US2583144A - Railroad car truck - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1952 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR.

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Jan. 22, 1952 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

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Jan. 22, 1952 K. M. HAMILTON RAILROAD CAR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 gill,

s M? I INVENTOR. Zia/"Z MflczmzZfam Patentecl Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILROAD CAR TRUCK Karl M. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill. Application December 26, 1944, Serial No. 569,861

12 Claims.

My invention relates to trucks for railroad cars and more particularly to the truck bolster construction involving load controlled mechanisms adapted to dampen excessive oscillations and lateral movements of the truck bolster; said mechanisms being operatively associated with the ends of spring supported truck bolsters and transom or truck frame portions disposed on opposite sides of the bolster-ends.

My improved mechanism, more specifically stated, involves laterally movable elements carried by the bolster, adapted to effect frictional contact with the adjacent non-yielding portions of the truck and to be controlled by one or more of the springs associated with the ends of the bolster; the invention also contemplating a structure wherein the degree of spring pressure on said mechanism may be regulated and its frictional contact controlled; and at the same time providing an embodiment of the invention adapted to the standard type of railroad car truck.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the intermediate or bolster receiving opening portion of a standard type truck side frame with the end portions broken away and one side of my improved bolster and adjacent portion of the frame being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one end of my improved bolster construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken, substantially; on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view substantially similar to Figure 3, illustrating a modification.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the lin 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates another modification of my invention shown applied to a special design of truck provided with transom members and special spring mounting for the truck bolster; the figure being a transverse sectional view through the truck side frame, equalizer supported end of the transom members and their spring supporting bracket, with one of the transom members omitted and one end of my improved bolster shown in elevation.

-.-Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of one sideeofmy' improvedxholster and dampener mechanism, with the adjacent transom member shown in section.

Figure 9 is a similar view of the opposite side of the bolster-end and showing the improved mechanism in oscillation reducing condition.

In the exemplification of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the intermediate bolster receiving opening portion of a standard type truck side frame is shown at I 5, provided with the usual columns l6, l6 integral with the top and bottom members of the frame and the bottom member I! provided with a suitable spring cap or retaining member l8. The window opening in the frame is adapted to receive the adjacent end of the truck bolster I9 which extends sufiiciently through the opening as shown in Figure 2 in order to rest on and be supported by the usual group of coil springs 20 mounted in member I8 arranged on the bottom member [1 of the truck-side frame.

The bolster l9, which preferably is of the hollow construction shown in Figure 2, adjacent each end is provided with predeterminedly spaced vertical webs 2|, 2| to provide a suitable chamber therebetween and the opposite sides of the bolster, coincident with the chamber, are 7 provided with the large openings as shown at 22, 22which are preferably shouldered as shown at 23. The bottom of-the bolster adjacent each end and intermediate its sides is provided with an opening 24 with the bolster bottom about the opening reduced and inwardly offset to provide the cavity 25.

The chamber at each end of the bolster is provided with a pair of similar friction blocks 26, 26, preferably enlarged and shouldered at their outer ends. as shown at 21 and with fiat friction providing outer surfaces; while the inner end of each block is provided with an outwardly inclining surface 28, terminating at a distance from the top of the block in the recessed portion 29. The friction blocks 26, 26 are slidably mounted in the chambers of the bolster.

Interposed between the inner ends of the friction blocks 26 is an upwardly tapered wedge block or member 30, whose tapered sides match the inclined surfaces of the friction blocks 26; the

standing hub portion of a pressure applying or follower member 33; the hub portion extending upwardly through the opening 24 in the bottom of the bolster, while the base or laterally extending flange portion is arranged in the cavity 25. The base flange of the follower member 33 is of smaller dimensions than those of the cavity 25, to allow free movement of member 33 in a vertical direction; the base of member 33 being of a size sufficient to rest on and be supported by the adjacent portions of the springs '20 which, in standard truck constructions, are usually grouped beneath the ends of the truck bolster.

The hub portion of member 33 is provided with a transverse hole 34 to receive a pin (not shown) whose ends would extend through socket 35 formed in the wedge member '30; the use of a pin being merely for temporary purposes while astom of the wedge member 30 is intended to receive the upper end of the pressure spring 39, which extends through the opening 24 in the bottom of the bolster. In this instance the friction applying condition of the friction members sembling the device, namely to hold member '33 in place.

In order to permit easy application and replacement, when desired, of the filler block 32,

the pocket outer end wall or web at its top is shown provided with an opening 36, see Figure 2; the opening 36 being of size commensurate with the normal vertical operative movement of the wedge member 36. The two side walls or webs 2|, 2'! 'of the pocket adjacent the bottom are shown provided with openings 31, '31, to enable insertion of a pin, whose ends would rest at the bottom of openings 31, and thereby hold follower member 33 in place during assembly operations,

The side faces of the frame-columns is with which the friction blocks 26, 26 are intended to form contact are preferably provided with suitable wear plates 38.

In assembling the "oscillation dampener mechanism, the wedge member 3|] is first inserted through'one of the 'side openings 22 in the bolster before the latter is introduced into the windowopening in the side frame; the friction members 26, '26 are then inserted through the openings at opposite sides of the bolster; the cushion or filler block 32 is then inserted above the wedge member.

The end "of the bolster may then be inserted in the window op'ening, as displacement of the friction members and the wedge member is impossible, and the follower or pressure member applied to the wedge member 30, causing the wedge member to move upward through the action of the springs 20, the upwardpressure of the springs being effective until the flanged base of pressure member 33 is substantially flush with the bottom of the bolster with which the springs also are 'in contact, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

If, for any reason, additional upward movement of the wedge block is desired, a suitable shim such as a washer may be placed on top of the hubof follower member 33, at which time a filler block 32'of correspondingly lesser thickness should be employed to compensate for the additional shim.

In Figures 5 and 6, a modification of the standard truck type is shown, involving the use of a special pressure spring 39 arranged within the group of bolster supporting springs 20.

The ends of the bolster l9 are provided'with pockets similar to those previouslydescribed, with the outer web 2| in this instance merely requiring the one opening 36 to permit insertion of the.

cushion or filler block 32 and the-opening 24 in the bottomof the bolster need not be surrounded by the cavity '25 shown in the previously de'- scribed structure.

and of the wedge block is entirely controlled by the intermediate pressure spring 39; and the elements are inserted into the bolster-pockets through the side openings in the bolster in the same manner as previously described.

InFigures 7 to 9, inclusive, I illustrate application of my improved oscillation control or dampener mechanism to the special type of truck construction shown in my co-pending application Serial Number 535,698, now U. S. Patent No. 2,563,338, dated August 7, 1951, involving transom members 40, whose ends are united at 4|, which extend into the window opening in the side frame 42 and are supported on the equalizers, one of which is shown in section at 43. lhe transom members are provided at each end with a bracket 44 which carries the nested springs 45 whereby the bolster 46 is yieldingly supported. Except for the fact that the ends of bolster 46 terminate short of the truck side frames and do not extend into the window opening, the ends of the bolster are substantially similar to those previously described, being provided with suitable pockets to receive the friction members 41 disposed transversely of the bolster with their outer ends seated in the enlarged or shouldered openings in the sides of the bolster es and adapted to frictionally engage the wear plates 38 secured to the opposing sides of the transom members.

Figures 8 and 9 show opposite sides of the bolster, with the friction member 41 at the left out of frictional contact with the adjacent tran- I half of which isshown in each Figure 8 and 9.

The wedge member 50 is slightly differently formed and is centrally provided with a depending stem portion 51 about which the upper end of the inner or pressure spring 52 seats and by which the relation between the wedge member 58 and the friction blocks or members 41, 41 is controlled.

The bottom of the bolster in this instance is shown provided with a. comparatively large opening 53, which permits the wedge member 50 to be inserted upwardly through the opening, with the lower end of the member 56 extending through the opening to be engaged by the upper end of the coil spring 52 disposed about the stem portion 5|. The upper wall of the bolster, similar to the bolsters in the preceding figures, is recessed to receive the cushion or filler block 32 when the "wedge member -is in its extreme upward z positlon and the -friction blocks are intransom engaging position, as shown in Figure 9. l The filler or cushion block 32, whichlimits the upward travel of the wedge member, preferably is removably secured on the head of the wedge member topermit replacement when worn or the substitution of a block or plate of different thickness, thereby enabling any predetermined pressure to be obtained by the extent of upward movement of the wedge member.

With my improved constructions, it is apparent that the vertical travel of the wedge members maybe limited and controlled and any predetermined friction block pressure may be obtained which would be the same under either a light or a loaded car, this being especially true with the structures shown in Figures 5 and '7. This application in part covers divisible subject matter deleted from my pending application Serial Number 535,698.

"The various exemplifications shown in the drawings are believed to be the best embodiments of my invention, but structural modifications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

lqIn a railroad car truck, a spring supported truck bolster provided with transversely disposed pockets in its ends open at the sides of the bolster, the pockets intermediate the ends having openings through the bottom of the bolster; a pair of friction blocks arranged in each pocket and slidable through the open ends thereof, the inner ends of the blocks being tapered to slope lipwardly toward each other and offset inwardly at their tops to provide a recess between the blocks; and a wedge member, arranged above the bottom opening of each pocket, provided On opposite sides with upwardly tapering surfaces matching the inner tapered ends of the friction blocks and arranged therebetween, the upper end of each wedge member having a laterally enlarged head portion arranged in the recess between each pair of friction blocks in overlapping relation with the inner ends of the friction blocks whereby the operative relation between the wedge members and their respective friction blocks is maintained. v

2. In a railroad car truck provided with side frames, a transversely disposed truck bolster and bolster supporting springs operatively intermediate the side frames and the ends of the bolster for supporting the latter; the bolster adJacent its ends having transversely disposed pockets with openings through the bolster sides and with an opening through the bottom intermediate the ends of the pockets; a pair of friction blocks slidable in the ends of each pocket, said blocks having enlarged flat outer ends and upwardly inclining inner ends sloping toward the center of the pockets and recessed at the top to provide a recess between each pair of blocks; and an upwardly tapered wedge block arranged above each pocket bottom opening intermediate the inclined inner ends of the respective friction blocks, provided at top with a laterally enlarged head arranged in said recess and provided with a filler or cushion block on its upper surface, the bottom of each wedge block being centrally provided with a spring receiving and holding portion.

3. In a railroad car truck having side frames, a transversely disposed truck bolster and bolster supporting springs at the ends of the bolster; the bolster at each end being cored and provided with laterally spaced vertically disposed webs to proiii vide a pocket extending transversely of the bolster, with the webs toward the bolster-ends having filler block inserting openings therethrough, said pockets having openings through the bolster sides and in the bottom intermediate the sides and centrally of the supporting springs; a pair of friction members in each pocket slidably arranged on opposite sides of said bottom openings, provided with enlarged flat bearing surfaces at their outer ends and with upwardly inclining inner ends sloping outwardly toward each other; an upwardly tapering wedge block arranged within the bolster pocket above said bottom opening and intermediate the inclined inner ends of the friction blocks, the bottom of each wedgev block being centrally provided with a socket arranged above the bottom opening of the pocket: and a follower or pressure member disposed through said pocket bottom opening with its upper end seated in said wedge block socket while the lower end of said pressure member is enlarged to seat on a portion or the bolster supporting springs.

4. In a railroadcar truck having side frames, a transversely disposed truck bolster and bolster supporting springs at the ends of the bolster; the bolster at each end being cored and provided with laterally spaced vertically disposed webs to provide a pocket extending transversely of the bolster, with the webs toward the bolster-ends having filler block inserting openings therethrough, said pockets having openings through the bolster sides and in the bottom intermediate the sides and centrally of the supporting springs; a pair of friction members in each pocket slidably arranged on opposite sides of said bottom openings, provided with enlarged flat bearing surfaces at their outer ends and with upwardly inclinin inner ends sloping outwardly toward each other; and an upwardly tapering wedge block ar-' ranged above said bottom opening intermediate the inclined inner ends of the friction blocks, the bottom of each wedge being centrally provided with a socket, said socket being adapted to receive the upper end of a pressure spring.

5. In a railroad car truck, a spring supported truck bolsterd with its ends disposed between spaced portions'of the truck on opposite sides of the bolster and provided with transversely disposed pockets in its ends open at the sides of the bolster and with an openin in the bottom of each pocket; a pair of friction blocks, slidable in each'pocket, provided with straight outer faces adapted to contact the spaced portions of the truck and having tapered inner faces sloping upwardly toward each other; and an upwardly tapered wedge member, arranged between the inner tapered faces of the friction blocks, adapted to move said friction blocks into frictional relation with said spaced portions of the truck as the wedge member moves upwardly, the upper end of the wedge member having a laterally disposed head arranged in interengaging relation with the friction blocks whereby the normal relation between the member and blocks is maintained, said wedge member being actuated by compression of the bolster springs.

6. In a railroad car truck, a truck bolster provided adjacent its ends with open ended transversely disposed pockets having central openings in the bottom; friction blocks-arranged in the pockets and slidable through the open ends, the inner ends of the blocks sloping upwardly toward each other; and upwardly tapered wedge members arranged in engagement with the sloping ends of the friction blocks and provided with depending spring holdingportions extending; through the bottom openings of the pockets, the upper portions of the wedge members and said friction blocks being formed to have interlocking engagement to hold the wedge members in place and maintain operative relation between the wedge members and friction blocks.

7. In a railroad car truck, a truck bolster provided at its ends with pockets open at opposite sides of the bolster and having an opening through the bottom of the bolster; a pair of frictlon blocks slidably arranged in the ends of the pockets and movable through the open ends of the pockets, the outer ends of the blocks having enlarged bearing'surfaces, while the inner ends of the blocks incline upwardly inward toward the centers of the pockets; an upwardly tapered wedge member in each. pocketv intermediate the, inclining ends of the pair of frictionblocks and aligned with the openin in the bottom of the bolster; the inner ends of the friction blocks and top wall of the bolster being formed: to provide a cushion block receiving socket above the wedge member; and spring mechanism beneath the bolster proper to support the latter, with certain portions of the spring mechanism arranged to exert upward pressure onithewedge members.

8. In a railroad car-truck provided with. apair.

of transversely disposed parallel. transom mernbers; a spring; supported truck bolster, arranged between the transom members. provided at its ends with transversely disposed pockets open at the bolster-sides and each pocket provided with an opening through the. bottom intermediate the ling the degree of wedge block movement; and" non-bolster supporting pressure springs. adjacent the ends of the bolster adaptedto'centrally: exert independent upward pressure on thewedgeblocks.

9. In a car truck, asideframe havingv spaced vertical columns to provide a. bolster opening therebetween; a bolster whose end portion istarranged said opening between said ool'umns said end portion being transversely'recessed'at oppoe site sides with atop wall for therecessed portion; spring means for yieldingly supporting the bolster end portion in said. bolster opening;. a shoe associated with each recessed side of the bolster portion adapted to slidably engage'thetop-wall of:

the recessed portion and to effect frictional: en-- gageinent with an associated column, the shoehaving an inwardly and upwardly extending in.- ner end; means having opposed faces. complemental to and in engagementwith the inner-ends of said shoes; and independent spring meansfor urging said last mentioned meansupwardly and maintaining the, complementall faces: of said means and-shoes in yieldingengagement.

10. In a car truck, a side. frame having a column at each side of a bolster opening therein. a

bolster portion disposed in said opening between said columns, spring means for supporting said bolster portion from the bottom of said opening, means providing a downwardly facing surface extending inwardly from each side of said bolster portion, a shoe associated with each side of said bolster portion and having an outer part frictionally engaged with an associated column and an upper surface part engaged'with an associated downwardly facing. surface in the bolster por tion, and inwardly and upwardly extending inner end surfaces, means having opposed faces complemental to and engaged with the inner end faces of said shoes, and other spring means, act;- ing independently of said first mentioned spring means for urging the last mentioned means upwardly and maintaining the opposed faces in yielding engagement with the inner end faces; of said shoes.

11'. In a railway car truck, aside frame member provided with a bolster opening, load supporting spring means supported by the side frame member, a bolster having a portion extending into said opening and vertically guided by the side frame member, said portion having a bottom resting on a part of said spring means, friction shoes mounted in opposite sides of said bolster portion and slidably engaging the. side frame member, and Wedge means for urging said shoes into frictional engagement with the side frame member, said wedge means including a wedge arranged entirely within said bolster portion, supported by another part of said spring means and operatively connected with the shoes.

12; In a car truck, aside frame having spaced columns and a bolster opening. therebetween, a bolster portion disposed between said columns, a spring group carried by said frame'at the bot.- tom of said bolster opening and supporting said portion, a downwardly facing surface on said portion extending inwardly from each side thereof, and means associated with said surfaces. for

additionally supporting said portion from said frame, said means comprising friction shoes frictionally engaged with friction faces. on respective columns and. also engaged with respective surfaces along areas between spaced transverse vertical planes defining opposite longitudinal extremities of said group, wedge means housed in said'portion and presenting upwardly converging wedge faces engaging complementary faces of refspective shoes, and spring means independent of through said wedge ineansand said shoes to-said surfaces.

KARL M. HA MILTON,v

REFERENfiES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the" file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bitter Oct. 18, 1910 Number

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