High efficiency semi-articulated railway power bogie

Abstract

An improved semi-articulated railway power bogie has a pair of multiple axle sub-bogies semi-articulated for creep force turning control while retaining freedom of rocking and relative longitudinal motion. An equalized centered bolster suspension and low load transfer rod linkage maintain high equalization of loads and tractive forces at the wheels to provide overall high adhesion and curving efficiency. Various improvements may include a preloaded resilient compression element in an articulating mechanism for improved sub-bogie turning control, two piece bearing adapters carrying primary spring suspensions and with rubber bushed traction rods and lateral thrust control for transmitting longitudinal and lateral forces to sub-bogie frames, and rubber bushed nose links connecting traction motor nose connections to transoms of the frames.

1 . In combination in a powered railway bogie: 
 a pair of multiple axle sub-bogies having frames individually supporting and pivotable with respect to a span bolster adapted to support a rail vehicle carbody, said sub-bogies being longitudinally disposed in tandem adjacent end to end relation, said bolster and carbody together constituting supported means carried by said sub-bogies,    power means for driving wheels of the bogie,    tractive force transfer linkage operatively longitudinally connecting the sub-bogie frames with said supported means, and    articulating mechanism laterally positively connecting the adjacent ends of the two sub-bogie frames to correlate pivotal turning motions of the sub-bogies relative to the bolster, said articulating mechanism including a preloaded compression element connected between the sub-bogies and being operative to require substantially equal and opposite simultaneous turning motions of the sub-bogies but providing at least limited freedom of relative vertical and longitudinal motions of the adjacent ends of the sub-bogies with respect to one another, such that coordinated turning control with isolation of inter-frame rocking and traction force effects is provided.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said articulating mechanism comprises a transverse link pivotally connected at opposite corners to the adjacent ends of the two sub-bogie frames.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the compression element is a resilient bushing.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3  wherein the resilient bushing is rubber.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said sub-bogies each include only four wheels connected with two parallel axles.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5  including bearings journaling opposite ends of the axles and retained in bearing adapters, resilient support members between the bearing adapters and the sub-bogie frames and operative to absorb vertical support loads, and traction rods connected longitudinally through preloaded resilient bushings between the bearing adapters and the frames of their respective sub-bogies and operative to transmit longitudinal traction and braking forces to and from the bearing adapters.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6  including lateral thrust pads between the bearing adapters and the bogie frames and operative to absorb lateral thrust forces acting between the frames and the adapters.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein the bearing adapters each include an upper bearing housing having a downwardly open ended slot receiving a bearing and a bearing retainer closing the slot and removable for separation of the wheel, axle and bearing assemblies from the bogie frames without disturbing the upper bearing housing connections with the bogie frames  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein said power means include a traction motor supported between each axle and a cross member of an associated frame, the motor carried at one end by bearings on the associated axle and at an opposite end by a generally vertical nose link between the opposite end and the frame cross member, the link having openings receiving preloaded rubber bushings at each end and operative to support the weight of and absorb shock and vibration loads transmitted to the traction motor.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1  including bearings journaling opposite ends of the axles and retained in bearing adapters, resilient support members between the bearing adapters and the sub-bogie frames and operative to absorb vertical support loads, and traction rods connected longitudinally through preloaded resilient bushings between the bearing adapters and the frames of their respective sub-bogies and operative to transmit longitudinal traction and braking forces to and from the bearing adapters.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10  including lateral thrust pads between the bearing adapters and the bogie frames and operative to absorb lateral thrust forces acting between the frames and the adapters.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11  wherein the bearing adapters each include an upper bearing housing having a downwardly open ended slot receiving a bearing and a bearing retainer closing the slot and removable for separation of the wheel, axle and bearing assemblies from the bogie frames without disturbing the upper bearing housing connections with the bogie frames.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12  wherein said power means include a traction motor supported between each axle and a cross member of an associated frame, the motor carried at one end by bearings on the associated axle and at an opposite end by a generally vertical nose link between the opposite end and the frame cross member, the link having openings receiving preloaded rubber bushings at each end and operative to support the weight of and absorb shock and vibration loads transmitted to the traction motor.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said articulating mechanism comprises a transverse link pivotally connected at opposite corners to the adjacent ends of the two sub-bogie frames.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein the compression element is a resilient bushing.