Improvements in Car Trucks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Car Trucks.
I, JOHN CHILD BARBER, of 326, Maria Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, United
States of America, Car Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement ;-
My invention has for its object to provide an improved car truck. To these
ends, my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices
hereinafter described and defined in the claims.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Therein like
notations referring to like parts, throughout the several views,--
Figures 1 and 2, are, respectively, an end elevation and plan, view of part of
a truck containing my improvements;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, shewing part of the truck frame;
Figure 4 is a similar view, shewing part of the truck bolster;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but with some of the parts removed;
Figure 6 is a view partly in cross section and partly in elevation, through the
improved truck, with some portions broken away;
Figure 7 is a detail, shewing end of column head;
Figure 8 is a detail in sectional elevation, illustrating one form of my improved
side bearing; and
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, shewing a modified form of side
bearing.
The top bar a, bottom bar a and truss bar a² of the side frames of the truck
are of the customary form.
The bottom bar a¹ and the truss bar a², at their over and underlying portions,
are embraced by a saddle b. On the saddle b rest the columns suitably spaced
apart from each other. The columns 6' are provided below with the saddle-
like feet 2, which embrace the saddle b. At their upper ends, the columns b¹
have the laterally expanded portions 63, for securing the same to the top bar
of the side frames. The said columns are also provided with laterally extended
vertical webs or flanges, extending for a short distance above their teet
portions 62, for securing the same to the cross ties c, which are of angular form,
as best shewn in Figure 3. The column bolts 65 extend through the columns b',
the saddle b and all the bars of the side frames. As shewn, they also extend
through top washer plates 66. The columns b¹ are also bolted above to the top
bar a of the side frame, by the reinforcing bolts 67. The cross ties c of angle
form, as hitherto noted, are rigidly secured to the flanges 6 of the columns b¹,
with the horizontal portions of said cross ties resting on the saddle b. The cross
ties are also secured to the said saddle b, and to the side frame bars a¹ a² by
the reinforcing bolts c¹. As shewn, the tie bars are riveted to the column
flanges b With the construction above described, it is obvious that the bottom
and the truss bar, of the side frame, are reinforced against the shearing strains
by the saddle bars b, and that the columns rest on the saddles and are connected

page_text: to the top and bottom bars of the side frames, not only by the column bolts 65,
in the ordinary way, but by the reinforcing bolts 67 above, with respect to the
top bar a, and by the reinforcing bolts below, with respect to the bottom
bar and the truss bar a². Otherwise stated, if the column bolts should be
sheared off, the different parts of the frame would remain rigidly connected
together. Moreover, the column bolts 65 and the reinforcing bolts c extend
through the three thicknesses of metal afforded by the saddle b and the over-
lapping parts of the bars a¹ and a². The cross-ties c, of angular form, located
and connected as described to the columns 6, the saddle b and the side frame
bars and a², afford an extremely rigid and strong cross brace to the side
frames. As a detail, for the application of the top reinforcing bolts 67, it may
be noted that the laterally extended heads 63 of the columns 6₁ are formed with
downwardly extended webs, suitably spaced apart to receive and lock the nuts of
the reinforcing bolts 67 when the bolts are in position, as best shewn in Figure 7.
The vertical Hanges of the cross ties c, which connect the opposite side frames
of the truck, are comparatively short in depth; or, otherwise stated, they do not
extend to the entire height of the columns ', like the ordinary transom. Never-
theless, the said cross-ties c, in virtue of their form, co-operate with my improved
side frames above described, to afford an extremely rigid truck.
The spring bases f are of the proper shape to rest on the saddles band the
horizontal flanges of the cross-ties c, between the columns 6', as best shewn in
Figures 1 and 6. The said spring bases f are provided with downwardly ex-
tended short central ribs f¹ which rest on the saddles b, and with downwardly
extended side flanges f of greater length than the central flanges f¹, and spaced
apart to embrace the side of the saddles b. The side flanges fare of the proper
length in the horizontal direction to work between the horizontal flanges of the
cross-ties c, as best shewn in Figure 1. Hence, when the spring bases f are in
working position, they interlock with the saddles b, against lateral displacement,
and with the cross-ties e, against endwise displacement, and the load thereon is
taken, in part directly by the saddles b and in part directly by the cross-ties c.
It is obvious that this affords a very advantageous distribution of the load.
The spring bases f are provided on their faces with the male members f³ of
telescoping spring guides, the female members f of which depend from the
spring caps f. These spring guides f³ and f* have telescoping engagement with
each other, as best shewn in Figure 6, thereby permitting the necessary vertical
motion, but preventing any lateral displacement of the bases and the caps,
under the motion from the springs f" which surround the spring studs f³ and f*.
This is a radical improvement in the means for supporting the required springs fo.
for taking the load from the holster. It insures the rectilinear action of the
springs . and prevents any side motion thereof. Moreover, displacement of the
springs, by jumping from bumping or other jars lengthwise of the car is prevented.
The spring caps are of the proper form, on their upper faces, to serve as
bearing plates for the rollers f. Over the rollers fi are mounted the top bearing
plates which are embraced and held by the flanges h of the bolster end
castings 4, as will presently more fully appear. The bearing surface for the
rollers f, on the plates f and are concave, in order to insure the return of
the bolster to a central position after lateral travel.
"The bolster is made up of a pair of channel bars h, set with their horizontal
flanges facing each other, a top plate h riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to
said channel-bars, suitable cross-ties h² and h³, and suitable bolster end castings h³,
as best shewn in Figures 1 4 and 5. The bolster end castings are of the
proper form to fill the space between the side and upper horizontal flanges of
the channel bars h, and to be riveted, or otherwise secured, both to the vertical
and horizontal portions of said channel bars, as best shewn in Figures 1, 4, 5
and 6. The castings are of less depth than the height of the vertical flanges
of the channel-bars h, and are also provided with end flanges h³ adapted to abut
against the ends of the channel bars h, as best shewn in Figure 5 and serve as

page_text: a name plate. The castings h are also of the proper form to afford seats ho
for the upper bearing plates f, and have downwardly extended flanges h' adapted
to embrace said plates f, thereby holding the same in proper working position,
as best shewn in Figure 6. The lower horizontal flanges of the channels h are
cut away for a distance inward from their outer ends, as shewn in Figure 5.
This permits the castings to be raised into position between the channel bars h
from below, and also gives the necessary clearance for the bolster in respect to
the springs, spring caps and spring bases.
The lower cross-ties 3 reinforce the channels h at the outer ends of their hori-
zontal flanges as best shewn in Figures 4 and 5; and the central cross-tie h³,
which is of angle form, reinforces the central part of the bolster, below, as best
shewn in Figure 6, and also serves as the bottom guide for the centre-pin, not
shewn.
With this construction it is obvious that a cheap, rigid and extremely strong
bolster is afforded, of a design adapted to my improved means for mounting the
springs as herein described.
The bolster is shewn as provided with end stops k, located at the outer ends
of the bolster, for co-operation with the outer surfaces of the top bars a of
the side frame.
The said bolster is shewn as equipped with one form of an improved side bearing
of my invention. The form shewn on the bolster is the form illustrated in
detail, in Figure 8. Another form thereof is illustrated in Figure 9. Both
forms have the common feature of a tilting table p carrying the side bearing
roller p, which table is under spring tension to assume its horizontal or normal
position. Both forms have the further common features of a suitable base p²
for the tilting table, of box-like form, and adapted to set in a box-like casting p
fixed to the bolster. Between the table base p2 and the casting p³ is also placed a
removeable shimming block . In the form shewn on the holster and in
Figure 8, the bearings for the tilting table are afforded by a raised convex
surface on the base 2 and a concave surface 76 for co-operating therewith,
formed on the boss of the table casting. Spiral springs 78 are then placed
under the opposite ends of the table, for restoring the same to normal position.
In the form shewn in Figure 9, the bearings for the table are afforded by a pivot
bolt seated in the sides of the base and extending through an elongated
hole in the bearing boss of the table; and a flat spring is centrally fixed
to the base 2, with its opposite ends applied to the table, on opposite sides of
its pivot, for restoring the same to normal position. The action is substantially
identical in both, although the friction may be greater on one than on the other.
With this tilting table as the bearing plate for the roller, it is obvious that the
roller will adapt itself to the plane of the bolster, in the bolster's forward and
backward travel; and that, when the side bearing is relieved from the holster,
the table will restore the roller to its central or normal position, with the table
horizontal, under the action of the table springs.
The feature of my invention herein disclosed, which I deem to be of the most
importance is the feature affording guides for the bolster supporting springs
arranged to insure the vertical motion thereof, while preventing any lateral
motion of the springs or any torsional strain thereon from the bolster. It also
prevents displacement of the springs by jumping, as before noted.
It will be understood, of course, that this feature is of special importance in
my general type of car trucks, wherein the bolster is mounted with freedom for
both a vertical motion and a lateral motion on rollers. Inasmuch as the bolster
thus moves laterally on rollers, it is a matter of large importance to prevent
torsional strain on the springs. In one of my prior patents, to wit-573,636, of
date December 22nd, 1896, I accomplished that result by so mounting the springs
and the bearing plates that the springs together with the upper bearing plate,
for the rollers, were carried laterally with the bolster, while at all times freedom
was afforded for the compression and expansion of the springs, or the vertical

page_text: motion of the bolster, in respect to said upper bearing plate for the rollers. In
my present invention, it will be seen that I reach the result named, without shifting
the relations of the springs to the truck frame from that shewn in some of my
earlier patents, such for example, as 569,077, of date October 6th, 1896.
I believe that I am the first to accomplish this result, and do not restrict
myself to the details of construction herein shewn for that purpose. It should
further be noted that, if found desirable, the telescoping guide sections might
be made of the proper form and fit to afford more or less friction in their
telescoping action, thereby relieving the springs to that extent.
By the above noted construction, for mounting the springs, and by the general
construction of the truck frame, and the bolster, as herein. disclosed, a car truck
is secured with lateral motion on rollers, which is extremely strong and is
comparatively cheap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combination with a truck frame and bolster, of spring bases having
guide sections rising therefrom, spring caps having guide sections depending
therefrom and telescoping with said guide sections rising from the spring bases,
springs encircling said guide sections between said bases and caps, rollers resting
in bearing surfaces formed on the top faces of said spring caps, and roller bearing
plates carried by the bolster and resting on said rollers, substantially as
described.
2. The combination with truck side frames having arch and truss bars, of
saddle bars embracing and reinforcing the overlapping parts of said truss and
bottom bars, and bolster columns resting on said saddle bars and connecting all
the parts of said side frames together, substantially as described.
3. The combination with truck side frames having arch and truss bars, of
saddle bars embracing the overlapping parts of said arch and bottom bars, bolster
columns resting on said saddle bars and connecting all of the said parts of said
side frames together, and cross-ties of angle form resting on said saddle bars and
secured to said columns, substantially as described.
4. The combination with truck side frames having saddle bars embracing the
overlapping parts of the truss and bottom bars, of bolster columns resting on
said saddle bars and connecting all the parts of said side frames together, cross-
ties of angular form resting on said saddle-bars and secured to said columns,
with their horizontal flanges facing each other, and spring bases constructed to
rest partly on said saddle bars and partly on said cross-ties, and having flanges
which interlock with said saddle bars, to prevent lateral displacement, and with
said tie-bars to prevent longitudinal displacement, substantially as described.
5. A side bearing for car trucks, comprising a tilting table under spring tension
to assume its normal or horizontal position and a roller mounted thereon as a
bearing surface, substantially as described.
6. The combination with truck side frames having top, arch and bottom bars,
of the columns secured to said bars by the ordinary column bolts and also by
reinforcing bolts, which columns have on their heads flanges serving as locks to
the nuts of said bolts, substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.