US3559818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic draft gear
Assignee: Pullman Standard Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-14
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic cushioning device and draft gear is disposed in cushion pockets at opposite ends of a center sill. The cushioning device comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a piston assembly slidable lengthwise therein. The cylinder is anchored within the center sill by removable stops which extend through the center sill. The piston assembly includes a piston rod which projects through an end wall of a yoke housing and is retained therein by means of a connecting element seated in a socket. The yoke housing is provided with outward projections forming, with a pair of removable stops projecting through the center sill, a pair of spring pockets which contain springs adapted to return the piston assembly to a neutral position during draft impacts. The yoke housing includes a coupler shank which is movable within the yoke housing to transmit buff impacts directly to the connecting element of the piston rod.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Knippel
- 👤 Marvin Stark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:08
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61G; B61G9/00; B61G9/04; B61G9/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal center sill which includes vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls connected to define an open end cushion pocket; a retaining member connected to said sill in longitudinally spaced relation from said open end and projecting laterally relative to said walls; a hydraulic cushion disposed within said cushion pocket and including a cylinder; a piston assembly movable lengthwise within said cylinder and including a piston having a piston rod connected thereto; first and second connecting members respectively connected to said cylinder and piston rod; said walls having opposed first openings longitudinally spaced and adjacent said retaining member; first removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including first stop members extending through said openings and with said retaining member engaging said first connecting member to anchor the same on said sill; a coupler assembly comprising a yoke including vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls interconnected to provide an open end housing slidably disposed through the open end of said cushion pocket; said housing having a rear wall connected to said second connecting means and including laterally projecting ears; said walls having opposed second openings longitudinally spaced from end adjacent said open end of said cushion pocket; second removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including second stop members extending through said openings and with said lateralLy projecting ears providing spring pockets on opposite sides of said yoke between the adjacent sidewalls of said housing and center sill; spring means disposed in each spring pocket; a coupler including a coupler shank connected within said housing for real relative swinging movement; said yoke being movable from a neutral position toward a said retaining member to provide for relative movement between said cylinder and piston assembly to a closed position on buff impact; and biasing means cooperatively connected between said cylinder and yoke for returning said yoke to its neutral position, said yoke being movable in an opposite direction during a draft impact whereby said spring means in said spring pockets are compressed and said spring means then restores said yoke to its neutral position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal center sill which includes vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls connected to define an open end cushion pocket; a retaining member connected to said sill in longitudinally spaced relation from said open end and projecting laterally relative to said walls; a hydraulic cushion disposed within said cushion pocket and including a cylinder; a piston assembly movable lengthwise within said cylinder and including a piston having a piston rod connected thereto; first and second connecting members respectively connected to said cylinder and piston rod; said walls having opposed first openings longitudinally spaced and adjacent said retaining member; first removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including first stop members extending through said openings and with said retaining member engaging said first connecting member to anchor the same on said sill; a coupler assembly comprising a yoke including vertical laterally spaced sidewalls and top and bottom walls interconnected to provide an open end housing slidably disposed through the open end of said cushion pocket; said housing having a rear wall connected to said second connecting means and including laterally projecting ears; said walls having opposed second openings longitudinally spaced from end adjacent said open end of said cushion pocket; second removable stop brackets connected to an outer surface of said walls including second stop members extending through said openings and with said lateralLy projecting ears providing spring pockets on opposite sides of said yoke between the adjacent sidewalls of said housing and center sill; spring means disposed in each spring pocket; a coupler including a coupler shank connected within said housing for real relative swinging movement; said yoke being movable from a neutral position toward a said retaining member to provide for relative movement between said cylinder and piston assembly to a closed position on buff impact; and biasing means cooperatively connected between said cylinder and yoke for returning said yoke to its neutral position, said yoke being movable in an opposite direction during a draft impact whereby said spring means in said spring pockets are compressed and said spring means then restores said yoke to its neutral position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention is accordance with claim 1, said cushion pocket including upper and lower transversely spaced spring retaining brackets extending lengthwise within and connected to said sill; said brackets including longitudinally extending retaining seats; said spring means comprising a plurality of nested leaf springs; and the upper and lower ends of said leaf springs being disposed in said retaining seats.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, including reinforcing plates connected to said walls and having openings registered with the first and second openings of said walls with said stop members projecting through said walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1, said rear wall of said yoke housing having a longitudinal bore; said piston rod extending through said bore; and said second connecting means in the neutral position and during draft impacts engaging a surface of said rear wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, said rear surface including a concave socket and said second connecting means having a convex portion disposed in said socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4, said coupler shank being positioned for relative lengthwise movement relative to said yoke housing and during buff impacts engaging said second connecting means and transmitting the impact forces directly thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
243 words
A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal hollow center sill provided at one end with a cushion pocket; a cushion assembly disposed in a said cushion pocket; said cushion assembly including a cylinder; a piston assembly including a piston and piston rod within said cylinder; said cylinder and piston rod having relative lengthwise movement from a neutral to a closed position during buff impact, a connecting element connected to said cylinder and another connecting element connected to said piston rod; means anchoring one of said connecting elements within said cushion pocket; said other connecting means being longitudinally movable within said center sill; a coupler yoke housing positioned for reciprocation within said cushion pocket having a coupler pivotally and longitudinally slidably connected thereto; said housing having a rear wall including a longitudinal bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; said other connecting means being disposed within said socket whereby during buff impacts said coupler engages said other connecting means to transmit impact forces directly thereto; biasing means between said yoke housing and said center sill; said biasing means being compressed during draft impacts and movement of said other connecting means and yoke housing in a direction away from said one connecting element whereby said piston rod is moved from said neutral position; and said biasing means restoring said piston rod to its neutral position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
243 words
A draft gear and cushioning assembly for a railway car having a longitudinal hollow center sill provided at one end with a cushion pocket; a cushion assembly disposed in a said cushion pocket; said cushion assembly including a cylinder; a piston assembly including a piston and piston rod within said cylinder; said cylinder and piston rod having relative lengthwise movement from a neutral to a closed position during buff impact, a connecting element connected to said cylinder and another connecting element connected to said piston rod; means anchoring one of said connecting elements within said cushion pocket; said other connecting means being longitudinally movable within said center sill; a coupler yoke housing positioned for reciprocation within said cushion pocket having a coupler pivotally and longitudinally slidably connected thereto; said housing having a rear wall including a longitudinal bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; a socket on said rear wall communicating with said bore; said other connecting means being disposed within said socket whereby during buff impacts said coupler engages said other connecting means to transmit impact forces directly thereto; biasing means between said yoke housing and said center sill; said biasing means being compressed during draft impacts and movement of said other connecting means and yoke housing in a direction away from said one connecting element whereby said piston rod is moved from said neutral position; and said biasing means restoring said piston rod to its neutral position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7, said coupler including a coupler shank having a lost motion connection relative to said coupler hoUsing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention in accordance with claim 8, said lost motion connection comprising a slot in said coupler shank and a slot in said coupler housing, and a key element slidably disposed in said slots.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention in accordance with claim 7, said socket being concave and said other connecting means having a convex surface conforming to said concave socket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |