Lever style constant contact side bearing

Abstract

A lever style constant contact side bearing assembly having a base member with a first joint portion and a lever member with a second joint portion that cooperates with the first joint portion to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint. The lever member can have a spring reaction portion associated with a spring element that is activated responsive to movement of the spring reaction portion. The lever member can also have upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage, respectively, the base member and a wear plate on a truck bolster or car body. The upper and lower contact portions can be replaceable or have replaceable wear portions, and can be located near the centerline of the truck bolster.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A constant contact side bearing assembly comprising: 
 a. a base member having a first joint portion;    b. a lever member having a second joint portion, a spring reaction portion, and upper and lower contact portions, one of said upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage a respective one of said base member and a wear plate on one of a truck bolster and a car body, said first and second joint portions cooperating to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint; and    c. a spring element which is activated responsive to movement of said spring reaction portion.    
     
     
         2 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising said base member having a spring mounting portion and said spring disposed between said spring mounting portion and said spring reaction portion.  
     
     
         3 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a. a tension member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said spring reaction portion;  
 b. a spring reaction plate connected to said second end; and  
 c. said spring element having one end positioned adjacent said spring reaction plate and a opposite end adapted for placement adjacent a fixed surface, wherein said spring element is compressible between said spring reaction plate and said fixed surface responsive to movement of said spring reaction portion.  
 
     
     
         4 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 3  further comprising adjustment means associated with at least one of said first and second ends of said tension member for preloading said spring element.  
     
     
         5 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a. said base member having a tension member mounting portion;  
 b. a tension member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said tension member mounting portion;  
 c. a spring mounting plate connected to said second end;  
 d. said spring reaction portion positioned intermediate said tension member mounting portion and said spring mounting plate; and  
 e. said spring element positioned between said spring reaction portion and said spring mounting plate for activation responsive to movement of said spring reaction portion.  
 
     
     
         6 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 5  further comprising adjustment means associated with at least one of said first and second ends of said tension member for preloading said spring element.  
     
     
         7 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions being replaceable.  
     
     
         8 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions having a replaceable wear portion.  
     
     
         9 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 1  further comprising said upper and lower contact portions located near a centerline of a truck bolster when said constant contact side bearing assembly is mounted between a car body and a truck bolster.  
     
     
         10 . A constant contact side bearing assembly comprising: 
 a. a base member having a first joint portion and a spring mounting portion;    b. a lever member having a second joint portion, a spring reaction portion, and upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage, respectively, said base member and a wear plate, said first and second joint portions cooperating to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint; and    c. a spring element disposed between said spring mounting portion and said spring reaction portion for compression therebetween.    
     
     
         11 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 10  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions being replaceable.  
     
     
         12 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 10  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions having a replaceable wear portion.  
     
     
         13 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 10  further comprising said upper and lower contact portions located near a centerline of a truck bolster when said constant contact side bearing assembly is mounted between a car body and a truck bolster.  
     
     
         14 . A constant contact side bearing assembly comprising: 
 a. a base member having a first joint portion;    b. a lever member having a second joint portion, a spring reaction portion, and upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage, respectively, said base member and a wear plate, said first and second joint portions cooperating to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint;    c. a tension member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said spring reaction portion;    d. a spring reaction plate connected to said second end; and    e. a spring element having one end positioned adjacent said spring reaction plate and a opposite end adapted for placement adjacent a fixed surface, wherein said spring element is compressible between said spring reaction plate and said fixed surface responsive to movement of said distal end.    
     
     
         15 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 14  further comprising adjustment means associated with at least one of said first and second ends of said tension member for preloading said spring element.  
     
     
         16 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 14  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions being replaceable.  
     
     
         17 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 14  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions having a replaceable wear portion.  
     
     
         18 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 14  further comprising said upper and lower contact portions located near a centerline of a truck bolster when said constant contact side bearing assembly is mounted between a car body and a truck bolster.  
     
     
         19 . A constant contact side bearing assembly comprising: 
 a. a base member having a first joint portion and a tension member mounting portion;    b. a lever member having a second joint portion, a spring reaction portion, and upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage, respectively, said base member and a wear plate, said first and second joint portions cooperating to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint;    c. a tension member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said tension member mounting portion;    d. a spring mounting plate connected to said second end; and    e. a spring element disposed between said spring mounting plate and said spring reaction portion for compression therebetween.    
     
     
         20 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 19  further comprising adjustment means associated with at least one of said first and second ends of said tension member for preloading said spring element.  
     
     
         21 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 19  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions being replaceable.  
     
     
         22 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 19  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions having a replaceable wear portion.  
     
     
         23 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 19  further comprising said upper and lower contact portions located near a centerline of a truck bolster when said constant contact side bearing assembly is mounted between a car body and a truck bolster.  
     
     
         24 . A constant contact side bearing assembly comprising: 
 a. a base member having a first joint portion and a spring mounting portion;    b. a lever member having a second joint portion, a spring reaction portion, and upper and lower contact portions adapted to engage, respectively, a wear plate and said base member, said first and second joint portions cooperating to form a translationally restrained and rotationally free joint;    c. a tension member having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said spring reaction portion;    d. a spring mounting plate connected to said second end; and    e. a spring element disposed between said spring mounting plate and said spring mounting portion for compression therebetween.    
     
     
         25 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 24  further comprising adjustment means associated with at least one of said first and second ends of said tension member for preloading said spring element.  
     
     
         26 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 24  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions being replaceable.  
     
     
         27 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 24  further comprising at least one of said upper and lower contact portions having a replaceable wear portion.  
     
     
         28 . The constant contact side bearing assembly of  claim 24  further comprising said upper and lower contact portions located near a centerline of a truck bolster when said constant contact side bearing assembly is mounted between a car body and a truck bolster.