Improvements in and relating to Pressed Steel Truck Frames for Railway Cars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pressed Steel Truck Frames for
Railway Cars.
1, CHARLES THOMAS SCHOEN, a citizen of the United States of America,
of 707 Betz Building, in the City and County of Philadelphia and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements upon the invention forming the subject
of my Letters Patent No. 1494, dated January 21, 1896, and more especially to
that form of the invention illustrated in the improvements forming the subject of
my Patent No. 14,486, filed June 30, 1896.
The object of the invention is to increase the strength of the frame and to reduce
the labor and cost of manufacturing the same.
The two features of improvement are, first, a combined upper chord or com-
pression member and gusset plate, and second, a combined spring cap and reinforce
for use in the pedestals.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, in the several figures
of which like parts are similarly designated-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a composite or built-up pressed-steel truck frame.
containing my improvements.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one-half of the combined upper chord or
compression member and gusset plate.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the combined spring cap and reinforce.
Figure 4 is a half section and end elevation.
Figure 5 is a half section and side elevation.
In the drawings have shown my invention as applied to a truck frame
constructed in accordance with my Patent No. 14,486 herein before referred to,
and the parts shown in the present drawings which correspond with parts in the
drawings of the Patent No. 14,486 are herein designated by the same reference
letters as follows:-b is the lower, bottom or tensile member or chord, having its
ends bent up vertically to form, in conjunction with angle pieces d, the inuer
members or jaws of the pedestals, the extremities being bent out horizontally to
form the tops of the pedestals. c is the one-piece diaphragm made with an inturned
flange c', and iveted to the tensile member and to the compression member.
e are the stay-bolts for connecting the inner and outer members or jaws of the
pedestals, and fare the wear plates. gg are the channel beams, having flauges gl
and bosses g² and constituting the transom. i are the sile bearings, k the center
plate, and the spacing plate. I wish to be understood, however, as not limiting
my improvements to a truck frame constructed in accordance with these previously
patented features.
The first improvement, as already indicated, consists in forming the upper or
compression chord or member and the gusset plate in one piece, and to this end the
said member m has the vertical portions m', at its opposite ends, made U-shape in
cross-section and constituting the outer members or jaws of the pedestals. The
outer flange m³ extends at a uniform height from one end of the chord to the other,
while the inner flange m which may be of less height than the outer flange,

page_text: extends from the lower ends of opposite pedestals and dies out in the gusset plate.
The horizontal portion of the member m is widened out on the inner side to as
great an extent as the wheel space will admit, in order to obtain the greatest
strength at the weakest point, namely, the junction of the side frames with the
transom, and the integral gusset plate m' is depressed slightly from the level of
the main body in order to reach down and to be fitted snugly and squarely upon
the flanges of the transom.
The advantages incident to this construction of combined top chord or com-
pression member and gusset plate are that it reduces the number of parts to be
assembled and united in the construction of a truck frame, and greatly strengthens
the side frames in the direction of resisting the strains which occur in curving;
less riveting also is required, and thus there is economy in labor and material in
the manufacture of the truck frame.
The second feature of my improvement, namely, the combined spring cap and
reinforce, comprises a substantially circular base n adapted to be fitted to the
top of the pedestal, and having the squared portions n', which are adapted to be
fitted to the inner and outer jaws of the pedestals, rivets being employed to secure
the cap in position. The cap is provided with the vertical Hanges n² constructed
and arranged substantially as shown. This device performs the double function of
a spring cap or seat and of a brace for the ends of the side frame. The flanges of
increasing width serve to impart an increase of strength at the angles of the
pedestals, where such strength is needed to resist the strains put upon the pedestals
by reason of the wheels striking obstructions, such as uneven rail joints, frogs,
switches and the like, such strains having a tendency to bend the pedestals or the
outer jaws of the pedestals outwardly by reason of the giving away or the
weakening of the upper corners. The increased strength similarly imparted to
the inner corners of the pedestals by means of this combined spring cap and
reinforce serves to resist vertical loads.
Both the combined compression member and gusset plate, and the combined
spring cap and reinforce may be made of steel plate pressed to shape, and while
such construction forms a subject of claim herein, yet I do not wish to be
understood as limiting my invention to that material or to that process of
manufacture.
The advantages alleged to be incident to the inventions set forth in the patents
hereinbefore referred to, are equally conspicuous in the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. A combined top chord or compression member and gusset, for a built-up or
composite side frame for railway car trucks, constructed of one piece and
substantially in the form shown.
2. A side frame for railway car trucks, comprising the outer jaws of the
pedestals, a connecting medium, and a gusset for union with the transom, the said
outer jaws, connecting member and gusset being formed of a single piece of metal,
substantially as described.
3. A side frame for railway car trucks, comprising a combined upper chord or
tensile member and gusset, having a uniform outer flange extending from end to
end and inner flanges extending from the ends and dying out at or near the gusset,
and all constructed of pressed steel, substantially as described.
4. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined spring cap and reinforce
adapted to be riveted in the upper angles and to the jaws of a pedestal of a railway
car truck, substantially as described.
5. In a side frame for railway car trucks, the combination with the pedestals, of
the combined spring caps and reinforces, each constructed of a single piece, and
riveted to the inner and outer jaws and tops of the pedestals, substantially as
described.

page_text: 6. A combined spring cap and pedestal reinforce, comprising a substantially
circular base, flat sides, and vertical flanges connecting the base and sides,
Bubstantially as described.
7. A combined spring cap and pedestal reinforce, comprising a substantially
circular base, having flat sides, and vertical flanges connecting the base and its
sides around the circular edge of the base, the whole formed of steel plate pressed
to shape, substantially as described.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.