Holland Company LP

Other

Osvaldo F Chierici

Richard F Murphy

A three-part telescoping uncoupling lever assembly is disclosed for railroad cars which are equipped with standard draft gear cushioning. The assembly includes a plastic sleeve formed from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (U.H.M.W.) and a pair of unitary extension bars in sliding engagement within the sleeve. One end of each extension bar is bent to form a lock lifter hook or a handle for performing the uncoupling function. Each extension bar includes a shaft and an integral bent retainer, the bent retainers being positioned within the sleeve. The retainers are maintained in parallel sliding arrangement within juxtaposed channels extruded in the U.H.M.W. polyethylene sleeve. The hook and the handle are located on opposite ends of the assembly, the total length of which can be varied automatically between maximum and minimum lengths, dependent upon the corresponding distance between the coupler and sill bracket as that distance changes due to coupler impact and side swing. The assembly includes a pair of pins secured across respective channels to engage the bent retainers to prevent the extension bars from sliding free of the sleeve.

Telescoping uncoupling lever

A composite coupler carrier assembly for railroad cars comprising a lower metallic attachment plate shaped and arranged to be mounted on the car structure supporting the coupler shank, and an upper planar polymeric bearing body of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene that defines an upwardly facing planar bearing surface on which the coupler shank rides. The metallic attachment plate and the polymeric bearing body are fixed to each other by the practice of a spin welding technique involving the forming of a plurality of apertures of frusto-conical edging in the attachment plate, in which the small sides of the apertures are on the same side of the plate, and placing the underside of the polymeric bearing body against said side of the mounting plate, and spin welding in each aperture, to the bearing body, a polymeric disc that is of the same material as the bearing body, and that is proportioned to thereby anchor the attachment plate to the bearing body.

Method of making composite spin welded coupler carrier assembly

Composite spin welded coupler carrier assembly

A coupler carrier arrangement for railroad cars, in which the car center sill ends are equipped with a striker casting through which the car coupler shank extends for connection to the car center sill, with the striker casting having the familiar cage, in which the coupler carrier is mounted, including an upwardly opening socket on the underside of the casting defining a coupler carrier chamber, in which the coupler carrier itself comprises a body formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics that replaces both the conventional coupler carrier and the carrier iron, and is shaped to define a horizontally disposed upwardly facing load support surface on which the coupler shank rests, and oppositely facing forward and rearward side walls defining vertically disposed slide surfaces formed for close fitting relation to the coupler carrier chamber inner and outer walls. The coupler carrier load support and side slide surfaces are of integral one piece construction, and are characterized by effecting resurfacing of the coupler shank and striker casting surfaces they engage to make such surfaces effectively resistant against wear.

Coupler carrier arrangement for railroad cars

An outlet gate assembly for application to hoppers of railroad hopper cars that is equipped with a self cleaning rack and gear door plate actuation arrangement, in which the outlet gate assembly includes a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members that parallel the path of movement of the door plate and a pair of spaced apart transverse frame members joined together with the longitudinal frame members to define the gate outlet port. The frame members are formed to define shelf portions on which the gate door plate underside rides, with the gate underside being equipped with several sets of self cleaning gear and rack mechanisms that couple the gate operating shaft to the gate door plate. The door plate is formed from an UHMW polymer material of dry self lubricating light weight characteristics and is supported across the midportion of the port by a pair of spaced apart support members in parallel relation across the gate outlet port. The gate assembly is equipped with a gravity operated self locking latch arrangement that holds the door plate in its closed position and also provides for sealing of the gate assembly, when the hopper is loaded, for transit.

Hopper car outlet gate assembly with self cleaning gear and rack

An outlet assembly for application to hoppers of railroad hopper cars and the like, and slidably mounting a gate for movement between open and closed positions, in which the gate slideway is defined by trackway forming members disposed at either side edge of and across the mid portion of the gate outlet port, and having the respective load supporting surfaces each lined with a special liner formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymeric material that is of dry self lubricating characteristics. The gate side edges ride on the liners of the track forming members at the respective side edges of the outlet port, and the respective gate side edges and the liners supporting same cooperate to effect a bulk material seal at the respective side edges of the gate. The liner across the mid portion of the outlet assembly outlet port is mounted for limited lost motion movement relative to the gate and cooperates with a stop forming abutment to provide a gate break away action when the gate is opened under loaded conditions.

Railway hopper car gate outlet actuating mechanism

A tie plate for mounting railroad track rails on track ties in which the tie plate is formed from a corrosion resistant resilient polymer of dry self-lubricating characteristics, in which the tie plate has its upper side shaped to define along either side of the plate bearing surface to be engaged by the rail base a pair of flexible ridges each defining a flexible lip, with such lips opposing each other and terminating in a marginal edge projecting over the tie plate bearing surface. The tie plate ridges each define under their respective lips an upstanding side wall, which side walls oppose each other and are spaced apart and of a height to closely receive the rail base side edges therebetween when the rail is applied to the tie plate. The tie plate ridge lips each define on their upwardly facing sides a cam surface arcing downwardly from the crest of same to the respective lip marginal edges, with the respective lip marginal edges being spaced apart for snap fitting of the rail base between same for effecting seating of the rail base against the tie plate bearing surface. The underside of the tie plate is serrated for biting engagement with the tie as well as providing for aereation of same under the plate. In alternate forms, a separate brace plate extends across the tie plate for engagement with the sides of the tie to eliminate the need for rail anchors.

Tie plate arrangement for railroad track

A snap-on coupler bearing plate for application to resiliently supported coupler carriers of AAR standard F type interlocking coupler applications, in which the bearing plate is in the form of a channel shaped member formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics that is shaped to overlie and be snap fitted to the load support plate of the coupler carrier. The bearing plate is of integral one piece construction and defines an upwardly facing slide surface on which the coupler wear plate rides that is characterized by effecting resurfacing of the coupler wear plate surfacing engaging same to make such wear plate surfacing effectively resistant against wear.

Snap-on coupler bearing plate for railroad car coupler carriers

This invention relates to a coupler shank bearing arrangement for supporting a railroad car coupler on its coupler carrier, and more specifically, to a railroad car coupler support arrangement in which the familiar coupler wear plate that rides on the coupler carrier is replaced by a bearing arrangement of the plane bearing type that provides for essentially wear free support of the coupler on its carrier. The coupler shank lower wall is formed with an elongate mounting slot at the location of application of the conventional wear plate, and extending longitudinally of the coupler shank, to which slot is applied a one piece bearing structure formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics. The bearing structure is in the form of a one piece body shaped to define a lower generally planar bearing plate portion and an upper mounting portion in the form of an elongate ridge structure especially shaped for bond free but secure application to the coupler shank mounting slot.

Coupler shank bearing arrangement for supporting railroad car couplers

A support arrangement for brake rods of railroad car brake rigging comprising a U-shaped support member suspended from the underside of the car, a slotted sleeve snap fitted on the brake rod and located to rest on the bight portion of the support member, with the slot facing upwardly, and a retainer member comprising a shank portion received in said slot and having its end portions extending beyond the ends of the sleeve and enlarged to embrace the upwardly facing side of the brake rod on either side of the sleeve slot, with the retainer member end portions being bonded to the brake rod. The sleeve is formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer material that is of dry self-lubricating nature and resists adherence thereto of foreign materials and serves as a sound deadener and energy absorber. Such material is also characterized by its polishing action on the brake rod support surface it rides on to reform same to define a mirror finish that substantially inhibits further wear on the support during use.

Brake rod support arrangement for railroad cars

An uncoupling device for rotary dump cars in which the car couplers are of the bottom operating type, wherein at each end of the car the uncoupling mechanism is made of the same type, and comprising both the rotary and non-rotary couplers of the car being equipped with paddle type lock lifters having a pivotal operating stroke that unlocks and opens the coupler knuckle, and a bail type actuator therefor, wherein the actuator comprises a bail member mounted on the end of the car to receive the center sill and swing about a horizontal axis extending crosswise of the car and located at approximately the level of the top of the car center sill and adjacent its striker. The bail member has a striker section that underlies the center sill and is equipped with a paddle striker that is arced to accommodate coupler side swing. The uncoupling device includes a handle structure journaled on the end of the car to have a cranking axis that is adjacent to but below the level of the car center line of draft and connected to the bail member through a lost motion, camming type connection to swing same to bring the bail member striker into striking engagement with the paddle, to thereby move the paddle through its full operating stroke to unlock and open the coupler knuckle. The bail member is spring-biased to a retracted position spaced from the paddle and disposed under the center sill striker.

Uncoupling device for rotary dump cars

A self lubricating liner for railroad car center plate assemblies comprising a bowl shaped member formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer of dry self lubricating characteristics and shaped to define a floor portion and an upstanding side wall. The liner is stretch resistant and is received within the trunk bolster bowl on the floor of the bowl, it being proportioned to be fit on the bolster center plate and to entirely fill the space between the truck bolster bowl and the body bolster center plate 360.degree. about the side wall of the bowl to preclude high energy impacts between these parts when coupler impacts and train line action are occasioned. The liner side wall is formed to be spaced from the top surfacing of the bowl side wall and make a tight seal about the neck of the bolster center plate. In use, the liner effects resurfacing action on the surfaces engaging same to make them effectively resistant against wear.

Self lubricating center bearing liner

A self lubricating wear plate arrangement for supporting the inner end of the vertical yoke used in coupler draft gear rigging in which the wear plate is in the form of a planar support plate equipped with a special liner for supporting the yoke inner end at its operative level within the car center sill. The liner is formed from an ultra high molecular weight polymer material that is of dry, self lubricating, nature and resists adherence thereto of foreign materials and serves as a sound deadener and energy absorber. Such material is also characterized by its polishing action on the yoke underside surface portion riding on same to re-form such yoke surface to define a mirror finish for inhibiting further wear of the yoke at this location during use.

Self lubricating yoke wear plate arrangement

An uncoupling device for rotary dump cars in which the car couplers are of the bottom operating type, wherein at each end of the car the uncoupling mechanism is made of the same type, and comprising both the rotary and non-rotary couplers of the car being equipped with paddle type lock lifters having a pivotal operating stroke that unlocks and opens the coupler knuckle, and a bail type actuator therefor, wherein the actuator comprises a bail member mounted on the end of the car to receive the car center sill and swing about a horizontal axis extending crosswise of the car and located at approximately the level of the top of the car center sill and inwardly of its striker. The bail member has a striker section that underlies the center sill and is equipped with a paddle striker that is arced to accommodate coupler side swing. The uncoupling device includes a handle structure journaled on the end of the car coaxially of the swing axis of the bail member and connected to the bail member to swing same to bring the bail member striker into striking engagement with the paddle, to thereby move the paddle through its full operating stroke to unlock and open the coupler knuckle. The bail member is spring-biased to a retracted position spaced from the paddle and disposed under the center sill striker.

An uncoupling lever arrangement for railway cars equipped with standard draft gear cushioning including an uncoupling lever assembly comprising a handle section and a lock lifter section, each including an elongate bar formed from tube stock of quadrilateral transverse cross-sectional configuration. The handle section has a U-shaped handle affixed to one end of its bar at the outboard end of the lever assembly, which handle is mounted in the car body bracket, and the lock lifter section bar has a lock lifter rod member affixed to the inboard end of same that is formed with the usual hook eye formed for conventional application to the coupler lock lifter. The lever assembly bars are of complementary configuration whereby one end of one of the bars is received in the other end of the other bar to support the bars, and thus the lever assembly, in their operative position from the car body bracket and the coupler lock lifter. The parts are arranged such that the contacting portions of the lever assembly handle and the car body bracket have less static friction than the contacting surfaces of the lever assembly bars, whereby the assembly is adjustable in length on application, but remains of set length after installation without the assembly bars being fixed together, with sidewise shifting of the lever assembly that is occasioned by coupler side swing being accommodated at the car body bracket.

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Elmhurst, IL, United States of America

Osvaldo F Chierici