Abstract: A draft gear assembly having a variable angle friction clutch mechanism is provided. Such assembly includes a housing member having a compressible cushioning element disposed adjacent a closed end thereof. A seat is disposed between one end of the compressible cushioning element and an open end of the housing member. A friction cushioning mechasim is positioned at least partially within the open end of the housing member and includes a plurality of friction surfaces disposed on a plurality of friction elements with at least one wedge member being engageable with the plurality of friction surfaces. At least one resilient member is provided to enable the friction cushioning mechanism to exhibit a variable angle. Such resilient member is engageable with at least one of the friction elements and exerts a lateral force on the friction cushioning mechanism which is at least sufficient to maintain all of the friction surfaces in frictional engagement during the useful life of the draft gear assembly.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly having a variable angle friction clutch mechanism is provided. Such assembly includes a housing member having a compressible cushioning element disposed adjacent a closed end thereof. A seat member is disposed between one end of the compressible cushioning element and an open end of the housing member. A friction cushioning member is positioned at least partially within the open end of the housing member and includes a plurality of friction surfaces disposed on a plurality of friction elements with at least one wedge member being engageable with the plurality of friction surfaces. At least one resilient member is provided to enable the friction cushioning mechanism to exhibit a variable angle. Such resilient member is engageable with at least one of the friction elements and exerts a lateral force on the friction cushioning mechanism which is at least sufficient to maintain all of the friction surfaces in frictional engagement during the useful life of the draft gear assembly.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly having a variable angle friction clutch mechanism is provided. The assembly includes a housing member having a compressible cushioning element disposed adjacent a closed end thereof. A seat member is disposed between one end of the compressible cushioning element and an open end of the housing member. A friction cushioning mechanism is positioned at least partially within the open end of the housing member and includes a plurality of friction surfaces disposed on a plurality of friction elements with at least one wedge member being engageable with the plurality of friction surfaces. At least one resilient member is provided-to enable the friction cushioning mechanism to exhibit a variable angle. The resilient member is engageable with at least one of the friction elements and exerts a lateral force on the friction cushioning mechanism which is at least sufficient to maintain all of the friction surfaces in frictional engagement during the useful life of the draft gear assembly.

Abstract: The draft gear includes: friction elements; coil spring elements; and elastomer elements. With respect to the friction elements, three groups of friction surfaces are defined each of which create a specific angle with respect to a centerline passing down the center of the draft gear. The elastomer elements are interconnected multiple segmented columns having specific heights and occupying particular volumes with respect to the coil spring elements. Particular hardness and number of segments of the elastomer elements are also defined.

Abstract: The draft gear includes a single center friction plate and a pair of spaced apart friction wedges. Six major friction surfaces are defined, four of which are engaged upon contact with the follower, the other two being engaged after about one-half inch of travel. Three major groups of angles are defined, a first being between the friction wedges and the shoes, a second between the friction wedges and the release wedge and a third between the shoes and the spring seat. These groups of angles cooperate to insure that the draft gear will release upon removal of external force.

Abstract: A draft gear assembly to cushion and absorb impacting forces on a railroad car coupler system includes a housing containing a spring package. Through a follower the spring package interacts with a set of friction shoes. The shoes are positioned in friction shoe seats in a friction bore section of the housing. Each seat includes a wear liner in a recess formed on an inner surface of the housing friction bore section. The shoes in turn engage a wedge which extends from the housing to connect with other elements of the coupler system. The liners are made of a selective steel initially deformed by the impacting forces. This deformable quality allows wider dimensional variations between the shoes, liners, and the housing recesses. After deformation the liners fit properly in the recesses and the shoes in the seats to optimize areas of contact therebetween.

Abstract: A draft gear to absorb and cushion impacting forces on a railroad car coupler system includes a spring package in an inner section of a housing of the gear. The spring package connects with a set of friction shoes carried in friction shoe seats formed in an outer friction bore section of the housing. The shoes in turn engage with a wedge which extends from the housing outer end. In each friction shoe seat is a grooved recess having an inner, outer, and connecting groove portion arranged in an H-like shape. In each grooved recess in turn is a metallic insert to provide a film of lubricant between the shoes and friction shoe seats respectively. During operation the impacting forces on the coupler system drive the wedge and shoes inward to compress the spring package. This movement is restrained by friction between the shoes and friction shoe seats.

Abstract: A high capacity plate-type friction draft gear is disclosed for utilization with railroad cars. The draft gear has a friction clutch mechanism with a special two-piece split spring seat, so that two individual spring forces can be exerted separately against the friction shoes to maintain operability of the friction clutch mechanism when the various plates become worn to the point of normal replacement.

Abstract: A draft gear is described as having rubber cushion pads and a friction clutch with a wedge and two friction shoes. The housing of the draft gear is provided with strategically located openings through which bars can be passed to neutralize the spring force of the cushion pads and facilitate assembly and disassembly of the draft gear. Further, an extra spring is provided to continuously load the wedge shoes to maintain them in frictional engagement with the wedge.

Abstract: An arrangement for resilient absorption of forces, particularly for an intermediate buffer coupling of rail vehicles, comprises an elongated housing having open and closed ends, a friction element located in the region of the open end of the housing, a resilient element cooperating in series with the friction element and formed as a friction spring including a plurality of inner conical rings and a plurality of outer conical rings cooperating with one another with interposition of lubricant, outer and inner cup-shaped casing members located in the housing and closeably accommodating the friction spring. The outer cup-shaped member forms a support for one end of the friction spring, whereas the inner cup-shaped member forms a support for the other end of the friction spring.

Abstract: A friction spring unit has a friction spring including a plurality of inner rings and outer rings whose conical surfaces cooperate with each other with interposition of a lubricant, and an outer casing element and an inner casing element which shield the friction spring from outside and inside, respectively. The rings of the friction spring which are located at axial ends of the latter are sealingly connected with the inner casing element and the outer casing element. This sealing connection may be performed by interengaging beads and grooves, or flange-like projections and supports. The casing elements may be formed as hoses or each may be composed of at least two telescopable sleeves.

Abstract: A friction cushioning mechanism for draft gear of the combination type including a housing defining an inner or rear chamber in which is mounted a cushioning mechanism that may selectively be of the hydraulic or steel or rubber spring types, and an outer or front chamber in which is mounted a friction mechanism of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,163, in which the side edge lugs of the friction mechanism inner fixed friction plates, that key such plates to the housing against movement longitudinally of the housing, are specially formed to resist tendencies of such fixed plates to rock outwardly of the housing under laterally acting force concentrations applied to same during the early part of the draft gear closure stroke, and to avoid deformation of the housing ribs they engage that would introduce looseness in the fit of the friction mechanism parts and consequent reduction in useful life of the gear.