Patent ID: 6227122
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B61F

Abstract:
A three-piece railcar truck assembly comprising a bolster and a pair of side frames, said three-piece railcar truck assembly having a longitudinal axis and a perpendicular transverse axis;each side frame having a longitudinal axis, a forward column and a rearward column, each forward column including an inboard forward column web, an outboard forward column web and a transverse forward column web between the inboard forward column web and outboard forward column web, each rearward column including an inboard rearward column web, an outboard rearward column web, and a transverse rearward column web between the inboard rearward column web and outboard rearward column web, each side frame forward column and rearward column cooperating to define an opening in said side frame between the transverse forward column web and transverse rearward column web, each side frame further including an inboard forward lug on the inboard forward column web, an inboard rearward lug on the inboard rearward column web, an outboard forward lug on the outboard forward column web, and an outboard rearward column lug on the outboard rearward column web, each side frame lug having a stop surface;said bolster having a first end, a second end, a forward side and a rearward side, a forward inboard bolster gib and a forward outboard bolster gib at said bolster forward side at each said bolster first and second ends and a rearward inboard bolster gib and a rearward outboard bolster gib at said bolster rearward side at each said bolster first and second ends, each of said bolster ends matable with the opening in each side frame defined by the forward and rearward side frame columns, said forward inboard and outboard bolster gibs at each bolster end cooperating to define a clearance between said forward inboard and outboard bolster gibs greater than the width of the forward transverse column web of the side frame receiving the bolster end, said rearward inboard and outboard bolster gibs at each bolster end cooperating to define a clearance between said rearward inboard and outboard bolster gibs greater than the width of the rearward transverse column web of the side frame receiving the bolster end, said forward and rearward inboard and outboard bolster gibs each having a stop surface;one inboard forward side frame lug and one inboard forward bolster gib at one end of the bolster defining an inboard forward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib;one inboard rearward side frame lug and one inboard rearward bolster gib at one end of the bolster defining an inboard rearward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib;one outboard forward side frame lug and one outboard forward bolster gib at one end of the bolster defining an outboard forward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib;one outboard rearward side frame lug and one outboard rearward bolster gib at one end of the bolster defining an outboard rearward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib;at least part of the stop surfaces of each neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib being in facing relationship and in proximity to each other;the total of the distance between at least a part of the stop surfaces of the inboard forward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib at one end of the bolster and the distance between at least a part of the stop surfaces of the inboard rearward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib at the same end of the bolster being less than 3/16 inch; andthe total of the distance between at least a part of the stop surfaces of the outboard forward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib at one end of the bolster and the distance between at least a part of the stop surfaces of the outboard rearward neighboring side frame lug and bolster gib at one end of the bolster being less than 3/16 inch;said bolster gibs and said side frame lugs having an as-cast hardness, at least one of said bolster gib and side frame lug of each said neighboring inboard and outboard bolster gib and side frame lug at each said bolster first and second ends flame hardened to increase said hardness of said stop-surface of said at said at least one bolster gib and side frame lug to increase a wear rate of said stop-surface.