Patent ID: 9669848
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B61F,B61G

Claim:
1. An energy absorbing/coupling system for a railcar having a centersill, said energy absorbing/coupling system comprising: a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of the centersill, with each draft assembly including a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other; with the coupler having a longitudinal axis and includes a head portion extending longitudinally from a shank portion, with the head portion of the coupler longitudinally extending from an end of the centersill and includes: a knuckle for releasably connecting the coupler to a second railcar coupler on an adjacent railcar, a gathering face extending from a nose end toward the shank portion for engaging a knuckle of the second railcar coupler on the adjacent railcar, and wherein the head portion further includes a horn portion having a back surface extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the coupler and longitudinally spaced from the nose end such that the coupler is permitted at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler, and wherein the shank portion guides the coupler for endwise longitudinal movements relative to the centersill; wherein the draft gear assembly includes: a hollow metal housing open at a first end and closed toward the second end thereof, with the housing being configured to fit within the pocket defined by the centersill on the railcar, with the housing defining a series of tapered longitudinally extended inner surfaces opening to and extending from the first end of the housing, a series of friction members equally spaced about a longitudinal axis of the draft gear assembly toward the first end of the housing, with each friction member having axially spaced first and second ends and an outer surface extending between the ends, with the outer surface on each friction member being operably associated with one of the tapered longitudinally extended inner surfaces on the housing so as to define a first angled friction sliding surface therebetween, a wedge member arranged for axial movement relative to the first end of the housing and to which the shank of the coupler applies an external force during operation of the railcar, with the wedge member defining a series of outer tapered surfaces equally spaced about the longitudinal axis of the housing, with each outer tapered surface on the wedge member being operably associated with an inner surface on each friction member so as to define a second angled friction sliding surface therebetween and such that the wedge member produces a radially directed force against the friction members upon movement of the wedge member inwardly of the housing, a spring seat arranged within the housing, with one surface of the spring seat being arranged in operable engagement with the second end of each friction member, a spring assembly disposed in the housing between the closed end of the housing and a second surface of the spring seat for storing, dissipating and returning energy imparted to the draft gear assembly by the coupler, with the spring assembly comprising an axial stack of individual elastomeric springs, and wherein the spring assembly is configured to function in operable combination with the disposition of the first and second angled sliding surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis of the draft gear assembly such that said draft gear assembly consistently and repeatedly withstands about 70,000 ft-lbs. to about 85,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the draft gear assembly while not exceeding a force level of about 600,000 lbs. over a range of travel of the wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing greater than 3.5 inches; and the spring assembly of the draft gear assembly further includes a rigid separator plate disposed between two individual and axially adjacent springs in the axial stack of elastomeric springs so as to create different dynamic elastic absorption characteristics on opposite sides of the separator plate whereby optimizing dynamic lost work opportunities during an impact event of the draft gear assembly.