Insert for rail car coupling

Abstract

A shell-like insert made from a low-friction material is useful in a coupler for railway cars. The coupler may have a male connector on one car and a female connector on the other. The connectors conform to each other and provide a clearance space therebetween. The male connector may include a ball stud and the female connector may provide a socket for the ball. The insert conforms to the clearance space and is made from a low-friction material, such as PTFE, a filament wound composite or an epoxy-impregnated PTFE and glass-fiber material, or the like. A railway car assembly may include two cars joined by a coupler as described herein. The cars may be joined by providing a rear follower and a front follower in the female connector to provide the socket, and positioning an insert in the socket between the ball and one or both followers.

1 . A shell-like insert comprising a low-friction polymeric material. 
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising at least a first outer layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising a first outer layer, an intermediate layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 3 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy layer. 
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 3 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a rubber-containing paint. 
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 1  having outer surfaces configured to conform to a male connector and to a female connector of a coupler, the male connector and the female surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; the insert being configured to conform to the clearance space. 
     
     
         7 . A coupler comprising:
 a male connector;   a female connector having surfaces configured to conform to the male connector, the surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; and   an insert situated in the clearance space;   wherein the insert comprises a low-friction polymeric material.   
     
     
         8 . The insert of  claim 7 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising at least a first outer layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         9 . The insert of  claim 7 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising a first outer layer, an intermediate layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy layer. 
     
     
         11 . The insert of  claim 9 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a rubber-containing paint. 
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 7 , having outer surfaces configured to conform to a male connector and to a female connector of a coupler, the male connector and the female surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; the insert being configured to conform to the clearance space. 
     
     
         13 . A railway car assembly comprising:
 a first railway car having a male connector;   a second railway car having a female connector engaged with the male connector, the male connector and the female surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; the insert being configured to conform to the clearance space; and   an insert in the clearance space, the insert comprising a low-friction polymeric material.   
     
     
         14 . The insert of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising at least a first outer layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         15 . The insert of  claim 13 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising a first outer layer, an intermediate layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         16 . The insert of  claim 15 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy layer. 
     
     
         17 . The insert of  claim 15 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a rubber-containing paint. 
     
     
         18 . The insert of  claim 13  having outer surfaces configured to conform to a male connector and to a female connector of a coupler, the male connector and the female surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; the insert being configured to conform to the clearance space. 
     
     
         19 . A method for coupling a first railway car to a second railway car, wherein the first railway car comprises a male connector that comprises a ball stud and the second railway car comprises a female connector thereon, the method comprising:
 providing a rear follower and a front follower in the female connector;   securing the ball of the ball stud in a socket defined by the rear follower and the front follower; and   positioning an insert in the socket between the ball and the rear follower and between the ball and the front follower;   wherein the insert is made from a low-friction polymeric material.   
     
     
         20 . The insert of  claim 19 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising at least a first outer layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         21 . The insert of  claim 19 , wherein the insert is a laminate comprising a first outer layer, an intermediate layer and a second outer layer. 
     
     
         22 . The insert of  claim 21 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy layer. 
     
     
         23 . The insert of  claim 21 , wherein the first outer layer comprises PTFE, the intermediate layer comprises a filled epoxy resin and the second outer layer comprises a rubber-containing paint. 
     
     
         24 . The insert of  claim 19  having outer surfaces configured to conform to a male connector and to a female connector of a coupler, the male connector and the female surfaces being configured to provide a clearance space therebetween; the insert being configured to conform to the clearance space.