Patent ID: 7097055
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: B61G

Abstract:
1. A railway car friction-type draft gear assembly which enables the cushioning of buff and draft shocks that are usually encountered in such railway car rolling stock during a coupling operation of such railway car to a train consist and during normal operation of such train consist on a track structure, such buff and draft shocks transmitted by a coupler of such railway car engageable with said friction draft gear assembly, said draft gear disposed within a center sill of such railway car between a pair of front stops and an axially opposed pair of rear stops, such pairs of front and rear stops forming a 24.625 inch draft gear pocket, said friction draft gear assembly having a longer buff travel distance and a shorter draft travel distance, said friction draft gear assembly comprising: (a) a housing member including a first end having a first rear portion of a first predetermined crosssection and a second predetermined length, a second rear portion of a second predetermined cross-section and a third predetermined length being axially aligned with said first portion, said second portion closed by an end wall and a pair of rear ledge members having a first predetermined width disposed intermediate said first and second rear portions and abutting such pair of rear stops, and a second end having a first front portion of a third predetermined cross-section and a forth predetermined length being disposed adjacent said first portion of said first end, said second end being axially opposed to said first end and further being in open communication with said first rear portion thereof, a second front portion having a pair of vertical side members extending outwardly from said first front portion and a pair of front ledge members having a second predetermined width disposed intermediate said first and second front portions, said pair of front ledge members engageable with a working portion of each of such front stops during draft travel; (b) a compressible cushioning means centrally disposed within said second rear portion and extending longitudinally through said first rear portion of said housing member, one end of said cushioning means abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of said end wall closing said first end of said housing member, said compressible cushioning means extending longitudinally from said inner surface of said end wall; (c) a positioning means adjacent said inner surface of said end wall at said first end of said housing member for centrally maintaining said one end of said compressible cushioning means in said second rear portion of said housing member during compression and extension of said compressible cushioning element; (d) a seat means having at least a portion of one surface thereof abutting an axially-opposite end of said compressible cushioning means and mounted to move longitudinally within said housing member for respectively compressing and releasing said compressible cushioning means during application and release of a force exerted on said draft gear assembly; (e) a friction cushioning means positioned at least partially within said front portion of said housing member for absorbing energy during a compression of said draft gear assembly, said friction cushioning means including: (f) a spring release means engaging and longitudinally extending between said seat means and said center wedge member for continuously urging said friction cushioning means outwardly from said compressible cushioning means to release said friction cushioning element when an applied force compressing said draft gear assembly is removed; (g) a coupler follower including a first portion of a first predetermined thickness having an inner surface engaging said pair of laterally spaced movable plates and said center wedge of said friction draft gear assembly, an opposed outer surface engageable with a working surface of each of such front stops and a pair of opposed ends disposed intermediate said inner and said outer surfaces and adapted with a plurality of corner apertures, said coupler follower further including a second portion disposed intermediate said outer surface and said coupler arm, said coupler follower disposed for axial movement within a pair of opposed first follower apertures having a fifth predetermined length and a pair of opposed second follower apertures having a sixth predetermined length of said open second end; and (h) a means disposed within said second front portion of said second end for attachment to such coupler.