The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 1996
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1994
Charles P Spencer, Staunton, IL (US);
Franklin S McKeown, St. Louis, MO (US);
Donald J Lane, Imperial, MO (US);
AMSTED Industries Incoporated, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A lightweight, cast steel railcar truck sideframe is the result of matching stress levels within each of the sideframe components with an amount of metallic mass necessary to maintain structural integrity during railcar loading. Areas on each component which were found to be low stress accumulation areas have removed mass from them, reducing sideframe weight. The removal of mass is accomplished by adding lightener holes to and/or reducing thickness of the particular component. Areas on each component found to be high stress areas have added mass in order to strengthen the sideframe. Areas with reduced mass far exceed those increased. The lightener holes are uniquely used in the casting mold such that only nine cores are needed when casting the entire sideframe. By using only a total of nine cores instead of twenty-eight, substantial manhour and production costs savings are realized. The nine core mold also improves internal and external casting quality through the stabilization of core geometry, elimination of seam lines and stress riser locations, which means that there will be far less of a chance for defects to occur.