US2451551A - Railway draft gear - Google Patents

Description

r oct' 19' 1948' y s. B. HAsELTlNE: v2,451,551

RAILWAY ADRAFT GEAR Filed June 28, 1945 Patented Oct. 19, ,1948 g y RAILWAY DRAFT GEAR stacy B. Haseltnella Grange, Ill., assigner to W. Hl Miner., Inc., Chicago, lll., a

o' Delaware Application June 2s', 194s, 'sei-loi No. leases s claims. (ci. 21a-36) This invention relates to improvements irl 'railway draft gears for railway cars.

@ne object of the invention is to provide a railway draft gear comprising a friction shock absorbing mechanism of rugged, simple design fo;x absorbing shocks to which the railway car is su`o= ject'ed in service, and more particularly for ahso'rbing the shocks produced by a pulling or draft action applied to the car coupler or drawbar.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a railway draft rigging comprising a drawbar and a friction shock absorbing mechan-i'snl especially designed to cushion the 'pulling shocks transmitted by the drawbar, wherein the friction shock absorbing mechanism includes a friction post through which the drawb-ar extends and with respect to which it is lengthwise movable, and a friction clutch embracing said post and having sliding frictional engagement therewith, the friction post being held against movement in draft and the clutch being movable with the drawbar during' draft action to slide said clutch along the post to produce relatively high frictionalresistance to effectively cushion draft shocks.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the underframe structure of a railfway car, at one end thereof, illustrating my im provements in connection therewith. Figures 2, 3, and 4 are transverse, vertical, `sectional views, corresponding respectively to the lines`:2-2, 3e-3, and 4-4 of VFigure 1. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating ano-ther embodimentof the invention. Y

In said drawing, it indicates therusual end sill ofthe car underframe structure, and I l one of the center sills. As will be understood by those skilled in this art, the usual underframe structure cornprisfes two spaced center sills and these are fixed at their front ends to the end sill. ARearwardly or inwardly 'of the end sill the underframe structure has a .transverse connecting member i2 extends between the two center sills, from one to the other, and has its opposite ends fixed thereto. The member l2 serves as the front stop of the draft rigging of the, car and is reinforced b"y a heavy plate I3 on the inner side thereof which preferably welded thereto. The end sill lliY and the member i2 are of channel-shaped cross section and are connected by top and bottorn Iplates I4 and I4 which aresecured to the c'rporatintoe and bottom 'flanges or said channel members. Tie drawbar of the car, which is indicated by iii, is Aof the type having a coupler hook at the outer end thereof for engagement with :the coupling means of an adjacent car. 'he drawbar St has anehlarged head i6 at the outer end having the hook formed thereon. The' shank Ii of the drawlcar I5, which extends rearwardly from the head, is of cylindrical cross section, that is, in the forni of a cylindrical bar or shaft. The usual nut le is threaded on the rear end cf the shank il. The drawbar i5 is accommodated for lengthwise sliding movement in aligned openings la and 2t in the end sill Il) and the connecting member i2. The head i6 of the drawbar is reduced in size 'at the rear end thereof where it joins the cylindrical shank ll, thereby providing top and ,bottom shoulders HG-H-l 'IS adapted to engage the front face of the end sill 'lll and limit inward movement of the drawbar.

Referring rst to the embodiment oi the invenn tion shown ln Figures l to Il inclusive, l provide a hollow friction post A 'through which the shank il of thel drawbar extends; a wedge cap B abutting the nut at the rear end of the drawbar; three friction shoes `('-e--C---C in wedg'ing engagement with the cap i3; a follower ring D in wedgieg engagement with-the shoes; and 'a spring E1 yield lhgly opposing movement of the follower rin-g D, shoes C, and cap B.

line friction post A is in :the form of an elongated member having a central longitudinal here 2l through which the shank Il of the drawbar extends. The post A is of hexagonal transverse cross section and rearwardly tapered, as' shown. The oost thus presents' six flat friction surfaces 22--252 which diverge outwardly or forwardly of the car. At the forward end thereof, 'the post A is provided with en annular 'bas-e ange 23 which forros an abutment 'for the front end of the string The base 23 of the post A bears on 'the front stopl formed by the member i2 and reinforcing The wedge cap B5 has six 'interior .wedge faces 24--25 which are symmetrically arranged 'about the longitudinal central axis of :the mechanism and diverge forwardly.

The friction shoes C, which are three in nurnber, are of similar design, each shoe havin-g a friction surface 25 on the inner side thereof which is' oi V'eshaped transverse cross section, the two angularly disposed faces of the v'g-shaped surface cooperating with two adjacent frlction surfaces :22-22 of the post A.

v At therear end,` each shoe is provided with a wedge face of V-shaped transverse cross sec'- tion, the two angularly disposed portions of cach V-shaped face cooperating with two adjacent wedge faces 251--2-'2 of the wedge cap B. At the forward end, each shoe C is provided with a wedge face 27 of V-shaped transverse cross section. The wedge face 2li is preferably of keener angularity than the wedge face 2E.

The follower ring D surrounds the post A and has six interior wedge faces 28-28 at the rear end thereof arranged symmetrically around the axis of the mechanism. The wedge faces 28-28 cooperate in pairs with th'e wedge faces 27 of the shoes, that is, the two members of each pair of faces 28-28 engage respectively the two angular sections of the V-shaped face 27 of the cooperating shoe.

The spring resistance E is in the form of a single heavy coil surrounding the post A and is interposed between the base fiange 23 of the post and the follower ring D.

As shown in Figure l, the shank II of the drawbar I protrudes beyond the end of the post with the nut I8 abutting the wedge cap B. The inner side of the wedge cap B is recessed, as indicated at 29, to engage over the end of the post A when the cap is drawn forwardly, the back wall of the recess forming an abutment 3o adapted to engage the end face of the post to positively limit forward movement of the cap B and limit compression of the mechanism, thereby preventing the spring E from being unduly compressed and going solid.

In the operation of my improved mechanism, when a draft or pulling force is applied to the drawbar I5 the wedge cap B is moved forwardly with the drawbar by engagement of the nut I8 with the former,A thereby wedging the shoes C--C-C inwardly against the friction surfaces of the post. As the shoes are moved forwardly, wedging action isalso set up between the wedge faces of the shoes and the follower ring D, movement of which is yieldingly resisted by the heavy coil spring E. During movement of the shoes along the friction surfaces of the post A, a differential action is set up due to the taper of the post, thereby progressively increasing the wedging force and the frictional resistance between the post and the shoes as compression of the mechanism proceeds. This action continues until the actuating force is reduced or compression is limited by engagement of the cap B with the end of the post A.

In release of the mechanism when the actuating pressure is reduced, the friction clutch comprising the cap B, shoes C, and follower ring D is released and the parts are restored to their normal position by the expansive action of the spring E which forces the follower ring D rearwardly, the ring D in turn carrying the shoes C-C-C and the wedge cap B rearwardly therewith. Inasmuch as the cap B abuts the nut I8 on the drawbar shank the expansive action of the mechanism is positively limited when movement of the drawbar is arrested by engagement of the shoulders lili-H53 of the hook portion thereof with the end sill.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the construction is substantially the same as that disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception that the friction clutch comprises six friction shoes instead of three. In Figure 5, the friction shoes are indicated by F-F. The shoes F--F are arranged symmetrically around the post A, each shoe having a substantially at friction surface I25 on the inner side thereof cooperating with' one of the friction surfaces 22 of the post A. Each shoe is provided with wedge faces at opposite ends cooperating with corresponding wedge faces on the cap B and follower ring D, the wedge faces being the same as those hereinbefore described in connection with the shoes C, with the exception that the wedge faces are flat instead of being of V-shaped cross section and that each fiat wedge face at one end of the shoe cooperates with one of the wedge faces of the cap B and the fiat wedge face at the other end of the shoe cooperates with one of the wedge faces of the follower ring D.

I have herein shown-and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: f

l. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underframe structure including an end sill and a front stop member, the combination with a friction shock absorbing mechanism including a hollow friction post having a laterally projecting base flange at its front end, the front end of said post abutting said front stop, friction shoes surrounding said post and having lengthwise sliding engagement therewith, a coil spring surrounding said post, said spring reacting between the shoes and the base ange of the post to oppose movement of the shoes forwardly on said post, and a wedge cap having wedging engagement with the rear ends of said shoes to force the same against the post; of a lengthwise movable drawbar extending through said post, said drawbar having shouldered engagement with the wedge cap to pull the latter forwardly therewith' in draft and having'shouldered engagement with said end sill to limit inward movement of said drawbar and restrictexpansion of the friction shock absorbing mechanism.

2. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underframe structure including an end sill and a'front stop member, the combination with a hollow friction post of hexagonal exterior cross section, the front end of said post abutting said front stop; of three friction shoes surrounding said post, said shoes having friction surfaces of V-shaped cross section on their inner sides engaging said hexagonal post, Said shoes being slidable lengthwise on said post; spring means yieldingly opposing relative movement of said shoes and post; a wedge cap having wedging engagement with the rear ends of said shoes to force the same against the post; and a lengthwise movable drawbar extending through the post, said drawbar having shouldered engagement with 'the wedge cap to pull the latter forwardly in draft.

3. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underframe structure including an end sill and a front stop member, the combination with a hollow. friction post of hexagonal exterior cross section presenting six longitudinally extending exterior friction surfaces; of three friction shoes surrounding said post, said shoes having friction surfaces of V-shape-d cross section on their inner sides Vengaging adjacent friction surfaces of said post, said shoes being slidable lengthwise of said post, said shoes having outer wedge faces at their rear ends;V spring means yieldingly opposing relative movement of said shoes and post; a Wedge cap having interior wedge faces engaging the wedge faces of said shoes; and a lengthwise movable drawbar extending through said post, said drawbar having shouldered engagement with the wedge cap to pull the latter forwardly therewith in draft.

4. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underframe structure including an end with a hollow friction post of hexagonal exterior cross section presenting three longitudinally extending exterior friction surfaces of V-shaped transverse cross section, said three surfaces converging rearwardly of the post; of three friction shoes surrounding said post, said shoes having friction surfaces of V-shaped transverse cross section on the inner sides thereof respectively engaging said V-shaped friction surfaces of the post, said shoes Ibeing slidable lengthwise of said post, said shoes having outer wedge faces at their rear ends of V-shaped transverse cross section; spring means yieldingly opposing relative movement of said shoes and post; a wedge cap having three interior wedge faces of V-shaped transverse cross section respectively engaging the V-shaped faces of the shoes; and a lengthwise movable drawbar extending through said post, said drawbar having shouldered engagement with the wedge cap to pull the latter forwardly therewith in draft.

5. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underframe structure including an end sill and a front stop member, the combination with a hollow friction post of hexagonal exterior cross section presenting three longitudinally extending exterior friction surfaces of V- shaped transverse cross section; of three friction shoes surrounding said post, each of said shoes having a friction surface of V-shaped transverse cross section on the inner side thereof, and outer wedge faces at the front andrear ends thereof, said outer wedge faces being of V-shaped transverse cross section, said V-shaped friction surfaces of said shoes respectively engaging the V- shaped friction surfaces of the post; a wedge cap at the rear of said shoes having V-shaped interior wedge faces at the rear ends of said shoes; a follower ring surrounding the post, said follower ring having V-shaped interior wedge faces engaging the V-shaped wedge faces at the front ends of the shoes; a spring yieldingly opposing relative movement of said follower ring and post; anda lengthwise movable drawbar extending through said post, said drawbar having shouldered engagement with the wedge cap to pull the latter forwardly therewith in draft.

6. In a draft rigging for a railway car provided with an underfrarne structure including an end sill and a front stop member, the combination with a hollow friction post abutting said front stop, said post having a lateral base flange at the front end thereof; of a drawbar having an elongated shank extending through said post and slidable lengthwise thereof, said drawbar normally extending beyond the rear end of said post and having a nut threaded on said extending end; a friction clutch surrounding said post, said clutch including a plurality of friction shoes having sliding engagement with the post, a wedge cap on said drawbar shank having shouldered engagement with said nut, said cap having Wedging engagement with the rear ends of the shoes, and a follower ring surrounding said post having wedging engagement with the front ends o-f said shoes; and a coil spring surrounding said post, said spring being interposed between the base flange of the post and the follower ring.

- STACY B. HASELTINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 427,990 I-Iinson May 13, 1890 656,925 Bickmeier Apr. 28, 1900 982,999 Sanford Jan. 231, 1911 1,000,312 Willison Aug. 8, 1911 1,091,547 Ullman Mar. 31, 1914 1,174,094 Simonson Mar. 7, 1916 1,193,288 Morris Aug. 1, 1916 1,507,177 Henrickson Sept. 2, 1924 1,704,050 McCurdy Mar. 5, 1929 1,830,587 Andrews Nov. 3, 1931 1,989,157 Schmidt Jan. 29, 1935 2,077,966 Spence et al Apr. 20, 1937 2,079,088 Spence May 4, 1937 2,360,478 Dath Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 598,485 Germany June 14, 19:34

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,451,551. October 19, 1948.

STAOY B. HASELTIN E It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 6, claim 4, after the Word end insert sill and a from* stop member, the combination;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Pa tent Office. Signed and sealed this 15th day of February, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

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