Railcar Truck

Abstract

A saddle and pedestal for a railcar truck adapted to receive a bearing and a wheel axle. The saddle includes a roof having a roof cavity, a first side wall extending downwardly from the roof to a first end having a first pocket and a second side wall extending downwardly from the roof to a second end having a second pocket. A rocker member is adapted to be inserted into the roof cavity of the roof and to engage the bearing. One or more fasteners removably attach the rocker member to the roof such that the rocker member is selectively removable for maintenance. One or more shims may be placed between the rocker member and the roof to adjust the position of the rocker member. A removable link member extends between the first and second ends of the side walls. The link member includes a first end adapted to be inserted into the first pocket and a second end adapted to be inserted into the second pocket. The link member maintains a minimum spacing between the ends of the side walls. The pedestal includes a first pedestal jaw having a first wear member and a second pedestal jaw having a second wear member. The wear members are formed of cast iron which has a coefficient of friction with steel or acicular iron of approximately 0.15.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A saddle for a railcar truck adapted to receive a bearing, said saddle including: 
 a roof having a roof cavity;    a first side wall extending downwardly from said roof;    a second side wall extending downwardly from said roof, said second side wall spaced apart from said first side wall such that the bearing is adapted to be located between said first side wall and said second side wall;    a rocker member having a top wall and a bottom wall, said top wall adapted to be inserted into said roof cavity of said roof, said bottom wall adapted to engage the bearing; and    a fastener adapted to removably attach said rocker member to said roof;    whereby said rocker member is selectively removable from said roof for maintenance.    
     
     
         2 . The saddle of  claim 1  wherein said roof includes an aperture and said rocker member includes a bore extending through said top wall into said rocker member, said fastener adapted to extend through said aperture into said bore.  
     
     
         3 . The saddle of  claim 1  including a shim located in said roof cavity between said top wall of said rocker member and said roof.  
     
     
         4 . The saddle of  claim 3  wherein said shim includes a top wall, a bottom wall and an aperture extending through said shim from said top wall to said bottom wall of said shim, said roof includes an aperture, and said rocker member includes a bore extending into said rocker member through said top wall of said rocker member, said fastener adapted to extend through said aperture in said roof and said aperture in said shim into said bore of said rocker member.  
     
     
         5 . The saddle of  claim 1  including a backing member located between said top wall of said rocker member and said roof.  
     
     
         6 . The saddle of  claim 5  wherein said backing member comprises a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         7 . A saddle for a railcar truck adapted to receive a bearing, said saddle including: 
 a roof;    a first side wall extending downwardly from said roof, said first side wall including a first end spaced apart from said roof;    a second side wall extending downwardly from said roof, said second side wall being spaced apart from said first side wall such that the bearing is adapted to be located between said first side wall and said second side wall, said second side wall including a second end spaced apart from said roof; and    a link member extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said link member including a first end adapted to engage said first end of said first side wall and a second end adapted to engage said second end of said second side wall, said link member being selectively removable from said first side wall and said second side wall.    
     
     
         8 . The saddle of  claim 7  wherein said first end of said first side wall includes a first pocket adapted to receive said first end of said link member, and said first end of said second side wall includes a second pocket adapted to receive said second end of said link member.  
     
     
         9 . The saddle of  claim 8  wherein said first pocket includes a rear wall and said second pocket includes a rear wall, said first end of said link member adapted to engage said rear wall of said first pocket and said second end of said link member adapted to engage said rear wall of said second pocket.  
     
     
         10 . The saddle of  claim 8  wherein said first pocket includes a top wall and said second pocket includes a top wall, said first end of said link member adapted to engage said top wall of said first pocket and said second end of said link member adapted to engage said top wall of said second pocket.  
     
     
         11 . The saddle of  claim 10  wherein said top wall of said first pocket includes a first bore and said top wall of said second pocket includes a second bore, said first end of said link member includes a first aperture, and said second end of said link member includes a second aperture, said first bore and said first aperture adapted to receive a first fastener for removably attaching said first end of said link member to said first end of said first side wall, and said second bore and said second aperture adapted to receive a second fastener for removably attaching said second end of said link member to said second end of said second side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The saddle of  claim 8  wherein said first end of said first side wall includes a first wing member and a second wing member, said first pocket being located between said first and second wing members, and said second end of said second side wall includes a third wing member and a fourth wing member, said second pocket being located between said third and fourth wing members.  
     
     
         13 . A pedestal of a side frame for a railcar truck having a first friction wedge and a second friction wedge, said pedestal including: 
 a first pedestal jaw including a first interior face;    a second pedestal jaw including a second interior face;    a first wear member attached to said first face of said first pedestal jaw, said first wear member having a front friction surface adapted to engage the first friction wedge, said first wear member being formed from a material having a kinetic coefficient of friction with steel or acicular iron of approximately 0.15; and    a second wear member attached to said second face of said second pedestal jaw, said second wear member having a front friction surface adapted to engage the second friction wedge, said second wear member being formed from a material having a kinetic coefficient of friction with steel or acicular iron of approximately 0.15.    
     
     
         14 . The pedestal jaw of  claim 13  wherein said material having a kinetic coefficient of friction with steel or acicular iron of approximately 0.15 comprises cast iron.  
     
     
         15 . The pedestal jaw of  claim 13  including a backing member located between said first wear member and said first face of said first pedestal jaw.  
     
     
         16 . The pedestal jaw of  claim 15  wherein said backing member comprises a sheet of polytetrafluoroethylene.