This invention relates to the field of rail road cars, and, more particularly, to the field of three piece rail road car trucks for rail road cars.
Rail road cars in North America commonly employ double axle swiveling trucks known as “three piece trucks” to permit them to roll along a set of rails. The three piece terminology refers to a truck bolster and pair of first and second sideframes. In a three piece truck, the truck bolster extends cross-wise relative to the sideframes, with the ends of the truck bolster protruding through the sideframe windows. Forces are transmitted between the truck bolster and the sideframes by spring groups mounted in spring seats in the sideframes. The sideframes carry forces to the sideframe pedestals. The pedestals seat on bearing adapters, whence forces are carried in turn into the bearings, the axle, the wheels, and finally into the tracks. The 1980 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia states at page 669 that the three piece truck offers “interchangeability, structural reliability and low first cost but does so at the price of mediocre ride quality and high cost in terms of car and track maintenance.”
Ride quality can be judged on a number of different criteria. There is longitudinal ride quality, where, often, the limiting condition is the maximum expected longitudinal acceleration experienced during humping or flat switching, or slack run-in and run-out. There is vertical ride quality, for which vertical force transmission through the suspension is the key determinant. There is lateral ride quality, which relates to the lateral response of the suspension. There are also other phenomena to be considered, such as truck hunting, the ability of the truck to self steer, and, whatever the input perturbation may be, the ability of the truck to damp out undesirable motion. These phenomena tend to be inter-related, and the optimization of a suspension to deal with one phenomenon may yield a system that may not necessarily provide optimal performance in dealing with other phenomena.
In terms of optimizing truck performance, it may be advantageous to be able to obtain a relatively soft dynamic response to lateral and vertical perturbations, to obtain a measure of self steering, and yet to maintain resistance to lozenging (or parallelogramming). Lozenging, or parallelogramming, is non-square deformation of the truck bolster relative to the side frames of the truck as seen from above. Self steering may tend to be desirable since it may reduce drag and may tend to reduce wear to both the wheels and the track, and may give a smoother overall ride.
Among the types of truck discussed in this application are swing motion trucks. An earlier patent for a swing motion truck is U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,660 of Weber et al., issued Jun. 20, 1972. This truck has unsprung lateral cross bracing, in the nature of a transom that links the sideframes together. By contrast, the description that follows describes several embodiments of truck that do not employ lateral unsprung cross-members, but that may use of damper elements mounted in a four-cornered arrangement at each end of the truck bolster. An earlier patent for dampers is U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,905 of Barber, issued Feb. 6, 1973.
In an aspect of the invention, there is a wheelset-to-sideframe interface assembly for a railroad car truck. The interface assembly has a bearing adapter and a mating pedestal seat. The bearing adapter has first and second ends that form an interlocking insertion between a pair of pedestal jaws of a railroad car sideframe. The bearing adapter has a first rocking member. The pedestal seat has a second rocking member. The first and second rocking members are matingly engageable to permit lateral and longitudinal rocking between them. There is a resilient member mounted between the bearing adapter and pedestal seat. The resilient member has a portion formed that engages the first end of the bearing adapter. The resilient member has an accommodation formed to permit the mating engagement of the first and second rocking members.
In a feature of that aspect of the invention, the resilient member has the first and second ends formed for interposition between the bearing adapter and the pedestal jaws of the sideframe. In another feature, the resilient member has the form of a Pennsy Pad with a relief formed to define the accommodation. In a further feature, the resilient member is an elastomeric member. In yet another feature, the elastomeric member is made of rubber material. In still another feature, the elastomeric member is made of a polyurethane material. In yet a further feature, the accommodation is formed through the elastomeric material and the first rocking member protrudes at least part way through the accommodation to meet the second rocking member. In an additional feature, the bearing adapter is a bearing adapter assembly which includes a bearing adapter body surmounted by the first rocker member. In another additional feature, the first rocker member is formed of a different material from the bearing body. In a further additional feature, the first rocker member is an insert.
In yet another additional feature, the first rocker member has a footprint with a profile conforming to the accommodation. In still another additional feature, the profile and the accommodation are mutually indexed to discourage mis-orientation of the first rocker member relative to the bearing adapter. In yet a further additional feature, the body and the first rocker member are keyed to discourage mis-orientation between them. In a further feature, the accommodation is formed through the resilient member and the second rocking member protrudes at least part way through said accommodation to meet the first rocking member. In another further feature, the pedestal seat includes an insert with the second rocking member formed in it. In yet another further feature, the second rocker member has a footprint with a profile conforming to the accommodation.
In still a further feature, the portion of the resilient member that is formed to engage the first end of the bearing adapter, when installed, includes elements that are interposed between the first end of the bearing adapter and the pedestal jaw to inhibit lateral and longitudinal movement of the bearing adapter relative to the jaw.
In another aspect of the invention the ends of the bearing adapter includes an end wall bracketed by a pair of corner abutments. The end wall and corner abutments define a channel to permit the sliding insertion of the bearing adapter between the pedestal jaw of the sideframe. The portion of the resilient member that is formed to engage the first end of the bearing adapter is the first end portion. The resilient member has a second end portion that is formed to engage the second end of the bearing adapter. The resilient member has a middle portion that extends between the first and second end portions. The accommodation is formed in the middle portion of the resilient member. In another feature, the resilient member has the form of a Pennsy Pad with a central opening formed to define the accommodation.
In another aspect of the invention, a wheelset-to-sideframe interface assembly for a rail road car truck has an interface assembly that has a bearing adapter, a pedestal seat and a resilient member. The bearing adapter has a first end and a second end that each have a end wall bracketed by a pair of corner abutments. The end wall and corner abutments co-operate to define a channel that permits insertion of the bearing adapter between a pair of thrust lugs of a sidewall pedestal. The bearing adapter has a first rocking member. The pedestal seat has a second rocking member to make engagement with the first rocking member. The first and second rocking members, when engaged, are operable to rock longitudinally relative to the sideframe to permit the rail road car truck to steer. The resilient member has a first end portion that is engageable with the first end of the bearing adapter for interposition between the first end of the bearing adapter and the first pedestal jaw thrust lug. The resilient member has a second end portion that is engageable with the second end of the bearing adapter for interposition between the second end of the bearing adapter and the second pedestal jaw thrust lug. The resilient member has a medial portion lying between the first and second end portions. The medial portion is formed to accommodate mating rocking engagement of the first and second rocking members.
In another feature, there is a resilient pad that is used with the bearing adapter which has a rocker member for mating and the rocking engagement with the rocker member of the pedestal seat. The resilient pad has a first portion for engaging the first end of the bearing adapter, a second portion for engaging a second end of the bearing adapter and a medial portion between the first and second end portions. The medial portion is formed to accommodate mating engagement of the rocker members.
In a feature of the aspect of the invention there is a wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit that has a pedestal seat for mounting in the roof of a rail road car truck sideframe pedestal. There is a bearing adapter for mounting to a bearing of a wheelset of a rail road car truck and a resilient member for mounting to the bearing adapter. The bearing adapter has a first rocker element for engaging the seat in rocking relationship. The bearing adapter has a first end and a second end, both ends having an end wall and a pair of abutments bracketing the end wall to define a channel, that permits sliding insertion of the bearing adapter between a pair of sideframe pedestal jaw thrust lugs. The resilient member has a first portion that conforms to the first end of the bearing adapter for interpositioning between the bearing adapter and a thrust lug. The resilient member has a second portion connected to the first portion that, as installed, at least partially overlies the bearing adapter.
In another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a second portion of the resilient member with a margin that has a profile facing toward the first rocker element. The first rocker element is shaped to nest adjacent to the profile. In a further feature, wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a bearing adapter that includes a body and the first rocker element is separable from that body. In still another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a second portion of the resilient member with a margin that has a profile facing toward the first rocker element which is shaped to nest adjacent the profile. In yet still another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a profile and first rocker element shaped to discourage mis-orientation of the first rocker element when installed. In another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a first rocker element with a body that is mutually keyed to facilitate the location of the first rocker element when installed. In still another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a first rocker element and body that are mutually keyed to discourage mis-orientation of the rocker element when installed. In yet still another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit has a first rocker element and a body with mutual engagement features. The features are mutually keyed to discourage mis-orientation of the rocker element when installed.
In a further feature, the kit has a second resilient member that conforms to the second end of the bearing adapter. In another feature, the wheelset-to-sideframe assembly kit includes a pedestal seat engagement fitting for locating the resilient feature relative to the pedestal seat on the assembly. In yet still another feature, the resilient member includes a second end portion that conforms to the second end of the bearing adapter.
In an additional feature, there is a bearing adapter for transmitting load between the wheelset bearing and a sideframe pedestal of a railroad car truck. It has at least a first and second land for engaging the bearing and a relief formed between the first and second land. The relief extends predominantly axially relative to the bearing. In another additional feature, the lands are arranged in an array that conforms to the bearing and the relief is formed at the apex of the array. In still another additional feature, the bearing adapter includes a second relief that extends circumferentially relative to the bearing. In yet still another additional feature, the axially extending relief and the circumferentially extending relief extends along a second axis of symmetry of the bearing adapter.
In a further feature, the radially extending relief extends along a first axis of symmetry of the bearing adapter and the circumferentially extending relief extends along a second axis of symmetry of the bearing adapter. In still a further feature, the bearing adapter has lands that are formed on a circumferential arc. In yet still another feature, the bearing adapter has a rocker element that has an upwardly facing rocker surface. In yet still a further feature, the bearing adapter has a body with a rocker element that is separable from the body.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a bearing adapter for installation in a rail road car truck sideframe pedestal. The bearing adapter has an upper portion engageable with a pedestal seat, and a lower portion engageable with a bearing casing. The lower portion has an apex. The lower portion includes a first land for engaging a first portion of the bearing casing, and a second land region for engaging a second portion of the bearing casing. The first land lies to one side of the apex. The second land lies to the other side of the apex. At least one relief located between the first and second lands.
In an additional feature, the relief has a major dimension oriented to extend along the apex in a direction that runs axially relative to the bearing when installed. In another feature, the relief is located at the apex. In another feature there are at least two reliefs, the two reliefs lying to either side of a bridging member, the bridging member running between the first and second lands.
In another aspect of the invention there is a kit for retro-fitting a railroad car truck having elastomeric members mounted over bearing adapters. The kit includes a mating bearing adapter and a pedestal seat pair. The bearing adapter and the pedestal seat have co-operable bi-directional rocker elements. The seat has a depth of section of greater than ½ inches.
These and other aspects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the detailed descriptions of the invention and the accompanying illustrations as set forth below.
The principles of the invention may better be understood with reference to the accompanying figures provided by way of illustration of an exemplary embodiment, or embodiments, incorporating principles and aspects of the present invention, and in which:
The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features of the invention.
In terms of general orientation and directional nomenclature, for each of the rail road car trucks described herein, the longitudinal direction is defined as being coincident with the rolling direction of the rail road car, or rail road car unit, when located on tangent (that is, straight) track. In the case of a rail road car having a center sill, the longitudinal direction is parallel to the center sill, and parallel to the side sills, if any. Unless otherwise noted, vertical, or upward and downward, are terms that use top of rail, TOR, as a datum. The term lateral, or laterally outboard, refers to a distance or orientation relative to the longitudinal centerline of the railroad car, or car unit. The term “longitudinally inboard”, or “longitudinally outboard” is a distance taken relative to a mid-span lateral section of the car, or car unit. Pitching motion is angular motion of a railcar unit about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Yawing is angular motion about a vertical axis. Roll is angular motion about the longitudinal axis.
This description relates to rail car trucks and truck components. Several AAR standard truck sizes are listed at page 711 in the 1997 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia. As indicated, for a single unit rail car having two trucks, a “40 Ton” truck rating corresponds to a maximum gross car weight on rail (GWR) of 142,000 lbs. Similarly, “50 Ton” corresponds to 177,000 lbs., “70 Ton” corresponds to 220,000 lbs., “100 Ton” corresponds to 263,000 lbs., and “125 Ton” corresponds to 315,000 lbs. In each case the load limit per truck is then half the maximum gross car weight on rail. Two other types of truck are the “110 Ton” truck for railcars having a 286,000 lbs. GWR and the “70 Ton Special” low profile truck sometimes used for auto rack cars. Given that the rail road car trucks described herein tend to have both longitudinal and transverse axes of symmetry, a description of one half of an assembly may generally also be intended to describe the other half as well, allowing for differences between right hand and left hand parts.
This application refers to friction dampers for rail road car trucks, and multiple friction damper systems. There are several types of damper arrangements, some being shown at pp. 715-716 of the 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, those pages being incorporated herein by reference. Double damper arrangements are shown and described US Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0041772 A1, Mar. 6, 2003, entitled “Rail Road Freight Car With Damped Suspension”, and also incorporated herein by reference. Each of the arrangements of dampers shown at pp. 715 to 716 of the 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia can be modified to employ a four cornered, double damper arrangement of inner and outer dampers in conformity with the principles of aspects of the present invention.
Damper wedges are discussed herein. In terms of general nomenclature, the wedges tend to be mounted within an angled “bolster pocket” formed in an end of the truck bolster. In cross-section, each wedge may then have a generally triangular shape, one side of the triangle being, or having, a bearing face, a second side which might be termed the bottom, or base, forming a spring seat, and the third side being a sloped side or hypotenuse between the other two sides. The first side may tend to have a substantially planar bearing face for vertical sliding engagement against an opposed bearing face of one of the sideframe columns. The second face may not be a face, as such, but rather may have the form of a socket for receiving the upper end of one of the springs of a spring group. Although the third face, or hypotenuse, may appear to be generally planar, it may tend to have a slight crown, having a radius of curvature of perhaps 60″. The crown may extend along the slope and may also extend across the slope. The end faces of the wedges may be generally flat, and may have a coating, surface treatment, shim, or low friction pad to give a smooth sliding engagement with the sides of the bolster pocket, or with the adjacent side of another independently slidable damper wedge, as may be.
During railcar operation, the sideframe may tend to rotate, or pivot, through a small range of angular deflection about the end of the truck bolster to yield wheel load equalization. The slight crown on the slope face of the damper may tend to accommodate this pivoting motion by allowing the damper to rock somewhat relative to the generally inclined face of the bolster pocket while the planar bearing face remains in planar contact with the wear plate of the sideframe column. Although the slope face may have a slight crown, for the purposes of this description it will be described as the slope face or as the hypotenuse, and will be considered to be a substantially flat face as a general approximation.
In the terminology herein, wedges have a primary angle α, being the included angle between (a) the sloped damper pocket face mounted to the truck bolster, and (b) the side frame column face, as seen looking from the end of the bolster toward the truck center. In some embodiments, a secondary angle may be defined in the plane of angle α, namely a plane perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal plane of the (undeflected) side frame, tilted from the vertical at the primary angle. That is, this plane is parallel to the (undeflected) long axis of the truck bolster, and taken as if sighting along the back side (hypotenuse) of the damper. The secondary angle β is defined as the lateral rake angle seen when looking at the damper parallel to the plane of angle α. As the suspension works in response to track perturbations, the wedge forces acting on the secondary angle β may tend to urge the damper either inboard or outboard according to the angle chosen.
General Description of Truck Features
The relationship of the mating fittings 40 and 42 is described at greater length below. The relationship of these fittings determines part of the overall relationship between an end of one of the axles of one of the wheelsets and the sideframe pedestal. That is, in determining the overall response, the degrees of freedom of the mounting of the axle end in the sideframe pedestal involve a dynamic interface across an assembly of parts, such as may be termed a wheelset to sideframe interface assembly, that may include the bearing, the bearing adapter, an elastomeric pad, if used, a rocker if used, and the pedestal seat mounted in the roof of the sideframe pedestal. Several different embodiments of this wheelset to sideframe interface assembly are described below. To the extent that bearing 46 has a single degree of freedom, namely rotation about the wheelshaft axis, analysis of the assembly can be focused on the bearing to pedestal seat interface assembly, or on the bearing adapter to pedestal seat interface assembly. For the purposes of this description, items 40 and 42 are intended generically to represent the combination of features of a bearing adapter and pedestal seat assembly defining the interface between the roof of the sideframe pedestal and the bearing adapter, and the six degrees of freedom of motion at that interface, namely vertical, longitudinal and transverse translation (i.e., translation in the z, x, and y directions) and pitching, rolling, and yawing (i.e., rotational motion about the y, x, and z axes respectively) in response to dynamic inputs.
The bottom chord or tension member of sideframe 26 may have a basket plate, or lower spring seat 52 rigidly mounted thereto. Although trucks 22 may be free of unsprung lateral cross-bracing, whether in the nature of a transom or lateral rods, in the event that truck 22 is taken to represent a “swing motion” truck with a transom or other cross bracing, the lower rocker platform of spring seat 52 may be mounted on a rocker, to permit lateral rocking relative to sideframe 26. Spring seat 52 may have retainers for engaging the springs 54 of a spring set, or spring group, 56, whether internal bosses, or a peripheral lip for discouraging the escape of the bottom ends of the springs. The spring group, or spring set 56, is captured between the distal end 30 of bolster 24 and spring seat 52, being placed under compression by the weight of the rail car body and lading that bears upon bolster 24 from above.
Bolster 24 has double, inboard and outboard, bolster pockets 60, 62 on each face of the bolster at the outboard end (i.e., for a total of 8 bolster pockets per bolster, 4 at each end). Bolster pockets 60, 62 accommodate fore and aft pairs of first and second, laterally inboard and laterally outboard friction damper wedges 64, 66 and 68, 70, respectively. Each bolster pocket 60, 62 has an inclined face, or damper seat 72, that mates with a similarly inclined hypotenuse face 74 of the damper wedge, 64, 66, 68 and 70. Wedges 64, 66 each sit over a first, inboard corner spring 76, 78, and wedges 68, 70 each sit over a second, outboard corner spring 80, 82. Angled faces 74 of wedges 64, 66 and 68, 70 ride against the angled faces of respective seats 72.
A middle end spring 96 bears on the underside of a land 98 located intermediate bolster pockets 60 and 62. The top ends of the central row of springs, 100, seat under the main central portion 102 of the end of bolster 24. In this four corner arrangement, each damper is individually sprung by one or another of the springs in the spring group. The static compression of the springs under the weight of the car body and lading tends to act as a spring loading to bias the damper to act along the slope of the bolster pocket to force the friction surface against the sideframe. Friction damping is provided when the vertical sliding faces 90 of the friction damper wedges 64, 66 and 68, 70 ride up and down on friction wear plates 92 mounted to the inwardly facing surfaces of sideframe columns 36. In this way the kinetic energy of the motion is, in some measure, converted through friction to heat. This friction may tend to damp out the motion of the bolster relative to the sideframes. When a lateral perturbation is passed to wheels 50 by the rails, rigid axles 48 may tend to cause both sideframes 26 to deflect in the same direction. The reaction of sideframes 26 is to swing, like pendula, on the upper rockers. The weight of the pendulum and the reactive force arising from the twisting of the springs may then tend to urge the sideframes back to their initial position. The tendency to oscillate harmonically due to track perturbations may tend to be damped out by the friction of the dampers on the wear plates 92.
As compared to a bolster with single dampers, such as may be mounted on the sideframe centerline as shown in
The bearing plate, namely wear plate 92 (
The lower ends of the springs of the entire spring group, identified generally as 58, seat in lower spring seat 52. Lower spring seat 52 may be laid out as a tray with an upturned rectangular peripheral lip. Although truck 22 employs a spring group in a 3×3 arrangement, this is intended to be generic, and to represent a range of variations. They may represent 3×5, 2×4, 3:2:3 or 2:3:2 arrangement, or some other, and may include a hydraulic snubber, or such other arrangement of springs may be appropriate for the given service for the railcar for which the truck is intended.
Rocker Description
The rocking interface surface of the bearing adapter may have a crown, or a concave curvature, by which a rolling contact on the rocker permits lateral swinging of the side frame. The present inventors have also noted, as shown and described herein, that the bearing adapter to pedestal seat interface might also have a fore-and-aft curvature, whether a crown or a depression, and that, if used as described by the inventors hereinbelow, this crown or depression might tend to present a more or less linear resistance to deflection in the longitudinal direction, much as a spring or elastomeric pad might do. It may be advantageous for the rockers to be self centering.
For surfaces in rolling contact on a compound curved surface (i.e., having curvatures in two directions) as shown and described by the present inventors hereinbelow, the vertical stiffness may be approximated as infinite (i.e. very large as compared to other stiffnesses); the longitudinal stiffness in translation at the point of contact can also be taken as infinite, the assumption being that the surfaces do not slip; the lateral stiffness in translation at the point of contact can be taken as infinite, again, provided the surfaces do not slip. The rotational stiffness about the vertical axis may be taken as zero or approximately zero. By contrast, the angular stiffnesses about the longitudinal and transverse axes are non-trivial. The lateral angular stiffnesses may tend to determine the equivalent pendulum stiffnesses for the sideframe more generally.
The stiffness of a pendulum is directly proportional to the weight on the pendulum. Similarly, the drag on a rail car wheel, and the wear to the underlying track structure, is a function of the weight borne by the wheel. For this reason, the desirability of self steering may be greatest for a fully laden car, and a pendulum may tend to maintain a general proportionality between the weight borne by the wheel and the stiffness of the self-steering mechanism as the lading increases.
Truck performance may vary with the friction characteristics of the bearing surfaces of the dampers used in the truck suspension. Conventional dampers have tended to employ dampers in which the dynamic and static coefficients of friction may have been significantly different, yielding a stick-slip phenomenon that may not have been entirely advantageous. In the view of the present inventors it may be advantageous to combine the feature of a self-steering capability with dampers that have a reduced tendency to stick-slip operation.
Furthermore, while bearing adapters may be formed of relatively low cost materials, such as cast iron, in some embodiments an insert of a different material may be used for the rocker. Further it may be advantageous to employ a member that may tend to center the rocker on installation, and that may tend to perform an auxiliary centering function to tend to urge the rocker to operate from a desired minimum energy position.
An embodiment of bearing adapter and pedestal seat assembly is illustrated in
As shown in
Male portion 116 (
The limit of travel in the longitudinal direction is reached when the end face 134 of bearing adapter 44 extending between corner abutments 132, contacts one or another of travel limiting abutment faces 136 of the thrust blocks of jaws 130. In general, the deflection may be measured either by the angular displacement of the axle centerline, θ1, or by the angular displacement of the rocker contact point on radius r1, shown as θ2. End face 134 of bearing adapter 44 is planar, and is relieved, or inclined, at an angle η from the vertical. As shown in
Similarly, as shown in
When a lateral force is applied at the centerplate of the truck bolster, a reaction force is, ultimately, provided at the meeting of the wheels with the rail. The lateral force is transmitted from the bolster into the main spring groups, and then into a lateral force in the spring seats to deflect the bottom of the pendulum. The reaction is carried to the bearing adapter, and hence into the top of the pendulum. The pendulum will then deflect until the weight on the pendulum, multiplied by the moment arm of the deflected pendulum is sufficient to balance the moment of the lateral moment couple acting on the pendulum.
This bearing adapter to pedestal seat interface assembly is biased by gravity acting on the pendulum toward a central, or “at rest” position, where there is a local minimum of the potential energy in the system. The fully deflected position shown in
The rocker surfaces herein may tend to be formed of a relatively hard material, which may be a metal or metal alloy material, such as a steel. Such materials may have elastic deformation at the location of rocking contact in a manner analogous to that of journal or ball bearings. Nonetheless, the rockers may be taken as approximating the ideal rolling point or line contact (as may be) of infinitely stiff members. This is to be distinguished from materials in which deflection of an elastomeric element be it a pad, or block, of whatever shape, may be intended to determine a characteristic of the dynamic or static response of the element.
In one embodiment the lateral rocking constant for a light car may be in the range of about 48,000 to 130,000 in-lbs per radian of angular deflection of the side frame pendulum, or, 260,000 to 700,000 in-lbs per radian for a fully laded car, or more generically, about 0.95 to 2.6 in-lbs per radian per pound of weight borne by the pendulum. Alternatively, for a light (i.e., empty) car the stiffness of the pendulum may be in the range 3,200 to 15,000 lbs per inch, and 22,000 to 61,000 lbs per inch for a fully laden 110 ton truck, or, more generically, in the range of 0.06 to 0.160 lbs per inch of lateral deflection per pound weight borne by the pendulum, as measured at the bottom spring seat.
The male and female surfaces may be inverted, such that the female engagement surface is formed on the bearing adapter, and the male engagement surface is formed on the pedestal seat. It is a matter of terminology which part is actually the “seat”, and which is the “rocker”. Sometimes the seat may be assumed to be the part that has the larger radius, and which is usually thought of as being the stationary reference, while the rocker is taken to be the part with the smaller radius, that “rocks” on the stationary seat. However, this is not always so. At root, the relationship is of mating parts, whether male or female, and there is relative motion between the parts, or fittings, whether the fittings are called a “seat” or a “rocker”. The fittings mate at a force transfer interface. The force transfer interface moves as the parts that co-operate to define the rocking interface rock on each other, whichever part may be, nominally, the male part or the female part. One of the mating parts or surfaces is part of the bearing adapter, and another is part of the pedestal. There may be only two mating surfaces, or there may be more than two mating surfaces in the overall assembly defining the dynamic interface between the bearing adapter and the pedestal fitting, or pedestal seat, however it may be called.
Both female radii R1 and R2 may not be on the same fitting, and both male radii r1 and r2 may not be on the same fitting. That is, they may be combined to form saddle shaped fittings in which the bearing adapter has an upper surface that has a male fitting in the nature of a longitudinally extending crown with a laterally extending axis of rotation, having the radius of curvature is r1, and a female fitting in the nature of a longitudinally extending trough having a lateral radius of curvature R2. Similarly, the pedestal seat fitting may have a downwardly facing surface that has a transversely extending trough having a longitudinally oriented radius of curvature R1, for engagement with r1 of the crown of the bearing adapter, and a longitudinally running, downwardly protruding crown having a transverse radius of curvature r2 for engagement with R2 of the trough of the bearing adapter.
In a sense, a saddle shaped surface is both a seat and a rocker, being a seat in one direction, and a rocker in the other. As noted above, the essence is that there are two small radii, and two large (or possibly even infinite) radii, and the surfaces form a mating pair that engage in rolling contact in both the lateral and longitudinal directions, with a central local minimum potential energy position to which the assembly is biased to return. It may also be noted that the saddle surfaces can be inverted such that the bearing adapter has r2 and R1, and the pedestal seat fitting has r1 and R2. In either case, the smallest of R1 and R2 may be larger than, or equal to, the largest of r1 and r2, and the mating saddle surfaces may tend to be torsionally uncoupled as noted above.
In
Accommodation 161 may have a plan view form whose periphery may include one or more keying, or indexing, features or fittings, of which cusps 163 may be representative. Cusps 163 may receive mating keying, or indexing, features or fittings of rocker member 162, of which lobes 164 may be taken as representative examples. Cusps 163 and lobes 164 may fix the angular orientation of the lower, or first, rocker member 162 such that the appropriate radii of curvature may be presented in each of the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, cusps 163 may be spaced unequally about the periphery of accommodation 161 (with lobes 164 being correspondingly spaced about the periphery of the insert member 162) in a specific spacing arrangement to prevent installation in an incorrect orientation, (such as 90 degrees out of phase). For example, one cusp may be spaced 80 degrees of arc about the periphery from one neighboring cusp, and 100 degrees of arc from another neighboring cusp, and so on to form a rectangular pattern. Many variations are possible.
While body 159 of bearing adapter 160 may be made of cast iron or steel, the insert, namely first rocker member 162, may be made of a different material. That different material may present a hardened metal rocker surface such as may have been manufactured by a different process. For example, the insert, member 162, may be made of a tool steel, or of a steel such as may be used in the manufacture of ball bearings. Furthermore, upper surface 165 of insert member 162, which includes that portion that is in rocking engagement with the mating pedestal seat 168, may be machined or otherwise formed to a high degree of smoothness, akin to a ball bearing surface, and may be heat treated, to give a finished bearing part.
Similarly, pedestal seat 168 may be made of a hardened material, such as a tool steel or a steel from which bearings are made, formed to a high level of smoothness, and heat treated as may be appropriate, having a surface formed to mate with surface 165 of rocker member 162. Alternatively, pedestal seat 168 may have an accommodation indicated as 167, and an insert member, identified as upper or second rocker member 166, analogous to accommodation 161 and insert member 162, with keying or indexing such as may tend to cause the parts to seat in the correct orientation. Member 166 may be formed of a hard material in a manner similar to member 162, and may have a downward facing rocking surface 157, which may be machined or otherwise formed to a high degree of smoothness, akin to a ball or roller bearing surface, and may be heat treated, to give a finished bearing part surface for mating, rocking engagement with surface 165. Where rocker member 162 has both male radii, and the female radii of curvature are both infinite such that the female surface is planar, a wear member having a planar surface such as a spring clip may be mounted in a sprung interference fit in the pedestal roof in lieu of pedestal seat 168. In one embodiment, the spring clip may be a clip on “Dyna-Clip”™ pedestal roof wear plate such as supplied by TransDyne Inc. Such a clip is shown in an isometric view in
Bearing adapter 171 is generally similar to bearing adapter 44, or 154, in terms of its lower structure for seating on bearing 152. The body of bearing adapter 171 may be a casting or a forging, or a machined part, and may be made of a material that may be a relatively low cost material, such as cast iron or steel. Bearing adapter 171 may be provided with a central recess, socket, cavity or accommodation, indicated generally as 176, for receiving rocker member 173 and rocker member 174, and retainer 172. The ends of the main portion of the body of bearing adapter 171 may be of relatively short extent to accommodate resilient members 156. Accommodation 176 may have the form of a circular opening, that may have a radially inwardly extending flange 177, whose upwardly facing surface 178 defines a circumferential land upon which to seat first rocker member 173. Flange 177 may also include drain holes 178, such as may be 4 holes formed on 90 degree centers, for example. Rocker member 173 has a spherical engagement surface. First rocker member 173 may include a thickened central portion, and a thinner radially distant peripheral portion, having a lower radial edge, or margin, or land, for seating upon, and for transferring vertical loads into, flange 177. In an alternate embodiment, a non-galling, relatively soft annular gasket, or shim, whether made of a suitable brass, bronze, copper, or other material may be employed on flange 177 under the land. First rocker member 173 may be made of a different material from the material from which the body of bearing adapter 156 is made more generally. That is to say, rocker member 173 may be made of a hard, or hardened material, such as a tool steel or a steel such as might be used in a bearing, that may be finished to a generally higher level of precision, and to a finer degree of surface roughness than the body of bearing adapter 156 more generally. Such a material may be suitable for rolling contact operation under high contact pressures.
Second rocker member 174 may be a disc of circular shape (when viewed in plan view) or other suitable shape having an upper surface for seating in pedestal seat 168, or, in the event that a pedestal seat member is not used, then formed directly to mate with the pedestal roof having an integrally formed seat. First rocker member 173 may have an upper, or rocker surface 175, having a profile such as may give bi-directional lateral and longitudinal rocking motion when used in conjunction with the mating second, or upper rocker member, 174. Second rocker member 174 may be made of a different material from the material from which the body of bearing adapter 171, or the pedestal seat, is made more generally. Second rocker member 174 may be made of a hard, or hardened material, such as a tool steel or a steel such as might be used in a bearing, that may be finished to a generally higher level of precision, and to a finer degree of surface roughness than the body of sideframe 151 more generally. Such a material may be suitable for rolling contact operation under high contact pressures, particularly as when operated in conjunction with first rocker member 173. Where an insert of dissimilar material is used, that material may tend to be rather more costly than the cast iron or relatively mild steel from which bearing adapters may otherwise tend to be made. Further still, an insert of this nature may possibly be removed and replaced when worn, either on the basis of a scheduled rotation, or as the need may arise.
Resilient member 172 may be made of a composite or polymeric material, such as a polyurethane. Resilient member 172 may also have apertures, or reliefs 179 such as may be placed in a position for co-operation with corresponding drain holes 178. The wall height of resilient member 172 may be sufficiently tall to engage the periphery of first rocker member 173. Further, a portion of the radially outwardly facing peripheral edge of the second, upper, rocking member 174, may also lie within, or may be partially overlapped by, and may possibly slightly stretchingly engage, the upper margin of resilient member 172 in a close, or interference, fit manner, such that a seal may tend to be formed to exclude dirt or moisture. In this way the assembly may tend to form a closed unit. In that regard, such space as may be formed between the first and second rockers 173, 174 inside the dirt exclusion member may be packed with a lubricant, such as a lithium or other suitable grease.
As shown in
It may be desirable for the rocking assembly at the wheelset to sideframe interface to tend to maintain itself in a centered condition. As noted, the torsionally de-coupled bi-directional rocker arrangements disclosed herein may tend to have rocking stiffnesses that are proportional to the weight placed upon the rocker. Where a longitudinal rocking surface is used to permit self-steering, and the truck is experiencing reduced wheel load, (such as may approach wheel lift), or where the car is operating in the light car condition, it may be helpful to employ an auxiliary restorative centering element that may include a biasing element tending to urge the bearing adapter to a longitudinally centered position relative to the pedestal roof, and whose restorative tendency may be independent of the gravitational force experienced at the wheel. That is, when the bearing adapter is under less than full load, or is unloaded, it may be desirable to maintain a bias to a central position. Resilient members 156 described above may operate to urge such centering.
Thus far only primary wedge angles have been discussed.
As can be seen, wedges 216, 218 have a primary angle, α as measured between vertical and the angled trailing vertex 228 of outboard face 230. For the embodiments discussed herein, primary angle α may tend to lie in the range of 35-55 degrees, possibly about 40-50 degrees. This same angle α is matched by the facing surface of the bolster pocket, be it 212 or 214. A secondary angle β gives the inboard, (or outboard), rake of the sloped surface 224, (or 226) of wedge 216 (or 218). The true rake angle can be seen by sighting along plane of the sloped face and measuring the angle between the sloped face and the planar outboard face 230. The rake angle is the complement of the angle so measured. The rake angle may tend to be greater than 5 degrees, may lie in the range of 5 to 20 degrees, and is preferably about 10 to 15 degrees. A modest rake angle may be desirable.
When the truck suspension works in response to track perturbations, the damper wedges may tend to work in their pockets. The rake angles yield a component of force tending to bias the outboard face 230 of outboard wedge 218 outboard against the opposing outboard face of bolster pocket 214. Similarly, the inboard face of wedge 216 may tend to be biased toward the inboard planar face of inboard bolster pocket 212. These inboard and outboard faces of the bolster pockets may be lined with a low friction surface pad, indicated generally as 232. The left hand and right hand biases of the wedges may tend to keep them apart to yield the full moment arm distance intended, and, by keeping them against the planar facing walls, may tend to discourage twisting of the dampers in the respective pockets.
Bolster 210 includes a middle land 234 between pockets 212, 214, against which another spring 236 may work. Middle land 234 is such as might be found in a spring group that is three (or more) coils wide. However, whether two, three, or more coils wide, and whether employing a central land or no central land, bolster pockets can have both primary and secondary angles as illustrated in the example embodiment of
Where a central land, e.g., land 234, separates two damper pockets, the opposing side frame column wear plates need not be monolithic. That is, two wear plate regions could be provided, one opposite each of the inboard and outboard dampers, presenting planar surfaces against which the dampers can bear. The normal vectors of those regions may be parallel, the surfaces may be co-planar and perpendicular to the long axis of the side frame, and may present a clear, un-interrupted surface to the friction faces of the dampers.
Friction damper 264, 266 has a substantially planar friction face 268 mounted in facing, planar opposition to, and for engagement with, a side frame wear member in the nature of a wear plate 270 mounted to sideframe column 254. The base of damper 264, 266 defines a spring seat, or socket 272 into which the upper end of central spring 260 seats. Damper 264, 266 has a third face, being an inclined slope or hypotenuse face 274 for mating engagement with a sloped face 276 inside sloped bolster pocket 278. Compression of spring 260 under an end of the truck bolster may tend to load damper 264 or 266, as may be, such that friction face 268 is biased against the opposing bearing face of the sideframe column, 280. Truck 250 also has wheelsets whose bearings are mounted in the pedestal 284 at either ends of the side frames 254. Each of these pedestals may accommodate one or another of the sideframe to bearing adapter interface assemblies described above and may thereby have a measure of self steering.
In this embodiment, vertical face 268 of friction damper 264, 266 may have a bearing surface having a co-efficient of static friction, μs, and a co-efficient of dynamic or kinetic friction, μk, that may tend to exhibit little or no “stick-slip” behavior when operating against the wear surface of wear plate 270. In one embodiment, the coefficients of friction are within 10% of each other. In another embodiment the coefficients of friction are substantially equal and may be substantially free of stick-slip behavior. In one embodiment, when dry, the coefficients of friction may be in the range of 0.10 to 0.45, may be in the narrower range of 0.15 to 0.35, and may be about 0.30. Friction damper 264, 266 may have a friction face coating, or bonded pad 286 having these friction properties, and corresponding to those inserts or pads described in the context of
The bodies of the damper wedges themselves may be made from a relatively common material, such as a mild steel or cast iron. The wedges may then be given wear face members in the nature of shoes, wear inserts or other wear members, which may be intended to be consumable items. In
The underside of the wedges described herein, wedge 300 being typical in this regard, may have a seat, or socket 307, for engaging the top end of the spring coil, whichever spring it may be, spring 262 being shown as typically representative. Socket 307 serves to discourage the top end of the spring from wandering away from the intended generally central position under the wedge. A bottom seat, or boss, for discouraging lateral wandering of the bottom end of the spring is shown in
Referring to
Wedge 310 has a body 312 that may be made by casting or by another suitable process. Body 312 may be made of steel or cast iron, and may be substantially hollow. Body 312 has a first, substantially planar platen portion 314 having a first face for placement in a generally vertical orientation in opposition to a sideframe bearing surface, for example, a wear plate mounted on a sideframe column. Platen portion 314 may have a rebate, or relief, or depression formed therein to receive a bearing surface wear member, indicated as member 316. Member 316 may be a material having specific friction properties when used in conjunction with the sideframe column wear plate material. For example, member 316 may be formed of a brake lining material, and the column wear plate may be formed from a high hardness steel.
Body 312 may include a base portion 318 that may extend rearwardly from and generally perpendicularly to, platen portion 314. Base portion 318 may have a relief 320 formed therein in a manner to form, roughly, the negative impression of an end of a spring coil, such as may receive a top end of a coil of a spring of a spring group, such as spring 262. Base portion 318 may join platen portion 314 at an intermediate height, such that a lower portion 321 of platen portion 314 may depend downwardly therebeyond in the manner of a skirt. That skirt portion may include a corner, or wrap around portion 322 formed to seat around a portion of the spring.
Body 312 may also include a diagonal member in the nature of a sloped member 324. Sloped member 324 may have a first, or lower end extending from the distal end of base 318 and running upwardly and forwardly toward a junction with platen portion 314. An upper region 326 of platen portion 314 may extend upwardly beyond that point of junction, such that damper wedge 310 may have a footprint having a vertical extent somewhat greater than the vertical extent of sloped member 324. Sloped member 324 may also have a socket or seat in the nature of a relief or rebate 328 formed therein for receiving a sliding face member 330 for engagement with the bolster pocket wear plate of the bolster pocket into which wedge 310 may seat. As may be seen, sloped member 324 (and face member 330) are inclined at a primary angle α, and a secondary angle β. Sliding face member 330 may be an element of chosen, possibly relatively low, friction properties (when engaged with the bolster pocket wear plate), such as may include desired values of coefficients of static and dynamic friction. In one embodiment the coefficients of static and dynamic friction may be substantially equal, may be about 0.2 (+/−20%, or, more narrowly +/−10%), and may be substantially free of stick-slip behavior.
In the alternative embodiment of
Rocker element 348 may also have a lower surface 356 for seating on, mating with, and for transferring loads into, upper surface 346 over a relatively large surface area, and may have a suitable through thickness for diffusing vertical loading from the zone of rolling contact to the larger area of the land (i.e., surface 346, or a portion thereof) upon which rocker element 348 sits. Lower surface 356 may also include a keying, or indexing feature 358 of suitable shape, and may include a centering feature 360, both to aid in installation, and to aid in re-centering rocker element 348 in the event that it should be tempted to migrate away from the central position during operation. Indexing feature 358 may also include an orienting element for discouraging misorientation of rocker element 348. Indexing feature 358 may be a cavity 362 of suitable shape to mate with an opposed button 364 formed on the upper surface 346 of bearing adapter 344. If this shape is non-circular, it may tend to admit of only one permissible orientation. The orienting element may be defined in the plan form shape of cavity 362 and button 364. Where the various radii of curvature of rocker element 348 differ in the lateral and longitudinal directions, it may be that two positions 180 degrees out of phase may be acceptable, whereas another orientation may not. While an ellipse of differing major and minor axes may serve this purpose, the shape of cavity 362 and button 364 may be chosen from a large number of possibilities, and may have a cruciform or triangular shape, or may include more than one raised feature in an asymmetrical pattern, for example. The centering feature may be defined in the tapered, or sloped, flanks 368 and 370 of cavity 362 and button 364 respectively, in that, once positioned such that flanks 368 and 370 begin to work against each other, a normal force acting downward on the interface may tend to cause the parts to center themselves.
Rocker element 348 has an external periphery 372, defining a footprint. Resilient members 374 may be taken as being the same as resilient members 156, noted above, except insofar as resilient members 374 may have a depending end portion for nesting about the thrust block of a jaw of the pedestal, and also a predominantly horizontally extending portion 376 for overlying a substantial portion of the generally flat or horizontal upper region of bearing adapter 344. That is, the outlying regions of surface 346 of bearing adapter 344 may tend to be generally flat, and may tend, due to the general thickness of rocker element 348, to be compelled to stand in a spaced apart relationship from the opposed, downwardly facing surface of the pedestal seat, such as may be, for example, the exposed surface of a wear liner such as item 354, or a seat such as item 168, or such other mating part as may be suitable. Portion 376 is of a thickness suitable for lying in the gaps so defined, and may tend to be thinner than the mean gap height so as not to interfere with operation of the rocker elements. Horizontally extending portion 376 may have the form of a skirt such as may include a pair of left and right hand arms or wings 378 and 380 having a profile, when seen in plan view, for embracing a portion of periphery 372. Resilient member 374 has a relief 382 defined in the inwardly facing edge. Where rocker member 348 has outwardly extending blisters, or cusps, akin to item 164, relief 382 may function as an indexing or orientation feature. A relatively coarse engagement of rocker element 348 may tend to result in wings 378 and 380 urging rocker element 348 to a generally centered position relative to bearing adapter 344. This coarse centering may tend to cause cavity 362 to pick up on button 364, such that rocker member 348 is then urged to the desired centered position by a fine centering feature, namely the chamfered flanks 368, 370. The root of portion 376 may be relieved by a radius 384 adjacent the juncture of surface 346 with the end wall 386 of bearing adapter 344 to discourage chaffing of resilient member 374 at that location. Without the addition of a multiplicity of drawings, it may be noted that rocker element 348 could, alternatively, be inverted so as to, seat in an accommodation formed in the pedestal roof, with a land facing toward the roof, and a rocking surface facing toward a mating bearing adapter, be it adapter 44 or some other.
Rather than two resilient members, such as items 374, however, assembly 400 employs a single resilient member 412, such as may be a monolithic cast material, be it polyurethane or a suitable rubber or rubber like material such as may be used, for example, in making an LC pad or a Pennsy pad. An LC pad is an elastomeric bearing adapter pad available from Lord Corporation of Erie Pa. An example of an LC pad may be identified as Standard Car Truck Part Number SCT 5578. In this instance, resilient member 412 has first and second end portions 414, 416 for interposition between the thrust lugs of the jaws of the pedestal and the ends 418 and 420 of the bearing adapter. End portions 414, 416 may tend to be a bit undersize so that, once the roof liner is in place, they may slide vertically into place on the thrust lugs, possibly in a modest interference fit. The bearing adapter may slide into place thereafter, and again, may do so in a slight interference fit, carrying the rocker element 408 with it into place.
Resilient member 412 may also have a central or medial portion 422 extending between end portions 414, 416. Medial portion 422 may extend generally horizontally inward to overlie substantial portions of the upper surface bearing adapter 404. Resilient member 412 may have an accommodation 424 formed therein, be it in the nature of an aperture, or through hole, having a periphery of suitable extent to admit rocker element 408, and so to permit rocker element 408 to extend at least partially through member 412 to engage the mating rocking element of the pedestal seat. It may be that the periphery of accommodation 422 is matched to the shape of the footprint of rocker element 408 in the manner described in the context of
The underside of bearing adapter 444 may have not only a circumferentially extending medial groove, channel or rebate 446, having an apex lying on the transverse plane of symmetry of bearing adapter 444, but also a laterally extending underside rebate 448 such as may tend to lie parallel to the underlying longitudinal axis of the wheelset shaft and bearing centerline (i.e., the axial direction) such that the underside of bearing adapter 444 has four corner lands or pads 450 arranged in an array for seating on the casing of the bearing. In this instance, each of the pads, or lands, may be formed on a curved surface having a radius conforming to a body of revolution such as the outer shell of the bearing. Rebate 448 may tend to lie along the apex of the arch of the underside of bearing adapter 444, with the intersection of rebates 446 and 448. Rebate 448 may be relatively shallow, and may be gently radiused into the surrounding bearing adapter body. The body of bearing adapter 444 is more or less symmetrical about both its longitudinal central vertical plane (i.e., on installation, that plane lying vertical and parallel to, if not coincident with, the longitudinal vertical central plane of the sideframe), and also about its transverse central plane (i.e., on installation, that plane extending vertically radially from the center line of the axis of rotation of the bearing and of the wheelset shaft). It may be noted that axial rebate 448 may tend to lie at the section of minimum cross-sectional area of bearing adapter 444. In the view of the present inventors, rebates 446 and 448 may tend to divide, and spread, the vertical load carried through the rocker element over a larger area of the casing of the bearing, and hence to more evenly distribute the load into the elements of the bearing than might otherwise be the case. It is thought that this may tend to encourage longer bearing life.
In the general case, bearing adapter 444 may have an upper surface having a crown to permit self-steering, or may be formed to accommodate a self-steering apparatus such as an elastomeric pad, such as a Pennsy Pad or other pad. In the event that a rocker surface is employed, whether by way of a separable insert, or a disc, or is integrally formed in the body of the bearing adapter, the location of the contact of the rocker in the resting position may tend to lie directly above the center of the bearing adapter, and hence above the intersection of the axial and circumferential rebates in the underside of bearing adapter 444.
Bearing adapter 452 may also have different underside grooving, 492 in the nature of a pair of laterally extending tapered lobate depressions, cavities, or reliefs 494, 496 separated by a central bridge region 498 having a deeper section and flanks that taper into reliefs 494, 496. Reliefs 494, 496 may have a major axis that runs laterally with respect to the bearing adapter itself, but, as installed, runs axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the underlying bearing. The absence of material at reliefs 494, 496 may tend to leave a generally H-shaped footprint on the circumferential surface 500 that seats upon the outside of bearing 46, in which the two side regions, or legs, of the H form lands or pads 502, 504 joined by a relatively narrow waist, namely bridge region 498. To the extent that the undersurface of the lower portion of bearing adapter 452 conforms to an arcuate profile, such as may accommodate the bearing casing, reliefs 494, 496 may tend to run, or extend, predominantly along the apex of the profile, between the pads, or lands, that lie to either side. This configuration may tend to spread the rocker rolling contact point load into pads 502, 504 and thence into bearing 46. Bearing life may be a function of peak load in the rollers. By leaving a space between the underside of the bearing adapter and the top center of the bearing casing over the bearing races, reliefs 494, 496 may tend to prevent the vertical load being passed in a concentrated manner predominantly into the top rollers in the bearing. Instead, it may be advantageous to spread the load between several rollers in each race. This may tend to be encouraged by employing spaced apart pads or lands, such as pads 502, 504, that seat upon the bearing casing. Central bridge region 498 may seat above a section of the bearing casing under which there is no race, rather than directly over one of the races. Bridge region 498 may act as a central circumferential ligature, or tension member, intermediate bearing adapter end arches 506, 508 such as may tend to discourage splaying or separation of pads 502, 504 away from each other as vertical load is applied.
Pedestal seat member 514 may have a generally planar body 518 having upturned lateral margins 520 for bracketing, and seating about, the lower edges of the sideframe pedestal roof member 522. The major portion of the upper surface of body 518 may tend to mate in planar contact with the downwardly facing surface of roof member 522. Seat member 514 may have protruding end potions 524 that extend longitudinally from the main, planar portion of body 518. End portions 524 may include a deeper nose section 526, that may stand downwardly proud of two wings 528, 530. The depth of nose section 526 may correspond to the general through thickness depth of member 514. The lower, downwardly facing surface 532 of member 518 (as installed) may be formed to mate with the upper surface of the bearing adapter, such that a bi-directional rocking interface is achieved, with a combination of male and female rocking radii as described herein. In one embodiment the female rocking surface may be planar.
Resilient members 516 may be formed to engage protruding portions 524. That is, resilient member 516 may have the generally channel shaped for of resilient member 156, having a lateral web 534 standing between a pair of wings 536, 538. However, in this embodiment, web 534 may extend, when installed, to a level below the level of stops 466, 468, and the respective base faces 540, 542 of wings 536, 538 are positioned to sit above stops 466, 468. A superior lateral wall, or bulge, 544 surmounts the upper margin of web 534, and extends longitudinally, such as may permit it to overhang the top of the sideframe jaw thrust lug 546. The upper surface of bulge 544 may be trimmed, or flattened to accommodate nose section 526. The upper extremities of wings 536, 538 terminate in knobs, or prongs, or horns 548, 550 that stand upwardly proud of the flattened surface 552 of bulge 544. As installed, the upper ends of horns 548, 550 underlie the downwardly facing surfaces of wings 536, 538.
In the event that an installer might attempt to install bearing adapter 452 in sideframe 512 without first placing pedestal seat member 512 in position, the height of horns 548, 550 is sufficient to prevent the rocker surface of bearing adapter 452 from engaging sideframe roof member 522. That is, the height of the highest portion of the crown of the rocker surface 552 of the bearing adapter is less than the height of the ends of horns 548, 550 when horns 548, 550 are in contact with stops 466, 468. However, when pedestal seat member 512 is correctly in place, nose section 526 is located between wings 536, 538, and wings 536, 538 are captured above horns 548, 550. In this way, resilient members 514, and in particular horns 548, 550, act as installation error detection elements, or damage prevention elements.
The steps of installation may include the step of removing an existing bearing adapter, removing an existing elastomeric pad, such as an LC pad, installing pedestal seat fitting 514 in engagement with roof 522; seating of resilient members 514 above each of thrust lugs 546; and sliding bearing adapter 452 between resilient pad members 514. Resilient pad members 514 then serve to locate other elements on assembly, to retain those elements in service, and to provide a centering bias to the mating rocker elements, as discussed above.
Compound Pendulum Geometry
The various rockers shown and described herein may employ rocking elements that define compound pendulums—that is, pendulums for which the male rocker radius is non-zero, and there is an assumption of rolling (as opposed to sliding) engagement with the female rocker. The embodiment of
The lateral stiffness of the suspension may tend to reflect the stiffness of (a) the sideframe between (i) the bearing adapter and (ii) the bottom spring seat (that is, the sideframes swing laterally); (b) the lateral deflection of the springs between (i) the lower spring seat and (ii) the upper spring seat mounting against the truck bolster, and (c) the moment between (i) the spring seat in the sideframe and (ii) the upper spring mounting against the truck bolster. The lateral stiffness of the spring groups may be approximately ½ of the vertical spring stiffness. For a 100 or 110 Ton truck designed for 263,000 or 286,000 lbs GWR, vertical spring group stiffness might be 25-30,000 Lbs./in., assuming two groups per truck, and two trucks per car, giving a lateral spring stiffness of 13-16,000 Lbs./in. The second component of stiffness relates to the lateral rocking deflection of the sideframe. The height between the bottom spring seat and the crown of the bearing adapter might be about 15 inches (+/−). The pedestal seat may have a flat surface in line contact on a 60 inch radius bearing adapter crown. For a loaded 286,000 lbs. car, the apparent stiffness of the sideframe due to this second component may be 18,000-25,000 Lbs./in, measured at the bottom spring seat. Stiffness due to the third component, unequal compression of the springs, is additive to sideframe stiffness. It may be of the order of 3000-3500 Lbs./in per spring group, depending on the stiffness of the springs and the layout of the group. The total lateral stiffness for one sideframe for an S2HD 110 Ton truck may be about 9200 Lbs./inch per side frame.
An alternate truck is the “Swing Motion” truck, such as shown at page 716 in the 1980 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia (1980, Simmons-Boardman, Omaha). In a swing motion truck, the sideframe may act more like a pendulum. The bearing adapter has a female rocker, of perhaps 10 in. radius. A mating male rocker mounted in the pedestal roof may have a radius of perhaps 5 in. Depending on the geometry, this may yield a sideframe resistance to lateral deflection in the order of ¼ (or less) to about ½ of what might otherwise be typical. If combined with the spring group stiffness, the relative softness of the pendulum may be dominant. Lateral stiffness may then be less governed by vertical spring stiffness. Use of a rocking lower spring seat may reduce, or eliminate, lateral stiffness due to unequal spring compression. Swing motion trucks have used transoms to link the side frames, and to lock them against non-square deformation. Other substantially rigid truck stiffening devices such as lateral unsprung rods or a “frame brace” of diagonal unsprung bracing have been used. Lateral unsprung bracing may increase resistance to rotation of the sideframes about the long axis of the truck bolster.
A formula may be used for estimation of truck lateral stiffness:
ktrunk=2×[(ksideframe)−1+(kspring shear)−1]−
where
In a pendulum, the relationship of weight and deflection is roughly linear for small angles, analogous to F=kx, in a spring. A lateral constant can be defined as kpendulum=W/L, where W is weight, and L is pendulum length. An approximate equivalent pendulum length can be defined as Leq=W/kpendulum. W is the sprung weight on the sideframe. For a truck having L=15 and a 60″ crown radius, Leq might be about 3 in. For a swing motion truck, Leq may be more than double this.
A formula for a longitudinal (i.e., self-steering) rocker as in
F/δlong=klong=(W/L)[[(1/L)/(1/r1−1/R1)]−1]
Where:
In this relationship, R1 is greater than r1, and (1/L) is greater than [(1/r1)−(1/R1)], and, as shown in the illustrations, L is smaller than either r1 or R1. In some embodiments herein, the length L from the center of the axle to apex of the surface of the bearing adapter, at the central rest position may typically be about 5¾ to 6 inches (+/−), and may be in the range of 5-7 inches. Bearing adapters, pedestals, side frames, and bolsters are typically made from steel. The present inventor is of the view that the rolling contact surface may preferably be made of a tool steel, or a similar material.
In the lateral direction, an approximation for small angular deflections is:
kpendulum=(F2/δ2)=(W/Lpend.)[[(1/Lpend.)/((1/RRocker)−(1/RSeat))]+1]
where:
kpendulum=the lateral stiffness of the pendulum
Where Rseat and RRocker are of similar magnitude, and are not unduly small relative to L, the pendulum may tend to have a relatively large lateral deflection constant. Where Rseat is large compared to L or RRocker, or both, and can be approximated as infinite (i.e., a flat surface), this formula simplifies to:
kpendulum=(Flateral/δlateral)=(W/Lpend.)[(RRocker/Lpendulum)+1]
Using this number in the denominator, and the design weight in the numerator yields an equivalent pendulum length, Leq.=W/kpendulum
The sideframe pendulum may have a vertical length measured (when undeflected) from the rolling contact interface at the upper rocker seat to the bottom spring seat of between 12 and 20 inches, perhaps between 14 and 18 inches. The equivalent length Leq, may be in the range of greater than 4 inches and less than 15 inches, and, more narrowly, 5 inches and 12 inches, depending on truck size and rocker geometry. Although truck 20 or 22 may be a 70 ton special, a 70 ton, 100 ton, 110 ton, or 125 ton truck, truck 20 or 22 may be a truck size having 33 inch diameter, or 36 or 38 inch diameter wheels. In some embodiments herein, the ratio of male rocker radius RRocker to pendulum length, Lpend., may be 3 or less, in some instances 2 or less. In laterally quite soft trucks this value may be less than 1. The factor [(1/Lpend.)/((1/RRocker)−(1/RSeat))], may be less than 3, and, in some instances may be less than 2½. In laterally quite soft trucks, this factor may be less than 2. In those various embodiments, the lateral stiffness of the lateral rocker pendulum, calculated at the maximum truck capacity, or the GWR limit for the railcar more generally, may be less than the lateral shear stiffness of the associated spring group. Further, in those various embodiments the truck may be free of lateral unsprung bracing, whether in terms of a transom, laterally extending parallel rods, or diagonally criss-crossing frame bracing or other unsprung stiffeners. In those embodiments the trucks may have four cornered damper groups driven by each spring group.
In the trucks described herein, for their fully laden design condition which may be determined either according to the AAR limit for 70, 100, 110 or 125 ton trucks, or, where a lower intended lading is chosen, then in proportion to the vertical sprung load yielding 2 inches of vertical spring deflection in the spring groups, the equivalent lateral stiffness of the sideframe, being the ratio of force to lateral deflection, measured at the bottom spring seat, may be less than the horizontal shear stiffness of the springs. In some embodiments, particularly for relatively low density fragile, high valued lading such as automobiles, consumer goods, and so on. The equivalent lateral stiffness of the sideframe ksideframe may be less than 6000 lbs./in. and may be between about 3500 and 5500 lbs./in., and perhaps in the range of 3700-4100 lbs./in. For example, in one embodiment a 2×4 spring group has 8 inch diameter springs having a total vertical stiffness of 9600 lbs./in. per spring group and a corresponding lateral shear stiffness kspring shear of 8200 lbs./in. The sideframe has a rigidly mounted lower spring seat. It may be used in a truck with 36 inch wheels. In another embodiment, a 3×5 group of 5½ inch diameter springs is used, also having a vertical stiffness of about 9600 lbs./in., in a truck with 36 inch wheels. It may be that the vertical spring stiffness per spring group lies in the range of less than 30,000 lbs./in., that it may be in the range of less than 20,000 lbs./in and that it may perhaps be in the range of 4,000 to 12000 lbs./in, and may be about 6000 to 10,000 lbs./in. The twisting of the springs may have a stiffness in the range of 750 to 1200 lbs./in. and a vertical shear stiffness in the range of 3500 to 5500 lbs./in. with an overall sideframe stiffness in the range of 2000 to 3500 lbs./in.
In the embodiments of trucks having a fixed bottom spring seat, the truck may have a portion of stiffness, attributable to unequal compression of the springs equivalent to 600 to 1200 lbs./in. of lateral deflection, when the lateral deflection is measured at the bottom of the spring seat on the sideframe. This value may be less than 1000 lbs./in., and may be less than 900 lbs./in. The portion of restoring force attributable to unequal compression of the springs may tend to be greater for a light car as opposed to a fully laden car.
Some embodiments, including those that may be termed swing motion trucks, may have one or more features, namely that, in the lateral swinging direction r/R. <0.7; 3<r<30, or more narrowly, 4<r<20; and 5<R<45, or more narrowly, 8<R<30, and in lateral stiffness, 2,000 lbs/in <kpendulum<10,000 lbs/in, or expressed differently, the lateral pendulum stiffness in pounds per inch of lateral deflection at the bottom spring seat where vertical loads are passed into the sideframe, per pound of weight carried by the pendulum, may be in the range of 0.08 and 0.2, or, more narrowly, 0.10 to 0.16.
Friction Surfaces
Dynamic response may be quite subtle. It is advantageous to reduce resistance to curving, and self steering may help in this regard. It is advantageous to reduce the tendency for wheel lift to occur. A reduction in stick-slip behavior in the dampers may improve performance in this regard. Employment of dampers having roughly equal upward and downward friction forces may discourage wheel lift. Wheel lift may be sensitive to a reduction in torsional linkage between the sideframes, as when a transom or frame brace is removed. While it may be desirable torsionally to decouple the sideframes it may also be desirable to supplant a physically locked relationship with a relationship that allows the truck to flex in a non-square manner, subject to a bias tending to return the truck to its squared position such as may be obtained by employing the larger resistive moment couple of doubled dampers as compared to single dampers. While use of laterally softy rockers, dampers with reduced stick slip behavior, four-cornered damper arrangements, and self steering may all be helpful in their own right, it appears that they may also be inter-related in a subtle and unexpected manner. Self steering may function better where there is a reduced tendency to stick slip behavior in the dampers. Lateral rocking in the swing motion manner may also function better where the dampers have a reduced tendency to stick slip behavior. Lateral rocking in the swing motion manner may tend to work better where the dampers are mounted in a four cornered arrangement. Counter-intuitively, truck hunting may not worsen significantly when the rigidly locked relationship of a transom or frame brace is replaced by four cornered dampers (apparently making the truck softer, rather than stiffer), and where the dampers are less prone to stick slip behavior. The combined effect of these features may be surprisingly interlinked.
In the various truck embodiments described herein, there is a friction damping interface between the bolster and the sideframes. Either the sideframe columns or the damper (or both) may have a low or controlled friction bearing surface, that may include a hardened wear plate, that may be replaceable if worn or broken, or that may include a consumable coating or shoe, or pad. That bearing face of the motion calming, friction damping element may be obtained by treating the surface to yield desired co-efficients of static and dynamic friction whether by application of a surface coating, and insert, a pad, a brake shoe or brake lining, or other treatment. Shoes and linings may be obtained from clutch and brake lining suppliers, of which one is Railway Friction Products. Such a shoe or lining may have a polymer based or composite matrix, loaded with a mixture of metal or other particles of materials to yield a specified friction performance.
That friction surface may, when employed in combination with the opposed bearing surface, have a co-efficient of static friction, μs, and a co-efficient of dynamic or kinetic friction, μk. The coefficients may vary with environmental conditions. For the purposes of this description, the friction coefficients will be taken as being considered on a dry day condition at 70 F. In one embodiment, when dry, the coefficients of friction may be in the range of 0.15 to 0.45, may be in the narrower range of 0.20 to 0.35, and, in one embodiment, may be about 0.30. In one embodiment that coating, or pad, may, when employed in combination with the opposed bearing surface of the sideframe column, result in coefficients of static and dynamic friction at the friction interface that are within 20%, or, more narrowly, within 10% of each other. In another embodiment, the coefficients of static and dynamic friction are substantially equal.
Sloped Wedge Surface
Where damper wedges are employed, a generally low friction, or controlled friction pad or coating may also be employed on the sloped surface of the damper that engages the wear plate (if such is employed) of the bolster pocket where there may be a partially sliding, partially rocking dynamic interaction. The present inventors consider the use of a controlled friction interface between the slope face of the wedge and the inclined face of the bolster pocket, in which the combination of wear plate and friction member may tend to yield coefficients of friction of known properties, to be advantageous. In some embodiments those coefficients may be the same, or nearly the same, and may have little or no tendency to exhibit stick-slip behavior, or may have a reduced stick-slip tendency as compared to cast iron on steel. Further, the use of brake linings, or inserts of cast materials having known friction properties may tend to permit the properties to be controlled within a narrower, more predictable and more repeatable range such as may yield a reasonable level of consistency in operation. The coating, or pad, or lining, may be a polymeric element, or an element having a polymeric or composite matrix loaded with suitable friction materials. It may be obtained from a brake or clutch lining manufacturer, or the like. One such firm that may be able to provide such friction materials is Railway Friction Products of 13601 Laurinburg Maxton Ai, Maxton N.C.; another may be Quadrant EPP USA, Inc., of 2120 Fairmont Ave., Reading Pa. In one embodiment, the material may be the same as that employed by the Standard Car Truck Company in the “Barber Twin Guard” ™ damper wedge with polymer covers. In one embodiment the material may be such that a coating, or pad, may, when employed with the opposed bearing surface of the sideframe column, result in coefficients of static and dynamic friction at the friction interface that are within 20%, or more narrowly, within 10% of each other. In another embodiment, the coefficients of static and dynamic friction are substantially equal. The co-efficient of dynamic friction may be in the range of 0.15 to 0.30, and in one embodiment may be about 0.20.
A damper may be provided with a friction specific treatment, whether by coating, pad or lining, on both the vertical friction face and the slope face. The coefficients of friction on the slope face need not be the same as on the friction face, although they may be. In one embodiment it may be that the coefficients of static and dynamic friction on the friction face may be about 0.3, and may be about equal to each other, while the coefficients of static and dynamic friction on the slope face may be about 0.2, and may be about equal to each other. In either case, whether on the vertical bearing face against the sideframe column, or on the sloped face in the bolster pocket, the present inventors consider it to be advantageous to avoid surface pairings that may tend to lead to galling, and stick-slip behavior.
Spring Groups
The main spring groups may have a variety of spring layouts. Among various double damper embodiments of spring layout are the following:
X10
X11
In these groups, Di represents a damper spring, and Xi represents a non-damper spring.
In the context of 100 Ton or 110 Ton trucks, the inventors propose spring and damper combinations lying within 20% (and preferably within 10%) of the following parameter envelopes:
(a) For a four wedge arrangement with all steel or iron damper surfaces, an envelope having an upper boundary according to kdamper=2.41(θwedge)1.76, and a lower boundary according to kdamper=1.21(θwedge)1.76.
(b) For a four wedge arrangement with all steel or iron damper surfaces, a mid range zone of kdamper=1.81(θwedge)1.76(+/−20%).
(c) For a four wedge arrangement with non-metallic damper surfaces, such as may be similar to brake linings, an envelope having an upper boundary according to kdamper=4.84(θwedge)1.64, and a lower a lower boundary according to kdamper=2.42(θwedge)1.64 where the wedge angle may lie in the range of 30 to 60 degrees.
(d) For a four wedge arrangement with non-metallic damper surfaces, a mid range zone of kdamper=3.63(θwedge)1.64(+/−20%).
Where kdamper is the side spring stiffness under each damper in lbs/in/damper
θwedge may tend to lie in the range of 30 to 60 degrees. In other embodiments θwedge may lie in the range of 35-55 degrees, and in still other embodiments may tend to lie in the narrower range of 40 to 50 degrees.
It may be advantageous to have upward and downward damping forces that are not overly dissimilar, and that may in some cases tend to be roughly equal. Frictional forces at the dampers may differ depending on whether the damper is being loaded or unloaded. The angle of the wedge, the coefficients of friction, and the springing under the wedges can be varied. A damper is being “loaded” when the bolster is moving downward in the sideframe window, since the spring force is increasing, and hence the force on the damper is increasing. Similarly, a damper is being “unloaded” when the bolster is moving upward toward the top of the sideframe window, since the force in the springs is decreasing. The equations can be written as:
While loading:
While unloading:
Where:
For a given angle, a friction load factor, Cf can be determined as Cf=Fd/Fs. This load factor Cf will tend to be different depending on whether the bolster is moving up or down.
It may be advantageous to have different vertical spring rates in the empty and fully loaded conditions. To that end springs of different heights may be employed, for example, to yield two or more vertical spring rates for the entire spring group. In this way, the dynamic response in the light car condition may be different from the dynamic response in a fully loaded car, where two spring rates are used. Alternatively, if three (or more) spring rates are used, there may be an intermediate dynamic response in a semi-loaded condition. In one embodiment, each spring group may have a first combination of springs that have a free length of at least a first height, and a second group of springs of which each spring has a free length that is less than a second height, the second height being less than the first height by a distance δ1, such that the first group of springs will have a range of compression between the first and second heights in which the spring rate of the group has a first value, namely the sum of the spring rates of the first group of springs, and a second range in which the spring rate of the group is greater, namely that of the first group plus the spring rate of at least one of the springs whose free height is less than the second height. The different spring rate regimes may yield corresponding different damping regimes.
For example, in one embodiment a car having a dead sprung weight (i.e., the weight of the car body with no lading excluding the unsprung weight below the main spring such as the sideframes and wheelsets), of about 35,000 to about 55,000 lbs (+/−5000 lbs) may have spring groups of which a first portion of the springs have a free height in excess of a first height. The first height may, for example be in the range of about 9¾ to 10¼ inches. When the car sits, unladen, on its trucks, the springs compress to that first height. When the car is operated in the light car condition, that first portion of springs may tend to determine the dynamic response of the car in the vertical bounce, pitch-and-bounce, and side-to-side rocking, and may influence truck hunting behavior. The spring rate in that first regime may be of the order of 12,000 to 22,000 lbs/in., and may be in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 lbs/in.
When the car is more heavily laden, as for example when the combination of dead and live sprung weight exceeds a threshold amount, which may correspond to a per car amount in the range of perhaps 60,000 to 100,000 lbs, (that is, 15,000 to 25,000 lbs per spring group for symmetrical loading, at rest) the springs may compress to, or past, a second height. That second height may be in the range of perhaps 8½ to 9¾ inches, for example. At this point, the sprung weight is sufficient to begin to deflect another portion of the springs in the overall spring group, which may be some or all of the remaining springs, and the spring rate constant of the combined group of the now compressed springs in this second regime may tend to be different, and larger than, the spring rate in the first regime. For example, this larger spring rate may be in the range of about 20,000-30,000 lbs/in., and may be intended to provide a dynamic response when the sum of the dead and live loads exceed the regime change threshold amount. This second regime may range from the threshold amount to some greater amount, perhaps tending toward an upper limit, in the case of a 110 Ton truck, of as great as about 130,000 or 135,000 lbs per truck. For a 100 Ton truck this amount may be 115,000 or 120,000 lbs per truck.
Table 1 gives a tabulation of a number of spring groups that may be employed in a 100 or 110 Ton truck, in symmetrical 3×3 spring layouts and that have dampers in four-cornered groups. The last entry in Table 1 is a symmetrical 2:3:2 layout of springs. The term “side spring” refers to the spring, or combination of springs, under each of the individually sprung dampers, and the term “main spring” referring to the spring, or combination of springs, of each of the main coil groups:
In this tabulation, the terms NSC-1, NSC-2, D8, D8A and D6B refer to springs of non-standard size proposed by the present inventors. The properties of these springs are given in Table 2a (main springs) and 2b (side springs), along with the properties of the other springs of Table 1.
Table 3 provides a listing of truck parameters for a number of known trucks, and for trucks proposed by the present inventors. In the first instance, the truck embodiment identified as No. 1 may be taken to employ damper wedges in a four-cornered arrangement in which the primary wedge angle is 45 degrees and the damper wedges have steel bearing surfaces. In the second instance, the truck embodiment identified as No. 2, may be taken to employ damper wedges in a four-cornered arrangement in which the primary wedge angle is 40 degrees, and the damper wedges have non-metallic bearing surfaces.
In Table 3, the Main Spring entry has the format of the quantity of springs, followed by the type of spring. For example, the ASF Super Service Ride Master, in one embodiment, has 7 springs of the D5 Outer type, 7 springs of the D5 Inner type, nested inside the D5 Outers, and 2 springs of the D6A Inner-Inner type, nested within the D5 Inners of the middle row (i.e., the row along the bolster centerline). It also has 2 side springs of the 5052 Outer type, and 2 springs of the 5063 Inner type nested inside the 5062 Outers. The side springs would be the middle elements of the side rows underneath centrally mounted damper wedges.
In various embodiments of trucks, such as truck 22, the resilient interface between each sideframe and the end of the truck bolster associated therewith may include a four cornered damper arrangement and a 3×3 spring group having one of the spring groupings set forth in Table 1. Those groupings may have wedges having primary angles lying in the range of 30 to 60 degrees, or more narrowly in the range of 35 to 55 degrees, more narrowly still in the range 40 to 50 degrees, or may be chosen from the set of angles of 32, 36, 40 or 45 degrees. The wedges may have steel surfaces, or may have friction modified surfaces, such as non-metallic surfaces.
The combination of wedges and side springs may be such as to give a spring rate under the side springs that is 20% or more of the total spring rate of the spring groups. It may be in the range of 20 to 30% of the total spring rate. In some embodiments the combination of wedges and side springs may be such as to give a total friction force for the dampers in the group, for a fully laden car, when the bolster is moving downward, that is less than 3000 lbs. In other embodiments the arithmetic sum of the upward and downward friction forces of the dampers in the group is less than 5500 lbs.
In some embodiments in which steel faced dampers are used, the sum of the magnitudes of the upward and downward friction forces may be in the range of 4000 to 5000 lbs. In some embodiments, the magnitude of the friction force when the bolster is moving upward may be in the range of ⅔ to 3/2 of the magnitude of the friction force when the bolster is moving downward. In some embodiments, the ratio of Fd(Up)/Fd(Down) may lie in the range of ¾ to 5/4. In some embodiments the ratio of Fd(Up)/Fd(Down) may lie in the range of ⅘ to 6/5, and in some embodiments the magnitudes may be substantially equal.
In some embodiments in which non-metallic friction surfaces are used, the sum of the magnitudes of the upward and downward friction force may be in the range of 4000 to 5500 lbs. In some embodiments, the magnitude of the friction force when the bolster is moving up, Fd(Up), to the magnitude of the friction force when the bolster is moving down, Fd(Down) may be in the range of ¾ to 5/4, may be in the range of 0.85 to 1.15. Further, those wedges may employ a secondary angle, and the secondary angle may be in the range of about 5 to 15 degrees.
Nos. 1 and 2
The inventors consider the combinations of parameters listed in Table 3 under the columns No. 1 and No. 2, to be advantageous. No. 1 may employ with steel on steel damper wedges and sideframe columns. No. 2 may employ non-metallic friction surfaces, that may tend not to exhibit stick-slip behavior, for which the resultant static and dynamic friction coefficients are substantially equal. The friction coefficients of the friction face on the sideframe column may be about 0.3. The slope surfaces of the wedges may also work on a non-metallic bearing surface and may also tend not to exhibit stick slip behavior. The coefficients of static and dynamic friction on the slope face may also be substantially equal, and may be about 0.2. Those wedges may have a secondary angle, and that secondary angle may be about 10 degrees.
No. 3
In some embodiments there may be a 2:3:2 spring group layout. In this layout the damper springs may be located in a four cornered arrangement in which each pair of damper springs is not separated by an intermediate main spring coil, and may sit side-by-side, whether the dampers are cheek-to-cheek or separated by a partition or intervening block. There may be three main spring coils, arranged on the longitudinal centerline of the bolster. The springs may be non-standard springs, and may include outer, inner, and inner-inner springs identified respectively as D51-O, D61-I, and D61-A in Tables 1, 2 and 3 above. The No. 3 layout may include wedges that have a steel-on-steel friction interface in which the kinematic friction co-efficient on the vertical face may be in the range of 0.30 to 0.40, and may be about 0.38, and the kinematic friction co-efficient on the slope face may be in the range of 0.12 to 0.20, and may be about 0.15. The wedge angle may be in the range of 45 to 60 degrees, and may be about 50 to 55 degrees. In the event that 50 (+/−) degree wedges are chosen, the upward and downward friction forces may be about equal (i.e., within about 10% of the mean), and may have a sum in the range of about 4600 to about 4800 lbs, which sum may be about 4700 lbs (+/−50). In the event that 55 degree (+/−) wedges are chosen, the upward and downward friction forces may again be substantially equal (within 10% of the mean), and may have a sum on the range of 3700 to 4100 Lbs, which sum may be about 3850-3900 lbs.
Alternatively, in other embodiments employing a 2:3:2 spring layout, non-metallic wedges may be employed. Those wedges may have a vertical face to sideframe column co-efficient of kinematic friction in the range of 0.25 to 0.35, and which may be about 0.30. The slope face co-efficient of kinematic friction may be in the range of 0.08 to 0.15, and may be about 0.10. A wedge angle of between about 35 and about 50 degrees may be employed. It may be that the wedge angles lie in the range of about 40 to about 45 degrees. In one embodiment in which the wedge angle is about 40 degrees, the upward and downward kinematic friction forces may have magnitudes that are each within about 20% of their average value, and whose sum may lie in the range of about 5400 to about 5800 lbs, and which may be about 5600 lbs (+/−100). In another embodiment in which the wedge angle is about 45 degrees, the magnitudes of each of the upward and downward forces of kinematic friction may be within 20% of their averaged value, and whose sum may lie in the range of about 440 to about 4800 lbs, and may be about 4600 lbs (+/−100).
Combinations and Permutations
The present description recites many examples of dampers and bearing adapter arrangements. Not all of the features need be present at one time, and various optional combinations can be made. As such, the features of the embodiments of several of the various figures may be mixed and matched, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For the purpose of avoiding redundant description, it will be understood that the various damper configurations can be used with spring groups of a 2×4, 3×3, 3:2:3, 2:3:2, 3×5 or other arrangement. Similarly, several variations of bearing to pedestal seat adapter interface arrangements have been described and illustrated. There are a large number of possible combinations and permutations of damper arrangements and bearing adapter arrangements. In that light, it may be understood that the various features can be combined, without further multiplication of drawings and description.
The various embodiments described herein may employ self-steering apparatus in combination with dampers that may tend to exhibit little or no stick-slip. They may employ a “Pennsy” pad, or other elastomeric pad arrangement, for providing self-steering. Alternatively, they may employ a bi-directional rocking apparatus, which may include a rocker having a bearing surface formed on a compound curve of which several examples have been illustrated and described herein. Further still, the various embodiments described herein may employ a four cornered damper wedge arrangement, which may include bearing surfaces of a non-stick-slip nature, in combination with a self steering apparatus, and in particular a bi-directional rocking self-steering apparatus, such as a compound curved rocker.
In the various embodiments of trucks herein, the gibs may be shown mounted to the bolster inboard and outboard of the wear plates on the side frame columns. In the embodiments shown herein, the clearance between the gibs and the side plates is desirably sufficient to permit a motion allowance of at least ¾″ of lateral travel of the truck bolster relative to the wheels to either side of neutral, advantageously permits greater than 1 inch of travel to either side of neutral, and may permit travel in the range of about 1 or 1⅛″ to about 1⅝″ or 1 9/16″ inches to either side of neutral.
The inventors presently favor embodiments having a combination of a bi-directional compound curvature rocker surface, a four cornered damper arrangement in which the dampers are provided with friction linings that may tend to exhibit little or no stick-slip behavior, and may have a slope face with a relatively low friction bearing surface. However, there are many possible combinations and permutations of the features of the examples shown herein. In general it is thought that a self draining geometry may be preferable over one in which a hollow is formed and for which a drain hole may be required.
In each of the trucks shown and described herein, the overall ride quality may depend on the inter-relation of the spring group layout and physical properties, or the damper layout and properties, or both, in combination with the dynamic properties of the bearing adapter to pedestal seat interface assembly. It may be advantageous for the lateral stiffness of the sideframe acting as a pendulum to be less than the lateral stiffness of the spring group in shear. In rail road cars having 110 ton trucks, one embodiment may employ trucks having vertical spring group stiffnesses in the range of 16,000 lbs/inch to 36,000 lbs/inch in combination with an embodiment of bi-directional bearing adapter to pedestal seat interface assemblies as shown and described herein. In another embodiment, the vertical stiffness of the spring group may be less than 12,000 lbs./in per spring group, with a horizontal shear stiffness of less than 6000 lbs./in.
The double damper arrangements shown above can also be varied to include any of the four types of damper installation indicated at page 715 in the 1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, whose information is incorporated herein by reference, with appropriate structural changes for doubled dampers, with each damper being sprung on an individual spring. That is, while inclined surface bolster pockets and inclined wedges seated on the main springs have been shown and described, the friction blocks could be in a horizontal, spring biased installation in a pocket in the bolster itself, and seated on independent springs rather than the main springs. Alternatively, it is possible to mount friction wedges in the sideframes, in either an upward orientation or a downward orientation.
The embodiments of trucks shown and described herein may vary in their suitability for different types of service. Truck performance can vary significantly based on the loading expected, the wheelbase, spring stiffnesses, spring layout, pendulum geometry, damper layout and damper geometry.
Various embodiments of the invention have been described in detail. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details but only by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2434603 | Jul 2003 | CA | national |
2436327 | Jul 2003 | CA | national |
2454472 | Dec 2003 | CA | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/397,104, filed Mar. 3, 2009, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/566,421 filed Dec. 4, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,169 issued Mar. 3, 2009, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/888,788 filed Jul. 8, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,700 issued Dec. 5, 2006, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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3381629 | Jones | May 1968 | A |
3461814 | Brown | Aug 1969 | A |
3461815 | Brown et al. | Aug 1969 | A |
3517620 | Weber | Jun 1970 | A |
3559589 | Williams | Feb 1971 | A |
3575117 | Tack | Apr 1971 | A |
3638582 | Beebe | Feb 1972 | A |
3670660 | Weber | Jun 1972 | A |
3687086 | Barber | Aug 1972 | A |
3699897 | Sherrick | Oct 1972 | A |
3714905 | Barber | Feb 1973 | A |
3785298 | Reynolds | Jan 1974 | A |
3802353 | Korpics | Apr 1974 | A |
3834320 | Tack | Sep 1974 | A |
3844226 | Brodeur et al. | Oct 1974 | A |
3855942 | Mulcahy | Dec 1974 | A |
3857341 | Neumann | Dec 1974 | A |
3880089 | Wallace et al. | Apr 1975 | A |
3885942 | Moore | May 1975 | A |
3897736 | Tack et al. | Aug 1975 | A |
3901163 | Neumann et al. | Aug 1975 | A |
3905305 | Cope et al. | Sep 1975 | A |
3920231 | Harrison | Nov 1975 | A |
3965825 | Sherrick | Jun 1976 | A |
3977332 | Bullock | Aug 1976 | A |
3995720 | Wiebe | Dec 1976 | A |
4003318 | Bullock | Jan 1977 | A |
4034681 | Neumann et al. | Jul 1977 | A |
4067262 | Scheffel | Jan 1978 | A |
4072112 | Wiebe | Feb 1978 | A |
4078501 | Neumann et al. | Mar 1978 | A |
4084514 | Bullock | Apr 1978 | A |
4103623 | Radwill | Aug 1978 | A |
4109585 | Brose | Aug 1978 | A |
4109586 | Briggs | Aug 1978 | A |
4109934 | Paton et al. | Aug 1978 | A |
4111131 | Bullock | Sep 1978 | A |
4136620 | Scheffel | Jan 1979 | A |
4148469 | Geyer | Apr 1979 | A |
4151801 | Scheffel et al. | May 1979 | A |
4167907 | Mulcahy et al. | Sep 1979 | A |
4179995 | Day | Dec 1979 | A |
4186914 | Radwill et al. | Feb 1980 | A |
4192240 | Korpics | Mar 1980 | A |
4196672 | Bullock | Apr 1980 | A |
4230047 | Wiebe | Oct 1980 | A |
4236457 | Cope | Dec 1980 | A |
4237793 | Holden et al. | Dec 1980 | A |
4239007 | Kleykamp et al. | Dec 1980 | A |
4242966 | Holt et al. | Jan 1981 | A |
4244297 | Monselle | Jan 1981 | A |
4254712 | O'Neil | Mar 1981 | A |
4254713 | Clafford | Mar 1981 | A |
4256041 | Kemper et al. | Mar 1981 | A |
4265182 | Neff et al. | May 1981 | A |
4274339 | Cope | Jun 1981 | A |
4274340 | Neumann et al. | Jun 1981 | A |
4276833 | Bullock | Jul 1981 | A |
4295429 | Wiebe | Oct 1981 | A |
4311098 | Irwin | Jan 1982 | A |
4316417 | Martin | Feb 1982 | A |
4332201 | Pollard et al. | Jun 1982 | A |
4333403 | Tack et al. | Jun 1982 | A |
RE31008 | Barber | Aug 1982 | E |
4342266 | Cooley | Aug 1982 | A |
4351242 | Irwin | Sep 1982 | A |
4356775 | Paton et al. | Nov 1982 | A |
4357880 | Weber | Nov 1982 | A |
4363276 | Neumann | Dec 1982 | A |
4363278 | Mulcahy | Dec 1982 | A |
4370933 | Mulcahy | Feb 1983 | A |
4373446 | Cope | Feb 1983 | A |
4413569 | Mulcahy | Nov 1983 | A |
4416203 | Sherrick | Nov 1983 | A |
4426934 | Geyer | Jan 1984 | A |
4434720 | Mulcahy et al. | Mar 1984 | A |
4444122 | Dickhart | Apr 1984 | A |
4483253 | List | Nov 1984 | A |
RE31784 | Wiebe | Jan 1985 | E |
4491075 | Neumann | Jan 1985 | A |
4512261 | Horger | Apr 1985 | A |
4526109 | Dickhart | Jul 1985 | A |
4537138 | Bullock | Aug 1985 | A |
RE31988 | Wiebe | Sep 1985 | E |
4552074 | Mulcahy et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4554875 | Schmitt et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4574708 | Solomon | Mar 1986 | A |
4590864 | Przybylinski | May 1986 | A |
4637319 | Moehling et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
4660476 | Franz | Apr 1987 | A |
4674411 | Schindehutte | Jun 1987 | A |
4674412 | Mulcahy et al. | Jun 1987 | A |
4676172 | Bullock | Jun 1987 | A |
4765251 | Guins | Aug 1988 | A |
4785740 | Grandy | Nov 1988 | A |
4813359 | Marulic et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4825775 | Stein et al. | May 1989 | A |
4825776 | Spencer | May 1989 | A |
4870914 | Radwill | Oct 1989 | A |
4915031 | Wiebe | Apr 1990 | A |
4936226 | Wiebe | Jun 1990 | A |
4938152 | List | Jul 1990 | A |
4953471 | Wronkiewicz et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
4974521 | Eungard et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
4986192 | Wiebe | Jan 1991 | A |
5000097 | List | Mar 1991 | A |
5001989 | Mulcahy et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
5009521 | Wiebe | Apr 1991 | A |
5027716 | Weber et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5046431 | Wagner | Sep 1991 | A |
5072673 | Lienard | Dec 1991 | A |
5081935 | Pavlick | Jan 1992 | A |
5086708 | McKeown et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
5095823 | McKeown | Mar 1992 | A |
5107773 | Daley et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
5111753 | Zigler et al. | May 1992 | A |
5138954 | Mulcahy | Aug 1992 | A |
5174218 | List | Dec 1992 | A |
5176083 | Bullock | Jan 1993 | A |
5226369 | Weber | Jul 1993 | A |
5235918 | Durand | Aug 1993 | A |
5237933 | Bucksbee | Aug 1993 | A |
5239932 | Weber | Aug 1993 | A |
5241913 | Weber | Sep 1993 | A |
5327837 | Weber | Jul 1994 | A |
5331902 | Hawthorne et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
5404826 | Rudibaugh et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
5410968 | Hawthorne et al. | May 1995 | A |
5417163 | Lienard | May 1995 | A |
RE34963 | Eungard | Jun 1995 | E |
5450799 | Goding | Sep 1995 | A |
5452665 | Wronkiewicz et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5463964 | Long et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5481986 | Spencer et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5503084 | Goding et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5509358 | Hawthorne et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5511489 | Bullock | Apr 1996 | A |
5511491 | Hesch et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5524551 | Hawthorne et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5544591 | Taillon | Aug 1996 | A |
5555817 | Taillon et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5555818 | Bullock | Sep 1996 | A |
5562045 | Rudibaugh et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5572931 | Lazar et al. | Nov 1996 | A |
5613445 | Rismiller | Mar 1997 | A |
5632208 | Weber | May 1997 | A |
5647283 | McKisic | Jul 1997 | A |
5666885 | Wike | Sep 1997 | A |
5722327 | Hawthorne et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5735216 | Bullock et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5746137 | Hawthorne et al. | May 1998 | A |
5749301 | Wronkiewicz et al. | May 1998 | A |
5794538 | Pitchford | Aug 1998 | A |
5799582 | Rudibaugh et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5802982 | Weber | Sep 1998 | A |
5850795 | Taillon | Dec 1998 | A |
5875721 | Wright et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5918547 | Bullock et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5921186 | Hawthorne et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5924366 | Trainer et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5943961 | Rudibaugh et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5967053 | Toussaint et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5992330 | Gilbert et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6125767 | Hawthorne et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6142081 | Long et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6173655 | Hawthorne | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6178894 | Leingang | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6186075 | Spencer | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6196134 | Stecker | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6227122 | Spencer | May 2001 | B1 |
6269752 | Taillon | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6276283 | Weber | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6338300 | Landrot | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6347588 | Leingang | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6371033 | Smith et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6374749 | Duncan et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6422155 | Heyden et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6425334 | Wronkiewicz et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6591759 | Bullock | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6631685 | Hewitt | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6672224 | Weber et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6688236 | Taillon | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6691625 | Duncan | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6701850 | McCabe et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6895866 | Forbes | May 2005 | B2 |
7143700 | Forbes et al. | Dec 2006 | B2 |
20030024429 | Forbes | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030037696 | Forbes | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030041772 | Forbes | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030097955 | Bullock | May 2003 | A1 |
20030129037 | Forbes | Jul 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
245610 | Mar 1966 | AT |
714822 | Aug 1965 | CA |
2090031 | Jun 1991 | CA |
2153137 | Jun 1995 | CA |
2191673 | Nov 1996 | CA |
2034125 | Jul 2000 | CA |
2100004 | Jan 2004 | CA |
329987 | May 1958 | CH |
371475 | Oct 1963 | CH |
473036 | Feb 1929 | DE |
664933 | Aug 1938 | DE |
688777 | Feb 1940 | DE |
1180392 | Oct 1964 | DE |
2318369 | Oct 1974 | DE |
1095600 | Jun 1955 | EP |
0264731 | Apr 1988 | EP |
0347334 | Dec 1989 | EP |
0444362 | Sep 1991 | EP |
0494323 | Jul 1992 | EP |
1053925 | Nov 2000 | EP |
1025808 | Apr 1966 | GB |
2035238 | Jun 1980 | GB |
2045188 | Oct 1980 | GB |
324559 | Feb 1935 | IT |
58-39558 | Mar 1983 | JP |
63279966 | Nov 1988 | JP |
4143161 | May 1992 | JP |
0013954 | Mar 2000 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Jul. 2003, “A Dynamic Relationship,” Railway Age, pp. 37,38. |
Standard Car Truck Company, “Barber Change Brings Choices”, date unknown. |
Standard Car Truck Company, Truck Information-Package 2000: Barber 905-SW Split Wedge Friction Casting, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. Barber 905-SW Split Wedge Insert Application Guide, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. Barber 905-SW Split Wedge Pocket Insert, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. Barber Split Wedge, Standard Car Truck Company, date unknown. Barber Split Wedge Replacement Guide, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. Iron Friction Wedge Replacement Guide, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. |
Standard Car Truck Company, Truck Information Package 2000 (cont'd): Lifeguard Friction Wedge Replacement Guide, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. Product Bulletin, Barber TwinGuard, Standard Car Truck Company, date unknown. TwinGuard Friction Wedge Replacement Guide, Standard Car Truck Company, 2000. “Friction Wedges.” “Available Wedge Options.” Standard Car Truck Company, “Barber Friction Wedge Matrix,” date unknown. Standard Car Truck Company, Barber Stablilized Trucks presentation Oct. 10, 2000. |
Standard Car Truck Company, Truck Information Package 2000 (cont'd): Standard Car Truck Company, “Barber Stabilized Truck—Suspension Performance Properties,” Mar. 14, 2000. |
Sep. 1996, Rownd, K. et al., “Improved Ride Quality for Transportation of Finished Automobiles by Rail,” Technology Digest TD 96-021, Association of American Railroads. |
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Sep. 1997, Rownd, K. et al., “Improved Ride Quality for Rail Transport of Finished Automobiles,” Technology Digest TD 97-039, Association of American Railroads. |
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Oct. 1998, Rownd, K. et al., “Improved Ride-Quality for Transportation of Finished Autos by Tri-Level Autorack,” Technology Digest TD 98-025, Association of American Railroads. |
Dec. 1998, Rownd, K. et al., “Advanced Suspensions Meet Performance Standards for Bi-Level Auto-Racks Cars,” Technology Digest TD 98-032, Association of American Railroads. |
Jun. 1999, Rownd, K. et al., “Evaluation of End-of-Car Cushioning Designs Using the Toes Model,” Technology Digest TD 99-019, Association of American Railroads. |
Jun. 1999, Rownk, K. et al., “ Advanced Suspensions Meet Ride-Quality Performance Standards for Tri-Level Auto-Rack Cars,” Technology Digest TD 99-020, Association of American Railroads. |
Aug. 1999, Rownd, K. et al., “Improving the Economy of Bulk-Commodity Service Through Improved Suspensions,” Technology Digest TD 99-027, Association of American Railroads. |
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Jul. 2000, Rownd, K. et al., “Improving the Economics of Bulk-Commodity Service: S2E Standard Car Truck,” Technology Digest TD 00-012, Association of American Railroads. |
Narrow Pedestal Side Frame Trucks, Timken Roller Bearing Company, date unknown. |
Notice of Co-Pending Applications. Date n/a. |
Timken “AP”Bearing Assembly, Timken Roller Bearing Company, date unknown. |
User's Manual for NUCARS. Version 2.0, SD-043, at pp. 5-39, 5-40. |
Railway Age, Comprehensive Railroad Dictionary (Simmons-Boardman Books, Inc.) p. 142. |
ASF ADAPTERPIus, Pennsy Corporation, Internet—PENNSY.com, Ver. 9807, date unknown. |
ASF Trucks “Good for the Long Run,” American Steel Foundries, date unknown. |
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American Steel Foundries Information: ASF Motion Control Truck System with Super Service Ridemaster & D5 Springs, drawing No. AR-3421, ASF-Keystone, Inc., Jul. 14, 2003. Assembly ASF/Pennsy Adapter Plus Pad & Adapter, drawing No. 43317, ASF-Keystone, Inc., Jul. 10, 2003. Motion Control M976 Upgrade Kit, source unknown, date unknown. Super Service Ridemaster, American Steel Foundries, date unknown. |
Association of America Railroads Mechanical Division Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices Journal, “Roller Bearing Adapters for Freight Cars,” date unknown, pp. H-35 to H-42. Revised 1998. |
Barber S-2-D Product Bulletin, undated. |
Buckeye XC-R VII, Buckeye Steel Castings, date unknown. |
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1966 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, 1st ed., “ASF Freight Car Trucks,” (New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, 1966) at pp. 818-819 and 827. |
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1974 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, 3rd ed., “For new directions in shock and motion protection, keep looking to Lord,” (New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, 1974) at pp. S13-36, S13-37. |
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1984 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, 5th ed., “Barber Stabilized Freight Car Truck Systems,” (Omaha: Simmons-Boardman Books, Inc., 1984) at pp. 488, 489, 496, 500 and 526. |
1997 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia, 6th ed., Section 7: Trucks, Wheels, Axles & Bearings,pp. 705-770. Section 7 Bearings, pp. 811-834. (Omaha: Simmons-Boardman Books, Inc., 1997). |
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1998 Nov. Railway Age, “Premium trucks: Real-world test results,” pp. 47, 51, 53, 62. |
Examination Report for EP 04 737 932.6-2422. date n/a. |
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U.S. Appl. No. 12/538,506 Decision on Appeal dated Dec. 19, 2013, Appeal 2011-011791. |
U.S. Appl. No. 12/397,104 Decision on Appeal dated Oct. 31, 2013, Appeal 2011-013361. |
Table of National Steel Car Limited Truck Patent Families as of Jan. 28, 2014. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140109792 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11566421 | Dec 2006 | US |
Child | 12397104 | US | |
Parent | 10888788 | Jul 2004 | US |
Child | 11566421 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12397104 | Mar 2009 | US |
Child | 14145061 | US |