Patent ID: 7624884
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: B61G,F16F

Abstract:
1. A railroad car draft gear comprising: a hollow housing open at a first end and closed toward a second end, said housing defining a longitudinal axis for said draft gear; a series of friction members spaced about said longitudinal axis and arranged in operable combination with the open end of said housing; a wedge arranged for axial movement relative to the open end of said housing and against which an exterior force can be applied, with said wedge being arranged in operable combination with said series of friction members; an elongated elastomeric spring assembly axially disposed within said hollow housing for storing energy applied to said wedge during axial compression of said draft gear, with a first end of said spring assembly being arranged in contacting relation with the closed end of said housing; and a spring seat arranged within said housing between said spring assembly and an end portion of each friction member, with said spring seat extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said draft gear and defining a surface arranged in direct contacting relation with an elastomer pad arranged at a second end of said spring assembly, with said spring contacting surface on said spring seat defining at least one surface incongruity for limiting radial expansion of the elastomer of said pad at the second end of said spring assembly along at least two axes when an axial load is applied to the wedge of said draft gear.