GB1149352A - Improvements in or relating to railway vehicle suspensions - Google Patents

Abstract

1,149,352. Railway undercarriages; axle bearing guiding; axles. GLOUCESTER RAILWAY CARRIAGE & WAGON CO. Ltd. 25 May, 1966 [25 May, 1965], No. 22027/65. Heading B7L. In a railway vehicle (wagon) comprising a frame, 7, Fig. 2, each wheel and axle set, including the axle boxes 1, is associated with a spring suspension system having a tare or light load section 5 and a separate load section 6 which alone supports the vehicle when running in a loaded condition, both sections permitting the wheel and axle set to float laterally relative to the frame 7, which lateral movement is resisted by the resilient elements 5 and 6 in shear. The resilient members 5 and 6 may be coil springs or rubber springs with metal interleaves and Fig. 2 is a composite view showing one half of each form of suspension. A saddle member 3 fitted over a conventional axle box 1 supports at each side of the axle, tare springs 28 or 18 the latter comprising flat rubber sheets 23 with flat metal interleaves 20 extending transversely of the vehicle and inclined to the vertical the springs 28 or 18 supporting an intermediate yoke-like member 4 between the opposite ends of which and the frame 7, the load springs 31 or 19 are mounted. The springs 19 are chevronshape as viewed in plan and comprise rubber blocks 24 and metal interleaves 25. The saddle 3 mounts swing hangers 8 the lower ends of which, in the fully loaded state of the vehicle are engaged by a cross-plate 12 secured to the member 4 to thus render the box 1 and member 4 "solid". Tare suspension is limited by a clearance (YY) described with reference to Fig. 3 (not shown). This latter suspension resists lateral movement of the axle even when the member 4 is solid with the box 1. A friction damper 13 is provided between the yoke 4 and the saddle 3 and comprises a spring-loaded friction member which acts through a "Cartazzi slide" 15. The damper may alternatively be hydraulic. In a modification Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown) the axle box has integral side members engaging the tare springs and the saddle is omitted. The swing hangers in this instance pass through the integral side members. In further embodiments described with reference to Figs. 6 ,7 (not shown), and 7, 8 (not shown), the swing hangers are omitted and integral depending members on the axle box pass through the cross-plate 12 and can become solid therewith either directly or through rubber, metal interleaf springs.