US2079734A - Journal box lubricating pad - Google Patents

Description

May 1l; 1937 G. w. DITMORE 2,079,2734

JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATING PAD Filed April 26, 1935 Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX LUBRICATING PAD George W. Ditmore,` Albany, N. Y. Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,442 i 9 claims.` (C1. sos- 88) The present invention relates to pads adapted for use in railway car truck journal boxes, for supplying lubricant to the journals of truck y axles located in such boxes.

The invention contemplates the provision of a simple and efficient unitary pad of the type described which'is inexpensive to fabricate and easy `tovapply. Heretofore, and despite the fact i* ,p that it fhas been suggested from time to time that unitary lubricating pads might be advantageously employed, it is still customary practice to insert quantities `of loose cotton waste in 'car truck journal boxes, the waste being placed between the rotating journal and the bottom of the box,

1'5 thus becoming saturated "with the oil which is also placed in the journal box and conducting this oil to the `surface of the journal. Even when frequent inspections are'ma'de and the cotton 'waste replaced'or added to from time to time hot boxesu resulting from an interruption of the lsupply to the `rotating journal are of not infrequent occurrence.` The loose waste has also other disadvantages which are fully appreciated by y those familiar withthe problems of railroad rolling stock maintenance.

In accordance with the present invention a very I simple type of pad is provided, this pad being a unitary 'structure insertable into the space which is ordinariiyoccupied by the cotton waste previously referred to and being so designed and constructed that it tends to expand upwardly to maintain continuous vcontact with the lower surface of :the rotating journal. The designcf the padis such that it may not roll within the journalbox ldespite the action `of the rotating journaland is fabricated of material which is not only well adapted to conduct oil but possesses abonsiderable' springiness or resiliency while at the fs'ame time is moderate in cost. Preferably 4'0 the Lmaterial which I employ is relatively thick 'sheet felt, but it will be appreciated that the i invention is not limited with respect to the materialactually used.

VIn the accompanying drawing several forms of the invention are `illustrated by way of example:

y Figure l illustrates in perspective one of the severalproposedembodiments -of the improved lubricating pad;

V Figure 2shows the same pad n cross section 4after having been inserted in a journal box, .which box-is also shown in cross section;

, .Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through a journal box in which this form of pad has been inserted;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figures l and 2, respectively, but showing a different form of the invention in perspective and in section;

Figures 6 and 'l show a third form of the-pad in perspective and in section; and Y Figures 8 and 9 show a still further form of pad constructed inaccordance with the invention, in perspective and section respectively.

The pad shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 comprises a single sheet of relatively thick, springy, or resilient felt, indicated at l0. The mid-portion `of the felt sheet is curved to form a tube and portions thereof parallel to the axis of the tube and equally spaced from the edges thereof are suitably secured together as by means of stitching IIv or by any other kind of securing means, for instance metallic staples. The ends of the sheet lying within the tubular portion Ill are reversely curved, that is, curved away from each other as shown, and have their ends preferably in contact with the inner wall of the tubular section.

Prior to insertion in a journal box the pad is generally oval in cross section but after insertion, in which insertion itis vertically compressed in order that it may enter the space under the journal I2, the pad has the cross section shown in Figure 2,. the upper portion of the tube I0 being depressed and the end portions of the sheet which lie within the tubular portion ID occupying the positions in which they are shown, the upper surfaces of these end portions closely contacting with the inner wall of the tube I0 and the ends thereof preferably bearing against the inner wall of tube I0 as shown. The ends of the sheet which lie within tube I0 provide what may be designated as a resilient interior structure which reinforces the pad and supports that portion of the tube Ill which rests against the journal I2, supplementing the natural resiliency of the wall of tube I0 and maintaining this wall tightly pressed against the journal at all times.

The resilient inner structure may be formed in various ways. In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, I'disclose an inner member I3 arched in transverse section, the ends of which are secured, as by stitches I4, to the inner wall of the felt tube I5. Tube I5 comprises a rectangular sheet of felt having its ends secured together as by stitches I6. When the pad in question is inserted in a journal box and is vertically compressed, the uppermost portion of the arched member I3, which in this instance comprises the inner reinforcing structure, is engaged and distorted by the inner wall of that portion of the outer tube I5 which is deiiected downwardly to the greatest extent and exerts a constant pressure upon this portion of the outer tube in an upward direction, maintaining the same at all times in contact with the journal. If desired, the longitudinal edges of the arch member i3 may be provided with projecting portions I'l which extend through suitable apertures formed in the wall of the tubular member I5, thus more firmly securing the two parts of the pad together and preventing displacement of the ends of the arch member I3 relatively to the Wall of the tube I5.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and '7 the outer member I8 is formed as a continuous felt tube and likewise the inner supporting core or structure I9. The inner tube I9 is secured to the outer tube I8 at spaced points, as by lines of stitching 2U, so that substantial areas of these tubes are always in mutual contact, this portion of the pad having in reality a double wall. When inserted within a journal box the pad is vertically compressed as shown in Figure '7 and exerts a substantial pressure against the bottom of the journal.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 the outer tube 22 is formed in two portions 23 and 24 the edges of which are secured together, as by stitching 25. The ends of the arch-like inner member 26 are secured to the upper surface of the smaller member 23, along the margins thereof, as by stitching 21, this attachment being effected, preferably, prior to securing the members 23 and 24 together. Arch member 26 may or may not have projecting lugs passing through suitable apertures formed in the element 23, as desired. When placed in a journal box, arch 26 resiliently supports that portion of the tube 24 which is in immediate contact with the journal 28.

In all forms of the invention the inner core or supporting structure not only comprises means for pressing portion of the outer tube against the journal but likewise comprises a bracing or stiifening means for one side of the outer tube, having the eifect of so supporting or bracing this tube interiorly that it may not roll in the journal box under the action of the rotating journal. The inner supporting cores may be formed in other ways but, as will be understood, will function in each instance to not only so brace the outer tube as to prevent its rolling in the journal box but also to resiliently support that portion of the tube which contacts with the journal. In each instance a tab is provided, projecting from the end of the pad, and by means of which it may be readily grasped as by a hook or other tool and withdrawn from the journal box for the purpose of inspection and repair or replacement if injured or worn out. One of these tabs is illustrated in each of the perspective views, though not specically described inasmuch as any suitable device capable of being grasped or engaged by a tool may be made use of.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pad adapted for use in a railroad car truck journal box for supplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising a single curved sheet of springy oil conducting material, longitudinally extending portions thereof remote from the ends being secured together, and the end portions being confined within the tube thus formed.

2;The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the free ends of the sheet are cuived away from each other and the end edges lie adjacent the inner surface of the wall of the tube.

3. A pad adapted for use in the journal box of a railroad car truck for supplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising an outer tube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheet material, and an inner arch of the same material, said arch having its ends secured to the inner wall of the outer tube.

4. 'I'he combination set forth in claim 3 in which the wall of the outer tube is provided with spaced apertures, the ends of the inner arch projecting through said apertures.

5. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck for supplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising a tube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheetmaterial, said tube being transversely compressible so as to be insertable between a journal and the wall of a journal box and having within the same a longitudinally extending core of the same material, said core having portions permanently attached to the tube and portions bowed away from the wall of said tube and normally out of contact therewith, said core being compressed only when the tube is transversely compressed, and then serving to yieldingly urge the outer surface of the tube against the journal and to' prevent rolling of the tube under the action of h the rotating journal.

6. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck for supplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising a tube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheet material, said tube being transversely compressible so as to be insertable between a journal and the wall of a journal box and having within the same a longitudinally extending core of thel same material, said core having portions attached to the tube and portions arched away from the wall of said tube and normally out of contact therewith, said core being compressed only when the tube is transversely compressed, and then serving as the sole means, aside from any inherent resistance of the material of the tube, for yieldv ingly urging the outer surface of the tube against the journal and to prevent rolling of the tube under the action of the rotating journal.

7. A pad adapted for use in the journal box` of a railroad car truck for supplying the lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising an outer tubular member of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy material, said tube being transversely compressible so as to be insertnal box, an inner tubular member of the same material as the first named member, said inner tubular member being of a smaller diameter than said rst named member and disposed eccentrically thereto, one side of the inner tubular member being secured to the inner wall of the outer tubular member at a point remote from said journal and adjacent said journal box Wall.

8. The combination set forth in claim '7 in which, when the pad is applied to a journal box, the respective centers of said tubular members and the center of the'journal box lie in a straight line.

9. A pad adapted for use in a journal box of a railroad car truck for supplying lubricant to the journal of an axle, said pad comprising a tube of relatively thick felt or like oil conducting springy sheet material, said tube being trans- .55 able between a journal and the Wall of the jouri versely compressible so as to be insertable between a journal and the wall of a journal box and having within the same a longitudinally extending core of similar material, said core having portions attached to the tube at the journal box contacting wall thereof, and portions extending toward the journal contacting Wall of the tube but out of contact therewith when undistorted as when removed from the journal box and 10 brought into contact with the tube only when the tube is transversely compressed for insertion, the area of contact between the core and the journal contacting Wall of the tube being of considerable extent when the pad is thus compressed and disposed directly below said journal, said core then serving to yieldingly urge the outer surface of the tube against the journal and to prevent rolling of the tube under the action of the rotating journal.

GEORGE W. DITMORE.

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