PNEUMATIC SPRING FOR RAILROAD CARS

• US 3,826,507 A
• Filed: 12/10/1971
• Issued: 07/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DUEWAG AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Hermann Haarkotter, Werner Brand
• Inventors: Brand, Werner, Haarkotter, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beltran, Howard
• Application Number:
  US05/206,632
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 105/141,150,197A,197B,199R,199S,453 267/3,65A,122,35
• US Class Current: 267/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/28 characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/62 having both rubber springs and fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 5/10 incorporating fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 5/14 Side bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 5/144 comprising fluid damping devices B61F5/146 takes precedence

Abstract

A pneumatic spring for use between the lateral frame members of the frame and bogie in a railroad car or a streetcar has a torusshaped diaphragm having two coplanar ring-shaped beads the outer of which is sealingly secured to the frame and the inner of which is sealingly secured to a cap which is coupled to the bogie, preferably by way of a rubber spring. The coupling between the cap and the frame member of the bogie may comprise an antifriction bearing or a friction bearing to reduce the stressing and wear on the diaphragm. The interior of the diaphragm communicates with a plenum chamber in the frame member of the frame and the cap is provided with a projection which abuts against a partition in the frame forming the compartments of the plenum chambers in the event of a failure of the pneumatic spring.

Claims

1. A pneumatic spring arrangement comprising, in combination, plenum chamber means having an opening;

pneumatic spring means including a torus-shaped hollow flexible diaphragm having an inner ring shaped bead and an outer ring shaped bead spacedly surrounding said inner ring shaped bead;

connecting means sealingly securing said outer ring shaped bead to said plenum chamber means around said opening thereof;

a cap surrounded by and sealingly secured to said inner ring shaped bead, said cap having a rigid projecting portion projecting toward a portion of said plenum chamber means located above said projecting portion, and coupling means adapted to secure said cap to a cushioned member, said plenum chamber means communicating through said opening with the interior of said torus-shaped hollow flexible diaphragm in which the air is pressurized in such a manner as to normally maintain said outer bead at least substantially coplanar with said inner bead and said projecting portion of said cap spaced from said portion of said plenum chamber means, said projecting portion however moving during springing action through said opening at least partly into said plenum chamber means.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes an antifriction bearing having an upper race constituting said cap, a lower race and rolling elements disposed between said races.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a friction bearing having two coaxial sleeve-like portions one of which constitutes said cap and the other of which is rotatable relative to said one sleeve-like portion.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprises a laminated rubber spring.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said coupling means further comprises an antifriction bearing having a first race secured to said rubber spring, a second race, and rolling elements interposed between said races.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said plenum chamber comprises several compartments and said frame is provided with at least one Port establishing a path for the flow of a pressurized fluid between said compartments.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the common plane of said beads is normally a substantially horizontal plane.

8. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said cap comprises a cylindrical portion whose axis is substantially normal to the common plane of said beads and said diaphragm further comprises a substantially cylindrical portion immediately adjacent to said inner bead and surrounding said cylindrical portion of said cap in engagement therewith.

9. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said plenum chamber comprises a rigid partition extending transversely therethrough and substantially parallel to said inner bead, said partition dividing said chamber into two compartments, at least one port in said partition providing communication between said compartments, a portion of said partition forming said portion of said frame.