Coupler knuckle pin

Abstract

An improved polymeric knuckle pin with at least one indented area that elastomer rings rest in. The indented area is strategically placed in an area on the shaft of the pin where the coupler-knuckle connection exerts impact, force, and stress on the pin. The elastomer rings in the indented area provide cushion to the pin from the impact, force, and stress, allow the pin to avoid hard contact with the coupler and knuckle, distribute the loads exerted by the coupler and knuckle more evenly, realign the coupler and knuckle positions, and protect the pin itself from surface cuts and scratches. The elastomer rings on the shaft of the pin improve the life of both the coupler-knuckle assembly and the pin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to railway car coupling systems, and more particularly to an improved polymeric knuckle pin.[0002]This invention is applicable to any type of coupler that uses a pin to pivotally secure the coupler and knuckle together. The knuckle pin pivotally connects a coupler and a knuckle on a railway car. Such railway knuckle pins are usually comprised of a metal or plastic material.[0003]Knuckle pins are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,145,076, 5,630,519, and 5,736,088. Prior known knuckle pins were made of either metal or plastic material. Metal pins are heavy, limiting the number of pins a maintenance worker can carry while checking the coupler-knuckle connection on the railroad cars. Metal pins are also very hard to maintain because they are susceptible to rust and corrosion. Furthermore, as a railway car operates, buff and draft movements cause the coupler-knuckle connection to exert stress, force, and impact on the knuckle pin....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a knuckle pin with elastomer rings to prevent permanent bending and other damages, to distribute loads more evenly, realign coupler and knuckle positions, and protect the pin from surface cuts and scratches. The elastomer rings have high elasticity and will fully recover to their original position once stress from the coupler-knuckle connection is removed from the pin. The technical effects include improving the life of the coupler-knuckle assembly and the pin, reducing damage and fatigue on the coupler-knuckle assembly, etc.

Problems solved by technology

Metal pins are heavy, limiting the number of pins a maintenance worker can carry while checking the coupler-knuckle connection on the railroad cars.

Metal pins are also very hard to maintain because they are susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Furthermore, as a railway car operates, buff and draft movements cause the coupler-knuckle connection to exert stress, force, and impact on the knuckle pin.

The high hardness of a metal pin may cause damage to the coupler or knuckle.

The pin may bend and impede coupler-knuckle operation, and in rotator cars, if structurally compromised the pin may drop out and cause damage to the crushers.

Prior known plastic knuckle pins alleviate some of the damages problems caused by the metal knuckle pins, however, the plastic pins were susceptible to defects caused during the formation process.

It was not uncommon for plastic pins to contain air and moisture pockets, making the pins non-uniform in their material matrix.

However, these relief areas significantly compromise the structural integrity of the pin and create multiple stress concentration points causing the plastic pins to break easier.

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