Methods and systems for a vehicle truck yaw separator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623668-B2
Application number	US-202016803753-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 14, 2019
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle truck includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a bolster, a first yaw separator connected to the first side frame, and a second yaw separator connected to the second side frame. Each yaw separator includes two steering arms and an arm connector assembly. The yaw separators are configured to alter yaw movement of the truck that leads to truck hunting.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle truck comprising:
a side frame; and
a yaw separator connected to the side frame including:
a first steering arm;
a second steering arm; and
an arm connector assembly comprising at least one bracket connecting a first end of the first steering arm to a bracket connection plate and at least one bracket connecting a first end of the second steering arm to the bracket connection plate,

the yaw separator configured to alter yaw movement of the truck that leads to truck hunting via elastic movement of the first steering arm, the second steering arm, and the arm connector assembly.

2. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the yaw separator partially extends in a lateral direction to the side frame through a hollow space within the side frame.

3. The truck of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the first steering arm is connected to a first roller bearing adapter assembly connector and a second end of the second steering arm is connected to a second roller bearing adapter assembly connector and the second roller bearing adapter assembly connector each include a first bearing coupler and a second bearing coupler.

4. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the first roller bearing adapter assembly connector comprising a first bearing coupler, and the first bearing coupler includes a curved bottom having engagement members configured to match a curvature of a bearing adapter of a wheel set of the truck.

5. The truck of claim 4 , wherein the second bearing coupler is a mirror image of the first bearing coupler and includes a curved bottom having engagement members configured to match the curvature of the bearing adapter of the wheel set of the truck.

6. The truck of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the first steering arm is connected a first roller bearing adapter assembly connector and the first roller bearing adapter assembly connector is engaged with the bearing adapter of the wheel set via the first bearing coupler and the second bearing coupler.

7. The truck of claim 6 , wherein the second roller bearing adapter assembly connector is engaged with another bearing adapter of the wheel set via another first bearing coupler and another second bearing coupler.

8. The truck of claim 1 , wherein yaw movement of a wheel of the wheelset is transferred to onto the yaw separator via a first roller bearing adapter assembly or a second roller bearing adapter assembly.

9. The truck of claim 8 , wherein the yaw movement is transferred from the first roller bearing adapter assembly connector to the first end of the first steering arm, and where the yaw movement is subsequently transferred to the second steering arm via the arm connector assembly.

10. The truck of claim 9 , wherein the yaw movement is transferred from the second roller bearing adapter assembly connector to the first end of the second steering arm where the movement is subsequently transferred to the first steering arm via the arm connector assembly.

11. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the yaw separator is retrofit into the side frame.

12. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the yaw separator is connected to an external surface of the side frame.

13. A yaw separator comprising:
a first steering arm including:
a first interior force transfer member connected to a first exterior force transfer member via a first transfer member connector assembly, the first exterior force transfer member also connected to a first roller bearing adapter assembly connector;

a second steering arm including:
a second interior force transfer member connected to a second exterior force transfer member via a second transfer member connector assembly, the second exterior force transfer member also connected to a second roller bearing adapter assembly connector; and

an arm connector assembly connected to the first interior force transfer member of the first steering arm and the second interior force transfer member of the second steering arm, the arm connector assembly includes a spring assembly, and the spring assembly comprising two sets of angle brackets and a lateral bracket connection plate.

14. The yaw separator of claim 13 , wherein the first interior force transfer member and the second interior force transfer member are each connected to a pivot bracket.

15. The yaw separator of claim 13 , wherein the first transfer member connector assembly comprises an extension plate extending in lateral direction relative to the yaw separator.

16. A yaw separator device for a vehicle truck comprising:
a first steering arm configured to be connected to an end of a first wheel set of the truck;
a second steering arm configured to be connected to an end of a second wheel set of the truck; and
an arm connector assembly comprising a connection plate pivotably connected to the first steering arm and pivotably connected to the second steering arm, the arm connector assembly including one or more spring assemblies,
the first steering arm, the second steering arm, and the arm connector assembly configured to be connected to a side frame of the truck, the first wheel set and the second wheel set, such that when a force acts on the end of the first wheel set in a first direction, the arm connector assembly transmits a corresponding force to the end of the second wheel set in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The yaw separator device of claim 16 , wherein the arm connector assembly is configured to align the first steering arm and the second steering arm along a longitudinal axis of the side frame in an equilibrium position.

18. The yaw separator device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more spring assemblies of the arm connector assembly are configured to enable movement of the arm connector assembly in a lateral direction responsive to movement of the end of the first wheel set in the first direction and movement of the end of the second wheel set in the second direction opposite the first direction.

19. The yaw separator device of claim 16 , wherein the one or more spring assemblies of the arm connector assembly are configured to prevent movement of the arm connector assembly in a lateral direction responsive to movement of the end of the first wheel set in the first direction and movement of the end of the second wheel set in the first direction.

20. The yaw separator device of claim 16 , wherein at least one bracket connects the first steering arm to the connection plate and at least one bracket connects the second steering arm to the connection plate.

Assignees

• Transp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Morin Andrew J

Classifications

• B61F5/40 Primary

  Bogies with side frames mounted for longitudinal relative movements · CPC title

• B61F5/142

  made of rubber elements, graphite or the like · CPC title