Axle Bearing Mounting Patents (Class 105/218.1)
  • Patent number: 11787451
    Abstract: An elastic bushing includes a recess at a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the elastic bushing which portion is located at an inner side in a car longitudinal direction, the recess being recessed outward in the car longitudinal direction. A tubular portion of an axle beam includes a convex stopper portion protruding outward in the car longitudinal direction from a part of an inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion which part is located at the inner side in the car longitudinal direction, the stopper portion being inserted into the recess with a gap between the stopper portion and a bottom surface of the recess. A thickness of the elastic bushing at the recess in a radial direction is equal to or less than half a thickness of a portion of the elastic bushing in the radial direction which portion is located adjacent to the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI RAILCAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukitaka Taga, Yasufumi Okumura, Fumikazu Kounoike
  • Patent number: 11041536
    Abstract: A spring assembly includes coil springs supported on a spring support member. The coil springs include plural first coil springs and a second coil spring. The spring support member includes a first support member and a second support member facing the first support member. One ends of the first coil springs are supported on a front surface of the first support member. One end of the second coil spring is supported on the front surface of the first support member or a front surface of the second support member, and in this state, another end of the second coil spring protrudes further than other ends of the first coil springs. A sum of elastic repulsive forces of the first coil springs is larger than an elastic repulsive force of the second coil spring in a state where the first coil springs and the second coil spring are compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Yasutaka Uematsu
  • Patent number: 10974742
    Abstract: A railcar adapter for radially connecting a railcar body to a bearing. The railcar adapter includes an adapter body having two lateral channels each delimited by a pair of opposed lugs and a lateral surface perpendicular to the opposed lugs, lateral channels being adapted to cooperate with the railcar body. The railcar adapter also includes two frontal surfaces, an inner surface acting as a bearing seat for the bearing, and an outer surface. The railcar adapter provides two frontal flanges that inwardly protrude with respect to the inner surface, and that delimit with the inner surface a housing for the bearing, and at least one of the flanges is distinct from the adapter body and is mounted to a frontal surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Gautier Jenart, Ludovic Fenayon, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Patent number: 10836409
    Abstract: A protecting element of railway wheelsets is described, the protecting element being constituted by a pad provided with a plurality of transversal grooves without which the pad could not be rolled up on the axle at room temperature. The pad is made of a material having high thickness or high strength, that is respectively between 5 mm and 10 mm and between 50 kJ/m2 and 80 kJ/m2. Thanks to the combination of thickness and resilience values, in addition to the grooves, the pad can be manually rolled up on the axle, without the aid of presses and without prior heating. Thus, the solution according to the present invention combines the advantages of ease of installation, such as the possibility of manually rolling up the protecting element on the axle, with the effectiveness of the protection provided by rigid protecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: LUCCHINI RS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Steven Cervello
  • Patent number: 10421468
    Abstract: A railroad car bearing adapter assembly configured to be employed in combination with a high warp restraint truck (with or without an auxiliary or original warp restraint system), and including a low profile thickness and relatively longitudinally narrow roller bearing adapter, a low profile adapter shear pad with a shear stiffness in a range of 85,000 lbs/in to 125,000 lbs/inch, and side wear pad that in combination total clearance in a range of 0.09 inches to 0.36 inches between the side frame thrust lugs and the adapter with the side wear pads. This overall combination reduces wheel wear and damage, reduces fuel consumption, reduces the need for railroad track repair, improves high speed stability and curving performance for both empty cars and loaded cars, provides more truck stability under a loaded car in shallow curves and while encountering certain perturbations, and provides optimum curving performance that enables the axles to better align with curves of relatively high degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Standard Car Truck Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Golembiewski, David M. East, Michael K. Burke, Walter J. Peach
  • Patent number: 10053119
    Abstract: Bogie includes: cross beam supporting carbody of railcar; wheels provided at each of both car width direction sides of bogie to be lined up in car longitudinal direction; front and rear axles each connecting wheels positioned at respective left and right car width direction sides of bogie to each other; bearings provided at both respective car width direction sides of front and rear axles and rotatably supporting front and rear axles; axle boxes accommodating respective bearings; plate springs of fiber-reinforced resin and extending in car longitudinal direction support both respective car width direction end portions of cross beam, both car longitudinal direction end portions of plate springs supported by respective axle boxes; electrically nonconductive buffer members each interposed between plate spring and axle box; electrically nonconductive contacting members each interposed between plate spring and cross beam; and plate spring cover covering part of plate spring and electrically connected to wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao, Yasufumi Okumura, Shintaro Ando
  • Patent number: 10041541
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device includes a first bearing section including a first outer ring, a first inner ring, and a plurality of balls, each of which is made of metal, and a second bearing section including a second outer ring, a second inner ring, and a plurality of balls, each of which is made of metal. The first inner ring and the second inner ring are electrically connected to each other, and the first outer ring and the second outer ring are electrically insulated from each other. The first outer ring is provided with an input contact for an electric signal, and the second outer ring is provided with an output contact for the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hajime Watanabe, Yusuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 9994240
    Abstract: A chassis for rail vehicles, particularly with inside-supported wheelsets, wherein the drive unit is elastically supported transversely to the travel direction via spring devices within the chassis frame, where the vibrational behavior is optimized and the space available for the drive unit is enlarged because the spring devices are supported directly on the housing of the bearing of the wheelset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens AG Österreich
    Inventors: Andreas Haigermoser, David Kreuzweger, Olaf Koerner, Christian Kueter, Hugo Rackl, Andreas Schaefer-Enkeler, Peter Seitz, Martin Teichmann
  • Patent number: 9802626
    Abstract: A sub-frame radial bogie comprises wheelsets, a side frame, a swing bolster, a wheelset radial device and a brake gear. Bearing adapters (41) forming the wheelset radial device are fixedly connected with the sub-frame (42) via pulling rivets (11), and each group of the bearing adapters (41) is bilaterally symmetrical in structure with a symmetry plane (A). The sub-frame (42) comprises an arm (51) and an end (52); a sub-frame connection hole (61) is arranged on the end (52); transverse positioning bosses (73) are arranged on the bearing adapters (41); and an arc groove (75) and symmetrical sub-frame connection holes (71) are arranged on a connection base (72). The bearing adapters use the same standard structure, hence, the more precise design and machining can be realized, and the cost is reduced, and meanwhile, the maintenance technique of the sub-frame is improved, and the maintenance cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CRRC MEISHAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Deng, Shuping Pan, Aimin Wang, Pu Wang, Yungui Wang, Hengli Li, Xianfeng Zhang, Hanjiang Luo, Ji Zhu, Zongquan Zhou, Chengyong Liu
  • Patent number: 9758181
    Abstract: A railcar truck and adapter pad system for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck. Many different features of the pad and/or the adapter-pad interface are configured to improve stiffness characteristics to satisfy both curving and high speed performance of the railcar truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Nevis Industries LLC
    Inventors: Erik L. Gotlund, Jon R. Jeambey, F. Andrew Nibouar, James A. Pike, Jason C. Bryant, Jonathan A. Stull, William A. Kurtzhals, Roshan N. Manibharathi
  • Patent number: 9709115
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a friction element (1) according to which a friction lining is applied onto a support element (2), which friction lining comprises at least one resin (5) and friction-modifying particles (6) and/or fibers (7), wherein the friction-modifying particles (6) and/or fibers (7) are mixed with the at least one resin (5) prior to application onto the support element (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Miba Frictec GmbH
    Inventor: Zisis Tsioptsias
  • Patent number: 9669846
    Abstract: A railcar truck and adapter pad system for placement between a roller bearing and side frame pedestal roof of a three-piece railcar truck. Many different features of the pad and/or the adapter-pad interface are configured to improve stiffness characteristics to satisfy both curving and high speed performance of the railcar truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Nevis Industries LLC
    Inventors: Erik L. Gotlund, Jon R. Jeambey, F. Andrew Nibouar, James A. Pike, Jason C. Bryant, Jonathan A. Stull, William A. Kurtzhals, Roshan N. Manibharathi
  • Patent number: 9592840
    Abstract: A railcar axle box suspension includes a coupling mechanism configured to couple an axle box to a bogie frame, and the coupling mechanism includes: an axle beam including a tubular portion; a core rod inserted through the tubular portion, protruding portions being provided at both sides of the core rod; a pair of receiving seats provided at the bogie frame and including fitting grooves, the protruding portions being fitted in the fitting grooves; a pair of lid members supporting the respective protruding portions; fastening mechanisms fixing the lid members to the receiving seats; and locking members. Each of the receiving seats includes a first screw hole. Each of the lid members includes a first insertion hole and a second screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasufumi Okumura, Takehiro Nishimura, Shintaro Ando, Shunichi Nakao
  • Patent number: 9580088
    Abstract: A wear plate for use with a railway truck, the wear plate being configured for installation on a downwardly facing surface of a pedestal opening of a side frame of a railway truck. The wear plate includes a base and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base with inwardly disposed locking features designed to engage the pedestal when the wear plate is installed, the locking features in a preferred embodiment being configured as resilient projections that engage, clamp or drag lock onto opposite sides of the pedestal with the base of the wear plate protecting the downwardly facing pedestal surface. The wear plate may be constructed from malleable or ductile metals or plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: PENNSY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manuel Tavares, Wayne H. Murphy, Michael James Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9376124
    Abstract: A railway tank car including a protective structure for the top of its cargo tank and surrounding both a valve group mounting nozzle and a pressure-relief safety valve nozzle, to protect the associated valves against damage resulting from the car being overturned, particularly while the railcar is moving along a railway. The protective structure includes protective housings including upstanding walls of metal plate construction surrounding the nozzles yet not attached directly to the nozzles, so that the protective housings afford convenient access to the valves associated with the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Gunderson, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8950339
    Abstract: An encoder device for use in a magnetic sensor arrangement, comprising: a metallic ring having a set of clearances in a ferromagnetic material, wherein said clearances are arranged around a circumference of the metallic ring, wherein the metallic ring is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic induction in a nearby magnetic sensor upon rotation of the metallic ring, wherein the metallic ring is made of at least one flat and strip-like sheet metal material, two ends of which are joined to form a loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Arnaud Turmeau, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Publication number: 20140360400
    Abstract: The subject matter invention is a two-piece bogie utilized in low floor railed system vehicles and having wheel sets; carrier parts which are provided mutually by being connected to each other through a hinged connection and which are positioned on the wheel systems where the wheel sets are provided; seating parts embodied in the carrier parts; wherein the seating part comprises a wall part with a placement height determined according to a wheel radius; and a placement plate embodied at the continuation of the wall part, in order to provide isolation of the noise and vibrations occurring in two-piece and low floor bogies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ahmet Civan
  • Patent number: 8893626
    Abstract: A railway car truck incorporating an interconnection between the side frame and bearing adapter is characterized by a low lateral spring constant relative to the longitudinal spring constant. The interconnection provides a proportional restoring force with minimal internal friction and hysteresis. In embodiments, the interconnection comprises compressed elastomeric members positioned between the thrust lug of the side frame and the bearing adapter in the longitudinal direction and a low friction interface between the roof of the pedestal jaw and the top of the bearing adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: STRATO, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berg, George Currier, Larry Hixon, Kevin McGarvey, Jason Reiling
  • Publication number: 20140318412
    Abstract: A railroad car bearing adapter pad including a wear resistant body formed with one or more compressible resilient conductive plugs which provide electrical conductivity or continuity between a side frame and a bearing adapter and thus between the railroad car body and the railroad tracks when the bearing adapter pad is mounted on a bearing adapter in a pedestal jaw opening of a side frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Standard Car Truck Company
    Inventors: David M. East, Michael K. Burke
  • Patent number: 8864383
    Abstract: An axle box for a railway vehicle bogie comprises a rolling bearing having an outer ring element, an inner ring element, rolling elements mounted there between, and a seal element, the inner ring element being adapted to be secured by screw bolts to an axial end of bogie axle. The axle box comprises an end cap comprising a flange with an inner face and an outer face, an annular first radial surface portion of the inner face being so defined that it is able to lean against an axial end of the inner bearing ring element of the rolling bearing. The flange comprises a central part traversed by screw bores. The flange comprises a first inner axial ridge running alongside the outer circumference of the cap, and extending axially towards the rolling bearing all around the flange, further than the first radial surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Arnaud Duchassin, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Patent number: 8844447
    Abstract: A frame for use with a railway truck may have a pivot housing, a first arm member extending outward from the pivot housing and having opposing distal ends, and a second arm member substantially identical to the first arm member and extending outward from the pivot housing opposite the first arm member. Each of the first and second arm members may have a generally planar upper plate, a generally planar lower plate, and plurality of webs vertically disposed between the generally planar upper and lower plates. An upper surface of the pivot housing may be generally co-planar with the generally planar upper plates of the first and second arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • Patent number: 8746151
    Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to deflection that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The truck may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Jamal Hematian
  • Patent number: 8720347
    Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster mounted transversely between a pair of side frames. The mounting interface between the wheelset axle ends and the sideframe pedestals includes a bearing adapter. It has an upper portion that seats in the sideframe pedestal. The underside, lower portion, of the bearing adapter defines sits on the wheelset bearing casing. The lower portion has an apex, and has a first land portion for engaging a first portion of the bearing casing, and a second land portion for engaging a second portion of the bearing casing. The apex lies circumferentially between the first and second lands portions. There is a relief formed at the apex over the bearing race, so that vertical load is split to enter the casing to either side of top dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James Wilfred Forbes, Jamal Hematian
  • Patent number: 8695508
    Abstract: A wear plate for use with a railway truck, the wear plate being configured for installation on a downwardly facing surface of a pedestal opening of a side frame of a railway truck. The wear plate includes a base and a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base with inwardly disposed locking features designed to engage the pedestal when the wear plate is installed, the locking features in a preferred embodiment being configured as resilient projections that engage, clamp or drag lock onto opposite sides of the pedestal with the base of the wear plate protecting the downwardly facing pedestal surface. The wear plate may be constructed from malleable or ductile metals or plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Pennsy Corporation
    Inventors: Manuel Tavares, Wayne H. Murphy, Michael J. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140060380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a railway car truck incorporating a novel interconnection between the side frame and bearing adapter characterized by a low lateral spring constant relative to the longitudinal spring constant. The interconnection provides a proportional restoring force with minimal internal friction and hysteresis. In embodiments, the interconnection comprises compressed elastomeric members positioned between the thrust lug of the side frame and the bearing adapter in the longitudinal direction and a low friction interface between the roof of the pedestal jaw and the top of the bearing adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: STRATO, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berg, George Currier, Larry Hixon, Kevin McGarvey, Jason Reiling
  • Patent number: 8661988
    Abstract: A railway truck is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The railway truck may have a first axle with a first end and an opposing second end, and a second axle with a first end and an opposing second end. The railway truck may also have a plurality of wheels connected to each of the first and second axles, a first bearing assembly positioned at the first end of the first axle, and a second bearing assembly positioned at the first end of the second axle. The railway truck may further have an equalizer having a first end vertically supported by the first bearing assembly and a second end vertically supported by the second bearing assembly, and at least one pin connecting the equalizer to the first and second bearing assemblies and configured to transfer tractive forces between the plurality of wheels and the equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electromotive-Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • Patent number: 8656839
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam configured to support a carbody; a pair of front and rear axles respectively provided on front and rear sides of the cross beam so as to extend along a crosswise direction; bearings respectively provided on both crosswise-direction sides of each of the axles and configured to rotatably support the axles; bearing accommodating portions configured to respectively accommodate the bearings; and plate springs extending in a front-rear direction so as to be respectively supported by both crosswise-direction end portions of the cross beam, end portions of each of the plate springs being respectively supported by the bearing accommodating portions. Each of the bearing accommodating portions includes: a case portion configured to accommodate the bearing; and supporting portions configured to support the plate springs. The plate springs are supported by the supporting portions on a center side of the axle in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao, Takeyoshi Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 8561548
    Abstract: The present invention provides an journal box rubber pad and a bogie, wherein the journal box rubber pad comprises a glue-injection hole and a conductive mechanism: the glue-injection hole comprises a cavity formed in a rubber layer, a first hole formed on an upper wear liner and a second hole formed on a lower wear liner. The cavity, the first hole and the second hole are communicated with each other; the conductive mechanism is placed internally in the glue-injection hole; the two ends of the conductive mechanism pass through the first hole and the second hole respectively and be in contact with two conducted apparatuses. The journal box rubber pad and the bogie of the present invention have the advantages that: the journal box rubber boxes not only can overcome the disadvantages that the upper and the lower wear liners are easy to be abraded and have poor contact with a bogie side frame and an adapter because of the requirements of high manufacturing accuracy but also can realize conductive function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhenming Liu, Lidong Li, Shuming Xing, Haibin Hu, Weichun Ren, Chaoyu Li, Pingwei Yin
  • Publication number: 20130160669
    Abstract: An encoder device for use in a magnetic sensor arrangement, comprising: a metallic ring having a set of clearances in a ferromagnetic material, wherein said clearances are arranged around a circumference of the metallic ring, wherein the metallic ring is configured to generate an oscillating magnetic induction in a nearby magnetic sensor upon rotation of the metallic ring, wherein the metallic ring is made of at least one flat and strip-like sheet metal material, two ends of which are joined to form a loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Arnaud Turmeau, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Publication number: 20130118375
    Abstract: A travel device includes a bogie frame (11) configured to support an axle (5) to which a wheel (3) is attached, a suspension frame (15) disposed close to a center of a vehicle body (1) with respect to the bogie frame (11) and having a support section (16) extending downward from the vehicle body (1), and an upper link (14a) and a lower link (14b) configured to connect the support section (16) and the bogie frame (11) to relatively move the bogie frame (11) with respect to the support section (16) in a vertical direction. In the lower link (14b), a position (11b) at which the lower link (14b) and the bogie frame (11) are connected by pin coupling is disposed lower than a position (15b) at which the lower link (14b) and the support section (16) are connected by pin coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Hiromichi Yamamoto, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 8418626
    Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Gorski, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8336464
    Abstract: A freight car bogie and a freight car are provided. The freight car bogie includes two wheel set assemblies, side frames, and a bolster. The freight car bogie further includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod. The first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are crossed in an X form to pass through reserved holes at two sides of a belly of the bolster. The first connecting rod and the second connecting rod are separated from each other at a crossing portion. The first connecting rod includes a first end and a second end. The second connecting rod includes a third end and a fourth end. The first end and the third end are resiliently connected to one of the side frames and symmetrical about a center line of the bolster. The second end and the fourth end are resiliently connected to the other side frame and symmetrical about the center line of the bolster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuming Xing, Zhenming Liu, Shifeng Xu, Haibin Hu, Zhen Zhu, Wendong Shao, Kewei Lv
  • Publication number: 20120279416
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam configured to support a carbody; a pair of front and rear axles respectively provided on front and rear sides of the cross beam so as to extend along a crosswise direction; bearings respectively provided on both crosswise-direction sides of each of the axles and configured to rotatably support the axles; bearing accommodating portions configured to respectively accommodate the bearings; and plate springs extending in a front-rear direction so as to be respectively supported by both crosswise-direction end portions of the cross beam, end portions of each of the plate springs being respectively supported by the bearing accommodating portions. Each of the bearing accommodating portions includes: a case portion configured to accommodate the bearing; and supporting portions configured to support the plate springs. The plate springs are supported by the supporting portions on a center side of the axle in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao, Takeyoshi Kusunoki
  • Patent number: 8297199
    Abstract: A railcar primary suspension is configured to couple an axle box to a truck frame by a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism includes: a radius arm including a tubular part which has openings at both sides thereof; a shaft inserted into the tubular part and provided with projecting portions formed at both side surfaces of the shaft; a pair of receiving seats including fitting grooves in which the respective projecting portions are fitted; cover members configured to support the respective projecting portions; and fastening members configured to fix the cover members to the respective receiving seats. A portion of each fitting groove and a portion of the corresponding projecting portion, the portions contacting each other, respectively have arc surfaces, and a portion of each projecting portion and a portion of the corresponding cover member, the portions contacting each other, respectively have flat surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Yasufumi Okumura
  • Publication number: 20120222581
    Abstract: A constant contact side bearing (CCSB) for use between a truck and car of a rail car that includes a generally hollow housing that includes a closed bottom end and an open top end. An attachment member is attached to an outside surface of the housing and is positioned in a center region between the top end and the bottom end. A resilient member is positioned inside the housing, and a cap is fitted over resilient member and is sized relative to the housing to enable slidibly moving into the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jon Jeambey, Corine Kolenda, Don Kroesch
  • Patent number: 8205560
    Abstract: A low profile mounting assembly for use between a rail car side frame pedestal and the rail car roller bearing includes a shear pad and a bearing adapter. In one embodiment, the shear pad has relatively thin plates joined by an elastomeric layer. In another embodiment, the shear pad includes a projection extending downwardly from a plate to be received and retained by a recess defined in a top surface of the adapter. In another embodiment, a central cavity formed in a lower plate of the shear pad cooperates with the adapter top surface to distribute forces on the roller bearing. In another embodiment, an elastomeric projection of a shear pad plate bears against ridges on the adapter top surface to prevent disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Standard Car Truck Company
    Inventors: David M. East, Giuseppe Sammartino, Ronald D. Golembiewski
  • Publication number: 20110283915
    Abstract: A wheel impact reduction system for a rail vehicle includes a sensor, a control module, and a force reduction assembly. The sensor detects a discontinuity in a rail that is located upstream of a wheel of the rail vehicle in a direction of travel. The control module is communicatively coupled with the sensor. The control module determines whether to apply a correction force to the wheel based on the discontinuity detected by the sensor. The force reduction assembly is joined to the wheel of the rail vehicle and is communicatively coupled with the control module. The force reduction assembly reduces a wheel impact force imparted on the rail by the wheel by applying the correction force to the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden
  • Patent number: 8047139
    Abstract: A railway bogie includes at least two spring units per one wheel, a bogie frame and an essentially single piece adapter which bridges the spring units and is arranged between the spring units on the one side and the bogie frame on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gedenk, Gilles Metenier, John Skiller
  • Patent number: 7966946
    Abstract: A railway car truck includes side frames each having a pedestal formed on longitudinally opposite ends thereof. Each pedestal has an upper jaw and a lower jaw surrounding a pedestal opening. The upper jaw has a roof section above the pedestal opening and the lower jaw has an inner wall and an outer wall on opposite sides of the pedestal opening. The inner and outer walls are spaced apart from one another to define a wide pedestal opening. A bearing adapter is received in each pedestal opening. Each bearing adapter includes a concave opening to receive a bearing and a generally rectangular center section having a top surface generally opposite the concave opening. The bearing adapter has steps extending outward from sides thereof that have outer surfaces separated by a distance corresponding to the width of the pedestal opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Novak, Matthew Skibinski
  • Patent number: 7954436
    Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Gorski, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7934458
    Abstract: An axlebox-spring-unit of a railway bogie includes at least one hydraulic spring having a housing required for functionality of the hydraulic spring, and an axlebox. At least a part of the axlebox forms at least a part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignees: AB SKF, Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gedenk, Friedrich Hoppmann, Rolf Schmiechen, John Skiller
  • Patent number: 7908974
    Abstract: This invention relates to bogies for railway rolling stock. In particular it relates to suspension arrangements for such bogies wherein the frame is mounted on a spring suspension arrangement. In one embodiment the spring suspension arrangement comprises two groups of springs on either side of a wheel axle (11), each group comprising an inner spring (14) and two outer fore and aft springs (15, 16). In another arrangement there are two lower springs (14) on either side of a wheel axle (11) and at least one upper spring (21) above the axle. The arrangements described provide better lateral and longitudinal stiffness and shear characteristics which, reduce hunting and wheel wear. They also enable the axles to accommodate increased loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: SCT Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hewitt, Wayne Jamieson
  • Patent number: 7874255
    Abstract: An improved sleeve bearing for locomotive traction motor that provides additional lubrication over and above that of the one central wick currently used. The sleeve bearing is provided with a recirculation system comprised of either at least two additional wicks located near the 6:00 operating location or multiple oil communication and delivery grooves passageways communicating with the oil flinger grooves placed for the purpose of collecting and providing a mechanism for providing additional lubrication for extending the oil-wetted envelope available for supporting the truck-axle journal in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Magnus Div. of L.V. Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Foster, Paul Bien, John E. Macklin
  • Publication number: 20100288157
    Abstract: A sensor interface is disclosed including a flexible substrate in which are embedded sensors for measuring physical parameters such as temperature, displacement, velocity, acceleration, stress, strain, pressure and force present between objects such as a railcar bearing and a truck side frame. The substrate is positioned between the objects of interest Electronic components such as a data processing unit, a data storage device, a communication device and a power source may also be embedded within the substrate. The electronic devices communicate with one another and the sensors to process signals generated by the sensors indicative of the parameters being measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: AMSTED RAIL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: William LeFebvre, Michael J. McCann, Frank Backo, III, Andrew H. Martin
  • Patent number: 7739961
    Abstract: A low profile mounting assembly for use between a rail car side frame pedestal and the rail car roller bearing includes a shear pad and a bearing adapter. In one embodiment, the shear pad has relatively thin plates joined by an elastomeric layer. In another embodiment, the shear pad includes a projection extending downwardly from a plate to be received and retained by a recess defined in a top surface of the adapter. In another embodiment, a central cavity formed in a lower plate of the shear pad cooperates with the adapter top surface to distribute forces on the roller bearing. In another embodiment, an elastomeric projection of a shear pad plate bears against ridges on the adapter top surface to prevent disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Standard Car Truck Company
    Inventors: David M. East, Giuseppe Sammartino, Ronald D. Golembiewski
  • Publication number: 20100064930
    Abstract: A railway car truck is provided that includes two sideframes and a bolster. Each sideframe has a pedestal opening at each end to receive a bearing adapter assembly. The pedestal opening is formed by a roof section that includes a pad receiving opening. The bearing adapter assembly includes a cast steel bearing adapter that is formed to fit on top of a bearing assembly. An adapter pad, comprised of a selected hardness elastomer, is fit on top of the bearing adapter. The adapter pad includes a base section and a raised top section that is fit within the pad receiving opening in the pedestal roof section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Ralph H. Schorr, Peter Klauser, Jay P. Monaco, Gnana Jeevan Robinson, Manuel Tavares
  • Patent number: 7603955
    Abstract: An improved sleeve bearing for locomotive traction motor that provides additional lubrication over and above that of the one central wick currently used. The sleeve bearing is provided with a recirculation system comprised of either at least two additional wicks located near the 6:00 operating location or multiple oil communication and delivery grooves passageways communicating with the oil flinger grooves placed for the purpose of collecting and providing a mechanism for providing additional lubrication for extending the oil-wetted envelope available for supporting the truck-axle journal in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Magnus Div. of L.V. Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Foster, Paul Bien, John E. Macklin
  • Publication number: 20090139428
    Abstract: A swing motion rail road freight car truck is provided that has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The side frames have spring seats for the groups of springs. The springs seats may be rigidly mounted in the side frames. Friction dampers are provided in inboard and outboard pairs. The biasing force on the dampers urges then to that act between the bolster ands and sideframes to resist parallelogram deflection of the truck. The bearing adapters and sideframe pedestal seats interact on a rolling linear contact interface that has a relatively small radius of curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL STEEL CAR LIMITED
    Inventor: James W. Forbes
  • Publication number: 20090126599
    Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to self steering that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The trucks may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: NATIONAL STEEL CAR LIMITED
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Jamal Hematian
  • Patent number: 7533617
    Abstract: Bogie for a rail vehicle including a first and second wheel unit, each unit having two wheels, and a bogie frame supported on the first and second wheel units via a primary spring unit per wheel. A first primary spring unit being associated with a first wheel of the first wheel unit and a second primary spring unit being associated with a second wheel of the second wheel unit. The first and second wheels being located on the same side of the bogie frame. The first wheel unit and the second wheel unit being connected via a compensation device mounted to the bogie frame. The compensation device being connected to the first and second wheel unit via a first interface and second interface of the first and second primary spring unit, respectively wherein a shift of the first interface causes a shift of the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Krautzig