Common cast draft sill for type e and f draft gear

Abstract

A common E/F type draft sill is provided that accommodates either Type E or Type F draft gear components, including rotary coupler applications. The draft sill is preferably cast, but may also be fabricated. The common E/F draft sill is provided with a fixed, integral spring basket of a Type F draft sill to accommodate and house standard spring-biased spring basket support systems and accommodate standard Type F draft gear. Standard vertical connection of Type F draft gear is provided. The common draft sill is also provided with the horizontal keyslot of a Type E draft sill to also accommodate attachment of Type E draft gear. A drop-in E coupler support is also available that replaces the 'spring basket' support system used with Type F draft gear so as to allow proper support of Type E draft gear. Additional standardization and reduction of specialized castings can be achieved by incorporating both body bolster pads and body bolster wings on the common draft sill. Further standardization can be realized by providing a standardized machined end sill pad that accommodates a plurality of different design specifications for application with a plurality of different railcar specifications. Even further standardization can be realized by having flange hole patterns that accept multiple types of draft gear applications. Additional standardization can be achieved by having a standardized center sill facing end and a series of 'plug-n-receiver' combinations in which an application-specific “plug” is provided that may be welded on the center sill facing end of the common draft sill to adapt it to a particular configuration.