Cushioned Underframe For Railway Cars

Abstract

A cushioned underframe of the sliding sill type is provided with a cushion pocket within which a hydraulic cushioning unit is disposed. The cushion pocket which includes an opening in the bottom wall of the stationary sill is normally covered by a cover and carrier plate which is removably connected to the stationary sill. The cover and carrier plate is provided with an anchoring s top which projects downwardly below the carrier plate and is supported on a base plate which is connected to side shear plates, in turn rigidly bolted to the side walls of the stationary sill. The cushioning unit and anchoring assembly with the carrier plate provide means whereby the cushion may be readily installed and removed in the cushion pocket.

Description

The present application is related to assignee's co-pending application, Ser. No. 298,112 dated Oct. 16, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the art of cushioning arrangements for railway cars.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Cushioned underframes of the prior art generally include a stationary sill within which a sliding sill is positioned. Impacts on the car or sliding sill are absorbed by a cushioning device which is positioned between sets of rigid stops on the stationary sill and stops carried by the sliding sill. The carrier plate normally is bolted to the underneath flanges of the stationary sill and covers the cushion pocket within which the cushioning device is disposed. The cushioning devices of the prior art are generally disposed between the stationary sill stops in a pretensioned condition. That is, the cushion is slightly contracted with the return springs tending to bias the cushioning device to its fully extended condition against the permanent sill stops. Thus, when the removal of the cushioning device is to be effected, it is generally necessary to cut the springs with a cutting torch to relieve the tension so that the cushioning device can then be dropped from its pocket. This is often a dangerous and undesirable operation. Clamping devices also have been used which are adjustable to compress the cushioning device further and to hold the same in the compressed position while removal of the cushion is effected. Such clamping devices, however, are not usually available in the field or repair shops. These are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,028,019, Apr. 3, 1962 and 2,330,706, Sept. 28, 1943. The present device is easily removable since the unit in its working position is securely supported on the carrier plate, which is readily attached to the stationary sill and the anchoring device, which must be able to absorb the high cushion forces, may be easily and readily secured to the stationary sill and projects downwardly therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its objective a cushioning arrangement for a sliding sill underframe wherein the cushioning device may be readily and quickly removed since the cushioning device, the cover and/or carrier plate and the stress absorbing and anchoring means are all embodied in one unit which can readily be attached to the cushioned underframe. This is achieved by the carrier plate being provided with a fixed anchoring member which includes a box-like structure projecting downwardly onto a base plate which extends upwardly on opposie sides in relatively inverted T-shape relation and which is readily and quickly secured by means of side shear plate to the stationary sill walls and flanges of a stationary sill. The anchoring means forms a torque box type of construction which readily and simply transmits the stresses, shear forces, etc. to the stationary sill of the car and yet permits the cushion and carrier plate to be assembled as a unit and readily removed. The cushioning unit is of a type wherein a a coil spring arrangement is held captive between a cylinder head and a sliding retainer plate, said plates being interconnected by a plurality of tension rods or straps, in turn, also connected to an end plate with said end plate engaging one end of the anchoring member and the sliding plate engaging the other end of the anchoring member whereupon the cushioning unit is securely held in position by the anchoring means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view partially in section of a portion of a sliding sill in underframe construction;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the underframe construction of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a railway car underframe 10 includes a stationary sill member generally designated as 11. The stationary sill supports the deck 18, disclosed in FIG. 4, of the railway car and also has connected thereto suitable cross bearers and stringers, not shown, for supporting the body of the car. The stationary sill 11 includes longitudinally and laterally spaced sill walls 12 having upper flanges 13 and lower flanges 14. Transverse support members 15 are spaced along the length of the stationary sill 11 which is substantially the length of the body of the railway car. An elongated opening centrally disposed on said stationary sill 11 is designated at 16, best shown in FIG. 2.

The underframe being of the cushioned type, is provided with a sliding sill 17 supported on the transverse support member 15 in sliding relation and is disposed beneath the deck structure 18. The sliding sill comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced vertical sill walls 19 connected by a top wall 20, said sill having a hat-shaped configuration. The sliding sill walls 19 also include lower flanges 21 which are slidable on slide pads 22 supported on the transverse support members 15. The elongated opening within the sill walls 12 provide a cushion pocket which is normally covered by means of a cover or carrier plate 23. A cushioning assembly, generally designated at 24, is disposed in the sill pocket. The cushioning assembly 24 includes a hydraulic cylinder 25 having an end plate 26 rigidly connected thereto at one end thereof. A piston 27 is slidably disposed in the cylinder 25 and includes a piston rod 28 extending outwardly through the open end of the cylinder 25. The cushioning assembly may be of a type which is disclosed in U.S. Pats. No. 3,148,869, Sept. 15, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,866, Sept. 29, 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,415, July 13, 1965 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,591, Nov. 9, 1965. The details of the hydraulic components of the cushioning assembly have not been specifically disclosed since the hydraulic valves, etc., of the cushion are not important to the present invention. The function in detail of the cushioning device is well disclosed in the aforementioned patents which are incorporated herein by reference. The present cushion device includes generally a high pressure chamber 29 on one side of the piston and a low pressure chamber 30 on the other side. Further, the unit utilizes an accumulator or flexible boot as is shown in the aforementioned patents. The piston rod 28 provides a passage 31 which, upon suitable orificing, acts as a passage for hydraulic fluid between the chambers 29 and 30, also as described in the aforementioned patents. The present hydraulic cushion unit has a metering arrangement so that a constant force travel is effected during the operation of the cushion.

A spring retainer plate 32 is connected to the outermost end of the piston rod 28 and a coil spring 33 is carried on the cylinder 25 and retained captive between the retainer plate 32 and the end plate 26. Axially aligned openings 35 are provided in end plate 26 and retainer plate 32. Tension rods 36 extend through the openings 35, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2, nuts 37 are screwed to the ends of the tension rods 36. An end plate 34 also including openings 35, is provided at the other ends of the tension rods 36 and nuts 37 also are connected to the other ends of said rods for securing the end plate 34 thereon. An anchoring stop is generally designated at 38. The anchoring stop, as best shown in FIG. 6, includes vertical laterally spaced side walls 39 interconnected by a top web 40. The walls 39 extend downwardly through an opening 41 in the carrier plate 23 and are rigidly connected to a bottom or base plate 42 which extends horizontally between the sill walls 12. The base plate 42, as best shown in FIG. 2, includes longitudinally spaced vertical extending walls or flanges 43 which terminate at the underneath side of the carrier plate 23. As best shown in FIG. 2, transverse gussets 44 are spaced at opposite longitudinal ends of the side walls 39 and are suitably connected thereto. The flanges 43, gussets 44 and walls 39 are structural and are securely welded together, the said flanges 43 being welded to the carrier plate 23. Thus, the anchoring stop is part of the carrier plate 23 since it is connected thereto. Further, side shear plates 45 having longitudinally disposed projections 46 are also secured to the structure formed by the base plate 42 and flanges 43. The shear plates 45 are secured to the flanges 14 by means of the shear bolts 47, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. Shear blocks 48 also are suitably connected to the underneath side of the carrier plate 23 for further supporting and reinforcing the shear plates 45 against longitudinal displacement. Especially shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the carrier plate 23 which covers the elongated opening 16 is also secured to the stationary sill walls 12 by means of spacer plates 49 and bolt and nut fasteners 50. Reinforcement of the sill walls 12 in the region of the shear fasteners 47 is further provided, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, by means of vertical gussets 51 suitably welded to the side walls 12. FIGS. 1 and 6 disclose lugs 52 which are rigidly connected to and for movement with the sliding sill 17, the said lugs being disposed between the spring retainer plate 32 and the end plate 34.

OPERATION

The operation of the present sliding sill 17 and stationary sill member 11 in conjunction with the cushioning device is conventional. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the sliding sill and stationary sill are in the nonoperating or neutral position.

Assuming now that an impact on the coupler on the left hand end of the sliding sill occurs, tending to move the sliding sill 17 to the right from the neutral position shown in FIG. 1, the lugs 52 with the sliding sill engage the end plate 34 pulling the tension rod 36 and end plate 26 to the position shown in FIG. 2, wherein the piston 27 is in a closed or contracted position relative to the high pressure chamber 29, the movement of fluid from the said chamber 29 to the accumulator or low pressure chamber providing for the cushioning action. The spring 33 is, of course, compressed and the plate 32 is against one end of the anchoring stop 38. After the impact, the spring 33 again moves the cushion to the position shown in FIG. 1. An impact on the other end of the sliding sill, of course, causes movement of the sliding sill to the left, whereupon the sill lugs 52 move the plate 32 away from the anchoring stop 38 and the cushion is again placed in the closed position to provide for the cushioning action.

The present invention primarily is in the connection of the cushioning device to the carrier plate 23. The anchoring stop 38 is rigidly secured to the carrier plate and, therefore, by virtue of the tension rod and spring retaining relation, the entire cushion is supported on the anchoring rod and is retained thereon by the inherent tension or pretension of the spring 33. In assembly, therefore, it is a simple matter to hoist the carrier plate 23 in position with the cushion thereon and then inserting the same within the elongated opening 16 or cushion pocket. The sliding sill has the integral sliding sill lugs 52 thereon and the longitudinal distance between the plates 32 and 34 is such that the plates can easily be moved up into the cushion pocket to straddle the opposite ends of the lugs 52. With the cushion disposed within the sliding sill and in the pocket of the center sill, the shear fasteners 47 (nuts and bolts) are now secured to rigidly connect the shear plates 45 onto the flanges 14 of the sill walls 12. The bolt and nut fasteners 50 are also secured so that the carrier plate is firmly connected to the lower flanges 14. The shear blocks 48 also serve to further prevent any possible longitudinal displacement of the shear plates 45 relative to the stationary sill. In the event of replacement of the cushion, it is a simple matter to remove the carrier plate, disconnect the bolt fasteners 47 and 50 and drop the entire carrier plate and cushioning unit downwardly. This arrangement precludes any need for cutting the spring by means of a cutting torch which is conventional to eliminate dangers from the inherent tension involved. It also precludes the necessity of use of wedging devices of the prior art or separate retainer members which must be attached to the cushion to hold it in a slightly compressed position to permit removal of the same. In effect, the arrangement provides for unit replacement.

The device is particularly effective, also, since the construction of the base plate 42 and shear plates 45, etc. provide for a torque box type of arrangement which is securely connected to the stationary sill and which directs the high forces resulting from impacts into the stationary sill and underframe of the car.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cushioned underframe for a railway car having a stationary sill including a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending vertical sill walls,

a sliding sill including a top wall and laterally spaced sliding sill side walls interconnected in hat-shaped relation and slidingly supported within said stationary sill, the improvement of

a cushioning installation comprising a carrier plate,

a vertically extending anchoring member connected to said carrier plate,

a fluid cushioning device including a fluid cylinder having a cylinder head at one end and being open at its other end,

a piston and piston rod assembly reciprocally positioned within said cylinder with said piston rod projecting outwardly from said open end,

a spring retainer plate connected to said projecting piston rod,

a return spring assembly about said fluid cylinder held captive between said cylinder head and said retainer plate,

a second plate longitudinally spaced relative to said first plate,

tie means rigidly interconnecting said cylinder head and second plate against relative longitudinal extension,

said tie means positioning said spring retainer plate and second plate adjacent longitudinal opposite sides of said anchoring member in spring biased relation to connect said cushioning device to said carrier plate,

a pair of laterally spaced fixed stop lugs on said sliding sill side walls disposed on laterally opposite sides of said anchoring member, and being longitudinally movable with said sill to compress said spring during relative reciprocation of said cylinder and piston rod assembly,

and means releasably connecting said carrier plate to said vertical side walls whereby said cushioning device is removably disposed within said cushion pocket.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said tie means including at least one horizontally extending tension member disposed laterally outwardly from said cylinder.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said tie means including a plurality of tension rods disposed laterally outwardly of said cylinder, and said spring retainer plate including openings through which said rods extend.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said vertically extending anchoring members including a structural member projecting vertically downwardly from said carrier plate, and

a horizontal beam member connected to said structural member and connected to said vertical sill walls.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said anchoring member including vertical laterally spaced side walls,

said side walls extending through and below said carrier plate,

said beam member being of box-like configuration including at laterally spaced ends vertical shear plates connected to said vertical sill walls.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said anchoring member projecting downwardly below said carrier plate,

a torque box including a horizontal base plate extending between said sill walls,

said base plate having its longitudinally spaced ends upwardly extending flanges and

vertical shear plates connected to said flanges and said base plate,

said vertical shear plates being rigidly connected to said sill walls.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said base plate extending parallel to said carrier plate.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7, said anchoring member comprising vertically spaced side walls connected by an upper web, and

vertical longitudinally spaced end walls connected to said side walls to provide a box-like configuration.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said sill walls including longitudinally spaced shear lugs engaged by said shear plates.