Abstract: A backing ring that serves to back an antifriction bearing on the journal of a rail car axle includes an annular body that seats against a fillet that is located at the end of the journal and also a lip that projects over a larger dust guard diameter that is located on the axle immediately beyond the fillet. In addition, the backing ring includes a stabilizing element which cooperates with the lip and with the dust guard diameter to lessen the tendency of the annular body to work against the fillet and create a fretting wear when the journal undergoes cyclic flexures. The stabilizing element accommodates dust guard diameters of varying size. The stabilizing element may also establish a seal between the lip and the dust guard diameter.

Abstract: A three piece stabilized railway car truck is provided with dimensions corresponding generally with an AAR nominal 100 ton size truck and a load carrying capability satisfactory for use with railway cars having a 315,000 pound gross weight on rail rating. Various components of the truck have been modified to improve the fatigue life of each component and the overall service life of the resulting railway truck.

Abstract: An end cap holds an antifriction bearing on a journal at the end of an axle, clamping the inner race of the bearing tightly against a backing ring that is located around the journal. The end cap has an cross wall which extends across the end of the journal and an axial wall formed integral with the cross wall and extended over the journal to provide an abutment surface which is presented toward the inner race of the bearing. The cross wall contains bolt holes through which cap screws pass to thread into the journal and secure the end cap on the journal. The end wall possesses its thickest cross section in regions between the bolt holes and its thinnest cross section in regions generally surrounding the bolt holes. This distributes the clamping force exerted by the cap screws more uniformly over the abutment surface at the end of the axial wall.

Abstract: A compact antifriction bearing fits around a journal at the end of an axle for a rail car. The journal extends from an intervening section of the axle, and the intervening section in turn projects from a still larger main section, there being fillets where the sections merge. A backing ring fits against the fillet at the end of the journal, while an end cap fits over the opposite end of the journal. The bearing includes two cones which are clamped between the end cap and backing ring, a double cup surrounding the cones, and tapered rollers arranged in two rows between raceways on the cones and on the cup. The ends of the bearing are closed by seals which are fitted to the cup and cone. The thicker intervening section of the axle is extended in comparison to its counterparts on traditional axles, and the backing ring extends axially along the journal generally no further than the location at which the fillet emerges from the main body of the journal.

Abstract: A bearing assembly fits over the journal at the end of a shaft and is clamped between a fillet at one end of the journal and an end cap which extends across the opposite end of the journal. The bearing assembly includes a double row tapered roller bearing having a two indirectly mounted cones, a double cup around the cones, and tapered rollers arranged in two rows between the raceways of the cones and cup. The bearing assembly also includes seal rings located against the cones and seals fitted into the end of the cup and cooperating with the seal rings to establish barriers at the ends of the bearings. The outboard seal ring is clamped between the end cap and the outboard cone, whereas the inboard seal ring is clamped between the inboard cone and the backing ring. A slight clearance exists between the inboard seal ring and the journal to prevent fretting beneath that seal ring due to slight flexures in the journal.