Railway truck castings and method and cores for making castings

Abstract

Improvements in cast metal sideframes and bolsters for railway trucks are disclosed, along with improvements in the processes of casting such products and the cores used in the casting process. In one aspect, the cores are consolidated to provide two one-piece end cores, a one-piece center core, and a bottom center core for the sideframe and two one-piece end cores and a center core for the bolster. The consolidated cores may include cores to define various bolt holes. In another aspect, various cores may be made with step joints for interlocking support without weight-supporting chaplets. In another aspect, a locator boss may be formed on one or more of the cores for proper positioning of the core on the drag mold. Other improvements disclosed include providing a radial draft on the casting surrounding a bolt hole at a core parting or joint line so that nuts and washers may be evenly loaded. In the bolster interior, ribs may be straightened. In another aspect, core prints are used to support the cores on the drag mold surface. The core prints are connected to the core body through necks or bridges that define holes in the cast metal piece. The juncture of the core print and drag mold are spaced from a perimeter of the neck so that any metal fin formed at this juncture is on the exterior of the casting.