Friction shoe

A scrubber shoe for tread conditioning a tread surface of a metal rail vehicle wheel, comprising:

• a backing plate having a top side, an under side, a first long edge, a second long edge, a long axis, and a cross axis that is perpendicular to the long axis, a width of the backing plate along the cross axis being shorter than a length of the backing plate along the long axis;
• plural spaced-apart inserts attached to the underside of the backing plate, wherein each of the inserts has a respective insert length parallel to the cross axis of the backing plate, at least one respective insert width parallel to the long axis of the backing plate and perpendicular to the length, and at least one respective insert height extending in a normal direction to the backing plate and perpendicular to the insert length and at least one insert width, and the inserts are arrayed parallel to one another relative to their respective insert lengths, and each of the inserts defines a respective end surface positioned away from the backing plate by a distance corresponding to the respective at least one insert height,
• wherein the inserts taper in width in the normal direction, the inserts being wider closer to the backing plate and narrower at the end surfaces,
• wherein the backing plate and plural inserts are integrally made of cast iron;
• and
• a composite body comprising a composite material and attached to the backing plate and at least partially disposed between and around the plural inserts, wherein the bottom surface of the composite body and the end surfaces of the inserts together define an arcuate friction surface of the friction shoe for engaging the tread surface of the rail vehicle wheel, wherein the arcuate friction surface tapers in a direction extending from the first long edge of the backing plate to the second long edge of the backing plate,
• wherein a respective total length of the end surface of each of the plural inserts, parallel to the backing plate cross axis, is from 65 to 85 percent of a total width of the backing plate along the cross axis.

A friction shoe comprising:

• a backing plate having a top side, an under side, a long axis, and a cross axis that is perpendicular to the long axis, a width of the backing plate along the cross axis being shorter than a length of the backing plate along the long axis;
• and
• plural spaced-apart inserts attached to the under side of the backing plate, wherein the backing plate and plural inserts are integrally made of cast iron, wherein the inserts have respective insert lengths parallel to one another and to the cross axis, and wherein the inserts define respective tread-conditioning end surfaces;
• and
• a composite body attached to the backing plate and disposed between the inserts and around a side periphery of the inserts, and the composite body defines a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the composite body and the end surfaces of the inserts together define an arcuate friction surface of the friction shoe for engaging a tread surface of a rail vehicle wheel.