Selective cushion unit yoke with integral draft gear housing
AssigneeStrato, Inc.
InventorsMichael RING, Jonathan SUNDE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushioning apparatus for a railway car employs a shortened yoke having a draft gear housing integral with the yoke. A stack elastomeric pads is provided in the housing, and a second stack of elastomeric pads and corresponding rigid metal plates, is positioned in the sill behind the modified yoke to absorb buff loads on the coupler. In embodiments, the entire assembly may be placed in a sill having forward stops, intermediate stops, and rear stops.
Claims28
An end-of-car cushioning apparatus for a railway car adapted to be received in a sill having longitudinal, lateral and vertical dimensions, and rear, front, and intermediate lugs, said intermediate lugs being positioned in the sill longitudinally between the rear lugs and the front lugs, the cushioning apparatus comprising:
- a yoke adapted to be received in the sill and having an open nose at one end adapted to receive a coupler, a tail comprising a transverse tail wall at an end opposite the nose, opposed walls extending from the tail wall to the nose, and an inside area between the opposed walls defined by an integral housing, integral with the yoke;
- a coupler follower member adapted to receive buff force from the coupler and adapted to move inside the yoke, wherein longitudinal travel of the coupler follower in buff and draft directions is limited by contact of the coupler follower with a forward end of the integral housing;
- at least one elastic element positioned within the integral housing;
- and
- a stack of elastomeric units positioned behind the transverse tail wall of the yoke, each elastomeric unit comprising at least one elastomeric pad on a metal plate.
An end-of-car cushioning apparatus for a railway car adapted to be received in a sill having longitudinal, lateral and vertical dimensions, and rear, front, and intermediate lugs, said intermediate lugs being positioned in the sill longitudinally between the rear lugs and the front lugs, the cushioning apparatus comprising:
- a yoke adapted to be received in the sill and having an open nose at one end adapted to receive a coupler, a tail comprising a transverse tail wall at an end opposite the nose, and opposed walls extending from the tail wall to the nose;
- a draft gear, separate from the yoke, clearance being provided between the opposed walls and the draft gear, the draft gear comprising an outer housing, a friction clutch or piston received in the outer housing, and an elastic element in the housing, the friction clutch or piston bearing on the elastic element when buff and draft forces are applied to the coupler;
- a coupler follower member adapted to receive buff force from the coupler and adapted to move inside the yoke, bearing on the piston of the draft gear, wherein longitudinal travel in buff and draft directions is limited by contact of the outer housing of the draft gear and the coupler follower;
- a stack of elastomeric units positioned behind the transverse tail wall of the yoke, each elastomeric unit comprising at least one elastomeric pad on a metal plate;
- and wherein
- the outer housing of the draft gear is received between the intermediate lugs in the sill and bears against the transverse tail wall of the yoke.
An end-of-car cushioning apparatus for a railway car adapted to be received in a sill having longitudinal, lateral and vertical dimensions, and rear, front, and intermediate lugs, said intermediate lugs being positioned in the sill longitudinally between the rear lugs and the front lugs, the cushioning apparatus comprising:
- a yoke adapted to be received in the sill and having an open nose at one end adapted to receive a coupler, a tail comprising a transverse tail wall at an end opposite the nose, opposed walls extending from the tail wall to the nose, and an inside area between the straps, wherein the transverse tail wall has a width adapted to be received between intermediate lugs in the sill;
- a coupler follower member adapted to receive buff force from the coupler and adapted to move inside the yoke
- a first elastic element positioned in the inside area between the opposed walls;
- and
- a buff gear positioned behind the transverse tail wall of the yoke, the buff gear comprising an outer housing, a friction clutch or piston received in the outer housing, and a second elastic element in the housing, the friction clutch or piston bearing on the elastic element when buff forces are applied to the coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.