US4356775A — Damped railway car suspension

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A railcar suspension, comprising: moveable load arm means for supporting an axle with respect to a railcar body; a spring element; means connected with the body forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; and force resolving means carried by said load arm means between the axle and the body for supporting said spring element in load bearing relation with the body and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring element will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the body of said load arm means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 116 words

A railcar suspension, comprising: moveable load arm means for supporting an axle with respect to a railcar body; a spring element; means connected with the body forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; and force resolving means carried by said load arm means between the axle and the body for supporting said spring element in load bearing relation with the body and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring element will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the body of said load arm means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

The suspension of claim 1, wherein said friction surface is so inclined with respect to the path of movement of said load arm means that the frictional damping force produced during movement of said load arm means in one direction exceeds the frictional damping force produced during movement thereof in a direction opposite said one direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 56 words

The railcar suspension according to claim 1 wherein said load means arm includes brake beam mounting means mounted thereon, said mounting means comprising a guide means for slideably receiving a brake beam and removeable closure means for attachment to one end of said guide means for maintaining said brake beam in engagement with said guide means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A railcar suspension according to claim 1 wherein said load arm means includes two load arms pivotally connected to said body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The suspension of claim 1, wherein said spring element comprises an elastomeric rod spring of elliptical cross-section having a longitudinal axis normal to the axes of the ellipse and mounted so as to receive only compressive loading transverse to said longitudinal axis only.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 83 words

The suspension of claim 5, wherein said force resolving means includes support means for supporting and transmitting forces to said damping element and tapered operator means operatively associated with said support means for transmitting force to said support means and said rod spring, said tapered operator means including two contact surfaces, one contact surface being slideably mounted with respect to said moveable load arm means, the other contact surface underlying one load bearing surface of said rod spring in load bearing contact therewith.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The suspension of claim 6, further comprising means interposed between said one contact surface and said support means for permitting low friction relative movement therebetween during movement of said load arm means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The suspension of claim 1, wherein said load arm means include a single load arm pivoted at one end and connected to the axle at its other end, said load arm carrying said force resolving means adjacent its other end.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The suspension of claim 8, including means adjacent the arm pivot for permitting said one end to shift with respect to the body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The railcar suspension of claim 1 wherein said frictional damping surface is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the arcuate path of movement of said load arm means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 70 words

The railcar suspension according to claims 1 or 10 wherein said force resolving means includes a tapered operator slideably connected to said load arm means for causing a load bearing force transmitted from said load arm means to be applied as a first component to said spring element as a compressive force and as a second component to said damping element as a force normal to said frictional damping surface.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The railcar suspension according to claim 11 wherein said spring means includes an elastomeric spring element positioned to receive compressive loads.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 133 words

The suspension of claim 1, including second movable load arm means for supporting a second axle with respect to the body, a second spring element, means connected with the body forming a second frictional damping surface, a second damping element, and second force resolving means for supporting said second spring element in load bearing relation with the body and for supporting said second damping element in frictional force generating relation with said second frictional damping surface such that said second spring element will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the body and said second axle, so as to independently increase the distance between corresponding ends of the two axles in response to increased loading.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 83 words

A railcar suspension according to claim 13 wherein said first and second load arm means each comprise two load arms connected to opposite ends of said first and second axles, respectively, and further including frame means adapted for pivotable connection to a railcar body, said frame means comprising two side frame members for transmitting loads between said load arm means and said body, each such member being pivotably connected to one of said first load arms and one of said second load arms.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 107 words

A railcar suspension according to claim 13 wherein said first and second load arm means each comprise two load arms connected to opposite ends of said first and second axles, and further including first and second frame means for transmitting loads between said first and second load arm means adapted for pivotable connection respectively to the bodies of adjacent railcars, said first frame means being pivotably connected to said first load arm means and said second frame means being pivotably connected to said second load arm means; and means connecting said first and second frame means for maintaining said first and second axles in generally parallel alignment.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

A rail car suspension according to claim 15 further including means responsive to the uncoupling of said adjacent rail cars for preventing swiveling of said first and second frame means relative to the respectively associated rail car body.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 111 words

A variable rate friction damper for a railcar suspension, comprising: means connectable with a railcar body forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; spring means for supporting said body; and force resolving means positionable in load transmitting relation between a vehicle axle and the body for supporting said spring means in load bearing relation with the body and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring means will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the body and the vehicle axle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 111 words

A variable rate friction damper for a railcar suspension, comprising: means connectable with a railcar body forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; spring means for supporting said body; and force resolving means positionable in load transmitting relation between a vehicle axle and the body for supporting said spring means in load bearing relation with the body and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring means will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the body and the vehicle axle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 121 words

A railcar suspension having two relatively moveable arm assemblies, comprising: moveable load arm means for supporting one of the two assemblies; a spring element; means in force transmitting relation with the other of the two assemblies forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; and force resolving means carried by said load arm means between the two assemblies for supporting said spring element in load bearing relation with said other assembly and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring element will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the two assemblies.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 121 words

A railcar suspension having two relatively moveable arm assemblies, comprising: moveable load arm means for supporting one of the two assemblies; a spring element; means in force transmitting relation with the other of the two assemblies forming a frictional damping surface; a damping element; and force resolving means carried by said load arm means between the two assemblies for supporting said spring element in load bearing relation with said other assembly and for supporting said damping element in frictional force generating relation with said frictional damping surface such that said spring element will be compressed while simultaneously therewith said damping element will be urged into frictional engagement with said frictional damping surface in response to relative movement of the two assemblies.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The suspension of claim 18, wherein said load arm means include a load arm pivotally mounted at one end from said other assembly, and carrying said spring element adjacent to its other end.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-11-01	1986-05-03	1986-11-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-11-01	1990-05-03	1990-11-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-11-01	1994-05-03	1994-11-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Damped railway car suspension

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