US3559818A

US3559818A - Hydraulic draft gear

Info

Publication number: US3559818A
Application number: US799176A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Knippel; Marvin Stark
Original assignee: Pullman Inc
Current assignee: Pullman Standard Inc; Pullman Inc
Priority date: 1969-02-14
Filing date: 1969-02-14
Publication date: 1971-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-02

Abstract

A hydraulic cushioning device and draft gear is disposed in cushion pockets at opposite ends of a center sill. The cushioning device comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston assembly slidable lengthwise therein. The cylinder is anchored within the center sill by removable stops which extend through the center sill. The piston assembly includes a piston rod which projects through an end wall of a yoke housing and is retained therein by means of a connecting element seated in a socket. The yoke housing is provided with outward projections forming, with a pair of removable stops projecting through the center sill, a pair of spring pockets which contain springs adapted to return the piston assembly to a neutral position during draft impacts. The yoke housing includes a coupler shank which is movable within the yoke housing to transmit buff impacts directly to the connecting element of the piston rod.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors William H. Knippel Palo Park, 11].; Marvin Stark, Michigan City, Ind. [21] Appl. No. 799,176 [22] Filed Feb. 14,1969 [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Pullman, Incorporated,

Chicago, 111. a corporation of Delaware [54] HYDRAULIC DRAFT GEAR 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 213/8, 213/43. 213/54, 213/67 [51] lnt.Cl B6lg 9/02, B61 g 9/ 12 [50] Field of Search 213/8, 43, 54, 67, 62, 64, 223, 7, 46

[56] v References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,152,699 10/1964 Vickerman i. 213/8 3,207,324 9/1965 Blake 213/8 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorneys- Hilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russel ABSTRACT: A hydraulic cushioning device and draft gear is disposed in cushion pockets at opposite ends of a center sill. The cushioning device comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston assembly slidable lengthwise therein. The cylinder is anchored within the center sill by removable stops which extend through the center sill. The piston assembly includes a piston rod which projects through an end wall of a yoke housing and is retained therein by means of a connecting element seated in a socket. The yoke housing is provided with outward projections forming, with a pair of removable stops projecting through the center sill, a pair of spring pockets which contain springs adapted to return the piston assembly to a neutral position during draft impacts. The yoke housing includes a coupler shank which is movable within the yoke housing to transmit buff impacts directly to the connecting element of the piston rod.

PATENTEU FEB 21971 SHEET 2 [IF 4 mm Om mm nveplfors Willis Knippel Marvin S1 rk Hor ey HYDRAULIC DRAFT GEAR SUMMARY It is a prime object of this invention to provide an improved hydraulic draft gear ill installation including a cushioning device of the type shown in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 799.175, filed Feb. 14, 1969. Such installation provides quick interchangeability of the cushioning units, includes an effective structure on the center sill for receiving impact and draft A forces and further provides an improved spring pocket arrangement in combination with a coupler yoke providing for the effective return of the cushioning assembly to a neutral position after draft impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of the end of a railway car having an improved hydraulic cushion unit disposed in the end of the center sill of the car;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a yoke and center still construction taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of an underframe structure including a center sill;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a yoke arrangement and coupler disposed in the end of a center sill;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a cushioning unit adapted to be utilized in connection with the yoke shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a center sill with certain portions broken away to show an operating position of a cushioning unit; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing another operating position of a cushioning unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now particularly to FIG. 1 a railway car 10 includes conventional trucks 12 and an underframe generally designated at l3 which includes a center sill 14. The center sill 14 comprises a top wall 15, vertically extending sidewalls 16,

and outwardly disposed lower flanges 17. The opposite ends of the center sill 14 also include a conventional center sill reinforcing structure generally designated by the reference character 19. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 andS, the opposite ends of the center sill 14 may be suitably closed by a cover plate secured by suitably removable connectors. Each end of the center sill is provided with a cushion pocket generally designated at 18.

A hydraulic cushion unit 21 is positioned in each c-ushion pocket 18 and includes a cylinder 22 having at one end a connecting plate 23 which also supports a metering pin 24 extending within the interior of the cylinder 22. A pistonassembly is designated at 25 and includes a piston 26 and a rod 27 connected thereto, the rod projecting outwardly from one end of the cylinder 22. The cushioning device is described in more detail in the aforementioned patent application and includes a rubber accumulator 28 suitably attached (not shown) to the piston rod 27. The cylinder 22 also includes a spring retainer 29 in abutment with a spring 30. The connecting plate 23 is supported against longitudinal movement in one direction by means of fixed stops 31 provided on the sidewalls 16 of the center sill 14. The center sill 14 also is provided with openings 33 provided in the sidewalls 16 adjacent to the connecting plate 23. Reinforcement plates 34 having openings 35 in registry with the openings 33 are suitably connected to the sidewalls 16. A pair of stop brackets 36 include stop projections 37 extending through the

openings

33 and 35, said projections 37 extending into the pocket 18 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Suitable fastener bolts 38 connect the brackets 36 to the sidewalls 16. The connecting plate 23 also has spacers 39 connected thereto which are engaged by the projections 37 for securely connecting the connecting plate 23 to the center sill 14. The, ends of the center sill 14 are also provided with openings 40 and have reinforcing plates 41 with openings 42 positioned on sidewalls 16 in registry with the openings 40. A pair of brackets 43 contain inwardly extending projections 44 which extend through the

openings

40 and 42 into the center sill 14. Suitable fastener bolts 45, as best shown in FIG. 2, connect the brackets 43 in position.

As best shown in FIG. 8, the yoke or slidable housing, generally designated at 46, includes at its front end a bellmouth opening structure 47. The yoke 46 includes a top wall 48, a bottom wall 49 and connected sidewalls 50. The yoke 46 is also provided with a rear wall 51 having projecting ears 52 extending vertically and laterally on the rear wall 51. The projecting ears 52 provide, at one end of a space formed by said projecting ears 52 and the stop projections 44, spring pockets 53 within each of which a leaf spring assembly 54 is positioned. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 51 is also provided with a bore 55 through which one end of the piston rod 27 projects into the interior of the slidable yoke housing 46. A

, connecting element 56 is threaded onto the end of the piston rod 27, the said connecting element 56 having a convex face 57 slidably disposed in a concave surface 58 of the rear wall 51.

A coupler 59, which may be of conventional construction, comprises a shank 60, having elongated slots 61. A key 62 is disposed in slots 63 provided in the sidewalls 50 permitting a limited amount of longitudinal movement of said key 62 relative to the housing 46. The key 62 also extends through the slots 61 of the shank 60. Suitable apertured abutment plates 64 are disposed in the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 50 to be engaged by the shank 60 of the coupler 59 during swinging movement of the same. As best shown in FIG 9, the key 62 may be provided with suitable retainer clips 64 welded to said key 62 at opposite ends for retaining said key within the slots 63. As best shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the ends of the center sill are, in the region of the spring pockets 53 provided with retaining brackets 65 having spring seat projections 66 for retaining the leaf spring assemblies in the spring pocket 53.

THE OPERATION Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 11, a buff impact on the coupler 59 causes the shank 60 to move longitudinally so that the end of the shank 60 engages the connector 56 in turn imparting longitudinal movement of the wall 51 of the yoke 46 in a direction two toward the connecting plate 23 whereupon the relationship of the piston 26 is such to the metering pin 24 that a constant cushioning force is provided by the cushioning unit. The spring 30 is compressed and after the impact ceases, restores the yoke 46 to the position shown in FIG. 2. In the neutral position as shown by a line A in FIG. 10, the piston 26 has its face disposed coincident with the line A. In draft impact the piston 26 is moved to the line B FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the piston 26 is .moved from the neutral position designated at line A to the closed position shown by the line C in FIG. 11. During a draft impact, as shown in FIG. 10, the housing 46 is moved to the right in in the direction of the arrow and the leaf spring assemblies 54 are in a compressed position. After the draft impact ceases, the spring assemblies 54 return the yoke 46 and the piston 26 to their neutral positions.

The

brackets

36 and 43 are readily removable in order to change over the cushioning unit during maintenance. Furthermore, the projections 37 extend through the openings in a manner whereby the stresses on the projections 37 are absorbed in the sidewalls 16 rather than on the fasteners 38, and in the reinforcing plates 34 which are suitably welded to the sidewalls 16. Thus the connecting plate 23 is fixedly secured between the projections 37 and the fixed stops 31.

The removable brackets 43 are similarly placed through the

openings

40 and 42 so that again the forces are taken on the sidewalls 16 of the center sill. Further, the brackets serve to provide one end of a draft spring pocket 53 with the projections 52. Thus an effective return spring arrangement is provided by means of the leaf springs. Further, the arrangement is such that the yoke 46 is primarily supported for sliding arrangement on the center sill solely by the projections 52 and is free to move to some extent angularly during the application of impacts. The spring seat 66 provided by the retainer bracket 65 also serves to retain the leaf spring assembly 54 in the spring pocket 53.

We claim:

1. A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal center sill which includes vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls connected to define an open end cushion pocket;

a retaining member connected to said sill in longitudinally spaced relation from said open end and projecting laterally relative to said walls;

a hydraulic cushion disposed within said cushion pocket and including a cylinder;

a piston assembly movable lengthwise within said cylinder and including a piston having a piston rod connected thereto;

first and second connecting members respectively connected to said cylinder and piston rod;

said walls having opposed first openings longitudinally spaced and adjacent said retaining member;

first removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including first stop members extending through said openings and with said retaining member engaging said first connecting member to anchor the same on said sill;

a coupler assembly comprising a yoke including vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls interconnected to provide an open end housing slidably disposed through the open end of said cushion pocket;

said housing having a rear wall connected to said second connecting means and including laterally projecting ears;

said walls having opposed second openings longitudinally spaced from end adjacent said open end of said cushion pocket;

second removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including second stop members extending through said openings and with said laterally projecting ears providing spring pockets on opposite sides of said yoke between the adjacent sidewalls of said housing and center sill;

spring means disposed in each spring pocket;

a coupler including a coupler shank connected within said housing for real relative swinging movement;

said yoke being movable from a neutral position toward a said retaining member to provide for relative movement between said cylinder and piston assembly to a closed position on buff impact; and

biasing means cooperatively connected between said cylinder and yoke for returning said yoke to its neutral position, said yoke being movable in an opposite direction during a draft impact whereby said spring means in said spring pockets are compressed and said spring means then restores said yoke to its neutral position.

2. The invention is accordance with claim 1,

said cushion pocket including upper and lower transversely spaced spring retaining brackets extending lengthwise within and connected to said sill;

said brackets including longitudinally extending retaining seats;

said spring means comprising a plurality of nested leaf springs; and

the upper and lower ends of said leaf springs being disposed in said retaining seats.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, including reinforcing plates connected to said walls and having openings registered with the first'and second openings of said walls with said stop members projecting through said walls.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said rear wall of said yoke housing having a longitudinal bore; 5

said piston rod extending through said bore; and

said second connecting means in the neutral position and during draft impacts engaging a surface of said rear wall.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said rear surface including a concave socket and said second connecting means having a convex portion disposed in said socket.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said coupler shank being positioned for relative lengthwise movement relative to said yoke housing and during buff impacts engaging said second connecting means and transmitting the impact forces directly thereto.

7. A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal hollow center sill provided at one end with a cushion pocket;

a cushion assembly disposed in a said cushion pocket;

said cushion assembly including a cylinder;

a piston assembly including a piston and piston rod within said cylinder;

said cylinder and piston rod having relative lengthwise movement from a neutral to a closed position during buff impact,

a connecting element connected to said cylinder and another connecting element connected to said piston rod;

means anchoring one of said connecting elements within said cushion pocket;

said other connecting means being longitudinally movable within said center sill;

a coupler yoke housing positioned for reciprocation within said cushion pocket having a coupler pivotally and longitudinally slidably connected thereto;

said housing having a rear wall including a longitudinal bore;

a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore;

said other connecting means being disposed within said socket whereby during buff impacts said coupler engages said other connecting means to transmit impact forces directly thereto;

biasing means between said yoke housing and said center sill;

said biasing means being compressed during draft impacts and movement of said other connecting means and yoke housing in a direction away from said one connecting element whereby said piston rod is moved from said neutral position; and

said biasing means restoring said piston rod to its neutral position.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said coupler including a coupler shank having a lost motion connection relative to said coupler housing.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said lost motion connection comprising a slot in said coupler shank and a slot in said coupler housing, and a key element slidably disposed in said slots.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said socket being concave and said other connecting means having a con vex surface conforming to said concave socket.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3I 559,818 Dated February 2, 19 71 Inventor) WILLIS H. KNIPPEL and MARVIN STARK It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change the name of one of the patentees from "William H. Knippel" to --Willis H. Knippel-- Signed and sealed this 25th day of May 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E; SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal center sill which includes vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls connected to define an open end cushion pocket; a retaining member connected to said sill in longitudinally spaced relation from said open end and projecting laterally relative to said walls; a hydraulic cushion disposed within said cushion pocket and including a cylinder; a piston assembly movable lengthwise within said cylinder and including a piston having a piston rod connected thereto; first and second connecting members respectively connected to said cylinder and piston rod; said walls having opposed first openings longitudinally spaced and adjacent said retaining member; first removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including first stop members extending through said openings and with said retaining member engaging said first connecting member to anchor the same on said sill; a coupler assembly comprising a yoke including vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls interconnected to provide an open end housing slidably disposed through the open end of said cushion pocket; said housing having a rear wall connected to said second connecting means and including laterally projecting ears; said walls having opposed second openings longitudinally spaced from end adjacent said open end of said cushion pocket; second removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including second stop members extending through said openings and with said lateralLy projecting ears providing spring pockets on opposite sides of said yoke between the adjacent sidewalls of said housing and center sill; spring means disposed in each spring pocket; a coupler including a coupler shank connected within said housing for real relative swinging movement; said yoke being movable from a neutral position toward a said retaining member to provide for relative movement between said cylinder and piston assembly to a closed position on buff impact; and biasing means cooperatively connected between said cylinder and yoke for returning said yoke to its neutral position, said yoke being movable in an opposite direction during a draft impact whereby said spring means in said spring pockets are compressed and said spring means then restores said yoke to its neutral position.

2. The invention is accordance with claim 1, said cushion pocket including upper and lower transversely spaced spring retaining brackets extending lengthwise within and connected to said sill; said brackets including longitudinally extending retaining seats; said spring means comprising a plurality of nested leaf springs; and the upper and lower ends of said leaf springs being disposed in said retaining seats.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, including reinforcing plates connected to said walls and having openings registered with the first and second openings of said walls with said stop members projecting through said walls.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said rear wall of said yoke housing having a longitudinal bore; said piston rod extending through said bore; and said second connecting means in the neutral position and during draft impacts engaging a surface of said rear wall.

7. A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal hollow center sill provided at one end with a cushion pocket; a cushion assembly disposed in a said cushion pocket; said cushion assembly including a cylinder; a piston assembly including a piston and piston rod within said cylinder; said cylinder and piston rod having relative lengthwise movement from a neutral to a closed position during buff impact, a connecting element connected to said cylinder and another connecting element connected to said piston rod; means anchoring one of said connecting elements within said cushion pocket; said other connecting means being longitudinally movable within said center sill; a coupler yoke housing positioned for reciprocation within said cushion pocket having a coupler pivotally and longitudinally slidably connected thereto; said housing having a rear wall including a longitudinal bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; said other connecting means being disposed within said socket whereby during buff impacts said coupler engages said other connecting means to transmit impact forces directly thereto; biasing means between said yoke housing and said center sill; said biasing means being compressed during draft impacts and movement of said other connecting means and yoke housing in a direction away from said one connecting element whereby said piston rod is moved from said neutral position; and said biasing means restoring said piston rod to its neutral position.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said socket being concave and said other connecting means having a convex surface conforming to said concave socket.