Patent ID: 7096795
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: B61F

Abstract:
1. A linear steering truck apparatus, for mounting upon a railroad car body, the linear steering truck apparatus having at least two transversely extending axles, and each axle being pivotably mountable to the railroad car body, the linear steering truck apparatus having a longitudinally extending axis in the direction of travel of the truck when the truck is traveling in a straight line, the linear steering truck apparatus further having a transverse axis extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis being positioned at a midpoint along the longitudinal axis, the linear steering truck apparatus comprising: a. a bolster member having two ends, the bolster being located along the transverse axis extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, generally located between and parallel to the transversely extending axles; b. a means for attaching the linear steering truck to the car body; c. a plurality of pedestals and a corresponding plurality of bearing adapters, each bearing adapter having an outer race, a resilient member, a ball bearing cage assembly, and an inner race, said outer race having a spherical and first interlocking interface, the first interlocking interface movably attaching to a second interlocking interface of one end of a pedestal, said ball bearing cage assembly having a top spacer, a bottom spacer, a cage, a plurality of ball bearings, and an assembly fastener, the assembly fastener connecting the top and bottom spacers thereby sealing the cage and the plurality of bearings within the top and bottom spacers, said ball bearing cage assembly being located between the outer race and inner race, said resilient member attaching the outer race to the inner race, said inner race having an interface with the axle bearing, the interface allowing the pedestal to pivotably attach to the axle bearing while allowing for yaw and roll freedom thereby providing a normal force on the axle bearing for lateral and longitudinal loads and eliminates moment on the axle bearing, each bearing adapter movably attaching a corresponding pedestal to an axle bearing, the axle bearing being rotationally engaged to one end of a transversely extending axle, and at least one pedestal being movably attached to at least one other pedestal situated in the same plane along the longitudinal axis; and d. a means for performing car body steering, wherein the geometry of pivot points from one axle to the bolster form a trapezoid and the geometry of pivot points from another axle to the bolster form a parallelogram, the pedestals being pivotably connected so that a lateral force at one axle is reacted by the other axle, wherein the car body mass acts as a pendulum mass restoring force, and the apparatus being steered to the center of the track with either end of the truck leading after the trapezoid side yaws.