Bearing assembly for an articulated coupling apparatus

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly (40) for an articulated coupling apparatus (10) which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member (20), a female connection member (30), and a device for securing such bearing assembly (40) to the coupling apparatus (10).

Description: The present invention relates to an articulated coupling arrangement of the type as defined in the preamble of claim 1. A coupling arrangement of this type is described in US-A-2 206 592. The bearing assembly of the known coupling arrangement has a spherical member and two shaft portions extending on opposite sides for being received in vertically arranged openings in a cover wall and a bottom wall of a cavity of a female coupling member. The lower shaft portion is provided with a head at its lower end and is held in place by a retaining bolt crossing the opening below the head of the shaft portion so that the head will rest on the bolt. Prior to the present invention, it has been known to use standard couplers, approved by the Association of American Railroads (AAR), to connect adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars. Such couplers are designed to facilitate connecting and disconnecting of individual railway cars. These couplers enable such cars to be readily combined to make up a train consist, or to be individually separated, for loading and unloading purposes. In more recent times, however, such railroad industry has discovered that the interconnecting of several railway cars to form a generally semipermanent unit has a number of important advantages. Particularly, railroad cars adapted for use in "piggyback" service have been joined in this manner to advantage. These units do not require the use of the standard coupler, except between units. The primary reason such standard couplers are not required is because these units are only broken periodically. Normally, this occurs when maintenance of an individual component must be carried out. Obviously, considerable cost-savings are achieved by this semipermanent coupling arrangement. With the use of these semipermanent coupling arrangements and with the higher loads presently being carried by modern railway trains, it is of the utmost importance that a close-buttoned relationship be maintained between the numerous coupler draft components. Such close-buttoned relationship is required to reduce the effects of the impact forces which are encountered by a car under buff conditions of train operations. A further prior type of articulated coupling device is taught in US-A-4,258,628. This coupling device includes a male connection member secured to one end of a first railway car body, and a female connection member secured to an adjacent end of a second railway car body. The female connection member is rotatably-engaged in a center plate bowl of a bolster of a railroad car truck. The outer end of the male connection member is disposed for movement in a cavity formed in the outer end of such female connection member. Both the male and female connection members are joined, in a semipermanent manner, by a pin member. One important disadvantage in this arrangement is that this pin member is positioned in a vertical direction and disposed in aligned apertures formed in each of the male and female connection members. The aperture formed in the male connection member for receiving the pin member must be somewhat larger than the pin member itself to allow certain required movements. This configuration must enable both the male connection member and the female connection member to move in each of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in relationship to one another. Another disadvantage in this coupling arrangement is that the outer end surface of the male connection member must include a convex configuration which abuts against a complimentary concave surface formed on a front face of a follower member. The follower member is carried within the rear portion of the cavity formed in the other end portion of the female connection member. A wedge element is provided to urge the follower member and the male connection member forward. In this manner, the rear surface portion of the aperture formed in the male connection member is maintained in contact with the pin member. Such contact is necessary in these prior art articulated coupling devices, because most of the parts are cast members. In order to reduce the cost of this coupling device, the cast members receive very little, if any, finish-machining to provide the necessary dimensional control. Other prior art articulated coupling devices are taught in US-A-3,716,146 and CA-A-1,231,078. It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which requires fewer components. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus in which a minimum number of components must move relative to one another during operation of such railway cars. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which is relatively simple to assemble and disassemble. A further object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which can be adapted to any of the presently approved lengths for such railway cars, and can operate on all of the various curves in the tracks presently in use. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which can be more easily maintained in proper working order. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which requires a minimum amount of machining of the finished components. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which will be lighter in weight than presently used articulated coupling devices. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus which will be cost-effective. These and other objects will be solved by the characteristics disclosed in the appended claims. In addition to the above-described objects and advantages of the bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus, various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the railway coupling art, from the following more detailed description of the invention when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures. Figure 1 is a side elevation view, partially in cross-section, which illustrates one presently preferred embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus; Figure 2 is a top view, partially in cross-section, of the bearing assembly illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view which illustrates an alternative embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulable coupling apparatus; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of Figure 3. Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the instant invention, it should be noted that in each of the views illustrated, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals. Now refer more particularly to Figures 1 and 2. Therein illustrated is one presently preferred embodiment of a bearing assembly for an articulated coupling apparatus, generally designated 10, constructed in accordance with the principals of this invention. This apparatus 10 can be retrofitted to existing railway cars, if desired, and is capable of connecting together, in a substantially semipermanent manner, at least one end of a first railway car (not shown) to an adjacent end of a second railway car (not shown). Such apparatus 10 includes a male connection member, generally designated 20, a female connection member, generally designated 30, a bearing assembly, constructed according to this invention and generally designated 40, and a means, generally designated 50 for securing the bearing assembly 40 to such articulated coupling apparatus 10 in a semipermanent fashion. The male connection member 20 is adapted at a first end 12 thereof to be engaged with and connected to one end of a center sill member (not shown) disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of one of such first and such second railway cars. Prior to being secured in place, such first end 12 of the male connection member 20 is positioned within the center sill portion for a predetermined distance which is between about 15,24 cm to 25,4 cm (6 to 10 inches) and about 20,32 cm (8 inches) being preferred. Because such first end 12 of the male connection member 20 must fit within the center sill member, its outer dimensions are controlled by the inner dimensions of such center sill member. The second end 14 of such male connection member 20 is generally an elongated rectangular-shaped element. The outermost end 18 of such second end 14 has a convex shape in a plane which extends in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. In addition, the bottom wall portion 22 of such second end 14 is tapered upwardly starting from a predetermined position and extending toward such first end 12. Such tapered portion has a taper of at least about 10 degrees. The purpose of this tapered portion of such bottom wall 22 of the male connection member 20 is to allow flexing in a horizontal plane when the cars are moving over hilly terrain. Disposed within such second end 14 is an aperture 16, the purpose of which will become clear as the description proceeds. The aperture 16 includes a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. Such aperture 16 is formed through a predetermined portion of the second end 14 of such male connection member 20. This aperture 16 has a longitudinal axis that is disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of such male connection member 20 and lies in a substantially horizontal plane. The female connection member 30 includes a first end 24 configured such that it will enable such female connection member 30 to be engaged with and connected to an adjacent end of a center sill member (not shown) disposed substantially along a longitudinal centerline of an opposite one of such first and such second railway cars (not shown). A cavity 26 is formed in a second end of the female connection member 30. This cavity 26 receives therein at least a portion of each of the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 and such aperture 16 formed through such second end 14 of the male connection member 20. This cavity 26 is formed by a substantially horizontally-disposed bottom wall portion 32, a substantially vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 connected along a bottom edge thereof to a rear edge of such bottom wall portion 32, and a pair of vertically-disposed side wall portions 36 connected along a bottom edge thereof to the bottom wall portion 32 and along a rear edge thereof to such back wall portion 34. An inner surface of each of such bottom wall portion 32 and such rear wall portion 34 and such pair of side wall portions 36 define a predetermined size and a predetermined shape of the cavity 26 which is open adjacent a top and front surface thereof. An opening 38 is formed through a predetermined portion of each of the side wall portions 36. Each opening 38 includes a slot-like portion adjacent an upper surface of a respective side wall portion 36. Each opening 38 has a predetermined configuration. The apparatus 10 includes a bearing assembly 40. Such bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42. At least a predetermined portion of such spherical member 42 is positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20. Such spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter. In the presently preferred embodiment, the spherical member 42 includes a pair of axially-opposed flat surfaces 61. Such bearing assembly 40 has a race assembly 44, having a substantially spherical inner surface positioned around such predetermined portion of the spherical member 42, is positioned within the aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30 in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range. Such race assembly 44 includes an outer surface which is substantially identical to such size and such shape of such aperture 16 formed through the male connection member 20. First securing means, generally designated 60, is engageable with such race assembly 44 and such second end 14 of said male connection member 20 for securing race assembly 44 and spherical member 42 to such second end 14. A pair of shaft members 46 extend outwardly a predetermined length from axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical member 42. One of such pair of shaft members 46 being engaged in a respective one of such opening 38 formed through each of the side wall portions 36 of such cavity 26. At least a portion of each of shaft members 46 having a substantially identical configuration as at least a portion of such predetermined configuration of such opening 38 formed through such side wall portions 36. A second securing means, generally designated 50, is engageable with at least one of such pair of shaft members 46 and a portion of such opening 38 for securing such bearing assembly 40 to such female connection member 30 and thereby securing the male connection member 20 to such female connection member 30 to form the articulable-type coupling apparatus 10. In one form of the invention, such spherical inner surface of race assembly 44 will have a substantially identical radius as the radius of spherical member 42. In the most preferred embodiment, such spherical inner surface of race assembly 44 will be slightly larger than the radius of spherical member 42. In this case, such coupling apparatus 10 further includes a lubricating liner 48 disposed intermediate such inner surface of race assembly 44 and spherical member 42. It is presently preferred that such lubricating liner 48 be formed in at least two pieces. It is also preferred that lubricating liner 48 be bonded to such inner surface of race assembly 44. Such bonding of lubricating liner 48 to such inner surface of race assembly 44 preferably being accomplished by an adhesive material. According to the present invention, the bottom wall portion 32 of such cavity 26 further includes a center plate member 52 which matingly-engages a center bowl (not shown) of a bolster portion (not shown) of a railway car truck (not shown). Such center plate member 52 includes a vertically-disposed hole 54 adjacent a bottom surface 56 thereof. Such hole 54 is located substantially in the center of such center plate member 52. Additionally, the coupling apparatus 10 further includes a vertically-disposed pin member (not shown) which is engageable in such hole 54 in center plate member 52 and a vertically-disposed hole (not shown) in such center bowl of such bolster. In the presently preferred embodiment of this invention, the second end 14 of such male connection member 20 has a predetermined configuration adjacent an outermost end 18 thereof. This predetermined configuration of such outermost end 18 of such second end 14 is a substantially convex shape in each of a vertically-disposed plane and a horizontally-disposed plane. In addition, it is preferred that the vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 of such cavity 26 formed in such second end of such female connection member 30 has a predetermined configuration which is a substantially concave shape in at least one of a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. In this embodiment of the invention, it is also preferred that the predetermined shape of the aperture 16, formed through such second end 14 is substantially round. Additionally, this aperture 16 includes a beveled portion 59 adjacent at least one predetermined outer surface thereof. In this case, the race assembly 44 includes a complimentary beveled ledge portion 62 which abuttingly-engages such beveled portion 59 adjacent such outer surface of such aperture 16 formed through such second end 14 of such male connection member 20. Preferably, race assembly 44 is formed in at least two pieces, which are substantially identical. It is likewise preferred that spherical member 42 and such pair of shaft members 46 be formed as a single piece. The first securing means 60, engageable with each of race assembly 44 and second end 14 of the male connection member 20, can be a weldment or a plate member 19 bolted to such second end 14. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, such pair of side wall portions 36 include a tapered portion adjacent the front surface of such cavity 26 and adjacent such vertically-disposed back wall portion 34 of such cavity 26 to enable the second end 14 to rotate about such spherical member 42 in a horizontal direction. Finally, the predetermined configuration of opening 38 formed through each of the side wall portions 36 at least includes a generally round portion engageable with a portion of a respective one of such pair of shaft members 46. In the alternative embodiment of the bearing assembly 40 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, such bearing assembly 40 includes a substantially spherical member 42. At least a predetermined portion of such spherical member 42 is positioned within such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20. Such spherical member 42 has a predetermined diameter. A bore 43 is formed through such spherical member 42. The bore 43 has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. A longitudinal axis of such bore 43 lies in a substantially horizontal plane. A pin member 45, which has a horizontally-disposed axis, is provided. Such pin member 45 extends through the bore 43 for a predetermined length on each side of axially-opposed surfaces of such spherical member 42. A portion of such pin member 45 is disposed within the bore 43 of the spherical member 42 and has a substantially identical size and a substantially identical shape as the size and shape of such bore 43 thereby enabling a press-fit. At least a portion of such length on each side of such spherical member 42 has a substantially identical size and identical configuration as such predetermined configuration of the opening 38. A race assembly 44, having a substantially spherical inner surface, is positioned within the aperture 16 to enable movement of such male connection member 20 in relation to such female connection member 30 in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range. Such race assembly 44 includes an outer surface which is substantially identical to such size and such shape of such aperture 16 formed through the second end 14 of the male connection member 20. While a number of embodiments of the bearing assembly for an articulated coupling apparatus have been described in detail above, it should be obvious to persons skilled in the art that various other modifications and adaptations of such coupling apparatus can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: An articulated coupling arrangement (10) utilized in connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars in a substantially semipermanent manner, said coupling arrangement (10) has a male connection member (20) adapted to be secured to one end of a first railway car, a female connection member (30) adapted to be secured to an adjacent end of a second railway car and a bearing assembly (40), said bearing assembly (40) comprising: (a) a substantially spherical member (42) having a predetermined diameter; (b) a race assembly (44) formed by at least two members, each of said at least two members have a substantially spherical inner surface positioned around a predetermined portion of said spherical member (42), an outer surface of said race assembly (44) has a substantially identical size and a substantially identical configuration as a predetermined size and a predetermined configuration of an aperture (16) formed in one end (14) of said male connection member (20), said race assembly (44) enables movement of said male connection member (20) in relation to said female connection member (30) in both a vertical direction and a horizontal direction over a predetermined range of angles measured from a centerline of said spherical member (42) disposed in a vertical direction and a longitudinal axis of said coupling arrangement (10) disposed in a horizontal direction; (c) securing means (60) engageable with each of said race assembly (44) and said one end (14) of said male connection member (20) for securing said race assembly (44) and said spherical member (42) to said one end (14) of said male connection member (20); and (d) a pair of shaft members (45, 46) extending outwardly a predetermined length from axially-opposed surfaces of said spherical member (42), each of said shaft members (45, 46) being engageable with a respective opening (38) formed through each of a pair of wall portions (36) of a cavity (26) formed in one end of said female connection member (30), at least a first portion of each of said shaft members (45, 46) having a substantially identical configuration as at least a portion of a predetermined configuration of said opening (38) formed through said wall portions (36) of said cavity (26), characterized in that said openings (38) are formed through each of a pair of upstanding side wall portions (36) with the longitudinal axis of said pair of shaft members (45, 46) being in a substantially horizontal plane, and a second portion of at least one of said shaft members (46, 46) having a substantially flat surface area (49) to be engaged by a wedge member (51) to secure said pair of shaft members (45, 46) to said female connection member (30). An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10), according to claim 1, wherein said substantially spherical inner surface of said race assembly (44) has a substantially identical radius as a radius of said spherical member (42). A articulable-type coupling apparatus (10), according to claim 1, wherein said substantially spherical inner surface of said race assembly (44) is slightly larger than a radius of said spherical member (42), and said bearing assembly (40) further includes a lubricating liner (48) disposed intermediate said inner surface of said race assembly (44) and said spherical member (42). An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10), according to claim 3, wherein said lubricating liner (48) is formed in at least two pieces. An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10), according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said lubricating liner (48) is bonded to said inner surface of said race assembly (44). An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said race assembly (44) includes a beveled ledge portion (62) which abuttingly engages a complimentary beveled portion (59) adjacent at least one predetermined outer surface of said aperture (16) formed through said end (14) of said male connection member (20). An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least two members forming said race assembly (44) are substantially identical. An articulable-type coupling aparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said spherical member (42) and said pair of shaft members (46) forming a portion of said bearing assembly (40) are formed as a single piece. An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said spherical member (42) includes a bore (43) formed therethrough. An articulable-type coupling apparatus (10) according to claim 9, wherein said pair of shaft members (45) are formed by a pin member extending through said bore (43).

Inventors: DAUGHERTY DAVID W JR, HAWRYSZKOW MICHAEL G, KANJO WAJIH, LYNCH EDWARD JR, WALACE WILLIAM D, DAUGHERTY, DAVID W.,JR., HAWRYSZKOW, MICHAEL G., KANJO, WAJIH, LYNCH, EDWARD JR.,, WALACE, WILLIAM D.
Applicants: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE CO, WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B61G5
IPC codes: B61F5, B61G5, B61G1