Miner Enterprises, Inc.

Kris C Jurasek

William P O'Donnell

Donald E Wilt

Richard A Carlstedt

Keith A Salis

Robert J Pokorski

Michael R Palermo

Rosie Galindo

A friction/elastomeric draft gear having a housing, a spring assembly arranged within the housing, and a friction clutch assembly having a wedge member and defining first sliding friction surface disposed at an angle &#x3b8; relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear and a second friction surface disposed at an angle &#x3b2; relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear. The spring assembly is designed in combination with the angles &#x3b8; and &#x3b2; of the first and second friction sliding surfaces relative to the longitudinal axis such that the draft gear consistently and repeatedly withstands between about 100 KJ and 130 KJ of energy imparted at less than three meganewtons over a range of travel of the wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the draft gear housing not exceeding 120 mm.

Friction/elastomeric draft gear

A railroad car draft gear including a housing having an open end with a friction clutch assembly arranged in operable combination therewith. An elongated elastomeric spring assembly is disposed within the housing for storing energy during axial compression of the draft gear. A spring seat is arranged within the housing between the spring assembly and an end portion of each friction member forming part of the friction clutch assembly. The spring seat defines a surface, arranged in direct contacting relation with an end of the spring assembly, and defines at least one surface incongruity for limiting radial expansion with the elastomeric spring at the end of the spring assembly arranged in direct contacting relation with the spring seat along at least two axes when an axial load is applied to the draft gear.

Railroad car draft gear

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Sugar Grove, IL, United States of America

Kris C Jurasek