Patent ID: 6173655
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: B61F

Abstract:
A railcar truck assembly comprising a bolster and two side frames, said railcar truck assembly having a longitudinal axis and a perpendicular transverse axis, the transverse axis extending the length of the truck bolster;each side frame having a longitudinal axis, a forward column and a rearward column;each side frame forward column and rearward column cooperating to define an opening in said side frame;each forward column and rearward column having a column width;said bolster having a first end, a second end, a forward bolster side, and a rearward bolster side;each of said first and second bolster ends matable with the opening in each side frame defined by the forward and rearward columns;said forward and rearward columns in facing alignment along said side frame longitudinal axis, with the railcar truck transverse axis centered between the forward and rearward columns at a warp reference position;said bolster having a bolster longitudinal axis corresponding with the railcar truck transverse axis and generally normal to said truck longitudinal axis and to said side frame longitudinal axes at said warp reference position;said bolster having a transverse axis parallel to the side frame longitudinal axes at a pitch reference position;angular displacement of at least one of said side frame longitudinal axes from the warp reference position defining a truck warp angle;angular displacement of at least one of said side frame longitudinal axes from the pitch reference position defining a pitch angle;said forward bolster side and rearward bolster side at each of said first and second bolster ends in proximity to a forward column and a rearward column at each said side frame opening;wherein at least one end of said bolster includes a forward bolster stop surface and a rearward bolster stop surface;and wherein at least one side frame includes a forward side frame stop surface in a facing relationship with the forward bolster stop surface and a rearward side frame stop surface in a facing relationship with the rearward bolster stop surface;said forward and rearward side frame stop surfaces and said forward and rearward bolster stop surfaces being in proximity in a horizontal plane at a first vertical level at a first reference spacing to control warp angle;said forward and rearward side frame stop surfaces and said forward and rearward bolster stop surfaces being in proximity in a horizontal plane at a second vertical level at a second reference spacing to allow for predetermined changes in the pitch angle of the side frame as the railcar truck assembly traverses track with variations in elevation;said second reference spacing being greater than said first reference spacing.