Railway rolling stock – Trains – Articulated
Utility Patent
1998-09-14
2001-01-02
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Railway rolling stock
Trains
Articulated
C105S004100, C213S0750GT
Utility Patent
active
06167813
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to articulated connectors for connecting railroad cars into semi-permanent units and more particularly to such an articulated connector that has a wear liner and that may be used with railroad car trucks that have spherical center plates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Use of standard AAR (Association of American Railroads) couplers to connect railroad cars is well known. Such couplers are designed to facilitate the connecting or disconnecting of individual railroad cars to allow such cars to be assembled into a train and uncoupled for remote loading or unloading. The Type-E and Type-F couplers are in common use today.
In recent times, the railroad industry has found that connecting several cars into a semi-permanent unit is advantageous. For example, railroad cars particularly adapted for piggyback service may be so connected. In this arrangement, an articulated connector is used. Articulated connectors generally comprise a male connecting member connected to the sill of one car and a female connecting member connected to the sill of an adjacent car. The male and female connecting members are then connected through a main pin that allows the two connecting members to articulate. The articulated connector may in turn be carried by a single railroad car truck. A center pin extends from the articulated connector to the truck.
Articulated connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,216,370; 3,396,673; 3,646,604; 3,716,146; 4,258,628; and 4,336,758, for example. All of these connectors are for use with railroad car trucks that have flat center plates, and all of these connectors provide mating flat center plates or bosses.
In some areas of the world, standard coupler devices are used with railroad car trucks that have spherical center plate areas. Articulated connectors of the types shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,216,370; 3,396,673; 3,646,604; 3,716,146; 4,258,628; and 4,336,758 cannot be used with the spherical center plate trucks. Instead, an articulated connector with a spherical center plate is necessary.
In addition, in known articulated connectors, the outer end of the male connecting member is supported within the female connecting member on a bearing ring. In such known articulated connectors, a boss extends down from the female connecting member and has a flat center plate. The bearing ring is supported on a wear liner within the female connecting member. Standard wear liners are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,626 (1991) to Schultz, and are annular and each side is generally triangular in cross-section, as shown in
FIG. 4
of that patent. Such wear liners are replaceable and are beneficial in reducing wear on the female connecting member.
Provision of an articulated connector with a spherical center plate and a wear liner is problematic since the elevation of the connector from the rail surface must meet existing standards for the articulated connector to have utility and since the walls of the female connecting member must have a sufficient thickness to provide adequate structural strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an articulated connector that can be used with standard railroad car trucks with concave curved center plates, at standard elevations from the rail surfaces, and that includes a tapered wear liner supported by a wall of adequate strength. The present invention also provides a tapered wear liner and a female connecting member suitable for use in such an environment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3216370 (1965-11-01), Kulieke
patent: 3236573 (1966-02-01), Donnellan
patent: 3396673 (1968-08-01), Livelsberger et al.
patent: 3646604 (1972-02-01), Tack et al.
patent: 3716146 (1973-02-01), Altherr
patent: 4258628 (1981-03-01), Altherr
patent: 4336758 (1982-06-01), Radwill
patent: 5014626 (1991-05-01), Schultz
patent: 5560503 (1996-10-01), Daugherty, Jr.
Kaufhold Horst T.
Steffen John J.
Amsted Industries Incorporated
Brosius Edward J.
Gregorczyk F. S.
Jules Frantz
Manich Stephen J.
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