Patent ID: 8096432
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: B21F,B29C,B29L,B61G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A draft gear assembly for cushioning both buff and draft dynamic impact forces being applied to a center sill member of a railway vehicle during make-up of a train consist and in-track operation of such train consist, said draft gear assembly being disposed between a pair of front stops and an axially opposed pair of rear stops attached to such center sill member, said draft gear assembly comprising: (a) a housing member closed at one end and open at an opposed end, said housing member having a rear portion adjacent said closed end and a front portion adjacent said open end, said front portion being in open communication with said rear portion along a central axis of said housing member; and (b) at least one compressible elastomeric spring cushioning element positioned at least coaxially with said central axis within said rear portion and having a rear end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of said closed end of said housing member, said at least one compressible elastomeric spring cushioning element extending longitudinally from said closed end and defining a longitudinal axis, said at least one compressible elastomeric spring cushioning element including a predetermined plurality of elastomeric pads disposed coaxially and in series with each other, each of said predetermined plurality of pads manufactured from a predetermined material and having at least one of a molecular structure and a predetermined shape factor so that said predetermined plurality of pads repetitively absorb and dissipate the dynamic impact forces applied to said at least one compressible elastomeric spring cushioning element along said longitudinal axis thereof, wherein a ratio between a value of the applied dynamic impact forces and a value of an ultimate tensile strength of said predetermined material is greater than 1.3 to 1, said at least one compressible elastomeric spring cushioning element further including a predetermined plurality of plate like members disposed in a predetermined pattern relative to said each of said predetermined plurality of pads.