Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897

page_text: a straight track. On curves, however, a lateral cushion is even more important
than a vertical one, as it relieves the severe shock of striking curves and facilitates
the passage of the car around curves by permitting the axles to assume a partly
radial position. To get this lateral cushion on the truck frame, it is supported
from the axle journal boxes on the swinging links 13-14, which cushion the truck
and car against lateral jars. For the purpose of cushioning against vertical jars,
a series of the spiral springs 20-21 is interposed between said links 13-14 and the
cap 18 which is connected to the truck frame, said springs 20-21 being supported
upon the swinging-links 13-14, the truck frame being supported upon the
springs 20-21. It is preferable to use spiral springs 20-21, but instead of such
springs, rubber, elliptical, or other suitable springs may be used.
When spiral
or rubber springs are used, if desired they may be located either on each side of
the axle journal boxes on a line practically parallel with the side of the truck
frame, or they may be arranged directly under the journal boxes on a line prac-
tically parallel with the axle, as shown in Figures 2 and 3; or any other suitable
arrangement of said springs may be made.
It will be observed that the springs 20-21 are arranged below the axle journal
boxes, and that they are supported by the swinging links 13-14, the object being
to lower the car body, which is an important feature of this invention. But so far
as this feature alone is concerned, instead of supporting them upon the swinging
links, as illustrated, such springs may be supported below the axle journal boxes
by any other suitable means. The swinging links are preferred, however. The
object, however, being to lower the car body, and for that purpose to get the springs
for cushioning the truck frame upon the axle journal boxes located below instead
of above said journal boxes, this invention is not confined to the particular con-
struction shown for securing that result.
By thus placing the supporting springs below the journal boxes, a saving is
effected of in most cases all and in other cases nearly all the full height of said
springs in the distance from the track to the car sills. Also, the cap 18 being
firmly fitted to the truck frame below the axle journal boxes, the depth of the
truck frame over the journal boxes can be reduced and the car body is further
lowered, the fulcrum being removed to practically the center of the axle, thereby
strengthening the frame at its weakest part, enabling the truck to carry a greater
proportion of the load upon the extreme ends of the truck frame, which aids
materially to prevent objectionable longitudinal oscillation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. The combination with a car truck frame, and journal boxes, of two laterally
swinging links suspended from said journal boxes and two springs carried by
said links and arranged parallel with the axle for supporting the truck frame, and
seats and caps for said springs, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a truck frame constructed to embrace the journal
boxes, of the journal boxes, two springs arranged parallel with each axle for said
truck frame to cushion said frame against vertical jar, and laterally swinging
links in which said springs are carried for cushioning said frame against lateral
jar, and seats and caps for said springs, substantially as described.
3. A car truck frame elastically mounted on the axle journal boxes by means
of springs located below and supported by laterally swinging links on said journal
boxes, and acting upon the under side of said truck frame, the said springs being
provided with seats and caps, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a car truck, the combination of spring seats located below the axle journal
boxes and supported from said journal boxes by laterally swinging links, springs
mounted on said spring seats, caps for said springs and a truck frame so mounted
on said springs that the upper or top portions of said springs will act upon the
under side of said frame to support it, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. In a car truck, the combination with the truck frame, the axle, and the
journal boxes, of a plurality of springs arranged parallel with the axle for elas-
tically mounting the truck frame upon the journal boxes, said springs being
located below said journal boxes, a plurality of laterally swinging links by which
said springs are suspended from the journal boxes, and seats and caps for said
springs, substantially as described.
6. In a car truck, the combination with the axle journal boxes, and the laterally
swinging links, of the springs for elastically mounting the truck frame upon the
journal boxes, said springs being located below said journal boxes and supported
therefrom by said laterally swinging links, and seats and caps for said springs,
substantially as described.
7. In a truck for four-wheeled motor cars, a truck frame having openings therein
to receive the axle journal boxes, spring seats attached to said frame on the under
side thereof, laterally swinging links mounted on said journal boxes, spring caps
mounted on said swinging links, and springs interposed between said spring caps
and said spring seats for supporting said truck frame, substantially as described.
8. In a truck for four-wheeled cars, a truck frame provided with openings for
receiving the axle journal boxes, spring caps firmly fitted into the openings in said
frame below the journal boxes, and springs located below and supported from said
journal boxes by laterally swinging links for cushioning the truck frame,
substantially as described.
9. In a car truck having axle journal boxes, a spring seat under each axle jour-
nal box, two springs mounted in each seat, two swinging links for suspending each
spring seat in its journal box, and a spring cap secured to the truck for receiving
each of said sets of springs, in combination with a truck frame mounted upon
said spring caps, said truck frame being rigidly attached to the car body longi-
tudinally and circumferentially, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a truck frame, and car body supporting springs, of
journal boxes, swinging links suspended from said journal boxes, and springs
supported on a bearing carried by said links and bearing against a plate secured to
said truck frame, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a truck frame mounted upon journal boxes by
laterally-swinging links, and intervening springs supporting said truck frame
upon said links, and seats and caps for said springs, of car-body-supporting springs
mounted upon bearings carried by said truck frame, and a top frame mounted
upon said latter springs for receiving the car body, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a truck frame, the axle journal boxes, the laterally
swinging links, and springs located intermediate said journal boxes and links
and acting upon the under side of the truck frame, and seats and caps for said
springs, of springs mounted upon bearings carried by said truck frame, and a top
frame mounted upon said upper springs for receiving the car body, substantially
as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.