Side bearing for railroad cars

Claim 2

A preloadable side bearing for positioning between the frame of a railroad car and the truck bolster comprising, a base member attachable to the truck bolster, a shaped mass of hard elastomeric material of a hardness of at least 50 Shore D Scale, extending upwardly from said base with the periphery thereof being predominantly outwardly concave and the ends of said mass are outwardly concave to subject a limited portion of said mass to initial preloading forces, said base extending outwardly from said shaped mass at the lower end thereof, and a wear cap on the upper end of said mass.

Claim 3

A preloadable side bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric material is a polyurethane material.

Claim 4

A preloadable side bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said cap is formed of the same material as said mass with particles of another material such as Teflon embedded therein to provide a slippery surface for the wear cap.

Claim 5

A preloadable side bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein said base is the the same material as said mass and is integral therewith.

Claim 6

A preloadable side bearing for positioning between the frame of a railroad car and the truck bolster comprising, a base member with an upstanding annular flange extending upwardly therefrom, a spring member comprising a shaped one-piece mass of hard elastomeric material of a hardness of approximately 50 Shore D Scale or harder and having a said surface with upper and lower perimetral parts and the lower part fitted within said flange, said side surface being outwardly concave between said upper and lower perimetral parts to permit substantial outward movement of said sidewall between said perimetral parts as caused by compressive depression of said mass with the side wall remaining within the peripheral dimension established by said upper and lower perimetral parts and without substantial radial loading of said flange, the top and bottom of said mass being outwardly concave to provide a limited amount of material in said perimetral parts to permit initial depressive movement of said bearing with an initial preload force, and a wear member in the form of a cap on the top of said mass having a depending flange positioned around said upper perimetral part.

Claim 7

A preloadable side bearing for positioning between the frame of a railroad car and the truck bolster comprising, a base member with an upstanding annular flange extending upwardly therefrom, a spring member comprising a shaped one-piece mass of hard elastomeric material of a hardness of approximately 50 Shore D Scale or harder and having a said surface with upper and lower perimetral parts and the lower part fitted within said flange, said side surface being outwardly concave between said upper and lower perimetral parts to permit substantial outward movement of said sidewall between said perimetral parts as caused by compressive depression of said mass with the side wall remaining within the peripheral dimension established by said upper and lower perimetral parts and without substantial radial loading of said flange, the top and bottom of said mass being outwardly concave to provide a limited amount of material in said perimetral parts to permit initial depressive movement of said bearing with an initial preload force, and a wear member in the form of a cap on the top of said mass having a depending flange positioned around said upper perimetral part.

Claim 8

In combination with a railroad car having a body and a truck bolster, a side bearing having a base attached to said truck bolster, a frustoconical-shaped integral mass of elastomeric material having a hardness of at least approximately 50 to 90 Shore D Scale integral with and extending upwardly from said base, said base formed integrally at the lower end of said integral mass and having lateral projections extending outwardly of said integral mass for attachment to the truck bolster, and the top of said mass having a shape to cause only a part thereto to be subjected to preloading forces.

Claim 9

In combination with a railroad car having a body and a truck bolster, a side bearing having a base attached to said truck bolster, a frustoconical-shaped integral mass of elastomeric material having a hardness of at least approximately 50 to 90 Shore D Scale integral with and extending upwardly from said base, said base formed integrally at the lower end of said integral mass and having lateral projections extending outwardly of said integral mass for attachment to the truck bolster, and the top of said mass having a shape to cause only a part thereto to be subjected to preloading forces.

Claim 10

A side bearing as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper end of said spring section is shaped to permit initial deflection of only the shaped Portion of the side bearing upper end under preloading forces.

Claim 11

A side bearing as defined in claim 7 wherein a plug member is fitted within the base and spring section to reduce the required amount of elastomer and provide a safety stop for the side bearing.