improvements in blue frames for allway VOL ITUCKS,
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 26th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1837
improvements in blue frames for allway VOL ITUCKS,
I, HERBERT HILLS HEWITT, of No. 743 Elmwood Avenue, in the City of
Buffalo, County of Erie, State of New York, 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 present invention has for its object to provide a simple, strong, and durable
construction of metallic side frame for the trucks of railway-cars; and with this
object in view the invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter
described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out
in the claims at the end of this specification.
In carrying out the present invention while I prefer to form the plate girders or
beams of the shape shown, I do not wish my improved construction of side frame to
be understood as restricted to the precise form or shape shown, since the details
thereof may be varied by the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit
of the invention. I have therefore specifically set forth in the claims at the end of
the specification the features that are essential to the invention.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a beam from which my improved side frame will be
formed.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a beam after the web at the ends of the beam has been
cut away to form the spaces to receive the axle-boxes, the pedestals, and the springs.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the beam after its end portions have been expanded in
order to give the desired height to the spaces wherein the axle-boxes, pedestals,
and springs will be retained.
Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross-section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation, showing the completed side frame with the
pedestals, the axle-boxes, the springs, &c., in place.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a truck embodying my invention.
Fig. 7 is a view in central horizontal section through the side frame shown in
Fig. 5, the axles boxes and springs being omitted.
In the manufacture of the preferred form of my improved side frame I first take
a beam of metal, preferably steel, and roll it to the shape shown in Fig. 1; that is
to say, the beam is rolled with the central web A, having at its top and bottom the
laterally-projecting flanges a, and preferably outside the lateral flanges a are formed
in the process of rolling the vertical reinforce-ribs a'. By preference the vertical
ribs a will be formed thicker than the body of the web A, as seen in Fig. 4, in
order to give the desired strength to the side frames and dispose the metal of the
frames in the most effective position for resisting the thrusts and strains to which
the side frames are subjected. After the metal beam has been rolled to the shape
shown in Fig. 1, I cut out the end portions of the web A to form the spaces,
preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings; that is to say, at the ends

page_text: "
of the plate girder or beam the web A is cut away completely between the top andi
bottom flanges a, thus forming the spaces a³ to receive the pedestals, the axle-boxes,.
and springs. By thus completely cutting away the ends of the web A of the plate
girder or beam the upper flanged edge of the beam, which constitutes the compressive
member of the side frame, is brought as near as possible to the point of thrust and
thus much more effectively serves to resist the strains and thrusts to which the side
frame is subjected than would be possible if this compressive member were at a
higher point. After the ends of the web of the plate girder or beam have been
thus cut away the top and bottom flanged edges of the girder or beam are spread
outward, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and at the same time that these flanged edges are
spread outward the end portions of the web A are stretched, so that although the
ends of the web A are by this stretching operation made somewhat thinner they
still serve to effectively brace the top and bottom flanged portions of the girder or
beam. It will be understood of course that the spreading of the flanged edges of
the girder or beam and the stretching of the ends of the web A are effected while
the metal is in sufficiently-heated condition to permit this to be accomplished, as
will be readily understood by those familiar with the art.
My purpose in thus expanding the flanged ends of the plate-girder or beam is
to give the required height to the spaces that receive the axle-boxes, the pedestals,
and springs without the necessity of increasing the height of the central portion of
the side frames. Each of the inner pedestals C is preferably formed with flanges c,
that straddle the stretched ends of the web A. and are riveted thereto, as shown in
Fig. 5, and these inner pedestals are also formed with the top and bottom flanges c',
as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, these top and bottom flanges abutting against the
flanges a of the side frame and being riveted thereto, as shown. At the outer ends
of the flanged portions of the girder or beam are held the outer pedestals C¹, that
are retained in position by suitable bolts C2, that pass through the flanges of the
pedestals and the lateral flanges of the girder or beam. Between the pedestals C
and C are placed the axle-boxes D, and above these boxes are mounted the usual
coil-springs E, the upper ends of these springs bearing against suitable spring-plates
attached to the flanges a of the side frame, while the lower ends of the springs rest
upon the tops of the axle-boxes. It will be observed that the outer pedestals C¹
can be readily removed when the bolts C2 are withdrawn, and the axle-boxes,
springs, &c., can he easily repaired or replaced, it being simply necessary to slightly
jack up the side frame to permit the withdrawal of the parts.
From the foregoing construction it will be seen that by completely cutting away
the ends of the web A of the girder or beam the upper compressive member is
brought in much more effective position for resisting the strains and thrusts to
which the side frame is subjected than would be possible if the ends of the web A
were extended between the pedestal-jaws C and C'.
Between the side frames of the truck extends the bolster, that is preferably
formed of the angle bars or plates F, F¹. The bolster plates or bars F, Fare
preferably U-shaped or channelled, and their inwardly-turned portions rest upon
and are riveted to the flanges a of the side frame. Preferably, also, the ends of
the bolster-plates F, F' are formed with the angular Hanges (see Fig. 7 and
dotted lines, Fig. 5) that are riveted, as shown, to the web A of the side frame.
By forming the side fraine in the manner shown I am enabled to distribute the
metal of which the side frame is composed, in a manner adapted to most
eflectively resist the strains and thrusts to which this frame is subjected, and by
providing the side frame with the vertical reinforce-ribs a' above and below the
lateral flanges u, great strength and rigidity is given to the frames. The upper
rib a' and flanges that extend along the top of the frames and comprise the com-
pression member of the frame effectively resist any compressive strains incident to
the downward thrust of the bolster, while the lower vertical riu a and lateral
flanges a, that extend along the bottom of the side frame, serve to effectively resist
the tensile strains incident to the weight of the load upon the bolster. By forming
the side bars of the truck-frame from a rulled beam I am, moreover, enabled to give

page_text: any desired thickness to the ribs a¹ without necessarily increasing the thickness of
the web A, and by expanding or spreading the ends of the bar or beam fron
which the side frame is formed the desired space for the pedestal-jaws, axle-box,.
and spring can be readily obtained.
°
It is manifest that the precise details of structure above set out may be varied
by the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus,
for example, it is not essential that both the upper and lower projecting ends of
the side frame should be bent or expanded, although I regard this as preferable.
Inasmuch, also, as my invention presents the first instance of a side frame for car-
trucks formed from a single plate-girder or beam rolled with its edges flanged, or
thicker than its web or body, the thick edges projecting beyond the cut-away ends
of the web or body, I do not wish the invention to be understood as restricted to.
the precise shape of the lateral extension of edge metal or flanges whereby the
edges of the plate-beam are thickened.
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 side frame for car-trucks formed from a single rolled-plate girder or beam.
having a thin web or body and having edges rolled with flanges or thicker than
said web or body, the ends of said web or body being cut away, leaving the
thick edges or flanges projecting beyond said ends, substantially as described.
2. A side frame for car-trucks formed from a single rolled-plate girder or beam.
having flanges at its edges, the ends of the web of said plate girder or beam being
completely cut away between its edge flanges, and said edge flanges being bent to.
form the spaces for the journal-box, &c., substantially as described.
3. A side frame for car-trucks formed of an integral plate girder or beam com-.
prising a central web having at top and bottom lateral flanges and having at top-
and bottom outside of said lateral flanges the vertical reinforce-ribs, substantially
as described.
4. A side frame for car-trucks comprising a central web having at top and
bottom lateral flanges and having at top and bottom outside of said lateral flanges.
the vertical reinforce-ribs, said vertical ribs being formed of metal thicker than the
central web, substantially as described.
5. A side frame for car-trucks formed from a single plate girder or beam rolled
with top and bottom lateral flanges a and with top and bottom vertical ribs a¹
outside the lateral flanges, the ends of the lateral flanges and vertical ribs extending
beyond the web of the beam and being suitably bent to form spaces for the axle-
boxes, &c., substantially as described.
6. A side frame for car-trucks rolled from a single plate girder or beam with.
top and bottom lateral flanges, and with top and bottom reinforce-ribs extending in
vertical direction and having the lateral flanges and vertical ribs extending beyond
the body of the web of the beam and bent outwardly therefrom, the end portions
of said web being stretched or expanded adjacent said bent flanges, substantially as
described.
7. A side trame for car-trucks formed from a single rolled-plate girder or beam
having a thin web or body and having edges rolled thicker than said web or body,
the end of said web or body being cut away so as to leave the thickened edges-
projecting beyond said ends, said projecting thickened edges being bent outwardly
and the end portions of said web or body being stretched or expanded adjacent.
said bent edges, substantially as described.
Dated this Sixth day of March A D 1897
HERBERT HILLS HEWITT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant. .