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US 4,164,188 AGranted
Self steering railway car
AssigneePullman Incorporated
InventorsKeith J. Hallam, Willis H. Knippel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railway car includes a chassis supported on two sub-frames which are relatively pivotally movable. The sub-frames support propulsion motors, differentials, and driven flanged wheels. And intermediate steering axle and wheel assembly are transversly movable in response to track curvature and a steering beam extending outwardly from the steering axle pivots the sub-frames for steering movement.
Claims26
A railway car having a body,
- an under frame for supporting said body including a chassis,
- a sub-frame assembly at each end of the chassis,
- each sub-frame including a first axle and drive wheels supporting the chassis,
- means connecting each sub-frame assembly for turning movement relative to said chassis for guided engagement with associated tracks,
- a second axle and wheel assembly positioned between said sub-frames,
- guide means slidingly guiding said second axle and wheel assembly for transverse movement relative to said chassis, said guide means including a guide element extending transversely of said chassis, and said second axle and wheel assembly including a guided yoke member supported by said second axle with means on said guided yoke member engaging said guide member in slidingly guided relation during relative transverse movement whereby positive engagement of said second axle and wheel assembly with associated tracks is assured, and
- a steering beam assembly directly connected to said second axle and wheel assembly and longitudinally projecting therefrom toward respective sub-frame assemblies and directly operatively connected to each of said sub-frames and movable in a substantially constant horizontal plane with said second axle and wheel assembly transversely relative of the car in response to track curvature and turning said sub-frames for steering said drive wheels.
4 more elements
In a railway car support structure,
- a longitudinally extending chassis having a pair of end axle and wheel assemblies supporting said chassis and an intermediate axle and wheel assembly,
- means connecting each end axle and wheel assembly for turning movement relative to said chassis for guided engagement with associated tracks,
- means between said chassis and said intermediate axle and wheel assembly providing slidingly guided transverse movement of said intermediate assembly relative to said chassis, whereby positive engagement of said intermediate axle and wheel assembly with associated tracks is assured, and
- steering beam means directly connected to said intermediate axle and wheel assembly and extending to and directly articulatingly connected with respective end axle and wheel assemblies, said steering beam means being operative in a substantially constant horizontal plane attendant to lateral movement of said intermediate axle and wheel assembly to effect pivoting of said end axle and wheel assemblies for steering.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.