Improvements in and relating to Fifth-Wheels for Railway-Cars.
Year: 1897

page_text: · Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
Improvements in and relating to Fifth-Wheels for Railway-Cars.
We, LEVI BARKER PERRY and JAMES CHARLES MITCHELL, both of Lewiston,
Androscoggin County, Maine; in the United States of America,, mechanics do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention is an improvement in swivels or pivot-connections, the primary
object of the same being to provide a fifth-wheel for railway-cars which will
considerably reduce the friction at this point, and thereby give an easy movement
of the body upon the trucks in rounding curves, removing the rough jerky motions
occasioned by undue friction upon the ordinary fifth-wheel; contemplating a
construction and arrangement of the parts to provide a simple, strong and effective
swivel for heavy bodies that reduces the friction to a minimum and thoroughly
protects the bearing surfaces from dust.
of
In the drawings: Figure is a bottom plan, showing the parts attached to the
car-body. Figure 2 is a sectional view through the swivel or fifth-wheel. Figure 3
is a side elevation of the rub-plates, partly in section. Figure 4 is a sectional view
of a modification of the swivel. Figure 5 is a bottom plan of the upper part
the swivel. Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the rub-plates.
The swivel or fifth-wheel. shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists of two parts A and
The part A
B, each having an encircling base-flange a band central opening c.
is provided with a series of threaded openings surrounding the central opening,
which are adapted to receive the threaded stems d.of. cups D, the latter having.
flanges which bear against the part A. Within each cup is seated a bearing-ball E
retained therein by swaging the outer edge of said cup over the ball, leaving
sufficient play for a free movement of the latter. When the parts are applied in
use, with the part A secured to the underside of the car-body and the part B on
the truck, a ring or sand-band F is interposed between the base-flanges, bearing
against the edges of the enlarged portions to exclude dust or grit. from the bearing
surfaces, while the usual king-bolt or pin G passes through the central openings c
The parts are secured in place by screws g which pass through counter-sunk
openings in the base-flanges. This construction provides a ball-bearing fifth-wheel
that will give an easy movement of the car-body upon the truck.
In connection with the fifth-wheel we employ rub-plates, consisting of the flat
bearing-plate H and part I carrying anti-friction balls. The part I comprises a
plate having a series of concave-recesses in its outerside, said recesses
communicating centrally with small recesses containing balls J upon which bear
larger balls K seated within the aforesaid recesses. A retaining-plate L holds the
balls in place, being secured to the main plate and having openings through which
the set of larger balls project slightly beyond said retaining-plate. These rub
plates remove the friction at the sides of the body and truck.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modification of the fifth-wheel or swivel, consisting of
parts M and N, having surrounding base-flanges and central openings for the

page_text: king-bolt or pin. The part M presents a depending annular flange m adjoining the
base-flange and presenting a depressed surface in which are formed a series of
concave-recesses, and into the center of each recess projects a bearing-post o screwed
into the plate as shown. Seated within the concave-recesses are balls P held in
place by a retaining-plate fitting within the annular flange and having openings
through which the balls project, as well as a central opening for the king-bolt.
The flange m forms a sand-band.
In Figure 6, which is a modification of the rub-plates, R designates the bearing-
plate, adapted to be secured to the truck, and S the part which is secured to the
car-body, the latter comprising a main plate having a series of concave recesses s
into which project bearing-posts T, and seated within the recesses upon the posts
are balls U held in place by a retaining plate V engaged by screwstv which pass
through the main plate. In the modifications the bearing-posts present a small
bearing surface for the balls, and thereby reduce the friction to a minimum.
From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,
the operation and practical advantages of our invention will be apparent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. The herein described fifth-wheel, comprising upper and lower parts provided
with annular flanges and central coincident portions, a sand-band surrounding said
portions, removable cup secured to the lower face of the upper part, and balls carried
by said cups and adapted to bear upon the top face of the lower part, substantially
as set forth.
2. The herein described fifth-wheel, comprising upper and lower parts provided.
with annular flanges and central coincident portions, a sand-band surrounding said
portions between said flanges, a series of holes or openings being formed in the face
of the reduced portion of said upper part, cups provided with threaded stems
engaging said openings, and balls carried by said cups and adapted to bear upon
the top face of the lower part, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a car-body having its sill provided with a bearing-plate
carrying ball-bearings, of a fifth-wheel comprising upper and lower parts provided
with annular flanges and central coincident reduced portions, a sand-band
surrounding said reduced portions, removable cups secured to said upper part, and
balls carried by said cups and adapted to bear on said lower member, substantially
as set forth.
4. The combination with a car-body having a fifth-wheel, of a plate secured to
the sill of said car having a series of chambers or recesses therein, balls located
in said chambers or recesses, smaller balls located in recesses or offsets leading in,
from said former chambers or recesses and against which said former balls are
designed to bear, and a keeper-plate adapted to retain said balls in position, as and
for the purpose set forth.
a
5. A swivel for the purpose set forth, comprising two parts, one having
depending annular flange forming a depressed surface, said surface being provided
with a concentric series of concave-recesses, and the other part having a central
raised portion fitting within the flange; together with balls seated within the
recesses and interposed between the parts, as shown and described.
6. A swivel for the purpose set forth, comprising two parts having registering
central openings to receive a king-bolt or pivot-pin, one of the parts presenting an
annular flange forming a depressed surface surrounding the opening, said surface
being provided with concave-recesses, balls seated within the concave-recesses, and
a retaining-plate fitting within the flange and having openings through which
the balls project slightly beyond said plate; together with the other part having a
central raised portion fitting within the flange and presenting a surface provided
with a-circular groove or runway, as shown and described.
7. A swivel for the purpose set forth, comprising two circular plates one having