JPH04228363A - Bearing assembly for articulated type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To decrease the number of components by fixing a race assembly where a spherical member is located in the inner surface and one end of a male connection member fixed to a first railway car, and providing a pair of shaft members which can be engaged with an opening of the side wall of a cavity of one end of a female connection member fixed to a second railway car. CONSTITUTION: A cavity 26 formed at a second end of a female connection member 30 receives a second end 14 of a male connection member 20 and an opening 16 formed through the second end 14 in the interior. A spherical member 42 of a bearing assembly 40 is disposed in the opening 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20. A first fixing means is capable of engaging with a race assembly and the second end 14 of the male connection member 20, and a second fixing means 50 is capable of engaging with at least one of a pair of shaft members 46 and a part of an opening 38, thereby fixing the male connection member 20 to the female connection member 30.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a coupling device for a railway vehicle.
More particularly, it relates to bearing assemblies for use in articulated couplings that connect one end of a first rail vehicle to an adjacent end of a second rail vehicle in a semi-permanent manner.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention, it was known to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railroad cars using standard couplers approved by the American Railroad Corporation or Association. Such couplings are designed to facilitate connecting and disconnecting individual rail cars. These couplers are
It allows such vehicles to be easily combined to form a train consist or to be separated individually for loading or unloading purposes.

Recently, however, the railroad vehicle industry has discovered that interconnecting several railroad vehicles to form a generally semi-permanent unit has several significant drawbacks. In particular, railway vehicles adapted for use in "piggyback" services have been advantageously coupled in this manner. These units do not require the use of standard couplings except between units. The main reason why such standard couplers are not needed is that these units are only shut down periodically. Typically, this shutdown occurs when maintenance of individual components has to be performed. Clearly, considerable cost savings are achieved with this semi-permanent coupling device.

[0004] With the use of these semi-permanent couplings, and with the higher loads currently carried by modern railway trains, numerous coupling drafts are required.
) elements have a button-close relationship (a close-butt
Maintaining established relationships is of paramount importance. Such a button closure relationship is required to reduce the effects of impact forces encountered by vehicles under buff conditions of train operation.

One conventional type of articulating coupling device is taught in US Pat. No. 4,258,628. The coupling device includes a male coupling member secured to one end of the first railroad vehicle body and a female coupling member secured to an adjacent end of the second railroad vehicle body. The female coupling member is rotatably engaged with a central plate of a railroad vehicle track bolster. The outer end of the female coupling member is arranged to move within a cavity or cavity formed in the outer end of the female coupling member. Both the male and female coupling members are connected in a semi-permanent manner by a pin member. One of the significant drawbacks of this device is that the pin member is vertically positioned and located in aligned apertures formed in each of the male and female coupling members. be. The opening formed in the male coupling member for receiving the pin member must itself be somewhat larger than the pin member in order to allow certain necessary movements. This arrangement must allow both the male and female coupling members to move in relation to each other in each of the horizontal and vertical directions.

Another disadvantage of this coupling device is that
The outer end surface of the male coupling member must include a convex shape that abuts a complementary concave surface formed on the front surface of the follower member. The follower member is carried within the rear portion of a cavity formed in the other end portion of the female coupling member. A wedge element is provided to force the follower member and female coupling member forward. In this manner, the rear surface portion of the opening formed in the male coupling member is maintained in contact with the pin member.

[0007] Such contact is necessary in these conventional articulating joints because most of the parts are cast members. To reduce the cost of this coupling device, the cast member is optionally subjected to little finishing to provide the necessary size control.

Other prior art articulating joints are taught in US Pat. No. 3,716,146 and Canadian Patent No. 1,231,078.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling device. Such articulating coupling devices are used to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railroad vehicles together in a substantially semi-permanent manner. The coupling device includes a first
A male connecting member is secured to one end of the second railway vehicle, and a female connecting member is secured to an adjacent end of the second railway vehicle. Such bearing assemblies include a substantially spherical member having a predetermined diameter. A race assembly is provided that is formed by at least two members. Each such member forming the race assembly has a substantially spherical interior surface. This interior surface is positioned around a portion of the spherical member. The outer surface of such a race assembly has substantially the same size and configuration as the predetermined size and configuration of the aperture formed in one end of the male coupling member. Such a race assembly allows the male coupling member to perform the necessary movement in each of the vertical and horizontal directions over a predetermined angular range in relation to the female coupling member. Here, the predetermined angular range is
Measured from each of the centerlines of the spherical members disposed in the vertical and longitudinal axes of the horizontally disposed articulation device. Male connecting means and securing means are provided engageable with each of the race assemblies for securing the race assembly and spherical member to the male coupling member. The final essential elements of such a bearing assembly are a pair of shaft members.

The longitudinal axis of such a pair of shaft members is
substantially in a horizontal plane. One of the shaft members of such a pair is engageable with a respective one of the openings formed through each of a pair of upright sidewall portions of a cavity formed within one end of such female coupling member. At least a portion of each such pair of shaft members has a configuration substantially the same as at least a portion of the predetermined configuration of such aperture.

[0011]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulated joint that requires fewer components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling in which a minimum number of components must move relative to each other during operation of the rail vehicle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling device that is relatively easy to assemble and disassemble.

A further object of the invention is that it can be adapted to any length currently approved for railway vehicles and be able to operate on all the various curves of the track currently in use. , a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling device.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulating joint that can be more easily maintained with proper working order.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulating joint that requires a minimal amount of machining of finished components.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulating joint that is lighter in weight than currently used articulating joints.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective bearing assembly for an articulated joint.

In addition to the above-described objects and advantages of a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling, various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. will be clear to those skilled in the art of linking.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, it should be noted that in each of the figures shown, the same components having the same function are designated with the same reference numerals.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. Therein, there is shown one presently preferred embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulated joint, designated generally at 10, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. This articulating coupling device 10 can be adapted back to an existing rail vehicle, if desired, and connects at least one end of a first rail vehicle (not shown) to an adjacent end of a second rail vehicle (not shown). ) may be connected together in a substantially semi-permanent manner.

Such an articulating coupling device 10 comprises a male coupling member, generally designated 20, a female coupling member, generally designated 30, and a generally constructed in accordance with the present invention. a bearing assembly designated by numeral 40 and bearing assembly 4;
0 to such articulating device 10 in a semi-permanent or semi-permanent manner.

The male coupling member 20 is connected to one end of a central foundation member (not shown) disposed substantially along the longitudinal centerline of one of such first and such second railcars;
It is adapted to engage and connect at the first end 12 of the male coupling member 20.

Before being secured in place, the male coupling member 20
such first end 12 is positioned within the central base portion for a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being approximately 15.24 mm.
cm (6 inches) to 25.4 cm (10 inches), preferably about 20.32 cm (8 inches). Such first end 12 of male coupling member 20 must fit within the central base member, so that its external dimensions are controlled by the internal dimensions of such central base member. The second end 14 of such male coupling member 20 is a generally rectangular shaped element. The innermost end 18 of the second end 14
has a convex shape in a plane extending both vertically and horizontally. In addition, the second end 14
The bottom wall portion 22 tapers upwardly, starting from a predetermined position and ending at the first end 1.
It extends towards 2. Such tapered portion has a taper of at least about 10 degrees. Male type connecting member 20
The purpose of this tapered portion of the bottom wall 22 is to allow deflection in the horizontal plane when the vehicle is traveling over hilly terrain.

Disposed within such second end 14 is an aperture 16, the purpose of which will become clear as the description progresses. The opening 16 includes a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. The opening 16 is formed through a predetermined portion of the second end 14 of the male coupling member 20. This opening 16 is disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of such male coupling member 20 and has a longitudinal axis lying substantially in a horizontal plane.

[0026] The female type connecting member 30 is
includes a first end 24 configured to be capable of engaging and being connected to adjacent ends of a central foundation member (not shown), the central foundation member having first and second ends. The two railroad cars (not shown) are disposed substantially along opposing longitudinal centerlines of the two rail cars (not shown).

A cavity 26 is formed at the second end of the female coupling member 30. Inside this cavity 26,
The second end 14 of the male coupling member 20 and the male coupling member 2
receiving at least a portion of each of the apertures 16 formed through the second end 14 of the . The cavity 26 includes a substantially horizontally disposed bottom wall portion 32 and a substantially vertically disposed rear wall portion 34 .
a rear wall portion 34 connected to the trailing edge of the bottom wall portion 32 along the bottom edge of the side wall portion 4; wall part 3
2 and a rear wall portion 34 along the trailing edge of the side wall portion. Bottom wall portion 32, rear wall portion 34, and a pair of side wall portions 36
The interior surface of each defines a predetermined size and a predetermined shape of a cavity 26 that is open adjacent its top and front surface.

Apertures 38 are formed through predetermined portions of each sidewall portion 36. Each aperture 38 includes a slot-like portion adjacent the top surface of the respective sidewall portion 36. Each opening 38 has a predetermined shape.

Device 10 includes a bearing assembly 40 . Such a bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42 . At least a portion of such spherical member 42 is positioned within the opening 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male coupling member 20. Such spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter. In the presently preferred embodiment, the spherical member 42
includes a pair of axially opposing flat surfaces 61 . Such a bearing assembly 40 includes a race assembly 44 having a substantially spherical interior surface positioned about a predetermined portion of a spherical member 42 and having vertical and horizontal direction over a predetermined extent. Both are positioned within the aperture 16 to allow movement of the male coupling member 20 relative to the female coupling member 30. Such a race assembly 44 includes an exterior surface that is substantially the same shape and size as the aperture 16 formed through the male coupling member 20.

A first securing means, designated generally at 60, is provided for securing the race assembly 44 and the spherical member 42 to the second end 14. The second end portion 14 can be engaged with the second end portion 14 .

A pair of shaft members 46 extend outward a predetermined distance from axially opposing surfaces of the spherical member 42. One of the pair of shaft members 46 has an opening 38 formed through each of the side wall portions 36 of the cavity 26.
Each is engaged with one of the two. At least a portion of each shaft member 46 includes an opening 3 formed through the sidewall portion 36.
The shape is substantially the same as at least a portion of the predetermined shape of No.8.

A second securing means, designated generally at 50, is engageable with at least one of the pair of shaft members 46 and a portion of the aperture 38 to secure the bearing assembly 40 to the female coupling member 30. , thereby securing the male coupling member 20 to the female coupling member to form the articulated coupling device 10.

In one example of the invention, the spherical inner surface of race assembly 44 has a radius that is substantially the same as the radius of spherical member 42.

In the most preferred embodiment, the inner surface of race assembly 44 will be slightly larger than the radius of spherical member 42. In this case, coupling device 10 includes a lubricating liner 48 disposed intermediate the inner surface of race assembly 44 and bulbous member 42 .

It is currently preferred that the lubricating liner be formed in at least two pieces. It is also preferable that it is fixed to the inner surface of the lace assembly 44. Preferably, the lubricating liner 48 is secured to the inner surface of the race assembly 44 with an adhesive.

In accordance with the present invention, the bottom wall portion 32 of the cavity 26 further extends into the central bowl portion (not shown) of the bolster portion (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown). further includes. Central plate member 52 includes a vertically oriented aperture 54 adjacent a bottom surface 56 thereof.

Additionally, the coupling device 10 further includes a vertically disposed hole 54 in the central plate member 52 and a vertically disposed hole (not shown) in the central bowl of the bolster. pin member (not shown)
Contains.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second end 14 of the male coupling member has a predetermined shape adjacent its outermost end 18. The predetermined shape of the outermost end 18 of the second end 14 is substantially convex with respect to the vertical and horizontal planes, respectively.

Further, the vertically disposed back wall portion 34 of the cavity 26 formed in the second end of the female coupling member 30 is substantially concave in at least one of the vertical and horizontal planes. It is preferable to have an external shape of .

In this embodiment of the invention, it is also preferred that the predetermined shape of the hole 16 formed through the second end 14 is substantially circular. Additionally, the hole 16 includes a sloped portion 59 on at least one of its predetermined outer surfaces.

In this case, the lace assembly 44 is
It includes a refill ramp ledge 62 that abuts and engages a ramp 59 proximate the outer surface of the bore 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male coupling member 20 .

Preferably, lace assembly 44 is formed from at least two pieces that are substantially identical.

Furthermore, a spherical member 42 and a pair of shaft members 46
is formed as a single member.

Each race assembly 44 and male connecting member 2
The first fixing means 60 that can be engaged with the second end 14 of the second end 14 is a plate member that is welded to the second end 14 or screwed with a bolt.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pair of sidewall portions 36 extend through the cavity 2 to allow horizontal rotation of the second end 14 about the spherical member 42.
6 and adjacent the vertically disposed back wall portion 34 of the cavity 26.

Finally, the predetermined shape of the aperture 38 formed through each sidewall portion 36 includes at least a generally rounded portion engageable with a respective portion of a pair of shaft members 46.

In an alternative embodiment of the bearing assembly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42. As shown in FIGS. Such a spherical member 42
is positioned within the aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male coupling member 20 . This spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter.

Internal bore 63 is formed through spherical member 42 . The inner hole 63 has a predetermined size and shape. The long axis of the bore 63 lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

A pin member 65 is provided having a horizontally disposed axis. The pin member 65 is connected to the spherical member 42
extends through the bore 63 a predetermined length on each side of axially opposed surfaces of the bore 63 . A portion of the pin member 65 is connected to the spherical member 42
and has substantially the same dimensions and shape as the inner bore 63, thereby permitting a push fit. Spherical member 4
At least a portion of the length of each side of 2 has substantially the same dimensions and substantially the same shape as the predetermined shape of opening 38 .

Race assembly 44, which has a substantially spherical inner surface, is apertured to permit movement of the male coupling member relative to female coupling member 30 in both the vertical and horizontal directions within a predetermined range. It is located within 16. The race assembly 44 is attached to the second end 1 of the male coupling member 20.
4 includes an outer surface substantially identical in size and shape to the aperture 16 formed therethrough. Although numerous embodiments of articulating coupling bearing assemblies have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other variations and applications of such couplings are within the spirit of the claims. It is clear that this can be done without leaving the range.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of one of the presently preferred embodiments of a bearing assembly for an articulating coupling device.

2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the bearing assembly shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulation assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Articulated connection device 12 First end of male connecting member 14 Second end of male connecting member 16 Opening 18 Innermost end 20 Male connecting member 22 Bottom wall part 24 First end of female connecting member 26 Cavity 30 Female type connecting member 32 Bottom wall part 34 Rear wall part 36 Side wall part 38 Opening 40 Bearing assembly 42 Spherical member 44 Lace assembly 50 Fixing means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A bearing assembly for use in an articulating coupling device utilized to substantially semi-permanently connect proximal ends of two vehicles, the coupling device including one end of a first vehicle. (a) a substantially spherical member having a predetermined diameter; and (b) at least two a lace assembly formed by at least two members, each of the at least two members having a substantially spherical inner surface positioned about a predetermined portion of the spherical member; has dimensions and shapes substantially identical to the predetermined dimensions and predetermined shape of the aperture formed in one end of the male coupling member; Male to female coupling members in both vertical and horizontal directions within a predetermined range of angles measured from the centerline of the disposed spherical member and from the long axis of the horizontally disposed coupling device. (c) a lace assembly for movable the mold coupling member; (d) a pair of shaft members extending outward a predetermined length from axially opposing surfaces of the spherical member, the long axes of the pair of shaft members being substantially one of the pair of shaft members is engageable with a respective one of the openings formed through the pair of upright side wall portions of the cavity formed at one end of the female coupling member; and a shaft member in which at least a portion of each shaft member has substantially the same shape as at least a portion of the predetermined shape of the opening formed through the side wall portion of the cavity. Bearing assembly for. 2. A bearing assembly for use in an articulating coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially spherical inner surface of the race assembly has a radius substantially the same as the radius of the spherical member. 3. wherein the substantially spherical inner surface of the race assembly is slightly larger than the radius of the spherical member, and the bearing assembly further includes a lubricating liner disposed intermediate the race assembly inner surface and the spherical member. A bearing assembly for use in the articulated coupling device of claim 1. 4. A bearing assembly for use in an articulated joint according to claim 3, wherein said lubricating liner is formed in at least two pieces. 5. A bearing assembly for use in an articulated joint as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lubricating liner is secured to an inner surface of said race assembly. 6. The lace assembly is in abutment with a supplemental ramp portion proximate at least one of the predetermined outer surfaces of the aperture formed through the predetermined portion of the second end of the male coupling member. A bearing assembly for use in the articulated coupling device of claim 1 in which the bearing assembly is engaged. 7. A bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling device, wherein at least two members forming the race assembly are substantially identical. 8. Use in an articulated coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said spherical member and said pair of shaft members forming part of a bearing assembly are formed as a single piece. Bearing assembly for. 9. A bearing assembly for use in an articulated joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spherical member includes a bore formed therethrough. 10. A bearing assembly for use in an articulated joint according to claim 9, wherein said pair of shaft members are formed by pin members extending through said bore.