Truck mounted braking system for a railway car

Abstract

A truck mounted braking system is provided with a mechanical pivot adjustment on the bake lever connected to the brake cylinder push rod to permit the braking force applied to the wheels to vary depending on the lading condition of the car, without involving additional pneumatic elements such as a pneumatic empty load device. The brake cylinder may be provided with a channel which permits the push rod to achieve different positions based on different positions of the brake cylinder push rod.

Claims

1. A truck-mounted braking system for a railway car, comprising: a first brake beam and a second brake beam separated along a longitudinal axis of the railway car; first and second struts attached to the first and second brake beams respectively; a brake cylinder; a push rod having an end surface, and being operatively connected to the brake cylinder and adapted to move linearly in response to actuation of the brake cylinder; a live lever pivotally attached to the first strut on the first brake beam by a first pin, pivotally attached to the push rod, and pivotally attached at an end of the live lever to a slack adjuster; a dead lever, pivotally attached to the second strut on the second brake beam, pivotally attached at one end to the slack adjuster, and pivotally attached at an end opposite said one end, directly or indirectly, to the brake actuator; a pivot adjustment hole in at least one of the live lever and the dead lever that receives the first pin or the second pin in at least two different positions in the pivot adjustment hole, corresponding to at least two lading conditions of the railway car; and a channel in the brake cylinder, said channel having a bearing surface adapted to bear against different portions of the end surface of the push rod at different positions of the first or second pin in the pivot adjustment hole in at least one of the live lever and the dead lever.

2. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface of the channel is curved and the end surface of the push rod is curved.

3. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 1, wherein the pivot adjustment hole is a crescent-shaped aperture in the live lever adapted to accommodate the pivot pin in said at least two positions at opposed ends of the pivot adjustment hole.

4. The truck mounted braking system according to claim 3, wherein the live lever has a hand brake connection at one end adapted for mechanical connection to the hand brake.

5. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 4, wherein the hand brake connection has a raised height relative to the pivot adjustment hole.

6. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 3, wherein an end of the live lever opposite the slack adjuster is angled away from a line drawn through the brake actuator lever connection and the attachment of the lever to the slack adjuster.

7. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor detecting the at least two lading conditions of the railway car, the sensor mounted to the railway car truck and mechanically connected to the live lever.

8. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is mounted to a railway car bolster, and a lever on the sensor contacts a point on the side frame to detect a lading condition of the railway car.

9. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 7, further comprising an output arm on the sensor having a rigid attachment to the live lever proximate the pivot adjustment hole, said attachment adapted to move the position of the pivot adjustment hole in tension and compression.

10. The truck-mounted braking system according to claim 1, wherein the slack adjuster includes a housing and a pawl box removably and mechanically mounted on the housing.

11. A truck-mounted braking system for a railway car, comprising, a first brake beam and a second brake beam separated along a longitudinal axis of the railway car, the first and second brake beams each having a compression member and a tension member, and a respective first and second strut attached between the respective compression member and tension member; a brake actuator; a brake actuator rod operatively connected to the brake actuator and adapted to move linearly in response to the brake actuator; a live lever pivotally attached to the first strut on the first brake beam by a pin, pivotally attached to the brake actuator rod, and pivotally attached at an end of the live lever to a slack adjuster; a dead lever, pivotally attached to the second strut on the second brake beam, pivotally attached at one end to said slack adjuster, and pivotally attached at an end opposite said one end, directly or indirectly, to the brake actuator; a crescent-shaped pivot adjustment hole in the live lever that receives the pin in different positions at opposed ends of the crescent-shaped pivot adjustment hole, corresponding to at least two lading conditions of the railway car; a channel in the brake actuator having a bearing surface adapted to bear against different portions of an end surface of the brake actuator rod at different respective positions of the pin in the pivot adjustment hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts a truck-mounted braking system according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of the truck-mounted braking system from the top according to another embodiment of the invention, showing an installation on a railway car truck;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a live lever according to one embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a view of a sensor assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a slack adjuster according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a brake cylinder having a push rod therein in a first position according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a brake cylinder having a push rod therein in a second position according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Directions and orientations herein may refer to the normal orientation of a railway car in use. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the longitudinal axis or direction is parallel to the rails and in the direction of movement of the railway car on the track in either direction. The transverse or lateral axis or direction is in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the rail. Individual components of a braking system may also have a length and longitudinal axis, a width and a lateral axis. Thus, a brake lever, for example, which is oriented substantially in line with the transversely mounted brake beam, has a longitudinal axis of its own, which may be nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railway car. The term inboard means toward the center of the car, and may mean inboard in a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, or both. Similarly, outboard means away from the center of the car. Vertical is the up-and-down direction, and horizontal is a plane parallel to the rails including the transverse and longitudinal axes.

(10) Specific dimensions in the railway industry are often established by AAR Standards. Therefore, dimensions provided herein are intended to be approximate and descriptive only, because it is understood that ultimately the given dimension may be altered or varied to accommodate an AAR Standard. In the same spirit, the word about, used in combination with a specific quantity, means+/15%. The word substantially means all or completely, with some variation allowed for inevitable departure from exactitude as would be understood and accepted by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Knowledge of the relevant AAR Standards by a person of ordinary skill in the art is presumed. Mention of a specific AAR Standard herein refers to the Standard in effect on the filing date of this application. An AAR Standard specifically identified herein is incorporated by reference.

(11) A truck-mounted braking system for a railway car according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1, including a first brake beam 15 and a second brake beam 115 separated along a longitudinal axis of the railway car. The ends of the brake beams 15, 115 are connected to brake heads 22, and brake shoes 24. As shown in FIG. 2, when the break beams are forced away from each other when the brakes are applied, the brake shoes apply force directly to the wheels 26. In embodiments, brake shoes 24 are made removable from brake heads 22 using a clip 25. In embodiments, tension member 121, 122 is mechanically secured to brake head 22, such as with a nut 171.

(12) The first and second brake beams 15, 115 each have a compression member 123, 124 and a tension member 121, 122 and struts 14, 114 attached between the respective compression member 123, 124 and tension member 121, 122. In the embodiments shown, the brake actuator assembly includes an air cylinder 111, and an air cylinder push rod 216 operatively connected to the cylinder 111, adapted to move linearly in response to pressure in the air cylinder. Other brake actuators, such as a rolling diaphragm and an air bag are known in the art, and a person having ordinary skill in the art may adapt the construction of the braking system according to the principles described herein for use with these other types of brake actuators without departing from the scope of the invention.

(13) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, brake system 10 comprises live lever 12 pivotally attached to first strut 14 by a pin 16 (called the pivot pin), and pivotally attached to the brake cylinder push rod 216 (obscured behind lever 12 in FIG. 1) by a suitable connection, such as a yoke and pin 13 on the lever connection element. In embodiments, push rod 216 may float in the cylinder as described below in connection with FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Slack adjuster bar 18 is pivotally attached at an end of the live lever 12 on the opposite side of the pivot pin. In the embodiment shown, slack adjuster bar 18 is attached to lever 12 with a similar yoke 19 and pin 17. Dead lever 112 is pivotally attached to second strut 114, on opposing brake beam 115, pivotally attached at one end by pin 117 to the slack adjuster bar 18, and pivotally attached at the opposite end to the brake actuator assembly via return push rod 119 using a similar connection.

(14) Characteristic of a truck-mounted system, the lever arms applying braking force are significantly shorter than they would be on a typical foundation brake rigging. In a foundation brake rigging system, each brake lever arm, i.e., on either side of the pivot, may be on the order of 18 inches. Adjusting the mechanical pivot point of such a large lever while maintaining precise operation poses a challenge. In contrast, the smaller lever arm(s) of the truck-mounted system (on the order of about 4-6 inches), allow for a more precise force adjustment. In the embodiment shown, dead lever 112 may be provided with one lever arm 112B longer than the other arm 112A. For example, the lever arm 112B between the end of slack adjuster 18 and pivot pin 117 through second strut 114 may be longer than the lever arm 112A between the return push rod 119 and pivot pin 117. In embodiments, it may be desirable to provide a pivot pin through hole on the dead lever that permits mechanical pivot adjustment according to the lading condition of the railway car. This may be as an alternative to, or in addition to, a pivot adjustment on the live lever, although less leverage is expected if the pivot adjustment is on the dead lever alone. In principle, the through hole can be provided in either lever. However, in the embodiment depicted in the Figures, the pivot adjustment having variable positions is on the live lever, as depicted in FIG. 3.

(15) As shown in FIG. 3, the pivot adjustment hole 31 allows adjustment of the lever arm distance D1 between the pivot pin and the slack adjuster and the distance D2 between the pivot pin and the brake actuator. In the embodiment shown, pivot adjustment hole 31 is crescent-shaped, with a recess adapted to receive pin 16 in different positions on opposite ends. When the car is loaded, pivot pin 16 is received in recess 33, and the lever arm D2 from the actuator to the pivot pin is longer than the lever arm D1 from the pivot pin to the slack adjuster. The larger moment arm results in a greater braking force being applied than when the actuator is closer to the pivot pin. A typical live lever in a truck-mounted brake system may have a length of about 12 inches between the brake actuator and the slack adjuster (although that distance is not critical to the invention). For a fully loaded car the distance between the actuator and the pivot pin may be about 6 inches, and the distance between the pivot pin and the slack adjuster may be about 4.5 inches (these specific dimensions are by way of example and not by way of limitation). When the car is unloaded, lever 12 shifts to a different position and pivot pin 16 is received in a different part of the through hole. The lever arms are thereby reversed, and the lever arm between the actuator and the pivot pin is about 4.5 inches and the distance between the pivot pin and the slack adjuster is about 6 inches, with the result that less braking force is transmitted to the wheels.

(16) For example, and not by way of limitation, changing the pivot position by the amounts indicated above may result in a decrease to about 68% of a maximum braking force applied upon application of the hand brake in a loaded versus and unloaded railway car, and a decrease to about 56% of a maximum braking force applied upon application of the pneumatically activated brakes. Changing the pivot point longitudinally on the live lever, even by a small amount, has a profound impact on the braking ratio, and this is achieved without the need for a pneumatic empty load detector and the associated piping.

(17) As depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, different positions of push rod 216 occasioned by different positions of pivot pin 16 in pivot adjustment hole 31 may be accommodated according to embodiments of the invention by allowing push rod 216 to float in the brake actuator rather than being mechanically attached in a fixed position. For example, channel 602 may be provided in brake cylinder 111 which provides push rod 216 with freedom to move pivotally within channel 602. In the embodiment shown, channel 602 has a bearing surface 604 adapted to bear against different portions of end surface 218 of push rod at different positions of the pin in the pivot adjustment hole. As shown in FIG. 7, when pin 16 acquires a different position in aperture 31, a different portion of curved end surface 218 bears against the end wall 604 of the channel. There is also a slightly different pivot angle of push rod 216 in the cylinder and between push rod 216 and the longitudinal axis of the lever 12. In the embodiment shown, bearing surface 604 of channel 602 is curved to cooperate with the curved end surface 218 of push rod 216.

(18) As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the live lever may be characterized by a hand brake connection portion 34 opposite the end of the live lever connected to slack adjuster 18. The hand brake connection portion 34 is at a different height and is positioned with respect to the brake beam to afford access and leverage to the hand brake (not shown) when applied. The live lever also includes a bend 35 in the longitudinal direction so that the lever is approximately crescent shaped when viewed in plan layout. Pivot adjustment 31 is located on the live lever between the slack adjuster connection 36 and the actuator connection 37, but offset slightly with respect to a line drawn from the center of the slack adjuster connection 36 and the actuator connection 37. The overall shape of the pivot adjustment through hole 31 itself is crescent shaped. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 shows the live lever without a handbrake connection.

(19) The slack adjuster 18 itself, as shown in FIG. 5, may include a push rod 52 and a spring 54, adapted to exert a varying force on the brake shoes to accommodate for brake pad wear during operation. A pawl mechanism 56 is provided to ensure that the slack adjuster is neutral at rest. In the prior art, the pawl box 58 was typically welded on. An advantage is achieved by removably mounting the pawl box 58 on the slack adjuster outer housing, such that it can be easily assembled, non-destructively removed, and repaired.

(20) A mechanical sensor 40, adapted to detect the loaded condition of the railway car and change the position of the pivot adjustment hole of the lever may be mounted on the bolster as shown in FIG. 2, although placement of the mechanical sensor may well vary depending on the truck design. In the embodiment shown, the mechanical sensor 40 comprises a sensor arm 41 in contact with an upper spring seat window of side frame 700, such that a loaded condition of the railway car corresponds to a larger space between the bolster and the side frame. Sensor arm 41 communicates with a set of springs 43, 44 in the sensor housing that prevents the pivot position from being altered when the brakes are already locked out, if the car is loaded after the handbrake is applied, for example. Output arm 46 on the sensor assembly may be mechanically connected to the live lever, rotating to apply force to the lever and alter the position of the pivot pin. Preferably, the mechanical attachment of the output arm 46 to the live lever is proximate the pivot adjustment hole and is rigid, to enable movement of the lever by pulling and pushing (i.e., whether the member is in tension or in compression).

(21) The description of the foregoing preferred embodiments is not to be considered as limiting the invention, which is defined according to the appended claims. The person of ordinary skill in the art, relying on the foregoing disclosure, may practice variants of the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention claimed. A feature or dependent claim limitation described in connection with one embodiment or independent claim may be adapted for use with another embodiment or independent claim, without departing from the scope of the invention.