Patent ID: 6923331
Filing Date: 2005-08-02
Classification: B61G

Abstract:
1. A draft gear assembly for absorbing buff and draft shocks encountered in a railroad rolling stock, said draft gear assembly comprising: (a) a housing having a closed end and an open end opposing said closed end, said housing further having a rear portion adjacent said closed end and a front portion adjacent said open end, said rear portion having a bottom wall, said front portion being in open communication with said rear portion; (b) a compressible cushioning element centrally disposed within said rear portion with one end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of said closed end of said housing, said compressible cushioning element extending longitudinally from said one end, said compressible cushioning element including a hydraulic cylinder and at least one cylinder spring caged between at least a portion of said cylinder and said bottom wall, said hydraulic cylinder including: (c) a positioning means on said inner surface of said closed end of said housing for maintaining said one end of said hydraulic compressible cushioning element centrally positioned in said rear portion of said housing during compression and extension of said hydraulic compressible cushioning element; (d) a seat means having at least a portion of one surface thereof abutting the opposite end of said hydraulic compressible cushioning element and mounted to move longitudinally within said housing for respectively compressing and releasing said hydraulic compressible cushioning element during application and release of a force on said draft gear assembly; (e) a friction cushioning means positioned at least partially within said front portion of said housing 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 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 is removed.