Railway truck assembly having compressible side bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022126890-A1
Application number	US-202017079812-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2020
Priority date	Oct 26, 2020
Publication date	Apr 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a base, a cap moveably coupled to the base, and one or more elastomer springs disposed between the base and the cap. The one or more elastomer springs include a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

First claim

1 . A side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle, the side bearing assembly comprising:
a base; a cap moveably coupled to the base; and one or more elastomer springs disposed between the base and the cap, wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

2 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air pockets form at least half of the one or more elastomer springs.

3 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise:
a head having a first width; and a neck having a second width that is less than the first width.

4 . The side bearing assembly of claim 3 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs further comprise a foot having a third width that is greater than the second width.

5 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a central stand, and wherein the elastomer spring is contained between the cap and the central stand.

6 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a collar having an alignment rim, and wherein the alignment rim extends inwardly toward the cap.

7 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more friction modifiers disposed between a collar of the base and a wall of the cap.

8 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a lower ledge, and wherein the base comprises a collar having an upper ridge, wherein the cap is below the upper ridge.

9 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise a first elastomer spring and a second elastomer spring.

10 . The side bearing assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first elastomer spring has a first density, and wherein the second elastomer spring has a second density that differs from the first density.

11 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise one or more indentations.

12 . The side bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment plate that secures the one or more elastomer springs to the base.

13 . A method of forming a side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle, the method comprising:
moveably coupling a cap to a base; and disposing one or more elastomer springs between the base and the cap, wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming at least ‘half of the one or more elastomer springs with the air pockets.

15 . A truck assembly that is configured to travel along a track having rails, the truck assembly comprising:
a first side frame; a second side frame; a bolster extending between the first side frame and the second side frame; a first wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame; a second wheel set coupled to the first side frame and the second side frame; a first side bearing assembly coupled to the bolster; and a second side bearing assembly coupled to the bolster, wherein the first side bearing assembly is mounted on a top surface of the bolster between a bolster center bowl and a first end, and wherein the second side bearing assembly is mounted on the top surface of the bolster between the bolster center bowl and a second end, wherein each of the first side bearing assembly and the second side bearing assembly comprises:
a base;
a cap moveably coupled to the base; and
one or more elastomer springs disposed between the base and the cap,
wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise a foam having air pockets that are configured be compressed.

16 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the air pockets form at least half of the one or more elastomer springs.

17 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise:
a head having a first width; a neck having a second width that is less than the first width; and a foot having a third width that is greater than the second width.

18 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the base comprises a collar having an alignment rim, and wherein the alignment rim extends inwardly toward the cap.

19 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the each of the first side bearing assembly and the second side bearing assembly further comprises one or more friction modifiers disposed between a collar of the base and a wall of the cap.

20 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cap comprises a lower ledge, and wherein the base comprises a collar having an upper ridge, wherein the cap is below the upper ridge.

21 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise a first elastomer spring and a second elastomer spring, wherein the first elastomer spring has a first density, and wherein the second elastomer spring has a second density that differs from the first density.

22 . The truck assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one or more elastomer springs comprise one or more indentations.

Assignees

• Amsted Rail Co Inc

Inventors

• Harris Zachary B

Classifications

• B61F5/305 Primary

  incorporating rubber springs · CPC title

• B61F5/144 Primary

  comprising fluid damping devices (B61F5/146 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B61F5/142

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

• B61F5/14 Primary

  Side bearings · CPC title

• B61F5/122

  with friction surfaces · CPC title