Brakes – Position adjusters – Supports
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-08-28
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Position adjusters
Supports
C188S219100, C188S209000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279696
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a braking system for a railway vehicle and, more particularly, to a suspension system for suspending a bogie system or truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Truck mounted brake assemblies are well known in the railway industry. These brake assemblies have several desirable qualities which makes them very popular with railway vehicle manufacturers. One type of a truck mounted brake assembly is one which is commonly referred to in the railway industry as a WABCOPAC® braking system (WABCOPAC® is a registered trademark to Westinghouse Airbrake Company, the assignee of the present invention) This truck mounted braking system typically comprises a pair of brake beams, having brake heads secured at the ends thereof, separated by a pair of brake cylinders. This system permits direct application of brake cylinder force to the brake shoes.
Another type of known truck mounted braking system is one which is commonly referred to as a TMX® truck mounted braking system (TMX® is a registered trademark to Westinghouse Airbrake Company, the assignee of the present invention). The TMX® truck mounted braking system has several desirable qualities which also makes this system popular with railway vehicle manufacturers. The most significant of these qualities are that these brake assemblies are formed of highly durable, lightweight material and utilize a single brake cylinder providing a significant weight reduction per carset. Another quality of these brake assemblies is that they are easy to install and adjust, require no special bolsters or connections for this installation, readily fit all standard trucks with combination bolsters and allow for simplified replacement of the brake heads. Another significant advantage of the TMX® truck mounted brake assembly is that the arrangement of the components within the brake assembly, including the use of a double-jaw slack adjuster, allows for a more even brake shoe wear than previously used types of braking systems.
Various other types of truck mounted braking systems are well known in the railway industry. The common characteristic of these currently used truck mounted braking systems in the U.S. railway industry is that the truck side frames are fixed to the wheel and axle and consequently, the truck mounted braking system is secured to the truck side frame. This type of mounting of the braking system subjects the braking system to a significant amount of shock as the railway vehicle moves along a route. Additionally, due to this type of mounting, occasionally, full contact is not made between the brake shoes and the wheels as the car moves up and down.
This differs from the European railway industry wherein the bolster and side frame move with the body. Thus, in the European market, presently used braking systems are suspended within the truck arrangement so that the braking system becomes part of the sprung system of the vehicle, giving the braking system more cushion and preventing shock onto the system.
A significant drawback to the systems currently in use in the European market is that these braking systems require the use of an individual brake unit at each wheel, significantly increasing the cost of the braking system and the cost of maintaining each of these individual units. Another disadvantage is that the use of an individual braking unit at each wheel significantly increases the weight of the carsets, as well as, the energy required to power the railway vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement. The railway vehicle truck arrangement includes a pair of truck side frames, a wheel and axle set at each end of the pair of truck side frames and a truck bolster member. The truck mounted brake assembly includes a pair of brake beams, a strut member securable with each of the brake beams and a brake head attachable to each end of each of the brake beams. Each of the brake heads which carry a brake shoe thereon are positioned for engagement of a respective one of the brake shoes with a respective railway vehicle wheel during a brake application.
The suspension system comprises a first means pivotally connected at a first end with a predetermined portion of the railway vehicle truck arrangement and pivotally connected at a second end with a predetermined portion of the truck mounted brake assembly for suspending the pair of brake beams in the railway vehicle truck arrangement. A second means is provided having at least a portion thereof connected with the truck mounted brake assembly for maintaining each of the brake beams in a predetermined plane during application and release of the railway vehicle brake assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement which provides more cushion and reduces the amount of shock endured by the braking system.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement so as to achieve full contact of the brake shoes against the wheel as the car moves up and down, allowing for an even wear of the brake shoes and better energy efficiency.
It is another object of the invention to provide a suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement so that this truck mounted brake assembly may be utilized in a broader range of braking systems.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle which provides a braking system having greater energy efficiency, requires less maintenance, and is less expensive.
Although a number of objects and advantages of the present invention have been described in some detail above, various additional objects and advantages of the suspension system for suspending a truck mounted braking system within a railway vehicle truck arrangement will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description of the invention is taken in conjunction with both the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
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Brabb David C.
Daugherty Jr. David W.
Moriarity Michael J.
Natschke Scott
Ring Michael E.
James Ray & Associates
Kramer Devon
Oberleitner Robert J.
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
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