Improvements in and relating to Bolsters for Railway-cars.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Bolsters for Railway-cars.
I. 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, one of the 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an economical, durable and strong
built-up metallic bolster for railway cars.
Built-up bolsters have been constructed heretofore of channels arranged in such
manner that the compression and tensile strains have been thrust upon the flanges.
I have found that the flanges will not support as great a load per pound of metal
used in their construction as will the bodies. Again, in order to get the proper
depth, taper or inclination of the ends of the bolster, recourse has been had to
cutting away the metal, but this results in waste of material and consequently an
enhanced cost of production.
In the present invention, channel pieces are used in which their bodies form the
top and bottom members, while their flanges form the sides. Thus the full width
of the bodies is utilized to resist the attendant strains and the flanges are
contributory instead of the main strain resisting mediums. Instead of shearing
off the metal to get the proper inclination, the channel pieces may be bent, and
supporting or distance-pieces may be inserted at the center and ends in order to
get the requisite height. Side braces are applied at the points of greatest strain.
These features, together with other details of construction, constitute the present
invention.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, in the several figures
of which like parts are similarly designated-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truck-bolster. Figure 2 is a top plan view
thereof.
Figure 3 is a cross-section taken in the plane of line 3-3, Figure.1; and
Figure 4 is an end elevation.
The top or compression member a and the bottom or tensile member bare made
of channel-shaped pieces of metal, preferably mild steel plate, pressed to shape,
the tensile member, and, if need be, the compression member being bent to obtain
the proper depth at the center and ends, without cutting or shearing off and
wasting the metal. The bodies a¹ and 6 of the respective members form
respectively the top and bottom faces, while the flanges a² and form the sides

page_text: of the holster Heretofore, the bodies have been arranged to form the sides and
the flanges the top and bottom faces of the bolster, but I have found this
construction defective in the particulars. herein before mentioned, namely, lack of
strength adequately to resist the strains to which the bolster is subjected in use,
and the waste of metal in obtaining the proper depth or inclination.
Distance pieces c, of substantially-the-shape outlined-in dotted lines Figure 2,
are arranged between the top and bottom members, and riveted to the flanges, at
the ends, in order to get and maintain rigidly the proper height at the ends of the
bolster and supports or distance pieces d are placed between the top and bottom
members centrally and riveted to their flanges in order to obtain the necessary
strength and rigidity at that point. These supports d may profitably be
corrugated vertically, as at d', to reinforce them and to extend as close as possible
to the king-bolt holes, e e. The holes e, e, mader.in, the top a and bottom b, are
provided with the surrounding, flanges e in order to reinforce them against wear
and strain.
:
Obliquely arranged braces are riveted to the flanges, preferably inside, at or
near the ends, to serve the following purposes, namely: In "curving," the car is
on the side bearings (g) for a time; and sometimes might strike pretty hard in
suddenly going around curves. In such case, the top member of the truck bolster,
being the compression member,might be bent down, although this is not likely ;
but the braces stiffen, the bolster to resist such a contingency. These braces
also reinforce the bolster at the- points where the springs are located, and..they
make a place from which the brake beams may be hung.
The holes h, h, are employed to receive the brake lever connections..
The center-bearing plate and the bolster-column guide-plates kimay.«beras
usual.
By obvious changes, this construction of truck bolster may be applied equally
well to body bolstersin.
In addition to the advantages and economics, already specified; as,.attained.. by
this invention, I am enabled to dispense. with spacing, plates, at..the ends; the
channels being bent to suit and the, distance pieces being cut, to suit. The...power
to resist the concussion produced by buffing is, augmented as is, also, the strength
to sustain a load with a given aquantity of material, in, the, bolster, the full. width
of the channels being availed. 'of ifor, compression, and,tension, and, the flanges
assisting
As already intimated, the parts of this bolster are, designed to be formed..of
plate steel by pressing. same to shape and riveting them together....
Having, now. particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner, the same is to be performed, I 'declare that what I
claim is:
1. A pressed-steel bolster composed of a top and a bottom, member, of channel
shape, the full width of the bodies of which channel-shaped members is utilized in
each to form the respective faces, and the flanges of which form the sides, and
distance-pieces interposed between and connecting the said members rigidly at their
centers and ends, substantially as described.
2. A bolster composed of a top and a bottom member, of, channel-shaped metal,
the full width of the -bodies of which channels is; utilized in each; to forni the
respective faces, and the flanges of which form the sides, the said members being
bent to obtain the proper depth and inclination, and central and end connecting
pieces, substantially as described.
3. A bolster composed of a top and a bottom, member, of channel-shaped metal,
the full width of the bodies of which channels is utilized in each to form, the
respective faces, and the flanges of which form the, sides, combined with the central
and end supports and the side braces, substantially.as described.
4. A bolster composed of a top and a bottom member, of chanuel-shaped metal,
the full width of the bodies of which channels, is utilized in each to form the

page_text: respective faces, and the flanges of which form the sides, the said members being
bent to present a less height at the ends than at the center, and having suitable
connecting devices, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th dow of Tule 1905
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.