US1778518A - Railway-car retarder - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1930. H. L. BONE RAILWAYQAR RETAHDER Filed June 20. 1928 Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED :STATES PATENT oFFic swam.

HERBERT L. BONE, 0F swIssvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoE TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, or swIssvALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENN- SYLVANIA RAILWAY-CAR EETAED Application filed June 20,

My invention relates to railway car retarders of the type involving a brake beam located in the trackway and movable toward and away from the wheels of railway cars for the purpose of retarding the motion of such cars.

In apparatus of the type referred to, it is desirable that the brake beam should engage the car wheels as far above the track rail as possible, that is, asclose to the wheel axles as possible, because the closer to the axle that this engagement occurs, the greater will be the retarding eifect for any given amount of pressure exerted on the brake beam. It is impractical, however, to have the brake beam a considerable distance above the track rail when the retarder is open, because of the danger that the beam will then be in the path of parts on the rolling stock. One feature of my present invention is the provision of means for raising the brake beam as the beam is moved toward the track rail.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view showing one form of retarder embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts of the retarder in different positions.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the three views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character 1 designates a track rail, and the reference character 2 designates the brake beam of a car retarder. This beam is located by the side of the track rail 1, and carries a replaceable brake shoe 3 having a wheel engaging.

The brake beam 2 is provided;

surface 3 with a forward roller 6 and a rear roller 7 which rollers ride on a guide 5. The forward portion 5 of the upper surface of this guide is horizontal, and the rear portion 5 is 1nclined upwardly from the horizontal. Thev forward roller 6 is prevented from rising vertically by an upper guide 8, which may' be integral with the main guide 5. The brake beam 2 is moved toward and away from the rail 1 by a lever 4, the upper end of which 1928. 1 Serial No. 287,007.

so that the wheel engaging surface 8 is relatively low. W/Vhen the retarder is moved to the closed position and there is no car wheel in the retarder, the parts occupy the positions inwhich they are shown in-Fig. 2, wherein the two rollers 6 and 7 are on the horizontal surface 5 of the guide 5, so that the brake beam 2 has been tipped upwardly around the roller 6 as a center. The result of this is that the wheel engaging surface 5 is relatively highwith respect to the rail 1, so that this surface. will engage a wheel at a point well above the tread. When a'wheel enters the retarder with the retarder in the closed position, the brakebeam 2 is moved back to-the position shown in Fig. 8 where the car wheel is designated by the reference character W. Roller 7 is still on the horizontal surface 5=-,

so that the vertical position of the wheelengaging surface 3 has not been changed.

It will be seen. from the, foregoing, that the 'wheel-engaging surface 3 is considerably higher when the retarder is closed than when theretarder is open. WVhen the retarder is open the highest part of the brake beam is -.not high. enough above the rail to interfere.

with locomotive counter-balances or other parts of the rolling stock. 7

One Important feature of my invention is that when the retarder is in the closed position,' the bralrebeanrQ is 'freeto'swing in clockwise direction around the roller 6 as a center. If a car or locomotive passing through the retarder tends to ride up onto the top'of the shoe 3, the entire beam will'swing in clockfl .wise direction around'the roller 6, and so the .wheel will remain onthe track rail and no damage will be done to either the retarder or the vehicle. Thesame thing willoccur if a car or locomotive tends to rise due to the pressure of the brake beam on the wheels being too great. That is, the brake beam will tip and so the vehicle will stay on the rails and will not rise in the shoe.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that apparatus embodying my invention provides for a higher position of the retarder beam when in engagement with a car wheel than the position in which it could safely be left when the retarder is open, and also than the position to which it could safely be brought when the retarder is closed were it not possible for the brake beam to tip out of the way .under unusual conditions.

Although I have herein shown and de scribed only one form of car retarder embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A 1 1ll\ *ay car retarder comprising a brake beam located besides a track rail, and means for simultaneously moving said beam toward the track rail and elevating the wheel engaging surface of the beam.

2. A railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, and means for simultaneously moving said beam horizontally and vertically.

8. A railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, means for moving said beam toward and away from the track rail, and means for raising the wheel engaging surface of said beam while it is moving toward the rail and lowering the wheel engaging surface while the beam is moving away from the rail.

4. A railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, and mounted for unrestrained movement in such direction that the wheel engaging surface moves downwardly, and means for moving said beam toward and away from the track rail.

5. A railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, means for moving said beam toward and away from the track rail, and means including a guide and rollers for raising the wheel engaging surface of said beam while it is moving toward the rail and lowering the wheel engagfrom the rail.

6. A railway car retarder comprising a fixed guide mounted transversely with respect to a track rail and having the forward part of its upper surface horizontal and the rear" part of its upper surface inclined upwardly, a brake beam disposed in parallel relation to the track rail and provided with two rollers riding upon the upper surface of said guide, said parts being so arranged that the forward ing surface while the beam is moving away 1,77s,5 is

roller always rides on the horizontal portion of the guide and that the rear roller rides downwardly on the inclined portion of the guide as the beam moves toward the track rail a second guide co-acting with the top of said forward roller to prevent said beam from tipping upwardly away from a car wheel, and means for moving said beam toward and away from the track rail.

A railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, and pivotally mounted so that its wheel engaging surface may tip downwardly but not upwardly from its normal position, and means for moving said beam toward and away from the track rail.

8. A, railway car retarder comprising a brake beam located beside a track rail, and

movable toward and away from the track rail,

and means for swinging said beam so that its wheel engaging surface moves upwardly during movement toward the rail.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

HERBERT L. BONE.

Images