock unit valve mechanism is manipulated to close off the trainline pipe segment at each end, and the car couplers are opened in a conventional manner. To the foregoing extent trainline equipment, which has remained virtually unchanged for years throughout the industry, peforms its function quite satisfactorily.

In one particular area, however, trainline equipment of conventional design has been found sadly lacking. When switching cars on a curve, for example, frequently the car couplers do not meet in properly aligned relationship, and often pass to one side of each other. When this happens, a coupler rides up onto an angle cock unit, breaking either the angle cock unit itself, the conventional U-bolt which connects it to a frame bracket, or the trainline, or perhaps all of these parts.

The industry has developed systems and devices which do prevent this type of accident, but todate they have usually been found to either be impractical, i.e., too expensive, or prone to some serious structural inadequacy. For example, there are coupler centering devices which assure that the couplers always meet in proper relationship. They, naturally, solve the problem. However, they are expensive to install and maintain. On the other hand, break-away pipe nipples have been employed to join the angle cock units to the trainline. These constructions have consistently resulted in leaky pipe joints, however.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The angle cock and mounting assembly of the present invention is constructed and arranged in such a manner 3,504,806 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 that it obviates the aforedescribed inadequacies of presently known systems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved angle cock and mounting assembly for trainline systems in railway rolling stock. It is another object to provide an angle cock and mounting assembly which, when struck by a passed coupler, is not damaged by the overriding coupler. In this light, the assembly construction also avoids damage to the trainline and/or mounting fittings and the like.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the present invention by providing an angle cock and mounting assembly for the trainline system of railway rolling stock wherein the angle cock unit moves in lost motion relationship when a passed coupler strikes and over-rides it. The angle cock unit literally slides downwardly relative to its mounting bracket when subjected to more than a predetermined amount of stress incurred by the impact of an over-riding coupler. Accordingly, no damage is suflfered by the angle cock unit, its mounting assembly, or the trainline pipe segment terminus at the mounting assembly.

The invention, together with its construction and method of operation, including the foregoing as well as other objects thereof, is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view of adjacent ends of two railway tank cars which have been moved together to couple in a conventional manner, and wherein the couplers have passed and the coupler of the car on the left has ridden onto the angle cock unit of the car on the right;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of an angle cock and mounting assembly embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the angle cock and mounting assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the angle cock and mounting assembly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 3;

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a pair of railway tank cars moving together, ostensibly into coupled relationship, are illustrated generally at T and T The cars T and T are identical in construction and, accordingly, corresponding reference numerals are applied to corresponding components of each.

Referring to car T it includes an elongated generally cylindrical tank 10 supported at its opposite ends in a conventional manner by railway trucks 11 (only one shown). A conventional bolster 12 and underframe structure 13 at each end of the tank 10 support the tank from each of the trucks 11.

Extending outwardly from the end of the underframe structure 13, and secured thereto in a well-known manner, is a conventional car coupler 20. Immediately adjacent the underframe structure 13, and extending the length of the car T is a generally conventional trainline pipe segment 21. The trainline pipe segment 21 terminates in an angle cock and mounting assembly 25 embodying features of the present invention, extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, alongside the coupler 20. The angle cock and mounting assemblies 25 of each of the cars T and T are arranged on the opposite sides of opposed couplers 20. Their coupling hoses can readily be joined when the cars are coupled to complete the trainline conduit along the chain of coupled cars.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the couplers 20 of the cars T and T have, as is frequently the case when cars are coupled on a curve, for example, not engaged each other in aligned, end-toend relationship, and, accord ingly, have passed each other. As a result, the coupler 20 on the car T which has passed on the near side of the coupler 20 on the car T rides forcefully into the angle cock and mounting assembly 25 embodying features of the present invention. Because of their relative heights on the underframe structure 13, the coupler 20 on the tank car T normally rides up over the angle cock and mounting assembly 25, subjecting it to an excessive amount of stress and, under normal circumstances, damaging the assembly 25 in some way.

The construction of the angle cock and mounting assembly 25 on the tank car T is, however, designed to absorb the excessive stress of an over-riding coupler 2.0 without damaging any component parts of the assembly. In this light, it will be recognized in the coupling situation illustrated in FIGURE 1, the angle cock and mounting assembly 25 on each tank car T and T is struck by a coupler 20 on the opposite car.

Referring now to FIGURES 25, the angle cock and mounting assembly 25 embodying features of the present invention is illustrated in greater detail. As illustrated, the underframe structure 13 of the tank car T normally includes a horizontal bottom flange 30. The bolsters 12 supporting the tank are welded to such flanges 30 adjacent their inner ends (see FIGURE 1) while the outer end of each flange terminates adjacent a corresponding coupler 20. The coupler mounting assembly 31 is mounted between opposed flanges 30 in a well-known manner.

The angle cock and mounting assembly includes a transversely extending bracket 35 welded at the inner end of its horizontal leg 36 to one of the horizontal flanges of the underfrarne structure 13. The bracket also includes a vertical mounting plate 37 having a trainline pipe segment port 40 extending through it on an axis parallel to the centerline of the tank car. As seen in FIGURE 5, the trainline pipe segment 21 extends into the port 40 at its free end 41 and is welded thereto to form an air-tight connection between the pipe and the mounting plate 37.

Releasably mounted on the face 45 of the mounting plate 37, according to the present invention, is the angle cock unit 46. The angle cock unit 46 is mounted over the port 40 on its base flange 48. A conventional hose connection 49 extends from the opposite side of the angle cock unit and is adapted to be interconnected with an identical hose connection extending from the adjacent tank car T The angle cock unit 46 comprises a housing 52 which contains a conventional air valve (not shown) opened and closed by rotation of the valve handle 53 in a wellknown manner. The housing valve chamber opens to the hose connection 49 at its outer end and, at its inner end to an inlet port 55 extending through the base flange 48.

The base flange 48 of the angle cock unit 46 has a planar mounting surface adapted to seat against the corresponding planar mounting surface 45 of the mounting plate 37 in the angle bracket 35 with the

ports

40 and 55 in registry. An O-ring 61 is seated in an annular recess 62 in the surface 62 around the port 40.

The base flange 48 forming the inner end of the angle cock unit 46 is horizontally elongated, as best shown in FIGURE 4. As such, it has transversely extending

cars

65 and 66. Formed in each of the

cars

65 and 66 is a vertically extending slot 67.

The angle cock unit 46 seats against the mounting plate 37 of the bracket member 35 with the slots 67 facing upwardly, as illustrated. Extending through each of the slots at its base is a conventional machine bolt 70 whose head 71 overlies a

corresponding ear

65, 66 of the shoulder 48, and whose shank 72 extends through a suitably formed and positioned aperture 73 in the plate 37.

The shank 72 of each bolt 70 is threaded to receive a conventional machine nut 75. With the angle cock unit 46 seated, as illustrated, in proper position on the surface 45 of the plate 37, the nuts 75 are turned to draw the surface 60 of the base flange 48 in sealing relationship against the O-ring 61. An air-tight connection is thus formed between the trainline pipe segment 21 and the angle cock unit 46, and the unit 46 is solidly mounted.

Assume now that the car T is being pushed toward the car T to couple them. The couplers 20 of the cars T and T are sutficiently out of alignment with each other so that the coupler associated with the car T passes in front of the coupler 20 associated with the car T as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The coupler 20 associated with the car T strikes and begins to ride up onto the angle cock unit 46 illustrated.

In a conventional construction, the angle cock unit would be subjected to such stress that either it would break off, the bracket upon which it was mounted would break, the conventional U-clam-ps would snap, or the trainline pipe segment could well break, or all of these things could happen. In the present invention, however, as a predetermined overload stress is applied downwardly on the angle cock unit 46, it gives way downwardly sliding on the shanks 72 of the bolts 70. This predetermined overload stress is determined by the extent to which the nuts 75 are on the bolt 70 and can readily be adjusted. If the angle cock unit 46 is forced downwardly a suflicient distance, it merely separates from the mounting bracket 35. No damage is suffered by the unit 46, the mounting bracket 35, or the trainline pipe segment 21.

To remount the angle cock unit 46, it is merely necessary to loosen the nuts 75 and slide the unit upwardly again until the shanks 72 are seated in the bases of corresponding slots 67. If the O-ring 61 has been damaged, it is easily replaced.

While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

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

1. In a railway car having trainline pipe means adapted to be interconnected to corresponding trainline pipe means on an adjacent railway car, the improvement in an angle cock and mounting assembly for making such connection, comprising:

(a) a mounting plate on one end of the car adjacent the car coupler,

(b) said plate including a substantially planar mounting surface,

(c) an aperture extending through said plate and connected to an end of the trainline pipe means, (d)lan angle cock unit releasably mounted on said p ate,

(e) said angle cock unit including a mounting base,

(f) a substantially planar mounting surface on said base and a port in said unit opening through said base surface, said aperture and said port being in registry with each other when said unit is mounted for normal operation on said plate, and sealin g means disposed between said plate and base around said registered aperture and port,

(g) vertically extending slot means in said base, and

(h) adjustable fastening means on said plate extending through said slot means, said fastening means being tightened to a predetermined extent which releasably attaches said base to said plate in a manner which prevents relative movement therebetween during normal operation but which releases and permits said angle cock unit to slide downwardly on said plate without damage to the unit, the fastening means, the plate, or the trainline pipe means When a passed coupler rides up onto said unit.

5 6 2. The improvement in angle cock and mounting as- (a) said mounting means comprises a pair of bolts exsembly of claim 1 further characterized in that: tending through said mounting plate,

(a) said mounting base includes generally horizontally (b) each of said bolts extending through a correspondextending, oppositely disposed ears, ing slot, and (b) a vertically extending slot formed in each of said 5 (c) a nut threaded onto each of said bolts to secure ears, said base to said plate. (0) said fastening means extending through said slots to secure said base to said plate, References Cited (d) the relative dimensions of said slots and said UNITED STATES PATENTS fastening means being such that downward sliding of said unit more than a predetermined distance 10 a ii causes said fastening means to pass through said slots 1 069038 7/1913 a 1elds 137349 out of engagement with said unit and to release sald 1,154,481 9/1915 Buzard et aL 285 63 X 531d braclfet- 1,263,574 4/1918 Leftwich 28563 X 3. The improvement in angle cock and mountmg as- 15 1711 138 4/1929 Campbell sembly of claim 1 further characterized in that: 1:724:929 8/1929 Hannaford (a) said sealing means comprises O-ring means seated 1,735,790 1 /1929 Pratt 137 347 in a recess formed in one of said plate and base 2 302 129 11 1942 L 13 mounting surfaces. 4. The improvement in angle cock and mounting as- 20 U.S. Cl. X.R.

sembly of claim 1, 2 or 3 further characterized in that: 7- 4 .3