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US 9,221,475 B2Granted
Self lubricated spherical transom bearing
AssigneeRoller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
InventorJames Voisine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system for a rail car has at least two undercarriage members and at least one equalizer bar removably and pivotally secured to and between the two undercarriage members. A spherical bearing has an outer member that surrounds an inner member. The outer member is removably secured to one of the undercarriage members. The inner member is removably secured to the equalizer bar. The outer member defines at least one outer member section having an arcuate interior surface and the inner member defines at least one inner member section having an arcuate exterior surface. A low friction liner is disposed on at least one of the arcuate interior surface or the arcuate exterior surface.
Claims26
A suspension system for a rail car comprising:
- at least two undercarriage members;
- at least one equalizer bar removably and pivotally secured to and between the two undercarriage members;
- a spherical bearing having an outer member surrounding an inner member;
- the outer member being removably secured to one of the at least one undercarriage members, the outer member defining at least one outer member section having an arcuate interior surface;
- the inner member being removably secured to the at least one equalizer bar, the inner member defining at least one inner member section having an arcuate exterior surface;
- a low friction liner disposed on at least a portion of one of the arcuate interior surface and the arcuate exterior surface;
- and
- the at least two undercarriage members each defining a first bore therein having a first section and a second section, the first section opening inward between the at least two undercarriage members, the spherical bearing being removably positioned in the first section, and the second section defining a cavity and an access port in communication therewith for providing access to the spherical bearing.
5 more elements
A suspension system for a rail car comprising:
- a first undercarriage member;
- a second undercarriage member;
- a first equalizer bar having a first end secured to a portion of the first undercarriage member, and a second end removably and pivotally secured to the second undercarriage member at a first transom joint;
- a second equalizer bar having a first end secured to a portion of the second undercarriage member, and a second end removably and pivotally secured to the first undercarriage member at a second transom joint;
- a first spherical bearing disposed in the first transom joint, the first spherical bearing having a first outer member surrounding a first inner member, the first outer member being removably secured to the second undercarriage member and defining at least one first outer member section having a first arcuate interior surface, the first inner member being removably secured to the first equalizer bar and defining at least one first inner member section having a first arcuate exterior surface;
- a second spherical bearing disposed in the second transom joint, the second spherical bearing having a second outer member surrounding a second inner member, the second outer member being removably secured to the first undercarriage member and defining at least one second outer member section having a second arcuate interior surface, the second inner member being removably secured to the second equalizer bar and defining at least one second inner member section having a second arcuate exterior surface;
- a first low friction liner disposed on at least a portion of one of the first arcuate interior surface and the first arcuate exterior surface;
- a second low friction liner disposed on at least a portion of one of the second arcuate interior surface and the first arcuate exterior surface;
- the first undercarriage member defining a first bore therein having a first section and a second section, the first section opening inward between the first and second undercarriage members, the first spherical bearing being removably positioned in the first section, and the second section defining a first cavity and a first access port in communication therewith for providing access to the first spherical bearing;
- and
- the second undercarriage member defining a second bore therein having a third section and a fourth section, the third section opening inward between the first and second undercarriage members, the second spherical bearing being removably positioned in the third section, and the fourth section defining a second cavity and a second access port in communication therewith for providing access to the second spherical bearing.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.