Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
(Case No. 8610)
BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR AN ARTICULATED
COUPLING APPARATUS WHICH CONNECTS ADJACENT
ENDS OF A PAIR OF RAIL~4AY CARS TOGETHER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to railway
car coupling devices and, more particularly, this invention
relates to a bearing assembly used in an articulated-type
coupling device which connects one end of a first railway
car to an adjacent predetermined end of a second railway
car, in a semipermanent manner, and which enables all
standard size railway cars presently in use by the railway
industry to negotiate all known curves in present track
structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior to the present invention, in the railroad
industry it has been well known for many years to use
standard couplers which were approved by the Association of
American Railroads (AAR) to connect together adjacent ends
of a pair of railway cars. In this application, for
example, such couplers are designed to facilitate both the
connecting and disconnecting of individual railway cars.
These couplers enable such cars to be readily combined to
make up a train consist, or to be individually separated,
as required, for loading and unloading purposes. .
In more recent times, however, such railroad industry
has discovered that the interconnecting of several railway
cars to form a generally semipermanent unit has a number of
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important advantages. Particularly, for example, railroad
cars adapted for use in °'piggyback" service have been
joined in this manner to advantage. The railroad cars
which are joined in such semipermanent fashion are commonly
referred to in the railroad industry as a "10-pack".
These 10-pack units do not require the use of the standard
coupler, except between units. The primary reason such
standard couplers are not required is because these 10-pack
units are only broken periodically. Normally, this occurs
when maintenance of an individual component must be carried
out. Obviously, considerable cost-savings are achieved
by this semipermanent coupling arrangement. These
cost-savings are mainly derived from lower car weight,
fewer railway trucks, reduced maintenance, and generally
lower equipment cost. Such lower equipment cost being
achieved by elimination of draft gears and a reduction in
the number of trucks required.
With the use of these semipermanent coupling arrange-
ments and with the higher loads presently being carried by
modern railway trains, it is of the utmost importance that
a close-buttoned'relationship be maintained between the
numerous coupler draft components. Such close-buttoned
relationship is required to reduce the effects of the
impact forces which are encountered by a car under buff
conditions of train operations.
One prior type of articulated coupling device used
for the purpose of connecting adjacent ends of a pair of
2
railway cars, in a semipermanent manner, is taught in U. S.
Patent No. 4,258,628. This particular articulated coupling
device includes a male connection member secured to one end
of a first railway car body, and a female connection member
secured to an adjacent end of a second railway car body.
The female connection member, in this arrangement, is
rotatably-engaged in a center plate bowl of a bolster of a
railroad car truck in a manner that is well known in the
railway art. The outer end of the male connection member
1p is disposed for movement in a cavity formed in the outer
end of such female connection member. Both the male and
female connection members are joined, in a semipermanent
manner, by a pin member. one important disadvantage in
this arrangement is that this pin member is positioned in a
vertical direction and disposed in aligned apertures formed
in each of the male and female connection members. The
aperture formed in the male connection member for receiving
the pin member must be somewhat larger than the pin member
itself to allow certain required movements. A rear
surface portion of the aperture formed in the male
connection member for receiving the pin member has a
horizontal concave configuration and a vertical convex
configuration. This configuration enables both the male
connection member and the female connection member to move
in each of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction
in relationship to one another while, at the same time,
providing a relatively substantial area of surface contact
3
between the rear surface of the pin aperture and the pin
member.
Another disadvantage in this coupling arrangement is
that the outer end surface of the outer end of the male
connection member must include a convex configuration which
abuts against a complimentary concave surface formed on a
front face of a follower member. In this coupling device,
the follower member is carried within the rear portion of
the cavity formed in the other end portion of the female
connection member. A pair of vertically-disposed,
slot-like cavities are formed an the rear face of such
follower member. Each of these vertical slots has a
resilient element disposed therein which protrudes
outwardly from such follower member. The exposed
outer surface of each such resilient element is engaged
by a vertically-disposed wedge element. Such wedge
element is provided to urge the follower member and the
male connection member forward. In this manner, the
rear surface portion of the aperture formed in the male
connection member is maintained substantially in contact
with the pin member at all times.
Such contact is necessary in these prior art articulated
coupling devices, because most of the articulated connecting
parts are cast members. In order to reduce the cost of
this coupling device, the cast members receive very little,
if any, finish-machining to provide the necessary or desired
dimensional control. As a result of this, it is rather
4
difficult to provide an articulated coupling device which
is self-adjusting under various wear conditions to minimize
the slack in the various connections encountered during
service. Other prior art articulated coupling devices are
taught in U. S. Patent No. 3,716,146 and Canadian Patent
No. 1,231,078.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bearing assembly
for use in an articulated coupling arrangement. Such
articulated coupling arrangement being utilized to connect
adjacent predetermined ends of a pair of railway cars
together, in a substantially semipermanent manner. The
articulated coupling arrangement has a male connection
member secured to one predetermined end of a first railway
car and a female connection member secured to an adjacent
predetermined end of a second railway car. Such bearing
assembly includes a substantially spherical member. Such
spherical member having a predetermined diameter. A race
assembly formed by at least two members is provided. Each
of such at least two members, which farm the race assembly,
have a substantially spherical inner surface. This inner
surface is positioned around a predetermined portion of the
spherical member. An outer surface of such race assembly
has a substantially identical size and a substantially
identical configuration as a predetermined size and
predetermined configuration of an aperture farmed in one
end of such male connection member when such at least two
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members forming such race assembly are positioned around
such predetermined portion of such spherical member. Such
race assembly enables requisite movement of such male
connection member in relation to such female connection
member in each of a vertical direction and a horizontal
direction over a predetermined range of angles measured
from each of a centerline of such spherical member disposed
in a vertical direction and a longitudinal axis. of such
articulated coupling arrangement disposed in a horizontal
direction. There is a securing means provided which is
engageable with each of such race assembly and such male
connection means for securing such race assembly and
such spherical member to such second end of such male
connection member. The'final essential element of such
bearing assembly is a pair of shaft members. Such shaft
members extend outwardly a predetermined length from
axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical member.
A longitudinal axis of such pair of shaft members being
in a substantially horizontal plane. One of such pair of
shaft members being engageable with a respective one of an
opening formed through each of a pair of upstanding side
wall portions of a cavity formed in one end of such female
connection member. At least a portion of each of such
pair of shaft members having a substantially identical
configuration as at least a portion of a predetermined
configuration of such opening formed through such side wall
portion of such cavity.
6
0&TECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the
present invention to provide a bearing assembly for use in
an articulable coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent
ends of a pair of railway cars together, in a semipermanent
manner, which requires fewer components.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a bearing assembly for use in an articulable coupling
apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway
1d cars together, in a semipermanent manner, in which a
minimum number of components must move relative to one
another during operation of such railway cars.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a bearing assembly for use in an articulable
coupling apparatus for connecting, in a semipermanent
manner, the adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars
together which is relatively simple to assembly and
disassemble.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
2p a bearing assembly for use in an articulable coupling
apparatus for connecting, in a semipermanent manner, the
adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together, which can
be adapted to any of the presently approved lengths for
such railway cars, and which can operate on all of the
various curves in the tracks in use at the present time.
An additional object of the present invention is to
provide a bearing assembly for use in an articulable
7
coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair
of railway cars together, in a semipermanen~t manner, which
can be more easily maintained in proper working order.
Yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a bearing assembly for use in an articulable
coupling apparatus far connecting adjacent ends of a pair
of railway cars together, in a semipermanent manner, which
requires a minimum amount of machining of the finished
components.
,0 Another object of the present invention is to provide
a bearing assembly for use in an articulable coupling
apparatus for connecting, in a semipermanent manner, the
adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together, which
generally will be lighter in weight than presently used
15 articulated coupling devices.
Still yet another object of the present invention is
to provide a bearing assembly for use in an articulable
coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair
of railway cars together, in a semipermanent manner, which
20 will be cost-effective for the railroad industry.
In addition to the above-described objects and
advantages of the bearing assembly for use in an
articulable coupling apparatus, various other objects
and advantages of the present invention will become more
25 readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the
railway coupling art, from the following mare detailed
description of the invention, particularly when such
8
description is taken in conjunction with the attached
drawing figures and with the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in
cross-section, which illustrates one presently preferred
embodiment of a bearing assembly constructed according to
the present invention for use in an articulable coupling
apparatus
FIG. 2 is a top view, partially in cross-section, of
l0 the bearing assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view which illustrates an alternative
embodiment of a bearing assembly for use in an articulable
coupling apparatus; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines
15 IV-IV of FIG. 3.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description
of the instant invention, it should be noted that in
each of the several views illustrated in the drawings
20 identical. components which have identical functions have
been identified, for the sake of clarity, with identical
reference numerals.
Now refer more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which
there is illustrated one presently preferred embodiment of
25 a bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling
apparatus, generally designated 10, that is constructed in
accordance with the principals of the present invention.
9
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This articulable-type coupling apparatus 10 can be
retrofitted to existing railway cars, if desired, and
is capable of connecting together, in a substantially
semipermanent manner, at least one predetermined end
of a first railway car (not shown) to an adjacent
predetermined end of a second railway car (not shown).
Such articulated coupling apparatus 1o generally
includes a male connection member, generally designated
20, a female connection member, generally designated 30, a
bearing assembly, constructed according to this invention
and generally designated 90, and a means, generally
designated 50 for securing the bearing assembly X10 to
such articulated coupling apparatus 10 in a semipermanent
fashion.
The male connection member 20 is adapted at a first
end 12 thereof in a manner that will enable such male
connection member 20 to be engaged with and connected to
one predetermined end of a center sill member (not shown)
disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of
one of such first railway car and such second railway car.
Prior to being secured in place, preferably by welding,
such first end 12 of the male connection member 20 is
positioned within the center sill portion for a
predetermined distance. Usually such predetermined
distance will be about 6 to 10 inches and about 8 inches
being preferred and typical-. Because such first end 12 of
the male connection member 20 must fit within the center
2~8~~5Q
sill portion of the railway car, its outer dimensions
are substantially controlled by the inner dimensions of
such center sill portion. The second end 14 of such
male connection member 20 is generally an elongated
rectangular-shaped element. The outermost send 18 of such
second end 14 of the male connection member 20 has a convex
shape in a plane which extends in both a vertical direction
and a horizontal direction. In addition, the bottom wall
portion 22 of such second end 14 of the male connection
member 20 is tapered upwardly starting from a predetermined
position and extending toward such first end 12. Such
tapered portion has a taper of at least about 10 degrees.
The purpose of this tapered portion of such bottom wall 22
of the male connection member 20 is to allow flexing in a
horizontal plane when the cars are moving over hilly
terrain.
Disposed within such second end 14 of the male
connection member 20 is an aperture 16, the purpose
of which will become clear as the description of the
.0 articulated coupling apparatus 10 proceeds. The aperture .
16 includes a predetermined size and a predetermined
shape. Such aperture 16 is formed through a predetermined
portion of the second end 14 of such male connection member
20. This aperture 16 has a longitudinal axis that is
25 disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of such male
connection member 20 and lies in a substantially horizontal
plane.
11
The female connection member 30 includes a first end
24 which is configured in a manner that will enable
such female connection member 30 to be engaged with and
connected to an adjacent predetermined end of a center
sill member (not shown) disposed substantially along a
longitudinal centerline of an opposite one of such first
railway car and such second railway car (not shown).
A cavity 26 is formed in a second end of the female
connection member 30. This cavity 26 receives therein at
least a portion of each of the second end 14 of such male
connection member 20 and such aperture 16 formed through
the predetermined portion of such second end 14 of the
male connection member 20. This cavity 26 is formed
by a substantially horizontally-disposed bottom wall
portion 32, a substantially vertically-disposed back
wall portion 34 connected along a bottom edge thereof to
a rear edge of such bottom wall portion 32, and a pair of
vertically-disposed side wall portions 36 connected along a
bottom edge thereof to the bottom wall portion 32 and along
a rear edge thereof to such back wall portion 34. A
vertically-disposed plane which intersects a geometric
centerline of each respective one of such pair of side
wall portions 36 being substantially parallel to each
other. An inner surface of each of such bottom wall
portion 32 and such rear wall portion 34 and such pair
of side wall portions 36 define a predetermined size and a
predetermined shape of the cavity 26 which is open adjacent
a top and front surface thereof.
12
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An opening 38 is formed through a predetermined portion
of each one of the pair of side wall portions 36. Each
opening 38 at least includes a slot-like portion adjacent
an upper surface of a respective side wall portion 36.
Such each opening 38 has a predetermined configuration.
The articulated coupling apparatus 10 includes a
bearing assembly 40. Such bearing assembly 40 includes
a substantially spherical member 42. At least a
predetermined portion of such spherical member 42 is
positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the
predetermined portion of the second end 14 of the male
connection member 20. Such spherical member 42 hag a
predetermined diameter. In the presently preferred
embodiment, the spherical member 42 includes a pair of
axially-opposed flat surfaces 61. Such being assembly 40
has a race assembly 44, having a substantially spherical
inner surface positioned around such predetermined portion
of the spherical member 42, is positioned within the
aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection
member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30
in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction
over a predetermined range. Such race assembly 44 includes
an outer surface which is substantially identical to such
predetermined size and such predetermined shape of such
aperture 16 formed through the predetermined portion of
said second end 14 of the male connection member 20.
A first securing means, generally designated 60, is
engageable with each of such race assembly 44 and such
13
second end 14 of said male connection member 20 for
securing this race assembly 44 and the spherical member
42 to such second end 14 of said male connection member 20.
A pair of shaft members 46 extend outwardly a
predetermined length from axially-opposed ~>urfaces of
such spherical member 42. One of such pair of shaft
members 46 being engaged in a respective one of such
opening 38 formed through such each one of such pair of
side wall portions 36 of such cavity 26 formed in the
second end of such female connection member 30. At least
a portion of each of such pair of shaft members 46 having a
substantially identical configuration as at least a portion
of such predetermined configuration of such opening 38
formed through such side wall portions 36.
A second securing means, generally designated 50, is
engageable with at least one of such pair of shaft members
46 and a portion of such opening 38 formed through such
side wall portions 36 for securing such bearing assembly
40 to such female'connection member 30 and thereby securing
the male connection member 20 to such female connection
member 30 to form the articulable--type coupling apparatus
10 of the instant invention.
In one form of the invention, such substantially
spherical inner surface of the race assembly 44 will have
a substantially identical radius as the radius of such
spherical member 42.
In the most preferred embodiment of the invention,
however, such substantially spherical inner surface of
14
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such race assembly 44 will be slightly larger than the
radius of such spherical member 42. Tn this case, such
articulable-type coupling apparatus 10 further includes a
lubricating liner 48 disposed intermediate such inner
surface of the race assembly 44 and the spherical member
42.
It is presently preferred that such lubricating liner
48 will be formed in at least two pieces. It is also
preferred that such lubricating liner 48 be bonded to such
inner surface of the race assembly 44. Such bonding of
such lubricating liner 48 to such inner surface of the race
assembly 44 preferably being accomplished by an adhesive
material.
According to the present invention, the bottom wall
portion 32 of such cavity 26 formed in the second end of
such female connection member 30 further includes a center
plate member 52 which matingly-engages a center bowl (not
shown) of a bolster portion (not shown) of a railway car
truck (not shown). Such center plate member 52 includes
a vertically-disposed hole 54 adjacent a bottom surface 56
thereof. Such hole 54 is located substantially in the
center of such center plate member 52.
Additionally, the articulable-type coupling apparatus
10 further includes a vertically-disposed pin member (not
shown) which is engageable in such hole 54 in said center
plate member 52 and a vertically-disposed hole (not shown)
in such center bowl of such bolster.
20~~~~0
It is presently preferred that the bottom surface 56 of
such center plate member 52, which is a bearing surface, be
hardened to at least about 375 Brinell for a depth of at
least about one-eighth inch.
Further, such center plate member 52 is substantially
round, and a vertically-disposed side 58 thereof is
hardened to a Brinell hardness of at least about 300 for
a distance of at least about one inch up from said bottom
surface 56 and to a depth of about one-eighth inch.
l0 In the presently preferred embodiment of this invention,
the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 has a
predetermined configuration adjacent an outermost end 18
thereof. This predetermined configuration of such outermost
end 18 of said second end 14 of such male connection
member 20 is a substantially convex shape in each of a
vertically-disposed plane and a horizontally-disposed plane.
In addition, it is preferred that the vertically-disposed
back wall portion 34 of such cavity 26 formed in said second
end of such female connection member 30 has a predetermined
configuration. This predetermined configuration of such
vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 of said cavity
26 is a substantially concave shape in at least one of a
vertical plane and a horizontal plane.
In this embodiment of the invention, it is also preferred
that the predetermined shape of the aperture 16, formed
through such predetermined portion of the second end 14
of such male cannection member 20, is substantially round.
16
2~~0~~0
Additionally, this aperture 16 includes a beveled portion
59 adjacent at least one predetermined outer surface
thereof.
In this case, the race assembly 44 includes a compli-
mentary bevelad ledge portion 62 which abuttingly-engages
such beveled portion 59 adjacent such at least one
predetermined outer surface of such aperture 16 farmed
through the predetermined portion of such second end 14
of such male connection member 20.
Furthermore, it is preferred that such race assembly 44
be formed in at least two pieces, which two pieces would be
substantially identical.
It is likewise preferred that such spherical member 42
and such pair of shaft members 46, forming a portion of the
15 bearing assembly 40 of such articulated coupling apparatus
10, be formed as a single piece.
The first securing means 60, engageable with each of
such race assembly 44 and such second end 14 of the male
connection member 20, can be a weldment or a plate member
20 (not shown) bolted to such second end 14 of such male
connection member 20.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, such
pair of vertically°disposed side wall portions 36 include
a tapered portion adjacent the front surface of such cavity
25 26 and adjacent such vertically-disposed back wall portion
34 of such cavity 26 to enable the second end 14 of such
male connection member 20 to rotate about such spherical
member 42 in a horizontal direction.
17
e~
Finally, the predetermined configuration of such opening
38 formed through such each pair of vertically-disposed
side wall portions 36 at least includes a generally round
portion engageable with a portion of a respective one of
such pair of shaft members 46.
In the alternative embodiment of the bearing assembly
40 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, such bearing assembly 40
includes a substantially spherical member 62. At least a
predetermined portion of such spherical member 62 is
positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the
predetermined portion of the second end 14 of the male
connection member 20. Such spherical member 62 has a
predetermined diameter,
A bore 63 is formed through such spherical member
42. The bore 63 has each of a predetermined size and a
predetermined shape. A longitudinal axis of such bore 63
lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
A pin member 65, which has a horizontally-dispased axis,
is provided. Such pin member 65 extends through the bore 63
in such spherical member 62 for a predetermined length on
each side of axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical
member 62. A portion of such pin member 65 is disposed
within the bore 63 of the spherical member 62 and has a
substantially identical size and a substantially identical
shape as the predetermined size and predetermined shape of
such bore 63 thereby enabling a press-fit. At least a
portion of such predetermined length on each side of such
18
spherical member 62, which engages at least a portion of
such opening 38 formed through such pair of side wall
portions 36, has a substantially identical size and
identical configuration as such predetermined configuration
of the opening 38.
A race assembly 44, having a substantially spherical
inner surface positioned around such predetermined portion
of the spherical member 62, is positioned within the
aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection
member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30
in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over
a predetermined range. Such race assembly 44 includes an
outer surface which is substantially identical to such
predetermined size and such predetermined shape of such
aperture 16 formed through the predetermined portion of
said second end 14 of the male connection member 20.
While a number of embodiments of the bearing assembly
for use in an articulated coupling apparatus, constructed
according to the present invention, have been described in
detail above, it should be obvious to persons skilled in the
railway coupling art that various other modifications and
adaptations of such articulated coupling apparatus can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
19
