US1657934A - Truck bolster - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1928.

M. H. MARTIN TRUCK BOLSTER Filed Jan. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,657,934 PATENT OFFICE.

MARK H. MARTIN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T T. H. SYMINGTON & SON, INCL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

TRUCK BOLSTER.

Application filed January 25, 192']. Serial No. 163,857.

The invention relates to truck bolsters for railway cars.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated. is to provide a truck bolster of such construction that use may be made of a nest of truck springs of greater over-all height, and if desired of greater diameter of bar stock, than usual so that the spring travel or capacity of a car equipped with the invention will derive the benefits therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster of such design that springs of increased length may be used without sacrificingthe essential bearing areas between the bolster and side frames.

An important object of the invention is to provide a bolster capable of being used in connection with a nest of truck springs of greater height and consequently greater N travelthan the ordinary or standard variety without it being necessary to lower the spring plank which consequently remains at its usual elevation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster so constructed that if desired means may be employed in connection therewith for utilizing a nest of springs of standard height if those of an increased height are either unavailable or undesired, depending upon circumstances or conditions.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a truck bolster which has its underside recessed to accommodate a nest of springs of greater height than is called as for in the ordinary standard type of construction, means being provided for holding the spring nest against displacement. the recess also being adapted to be filled by a removable filler block in case of any desire or necessity for the employment of the conventional springs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truck bolster of this character which is interchangeable with one of standard pattern and which may be used in connection with ordinary side frames without involving any alterations in the construction thereof. v I

An additional object is to provide a bolster of this character and for this purpose which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install or assemble, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention preferably consists in the detailed construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of a bolster constructed in accordance with my invention and showing it mounted within a portion of a side frame and seated upon a nest of sprin s of increased height compared with the usual design,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the bolster and transversely of the side frame along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1 showing the entire bolster in cross section and illustrating the filler block in place to permit use of a spring nest of standard height, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 showing the filler block in place.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 1 designates a portion of a truck side frame having the usual column guide 2 with guide portions 3 thereon intended for slidable engagement of the bolster 4 therewith. The usual window opening 5 is provided and at the bottom thereof is a seat 6 for the spring plank 7 which supports a nest of springs indicated generally at 8 at each end of the bolster.

The bolster 4 may be of the same general construction as those of ordinary t e and is intended to have the same dimensions so as to be capable of replacing the usual variety without necessitating any alterations or modificatiions in the design of the side frames. The bolster has the guide portions 9 thereon .located outwardly of and cooperating with the guide portions 3 of the side frames so that the bolster may have free vertical movement, depending upon spring compression and yet be capable of either lateral or longitudinal displacement. Each 105 end portion of the bolster has its bottom wall 10 offset upwardly as indicated at 11 so as to define a space or recess 12 beneath it at the point where the nest of springs is located, it being clear that the distance 11.

between the top of the sprin plank 7 and the underside of the upwar ly ofli'set bottom portion 11 of the bolster is greater than the height ordinarily existing for the purpose of accommodating a standard height of spring nest.

The spring nests 8 are of ordinary consetruction in that each includes upper and lower spring plates 13 and 14 respectively which may be provided with the usual or any preferred outstruck collars, guide lugs or the like 15 fitting within the ends of the springs 16. In the present instance each nest is shown as including five springs though it should be distinctly understood that this number is merely for purposes of illustration as it may be varied to suit the requirements of the individual manufacturer which will in turn be governed by contemplated car loads and possibly other conditions. Furthermore, the spring plates are preferably formed with lugs or the like 17 and 18 received within openings 19 and 20 in the bottom wall 11 of the bolster and the spring plank 7 respectively for the purpose of preventing displacement of the nest of springs in any direction.

In the use of the bolster, it will of course be apparent that it operates in identically the same manner as those of ordinary construction employing springs of this type, the only difference being that springs of greater height may be employed than is ordinarily possible, this advantage resulting from the upward oifsetting of the bottom of the end portions of the bolster. The added length or height of the springs will obviouslyincrease their travel and prevent overloading and possible damage under heavy load conditions.

If for instance springs of increased height are not available or if for any reason it is not needed to use them, as for example in case the bolster is used in a car intended for or capable of only light loading, spring nests of ordinary height may be used by providing a filler block 21 within each end of the bolster, the block being of a width to fit within the space 12 and of a thick ness to fill the same. Springs nests of ordinary height are indicated at 22 in Figures 4 and 5. To prevent displacement of the filler blocks it is preferable that they be rovided at their upper surfaces with proections 23 designed to fit within the openmgs 19 in the bolster bottom and that they be formed at their undersides with recesses 24 to receive the lugs on the top of the spring plate of the nest of springs.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a bolster construction in which increased spring capacity is readily obtainable. Furthermore the bolster is interchangeable with those of ordinary types and may be used in connection with ordinary spring nests if found desirable. It is really believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily a parent to one skilled in the art without urther explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as I reserve the right to make all such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In'a railway car truck including side frames having'window openings bounded by column guides and equipped with spring seats, a spring plank bridging the side frames and resting upon said seats, a nest of springs mounted on each end of the spring plank and located within the window openings, and a bolster having its end portions located within the window openings in engagement with the column guides and seating upon the nests of springs, the ends ofthe bolster having bottom walls offset upwardly to give an added space whereby to accommodate nests of springs of greater height than called for in standard equipment.

2. In a railway truck including side frames having window openings therein, a spring plank seated at the bottom of the openings, and a nest of springs upon each end of the spring plank located within the window openings; a bolster having end portions extending into the window openings for cooperation with the nests of springs, the underside of the bolster having its side edges at a level corresponding to the normal height of standard spring nests and having its intermediate portion ofi'set upwardly to define an additional space for the accommodation of said nests of springs, said nests being of a greater height than the conventional standard pattern for providing increased spring capacity.

3. In a railway truck including side frames having window openings therein, a

spring plank seated at the bottom of the openings. and a nest of springs upon each end of the spring plank located within the window openings; a bolster having end portions extending into the window opemngs for cooperation with the nests of springs, the underside of the bolster having its side edges at a level corresponding to the normal hei ht of standard spring nests and having its 1ntermediate portion ofl'set upwardly to define an additional space for the accommodation of said nests of sprin said nests being of a greater height than t e conventional standard pattern for providing increased spring Ill capacity. and means disposable within the space defined by the upward offsetting of the bottom of the bolster for cooperation with spring nests of standard height.

4. In a railway truck including side frames-having window openings therein, a spring plank seated at the bottom of the openings, and a nest of springs upon each end of the spring plank located within the window openings; a bolster having end portions extending into the window openings for cooperation with the nests of springs, the underside of the bolster having its side edges P at a, level corresponding to the normal height of standard-spring nests and having its intermediate portion offset upwardly to define an additional 5 ace for the accommodation of said nests of springs, said nests being of a greater hei ht than the conventional standard pattern %or providing increased spring travel, and means disposable within the space defined by the upward oflsetting of the bottom of the bolster for cooperation with spring nests of standard height, said means comprising filler blocks of a size to fit within the space flush with the bottom edges of the bolster.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MARK H. MARTIN.

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