Side Bearer

Abstract

This invention relates to a side bearer ( 10 ) for a railway bogie having a longitudinal axis, including a lower component ( 11 ) for attachment to the bogie, an upper component ( 18 ) carrying a friction bearing plate ( 17 ) for receiving a part of a vehicle to be supported on the bogie and having a pair of divergent lower surfaces and a mounting for mounting the upper component on the lower component for relative vertical movement, the mounting means including first and second elements having respective inclined surfaces ( 19, 21 ) for receiving respective lower surfaces of the upper element, springs ( 15 ) for supporting the first and second lower elements and guide means for guiding the first and second elements for vertical movement characterised in that the first and second elements are horizontally separable by a downward vertical movement of the upper element for thereby urging them against the guide means for generating a substantially constant vertical damping force between the first and second elements and the guide means ( 13 ) .

1 . A side bearer for a railway bogie having a longitudinal axis, including a lower component for attachment to the bogie, an upper component carrying a friction bearing plate for receiving a part of a vehicle to be supported on the bogie and having a pair of divergent lower surfaces and a mounting for mounting the upper component on the lower component for relative vertical movement, the mounting means including first and second elements having respective inclined surfaces for receiving respective lower surfaces of the upper element, springs for supporting the first and second lower elements and guide means for guiding the first and second elements for vertical movement characterised in that the first and second elements are horizontally separable by a downward vertical movement of the upper element for thereby urging them against the guide means for generating a substantially constant vertical damping force between the first and second elements and the guide means. 
   
   
       2 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the upper element has a pair of first surfaces extending in opposite longitudinal directions; the spring means includes a pair of springs and an element for each first surface mounted on a respective spring. 
   
   
       3 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the guide means includes at least one upstanding wall on the lower component. 
   
   
       4 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the guide means includes at least one resiliently mounted shoe. 
   
   
       5 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 4  including a longitudinally resiliently mounted shoe for each of the first and second elements. 
   
   
       6 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 4  further including an abutment for the or each shoe for limiting longitudinal movement of the shoe. 
   
   
       7 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the or each element is in the form of a wedge. 
   
   
       8 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the vertical face of the wedge engages the guide means. 
   
   
       9 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the guide means includes at least one upstanding wall. 
   
   
       10 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the guide means includes at least one resiliently mounted shoe. 
   
   
       11 . A side bearer as claimed in  claim 4  further including an abutment for the or each shoe for limiting longitudinal movement of the shoe.