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:
Sep. 15, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 06, 1996
Terry L Pitchford, St. Louis, MO (US);
AMSTED Industries Incorporated, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A constant contact spring bearing for use with a railway car truck bolster is provided. Greater design flexibility and installation tolerances are available because a longer travel spring, with potentially lower spring load rate and stress rate, may be used. The present invention facilitates the establishment of loadings that may be expected to fall reliably within set-up tolerances from unit to unit. Instead of mounting the spring bearing on the surface of the truck bolster top member, the present invention provides a recess in the truck bolster to receive the spring, allowing for use of longer springs. With longer travel springs available for use, a spring may be selected with a lower load rate and a lower stress rate.