Snap-on coupler bearing plate for railroad car coupler carriers

Claim 2

In a railroad car wheeled for riding on track rails and having a body including a center sill projecting from one end of the car and equipped with a coupler striker casting and a coupler mounted on the center sill for swinging movement sidewise of the car, said coupler including a shank extending through the casting and having a wear plate anchored to its underside, with the casting including a striking face disposed in a vertical plane and disposed transversely of the car center line of draft, said casting adjacent said face having a cage portion defining below the coupler shank an upwardly opening socket defining a coupler carrier chamber, and a coupler carrier resiliently mounted in said chamber on which the coupler shank wear plate rests, with the coupler carrier having an upwardly facing planar load support plate defining a flat horizontally disposed load support surface on which the coupler shank wear plate rides for supporting the coupler on the coupler carrier, with said coupler carrier load support plate defining opposed inner and outer edge portions respectively projecting in the plane of said load support plate in overhanging relation to said coupler carrier, a coupler bearing plate for said load support plate, said bearing plate comprising: a bearing member of inverted channel shape configuration defining a planar web portion, an inner depending flange portion along the inner side of the same and an outer depending flange portion along the outer side of same, said member inner flange portion including a forwardly projecting ledge portion underlying said member web portion and spaced below said member web portion to receive the inner edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate therebetween, said member outer flange portion projecting downwardly to the level of said member ledge portion and being formed to define a downwardly facing wedge surface therealong that inclines upwardly in the direction of said member inner flange portion for camming said member outer flange portion over the outer edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate when said member is applied to said load support plate with said load support plate inner edge portion lodged between said web portion and ledge portions thereof with said web portion thereof overlying said load support plate surface and said member is hammered downwardly along the outer side of same to mount said bearing member in its operative position on said load support plate, said member being of one piece construction formed from a ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of dry self lubricating characteristics, said member web portion defining an upwardly facing slide surface on which the coupler shank wear plate engages when said bearing plate is in its said operative position.

Claim 3

The bearing plate set forth in claim 1 wherein: said wedge surface is angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to said member web portion.

Claim 4

The bearing plate set forth in claim 1 wherein: said wedge surface lies within the thickness dimensions of said member outer flange portion.

Claim 5

The bearing plate set forth in claim 1 wherein: said member outer flange portion includes an inwardly projecting ledge portion that is substantially coplanar with said member inner flange portion ledge portion, on which said wedge surface is formed.

Claim 6

The bearing plate set forth in claim 1 wherein: said polyethylene has a molecular weight in the range of from approximately 3,000,000 to approximately 9,000,000, with said slide surface having a coefficient of sliding friction with the coupler wear plate that is no greater than about 0.02.

Claim 7

In combination with a railroad car, wheeled for riding on track rails and having a body including a center sill projecting from one end of the car, and equipped with a coupler striker casting and a coupler mounted on the center sill for swinging movement sidewise of the car, said coupler including a shank extending through the casting and having a wear plate anchored to its underside, with the casting including a striking face disposed in a vertical plane and disposed transversely of the car center line of draft, said casting adjacent said face having a cage portion defining below the coupler shank an upwardly opening socket defining a coupler carrier chamber, and a coupler carrier resiliently mounted in said chamber on which the coupler shank wear plate rests, with the coupler carrier having an upwardly facing planar load support plate defining a flat horizontally disposed load support surface on which the coupler shank wear plate is supported for supporting the coupler on the coupler carrier, with said coupler carrier load support plate defining opposed inner and outer edge portions respectively projecting in the plane of said load support plate in overhanging relation to said coupler carrier, a coupler bearing plate for said load support plate, on which said coupler shank wear plate rides to support the coupler on the coupler carrier, said bearing plate comprising: a bearing member of inverted channel shaped configuration defining a planar web portion, an inner depending flange portion along the inner side of same and an outer depending flange portion along the outer side of same, said member inner flange portion including a forwardly projecting ledge portion underlying said member web portion and spaced below said member web portion and receiving the inner edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate therebetween, said member outer flange portion projecting downwardly to the level of said member ledge portion and being formed to define a downwardly facing wedge surface therealong that inclines upwardly in the direction of said member inner flange portion whereby said member outer flange portion is cammed over the outer edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate when said member is applied to said load support plate with said load support plate inner edge portion lodged between said web portion and ledge portions thereof with said web portion thereof overlying said load support plate surface and said member is hammered downwardly along the outer side of same to mount said bearing member in its operative position on said load support plate, said member being of one piece construction formed from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of dry self lubricating characteristics, said member web portion defining an upwardly facing slide surface on which the coupler shank wear plate engages, said member being characterized by having said slide surface thereof effecting during use resurfacing of the portion of said wear plate engaged thereby for reforming said wear plate portions to have a wear free finish.

Claim 8

In combination with a railroad car, wheeled for riding on track rails and having a body including a center sill projecting from one end of the car, and equipped with a coupler striker casting and a coupler mounted on the center sill for swinging movement sidewise of the car, said coupler including a shank extending through the casting and having a wear plate anchored to its underside, with the casting including a striking face disposed in a vertical plane and disposed transversely of the car center line of draft, said casting adjacent said face having a cage portion defining below the coupler shank an upwardly opening socket defining a coupler carrier chamber, and a coupler carrier resiliently mounted in said chamber on which the coupler shank wear plate rests, with the coupler carrier having an upwardly facing planar load support plate defining a flat horizontally disposed load support surface on which the coupler shank wear plate is supported for supporting the coupler on the coupler carrier, with said coupler carrier load support plate defining opposed inner and outer edge portions respectively projecting in the plane of said load support plate in overhanging relation to said coupler carrier, a coupler bearing plate for said load support plate, on which said coupler shank wear plate rides to support the coupler on the coupler carrier, said bearing plate comprising: a bearing member of inverted channel shaped configuration defining a planar web portion, an inner depending flange portion along the inner side of same and an outer depending flange portion along the outer side of same, said member inner flange portion including a forwardly projecting ledge portion underlying said member web portion and spaced below said member web portion and receiving the inner edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate therebetween, said member outer flange portion projecting downwardly to the level of said member ledge portion and being formed to define a downwardly facing wedge surface therealong that inclines upwardly in the direction of said member inner flange portion whereby said member outer flange portion is cammed over the outer edge portion of the coupler carrier load support plate when said member is applied to said load support plate with said load support plate inner edge portion lodged between said web portion and ledge portions thereof with said web portion thereof overlying said load support plate surface and said member is hammered downwardly along the outer side of same to mount said bearing member in its operative position on said load support plate, said member being of one piece construction formed from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene of dry self lubricating characteristics, said member web portion defining an upwardly facing slide surface on which the coupler shank wear plate engages, said member being characterized by having said slide surface thereof effecting during use resurfacing of the portion of said wear plate engaged thereby for reforming said wear plate portions to have a wear free finish.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein: said member slide surface has a coefficient of sliding friction with the coupler wear plate that is no greater than about 0.02.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein: said member flanges are spaced apart for snap fit application of said member to said coupler carrier load support plate.