Patent ID: 6279765
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: B61G

Abstract:
A railcar cushioning device comprising a cylinder having a first end and a second end, pressurized hydraulic fluid in said cylinder for cushioning buff and draft impacts; a piston carried in said cylinder; a piston rod extending from said piston sealingly through said first end of said cylinder, said hydraulic fluid urging said piston toward said first end of said cylinder; one of said piston rod and said cylinder configured to be secured stationarily to a railcar and the other of said piston rod and said cylinder configured to be secured to a coupling for coupling to an adjacent railcar; and a friction device in said cylinder between said piston and one of said ends to limit movement of said piston toward said first end of said cylinder, said friction device including a first friction surface and a second friction surface engaging said first surface, said first surface moving along said second surface as said piston moves toward said first end of said cylinder; a keeper comprising a pair of axially spaced contact surfaces, one contact surface contacting one part of the friction device and the other contact surface contacting another part of the friction device, said keeper contact surfaces having a maximum axial spacing and the axial spacing between the keeper contact surfaces decreasing when the piston moves toward the first end of said cylinder in response to a draft impact of sufficient magnitude, said keeper contact surfaces being distinct from the piston, piston rod, cylinder and friction device.