WO1999048741A1 - Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams - Google Patents
Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999048741A1 WO1999048741A1 PCT/US1999/006358 US9906358W WO9948741A1 WO 1999048741 A1 WO1999048741 A1 WO 1999048741A1 US 9906358 W US9906358 W US 9906358W WO 9948741 A1 WO9948741 A1 WO 9948741A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- equalizer
- truck
- axles
- railway vehicle
- axleboxes
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N novaluron Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(OC(F)(F)C(OC(F)(F)F)F)=CC=C1NC(=O)NC(=O)C1=C(F)C=CC=C1F NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 4
- 244000261422 Lysimachia clethroides Species 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000013021 overheating Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010012411 Derailment Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005242 forging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61F—RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES
- B61F5/00—Constructional details of bogies; Connections between bogies and vehicle underframes; Arrangements or devices for adjusting or allowing self-adjustment of wheel axles or bogies when rounding curves
- B61F5/26—Mounting or securing axle-boxes in vehicle or bogie underframes
- B61F5/30—Axle-boxes mounted for movement under spring control in vehicle or bogie underframes
- B61F5/36—Arrangements for equalising or adjusting the load on wheels or springs, e.g. yokes
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to improved trucks for railway cars. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular use which is shown and described, this invention relates to underslung equalizer beams that are hot-box detector compatible and accomodate conventional brake beams.
- Equalizer beams are a device in the railroad industry whose purpose is to provide superior wheel load equalization.
- Wheel load equalization is a measure of the railway truck's ability to safely traverse uneven railroad track where one wheel is raised or lowered relative to the other three wheels.
- primary spring suspensions are located on the vertical center line of the axles.
- the primary suspension is located atop the equalizer beam and inboard of the axle center lines.
- the equalizer beam truck provides dramatically better wheel load equalization compared to springs located at the axleboxes. Consequently, for high speed operation on rough track, the equalizer beam truck is superior in safety.
- equalizer beams longitudinally span the spaced-apart axles of the truck wheels.
- the equalizer beams have a generally drop or "gooseneck" shape at each end so that the beam is supported atop the axleboxes. Near its center, the equalizer beam drops down to support the equalizer springs.
- the single equalizer has only one beam on each side of the truck passing through the bottom wall of the truck frame on the journal centerline.
- the dual equalizer beam 2 uses two beams on each side of the truck located equidistant transversely inboard and outboard of the truck frame. The dual equalizers are, of course, more costly than a single beam, but do not pass through the truck frame.
- equalizer beams have been steel forgings.
- the dies and consequently the forged beams were and still are very expensive.
- safe equalizer beams have been manufactured from high-strength steel plates.
- steel plate is still expensive and because of the drop or "gooseneck" shape of the equalizer beams, cutting of the beams results in a significant amount of offal.
- conventional equalizer beams shield a significant portion of the axle bearings from view and thus prevent the detection of overheated axle bearings by wayside hot-box detectors.
- the detectors For the hot-box detectors to work effectively, the detectors must be able to sense the axle bearings and not be obstructed by truck component structure. To ensure the hot-box detectors have an unobstructed view of the axle bearings, the Association of American Railroads "AAR" sets forth criteria for limiting the location of component structure around the axle bearings, to permit unrestricted interchange of the car. This criteria prohibits obstruction of the axle bearings by surrounding component structure and thus allows temperature sensing by the hot-box detectors located along the side of the railroad track.
- AAR Association of American Railroads
- an equalizer beam with high-speed freight and passenger trucks that does not require the conventional drop shape and which is also hot-box detector compatible.
- challenges must be overcome. Cost and assembly and 3 disassembly of parts is always a concern in the freight industry.
- conventional single equalizer beams mounted atop the axlebox are impractical because the drop or vertical portion of the beam must be fitted between the inner pedestal jaw and the equalizer spring seat thereby necessitating an extended wheelbase.
- Conventional dual equalizer beams obstruct large portions of the journal bearing assemblies rendering the conventional dual equalizer beam unacceptable for unrestricted interchange service.
- freight trucks require an unsprung location for mounting conventional brake beam guides. The only practical location to mount brake beam guides on an equalizer beam truck is off the equalizer beam.
- an object of the present invention is to overcome the problems associated with conventional equalizer beams on freight and passenger vehicles and still provide an equalizer beam that does not interfere with the hot-box scanners. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an equalizer beam that utilizes conventional brake beam guides and reduces the maintenance costs associated with removal and replacement of the conventional brake beams. Still further, an object of the present invention is to minimize cost and weight of equalizer beams and to make assembly and disassembly of an equalizer beam more efficient. In addition, it is an object of the invention to minimize the truck wheelbase.
- the present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems with freight and passenger trucks in providing an underslung single equalizer beam, that is, a equalizer beam that is located below the axleboxes, which is also hot-box detector compatible.
- the underslung equalizer beam is cut from high-strength steel plate.
- the underslung beam is essentially a straight beam and therefore more efficient in the use of material, thereby minimizing offal. This significantly reduces the associated beam costs and weight because less material is required.
- the truck wheelbase does not need to be extended to accommodate the beam. Since the underslung beam is located below the axleboxes, the beam does not occupy any space between the axlebox and the equalizer spring, 4 nor does it pass through the truck frame.
- the underslung single equalizer beam occupies space centered directly under the axle bearing and thus does not interfere with the hot-box scanners.
- the hot- box scanners require a scan diagram around the axle bearing assemblies inboard and outboard of the bearing center line. While the conventional equalizer beams obstruct these areas, the single underslung beam does not obstruct the required hot-box scanner view areas.
- the single equalizer beam provides adequate space for incorporating conventional brake beam guides in the equalizer spring seats.
- These equalizer spring seats are bolted onto the equalizer beam and accommodate the conventional low-cost brake beams used on freight trucks.
- the equalizer spring seats incorporating brake beam guides are so configured within the truck assembly as to allow the conventional brake beam to be removed and replaced without disassembly of the truck or removal of the truck from the car body, thus affording reduced maintenance costs compared to conventional freight car trucks.
- the present invention comprises at least two longitudinally spaced, transversely extending axles having wheels mounted to the axles.
- Transversely spaced longitudinally extending truck frames guide the axleboxes, the axleboxes being mounted to axle bearing assemblies which are mounted to the axles.
- Below the axles and mounted to the axleboxes are transversely spaced longitudinally extending equalizer beams that are hot-box detector compatible so as to not interfere with the hot box detection scanners located alongside the railroad track.
- Equalizer springs are mounted on the equalizer beams through equalizer spring seats.
- the equalizer springs support the vertical load of the truck frames. Swing hangers are depending from the truck frame and support the transversely mounted truck bolster and accomodate controlled lateral motion between the truck bolster and truck frame. Longitudinal motion between the truck bolster and truck frame is limited by chafing plates.
- Mounted on the equalizer beams integral with the equalizer spring seats are brake beam guides which accommodate conventional brake beams used on freight trucks.
- Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a railcar truck illustrating the underslung equalizer beam of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the railcar truck of Fig. 1.
- Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the railcar truck of Fig. 2.
- Fig. 4 is a partial plan view illustrating the equalizer spring seat and brake beam guide.
- Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation view of Fig. 4
- a railway truck 10 includes wheel sets 12, comprising flanged railway wheels 16, spaced transversely from each other, and joined by a transversely extending axle 18.
- the wheels 16 follow the rails of the underlying rail line, and in part, maintain transverse relation to the rails through opposed, integral inner flanges 20.
- the wheels and axles are separate steel components and joined together by pressing.
- transversely spaced truck frames 22, 24 are supported on the wheel sets 12.
- the truck frames 22, 24 are longitudinally elongated, and referring to Fig. 1, where truck frame 24 is shown by example, define longitudinally spaced, downwardly opening pedestal jaws 26 along axle center lines 27, 29.
- a pair of pedestal liners 30, 32 are mounted in the jaws 26.
- axleboxes 35 which rotatably receive the axle bearing assemblies 33 of the wheels 16.
- the axleboxes 35 are retained in the pedestal jaws 26 by means of an axlebox retainer 28.
- a transversely extending truck bolster 34 extends between the truck 6 frames 22, 24.
- the bolster includes a center bowl 36, which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is aligned on the center lines 11, 13 of the truck 10.
- Two opposed, elongated bolster arms 38, 40 extend transversely outward from beneath the center bowl 36.
- the bolster arms 38, 40 extend outward a length such that in service, the bolster arms 38, 40 extend through the swing hangers 44 and crossbars 42 depending from the truck frames 22, 24.
- swing hangers 44 are located near the center of the truck frame 24 to vertically support the bolster 34 while accomodating controlled lateral motion of the bolster 34 relative to the truck frame 24.
- Swing hanger cross bar 42 connects the swing hangers 44 and carries the bolster 34.
- the swing hanger cross bar 42 transfers the vertical loading from the bolster 34 to the truck frame 24, through the swing hangers 44.
- An equalizer beam 50 of the present invention is provided for enhanced railcar wheel load equalization.
- the equalizer beam 50 has respective ends removably connected to equalizer support brackets 52 which are mounted to the axleboxes 35.
- the equalizer beam 50 is an elongated longitudinally extending steel plate with a predetermined thickness and having tapered ends 56 and 58.
- the equalizer beam 50 is relatively straight and is cut and processed from a high-strength steel plate resulting in minimal offal.
- the tapered ends 56 and 58 are shaped for the purpose of decreasing the weight of the railcar truck and interfacing with the equalizer pin 37. Because the bending moment is decreased near the ends of the beam 50, a taper is possible from a stress standpoint.
- the tapered ends 56 and 58 are supported by the equalizer support bracket 52 by means of the equalizer pin 37. Located at each tapered end 56 and 58 is an equalizer beam notch 39 and an equalizer pin retainer 41 for holding the pin 37 in position.
- the equalizer beam 50 is underslung, that is, located under the axle bearing assemblies 33 and truck frame 24 and depending from the axlebox 35.
- the equalizer beam 50 over its entire length remains in parallel relation to the railroad track.
- the spring seats 60 support the equalizer springs 62 which provide for wheel load equalization.
- the equalizer springs 62 support the truck frame 24. As stated above, the inboard location of the equalizer springs enhance the wheel load equalization over uneven track.
- the brake beam guides 54 integral with the spring seats 60 are the brake beam guides 54.
- the brake beam guides 54 are orientated inward toward the truck center line 11.
- the brake beam 55 is mounted in the brake beam guide 54 and when the railcar brakes are applied, the brake 7 beam applies a radial force to the wheels 16 through the brake shoes, thereby stopping the railcar.
- the spring seats 60 and accompanying brake beam guide 54 of the present invention accomodate the conventional low-cost brake beams on freight trucks.
- the invented truck is essentially a conventional equalizer beam design. No change is made to the truck frames or bolsters. All components may be cast essentially as in the past, with automatic molding equipment. Thus, variation from conventional freight and passenger railway trucks and railcars is minimized while the benefits of the invention are achieved.
- the underslung equalizer beam 50 of the present invention is clear of the axle bearing assemblies 33 and thus does not obstruct the hot-box scanners along the wayside of the railroad track.
- equalizer spring seats 60 having integral brake beam guides 54 are mounted to the equalizer beam 50 accomodating the use of conventional brake systems.
- Potential applications of the present invention include both freight and passenger type railcars.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Braking Arrangements (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002324618A CA2324618A1 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 1999-03-23 | Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams |
EP99914993A EP1064184A4 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 1999-03-23 | Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams |
AU33613/99A AU743390B2 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 1999-03-23 | Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/047,746 | 1998-03-24 | ||
US09/047,746 US6089165A (en) | 1998-03-24 | 1998-03-24 | Railway truck with underslung equilizer beams |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999048741A1 true WO1999048741A1 (en) | 1999-09-30 |
Family
ID=21950729
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1999/006358 WO1999048741A1 (en) | 1998-03-24 | 1999-03-23 | Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6089165A (en) |
EP (1) | EP1064184A4 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1094853C (en) |
AU (1) | AU743390B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2324618A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999048741A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200005099B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8661988B2 (en) * | 2012-02-29 | 2014-03-04 | Electromotive-Diesel, Inc. | Railway truck having axle-pinned equalizer |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2710676A (en) * | 1949-12-15 | 1955-06-14 | Gen Steel Castings Corp | Railway truck structure |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US61461A (en) * | 1867-01-22 | reynolds | ||
US59021A (en) * | 1866-10-23 | Improved car-truck | ||
US753626A (en) * | 1903-05-28 | 1904-03-01 | William G Price | Car-truck. |
US757927A (en) * | 1903-10-05 | 1904-04-19 | Henry Albert Hoy | Bogie-truck for rolling-stock. |
CH64319A (en) * | 1912-07-12 | 1914-04-01 | Otto Kraus | Method and apparatus for the production of a working fluid consisting of a mixture of vapor and the combustion products of a hydrocarbon |
US1596993A (en) * | 1924-11-17 | 1926-08-24 | Skf Svenska Kullagerfab Ab | Bogie for railway cars and the like |
BE331536A (en) * | 1925-01-21 | |||
BE335413A (en) * | 1925-07-18 | |||
US1866839A (en) * | 1927-09-13 | 1932-07-12 | Alfred W Bruce | Truck for railroad vehicles |
US1765432A (en) * | 1927-09-30 | 1930-06-24 | American Steel Foundries | Roller-bearing truck |
GB1091594A (en) * | 1964-04-24 | 1967-11-22 | English Electric Co Ltd | Improvements in three axle railway vehicle bogies |
US4538524A (en) * | 1983-12-08 | 1985-09-03 | The Budd Company | Equalization means for a railway truck |
-
1998
- 1998-03-24 US US09/047,746 patent/US6089165A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1999
- 1999-03-23 EP EP99914993A patent/EP1064184A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-03-23 WO PCT/US1999/006358 patent/WO1999048741A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-03-23 AU AU33613/99A patent/AU743390B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1999-03-23 CA CA002324618A patent/CA2324618A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-03-23 CN CN99804210A patent/CN1094853C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2000
- 2000-09-22 ZA ZA200005099A patent/ZA200005099B/en unknown
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2710676A (en) * | 1949-12-15 | 1955-06-14 | Gen Steel Castings Corp | Railway truck structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU3361399A (en) | 1999-10-18 |
EP1064184A1 (en) | 2001-01-03 |
CN1293630A (en) | 2001-05-02 |
CA2324618A1 (en) | 1999-09-30 |
AU743390B2 (en) | 2002-01-24 |
ZA200005099B (en) | 2001-07-31 |
CN1094853C (en) | 2002-11-27 |
EP1064184A4 (en) | 2001-07-04 |
US6089165A (en) | 2000-07-18 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2319819C (en) | Lightweight truck bolster | |
US2268267A (en) | Car body suspension and truck construction | |
US4516506A (en) | Articulated intermodal flatcar | |
US6910426B2 (en) | Control arm system for steering bogie wheels and axles | |
US5992330A (en) | Railway vehicle suspension aligned truck | |
US3570409A (en) | Dampened railway car truck | |
ZA200104488B (en) | Shimming of railway car primary suspensions. | |
US6089165A (en) | Railway truck with underslung equilizer beams | |
US5562044A (en) | Steering railway truck | |
AU643659B2 (en) | A stengthened structure for a steering arm assembly having a compound radial fillet at juncture | |
US5452776A (en) | Block brake for rail vehicles | |
US2928358A (en) | Railway truck | |
US4729324A (en) | Multiple axle self-steering powered locomotive truck | |
AU728673B2 (en) | Railway vehicle suspension aligned truck | |
MXPA00009374A (en) | Railway truck with underslung equalizer beams | |
US6405657B1 (en) | Railway truck with equalizer beam mounted disc brake caliper | |
US2821149A (en) | Railway truck and body assembly | |
US388095A (en) | Car-truck | |
US894342A (en) | Car-truck. | |
KR20010098137A (en) | A spring device of a train | |
RU2134644C1 (en) | Running gear bogie | |
US2135728A (en) | Truck | |
Freitag et al. | New bogie for German ICE (InterCity Express) based on BT41 | |
Miklasz et al. | Bogie design of 227M type rail vehicle. | |
WO2001054957A1 (en) | Railway truck with equalizer beam mounted disc brake caliper |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 99804210.2 Country of ref document: CN |
|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AU CA CN MX ZA |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
DFPE | Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101) | ||
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 33613/99 Country of ref document: AU |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2324618 Country of ref document: CA Ref document number: 2324618 Country of ref document: CA Kind code of ref document: A |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2000/05099 Country of ref document: ZA Ref document number: 200005099 Country of ref document: ZA |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: PA/a/2000/009374 Country of ref document: MX |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1999914993 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1999914993 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWG | Wipo information: grant in national office |
Ref document number: 33613/99 Country of ref document: AU |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 1999914993 Country of ref document: EP |