Taper under taper plate to increase side force on the movable plate

Abstract

The present invention increases the capacity and resistance to closure of the draft gear assembly by providing an angled bottom surface on the tapered plates intermediate of the inner and outer friction surface in the area where the taper plate contacts the third horizontal rib of the housing. Providing an angle on the bottom edge surface of the tapered plates in this area increases the side force on the movable plates during the application of a buffing shock to the draft gear assembly.

1 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock, said draft gear assembly comprising: 
 (a) a housing closed at one end and open at the opposed end, said housing having a rear portion adjacent said closed end and a front portion adjacent said open end, said front portion being in open communication with said rear portion;    (b) a compressible cushioning element centrally disposed within said rear portion with one end thereof abutting at least a portion of an inner surface of said closed end of said housing, said compressible cushioning element extending longitudinally from said one end;    (c) a seat means having at least a portion of one surface thereof abutting the opposite end of said compressible cushioning element during application and release of a force on said draft gear assembly;    (d) a friction cushioning means positioned at least partially within said front portion of said housing for absorbing energy during a compression of said draft gear assembly, said friction cushioning means including 
 (i) a pair of laterally spaced movable plates having an outer friction surface and an inner friction surface and at least one substantially flat edge intermediate said outer friction and inner friction surfaces, said one edge engaging said seat means,  
 (ii) a pair of laterally spaced tapered plates positioned for frictional engagement with at least a portion of said inner friction surface of said movable plates, said tapered plates having an outer friction and an inner friction surface and at least one edge intermediate said outer friction and inner friction surfaces, at least a portion of said at least one intermediate edge having an angled surface, said angle surface being capable of increasing the side force applied to said movable plates and increasing the capacity of the draft gear,  
 (iii) a pair of laterally spaced wedge shoes having at least a portion of an outer friction surface movably and frictionally engaging at least a portion of an inner friction surface of said tapered plate, and at least a portion of one edge engaging said seat means, and  
 (iv) a center wedge having a pair of matching predetermined tapered portions for engaging said tapered portion of said wedge shoe to initiate frictional engagement of said friction cushioning means and thereby absorb energy to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock.  
   
   
   
       2 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity as recited in  claim 1  wherein said housing includes a first, second, and third horizontal rib and wherein said angled edge of said pair of laterally spaced tapered plates is positioned on said third horizontal rib.  
   
   
       3 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity as recited in  claim 1  wherein the angle of said angled edge of the tapered plate is approximately 10-40 degrees.  
   
   
       4 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity as recited in  claim 3  wherein a clearance of approximately 0.176-0.839 inches is provided between said seat means and said angled edge of the tapered plate.  
   
   
       5 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity as recited in  claim 1  wherein said cushioning means includes a pair of laterally spaced outer stationary plates having an outer surface for engaging said housing and an opposed inner friction surface for engaging said outer friction surface of said movable plates.  
   
   
       6 . A draft gear assembly having an increased capacity as recited in  claim 1  including a spring release means engaging and longitudinally extending between said seat means and said center wedge for continuously urging said friction cushioning means outwardly from said compressible cushioning means to release said friction cushioning element when an applied force compressing said draft gear is removed.  
   
   
       7 . A friction cushioning means for a draft gear assembly to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock, said friction cushioning means comprising: 
 (a) a pair of laterally spaced outer stationary plates having an outer surface for engaging a housing of said draft gear assembly and an opposed inner friction surface;    (b) a pair of laterally spaced movable plates having an outer friction surface and an inner friction surface, at least a portion of said outer friction surface movably and frictionally engaging said inner friction surface of said outer stationary plate;    (c) a pair of laterally spaced tapered plates, said tapered plates having an outer friction and an inner friction surface and at least one angled edge intermediate said outer friction and inner friction surfaces, said outer friction surface movably and frictionally engaging at least a portion of said inner friction surface of said movable plate;    (d) a pair of laterally spaced wedge shoes having at least a portion of an outer friction surface movably and frictionally engaging at least a portion of an inner friction surface of said tapered plate, and at least a portion of one edge engaging said seat means; and    (e) a center wedge having a pair of matching predetermined tapered portions for engaging said tapered portion of said wedge shoe to initiate frictional engagement of said friction cushioning means and thereby absorb energy to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock.    
   
   
       8 . A friction cushioning means for a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein said friction cushioning means is positioned in a housing and wherein said housing includes a first, second, and third horizontal rib and said intermediate angled edge of said pair of laterally spaced tapered plates is positioned on said third horizontal lug.  
   
   
       9 . A friction cushioning means for a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein the angle of said intermediate angled edge of the tapered plate is approximately 10-40 degrees.  
   
   
       10 . A friction cushioning means for a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein a seat means is provided beneath said intermediate angled edge and a clearance of approximately 0.176-0.839 inches is provided between said seat means and said intermediate angled edge of the tapered plate.  
   
   
       11 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock, said friction cushioning means comprising: 
 (a) a pair of laterally spaced movable plates having an outer friction surface and an inner friction surface;    (b) a pair of laterally spaced tapered plates positioned for frictional engagement with at least a portion of said inner friction surface of said movable plates, said tapered plates having an outer friction and an inner friction surface and at least one angled edge intermediate said outer friction and inner friction surfaces, said angled edge being capable of increasing the side force applied to said movable plates and increasing the capacity of the draft gear; and    (c) a pair of laterally spaced wedge shoes having at least a portion of an outer friction surface movably and frictionally engaging at least a portion of an inner friction surface of said tapered plate, and at least a portion of one edge engaging said seat means; and    (d) a center wedge having a pair of matching predetermined tapered portions for engaging said tapered portion of said wedge shoe to initiate frictional engagement of said friction cushioning means and thereby absorb energy to cushion shocks encountered in railroad rolling stock.    
   
   
       12 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said friction cushioning means is positioned in a housing and wherein said housing includes a first, second, and third horizontal rib and said intermediate angled edge of said pair of laterally spaced tapered plates is positioned on said third horizontal lug.  
   
   
       13 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the angle of said intermediate angled edge of the tapered plate is approximately 10-40 degrees.  
   
   
       14 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein a seat means is provided beneath said intermediate angled edge and clearance of approximately 0.176-0.839 inches is provided between said seat means and said intermediate angled edge of the tapered plate.  
   
   
       15 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said cushioning means includes a pair of laterally spaced outer stationary plates having an outer surface for engaging said housing and an opposed inner friction surface for engaging said outer friction surface of said movable plates.  
   
   
       16 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 11  including a spring release means engaging and longitudinally extending between a seat means and said center wedge for continuously urging said friction cushioning means outwardly from said compressible cushioning means to release said friction cushioning element when an applied force compressing said draft gear is removed.  
   
   
       17 . A friction cushioning means for increasing the capacity of a draft gear assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein the area under the third rib which is positioned beneath the tapered area of the tapered plate is built up.