Background of the Invention Bogie brakes of the above kind are well known in the art. An example is shown in WO 00/02756 from the same applicant. In such a bogie brake, the brake beams are normally suspended at substantially the same height or level as the center of the wheels to be braked. This means that also the push rods are at the corresponding level and in turn that difficulties may be encountered with the presence of the bolster between the two brake beams. The bolster may if necessary be provided with holes for the free passage of the push rods, but such holes are not always a satisfactory solution to the problem.

The main object of the invention is to accomplish a bogie brake, where the push rods may pass the bolster without requiring any holes therein, even if the bolster extends to a rather low level, which is the case for certain bogie designs.

The Invention This is according to the invention attained in that each suspension link is pivotably connected to an associated brake block holder at a level substantially corresponding to the center of an associated wheel and at a lower level to its beam.

By this solution, the push rods may pass under the bolster, even if the latter has a considerable height.

In a practical design, side plates of the brake block holder are provided with attachments sockets for receiving an attachment screw, which holds the brake block holder together and pivotably journals the suspension link by a hole therein.

Further, a mounting block is provided at the end of the brake beam, and the suspension link has a hole for a through mounting screw for attachment to the mounting block.

The suspension link is herein pivotably arranged on a mounting sleeve attached to the end of the beam by means of the mounting screw.

An outer side plate of the block holder preferably has an opening for enabling access to the mounting screw.

The Drawings The invention will be further described below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figs 1-3 are a side view, a plan view, and an end view, respectively, of a rail vehicle bogie provided with a bogie brake according to the invention, Figs 4 and 5 are a side view and a plan view, respectively, of the bogie brake according to the invention to a larger scale, and Figs 6 and 7 are a side view and an end view, respectively, of a portion of the bogie brake to an even larger scale.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment As most clearly shown in Fig 2 but also in Figs 1 and 3, a conventional rail vehicle bogie for two wheel sets 1 with wheels 2 has two side frames 3, in which the wheel sets are journalled and which are connected by a transverse bolster 4, to which an underframe (not shown) of the vehicle is journalled.

Referring again mainly to Fig 2 but also to Figs 1 and 3, a bogie brake for this bogie primarily consists of

two brake beams 5 and 6, which are suspended from the bolster 4 by means of suspension links 7. Each brake beam 5 and 6 is at each end provided with a brake block holder 8 to be provided with a replaceable brake block 9 (Fig 6) for cooperation with the respective tread of the wheels 2.

The first brake beam 5 is provided with two brake actuators or brake units 10, preferably towards its ends.

Each brake unit 10 is provided with a brake force applying push rod 11, connected to the second brake beam 6.

At the admission of pressurized brake fluid (compressed air) to the brake units 10 a brake force will be applied to the wheels 2 via the two brake beams 5,6, the push rods 11, the brake block holders 8, and the brake blocks 9.

As is most clearly illustrated in Fig 6, each brake beam 5 and 6 is mainly composed of a U-shaped plate profile having stiffening flanges, and the brake units 10 are attached in the"U"by bolts 10'in the first brake beam 5.

The push rods 11 extend from the brake units 10 through bores in the first brake beam 5. The connection of the push rods 11 to the second brake beam 6 appears to the right in Fig 4 but does not form any part of the invention.

Each brake block holder 8 is pivotably mounted to the end of its respective brake beam 5,6. This is best illustrated in Fig 7 with the first brake beam 5.

The beam 5 has an end plate 12 and a transverse plate 13. A mounting block 14 is attached to the plates 12 and 13. The suspension link 7 is pivotably arranged on a mounting sleeve 15, which is attached to the mounting block 14 by means of a mounting screw 16. By this arrangement, the suspension link 7 is pivotably attached to the end of the brake beam 5.

The brake block holder 8 is mainly built up of side plates 17, attachment sockets 18,19 in the side plates,. and an attachment screw 20 holding the brake block holder

together and also pivotably journalling the suspension link 7 by a hole therein. The outer side plate 17 is provided with an opening 17'in its lower part for enabling access to the mounting screw 16 for the suspension link 7.

The suspension link 7 is also provided with a stub axle 21 with spring-biassed friction rings 22 engaging the inner surfaces of the side plates 17 for keeping the brake block holder 8 in a position accomplished at a previous brake application.

The attachment screw 20 for the brake block holder 8 is essentially at the same level as the center of the wheel 2 to be braked, whereas the mounting screw 16 for the suspension link 7 to the beam 5 or 6 is at a lower level.

This means that the beams 5 and 6 will be suspended at a lower level than the center of the wheels 2 and accordingly that the push rods 11 will extend at a correspondingly lower level. The effect hereof is-as is illustrated in Fig 3-that the push rods 11 can extend below the bolster 4 and that accordingly no holes for the push rods 11 in the bolster 4 are required.