Abstract
A bolster system and method of balancing a locomotive on a bolster system is provided. The bolster system is configured such that weld seams interconnect the locomotive to the bolster, and the weld seams are oriented such that when the truck or locomotive impacts another device on the rail track, the weld seams experience a shearing force along the lengths of the weld seams. In addition, prior to welding, scales such as hydraulic jacks with gauges may be used to center and balance a locomotive on a bolster. In one embodiment, four hydraulic jacks elevate the truck, bolster, and locomotive, and the locomotive is repositioned on the bolster until the hydraulic jacks have substantially similar measures.
Claims
1. A bolster system for a locomotive, comprising: a truck configured to travel along a rail, the truck having an axle with a rotation axis and the truck having at least one suspension device with a suspension axis, wherein the suspension axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; a bolster interconnected to the at least one suspension device such that the bolster moves relative to the truck along the suspension axis; a first underframe plate and a second underframe plate of the bolster, wherein the underframe plates define an upper surface of the bolster; and a locomotive body interconnected to the bolster, wherein a first weld seam interconnects the locomotive body to the first underframe plate, and a second weld seam interconnects the locomotive body to the second underframe plate such that the locomotive body is interconnected and fixed relative to the bolster, and wherein the weld seams are oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the axle of the truck and substantially perpendicular to the suspension axis of the at least one suspension device.
2. The bolster system of claim 1, wherein the first underframe plate has a longitudinal dimension that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the axle of the truck and substantially perpendicular to the suspension axis of the at least one suspension device.
3. The bolster system of claim 2, wherein the first welded seam has a longitudinal dimension which is at least 60% as long as the longitudinal dimension of the first underframe plate.
4. The bolster system of claim 1, wherein the at least one suspension device is a coil spring.
5. The bolster system of claim 1, wherein the truck comprises three axles.
6. The bolster system of claim 1, wherein the weld seams are continuous along a longitudinal dimension.
7. A method for positioning a locomotive on a bolster, comprising: providing a truck having an axle with a rotation axis and having at least one suspension device with a suspension axis, wherein the suspension axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; positioning a bolster on the at least one suspension device of the truck such that the bolster moves relative to the truck along the suspension axis; positioning a locomotive body on the bolster; determining, by at least one scale, a weight measurement underneath four points of the truck; repositioning the locomotive body on the bolster such that the at least one scale determines a weight measurement within a predetermined range; and welding a first seam and a second seam between the locomotive body and the bolster, wherein the seams are oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the axle of the truck and to the suspension axis of the at least one suspension device.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: providing a first underframe plate and a second underframe plate of the bolster, wherein the underframe plates define an upper surface of the bolster, the locomotive is positioned on the underframe plates, and the seams are located on the underframe plates.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one scale is a hydraulic jack with a pressure gauge.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the four points are equidistant from a center point of the truck.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the locomotive body is repositioned such that the at least one scale determines substantially the same weight measurement.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein the seams have a longitudinal dimension which is at least 60% as long as a longitudinal dimension of the bolster.
13. The method of claim 7, wherein the seams have a continuous longitudinal dimension.
14. The method of claim 7, further comprising: filling the locomotive with a predetermined amount of fuel prior to the determining step.
15. A method for positioning a locomotive on a bolster, comprising: providing a truck having an axle with a rotation axis and having at least one suspension device with a suspension axis, wherein the suspension axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis; positioning a bolster on the at least one suspension device of the truck such that the bolster moves relative to the truck along the suspension axis; positioning a locomotive body on the bolster; providing a scale underneath a first point of the truck, wherein the scale is configured to determine a weight measurement; determining, by the scale, a first weight measurement underneath the first point of the truck; repositioning the scale underneath a second point, a third point, and a fourth point of the truck to determine a second weight measurement, a third measurement, and a fourth measurement, respectively; repositioning the locomotive body on the bolster such that the weight measurements are within a predetermined range; and welding a first seam and a second seam between the locomotive body and the bolster, wherein the seams are oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the axle of the truck and substantially perpendicular to the suspension axis of the at least one suspension device.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the locomotive body is repositioned such that each scale determines substantially the same weight measurement.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing a first underframe plate and a second underframe plate of the bolster, wherein the underframe plates define an upper surface of the bolster, the locomotive is positioned on the underframe plates, and the seams are welded to the underframe plates.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the four scales are hydraulic jacks with pressure gauges.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining each weight measurement comprises raising the truck by approximately 1/32 inch.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the seams have a longitudinal dimension which is at least 60% as long as a longitudinal dimension of the bolster.
21. The bolster system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one scale configured to determine a weight measurement underneath four points of the truck to confirm that the weight measurement is within a predetermined range.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The present disclosure may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numerals may refer to like or analogous components throughout the several views.
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic of a typical prior art small industrial locomotive without a truck assembly.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a typical prior art switcher locomotive.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a typical prior art line-haul locomotive.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic of a prior art three axle truck assembly with a floating bolster such as used on line-haul locomotive of FIG. 3.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a simplified plan view of a prior art 3 axle truck frame.
(7) FIG. 6 shows a prior art industrial locomotive such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,545.
(8) FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the prior art industrial locomotive of FIG. 6.
(9) FIG. 8A shows a schematic side view with the principal dimensions of the prior art industrial locomotive of FIG. 6.
(10) FIG. 8B shows a schematic front view with the principal dimensions of the prior art industrial locomotive of FIG. 6.
(11) FIG. 9A shows a prior art bolster bearing plate arrangement such as used in the construction of the locomotive of FIG. 6.
(12) FIG. 9B shows a prior art bolster bearing plate arrangement such as used in the construction of the locomotive of FIG. 6.
(13) FIG. 10 shows a steel bolster frame that is part of the present disclosure used to modify the small industrial locomotive of FIG. 6.
(14) FIG. 11A is part of a flow chart of the balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(15) FIG. 11B is part of the flow chart in FIG. 11A for the balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(16) FIG. 11C is part of the flow chart in FIG. 11B for the balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(17) FIG. 11D is part of the flow chart in FIG. 11C for the balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(18) FIG. 12A is part of a flow chart of an alternate method balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(19) FIG. 12B is part of the flow chart in FIG. 12A for an alternate method balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(20) FIG. 12C is part of the flow chart in FIG. 12B for an alternate method balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
(21) FIG. 12D is part of the flow chart in FIG. 12C for an alternate method balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(22) In this disclosure, an apparatus and a method are described that relates to a heavy, multi-axle, self-propelled industrial locomotive and it relates more particularly to a method of adjusting the distribution of the total static weight of a locomotive so that a predetermined distribution of axle loads is obtained. The disclosure is applicable to a locomotive incorporating a single truck assembly. The truck assembly may be a two or three axle truck. In this disclosure, a three axle truck is used to illustrate the apparatus and a method.
(23) Prior Art
(24) FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art small industrial locomotive without a separate truck assembly. The wheel and axle assemblies 102 are typically attached directly to the frame 101 of the locomotive body. Thus, there is no ability of the wheel and axle assemblies 102 to swivel when the locomotive negotiates a curve. There is also limited suspension to absorb shocks from bumps or deviations of the rails. Since these locomotives are usually operated at low speeds, the limited suspension system is not a major liability. Small industrial locomotives, not counting used switcher or line-haul locomotives, typically have two to four axles and a rated horsepower in the range of approximately 200 HP to about 600 HP.
(25) FIG. 2 shows a typical prior art switcher locomotive illustrating a pair of two-axle truck assemblies 202 attached to the locomotive body 201 by bolsters 203. The bolsters 203 allow the trucks to swivel as the locomotive negotiates a curve. The switcher typically has a traction motor on each axle. The switcher therefore can have a total of four traction motors mounted on four driving axles for applying maximum tractive effort. Switcher locomotives typically have a pair of two-axle trucks and a rated horsepower in the range of approximately 600 HP to about 1,500 HP.
(26) FIG. 3 shows a typical prior art line-haul locomotive illustrating a pair of three-axle truck assemblies 302 attached to the locomotive body 301 by bolsters (not visible but similar to those shown in FIG. 2). The locomotive typically has a traction motor on each axle. The locomotive therefore can have a total of six traction motors mounted on six driving axles for applying maximum tractive effort. Line-haul locomotives typically have a pair of two-axle trucks or a pair of three-axle trucks and a rated horsepower in the range of approximately 1,500 HP to about 6,000 HP.
(27) FIG. 4 shows a prior art truck assembly taken from U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,047 entitled Method of Adjusting the Distribution of Locomotive Axle Loads. As is shown in FIG. 4 (the description of which is taken from that of FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,047), each truck assembly comprises a metal frame 30, three parallel axle-wheel sets 31, 32, and 33, and a floating bolster 34. Each axle-wheel set supports the frame by means of a pair of conventional journals located in housings 35 near opposite ends of the axle on the outboard sides of the associated wheels 36. Axle-hung electric traction motors 37 are disposed between the wheels of the respective axle-wheel sets, and the rotor of each motor is mechanically coupled to the associated axle-wheel set by gearing housed in a gear box 38. In a conventional manner, the traction motors associated with the front and middle axles 31 and 32 are located to the rear of these axles, respectively, whereas the traction motor associated with the rear axle 33 is located to the front thereof.
(28) The primary suspension system of each truck comprises twelve dual, concentrically nesting, vertical helical springs (sometimes called coil springs) arranged in six sets of two each, with the springs in each set being disposed in compression between a spring seat on top of a separate one of the axle journal housings 35 and a cooperating pocket in a side channel of the frame 30. The outboard wall of one such pocket has been cut away in FIG. 4 to reveal a typical pair 40 of these nesting springs. A shock absorber or snubber 47 is connected in parallel with at least one set of axle springs on each side of the truck assembly.
(29) The secondary suspension system of each truck comprises four rubber bolster mounts 50 which are respectively seated on pads located on top of the inter-axle sections of the two side channels of the truck frame 30. These bolster mounts support the bolster 34 at load points near the four corners thereof. FIG. 4 shows the bolster 34 detached from the rest of the truck assembly so as to expose the four bolster mounts 50. Each bolster mount comprises a unitary stack of curved rubber pads interleaved with correspondingly curved steel plates. The rubber pads are relatively soft horizontally and will deflect in shear to permit a controlled amount of lateral motion between opposite ends of the bolster mount, which motion is accompanied by a slight extension or contraction of the mount. The rubber pads are sufficiently stiff in the vertical plane to prevent undesirable tilting of the truck frame.
(30) In the middle of each floating bolster 34, there is a circular plate 51 adapted to receive one of a pair of large diameter bearing pins or bosses on the underside of the locomotive car body near opposite ends of the platform 11. The static weight of the locomotive car body is transmitted via such pins to the centers of the respective bolsters on the truck assemblies. This cooperating bearing pin and center plate arrangement permits each truck assembly to swivel with respect to the locomotive car body as the wheels 36 negotiate a curved section of track.
(31) FIG. 5 shows a simplified plan view of a prior art 3 axle truck frame taken from U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,047 entitled Method of Adjusting the Distribution of Locomotive Axle Loads. As is shown in FIG. 5 (the description of which is taken from that of FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,047), reference numbers 1 through 4 identify the top surfaces or bolster load points of the respective bolster mounts 50, and reference numbers 41 through 46 identify the positions of the respective axle spring pockets in the two side channels of the frame. The four bolster mounts are centered between the front and rear axles of the truck assembly. Bolster load points 1 and 2 and axle spring pockets 41 and 42 (for axle-wheel set 31) are located in the front half of the truck assembly, whereas bolster load points 3 and 4 and axle spring pockets 45 and 46 (for axle-wheel set 33) are similarly located in the rear half. This 3-axle truck assembly is asymmetrical, with the centerline of its middle axle-wheel set 32 being disposed slightly (approximately two inches) in front of the center of the truck assembly to provide extra space for the two traction motors that are located in the one gap between middle and rear axles. Consequently, the middle pair of axle spring pockets 43 and 44 in the truck frame are slightly off center. If equal loads are desired on the three axles of the assembly, the front and rear pairs of bolster load points must be unequally loaded, with more weight on points 1 and 2 than on points 3 and 4.
(32) FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a prior art locomotive such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,545. A locomotive car body with integral frame, cab and hood 601 is shown attached to a 3-axle truck assembly 602. Also shown is front pilot plate 603. There is also typically a rear pilot plate (partially visible at the rear).
(33) Although not shown in FIG. 6, the locomotive body is attached to the 3-axle truck using a modified bolster. An unmodified bolster is shown in FIG. 9A. To modify the bolster of FIG. 9A, the lip of the circular plate 903 is removed so that the underframe of the locomotive body rests on the resulting circular flat surface. This circular flat surface supports most of the weight of the locomotive body. Angle irons are then welded on the underframe of the locomotive body to constrain the longitudinal and lateral motion of the locomotive body with respect to the modified bolster. The underframe of the locomotive body also rests on the four side bearing plates 902 of FIG. 9A. This bolster configuration is welded to the locomotive body. This welded assembly then is positioned on the 3-axle truck in the same way as the arrangement described in FIG. 4. Because the modified bolster configuration is welded to the locomotive body, no rotation of the locomotive body is allowed with respect to the modified bolster. As can be appreciated, rotation for negotiating a curved section of track is not required for this single truck locomotive.
(34) One drawback of the above modified bolster configuration is that the angle irons welded on the underframe of the locomotive body to secure the modified bolster can be bent or broken if the locomotive slams into another rail car at greater than about 5 mph. As the locomotive is used primarily for spotting operations which may involve kicking to make up or break down trains, these angle irons can become bent or broken with repeated use or when the locomotive slams into a rail car at greater than about 5 mph as a result of an inexperienced operator mistake for example.
(35) FIG. 7 shows an exploded isometric view of the prior art locomotive of FIG. 6 also illustrating the principal elements of the present invention. This figure illustrates a locomotive car frame 701 and a 3-axle truck assembly 702 before being mated. The frame 701 can be, for example, a modified Special Duty (SD) locomotive car frame with a cab-end switcher type cab. In this example, about 28 feet of the original SD donor locomotive can be used. This includes stairs, couplers, draft gears, and miscellaneous other parts to form the new locomotive body.
(36) FIGS. 8A and 8B show a schematic front and side view with the principal dimensions of the prior art industrial locomotive of FIG. 6. FIG. 8A is a side view showing a locomotive car frame 801, a truck assembly 802 and hydraulic cylinders 804 mounted on the front and rear pilot plates. The overall length 813 of this example locomotive (coupler to coupler) is about 32 feet. The length 812 from front to rear jacking cylinders is about 28 feet. The typical center to center separation 811 of wheels on the truck assembly is about 8.5 feet. FIG. 8B is a front view of the locomotive. The height 814 of the locomotive measured from the rails is about 14 feet. The width of the locomotive 815 as determined by the front pilot plate 803 is about 10 feet. The width of the locomotive 816 including the hydraulic jacking cylinders is about 11.5 feet in this example.
(37) FIGS. 9A and 9B show a prior art bolster bearing plate arrangement such as used in the construction of the locomotive of FIG. 3. FIG. 9A shows a truck bolster frame 901 with four side bearing plates 902. FIG. 9B shows a detail of a truck side bearing plate 911 and the position of a matching locomotive body frame bearing plate 912.
(38) As described in FIG. 6, the prior art locomotive body of U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,545 is attached to a 3-axle truck using a modified version of the bolster of FIGS. 9A and 9B. The lip of the circular plate 903 is removed so that the underframe of the locomotive body rests on the resulting circular flat surface. This circular flat surface supports most of the weight of the locomotive body. Angle irons are then welded on the underframe of the locomotive body to constrain the longitudinal and lateral motion of the locomotive body with respect to the modified bolster. The underframe of the locomotive body also rests on the four side bearing plates 902 of FIG. 9A. This bolster configuration attaches the locomotive body to the 3-axle truck in the same way as the arrangement described in FIG. 4 except no rotation of the locomotive body is allowed with respect to the modified bolster. As can be appreciated, rotation is not required for this single truck locomotive.
(39) For the locomotive of FIG. 6, welding of the modified bolster to the locomotive body is accomplished using the truck's frame along with its spaced side bearing plates. Matching side bearing plates are attached to the frame of locomotive body. In addition, matching end bearing plates may optionally be added to both the truck assembly and the frame of the locomotive body.
(40) FIG. 10 shows a steel bolster frame that is part of the present invention used to modify the small industrial locomotive of FIG. 6. As the locomotive is used primarily for spotting operations which may involve kicking for example to make up or break down trains, it is subject to large transient forces especially if the locomotive slams into another rail car at greater than about 10 mph.
(41) The primary advantage of the bolster configuration of FIG. 10 compared to that described for the prior art locomotive of FIG. 6 is that the locomotive body can be welded onto the two long bolster underframe contact plates with long continuous welds. On impact with other rail cars, these welds are subject to primarily shear loads which are a strength advantage of welded joints. Thus both the length and orientation of the weldments are a substantial improvement over the design of attachment of the locomotive body to the modified bolster described in FIG. 6.
(42) The bolster configuration of FIG. 10 sits on the 3-axle truck frame in exactly the same way as the bolster plate of FIG. 4 and FIGS. 9A and 9B sits on the 3-axle truck frame.
(43) Another advantage of the bolster configuration of FIG. 10 compared to that described in FIG. 6 is that there is much more latitude, during assembly, for moving the locomotive body longitudinally and laterally on the bolster underframe contact plates in order to achieve balanced loads on the truck axles, as described below.
(44) The following steps are representative of a procedure used to balance and weigh the industrial locomotive of FIGS. 6, 7, 8A, and 8B. This procedure is assumed to take place with a truck assembly on rail tracks typically, but not always, within or near a rail workshop. 1. hydraulic jacks are positioned under two locations, equidistant from the center, on each of the first and third axle of the truck assembly. 2. the truck assembly is then raised off the rails using the hydraulic jacks 3. the truck assembly may be weighed by recording the hydraulic pressures from the gages on the four jacks by converting to mass by the known lifting area of the jacks 4. the bolster frame is then lowered onto the truck assembly and positioned on the four rubber bolster mounts of the truck assembly 5. the truck assembly plus bolster frame is weighed by recording the hydraulic pressures from the gages on the four jacks converted to mass by the known lifting area of the jacks 6. the locomotive body with engine and other equipment installed is loaded with the supplies normally used in operation. For instance, the fuel tank is filled with diesel fuel oil, water is supplied to the cooling water tank, pipes and heat exchangers, lubricating oil is supplied to the engine lube oil system, and a locomotive battery is put in the battery box. 7. the loaded locomotive body is then lowered onto the bolster frame and positioned at the approximate location estimated to achieve balance. Balance herein means achieving equal hydraulic pressure at all four jack locations within a predetermined specification. 8. the locomotive body is then moved slowly both longitudinally and laterally by lifting or jacking on the bolster frame until balance is achieved (i.e. with equal hydraulic pressure on all four jacks within a predetermined specification) 9. the balance position of the locomotive body on the bolster frame is then marked 10. the truck assembly plus bolster frame plus loaded locomotive body is weighed by recording the hydraulic pressures from the gages on the four jacks and converting to mass by the known lifting area of the jacks 11. the loaded locomotive body and bolster frame are then removed 12. the supplies normally used in operation are removed from the locomotive body 13. the bolster frame is then welded onto the locomotive body using the markings made at balance position on the bolster frame 14. the empty locomotive body and bolster frame are then lowered back onto the truck assembly with the bolster frame positioned on the four rubber bolster mounts of the truck assembly 15. the truck assembly plus bolster frame plus empty locomotive body is weighed by recording the hydraulic pressures from the gages on the four jacks converted to mass by the known lifting area of the jacks 16. The assembled locomotive is then lowered back onto the rails and the hydraulic jacks are removed 17. The fabrication of the locomotive is then completed 18. The balance of the locomotive may be checked by repeating steps 7 through 10
(45) As can be appreciated the truck assembly may be lowered back onto the tracks at any time during the above procedures and then raised back up off the tracks to resume the procedures.
(46) FIGS. 11A-11D are a flow chart of the balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive. In FIG. 11A, the balancing and weighing procedure begins 1101 by installing four hydraulic jacks to raise the 3-axle truck assembly off the rails 1102. Jacks are located under the first and third axles with a jack located near the wheel on each side of both axles. The jacks have pressure gages which indicate the load supported by each jack when the pressure is converted to mass by the known lifting area of the jacks. Once the truck is raised, the weight of the truck can be determined 1103. This step may be omitted if the weight of the truck is already known within a predetermined accuracy.
(47) In step 1104, the bolster assembly is lowered onto the truck assembly onto its proper location on the four rubber bolster mounts of the truck assembly. The weight of the truck and bolster can be determined 1105. This step may be omitted if the weight of the truck and bolster are already known within a predetermined accuracy.
(48) In step 1106, the engine and other equipment is installed in the locomotive body and the locomotive body is loaded with the supplies normally used in operation. For instance, the fuel tank is filled with diesel fuel oil, water is supplied to the cooling water tank, pipes and heat exchangers, lubricating oil is supplied to the engine lube oil system, and a locomotive battery is put in the battery box.
(49) The procedure is continued in FIG. 11B with the loaded locomotive body being lowered 1107 onto the bolster at approximately the locations where balance is expected to be achieved.
(50) In step 1108 the locomotive body is moved laterally and longitudinally along the two long bolster underframe contact plates until balance is achieved. Balance is achieved when the load on each of the four jacks are equal to within a predetermined specification. The weight of the truck, bolster and loaded locomotive body can then be determined 1109. In step 1110, if proper balance is achieved, then the procedure moves to step 1112 wherein the positions of the locomotive body are marked on the two long bolster underframe contact plates.
(51) In step 1110, if proper balance is not achieved, then the procedure returns to 1111 where step 1108 is repeated until balance is achieved.
(52) In FIG. 11C, the balance and weighing procedure is continued with step 1113 wherein the loaded locomotive body and bolster are removed from the truck assembly and, in step 1114, the supplies normally used in operation are removed from the locomotive body and the engine may also be removed.
(53) In step 1115, the empty locomotive body is then positioned and secured on the bolster assembly using the markings made in step 1112. The locomotive body is then welded 1116 to the two long bolster underframe contact plates to form a rigid unit.
(54) As shown in FIG. 11D, the empty locomotive body with bolster attached is then lowered back onto the truck assembly 1117 at which time this configuration may be weighed 1118.
(55) The locomotive assembly (locomotive body, bolster and truck) is lowered back onto the rails 1119. The fabrication and outfitting of the locomotive is then completed 1120.
(56) In step 1121, a decision is made whether to check the balance of the loaded locomotive. If it is decided that this is not necessary, the balance and weighing procedure is terminated 1122. If it is decided to recheck the balance, then the locomotive can be reloaded with the supplies normally used in operation and the balance procedure can be repeated. Since the locomotive body is already welded to the bolster, any rebalancing would require appropriate weights to be added to the locomotive body until balance is achieved when the load on each of the four jacks are equal to within a predetermined specification.
(57) The following steps are representative of an alternate, simplified procedure used to balance and weigh the industrial locomotive of FIGS. 6, 7, 8A, and 8B. This procedure is assumed to take place with a truck assembly on rail tracks typically, but not always, inside a rail workshop. 1. the bolster frame is set on the truck assembly and positioned on the four rubber bolster mounts of the truck assembly 2. the empty locomotive body is then lowered onto the bolster frame and positioned at the approximate location estimated to achieve balance 3. a single hydraulic jack is positioned under the journal housing of a first wheel of the front axle until this wheel is lifted off the rail by approximately about 1/32 of an inch 4. the load on the axle at this wheel location is determined by recording the hydraulic pressure from the gage on the jack and converting it to mass by the known lifting area of the jack 5. the procedures of steps 3 and 4 are repeated for the first wheel of the rear axle, then the second wheel of the front axle and then the second wheel of the rear axle. As can be appreciated the order of lifting each wheel is not important and any order of applying the hydraulic jack to lift a wheel is permitted. 6. the locomotive body is then lifted or jacked slowly both longitudinally and laterally on the bolster frame and the procedures of steps 3, 4, 5 and 6 are repeated until balance is achieved. Balance herein means achieving equal hydraulic pressure at all four jack locations within a predetermined specification. 7. the balance position of the locomotive body on the bolster frame is then marked 8. the truck assembly plus bolster frame plus locomotive body may be weighed by recording the hydraulic pressures from the gages on the four jack locations converting to mass by the known lifting area of the jack 9. the locomotive is then lowered back onto the rails and the hydraulic jack is removed 10. the locomotive body and bolster frame are then removed from the truck assembly 11. the bolster frame is then welded onto the locomotive body using the markings made at balance position on the bolster frame 12. the fabrication of the locomotive is then completed 13. the balance of the locomotive may be checked by repeating steps 3 through 7
(58) As can be appreciated the truck assembly may be lowered back onto the tracks at any time during the above procedures and then raised back up off the tracks to resume the procedures
(59) FIGS. 12A-12D are a flow chart of an alternate method balancing and weighing procedure for a small industrial locomotive. In FIG. 12A, the balancing and weighing procedure begins 1201 by lowering the bolster assembly onto the truck assembly 1202 onto its proper location on the four rubber bolster mounts of the truck assembly. The empty locomotive body is lowered 1203 onto the bolster at approximately the locations where balance is expected to be achieved.
(60) In step 1204, a single hydraulic jack is positioned under the journal housing of a first wheel of the front axle until this wheel is lifted off the rail by approximately about 1/32 of an inch. In step 1205, the load on the axle at this wheel location is determined by recording the hydraulic pressure from the gage on the jack and converting it to mass by the known lifting area of the jack.
(61) As shown in FIG. 12B, the procedures of steps 1204 and 1205 are repeated 1206 for the other three wheels of the truck assembly in any order. When the loads on all four wheels have been determined 1207, the locomotive body is moved (by lifting or jacking) laterally and longitudinally along the two long bolster underframe contact plates 1208 and the load on each axle is determined until balance is achieved. The sum of the loads on the four axles is equal to the weight of the empty locomotive assembly 1209. Balance is achieved when the load on each of the four wheels is equal to within a predetermined specification. In step 1210, if proper balance is achieved, then the procedure moves to step 1211 wherein the positions of the locomotive body are marked on the two long bolster underframe contact plates.
(62) In FIG. 12C, the balance and weighing procedure is continued with step 1213 wherein the locomotive body and bolster are removed from the truck assembly and, in step 1214, the empty locomotive body is then positioned and secured on the bolster assembly 1214 using the markings made in step 1212. The locomotive body is then welded 1215 to the two long bolster underframe contact plates to form a rigid unit.
(63) As shown in FIG. 12D, the empty locomotive body with the bolster now welded onto it, is then lowered back onto the truck assembly 1216 at which time this configuration may be weighed 1217 again. This step may be omitted or used to check the result of step 1209.
(64) The fabrication and outfitting of the locomotive is then completed 1218. In step 1219, a decision is made whether to check the balance of the loaded locomotive. If it is decided that this is not necessary, the balance and weighing procedure is terminated 1220. If it is decided to recheck the balance, then the balance procedure can be repeated. Since the locomotive body is already welded to the bolster, any rebalancing would require appropriate weights to be added to the locomotive body until balance is achieved when the load on each of the four jacks are equal to within a predetermined specification.
(65) A number of variations and modifications of the disclosures can be used. As will be appreciated, it would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosures without providing others.
(66) For example, the apparatus and procedures described in this disclosure can be applied to a locomotive utilizing a two axle truck assembly.
(67) The present disclosure, in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present disclosure after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, for example for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation.
(68) The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
(69) Moreover though the description of the disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.
