Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ackground of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake system fora railway vehicle and method of making the same.
2. Prior Art Statement
The brake system of a railway vehicle conven-
tionally includes an actuating cylinder, brake snoes
for the vehicle, and suitable mechanical devices
interconnected between the cylinder and shoes. The
entire brake system is operated by a conventional
control system.
Accordingly, in such a conventional brake system
it is kno~n to provide a brake rod member, a support
structure for the brake rod member, with the support
structure having a horizontally disposed supporting
member which is adapted to support the rod member
for sliding movements thereon, and an antifriction
component made primarily of an ultra high molecular
weight polymeric material and carried by one of the
members with the component serving to minimi~e wear
and enable antifriction movements during the sliding
movements and as diselosed in U.S~ Patent No.
4,0799818.
It is also known in the art to provide a w~ar
member for use between a pair of relatively movable
components of a railway vehicle with ~he wear member
comprising a support having a continuous supporting
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surface, an ultra high molecular weight polymeric
material having an antifriction wear surface, and a
metal grid-like structure for attaching the polymeric
material to the support and supporting same against
the continuous supporting surface while providing
integral reinforcem~nt for the polymeric material
and as disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,238,039.
However, in the brake system disrlosed in the
abovementioned patent, the antifriction component has
the deficiency of comparatively high cost which is
due to the large amount of polymeric material required
and the complex configuration thereof.
It is an object of this invention to provide
an improved brake system for a railway vehicle.
Another object of this invention is to provide
an improved method oE making a brake system of the
character mentioned.
Other aspe~ts, embodiments, objects, and ad-
vantages of this invention will become apparent from
the following specification, claims and drawings.
Summary
In accordance with the present invention there
is provided an improved brake system for a railway
vehicle whicn overcomes the above-mentioned deficiency.
By one aspe~t of this lnvention, tnere is pro-
vided in a brake system for a railway vehicle com-
prising, a brake rod member, a support strueture for
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said brake rod member, said support structure havinga horizontally disposed supporting member which is
adapted to support said rod member for sliding move-
ments thereon, and an antifriction component ~ade
primarily o~ an ultra high molecu~ar weight poly-
meric material and carried by one of said members,
said component serving to minimize wear and enable
antifric~ion movements during said sliding movements,
the improvement in which said component comprises
a solid strip portion of subs~antially rectangular
cross-sectional configuration and said system further
comprises self-contained clip means for locking said
strip portion against said supporting member, said
clip means comprising a pair of resilient parallel
legs and a locking projection extending from the
outer end portion of each parallel leg toward the
other parallel leg, said clip means being disposed
with said parallel legs embracing opposed vertical
surfaces of said supporting member and with said pro-
jections snap locked beneath a bottom surface thereof.
By another aspect of this invention, ther~ isprovided in a method of making a brake system for a
railway vehicle comprising ~he steps of, providing a
brake rod member, fastening a support structure
for said brake rod member on said v~hicle, said sup
port structure having a horizontally disposed
supporting member which is adapted to support said
rod member for sliding movements thereon, providing
an antifriction component made primarily of an ultra
high molecular weight polymeric material, and
attaching said component on one of said members,
said component serving to minimize wear and enable
antifriction movements during said sliding movements,
the improvement in which said step of providing said
component comprises providing a solid strip portion of
substantially rectangular cross-sectional configur-
ation, and said attaching step comprises providing
self-contained clip means and locking said strip
portion against said supporting member with said self-
contained clip means, said clip means comprising a
pair of resilient parallel legs and a locking pro-
jection extending from the ou~er end portion of each
parallel leg toward the other parallel leg, said clip
means being disposed during said locking step with
said parallel legs embracing opposed vertical sur-
faces of said supporting member and with said proj ec-
tions snap locked beneath a bottom surface thereof.
Brief Descrip~ion of the Drawings
The accompanying drawings show present preferred
embodiments of this invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating
an exemplary railway vehicle in the form of a railway
car which utilizes one exemplary embodiment of the
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brake system of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a view, taken essentially on
the line 2-2 of FIG. l, illustrating an antifriction
component supported on a horizontally disposed sup-
porting member of a support s-tructure and such
component serves to minimize wear between a brake rod
member slidably supported on the supporting Member
and such supporting ~ember;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional
view taken essentially on the line 3-3 of FIG. l;
FIG. 4 i5 an exploded isometric view of
the parts illustrated in FIG. 3 particularly showing
the antifriction component and clip means consisting
of a pair of clips for snap locking the component
in position;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4
illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an
antifriction component comprising the brake system
of this invention and associated clip means defined
by a pair of clips made of synthetic plastic material;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-seetional
view, which is similar to FIG. 3, of the assembled
components illustrated in FIG. 5 and also taken through
one of the clips;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view
illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an anti-
friction componen~ of this invention which has integral
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clip means defined as an integral part ther~of;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional
view taken essentially on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view
of the parts illustrated in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is an isometric view with parts
in cross section and parts broken away illustrating
ano~her exemplary embodiment of an antifriction com-
ponent and associated clip means;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional
view taken essentially on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10
with the structure of FIG. 10 installed on its sup-
porting member; and
FIG. 12 is an isometrie view of the anti-
friction component and its clips as shown in FIG. 10
exploded away from its supporting member.
Detailed Description
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings
which illustrates a railway vehicle in the form of
a railway car 15 and such car has a brake system which
i~ designated generally by the reference numeral 16.
The brake system 16 may be of any type known in th~
art and may comprise a suitably supported actuating
cylinder 17 (indicated schematically), brake shoes 18
for the car, a mechanical linkage system 20 ~etween
the cylinder and shoes, and a conventional con~rol
system 21 which is also shown schematically. A more
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detailed presentation of all cooperatin~ components
of the brake system has not been presented in this
disclosure to keep the presentation simple and
easily understandable. Only those coopera~ing parts
of the brake system 16 particularly applicable to
this invention will now be described in detail.
The bral;e system 16 and in particular the
mechanical linka~e SySteM 20 thereof comprises a
plurality of brake rod members including a brake
rod member which is designated by the reference
numeral 23. The system 20 also comprises a sup-
port structure 24 for the brake rod member 23 and
such support structure 24 is often referred to as a
support hanger.
The support hanger or structure 24 of this
example is a substantially U-shaped structure
which has a pair of vertically disposed arms each
designated by the same reference numeral 25, and
a horizontally disposed supporting member 26. The
support arms ar~ suitably fixed to the railway car
15 at the top portions thereo~ and in this example
of the inven~ion such support arms 25 are welded to
a member 27 by welds 30 and the member 27 is in
turn detachably fixed to the underside of the body
of the railway car 15. The horizontally disposed
supporting member 26 of the support structure 24
is particularly adapted to support the rod member 23
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for sliding reciprocating movements thereon and such
movements are designated schematically by the double
arrow 31 in FIG. 1.
The brake system 16 comprises an antifriction
component 32 which is carried by the member 26 and
is engaged by the rod member 23. The component 32
serves to minimize wear and enable antifriction rnove-
ments during sliding movements of the rod 23 on the
horizontally disposed supporting member 26. The
antifriction component 32 is made of an ultra high
molecular weight (UH~) polymeric material and pre-
ferably the component 32 is made of U~v~ polyethylene
having a molecular weight of at least two million.
Preferably the molecular weight of the polymeric
material defining the component 32 is in the range
of four to six million; however, such molecular
weight may be even greatex. The preferred technique
for determining ~his molecular weight is referred to
as the intrinsic viscosity test and is widely used
in the United States.
The component 32 comprises a solid strip por-
tion of substantially rectangular cross-sectional
configuration and the cross-sectional configuration
being referred to is any cross section taken perpen-
dicular to the elongate dimension or longitudinal
axis of such component 32.
The brake system 16 also comprises self-cnntained
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clip means which is designated generally by the
reference numeral 33 for locking the strip portion
32 against the support member 26. The clip means 33
comprises at least one clip and in this example of
the invention comprises a set of two clips each desig-
nated by the same reference numeral 34. Each clip 34
o~ the clip means comprises a pair of parallel legs
each designated by the same reference numeral 35 and
a locking projection 36 extending from the outer end
portion of each parallel leg 35 toward the other parallel
leg 35. The clips 34 of the clip means 33 are dis-
posed with their parallel legs 35 embracing opposed
vertical surfaces, each designated by the same refer-
ence numeral 37 in FIG. 3, of the supporting member
2~ and with the locking projections 36 snap locked
beneath a bottom surface 40 of such supporting mem~
ber 26.
Each locking projection 36 has a cam surface 41
and a locking part 42. Each cam surface 41 is
adapted to urge its associated leg 35 outwardly from
an associa~ed vertical surface 37 during installation
of the strip portion or component 32 against the sup-
porting member 26; and, once the locking part 42 of
a particular locking projec~ion 36 clears the bottom
surface 40 its associated leg 35 snaps inwardly to-
ward the other leg 35 of the pair with the locking
part 42 beneath the bottom surface 40.
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As will be readily apparent from FIGS. 2, 3,
and 4 of thP drawings the strip portion or component
32 in this ex~mple is a separate elongate strip and
the clip means comprises the previously mentioned
pair of substantially U-shaped clips 34. Each U-
shaped clip 34 has a bight 43 with the abovedescribed
pair of legs 35 extending outwardly from such bight
43. Each clip 34 is adapted to be disposed with its
bight 43 against a top surface of the strip portion
or component 32 and with the parallel legs 35 also
embracing opposed ver~ical surfaces of such strip
which are disposed in vertical aligllment with the
opposed surfaces 37 of supporting member and the
vertical surfaces of the strip which are so disposed
in vertical alignmen~ are each designated by the same
reference numeral 45 and illustrated in FIGo 3 of the
drawings.
Each locking porjection 36 is defined as an
angled end poxtion which adjoins the terminal end 46
of its leg 35 as an integral part thereof. In addition,
each angled end portio~ has an outside surface which
defines the cam surface 41 and a reversely fonmed or
bent terminal tip 47 which defines the locking part
42 at the base of such tip.
The elongate strip or component 32 has a pair
of substantially identical elongate cutout slots
therein, each of which is designated by the same
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reference numeral 50. Each cutout slot is of roughly
rectangular cross-sectional configuration and ex-
tends inwardly from the top surface 51 of the compon-
ent 32; and, each cutout slot is preferably disposed
with its elongate aimension perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis or the elongate dimension of the
elongate strip or component 32.
~ ach U-shaped clip 34 of the clip means 33
has its bight 43 which is adapted to be disposed in
nested relation within an associated cutout slot 50,
In particular, the width of each slot 50 is slightly
larger than the corresponding width of the bight 43.
Also, ~he thickness of the bight 43 and the depth of
its associated cutout slot 50 is such that the top
surface of the bight 43, with the clip 34 snap
locked in position, is such that the top surface of
the bight 43 is beneath the top surface 51 of the
component 32 and as illustrated fypically at 52
in FIG~ ~.
Each U-shaped clip 34 in the embodiment of
FIGS. 2-4 is preferably made of a metallic material;
and, any suitable m tallic material known in the art
may be used for this purposP. However, preferably
such clip is made of a ferrous metal which has a
resilient character and is such that the locking pro-
jections thereof will readily snap lock in position
once the clip is installed around an associat~d
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component 32 and its horizontally disposed supporting
member 26.
The brake system 16 may utilize other embodi-
ments of coopera~ing components of this invention and
such other embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 5-6,
7-9, and 10-12 and are comprised of modifications of
the antifriction component 32 and clip means 33 which
are designated by the same reference numerals 32
and 33 followed by the reference lett rs A, B~ and C,
in FIGS, 5-6, 7-9, and 10 12 respectively; and, this
has been achieved for ease of description and under-
standing of the invention. The cooperating components
of FIGS, 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12 are completely inter-
changeable with the previously described similar com-
ponents of FIGS, ~-4.
The co~ponent 32A of FIGS. 5 and 6 is particu-
larly adapted to be supported on the horizontally dis-
posed supporting member 26 in a similar manner as the
component 32 previously described and using similar
clip means 33A. However 9 the clip means 33A is defined
by a pair of clips 34A ea~h of which i~ made of a
synthetic plastic material. Each clip 34A ha~ parallel
legs 35A and locking projections 36A; and, each clip
34A has a bight 43A which is particularly adapted to
be received within an associated cutout slot 50A. In
addition, the locking projection 36A of each clip 34A
also has a c m surface 41A and which terminates in a
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locking par~ 42A, as seen in FIG. 6.
The manner of installing the strip or component
32A in position is substantially the same as previous-
ly described in connection with the installation of
the component 32, with the exception that the plastic
clips 34A are used instead of metal clips. The
plastic clips 34A may be made of any suitable synthetic
plastic material known in the art which is resilient
in character and capable of being used as described
earlier for clips 34 with the loc~ing projections 36A
snap locked in position beneath the bottom surfac
40 of the horizontally disposed supporting member 26.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated
in FIGS. 7-9 the strip portion 32B and the clip means
33B are defined as a single-piece structure which is
designated by the reference numeral 53B. The struc-
ture 53B is made of a single polymeric material and
has a homogeneous character throughout. In particular,
the structure 53B has its portion 32B and its integral
parallel legs 35B preferably made of an ultra high
molecular weight ~U~MW) polymeric material su~h as
polyethylene which has a molecular weight as previous-
ly described.
The single-piece structure 53B may be made
utilizing any technique known in the art; however,
preferably such structure 53B is made by extruding
an elongate workpiece which is then cut so that the
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lPngth thereof enables the structure 53B to bereceived snugly between the supporting arms 25 of an
associated support structure 24 while resting portion
32B against the top surface of the horizontally dis-
posed supporting member 26 with parallel legs 35B
thereof snap locked around member 26.
Each parallel leg 35B of structure 53B has a
locking projection 36B and a cam surface 41B. In
addition, it will be seen that a locking part is
also provided on each locking projection 36B and
defined as a planar shoulder 42B which is disposed
substantially perpendicular to its leg 35B. Further,
in the single-piece structure 53B the parallel legs
35B extend from opposite side portions 54B of the
strip 32B as an integral part thereof and as illus-
trated in FIGS. 8-9.
The strip portion of FIGS. 10-12 is also a
separate elongate strip and is designated by the
reference numeral 32C; and, the clip means 33C in
this example also consists of a pair of metal clips
34C. Fur~her, each clip 34C is subs~antially identical
to the previously described clip 34 and has a pair of
resilient parallel legs 35C and locking projections
36C. Each locking projection 36C has a cam surface
41C and a locking part 42C.
However, in the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 each
clip 34C is disposed with its bight fixed against
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a botto~ portion or surface 56C of the strip 32C.Further, the strip portion or strip 32C has a grid-
like metal structure whieh is preferably in the form
~of an expanded metal structure 57C e~bedded therein.
The expanded metal structure 57C is fixed to
the bight 43C of each clip 34C by suitable means such
as by weld means or spot welds 60C and the polymPric
portion oE the component 32C is formed in position
against the bights 43C of clips 34C while enveloping
the grid-like structure 57C and serving as a matrix
therefor. The weld means or spot welds 60C serve
as means fixing the componen~ 32C to the clip means
33C and in particular to the two clips 34C defining
the clip means 33C. The technique for for~ing the
component 32C in a fixed manner a~ainst ~he bights
43C of the clips 34C is similar to the teclmique
deScribed in the previously r.lentioned United States
Patent i~io. 4,23~,039.
The procedure for installing the component 32C
with its integral clip means 33C, defined by clips
34C, on an associated horizontally disposed sup-
porting member 26 is basically the same as previously
described and will not be repeated.
In tnis disclosure of the invention a plurality
of two clips have been illustrated in connection with
the fastening of the strip portion or components 32,
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32A, and 32C in position. However, it will be
appreciated that in each instance a single clip may
be used to define the clip means or more than two
clips may be used, as desired.
Further, in the presentation of FIGS. 7-9 a
single-piece structure 53B made of an ultra high
molecular weight polymeric ma~erial is defined having
component strip portion 32B and integral legs 35B
on opposite sides which extend along the full
length of the strip portion 32B. However, each leg
on each side of strip portion 32B need not necessarily
extend along the full length thereof but may be pro-
vided essentially as a plurality of int~gral legs
having the general overall appearance of the legs
of the structure illustrated in FIG. 10, for example;
and, this may be achieved by cutouts in the legs 35B.
In this disclosure of the invention the
presentation for each embodiment has been of a
single brake rod member 23 and support structure for
such brake rod member together with an associated
antifriction component. However, it is ~o be under-
stood that a plurality of brake rod members similar to
member 23 are provided in a brake system and each
would be supported with support structure and an
antifriction component as described h~rein.
While present exemplary embodiments of this
invention, and methods of practicing the same, have
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been illustrated and described, it will be recognizPdthat this invention may be otherwise variously embodied
and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
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