Railcar draft gear housing

A railcar draft gear housing comprising:

• an as cast austempered ductile iron casting having an open end, a closed end, wall structure axially extending between said ends and wherein said casting has an original shape, with said wall structure defines an axial section spaced from and between said ends of said casting, with said axial section having a generally uniform cross-sectional thickness along a length thereof measuring between about 9.5 inches an about 17.5 inches such that the axial section of the wall structure of said casting acts to absorb, dissipate, and return energy imparted to said housing and resulting from impact loads applied thereto in excess of 81,000 inch pounds while retaining and exhibiting substantially linear elasticity wherein the resultant ratio of stress to strain remains substantially constant so as to allow said casting to returns to said original shape after the axial energy imparted to said casting is removed, and with the axial section of said wall structure having a minimum yield strength ranging between about 100 ksi. and about 150 ksi., with a minimum compression in 2 inches ranging between generally about 3% and about 15%, and with a BHN within a range of generally between about 302 and about 500.

A railcar draft gear assembly including a spring assembly for dissipating energy forces imparted to said draft gear assembly and as cast draft gear housing designed to surround said spring assembly, wherein said draft gear housing is formed from an austempered composite metal material having a density of generally about 0.25 lb./cu. in., and wherein said housing includes an open end, a closed end, wall structure axially extending between said ends and an original shape including a predetermined operative length, with said wall structure including a tubular axial section having a generally uniform cross-sectional thickness along a length thereof ranging between about 9.5 inches and about 17.5 inches such that said axial section of said wall structure offers over-solid energy absorption protection for said draft gear assembly and is configured to withstand impact energy in excess of 81,000 inch pounds while retaining and exhibiting substantially linear elasticity wherein the resultant ratio of energy input remains substantially constant, with the original shape and predetermined operative length returning to said casting after the impact energy imparted to said casting is removed therefrom.