Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface
Knuckle coupler castings and methods for casting the knuckle coupler castings, where the knuckle coupler castings having enhanced bearing surfaces which may include a vertically flat surface.
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The apparatus and methods described herein relate to railway freight car couplers which are disposed on each end of a railway freight car and, more particularly, to a railway freight car coupler knuckle having an improved bearing surface area for mating engagement with an adjacently disposed coupler knuckle disposed at one end of an adjacent railway freight car. Additionally, the apparatus and methods described herein relate to a railway freight car coupler knuckle having a bearing surface area and a lock wall cast using a common core.
BACKGROUNDAs is generally well known in the railway art, a coupler is disposed at each end of a railway car to enable joining one end of such railway car to an adjacently disposed end of another railway car. The engageable portions of each of these couplers is known in the railway art as a knuckle. For example, railway freight car coupler knuckles are taught in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,024,958; 4,206,849; 4,605,133; and 5,582,307. The disclosure of each of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Knuckle failure accounts for about 100,000 train separations a year, or about 275 separations per day. Most of these separations occur when the train is out of a maintenance area and a replacement knuckle, which can weigh about 80 pounds, must be carried from the locomotive at least some of the length of the train, which may be up to 25, 50 or even 100 railroad cars in length. The repair of a failed coupler knuckle is labor intensive, sometimes in very inclement weather, and can cause train delays.
Over the years it has been discovered, in the railroad industry, that relatively small point to point contact surfaces of the engaged portions of these knuckles can cause premature failure due to stress points being established within the knuckle. These coupler knuckles are generally manufactured from a cast steel and during the casting process itself the interrelationship of the mold and cores disposed within the mold are critical to producing a satisfactory railway freight car coupler knuckle. For example, if, during such casting process, the mold should happen to slip along the parting line for any reason then a detrimental point to point surface contact can be established in the finished knuckle.
It has generally been difficult to manufacture coupler knuckle castings lacking the geometry that results in the point to point contact surface engagement with other knuckles. One reason for this is the draft angles which are generally required in order to produce a satisfactory casting. Typically, a mold cavity is made using a pattern. The pattern has slight draft angles, often between about 2° and about 3°, in order to allow the pattern to be withdrawn from the mold cavity. Without the draft angles, the withdrawal of the pattern from the mold cavity can result in the sidewalls defining a perimeter boundary of the mold cavity partially collapsing or otherwise deforming.
One solution used in an attempt to provide a satisfactory surface involves either grinding or machining the contact or bearing surfaces of the knuckle. However, grinding and/or machining of such surface can add substantially to the cost of producing a satisfactory coupler. Moreover, grinding the bearing surfaces can also establish point to point contact in a number of other places, and, as discussed above, this can add stress to the coupler knuckle and result in premature and unpredictable knuckle failure.
SUMMARYThe present apparatus and methods provide a coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area. The coupler knuckle casting is utilized in a railway freight car coupler. The enhanced bearing surface area of the coupler knuckle casting may include a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which may be substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction. The substantially flat portion may extend for a predetermined distance in the vertical direction and for a predetermined length along the horizontal direction.
The substantially vertically flat surface may be formed during the casting process by a core positioned within a mold cavity. The core has a corresponding vertically flat surface that lacks the significant tapers inherent in pattern-formed sand mold cavities, and thus can provide a perimeter boundary within the mold cavity for forming the substantially vertically flat surface of the coupler knuckle casting.
A common core may be used to form the bearing surface and a lock wall, regardless of whether the bearing surface is an enhanced bearing surface. The use of a common core to form both the bearing surface and the lock wall minimizes undesirable discrepancies between the relative positioning of the bearing surface and the lock wall.
The enhanced bearing surface may extend along portions of a pulling face section, nose section, throat section and/or inner side section of the coupler knuckle casting. Preferably, although not necessarily, the enhanced bearing surface is positioned in regions of the pulling face section, nose section, throat section and/or inner side section that are in engagement with like regions of another knuckle when engaged with the other knuckle and subject to bearing forces, such as draft forces.
The coupler knuckle casting having the enhanced bearing surface area may be provided in combination with a railway freight car coupler. The improved coupler knuckle casting having the enhanced bearing surface area may be retrofitted with an existing railway freight car.
In one aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler is provided having an improved bearing surface which does not require any significant grinding and/or machining of the bearing surface when compared to prior art coupler knuckles. In another aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler having an improved bearing surface is provided which can exhibit an extended life cycle when compared to prior art type coupler knuckles. In still another aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler is provided having an improved bearing surface which can be retrofitted onto existing freight car couplers. In yet another aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler is provided having an improved bearing surface which can substantially minimize any point to point contact areas thereby minimizing stresses set up in the coupler knuckle which could cause premature failure of such coupler knuckle. In a further aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler is provided having an improved bearing surface which will substantially minimize coupler knuckle maintenance when compared to prior art type coupler knuckles. In an additional aspect, a knuckle for a railway freight car coupler is provided having an improved bearing surface which can be formed as a conventional steel or other alloy castings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Knuckle coupler castings and methods of casting knuckle coupler castings are described herein and illustrated in
A coupler knuckle casting 10 is configured for use with a typical coupler 5, as illustrated in
The coupler knuckle casting 10 having the enhanced bearing surface area 12 includes a tail section 20, a hub section 30, and a front face section 18, as illustrated in
The front face section 18 includes a nose section 22, which may include a generally cylindrical opening 24 formed in an end region of the nose section 22. The opening may be used for supporting a flag pole. A pulling face portion 28 is disposed inwardly from the nose section 22. At least a portion of the pulling face portion 28 includes the enhanced bearing surface area 12, at least a portion of which includes a substantially flat portion 40.
The term substantially flat does not require a perfectly flat surface, as such would not be expected during the casting of coupler knuckles 10. Although preferably flat, the term substantially flat means that there is a lesser degree of taper as compared to the typical degree of taper for sidewalls of a mold cavity for a coupler knuckle casting formed using a typical pattern.
The substantially flat portion 40 is substantially flat in a vertical direction, for example, generally parallel to a central axis of the pivot pin hole 14. The substantially flat portion 40 may be arcuate in a horizontal direction. The substantially flat portion 40 may extends for a predetermined distance in such vertical direction and for a predetermined length along the horizontal direction, for example, generally normal to the central axis of the pivot pin hole 14. The predetermined length of the enhanced bearing surface along the horizontal direction which is arcuate preferably extends over at least a portion of the pulling face portion 28 in the region in which there is pulling engagement between a pair of knuckles in a coupled arrangement, such as illustrated in
The enhanced bearing surface 12 may include generally tapered portions 42 adjacent to and on either side of the substantially flat surface, as illustrated in
The enhanced bearing surface 12 is not limited to only those surfaces which bear draft forces when engaged with another knuckle in a pulling arrangement, and is not necessarily limited to the pulling face portion 28. Other regions of the knuckle 10 may have a vertically flat surface 40. For example, the enhanced bearing surface 12 may extend at least partially along the nose 22, pulling face portion 28, and/or throat 38. There are two arcuate portions 46 and 48 of the throat, as illustrated in
For the coupler knuckle casting 10 having the enhanced bearing surface area 12, the predetermined distance the substantially flat portion 40 extends in the vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 3.5 inches and about 7.0 inches, and preferably the predetermined distance the substantially flat portion 12 extends in the vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 4.0 inches and about 5.5 inches. In one aspect, the predetermined distance such substantially flat portion 40 extends in the vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 4.0 inches and about 4.5 inches. The enhanced bearing surface area 12 may be hardened to a predetermined hardness, such as about 40 Rockwell C.
The coupler knuckle casting 10 is preferably formed as a steel or other alloy casting. The coupler knuckle casting 10 is produced in a mold cavity 56 within a casting box 50 between cope and drag mold portions 57 and 53. Green sand 54 is used to define the interior boundary walls 52 of the mold cavity 56. The mold cavity 56 is formed using a pattern (not shown). The mold cavity 56 also includes a gating system (not shown) for allowing molten alloy to enter the cavity 56.
As discussed above, a pattern typically has draft angles in order to allow for removal of the pattern from the mold cavity 56 without causing excessive deformation of the cavity sidewalls 52. Part of the mold cavity 56 includes a region 58 for receiving a core 60 or 70, as illustrated in
The region of the cavity 56 receiving the core 60 or 70 is positioned such that the tapered regions 42 of the coupler knuckle casting 10 can be cast using the taper already created in the sidewalls 52 of the mold cavity 56 due to the draft angles of the pattern. The core 60 or 70 may have a non-rectangular shape, as shown in
The core 60 may extend only along the pulling face section 28, as illustrated in
The enlarge core 70 may be used to cast the surfaces which include portions of the nose section 22, the pulling face portion 28, the throat 38 and an inner side portion 34, as illustrated in
Other cores, such as a kidney core, finger core, and pivot pin core, can be placed in the mold cavity 56. Once all of the cores are in place, the cope and drag mold portions 57 and 53 can be brought together and closed along their parting line 62, the cavity can be filled with molten alloy, and the coupler knuckle 10 cast. Once the alloy is solidified, the mold portions 53 and 57 can be separated and the cast coupler knuckle 10 removed.
The present knuckles 10 may be provided in the combination of a railway freight car coupler (not shown) having incorporated therein the coupler knuckle casting 10 having the enhanced bearing surface area 12. The knuckle 10 may also be configured to be suitable for retrofitting an existing railway freight car couplers (not shown).
As will be appreciated, improved knuckle coupler castings and methods for casting the improved knuckle coupler castings are described herein, where the knuckle coupler castings having enhanced bearing surfaces which may include a vertically flat surface. However, the coupler knuckle castings and methods of casting such knuckles are not limited to the preferred embodiments described hereinabove or to any particular embodiments.
Claims
1. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, said coupler knuckle casting utilized in a railway freight car coupler, said coupler knuckle casting having said enhanced bearing surface area comprising:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
2. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance said substantially flat portion extends in said vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 3.5 inches and about 7.0 inches.
3. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined distance said substantially flat portion extends in said vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 4.0 inches and about 5.5 inches.
4. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined distance said substantially flat portion extends in said vertical direction is generally in a range of between about 4.0 inches and about 4.5 inches.
5. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 1, wherein said coupler knuckle is cast steel.
6. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 4, wherein said coupler knuckle is cast steel.
7. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined length along said horizontal direction which is substantially arcuate extends over at least a portion of said hub section, said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section.
8. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined length along said horizontal direction which is substantially arcuate extends over at least a portion of said hub section, said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section.
9. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined length along said horizontal direction which is substantially arcuate extends over at least a portion of said hub section, said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section.
10. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 1, wherein said enhanced bearing surface area is hardened to a predetermined hardness.
11. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined hardness is at least about 40 Rockwell C.
12. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, according to claim 1, wherein said nose section includes a generally cylindrical opening formed in an end portion thereof.
13. In combination with a railway freight car coupler, the improvement comprising a coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, said coupler knuckle casting having:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
14. The combination, according to claim 13, wherein said nose section includes a generally cylindrical opening formed in an end portion thereof.
15. In combination with an existing railway freight car coupler, the improvement comprising retrofitting a coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area into said existing railway freight car coupler, said coupler knuckle casting having:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
16. The combination, according to claim 15, wherein said nose section includes a generally cylindrical opening formed in an end portion thereof.
17. A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, said coupler knuckle casting utilized in a railway freight car coupler, said coupler knuckle casting having said enhanced bearing surface area comprising:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction, said predetermined length extends over at least a portion of said hub section and said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
18. In combination with a railway freight car coupler, the improvement comprising a coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area, said coupler knuckle casting having:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction, said predetermined length extends over at least a portion of said hub section and said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
19. In combination with an existing railway freight car coupler, the improvement comprising retrofitting a coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area into said existing railway freight car coupler, said coupler knuckle casting having:
- (a) a tail section;
- (b) a hub section, said hub section having a pivot pinhole formed therein, said pivot pinhole having generally straight cylindrical sidewalls;
- (c) a front face section connected to said hub section, said front face section including a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from said nose section, at least a portion of said front face portion and said nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction, said substantially flat portion extending for a predetermined distance in said vertical direction and for a predetermined length along said horizontal direction, said predetermined length extends over at least a portion of said hub section and said front face section and at least a portion of said nose section; and
- (d) a transition section joining said tail section to said hub section, said transition section including a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.
20. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler, the coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface with a substantially flat portion in one direction, the method comprising:
- providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part the perimeter boundaries of a mold cavity;
- positioning one or more cores in the mold cavity of either the cope or drag mold portion, at least one of the cores having one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction forming a portion of the perimeter boundaries of the mold cavity for forming at least a portion of the enhanced bearing surface;
- closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or more cores therebetween; and
- at least partially filling the cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle casting.
21. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 20, wherein the step of closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or more cores therebetween includes the step of arranging the surface of the core that is substantially flat in one direction both adjacent to and between portions of the walls of the cope and drag mold portions and combining the surface of the core that is substantially flat in one direction and the portions of the adjacent walls of the cope and drag mold portions to form an enhanced bearing surface sidewall portion of the perimeter boundary of the mold cavity that forms the enhanced bearing surface of the coupler knuckle casting when the cavity is at least partially filled with the molten alloy.
22. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 21, wherein the step of providing the cope mold portion and the drag mold portion includes the step of providing the portions of the walls of the cope and drag mold portions at tapered angles, the tapered angles of the portions of the walls being tapered at an angle relative to the one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction of the core, the angles being inclined inwardly relative to the cavity and away from the one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction of the core.
23. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 22, wherein the ratio between one of the portions of the walls of the cope and drag mold portions having tapered angles and the one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction of the core is between about 3:10 and 7:10.
24. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 23, wherein the ratio between one of the portions of the walls of the cope and drag mold portions having tapered angles and the one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction of the core is about 1:2.
25. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 20, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the pulling face portion of the coupler knuckle casting.
26. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 25, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of a nose section of the coupler knuckle casting.
27. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 25, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of a throat of the coupler knuckle casting.
28. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 25, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the pulling face portion and the throat of the coupler knuckle casting, the portion of the enhanced bearing surface extending from the enhanced bearing surface to a tangent surface between two radii of the throat.
29. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 20, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the inner side region of the locking face of the coupler knuckle casting.
30. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 29, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the pulling face portion of the coupler knuckle casting.
31. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 30, including the step of using the core to form the enhanced bearing surfaces on the pulling face portion and inner side region of the locking face of the coupler knuckle casting.
32. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler, the coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface with a substantially flat portion in one direction, the method comprising:
- means for providing a mold cavity having perimeter boundaries;
- means for providing a portion of the perimeter boundaries with one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction for forming at least a portion of the enhanced bearing surface; and
- means for casting the coupler knuckle casting in the mold cavity.
33. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 32, including means for providing a portion of the perimeter boundaries adjacent the one or more surfaces substantially flat in one direction and on both sides of the one or more surfaces with a taper inward relative to the cavity.
34. A coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler, the coupler knuckle casting comprising:
- tail, hub and front face sections, the front face section having a nose section and the hub section having a pivot pin hole with a vertical axis; and
- a pulling face portion forward inwardly of the front face section and having an enhanced bearing surface having a portion substantially flat in a vertical direction generally parallel to the vertical axis of the pivot pin hole.
35. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 34, wherein the portion of the enhanced bearing surface that is substantially flat in the vertical direction is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction generally normal to the vertical axis of the pivot pin hole.
36. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 35, wherein portions of the enhanced bearing surface on either side of the substantially flat portion are tapered inwardly relative to the flat portion.
37. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 36, wherein the ratio between the flat portion and either of the inwardly tapered portions is between about 3:10 and 7:10.
38. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 37, wherein the ratio between the flat portion and either of the inwardly tapered portions is about 1:2.
38. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 34, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the nose section of the coupler knuckle casting.
39. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 34, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of a throat of the coupler knuckle casting.
40. A coupler knuckle casting in accordance with claim 34, wherein the enhanced bearing surface is positioned on at least a portion of the inner side region of the locking face of the coupler knuckle casting.
41. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler comprising:
- providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part the perimeter boundaries of a mold cavity;
- positioning one or more cores in the mold cavity of either the cope or drag mold portion, one of the cores having surfaces for forming both a portion of a lock wall and a bearing surface of a pulling face portion of the knuckle;
- closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or more cores therebetween; and
- at least partially filling the cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle casting.
42. A method of casting a coupler knuckle casting for a railway car coupler in accordance with claim 41, wherein the surface for forming the bearing surface of the one of the cores is substantially flat in a vertical direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 6, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2005
Applicant:
Inventors: Peter Mautino (Pittsburgh, PA), Joseph Gagliardino (Oakdale, PA)
Application Number: 10/913,017