Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a coupler carrier wear protector, more particularly a bi material coupler carrier wear protector, the two materials having significant different coefficient of friction values.

Background to the invention

Railway coupler units interconnect railway vehicles and include a coupler housing, a coupler arm and a coupler head (also referred to as a coupler knuckle).

The coupler head and the coupler arm extend from the coupler housing of one railway vehicle and the coupler head connects to the coupler head of another railway vehicle.

Conventionally, the coupler arm rests on a coupler wear plate of the coupler housing. Lateral displacement of the coupler arm relative the wear plate cause friction and wear between the wear plate surface and the downward facing surface of the coupler arm.

Railway coupler wear plates manufactured from wear resistant and synthetic materials are well known in the art where the materials typically have relatively high mechanical strength, associated with acceptable, but not optimal, CoF values and wear resistant characteristics.

The applicant having considered the above proposes a coupler carrier wear protector comprising of at least two types of materials so as to yield a coupler carrier wear protector having improved friction reduction properties, while at the same time having a certain minimum degree of impact and/or mechanical strength. Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a coupler carrier wear protector which includes: a body; and a bearing formation mountable about the body, for in use, defining a bearing surface of the coupler carrier wear protector; wherein at least the bearing surface has a coefficient of friction (CoF) value less than that of the body.

The body may be manufactured from a metallic material, a polymeric material, or, a combination thereof.

The body may be substantially rectangular shaped.

The body may take the form of a plate like element.

The body may take the form of a frame.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a synthetic material, a metallic material, or, a combination thereof.

The synthetic material may include a polymer material, or a composition wherein the composition includes a polymer material.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a material having resiliently deformable properties.

The bearing formation may be in the form of a plurality of bearing formation mounted about the body.

The plurality of bearing formations may be arranged in an evenly spaced apart manner about the body. The body may include a receiving formation for complementarily receiving the bearing formation therein.

The receiving formation may take the form of a recess.

The receiving formation may take the form of an aperture.

The bearing formation may be dimensioned to in use, protrude about an upward facing surface of the body.

The bearing formation may be shaped and configured to yield a bearing surface flush with an upward facing surface of the body.

The receiving formation and the bearing formation may define a complementarily shaped retaining arrangement thereinbetween for in use, retaining the bearing formation in the body.

The retaining arrangement may take the form of a friction fit and/or male and female type formation.

As such, the bearing formation may include a groove extending circumferentially about the bearing formation, which groove is dimensioned and/or contoured to complementarily receive a ridge defined about and extending from an inward facing surface of the aperture and/or recess of the body.

The groove and ridge may be dimensioned to allow the bearing formation to fit into the receiving formation in a friction fit manner.

In one form of the invention the retaining arrangement may be defined by the bearing formation having a stepped configuration, the body in the form of a frame being complementarily shaped to keep the bearing formation in place. In another form of the invention the retaining arrangement may be defined by the bearing formation having a stepped configuration, the receiving formation being complementarily shaped to keep the bearing formation in place.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a material having a CoF value of less than 0.2 when employing the formula as set out in document ASTM D3702 - 94(2019) entitled “Standard Test Method for Wear Rate and Coefficient of Friction of Materials in Self-Lubricated Rubbing Contact Using a Thrust Washer Testing Machine”.

The bearing formation may be in the form of a plurality of bearing formations arranged in a spaced apart relationship about the body.

The bearing formation may assume any geometrical shape and size, including disc shaped.

The coupler carrier wear protector may further include a mounting arrangement for mounting the coupler carrier wear protector onto an upward facing surface of a coupler carrier housing and/or onto a downward facing surface of the coupler arm.

The mounting arrangement may be in the form of apertures defined in the body for receiving a bolt and nut or any other fastening means.

The mounting arrangement may take the form of protrusions defined about and extending from a downward facing surface of the body, the protrusions being shaped and sized to fit into complementarily recesses defined in a suitable surface such as the upward facing surface of the coupler housing, in a male and female type manner.

The mounting arrangement may take the form of a mounting base for accommodating and mounting the coupler wear protector. The mounting base may be manufactured from a metallic material and may be dimensioned to, in plan view, exceed the dimensions of the coupler wear protector. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bearing formation mountable about a coupler wear plate, thereby defining a bearing surface of the coupler wear plate, wherein at least the bearing surface has a coefficient of friction value less than that of the coupler wear plate.

The bearing formation, in use, define the bearing surface of the coupler wear plate, supporting the coupler carrier arm and facilitating lateral displacement of the coupler carrier arm relative the coupler housing.

The bearing formation may, when in use, protrude about an upward facing surface of the coupler wear plate.

The bearing formation may be shaped and configured to yield a bearing surface flush with an upward facing surface of the coupler wear plate.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a synthetic material, a metallic material, or, a combination thereof.

The synthetic material may include a polymer material, or a composition wherein the composition includes a polymer material.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a material having resiliently deformable properties.

The receiving formation and the bearing formation may define a retaining arrangement for in use, retaining the bearing formation relative the coupler wear plate.

The retaining arrangement may take the form of a friction fit and/or male and female type formation.

As such, the bearing formation may include a groove extending circumferentially about the bearing formation, which groove is dimensioned and/or contoured to complementarity receive a ridge defined about and extending from an inward facing surface of the aperture and/or recess defined in the coupler wear plate.

The groove and ridge may be dimensioned to allow the bearing formation to fit into the receiving formation in a friction fit manner.

The retaining arrangement may also be defined by the bearing formation having a stepped configuration, terminating in an upper portion having a decreased circumference/diameter relative a bottom portion thereof. The receiving formation defined in the coupler wear plate may be complementarily shaped to keep the bearing formation in place.

The bearing formation may be manufactured from a material having a CoF value of less than 0.2 when employing the formula as set out in document ASTM D3702 - 94(2019) entitled “Standard Test Method for Wear Rate and Coefficient of Friction of Materials in Self-Lubricated Rubbing Contact Using a Thrust Washer Testing Machine”.

The bearing formation may be in the form of a plurality of bearing formations arranged in a spaced apart relationship about the coupler wear plate.

The bearing formation may assume any geometrical shape and size, including disc shaped.

The bearing formation, in use, define the bearing surface of the coupler carrier wear protector, supporting the coupler carrier arm and facilitating lateral displacement of the coupler carrier arm relative the coupler housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of the following, non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are schematics of a first embodiment;

Figures 3 and 4 are schematics of a second embodiment illustrating the mounting arrangement in the form of apertures;

Figures 5 and 6 are schematics of the second embodiment illustrating the mounting arrangement in the form of protrusions;

Figures 7 and 8 are schematics of the second embodiment illustrating the mounting arrangement taking the form of a mounting base;

Figures 9 and 10 are top perspective and side views respectively of the bearing formation shown in figures 3 to 8;

Figure 11 is a cross sectional side view illustrating the retaining arrangement in the form of a groove and ridge for retaining the bearing formation in the body;

Figure 12 illustrates another form of the bearing formation;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional side view illustrating another configuration of the retaining arrangement for retaining the bearing formation shown in figure 12 in the body; and

Figure 14 is a top perspective view of the coupler carrier wear plate incorporating the bearing formation shown in figure 12, according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

Referring now to the drawings, the first embodiment of the coupler carrier wear protector is referenced by numeral 10.

Figures 1 and 2 depict a first embodiment of the coupler carrier wear protector 10 which includes a body taking the form of a frame 12, and a bearing formation 14 mountable about the frame 12, for in use, defining a bearing surface 16 of the coupler carrier wear protector 10, wherein at least the bearing surface 16 has a coefficient of friction (CoF) value less than that of the frame 12. Bearing formation 14 is typically manufactured from a synthetic material, a metallic material, or, a combination thereof.

The synthetic material in turn can include a polymer material, or a composition wherein the composition includes a polymer material.

The bearing formation 14 can be manufactured from a material having resiliently deformable properties.

The frame 12 will typically be manufactured from a metallic material, a polymeric material, or, a combination thereof.

Retention of the bearing formation 14 by the frame 12 is facilitated by the bearing formation 14 having a stepped configuration, the frame being complementarily shaped to keep the bearing formation in place, when in use.

The bearing formation 14 can have a thickness dimension to yield a bearing surface 16 protruding above the frame 12, or, even flush with frame 12, when in use.

The frame 12 will typically be mounted onto a suitable surface by tack welding thereby keeping the bearing formation 14 in place.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 depict a second embodiment 110 of the coupler carrier wear protector.

In this form of the invention the bearing formation 114 takes the form of a plurality of bearing formations 114 arranged about the body 112 in a spaced apart relationship, preferably evenly spaced apart relative one another.

The bearing formation may assume any geometrical shape and size, including disc shaped. The body 112 is substantially rectangular shaped in plan view and can be in the form of a plate like element manufactured from a metallic material.

Bearing formation 114 is typically manufactured from a synthetic material, a metallic material, or, a combination thereof.

The synthetic material in turn can include a polymer material, or a composition wherein the composition includes a polymer material.

The bearing formation 114 can be manufactured from a material having resiliently deformable properties.

The body 112 includes a receiving formation for complementarily receiving the bearing formation 114 therein.

The receiving formation can take the form of a recess.

The receiving formation can take the form of an aperture.

The bearing formation 114 can be dimensioned to in use, yield a bearing surface 117 protruding about an upward facing surface of the body 112, see figures 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 and 14.

The bearing formation 114 can also be shaped and configured to yield a bearing surface 117 flush with an upward facing surface of the body 112.

The receiving formation and the bearing formation 114 will typically be complimentarily shaped for in use, retaining the bearing formation 114 in the body 112.

The retaining arrangement can take the form of a friction fit and/or male and female type formation. Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the bearing formation 114 including a groove 116 extending circumferentially about the bearing formation 114, which groove 116 is dimensioned and/or contoured to complementarily receive a ridge 118 defined about and extending from an inward facing surface of the aperture and/or recess of the body 112.

The groove 116 and ridge 118 will be dimensioned to allow the bearing formation 114 to fit into the receiving formation in a friction fit manner.

Figures 12 and 13 depict the retaining arrangement being defined by the bearing formation 114 having a stepped configuration, the receiving formation being complementarily shaped to keep the bearing formation 114 in place, yielding a coupler carrier wear protector 110 as shown in figure 14.

The bearing formation 114 will preferably be manufactured from a material having a CoF value of less than 0.2 when employing the formula as set out in document ASTM D3702 - 94(2019) entitled “Standard Test Method for Wear Rate and Coefficient of Friction of Materials in Self-Lubricated Rubbing Contact Using a Thrust Washer Testing Machine”.

The coupler carrier wear protector 10 and 110 can further include a mounting arrangement for mounting the coupler carrier wear protector 10 and 110 onto a suitable surface, such as an upward facing surface of a coupler carrier housing and/or onto a downward facing surface of the coupler arm.

Figures 3 and 4 depict mounting arrangement in the form of apertures 120 defined in the body 112 for receiving a bolt and nut or any other fastening means.

Figures 5 and 6 in turn illustrate the mounting arrangement taking the form of protrusions 122 defined about and extending from a downward facing surface of the body 112, the protrusions 122 being shaped and sized to fit into complementarily recesses defined in a suitable surface such as the upward facing surface of the coupler housing in a male and female type manner. Figures 7 and 8 show the mounting arrangement taking the form of a mounting base 124 for accommodating and mounting the coupler wear protector 110. The mounting base 124 can be manufactured from a metallic material and can be dimensioned to, in plan view, exceed the dimensions of the coupler wear protector 110.

It will be appreciated that the bearing formation 114 can also be shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into a conventional coupler carrier wear plate, where the bearing formation 114 will can be replaced as needed.

The receiving formation in the form of apertures and/or recesses can be drilled into the coupler wear plat and the bearing formation 114 inserted and kept in place by incorporating a suitable adhesive.

The Applicant considers the invention advantageous in that a coupler carrier wear protector is disclosed which is manufactured from two types of material yielding a coupler carrier wear protector with improved bearing characteristics wherein the bearing formations defining the bearing surfaces are manufactured from a material having a coefficient of friction (CoF) value lower than that of the remaining structure.

This combination of use of materials yields a coupler carrier wear protector of relatively high mechanical strength to endure high impacts and mechanical stresses, while at the same time having improved bearing characteristics. The thickness dimension of the bearing formations may further be such as to define the bearing surface flush with an outer surface of the planar portion and / or collar formation, or such as to allow the bearing surfaces to protrude above the outer surface of the planar portion and / or collar formation. The releasable manner of inserting the bearing formation into the body and/or bearing plate allows a user to simply replace the bearing formations when required and replacing it without having to remove the body thereof, resulting in a cost effective manner of maintaining wearable parts of the kind.

It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.