US2517747A - Brake beam and method of making - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 8, 1950 L. L. WHITNEY 2,517,747

BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF MAKING Filed Sept. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. WHITNEY BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF MAKING Aug. 8, 1950 2,517,747

Filed Sept. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 8, h 1950 BRAKE BEAM AND METHOD OF M-AKING Loren L. Whitney," Hammond, Ind., assignor to American "SteeL-Foundries Chicago, Il l.,--a corporation of New Jersey Applicationseptember 18, 21948;:SeriaLN 0.49335 1201aims- (ohms-22341) This invention relates to railwaybrake beams and more particularly to a novel welded -truss type'beam of economical constru'ction and capable of withstanding the severe stresses of railway service.

A general object of :theinvention is --to-devise a welded beam which'may-be economicallyfabricated by welding a tension member'to the front web of -a 'channel-section-or- U-section compression member.

A morespecific'object of the-invention'is to weld the tension member-to the forward surface of"thecompressionmember front web by weld ingthrough therear surface of said web between the topand bottom webs of the compression member.

Another object of the invention is to "devise an economical methodandmeans for reinforcing the welded connection between the tension and compression members. Stillanother object of the invention'is to eliminate leakage of weld metal by dammingthe connection between the tension'and compression members at their contacting areas.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a truss having rigid connectionsflof novel form to the brake heads of the beam.

, The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the (following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a brake beam constructed according .to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view .of the beam shown in Figure 1; v

'Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the brake beam truss structure with the brake head removed;

Figure 4 is an end view taken from the right of Figure 3;

Figure 5'is atop plan view of -a modified form of'v'truss structure; and

Figure 6 is an end view taken from the right of- Figure 5.

, Describing the invention indetail andreferring first'tothebrake beam shown in Figures v1 and 2, the beam comprises a truss structure including a compression member 2*of'U-sectionor channel-section having a front web 4' and top and bottom Webs'Band'S. The truss also comprises a tension member 10 preferably of standard round section steel bar havingpauniform cross-section from end toend thereof-d The=outboard end :of the tension member is bent or deformed as at (2. a

As best seem-in-l 'igures 3 and 4, thaendpor- ,tion f2 of the tension member iswsleeved .within a complementary cylindrical opening or holeiid within asteel filler block-I15 having an inboard extension 18 affording aflat seat-as at .zflbetween the block .and the forwardesurface of vthe front compressionzmemberweb 4 from the outboard end to the inboard-endoi .the tension member ;por- :tion l2.

The :block vlli,- the portion -l-2,'- and the front web 4 ware welded together \from the rear 1 surface 0f the: web 4; {as indicatedH-in phantom lines at #22 :(Figures tend d). The weld =1is r-preferablyvmade by the :processhisclosed in United States Letters Batent N0.i2,043;960,:issuedJune*9,1936, tdUniOn Carbide and Carbon Gorporation. The weld con.- -,nection-at Zlextends lengthwiseofrthe web 4 from "a 'point closely; adjacent the outboard fiend of the block i 6 to .a point closely; adjacent the inboard :endvof the extension" i8-,-i=the block acting as (a-dam to prevent escape of the molten .we1d-metal= qfrom between the .web .4:'-and- -:the .i-portion 12 and also afiording an unusually,rigidkconnerition there- .between;

Referring again to Figures 1 and.,2, a-brake head, generally designated 24, is providedaat each 'en'drof the beamg the*rheadthaving a front wa11'26 adapted fto aifiordaa sseatkon its forward :surface :=for 'a brake "shoe-7 28 1 (-FigurewZ). The :brake head also comprises :.-top 'andibottom rear walls r30 and 32 connected tozthecfront Ewell :26 -:byz'substantially vertical :walls 34 andc 36: The top and *bottom walls 30 iran'd :32 are osecure'd: as sby1= rivetsa38 51170 the top and: b ott'om :compressiorr .;webs :6 and :8 respectively, and "i are ofiset' as rat :40 f to afford spaced itop and bottom seats for ithe front compression member web 4. 'Theitop and ibott'o'm brake head wa'ils 30 and 5 32 forwardlyi oi the shoulders M defin'e -a socket or recessdz receiving the blo'ck 'l'fi an'd the1 tension member -end porti'on I 2, and forwardlynf the recess 42 theb'r'ake h'ead wans' 3 0 and' 32 m'erge' with ithe -front wall 2 6 and are -formed with a conv'entional hanger socket 44 affording receptiom forflan associated-brake beam hanger *(not shown);

As -seenin Figure 2, the beamfls iprovidedz'. t its transverse-center 1line-1-with. sa strut :46 con necte'd in conventional manner between the ten- 'sion 'and compression members -I0 and 2; .Hthe vstrut beinguprovided ';with the usual brake lever slot 48 and' pinhole 450.: v

In fabricating ,:the :above-i-described ibeam, the tension member I Brisgbent or otherwise-deformed,

to form the end portion l2 extending approximately parallel to the compression member web 4. The portion 12 is then fitted within the complementary opening I4 of the block l6 and the block is then seated at 20 against the web 4 and is clamped in position during the welding process which is normally performed with the tension member 12 below the compression member 2 and the compression member webs G and 8 disposed approximately in a vertical position to accommodate a weld along the rear surface of the web 4. After the weld has been completed, the brake head 24 is riveted in place, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. j

A modified truss structure is shown in Figures and 6 wherein parts corresponding to those of Figures 3 and 4 are identified by corresponding numerals. In the modification of Figures 5 and 6, the front compression member web 4 is slotted as at 52 and the rear margin of the opening l4 in the block I6 is open to accommodate insertion of the tension member portion l2 into the slot 52 'when the block I6 is seated as at against the forward surface of the front compression member web 4.

It may be noted that the vertical longitudinal center line of the portion [2 is disposed inwardly of the opening at the rear edge of the hole I4 so that the block IE will remain in assembled relationship during'the welding at 22.

The truss structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 is welded in the same manner as that shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the tension member ID below the compression member 2 and the webs 6 and 8 approximately vertical. portion I2 is first inserted within the block 16 and the latter is then clamped in the position shown in Figures 5 andG- against the forward surface of the front web 4 which is, during the welding process, the bottom surface of the Web 4, and the weld 22 is then made through the slot 52 from the rear surface 'ofthe web 4 between the webs 6 and 8.

1 After the truss structure has been fabricated, as above described, a brake head is riveted to the truss, as above described in connection with Figures 1 and 2.

1 I claim:

1. A brake head comprising a compression member having top and bottom webs and a front web, a filler'block externally of the space between said top and bottom webs,'bearing against the forward surface of said front web and having an rcuate opening extendinggfrom the inboard to the outboard end of said block, a tension member of uniform cross-section from end to end thereof having an end portion bent approximately parallel to said front web, said portion being snugly fitted in said opening, a brake head having a cavity receiving said block, said portion and said webs, said brake head having top and bottom rear walls connected to said top, and bottom webs, and a welded connectionbetween said front web, said block and said portion, said connection extending lengthwise of said front web and being spaced from but extending adjacent to the inboard and outboard ends of'the block.

2. A truss type railway brake beam including a compression member of channel-section having a front web and top and bottom webs extending rearwardly therefrompa generally rectangular filler block having a fiat surface seated against a complementary face on-the exterior surface of said front web, a tension member having an arcuate end portion extending generally parallel The tension member 9 to the front web and snugly fitted in a complementary opening through the block, a weld securing said portion, said surface and said face, and a brake head having top and bottom walls connected to the external surfaces of said top and bottom webs respectively, said walls being offset toward each other to afford top and bottom seats bearing against said face above and below said block and to define a cavity complementary to and receiving said block.

3. A brake beam comprising a compression member having top and bottom webs and a front web, a filler block bearing against the forward exterior surface of said front web and having an arcuate opening extending from the inboard to the outboard end of said block, a tension member having an arcuate end portion complementary to and snugly fitted in said opening and extending approximately parallel to said front web, a welded connection between the front web, the block and said portion, and a brake head having a front wall adapted to seat associated brake shoe means and having top and bottom rear walls connected to the top and bottom webs respectively.

4. A brake beam comprising a compression member having top and bottom webs and a front web defining a channel, a filler block bearing against the forward surface of said front web externally of the channel and having an arcuate opening extending from the inboard to the outboard end of said block, a tension member having a portion generally parallel to said front web, said portion being complementary to and snugly fitted in said opening, a weld connecting said front web to said block and said portion, and a brake head connected to the compression member, said block having an extension spaced from the forward surface thereof and extending inboardly beyond the inboard margin of said head.

5. A method of fabricating a railway truss comprising the steps of deforming the end of an arcuate section tension member approximately parallel to the front web of a U-section compression member, then snugly fitting a filler block on the deformed end of the tension member and seating said block against the external surface of said web along complementary substantially fiat areas to eliminate leakage of molten weld metal between the block and the Web, then welding the block and said end to the web from the rear surface thereof, and then attaching a brake head to the compression member.

6. A truss type railway brake beam including a truss structure comprising a compression member having an internal channel and a substantially vertical flat surface at its forward edge externally of the channel, a filler block having a flat surface complementary to and seated against the first-mentioned surface, a tension member extending generally parallel to said surface through a complementary opening in said block, a welded connection between said surfaces and said tension. member, and a brake head secured to said structure.

7. A brake beam comprising a truss structure including a compression member with a front web and top and bottom webs extending rearwardly therefrom and defining a channel, a filler block seated against the forward surface of said front web externally of the channel, a tension member extending generally parallel to the front Web and through a complementary opening in the block, a welded connection between the front web, the block and said portion, and a brake head carried by said structure.

8. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps of deforming the end portion of an arcuate section tension member approximately parallel to the front surface of a compression member web having a slot, then snugly fitting a filler block on the deformed end portion of the tension member, then seating said block against the forward surface of said web along complementary substantially flat areas and inserting the tension member into the slot, and then welding the tension member and block to said Web.

9. A brake beam comprising a truss structure including a compression member having an internal channel, a filler block seated against the forward surface of said member externally of the channel, a tension member extending through a complementary opening in the block, a welded connection between the block, the tension member and the compression member, and a brake head carried by said structure.

10. A truss type railway brake beam comprising a compression member having a web with a slot, a filler block seated against the web, a tension member extending through a complementary opening in the block and into the slot, 2. weld connecting the block to the compression and tension members, and a brake head carried by the compression member.

11. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps of fitting an end portion of a tension member into a complementary opening of a 0ne-piece filler block, then seating the block against the external surface of a front compression member web, and then Welding the web from the rear surface thereof to the block and the portion.

12. A method of fabricating a railway brake beam comprising the steps of fitting the end of a tension member into a one-piece filler block, and then welding the block to a channel compression member externally of its channel.

LOREN L. WHITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 867,184 Baker Sept. 24, 1907 884,446 Williams, Jr. Apr. 14, 1908 2,356,720 Aurien Aug. 22, 1944

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