Equalizers Patents (Class 105/82)
  • Patent number: 11021174
    Abstract: A rail vehicle has a bogie, which is covered in such a way that a bogie cavity exists, which is formed in the under floor region of the rail vehicle by a cover assembly and walls adjacent to the bogie. A device for producing pressurized air is connected, with respect to flow, to an air inlet device in the walls of the bogie cavity in such a way that the air can be blown into the bogie cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Grzona, Martin Krause, Thomas Weiss
  • Patent number: 10124641
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leaf spring holder for the mounting of a leaf spring onto an axle body of a vehicle, comprising: a leaf spring saddle configured for mounting of the leaf spring, wherein the leaf spring saddle comprises a saddle surface comprising a deformation; an adaptive molded part configured to be arranged between the leaf spring saddle and the leaf spring, wherein the adaptive molded part seats on the saddle surface via a profile surface, wherein the profile surface comprises an at least partially negative profile of the deformation to increase a contact surface between the leaf spring saddle and the profile surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Boeke, Hendrik Reineke
  • Patent number: 9821617
    Abstract: An equalizer device for a suspension system of a vehicle having a tandem axle has an equalizer body adapted to cooperate with springs of a suspension system. A damping device has a first end that is pivotably mounted in a fixed location relative to the equalizer body and a second end that is pivotably mounted to the vehicle frame. The equalizer body is adaptable to pivoting to transfer a portion of an additional load carried on a forward axle through springs mounted thereon to springs of a rearward axle, thereby substantially equalizing load between the forward axle and the rearward axle. The damping device is adaptable to pivoting in response to pivoting of the equalizer body and dampens movement of the equalizer body when the equalizer body is pivoting to transfer the additional load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Hord
  • Patent number: 8893624
    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, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction and constrained relative to the first and second axles in a tractive direction. The railway truck may further have a frame, at least one spring located vertically between the equalizer and the frame, and a link pivotally connected between the frame and the equalizer and configured to transfer tractive forces between the frame and the equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • Patent number: 8887643
    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, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction. The railway truck may further have a frame, at least a first spring disposed vertically between the equalizer and the frame and configured to transfer vertical forces from the equalizer to the frame, and at least a second spring located on a side of the frame opposite the first frame and configured to transfer vertical forces from the frame to a bolster assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • Publication number: 20130228094
    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, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction. The railway truck may further have a frame, at least a first spring disposed vertically between the equalizer and the frame and configured to transfer vertical forces from the equalizer to the frame, and at least a second spring located on a side of the frame opposite the first frame and configured to transfer vertical forces from the frame to a bolster assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: David J GODING
  • Publication number: 20130220166
    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: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: David J. GODING
  • Publication number: 20130220165
    Abstract: A frame is disclosed for use with a railway truck. The frame 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: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: David J. GODING
  • Publication number: 20130220167
    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, and an equalizer operatively supported by the first and second axles in a vertical direction and constrained relative to the first and second axles in a tractive direction. The railway truck may further have a frame, at least one spring located vertically between the equalizer and the frame, and a link pivotally connected between the frame and the equalizer and configured to transfer tractive forces between the frame and the equalizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: David J. GODING
  • Publication number: 20090031917
    Abstract: A kit and method for converting a locomotive from a first configuration to a second configuration having a different operational capability. The kit includes a traction assembly including a mechanical subassembly configured to mechanically couple a first axle of a truck to a traction system of the locomotive; and an electromotive subassembly configured to electromotively couple the first axle to the traction system of the locomotive via the mechanical subassembly. When the kit is installed in the locomotive, the locomotive is converted from the first configuration having the first axle uncoupled from the traction system and a second axle of the truck coupled to the traction system to the second configuration having the first axle coupled to the traction system and a second axle coupled to the traction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Dwayne Worden
  • Patent number: 6227120
    Abstract: An amusement ride vehicle capable of generating a natural “wheelie” motion with minimal acceleration is provided. Air springs are used to balance the vehicle about a predetermined center of gravity after passenger loading. The amount of balancing required is minimized by using a link, such as a pivoting control arm, to connect the front wheels of the vehicle to the front end of the chassis, thus enabling the chassis to be automatically balanced independent of the weight of the front wheels, without the need for computer control. Upon acceleration of as little as 0.5 Gs in a forward direction, the front end of the chassis rises smoothly and naturally into a upward arc while the front wheels remain engaged with the trackway. The amount of upward movement is limited by the length of the control arms, and can be further limited using stops, such as jounce and rebound bumpers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Bray Fritz
  • Patent number: 5103740
    Abstract: A vehicle adapted for operating on roadway and railway includes a frame, a plurality of roadwheels and at least two pairs of retractable railwheels. The rear railwheels are mounted to the frame by means of an adjustable suspension arrangement which is adapted for moving the railwheels between a roadway configuration, in which the railwheels are retracted and support and drive for the vechicle is provided by the roadwheels, and a railway configuration in which the railwheels are extended and adapted to locate the vehicle on a railway. In the railway configuration, at least one pair of railwheels are adapted to be driven. In one embodiment, railwheels are provided adjacent rear roadwheels of the vehicle and are adapted to be driven when in the railway configuration. The suspension for the rear railways may be adjusted such that the proportion of the weight of the vehicle supported by the railwheels is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Masse
  • Patent number: 5016544
    Abstract: This invention relates to a convertible road/rail power vehicle including a tractor unit provided with retractable wheel sets and rail equipment that enable it to be operated on either highways or railway tracks and when on rail to pull a multiplicity of loaded or unloaded railway cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Highways and Transportation
    Inventor: Ronald F. Woollam
  • Patent number: 4809616
    Abstract: Device for controlling drive couplings of motor bogie axles of a locomotive. The axles are individually driven by motors (4, 5) controlled by a control assembly receiving signals from sensors (6) which are constituted for measuring the vertical load of at least one motor axle and are mounted on the primary suspension of the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Creusot-Loire
    Inventor: Daniel Piel
  • Patent number: 4326357
    Abstract: An equalized or compensated suspension system is reproduced in a model of a locomotive and comprises an arrangement of levers and/or dummy leaf springs which are interconnected by links so as to imitate the suspension system of the original locomotive. The model locomotive has a chassis and generally vertically reciprocable wheel axles mounted along the chassis. Springs are disposed in housings fixed to the model's chassis and are arranged to act at opposite ends on the wheel axles and associated levers or dummy leaf springs of the suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: Micro Metalsmiths Limited
    Inventor: Christopher W. Shaw