Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to a railway vehicle wear member and
method of installing same between a pair of reIatively mo~able components
of such railway vehicle.
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It is known in the art to provide a railway vehicle wear member
for a pair of relatively movable components of such vehicle wherein such
wear member comprises a metal support having a continuous planar support-
ing surface, antifriction polymeric material, and means attaching the poly-
meric material to the support and supporting same against the continuous
supporting surface for the purpose o providing a substantially struc-
10 turally self-supporting wear member. Such a wear member is generally
provided with holding legs or brackets fixed to the metal support for the
purpose of holding the wear member in position on one of the pair of
relatively vable components. The present practice is to provide brackets
or legs on the metal support of the wear member during manufacture and
; prior to shipment thereof to a user whereby such wear member may only~)be
installed in position when a pair of relatively movable components sought
to be protected are apart in a new installation or are first taken apart in
a wear member replacement situation.~ An example of a wear member of this
type has been proposed in United States patent application Serial No.
20 27,340, filed April 5, 1979, now United States Patent No, 4,238,039 issued
Dec. 9, 1980. However, a wear member of this type adds to the total
maintenance costs when used as a replacement part during maintenance and
is thus not desirable for this type of use.
An object of a broad aspect of this invention is to provide a
wear member for use between a pair of relatively mo~able components of a
Failway vehicle which may be easily installed in position without disas-
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sembly of the relatively movable components and after removal of the wear
member which lt replaces..
An object of another aspect of this invention is to provide a
.novel method of installing a wear member.
By one aspect of this invention,.an improvement is provided in
a.wear member for a railway vehicle wherein the vehicle comprises a pair of
relatively movable components and the wear member is supported by one of
the components and protects the components from wear during relative
movement thereof and the wear member comprises: a metal support having a
planar supporting portion; a polymeric material having an antifriction
wear surface engageable by the other component; and means attaching the
polymeric material.to the metal support and supporting same against the
planar supporting portion;:the improvement wherein the support has an
integral holding portion initially extending coplanar with the planar
portion and with the holding portion being adapted to be formed transverse
the planar portion, the holding portion having been finally formed trans-
verse the planar.portion and against the one component with the relatively
movable components substantially-in assembled relation to hold the wear
member against a particular movement relative to the one component.
By a variant thereof, the holding portion comprises a.plurality
of cooperating holding fingers.
By another variant thereof, the extension comprises a plurality
~ ~ ~ of fingers extending in parallel relation from the other side of the
; plar,ar portion.
By a variat1on thereof, the fingers are substantially identical
and each has a substantially rectangular outline.
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sy another variation thereof, the polymeric material comprises
an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
By still another varlation thereof, the metal support is made
of metal sheet with the holding leg~ planar portion, and extension bein~
~e~ed as i~ si~g~e-~iece str~ctu~e~
By still another aspect of this invention, an improvement is
provlded in a wear member for a rallway veh;cle wherein the vehicle com-
prises a pair of relatively movable components and the wear member is
supported by one of the components and protects the components from wear
during relative movement thereof and the wear member comprises; a metal
support having a planar supporting-portion, a polymeric material having an
antifriction wear surface engageable-by the other component; and means
attaching the polymeric material to the metal support and supporting same
against the planar supporting portion, the attaching means comprising a
metal structure fixed to the planar supporting portion, the metal structure
having openings therein which receive the polymeric material therethrough
which serves as a matrix for the metal structure, and the metal structure
serving to reinforce the poiymeric material and prevent cold flow thereof;
the improvement wherein the support has an integral holding por~ion
initially extending coplanar with the-planar portion and with the holding
portion being adapted to be bent transverse the planar portion, the holding
portion having been finally bent transverse the planar portion and against
the one ccmponent with the relatively movable components s~bstantially in
assembled relation to hold the wear member against a particular movement
relative to the one component.
By another aspect of this invention, an improvement is pro~
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vlded in a coupler carrier carrier wear nlember for a railway vehicle
wherein the vehicle comprises a coupler assembly and a coupler carrier
which are relatively movable and the coupler carrier wear member is sup-
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ported by the coupler carrier and protects the coupler assembly and thecoupler carrier from wear during relative movement thereof and the wear
member comprises; a metal suppori having a planar supporting portion prb-
vided with a pair of opposite side edges and a holding leg extending per-
pendicular to one of the side edges, the holding leg being adapted to en~
gage the coupler carrier to hold the wear member against movement in one
direction; a polymeric material defining an antifriction wear surface en-
gageable by the coupler assembly; and means attaching the polymeric
material to the metal support and supporting same against the planar
supporting portion while providing integral reinforcement for the poly-
meric material; the improvement comprising an extension initially extend-
ing from the other of the side edges coplanar with the planar supporting
portion and with the extension being adapted to be formed transverse the
planar supporting portion, the extension having been finally formed
against the coupler carrier with the coupler assembly and coupler carrier
substantially in assembled relation to hold the wear member against
movement in a direction opposite from the one direction.
By yet another aspect of this invention, an improvement is
provided in a coupler carrier wear member for a railway vehicle wherein
said vehicle comprises a coupler assembly and a coupler carrier which are
relatively movable and the coupler carrier wear member is supported by the
coupler carrier and protects the coupler assembly and the coupler carrier
from wear during relative movement thereof and the wear member comprises;
a metal support having a planar supporting portion provided with a pair of
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opposite side edges and a holding leg extending perpendicular to one of
the side edges, the holding leg being adapted to engage the coupler car-
rier to hold the wear member against movement on one direction; a poly-
.
meric material defining an antifriction wear surface engageable by the
coupler assembly; and means attaching the polymeric material to the metal
support and supporting same against the planar supporting portion, the
attaching.means comprising a metal structure fixed to the planar support-
ing portion, the metal structure having openings therein which receive
the polymeric material therethrough which serves as a matrix for the metal
structure, and the metal structure serving to reinforce the polymeric
material and prevent cold flow thereof; the improvement comprising an
extension initially extending from the other.of the side edges coplanar
with the planar supporting portion and with the extension being adapted
to be bent transverse the planar supporting portion, the extension having
been finally bent against the coupler carrier with the coupler assembly
and coupler carrier substantially in assembled relation to hold the wear
member against movement in a direction opposite from the one direction.
By another aspect of this invention, an improvement is provided
in a method of installing a wear member of a railway vehicle between a
pair of relatively movable components thereof while maintaining the com-
ponents in assembled relation, the components having a pair of wear sur-
faces disposed opposite each other, the method comprising the steps of,
providing the wear member comprising, a:support havi.ng a planar support-
ing portion, a polymeric material having an antifriction wear surface en-
gageable by the other component, and means attaching the polymeric mater-
ial against the planar supporting portion of the support, and supporting
the member against one of the components to protect the components from
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wear during relative movement thereof, the improvement wherein the step
of providing the wear member comprises: providing the support thereof
with an integral holding portion extending coplanar with the planar por-
tion; holding the wear surfaces apart with the components in assembled
relation during the supporting step; and forming the extension transverse
the planar portion and against the one component with the relatively mova-
ble components substantially in~assembled relation to hold the wear member
against a particular movement relative to the one component.
By a variant thereof, the step of forming the extension com-
prises: bending the extension.
By another variant thereof, the step of providing the wear
member comprises: providing the support thereof made of metal.
By a variation thereof, the step of providing the wear member
comprises: providing the metal support thereof with the planar extension;
and the further step is provided of cutting the extension to define a
plurality of cooperating holding fingers therein.
By another variation thereof, the cutting step comrpisesL cut-
ting a plurality of equally spaced apart cuts in the extension to define a
plurality of substantially identical hold;ng fingers in the extension.
By a further variant thereof, the cutting step comprises cut-
ting the plurality of cuts in parallel relation to define the substantial~
ly identical holding fingers each having a rectangular outli-ne.
By yet another variation thereof, the forming step comprises
bending the fingers substantially perpendicular to the planar portion and
against the one component.
By another aspect of this invention, an improvement is provided
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in a method of protecting a pair of relatively movable components of a .
railway vehicle against excessive wear during relative movement thereof,
the components having a pair of wear of wear surface disposed opposite each
other, the method comprising the steps of, providing a wear member which
comprises a support having a planar supporting portion, a polymeric mater-
ial having an anti-friction wear surface, and means attaching the polymeric
material against the planar supporting p~rtion of the support and disposing
the wear member between the wear surfaces, the improvement wherein the step
of providing the wear member comprises: providing the support thereof with
an extension extending coplanar-with the planar supporting portion; where-
in the disposing step comprises: holding-the wear surface apart with the
components in assembled relation.and inserting the extension and the planar
supporting portion of the wear member with the polymeric material attached
therèon between the pair of wear surfaces so that the planar supporting
portion engages the wear surface of one of the components and the antifric-
tion surface of the polymeric material is adapted to engage the wear sur-
face of the other of the components; and including the further step of
forming the extension transverse the planar portion and against the one
component with the relatively movable components substantially in assembled
. .
relation to hold the wear member against a particular movement relative to
; the one component.
By a variant thereof, the forming step comprises bending the
extension transverse the planar portion.
By another variant thereof, the extension comprises a plurality
of cooperating holding fingers, and the forming step comprising: bending
each of the fingers transverse the planar portion and against the one
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~ ~ ~ 5 c ~
A
component.
By still another aspect of this invention, an improvement is
provided in a method of protecting a coupler assembly and a coupler
carrier of a railway vehicle agains~ excessive wear during relative
movement thereof, the assembly and carri.er having a pair of wear surfaces
disposed opposite each other, the method comprising the steps of, provid-
ing a wear member which comprises a support having a planar supporting por-
tion provided with a pair of opposite side edges, a holding leg extending
perpendicular to one of the side edges, a polymeric material having an
antifriction wear surface, and means attaching the polymeric material
against the planar supporting portion of the support, disposing the wear
member between the wear surfaces, the improvement wherein the step of pro~
viding the wear member comprises providing the support thereof with an
extension extending from the other of the side edges coplanar with the
planar supporting portion; the disposing step comprises holding the wear
surfaces apart with the components in assembled relation and inserting the
extension and the planar supporting portion of the wear member with the
polymeric material attached thereon between the pair of wear surfaces so
that-the planar supporting portion engages-the wear surface of the coupler
carrier and the antifriction surface.of the polymeric material is adapted
to engage the wear surface of the coupler assembly; the disposing step
further comprising inserting the wear member until the holding leg bhereof
engages the coupler carrier to thereby hold the.wear member against move-
ment in one direction; and comprising the further step of forming the
extension transverse the planar supporting portion, against the coupler
carrier with the coupler assembly and coupler carrier substantially in
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assembled relation to hold the wear member against movement in a direction
opposite from the one direction.
By a variant thereof, the step,of holding the wear surfaces
apart comprises: lifting the wear surface of the coupler assembly
vertically away from the wear surface of the coupler carrier.
By a variation thereof, the extension is defined by a plurality
of cooperating holding fingers, and the forming step comprises: bending
each of the fingers perpendicular to the planar portion and against the
coupler carrier.
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end portion of a
railway freight car showing a coupler and a coupler carrier thereof and
illustrating one exemplary embodiment of an aspect of this invention in the
., form of a coupler carrier wear member disposed between such coupler and
coupler carrier wherein such wear member comprises a metal support having
an extension which has been formed in position and a liner made of an
antifriction polymeric material attached to the metal support;
FIG, 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the
exemplary wear member of FIG. 1 and showing the manner in which holding
2G fingers comprising the-extension thereof are formed in position to hold
the wear me~ber on the coupler carrier;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross~sectional view.showing a portion
of the coupler carrier and coupler of FIG. l with such coupler carrier and
coupler in assembled relation and.with wear surfaces thereof held apart
to facilitate installation of the wear member of an aspect of this inven-
tion between such wear surfaces and illustrating the wear member at the
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commencement of the installing action;
FIG, 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the wear member
essentially in position between the coupler and the coupler carrier and
prior to forming an extension portion of the metal support in position;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG, 4 schematically showing the
extension being formed in position; and
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the coupler against
the wear member now interposed between the wear surfaces and schematically
; illustrating the final forming of the extension.
Reference~is now made-to FIG. 1 of the drawing which illustrates
a fragmentary portion of an end of an exemplary railway vehicle 20. Such
vehicle end has a coupler assembly or coupler 21 and a coupler carrier 22.
As described in the above-mentioned United States Patent No. 4,238,039, and
as known in the art, the coupler assembly 21 and coupler carrier 22 are
relatively movable and define the realtively movable components of the
railway vehicle 20 which are described herein~
An exemplary embodiment of the wear member of an aspect of this
invention is provided and shown in perspective view in FIG. 2. Such wear
member is designated generally by the reference numeral 23. me wear mem-
ber 23 is supported by one of the components 21, 22 and in this example
of an aspect of the invention, the wear member 23 is supported by the
coupler carrier 22. m e wear member 23 protects the components 21 and 22
and in particular the shank portion 24 of the coupler assembly 21 and the
coupler carrier 22 from wear during relative movement thereof.
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Reference is now made to FIGS 2 and 6 of the drawing for a
re detailed presentation of the wear member 23. The wear member 23
comprises a rigid high-strength support which in this example is in the
form of a metal support plate 25 which has a planar supporting portion
26 provided with a pair of opposite side edges consisting of an edge 30
at one extreme side thereof and an edge 31 at its opposite side. The
wear member 23 also comprises a holding leg 32 which extends transverse,
perpendicular in this example, to the side edge 30 and a basically planar
extension, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 33,
which extends coplanar to the planar supporting portion 26 and outwardly
beyond the edge 31 by an extension length 34. The purpose of the ex-
tension 33 and the manner in which such extension is utilized comprise
this invention and will be described in detail subsequently.
The extension 33 is preferably comprised of a plurality of fin-
gers which will be referred to as holding fingers. Each of such fingers
is designated by the same reference numeral 35. The holding fingers 35
may be of any suitable configuration or of different configurations;
however, such fingers 35 are basically identical and are of roughly
rectangular peripheral outline.
The wear member 23 also comprises a polymeric material in the
form of a polymeric matrix material 36 which has an antifriction outer
wear surface 37 and means attaching the polymeric material to the sup-
port, i.e., against the planar supporting portion 26 of the support 25.
Such attaching means is illustrated in FIG. 2 and comprises an expanded
metal structure 40. The expanded metal structure 40 may be attached to
` planar supporting portion 26 utilizing any technique known in the art,
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e.g. welding, mechanical fastening, or other suitable techniques.
The expanded metal structure 40 has openings 41 therein which
receive the polymeric matrix material 36 completely therethrough whereby
the openings 41 provide
~ 6a
optimum embedment of the metal structure 40 whereby such structure 40
provides reinforcement for and prevents cold flow of the polymeric
material 36; with the metal structure being welded or otherwise fixed
against the planar supporting portion 26 of the support plate 25, it will
be appreciated that polymeric matrix material 36 is thus firmly attached
to the support 25.
Having described the detailed construction of the wear member
23 and presented a detailed description of a pair of typical components
(the coupler assembly 21 and coupler carrie~ 22) between which such wear
member may be used, the detailed description will now proceed with a
description of the improved method of installing wear member 23 in posi-
tion in accordance with the teachings of aspects of this invention. In
particular, the wear member of an aspect of this invention is particularly
adapted to be installed during routine maintenance of the coupler
assembly 21 and coupler carrier 22 with these two components 21-22 in
assembled relation.
The coupler assembly 21 and coupler carrier 22 have wear sur-
faces 43 and 44 respectively which are disposed opposite each other and
the wear member 23 of an aspect of this invention is provided to prevent
excessive wear of such surfaces 43 and 44, as is known in the art. In
this example, the wear surface 43 of the coupler assembly 21 comprises the
outside surface of a wear plate 45 which is suitably fixed to the coupler
assembly 41, as by welding, or the like. The wear surface 44 comprises
the outside surface of the basic metallic material of the coupler carrier
22, However, it will be appreciated that the wear surface 44 may also
be provided as an outside surface of a special plate which may be fixed
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in position to the basic metallic structure of the coupler carrier so
as to have an exposed surface thereof defining the wear surface 44.
As indicated earlier the wear member 23 has a planar extension
33 which extends from the planar supporting portion 26 and is disposed
coplanar therewith. The wear
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member 23 is easily installed in position with the coupler assembly 21
and coupler carrier 22 basically in assembled relation as shown in FIG. 3
by disposing such wear member between the wear surfaces 43-44 while
holding the wear surfaces 43 and 44 apart. This holding action is
achieved with the coupler carrier 22 basically installed in its railway
vehicle and merely by lifting vertically against the coupler assembly 21
utilizing a lifting device which is indicated schematically by an arrow
46 in FIG. 3. The lifting device 46 may be any suitable mechanical,
pneumatic, or hydraulic device or jack. In addition, the lifting device
46 may comprise a lifting sling, or the like, associated with an overhead
crane or lifting apparatus.
However, regardless of how the wear surfaces 43-44 are held
apart, it will be appreciated that they are held apart a sufficient dis-
tance, indicated at 47 in FIG. 3, to enable easy insertion of the wear
member 23 therebetween. In particular, the extension 33 i8 first extended
between and through the volume 48 defined by lifting device 46 between the
surfaces 43-44 followed by extending through such volume the planar sup-
porting portion 26 of the wear member 23 with the polymeric material 36
attached thereon. The wear member 23 is inserted through an opening 49
in the coupler carrier 22 and inserted between the wear surfaces 43 and
44 so that the bottom surface 50 of the planar supportion portion 26
of the support 25 engages the wear surface 44 of the coupler carrier 22.
With the wear member 23 in this position the antifriction surface 37 of
the polymeric material 36 is particularly adapted to engage the wear sur-
face 43 of the coupler assembly 21.
The step of inserting the wear member 23 in position is indi-
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cated schematically by the reference arrow 51 in FIG, 3 whereby the
wear member 23 is inserted horizontally until the holding leg 32 thereof
engages the coupler carrier as shown at 52 in FIG. 4 and thereby holds
the wear member 23 against movement in one direction indicated by the
arrow 54.
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In particular, the leg 32 holds the wear member 23 against an associated
edge 53 of the coupler carrier 22 and prevents further movement horizon-
tally in the direction 54. The holding leg 32 has a centrally disposed
arcuate locating projection 55 thereon which engages a corresponding re-
cess in the edge 53 and thereby centers and locates the wear member 23
while preventing movement thereof perpendicular to the direction 54.
Once the wear member 23 is inserted in position, in the manner
illustrated in FIG. 4, the extension 33 is then formed transverse the
planar supporting portion 26 and against the coupler carrier as shown at
56 in FIG. 5 and the forming action is achieved by bending the metal ex-
tension 33 employing a suitable bending mechanism which is shown schemati-
cally by an arrow 57. The initial bending action may be provided with the
lifting device 46 still holding the coupler assembly 21 so that the wear
surfaces 43 and 44 are apart. However, once the extension 33 has been
partially formed or bent, the holding device 46 may be removed as illus-
trated in FIG. 6 thereby allowing the weight of the coupler assembly 21 to
hold the wear member 23:against the surface 44 whereby the device 57 may
be further employed to form the extension 33 against an associated exposed
surface 60 of the coupler carrier 22.
The forming of the extension 33 is achieved with optimum
simplicity inasmuch as such extension is comprised of a plurality of
substantially identical holding fingers 35 Further, by utilizing a
plurality of fingers 35 the side edge 31 of the planar supporting portion
may be precisely defined and the wear member 23 locked in position with
optimum simplicity. The fingers 35 may be defined employing any technique
known in the art and one technique which may be employed is to define
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extension 33 as a single-piece extension having length 34 as previously
described and providing a plurality of equally spaced apart cuts 61 in the
extension 33 to define the fingers 35.
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In this example, the fingers 35 are shown having substantially
rectangular outlines. However, it is to be understood that such fingers
may have other outlines, including trapezoidal, triangular, semicircular,
and the like.
The support 25 comprising the wear member 23 of an aspect of
this invention is preferably in the form of a single-piece support having
the holding leg 32 and the extension 34 with its integral fingers 35
defined as a single piece metal structure ini~ially defined as a bendable
high strength metal sheet or plate. However, it will be appreciated that
the holding leg 32 need not necessarily be provided as part of the single-
piece structure.
In this disclosure of aspects of the invention only one portion,
i.e., extension 33, is shown as being formed in position on site and while
maintaining the coupler 21 and coupler carrier 22 substantially assembled.
However, it will be appreciated that the holding leg portion 32 may also
be formed in position if desired, whereby the wear member 23 may be pro-
vided essentially in flat form. In this latter instance the holding leg
32 would be formed in position essentially as shown and described for the
extension 33~
The wear member 23 of an aspect of this invention is shown as
comprised of a polymeric matrix material which is suitably fixed to
support 25 utili7ing expanded metal 40. However, it will be appreciated
that the polymeric material with its antifriction surface 37 may be fixed
in position utili7ing any suitable technique known in the art.
The metal support 25 is preferably a metal plate or sheet of
uniform thickness throughout and free of holes, apertures, or the like.
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In addition, the expanded metal structure 40 may be any grid-like
structure, or the like, which is easily fastened to the metal support 25
for the purpose of attaching the polymeric material 36 and holding same
against support 25 as well as reinforcing the polymeric matrix 36 and
preventing cold flow thereof.
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The polymeric material 36 may be any suitable material which
provides an antifriction surface 37 which does not require conventional
lubrication and is capable of being used between relatively movable com-
ponents of a railway vehicle. Preferably such polymeric material is an
ultra high molecular weight polymeric material. me ultra high molecular
weight material may have a molecular weight ranging between 4 to 6 mil-
lion. In addition, the ultra high molecular weight polymeric material
is preferably polyethylene and the preferred technique for determining
such molecular weight is referred to in the art as the intrinsic viscosity
test and is widely used in the United States.
In this disclosure of aspeats of the invention the wear member
23 is in the form of a coupler carrier wear member. However, it will be
appreciated that the concepts of other aspects of this invention are
fully applicable to wear members for other relatively movable components
of railway vehicles.
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