US3682324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
End-of-car impact absorbing device
Assignee: Keystone Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract An end-of-car impact absorbing device for a railway car comprises a hydraulic piston and cylinder cushioning unit mounted within the sill of the car at one end thereof with a piston rod projecting from opposite ends of the unit. A coupler yoke is detachably connected to one projecting end of the piston rod, and a return spring assembly is removably mounted in the sill behind the unit for coaction with the opposite projecting end of the piston rod. The return spring assembly includes a helical spring enclosed in a tubular guide and a movable spring follower having connecting means engaging the end of the piston rod. Draft spring means may also be provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Vaughn T Hawthorne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:32
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61G; B61G9/00; B61G9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
An end-of-car impact absorbing device for a railway car comprising, in combination: an underframe structure including a longitudinally extending sill rigid with said structure; an impact absorbing hydraulic piston and cylinder cushioning unit mounted within said sill adjacent an end of the car, said unit having a unitary piston rod projecting from opposite ends thereof; a coupler yoke detachably connected to one end only of said piston rod and slidably supported in said sill, said yoke having means for operatively connecting the same to a coupler at the end of the car; and a return spring assembly within said sill including spring means operatively engaging the opposite end only of said piston rod, said spring means being compressible in response to travel of said opposite end of said piston rod outwardly from said unit during a buff impact against the coupler for restoring said piston, said piston rod, and said yoke to normal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
An end-of-car impact absorbing device for a railway car comprising, in combination: an underframe structure including a longitudinally extending sill rigid with said structure; an impact absorbing hydraulic piston and cylinder cushioning unit mounted within said sill adjacent an end of the car, said unit having a unitary piston rod projecting from opposite ends thereof; a coupler yoke detachably connected to one end only of said piston rod and slidably supported in said sill, said yoke having means for operatively connecting the same to a coupler at the end of the car; and a return spring assembly within said sill including spring means operatively engaging the opposite end only of said piston rod, said spring means being compressible in response to travel of said opposite end of said piston rod outwardly from said unit during a buff impact against the coupler for restoring said piston, said piston rod, and said yoke to normal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 fuRther characterized in that said spring means comprises a cylindrical helical spring disposed lengthwise in said sill in end-to-end coaxial relation with said piston rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device of claim 1 further characterized in that said return spring assembly comprises at least one helical compression spring disposed lengthwise in said sill adjacent the opposite end of said piston rod, retainer means in said sill engaging one end of said spring, movable follower means engaging the opposite end of said spring, and connecting means providing an operating connection between said movable follower means and said opposite end of said piston rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said spring is enclosed within a tubular guide member, said retainer means being disposed at one end of said guide member, and said movable follower means being slidable within said guide member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said spring is disposed in axially spaced relation from said unit, and said connecting means comprises an elongated member extending rigidly from said movably follower means and detachably engaging said opposite end of said piston rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 5 further characterized in that said piston rod, said spring, and said elongated member are disposed in coaxial alignment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The device of claim 5 further characterized in that said spring is enclosed within a tubular guide member, and said retainer means comprises a bracket rigidly attached to said sill and retaining one end of said guide member and said one end of said spring, said follower means being slidable in said guide member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said spring is disposed coaxially with said piston rod, said opposite end of said piston rod has an axial end recess and said follower means is disposed closely adjacent thereto, and said connecting means comprises a center pin projecting rigidly from said follower means and detachably received in said recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 8 further characterized in that said center pin has a tapered outer end and said recess has a complementary tapered configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 3 further characterized in that said spring is enclosed within a tubular guide member, and a plurality of brackets are provided within said sill detachably mounting said guide member intermediate the ends thereof, said retainer means comprising a rigid end closure on said guide member, and said movable follower means being slidable within said guide member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The device of claim 1 further characterized in that a bolster center filler is rigidly mounted in said sill, one end of said bolster center filler extending adjacent an end of said cushioning unit for retaining the latter during a buff impact, and said bolster center filler having central passage means for receiving said opposite end of said piston rod during a buff impact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
The device of claim 11 further characterized in that said return spring assembly comprises a cylindrical helical spring disposed in coaxial alignment with said opposite end of said piston rod, a tubular guide member surrounding said spring, retainer means in said sill retaining one end of said spring remote from said unit, movable follower means engaging the opposite end of said spring and slidable in said guide member, and an elongated connecting member extending through said central passage means and providing a rigid connection between said follower means and said opposite end of said piston rod.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 12 further characterized in that one end of said guide member is retained by said retainer means and the opposite end of said guide member is supported by said bolster center filler in axial alignment with said central passage means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
The device of claim 13 further characterized in that said retainer means comprises a bracket detachably affixed to said sill, said one end of said guide member is rigidly secured to said bracket, and said opPosite end of said guide member is removably supported on a ledge portion projecting from said bolster center filler, whereby said return spring assembly is readily removable from said sill upon detachment of said bracket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
A return spring assembly for use in a railway car still having a piston and cylinder cushioning unit mounted therein with one end of the piston rod movable outwardly from the unit in response to a buff impact against the end of the car, said assembly comprising: a cylindrical helical compression spring; a tubular guide member enclosing said spring and adapted to be mounted lengthwise in the sill in axial alignment with the piston rod; retainer means adapted to hold one end of the spring in fixed relation to the sill; movable follower means engaging the opposite end of the spring and slidable in said guide member; and connecting means rigidly affixed to said follower means and adapted to engage the end of the piston rod for compressing the spring in response to movement of the piston rod during a buff impact.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
A return spring assembly for use in a railway car still having a piston and cylinder cushioning unit mounted therein with one end of the piston rod movable outwardly from the unit in response to a buff impact against the end of the car, said assembly comprising: a cylindrical helical compression spring; a tubular guide member enclosing said spring and adapted to be mounted lengthwise in the sill in axial alignment with the piston rod; retainer means adapted to hold one end of the spring in fixed relation to the sill; movable follower means engaging the opposite end of the spring and slidable in said guide member; and connecting means rigidly affixed to said follower means and adapted to engage the end of the piston rod for compressing the spring in response to movement of the piston rod during a buff impact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The assembly of claim 15 further characterized in that said guide member and said spring are adapted to be mounted in the sill with said follower means in axially spaced relation from said unit, and said connecting means comprises an elongated rod extending rigidly from said follower means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly of claim 15 further characterized in that said guide member and said spring are adapted to be mounted in the sill with said follower means closely adjacent said unit, and said connecting means comprises a center pin projecting rigidly from said follower means and adapted to have its outer end detachably received in a recess in the end of the piston rod.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assembly of claim 17 further characterized in that said outer end of said pin is tapered for engagement in a complementary recess in the end of the piston rod.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The assembly of claim 15 further characterized in that said retainer means comprises a bracket adapted to be detachably mounted on the sill, and said guide member has one end thereof rigidly affixed to said bracket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The assembly of claim 15 further characterized in that said retainer means comprise a rigid end closure on one end of said guide member, and a plurality of brackets are provided for detachably mounting said guide member intermediate its ends.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |