Inner bearing split axle assembly

• US 20040020065A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ENSCO, Incorporated (Teris LLC)
• Original Assignee: ENSCO, Incorporated (Teris LLC)
• Inventors: Bloom, Jeffrey A., Carr, Gary A., Stuart, Cameron D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/338
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/08 Measuring installations for surveying permanent way applications of measuring apparatus or devices for track building purposes E01B35/00; measuring techniques G01
• CPC Class Codes: E01B 35/04 Wheeled apparatus

Abstract

A split axle assembly for obtaining gage measurements of a track including a first wheel with a first split axle, a second wheel with a second split axle, a first bearing for rotatably receiving the first split axle, and a second bearing for rotatably receiving the second split axle, the first bearing and the second bearing being positioned inboard between the first wheel and the second wheel. In one embodiment, a sliding barrel device is provided. In another embodiment, the first bearing is received in a first bearing body and the second bearing is received in a second bearing body so that they are axially movable relative to one another. At least one linear guide is provided to allow axial movement of the first bearing body and the second bearing body relative to one another.

Claims

1. A split axle assembly for obtaining gage measurements of a track comprising:

a first wheel and a second wheel sized to roll along said track, said first wheel being laterally spaced from said second wheel;

a first split axle secured to said first wheel so that said first split axle rotates with said first wheel;

a second split axle secured to said second wheel so that said second split axle rotates with said second wheel;

a first bearing, said first split axle being rotatably received in said first bearing; and

a second bearing, said second split axle being rotatably received in said second bearing;

wherein said first bearing and said second bearing are positioned inboard between said first wheel and said second wheel.

2. The split axle assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket adapted to secure said split axle assembly to at least one of a truck and a railcar body.

3. The split axle assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one bracket is a first bracket and a second bracket disposed proximate to said first wheel and said second wheel, respectively.

4. The split axle assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one bracket is further adapted to allow lowering of said split axle assembly to an operative state, and retraction of said split axle assembly to an inactive state.

5. The split axle assembly of claim 4, further comprising at least one cylinder attached to said at least one bracket, said at least one cylinder being operable to lower said split axle assembly to said operative state, and retract said split axle assembly to said inactive state.

6. The split axle assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one cylinder is at least one of a hydraulic cylinder and a pneumatic cylinder.

7. The split axle assembly of claim 1, further including a sliding barrel device adapted to allow said first wheel and said second wheel to axially move relative to one another.

8. The split axle assembly of claim 7, wherein said sliding barrel device includes an outer barrel, and at least one inner barrel axially movable in said outer barrel.

9. The split axle assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one inner barrel is a first inner barrel, and a second inner barrel, said first inner barrel being connected to said first split axle and said second inner barrel being connected to said second split axle.

10. The split axle assembly of claim 9, further including at least one cylinder for axially moving said first inner barrel and said second inner barrel relative to each other.

11. The split axle assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least one cylinder is at least one of a hydraulic cylinder and a pneumatic cylinder.

12. The split axle assembly of claim 1, wherein said first bearing is received in a first bearing body and said second bearing is received in a second bearing body.

13. The split axle assembly of claim 12, wherein said first bearing body and said second bearing body are axially movable relative to one another so that said first wheel and said second wheel are axially movable relative to one another.

14. The split axle assembly of claim 13, wherein said first bearing body and said second bearing body are axially movably connected together by at least one linear guide.

15. The split axle assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one linear guide includes a guide rail attached to one of said first bearing body and said second bearing body, and a guide roller attached to the other of said first bearing body and said second bearing body, said guide roller movably engaging said guide rail.

16. The split axle assembly of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of linear guides for allowing axial movement of said first bearing body and said second bearing body relative to one another.

17. The split axle assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of linear guides include guide rails and guide rollers attached to said first bearing body and said second bearing body.

18. The split axle assembly of claim 17, wherein said guide roller attached to said first bearing body movably engages said guide rail attached to said second bearing body.

19. The split axle assembly of claim 17, wherein said guide roller attached to said second bearing body movably engages said guide rail attached to said first bearing body.

20. The split axle assembly of claim 17, wherein said guide rollers include a wiper for removing debris from said guide rails as said guide rollers movably engage said guide rails.

21. The split axle assembly of claim 17, wherein said guide rails include a rail stop adapted to limit axial movement of said guide rollers.

22. The split axle assembly of claim 17, wherein said guide rails are offset from said first and second bearing bodies by spacer blocks.

23. The split axle assembly of claim 17, further comprising at least one cylinder adapted to axially move said first bearing body and said second bearing body relative to each other.

24. The split axle assembly of claim 23, wherein said at least one cylinder is at least one of a hydraulic cylinder and a pneumatic cylinder.

25. The split axle assembly of claim 23, wherein said at least one cylinder is attached to said first bearing body and said second bearing body.

27. The split axle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a load cell adapted to measure lateral force exerted on at least one of said first wheel and said second wheel.

28. The split axle assembly of claim 27, further comprising a thrust bearing disposed adjacent to said load cell and abutting at least one of said first split axle and said second split axle.

29. The split axle assembly of claim 27, further comprising a stop to limit amount of lateral force that is exerted on said load cell.

30. The split axle assembly of claim 1, wherein said track is a railroad track.

31. The split axle assembly of claim 1, wherein said track is at least one of a subway track and a trolley track.

32. A split axle assembly for obtaining gage measurements of a track comprising:

a first wheel and a second wheel sized to roll along said track, said first wheel being laterally spaced from said second wheel;

a first split axle secured to said first wheel so that said first split axle rotates with said first wheel;

a second split axle secured to said second wheel so that said second split axle rotates with said second wheel;

a first bearing disposed within a first bearing body positioned inboard between said first wheel and said second wheel, said first split axle being rotatably received in said first bearing;

a second bearing disposed within a second bearing body positioned inboard between said first wheel and said second wheel, said second split axle being rotatably received in said second bearing;

at least one linear guide adapted to allow said first bearing body and said second bearing body to axially movable relative to one another so that said first wheel and said second wheel are axially movable relative to one another, said at least one linear guide including a guide rail attached to one of said first bearing body and said second bearing body, and a guide roller attached to the other of said first bearing body and said second bearing body, said guide roller movably engaging said guide rail.

33. The split axle assembly of claim 32, further comprising a load cell adapted to measure lateral force exerted on at least one of said first wheel and said second wheel.

34. The split axle assembly of claim 32, further comprising a first bracket disposed proximate to said first wheel, and a second bracket disposed proximate to said second wheel, said first and second brackets being adapted to allow lowering of said split axle assembly to an operative state, and retraction of said split axle assembly to an inactive state.