Damping system for a railway truck assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11225271-B2
Application number	US-201916550889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Aug 26, 2019
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A damping system for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a first friction shoe configured to engage a first portion of a side frame of the truck assembly, and a first lever pivotally coupled to the first friction shoe.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A damping system for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle, the damping system comprising:
a housing;
a first friction shoe extending outwardly from the housing, wherein the first friction shoe is configured to engage a first portion of a side frame of the truck assembly; and
a first lever pivotally coupled to the first friction shoe, the first lever including a first extension beam having a proximal end pivotally coupled to a first spring seat through a first spring pivot pin, wherein a first cross beam extends from a distal end of the first extension beam, and wherein the first cross beam is pivotally coupled to the housing through a first fulcrum pivot pin.

2. The damping system of claim 1 , wherein the housing is coupled to or forms part of a bolster of the truck assembly.

3. The damping system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of load coils, wherein the housing is supported on the plurality of load coils.

4. The damping system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of load coils are disposed around a first control coil that is pivotally coupled to the first lever.

5. The damping system of claim 1 , further comprising a first control coil pivotally coupled to the first lever.

6. The damping system of claim 5 , wherein the first spring seat pivotally couples the first lever to the first control coil.

7. The damping system of claim 5 , wherein the first spring seat comprises a cap and downwardly-extending tabs that fit around an upper end of the first control coil.

8. The damping system of clam 1 , wherein the first friction shoe comprises a main body having an engaging face connected to lateral walls, wherein the engaging face is configured to engage the first portion of the side frame.

9. The damping system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second friction shoe extending outwardly from the housing, wherein the second friction shoe is configured to engage a second portion of the side frame of the truck assembly; and
a second lever pivotally coupled to the second friction shoe, the second lever including a second extension beam having a proximal end pivotally coupled to a second spring seat through a second spring pivot pin, wherein a second cross beam extends from a distal end of the second extension beam, and wherein the second cross beam is pivotally coupled to the housing through a second fulcrum pivot pin.

10. A damping method for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle, the damping method comprising:
providing a first friction shoe that engages a first portion of a side frame of the truck assembly, wherein the first friction shoe extends outwardly from a housing; and
pivotally coupling a first lever to the first friction shoe;
pivotally coupling a proximal end of a first extension beam of the first lever to a first spring seat through a first spring pivot pin; and
pivotally coupling the first lever to the housing, wherein said pivotally coupling the first lever to the housing comprises pivotally coupling a first cross beam extending from a distal end of the first extension beam to the housing through a first fulcrum pivot pin.

11. The damping method of claim 10 , further comprising pivotally coupling a first control coil to the first lever.

12. A truck assembly of a rail vehicle, the truck assembly comprising:
a side frame having an opening between a first column and a second column;
a bolster coupled to the side frame; and
a damping system extending from the bolster into the opening of the side frame, wherein the damping system comprises:
a housing;
a first friction shoe extending outwardly from the housing and engaging the first column of the side frame of the truck assembly, wherein the first friction shoe comprises a first main body having a first engaging face connected to first lateral walls, wherein the first engaging face engages the first column;
a first lever pivotally coupled to the first friction shoe, wherein the first lever is also pivotally coupled to the housing to axially constrain the first lever in relation to the housing, the first lever including a first extension beam having a proximal end pivotally coupled to a first spring seat through a first spring pivot pin, wherein a first cross beam extends from a distal end of the first extension beam, and wherein the first cross beam is pivotally coupled to the housing through a first fulcrum pivot pin; and
a first control coil pivotally coupled to the first lever.

13. The truck assembly of claim 12 , wherein the housing is coupled to or forms part of a bolster of the truck assembly.

14. The truck assembly of claim 12 , wherein the damping system further comprises a plurality of load coils, wherein the housing is supported on the plurality of load coils.

15. The truck assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of load coils are disposed around the first control coil that is pivotally coupled to the first lever.

16. The truck assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first spring seat pivotally couples the first lever to the first control coil.

17. The truck assembly of claim 12 , wherein the damping system further comprises:
a second friction shoe extending outwardly from the housing and engaging the second column of the side frame of the truck assembly, wherein the second friction shoe comprises a second main body having a second engaging face connected to second lateral walls, wherein the second engaging face engages the second column;
a second lever pivotally coupled to the second friction shoe, wherein the second lever is also pivotally coupled to the housing to axially constrain the second lever in relation to the housing, the second lever including a second extension beam having a proximal end pivotally coupled to a second spring seat through a second spring pivot pin, wherein a second cross beam extends from a distal end of the second extension beam, and wherein the second cross beam is pivotally coupled to the housing through a second fulcrum pivot pin; and
a second control coil pivotally coupled to the second lever.

18. The damping system of claim 1 , wherein the first friction shoe is pivotally coupled to the first lever through a first shoe pivot pin extending through the first friction shoe and a first bracket of the first lever that extends over the first cross beam.

19. The damping system of claim 9 , wherein the second friction shoe is pivotally coupled to the second lever through a second shoe pivot pin extending through the second friction shoe and a second bracket of the second lever that extends over the second cross beam.

20. The damping method of claim 10 , wherein said pivotally coupling the first lever to the first friction shoe further comprises pivotally coupling a first shoe pivot pin extending through the first friction shoe and a first bracket of the first lever that extends over the first cross beam.

Assignees

• Amsted Rail Co Inc

Inventors

• Wike Paul Steven

Classifications

• F16F7/082 Primary

  and characterised by damping force adjustment means · CPC title

• B61F5/122 Primary

  with friction surfaces · CPC title

• B61F5/06

  incorporating metal springs · CPC title

• F16F13/005

  comprising both a wound spring and a damper, e.g. a friction damper · CPC title

• F16F2230/0076

  Pivoting · CPC title