Abstract
A knuckle for a rail car coupler that reduces bending of an intermediate portion of the pivot pin that coupled the knuckle to a rail car coupler. The knuckle has a body with a throughbore defining a first bearing surface at a first end of the throughbore and a second bearing surface and a second end of the throughbore. A support extends from the body into the throughbore and includes a third bearing surface positioned between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface. When a pivot pin is positioned in the throughbore, it will contact the first bearing surface, the second bearing surface, and the third bearing surface, with the third bearing support protecting against bending of the pivot between the first and second bearing surfaces.
Claims
1. A knuckle for a rail car coupler, comprising: a body having a throughbore defining a first bearing surface at a first end of the throughbore and a second bearing surface and a second end of the throughbore; and a support extending into the throughbore and including a third bearing surface that is positioned between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface.
2. The knuckle of claim 1, wherein the support is a post extending from an interior surface of the knuckle into the throughbore.
3. The knuckle of claim 2, wherein the body includes a series of hollow regions therein.
4. The knuckle of claim 3, wherein the post extends from the interior surface of the knuckle in one of the series of hollow regions.
5. The knuckle of claim 4, wherein the post is positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut a pivot pin that is inserted into and extends through the throughbore.
6. The knuckle of claim 5, wherein the post is positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut an intermediate portion of the pivot pin that extends between the first bearing surface and the third bearing surface.
7. The knuckle of claim 5, wherein the post is positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut a central point of pivot pin.
8. The knuckle of claim 1, wherein the support is a bridge extending from a first interior surface of the knuckle across the throughbore to a second interior surface of the knuckle to form the third bearing surface between the first interior surface and the second interior surface.
9. The knuckle of claim 8, wherein the support is positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut a pivot pin that is inserted into and extends through the throughbore.
10. The knuckle of claim 9, wherein the support is positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut an intermediate portion of the pivot pin that extends between the first bearing surface and the third bearing surface.
11. The knuckle of claim 10, wherein the support may be positioned so that the third bearing surface will abut a central point of pivot pin.
12. The knuckle of claim 1, further comprising a second support extending into the throughbore and including a fourth bearing surface positioned between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface.
13. The knuckle of claim 12, wherein the second support is positioned so that the fourth bearing surface will abut a pivot pin that is inserted into and extends through the throughbore.
14. The knuckle of claim 13, wherein the second support is spaced apart from and extends in parallel to the support.
15. The knuckle of claim 14, wherein the support and the second support are positioned so that the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surfaces are on opposing sides of a central point of the pivot pin.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0008] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a railcar coupler according to the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a knuckle for a railcar coupler according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a knuckle for a railcar coupler having an internal support according to the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a railcar coupler according to the present invention showing the orientation of the present invention relative to the centerline of the coupler;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a first cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a knuckle for a railcar coupler having an internal support according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a second cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a knuckle for a railcar coupler having an internal support according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a first cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a knuckle for a railcar coupler having an internal support according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a second cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a knuckle for a railcar coupler having an internal support according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a rail car coupler 10 having a main body 12 and a knuckle 14 pivotally mounted to main body 12 via a pivot pin 16. As seen in FIG. 2, knuckle 14 has a throughbore 18 dimensioned to accept pivot pin 16. Knuckle 14 is interconnected to main body 12 of coupler 10 via pivot pin 16 as it extends first through main body 12 and then bore 18 formed in knuckle 14 and then main body 12. It should be recognized that knuckle 14 includes conventional structures and surfaces for proper operation of knuckle 14 that is not pertinent to the present invention, including a heel, nose, front face, and the like.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, the main body 30 of knuckle 14 defines an upper bearing surface 20 and a lower bearing surface 22 extending around throughbore 18. Bearing surfaces 20 and 22 can be cylindrical or conical. To reduce the overall weight of knuckle 14 and coupler 10, knuckle 14 has hollow regions 24 positioned throughout knuckle 14 in locations that will not adversely impact the strength of knuckle 14, including along the portion of knuckle 14 that extends between bearing surface 20 and bearing surface 22. As further seen in FIG. 3, the interior of knuckle 14 includes a support 26 that integrally formed with knuckle 14 that extends into throughbore 18 to provide a third bearing surface 28 at the end of support 26 that is in close proximity to pin pivot 16. Support 26 is dimensioned and positioned to engage or closely abut pivot pin 16 when pivot pin 16 is positioned in throughbore 18 so that third bearing surface 28 rests on or is immediately adjacent pivot pin 16. To the extent that pivot pin 16 experience any forces tending to bend pivot pin 16, third bearing surface 28 will prevent or reduce bending of pivot pin 16 through direct contact with pivot pin 16. As seen in FIG. 3, support 26 may be formed as a post that extends from an interior surface of hollow region 24 of knuckle 14 and terminates to provide third bearing surface 28.
[0019] Preferably, support 26 is positioned in the interior of knuckle 14 so that it is located centrally along pivot pin 16 relative to bearing surface 20 and bearing surface 22 and so that it is in alignment with the direction of maximum pin deflection during draft loading of any rail car outfitted with coupler 10. Support 26 may be positioned anywhere along the length of pivot pin 16 that extends between bearing surface 20 and bearing surface 22, but is preferably located centrally within that length. The direction of maximum pin deflection during draft loading is shown in FIG. 4 as a slight offset (about 10 degrees) from the centerline A-A of coupler 12. As an option, more than one support 26 may be included in the interior of knuckle 14.
[0020] Knuckle 14 may be manufactured via casting or forging using conventional materials in the same fashion as conventional couplers, and may retrofit into legacy couplers 10 or included with new couplers 10. Knuckle 14 is depicted as an E-type, but it should be recognized by those of skill in the art than the present invention may be implemented in other designs, such as an F-type.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in another embodiment of the present invention, knuckle 114 has a main body 130 defining an upper bearing surface 120 and a lower bearing surface 122 extending around a throughbore 118. Bearing surfaces 120 and 122 can be cylindrical or conical. To reduce the overall weight of knuckle 114 and coupler 10, knuckle 114 has hollow regions 124 positioned throughout knuckle 114 in locations that will not adversely impact the strength of knuckle 114, including along the portion of knuckle 114 that extends between bearing surface 120 and bearing surface 122. As further seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the interior of knuckle 114 includes a support 126 that is integrally formed with knuckle 114 and extends across throughbore 118 to provide a third bearing surface 128 in throughbore 118 in close proximity to or in abutment with pivot pin 116. Support 126 is dimensioned so that third bearing surface will engage pivot pin 116 when pivot pin 116 is positioned in throughbore 118 so that bearing surface 128 rests on or is immediately adjacent pivot pin 16. To the extent that pivot pin 116 experience any forces tending to bend pivot pin 116, bearing surface 128 will reduce bending of pivot pin 116. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, support 126 may be formed as a bridge that extends from a first interior surface of knuckle 114 to a second interior surface of knuckle 114 positioned oppositely about throughbore 118 and across hollow region 124 from the first interior surface of knuckle 114.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in another embodiment of the present invention, knuckle 214 has a main body 230 defining an upper bearing surface 220 and a lower bearing surface 222 extending around a throughbore 218. Bearing surfaces 220 and 222 can be cylindrical or conical. To reduce the overall weight of knuckle 214 and coupler 10, knuckle 214 has hollow regions 224 positioned throughout knuckle 214 in locations that will not adversely impact the strength of knuckle 214, including along the portion of knuckle 214 that extends between bearing surface 220 and bearing surface 222. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the interior of knuckle 214 includes a pair of supports 226a and 226b that are integrally formed with knuckle 214 and extend across throughbore 218 to provide a third bearing surface 228a and a fourth bearing surface 228b in close proximity to or in abutment with pivot pin 216. Supports 226a and 226b are dimensioned so that third bearing surface 228a and fourth bearing surface 228b will closely abut or directly engage pivot pin 216 when pivot pin 216 is positioned in throughbore 218 so that bearing surface 228 rests on or is immediately adjacent pivot pin 216. For example, supports 226a and 226b may be positioned about the central point of throughbore 218 so that they extend on either side of the central point of pivot pin 216 when pivot pin 216 extends within throughbore 218. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, supports 226a and 226b may be spaced apart from each other and extend in parallel across the interior of knuckle 214. To the extent that pivot pin 216 experience any forces tending to bend pivot pin 216, bearing surfaces 228a and 228b will reduce bending of pivot pin 216. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, supports 226a and 226b may be formed as a pair of bridges that extend from corresponding first interior surfaces of knuckle 214 to second interior surfaces of knuckle 214 positioned oppositely about throughbore 218 and across hollow region 224 from the first interior surfaces of knuckle 214.
