US4428302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emergency spring system for a railway car
Assignee: Bombardier Corp
•
Filing: 1982-02-10
•
Granted: 1984-01-31
•
Expires: 2002-02-10
Abstract
Abstract Emergency springs are disposed within air springs which are used for normally supporting a railway car body. When the air springs fail, the car body is supported by the emergency springs. Each of the emergency springs includes a conventional spring in combination with a pair of angularly disposed springs which changes operating chracteristics when the load is increased.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Herring, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:14
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61G; B61G11/00; B61F; B61F5/00; B61F5/02; B61F5/04; B61F5/14; B61F5/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In combination with an air spring for supporting a rail car on a bolster of a truck, an emergency spring system disposed within said air spring to support said rail car when said air spring fails comprising: (a) a first spring having a relatively linear spring rate; (b) a pair of angularly disposed mechanical springs each having one end pivotally connected to a common member with their opposite ends being pivotally connected to said bolster having a relatively sinusoidal spring resistance to an increasing load produced by said rail car body; and (c) said spring and said pair of angularly disposed mechanical springs being connected in parallel with respect to each other to produce a combined spring resistance including a low spring rate operating range for a range of different loads produced by said rail car body without high vertical car body deflection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In combination with an air spring for supporting a rail car on a bolster of a truck, an emergency spring system disposed within said air spring to support said rail car when said air spring fails comprising: (a) a first spring having a relatively linear spring rate; (b) a pair of angularly disposed mechanical springs each having one end pivotally connected to a common member with their opposite ends being pivotally connected to said bolster having a relatively sinusoidal spring resistance to an increasing load produced by said rail car body; and (c) said spring and said pair of angularly disposed mechanical springs being connected in parallel with respect to each other to produce a combined spring resistance including a low spring rate operating range for a range of different loads produced by said rail car body without high vertical car body deflection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first spring is connected between said rail car body and said bolster and said pair of mechanical springs are disposed within said first spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first spring comprises a mechanical spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-30 | 1987-08-01 | 1988-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-30 | 1991-08-01 | 1992-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-30 | 1995-08-01 | 1996-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |