US 4,294,175 A · Swivel-truck spring system for railroad use

Abstract

This disclosure concerns a spring system between the body of a railroad car and the wheel supporting truck. The spring system includes a coil spring for absorbing vertical forces and includes a rubber layer spring for absorbing lateral forces, the latter resulting from lateral impact and movement of the railway car along curves in the track. The last mentioned rubber spring is coaxial with and placed inside the first-mentioned coil spring, thereby minimizing the vertical height of the spring system. A pair of spring washers extends laterally between the car body and the truck. The spring washers are held apart by the coil spring. The rubber spring is divided between a first section above the upper spring washer and the undercarriage of the car and a second section beneath the lower spring washer and the frame of the truck. The spring washers have a plurality of troughs for receiving a plurality of sets of springs. For rigidifying purposes, the spring washers on opposite sides of the truck are held together by rigidifying bars.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A swivel truck spring system for a railroad car, or the like, comprising:

a truck, including a frame and rotatable wheels supported on said frame;
first and second spring means arranged in series between said truck frame and the body of the railroad car, with said first spring means being adapted for absorbing vertical load forces and with said second spring means being adapted for absorbing lateral load forces;
said first and said second spring means being laterally spaced apart and being near each other, thereby to take up both vertical and lateral forces, while minimizing the height of the combined structure of said first and said second spring means;
a pair of normally spaced apart spring washers for each set of said first and said second spring means;
said spring washers extending laterally between said truck frame and the body of the railroad car, or the like;
said first spring means being between said spring washers and said second spring means comprising one second spring between the uppermost said washer and the car body and another second spring between the lowermost said washer and said truck frame.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Swivel-truck spring system for railroad use

Life of this patent

Swivel-truck spring system for railroad use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25