Patent GB-641348-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to vehicle underframes
IPC: B61F1/02
Filed: 1946-04-01
Abstract: 641,348. Railway vehicle bodies. BUDD CO. April 1, 1946, No. 10003. Convention date, April 17, 1945. [Classes 103(iv) and 103(vi)] An end underframe of a vehicle body has a centre sill portion which constitutes an integral portion of the body centre sill so as to transmit the longitudinal buffing stresses without abrupt change in direction and without undue stress concentrations. The end underframe comprises a centre sill 1 and a bolster beam 2. Figs. 3, 4, the centre sill inboard of the bolster 2 being constructed as in Specification 641,347. The bottom wall 4 of the sill, Fig. 4, extends to the plane 16, whilst the upper part of the web and flanges extend to the plane 17 and the lower part of the web and flanges extend to the plane 20. Grooves 9 in the web terminate at 21 inboard of the bolster beam, the space left by the grooves being filled by channel-sectioned plates 23 attached to the outer sides of the centre sill and extending from the plane 22<SP>1</SP> to the buffer casting 18, the channels being slotted horizontally at 27 to allow the lower portions to diverge at 28 to the inner face of the casting 18, the edges of the slot being bridged by triangular webs 31. The open upper end of the centre sill is bridged between the planes 16, 30 by grooved members 36, Fig. 6 (not shown), similar to the bottom members 4. 5, and the casting 18 is provided with a rearward extension 43 for connection to the top flange of the centre sill. A channel-shaped stiffening web 48 is inserted about middepth of the sides of the centre sill between the bolster 2 and plane 16 where it is blanked off by a transverse plate 55 forming the inboard abutment for the buffing and draft gear, the outboard abutment 57 being formed as a forging or casting riveted to the side members of the sill and bridged by an upper transverse member 60, the bottom of the housing for the gear being bridged by a cover structure 65. The bolster beam 2, Fig. 9, comprises flanged web plates 73, the upper portion of the webs and flanges extending as a one-piece structure across the centre sill, the bottom of the webs being closed by a plate 76. Castings 77 are secured to each side of the centre sill and have projecting webs 81 to which the lower portions of the web plates 73 are attached, and transverse partitions 82 inside the centre sill are aligned with the web plates 73. The floor is supported on transverse members 87, 101, Fig. 4, and short lengths 110. Fig. 8 (not shown), adjoin the buffer housing as described in Specification 641,347. A centre pivot casting 86 is secured to the central portion of the bolster and laterally spaced side bearings 93 are attached to the underside of the bolster, the flanges 75 in the neighbourhood of the side bearings being reinforced by welding metal 94 or by angle plates. Near the outer end of the bolster is an upstanding plate 95 gapped to fit between the bolster web plates 73, the lower part of the plate and a jacking pad 99 being welded to the side sill and bolster beam. The upper ends of the bolster and outer ends of the transverse members 87 are capped by an inwardly facing channel section member 96 which nests in a side sill 97 attached to a side wall 98, these parts being connected to the underframe as described in Specifications 606,945 and 606,946. In a modification, Fig. 15 (not shown), the centre sill passes uninterruptedly through the bolster beam, the sides of which are closed by an upper channel extending across the bolster and a lower plate as previously described. The transverse webs in the centre sill which form continuations of the bolster sides have depressions in the sides and base to fit over the corresponding depressions in the centre sill, the upper ends of the webs being extended for attachment to the upper channel closure member. The welding metal 94 shown in Fig. 9 is replaced by internal angle pieces.