US2267814A - Railway truck - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941.

w. E. BURDICK 2,267,814

RAILWAY TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1939 I INVENTOR: WILLIAM E. BuRo/cK law? xATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1941. w. E. BURDICK RAILWAY TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1939 INVENTOR; WILLIAM E BURDICK BY W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, i941 RAILWAY TRUCK William E. Burdick, Springfield, Pa., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,901

14 Claims. (01. 105-195) The invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in a spring and spring equalizing structure for trucks and is particularly adapted for use in six-wheel trucks for locomotive tenders in high speed trains.

The main function of locomotive tenders is to carry water and fuel supply for the locomotive, and the requirements for resiliently supporting the tender on the axles to obtain the desired riding qualities are important because there is a great variation in the load which changes from full load to light load after most of the coal and water has been used. In order to obtain good riding qualities and safe riding qualities, particularly at high speeds, it is important that the truck spring system be so arranged that the springs be quick enough in their action and that synchronization of vibrations, due to the spring action, be kept to a minimum as otherwise there may be excessive bouncing action.

One type of six-wheel tender truck in general use previously included a spring support comprising a spring and rigid lever equalizing system extending from one end of the frame to the other and embodied the use of semi-elliptic springs on each of the journal boxes. The action of semielliptic springs absorbs the rail shocks or other forces applied thereto rather slowly because they are natural dampeners of the forces due to the friction between the leaves of the spring. When coil springs are used on each of the journal boxes, the action is more rapid, but there is a tendency for successive shocks to synchronize the vibrations of the springs, causing excessive bouncing and increasing the likelihood of derailments, especially when under light load, and when the train is operated at greater speeds than heretofore operated. The actions of each of these spring arrangements give poorer riding qualities as the speed of the train is increased.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a spring and spring equalizing arrangement which has a quick action to absorb the rail shocks and to include a dampening means to dampen the cumulative effect of successive shocks to prevent synchronization of the spring reactions which would result in excessive bouncing and poorer riding qualities. This is accomplished by providing a spring equalizing system which has a coil spring unit on one or more of the journal boxes and at least one leaf spring unit on another joumal box, which units adequately respond to light shocks and will adequately absorb heavier shocks to dampen the vibrations.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention- Figure 1 is a top view of one longitudinal half of a six-wheel tender truck, a portion of the truck frame being broken away and sectioned to Enore clearly illustrate other parts of the strucure.

Figure 2 is in part a side elevation and in part a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the corresponding section line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the corresponding section line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic side elevations illustrating modified arrangements of the spring units.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan illustrating another arrangement of spring units.

The truck shown in Figures 14 includes the usual wheels I, axles 2, boxes 3 and a rigid frame having hollow wheel pieces 4 with depending pedestal jaws 5, transverse transoms 6, end rails I and the brake gear brackets 8. A bolster 9, including a body supporting center plate I0, is carried by swinging links H (Fig. 3) pivotally suspended at l2 on the truck frame transoms in a manner well known in the art.

Each journal box 3 mounts a spring unit. The unit on the middle journal box consists of the usual semi-elliptic or plural leaf spring l3 and the spring unit on each end journal box is a composite structure which includes a spring seat l4 having a downwardly-facing central portion seated in a recess in the top of the box, the spring seat extending longitudinally of the truck beyond the sides of the box. A series of coil springs l5 are disposed side by side along seat I! and a spring cap l6 rests on springs 15 and extends beyond the same and the ends of seat I4 to form upwardly-facing hooks l1. A link I 8 is suspended by the outer hook I! on each cap [6 and supports a plate I9. A coil spring 20 is compressed between plate l9 and a downwardlyfacing flange 2| on the truck frame. A link 22 is suspended from the other end of cap I6 and cooperates with a similar link 23 suspended from the adjacent end of leaf spring l3 to support a rigid equalizer having a rocker bearing 25 on the truck frame.

Preferably, all of the spring units and the equalizers are housed within the frame wheel pieces, but this is not essential and other types of frames may be used in place of that illustrated.

The arrangement described and illustrated overcomes the difficulties mentioned in the introductory portion of the specification as the coil springs on the end journal boxes will act quickly to absorb the shocks and the semi-elliptic spring on the middle boxes will offer suflicient resistance between its leaves to dampen out the vibrations that may be set up in the coil springs, resulting in better riding qualities than is obtained in the other previous arrangements.

Because the rail shocks are first transferred to one of the end axles, according to the direction of the vehicle along the track, and then to the other axles, the placing of the coil spring units on the end journal boxes is the preferred construction as the shocks will first be transferred through the quick acting coil springs and then to the semi-elliptic springs.

It may be desirable, however, in some cases, to arrange the coil and leaf spring units otherwise and Figure illustrates a form of the invention in which the leaf spring units 30. are placed over each end journal box 3| and the coil spring unit 32 is placed over the middle journal box 33.

Figure 6 illustrates a form of the invention in which the leaf spring unit 40 is placed over one end journal box 4| and the coil spring units 42 are placed over the other two journal boxes 43.

Figure '7 illustrates another form of the invention in which the coil spring unit 50 is placed over one end journal box 5| and leaf spring units 52 are placed over the other two journal boxes 53.

In each form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and '7 the intermediate equalizers and the end anchorages are substantially the same as previously described. Each arrangement of the springs may be advantageous under certain conditions which might not exist where different types of truck construction are used or where a vehicle of different type or different capacity is mounted on the trucks or where the truck is operated under a different kind of track or in a different service.

All forms of the invention include the common feature of a spring equalizing system which combines a leaf spring unit with a coil spring unit having a length corresponding to that of the leaf spring but also having the easy compression characteristics of coil springs.

Although Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate but one side of the truck, it will be understood that the opposite side of the truck may include a similar arrangement of leaf spring, coil spring and equalizer units or, if desired, may include a different arrangement of such units, one form of which is illustrated in Figure 8 in which coil spring units 60 and BI are mounted on the end boxes at the lower side of the: diagram, and a leaf spring unit 62 is mounted on the center axis.

, Two leaf spring units 63 and 64 are mounted on the end boxes at the upper side of the diagram and a coil spring unit 55 is mounted on the center axle. Equalizers 65 and 61 connect the springs and the ends of the springs are anchored to the truck frame as in the forms previously described.

The equalizing systems on opposite sides of the truck may be cross equalized in various ways familiar to the art.

Although a six-wheel truck is illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to a truck or locomotive bed having a greater number of wheels and axles than illustrated.

The details of the mounting of the spring units and their connections to each other and the support of the truck frame thereon are not essential, but these and other elements of the construction may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use.of such modifications as come within the scope of the claims is con templated.

What is claimedis:

1. In a railway truck, a series of wheeled axle members, a truck frame member extending over all of said axle members, and a spring equalizing system extending along the side of the truck and supporting said frame member from a plurality of said axle members and comprising a plurality of units arranged end to end lengthwise of the truck, connections between the adjacent ends of said units and between the outer ends of the system and the frame member, each unit intermediate its ends engaging one of said members, one of said units engaging an axle member being of a leaf spring type exclusively and another of said units engaging an axle member being of a coil spring type exclusively consisting of a plurality of upright coil springs compressed between a lower spring seat, supported intermediate its ends on the axle member, and an elongated upper spring seat movable relative to said members, the connections to the ends of said coil spring type unit being through the ends of said upper spring seat only.

2. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the connection between the leaf spring type unit and the coil spring type unit is substantially rigid from end to end and intermediate its ends is pivoted to the truck frame member.

3. A truck as described in claim 1 which includes two spring units of one type of spring and one spring unit of the other type of spring.

4. A truck as described in claim 1 which the spring equalizing system includes two spring units of the coil spring type and one spring unit of the leaf spring type.

5. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the spring equalizing system includes two spring units of the leaf spring type and one spring unit of the coil spring type. x

6. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the spring equalizing system includes two spring units of the coil spring type at the ends of the truck and one spring unit of the leaf spring type between said coil spring units.

7. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the spring equalizing system includes two spring units of one type at one end and at the middle of the truck respectively and one spring unit of the other type at the other end of the truck.

8. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the spring equalizing system includes two spring units of the coil spring type at one end and at the middle of the truck respectively and one spring unit of the leaf spring type at the other endof the truck.

9. In a railway truck, a series of wheeled axles exceeding two in number, a truck frame, and a continuous equalizing system carried by said axles and comprising alternate spring units, seated on said axles, and levers pivoted intermediate their ends to said frame, one of said spring units being a leaf spring and another of said spring units comprising a seat mounted intermediate its ends on an axle and carrying a plurality of coil springs which mount a saddle, the ends of said system being anchored to the truck frame and the ends of said leaf spring and said saddle between the axles being connected to the adjacent ends of said levers.

10. In a railway truck, three wheeled axles, journal boxes thereon, a truck frame, a spring unit of leaf spring type exclusively mounted on one of said boxes, a spring unit mounted intermediate its ends on an adjacent box and comprising an elongated spring seat with a plurality of springs of coil spring type exclusively disposed along the same and mounting an elongated cap, an equalizer bar having its ends secured to the ends of said leaf spring unit and said cap respectively and intermediate its ends being pivoted to said frame, a spring structure on the remaining journal box, another equalizer connecting said spring structure and one of said units and intermediate its ends being pivoted to said frame.

11. In a raliway truck, three wheeled axles, a truck frame, a spring seat mounted on each of the end axles and elongated longitudinally of the truck, a series of springs of coil type exclusively on each of said seats, an elongated cap carried on each of said series of springs, the outer end of each of said caps being anchored to the truck frame, a rigid equalizer supporting the truck frame inwardly of each of said seats, connections between the outer end of each of said equalizers and the adjacent end of the corre sponding spring cap, and a leaf spring mounted on the middle axle with its ends connected to th inner ends of said equalizers.

12. A truck as described in claim 1 in which the spring equalizing systems at opposite sides of the truck comprise similar alternate arrangements of leaf spring units and coil spring units.

13. In a railway truck, three wheeled axles, a truck frame, a spring seat mounted on each of two of said axles and elongated longitudinally of the truck, a series of springs of coil type exclusively carried on each of said seats, an elongated capmember carried on each of said series 1 of springs, a leaf spring member mounted on the other axle, the outer ends of said members nearest the end of the truck being anchored to the truck frame, rigid equalizers supporting the truck frame between said axles, and connections between the ends of said equalizers and the adjacent ends of said members.

14. In a railway truck, three wheeled axles, a truck frame, a spring seat mounted on the middle axle and elongated longitudinally of the truck, a series of springs of coil type exclusively arranged side by side on said seat, an elongated cap carried on said series of springs, a rigid equalizer extending longitudinally of the truck from each end of said cap and supporting the truck frame between adjacent axles, connections between the inner end of each of said equalizers and the adjacent end of said spring cap, and leaf springs mounted on the end axles with their inner ends connected to the outer ends of said equalizers and with their outer ends anchored to Y the truck frame.

E. BURDICK.

Images