Attachment mounting apparatus for a railroad coupler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724722-B2
Application number	US-202016990448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2020
Priority date	Aug 11, 2020
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus for mounting an attachment structure (such as an EOT) to a railroad coupler includes a base, a locking member (J-hook), a bolt and one or more spring elements. The base includes a mounting portion for the attachment structure and a sleeve insertable through the attachment structure. The base, the J-hook and the bolt cooperate such that the J-hook is rotated from an unlocked position to a locked position by torque applied via the bolt head. Consequently, the J-hook shaft is pulled inside the sleeve and the J-hook aligns with a clamp face of the base to clamp a portion of the coupler therebetween. Responsive to the applied torque, the one or more spring elements are compressed to allow mechanical engagement between a first surface and a second surface, producing a mechanical torque opposing the applied torque, which reduces axial forces on the J-hook.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for mounting an attachment structure to a railroad coupler, the apparatus comprising:
a base comprising a first clamp face, a mounting portion for the attachment structure and an elongated sleeve extending from the mounting portion, the sleeve being insertable through attachment structure,
a locking member comprising a hook defining a second clamp face and a lock shaft extending from the hook, the lock shaft being hollow for at least a portion of the length thereof and insertable through a first end of the of the sleeve adjacent the mounting portion,
a bolt comprising a bolt head and a bolt shaft, the bolt shaft being insertable through a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end and configured to be in threaded engagement with an inner surface of the hollow portion of the lock shaft after the lock shaft is inserted through the first end of the sleeve,
wherein the locking member is configured to be rotated from an unlocked position to a locked position by torque applied via the bolt head, whereby the locking member is pulled inside the sleeve and the second clamp face aligns with the first clamp face to clamp a portion of the railroad coupler therebetween,
one or more spring elements configured to be compressible by relative movement between the bolt and the base responsive to the applied torque, to produce a clamping force between the first and second clamp faces, and
a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces being arranged such that compression of the one or more spring elements causes the first surface to mechanically engage with the second surface to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the applied torque.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed through one of the first and second surfaces for receiving therein the one or more spring elements,
wherein the recess is sized to a length that fully accommodates the one or more spring elements in a compressed state of the one or more spring elements, such that the first surface directly contacts the second surface when the one or more spring elements are compressed, and
wherein the length of the recess partially accommodates the one or more spring elements in their uncompressed state, such that the one or more spring elements prevent direct contact between the first surface and the second surface in their uncompressed state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first surface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face of a nut which is installable on the bolt shaft and configured to be tightened into a threaded engagement with an inner surface of the sleeve through the second end of the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bolt head and/or the nut is enlarged to increase contact area therebetween when the one or more spring elements are compressed.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first surface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face of the sleeve of the base or a surface of the attachment structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the recess is delimited by a wall, wherein the one or more spring elements are compressible between the wall and the other of the of the first and second surfaces.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is an outer surface of the bolt shaft and the second surface is an inner surface of the sleeve of the base or an inner surface of a nut which is installable on the bolt shaft and configured to be tightened into a threaded engagement with an inner surface of the sleeve through the second end of the sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are configured to generate a frictional torque upon mechanical engagement that opposes the applied torque.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first surface and/or the second surface are provided with a defined surface roughness based on a required frictional torque.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are provided with interlocking features, which, when engaged, oppose the applied torque.

11. A method for mounting an attachment structure to a railroad coupler, the method comprising:
arranging:
a base comprising a first clamp face, a mounting portion for the attachment structure and an elongated sleeve extending from the mounting portion, the sleeve having a first end adjacent the mounting portion and a second end opposite the first end,
a locking member comprising a hook defining a second clamp face and a lock shaft extending from the hook, the lock shaft being hollow for at least a portion of the length thereof,
a bolt having a bolt head and a bolt shaft, and
one or more spring elements,

inserting the sleeve of the base through the attachment structure,
inserting the bolt through the second end of the sleeve,
inserting the lock shaft through the first end of the sleeve such that the bolt shaft is in threaded engagement with an inner surface of the hollow portion of the lock shaft,
rotating the locking member from an unlocked position to a locked position by torque applied via the bolt head, whereby the locking member is pulled inside the sleeve and the second clamp face aligns with the first clamp face to clamp a portion of the railroad coupler therebetween,
wherein the one or more spring elements are compressed by relative movement between the bolt and the base responsive to the applied torque, to produce a clamping force between the first and second clamp faces,
wherein compression of the one or more spring elements causes a first surface of the apparatus to mechanically engage with a second surface of the apparatus to generate a mechanical torque that opposes the applied torque.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a recess is formed through one of the first and second surfaces for receiving therein the one or more spring elements,
wherein the recess is sized to a length that fully accommodates the one or more spring elements in a compressed state of the one or more spring elements, such that the first surface directly contacts the second surface when the one or more spring elements are compressed, and
wherein the length of the recess partially accommodates the one or more spring elements in their uncompressed state, such that the one or more spring elements prevent direct contact between the first surface and the second surface in their uncompressed state.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first surface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face of a nut which is installed on the bolt shaft and tightened into a threaded engagement with an inner surface of the sleeve through the second end of the sleeve.

14. The method according to claim 13 , comprising replacing a used bolt and a used nut with a replacement bolt and the replacement nut, wherein the first and second surfaces are defined respectively on the replacement bolt and the replacement nut, wherein the replacement nut and/or replacement bolt are modified in relation to the used nut and/or the used bolt respectively, to enhance a contact area therebetween when the one or more spring elements are compressed.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first surface is an axial end face of the bolt head and the second surface is an axial end face of the sleeve of the base or an axial end face of the attachment structure.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the recess is delimited by a wall, wherein the one or more spring elements are compressible between the wa

Assignees

• Siemens Mobility Inc

Inventors

• Long Zhenzhong
• Fletcher Nathan

Classifications

• B61G7/00 Primary

  Details or accessories · CPC title

• B61L15/0054

  Train integrity supervision, e.g. end-of-train [EOT] devices · CPC title