Locomotive draft gear assembly and yoke

Abstract

A yoke for use in a railway locomotive draft gear assembly is provided. The yoke includes a back wall, a front wall and top and bottom straps that extend from the front wall to the back wall. The front wall includes two side sections and a bottom section and a top section. The top strap and bottom strap are tapered to a reduced width at the back wall. The draft gear assembly includes the yoke with a coupler follower adjacent the front wall of the yoke and a rear follower adjacent the back wall of the yoke. A resilient member is located between the followers.

1 . A yoke for use in a railway locomotive draft gear assembly, 
 the yoke comprising:    a front wall, a back wall, a top strap extending from the front wall to the back wall, a bottom strap extending from the front wall to the back wall,    the front wall comprising two side sections, each side section extending vertically between the top strap and the bottom strap, the front wall further comprising a bottom section, a center section and a top section, each of the bottom, center and the top sections having a convex edge and extending laterally between the two side sections,    the top strap of reduced width extending from the front wall to the back wall,    the bottom strap of reduced width extending from the front wall to the back wall,    and the back wall includes at least one indented section of reduced thickness extending from near the top strap to near the bottom strap.    
   
   
       2 . The yoke of  claim 1  further comprising, 
 an indented area of reduced thickness in the top strap    and an indented area of reduced thickness in the bottom strap.    
   
   
       3 . The yoke of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the back wall includes an inside facing surface forming a bearing area.    
   
   
       4 . The yoke of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the width of the top strap is about 8.25 inches,    the width of the bottom strap is about 8.25 inches    and the width of the back wall is about 8.25 inches.    
   
   
       5 . A draft gear assembly for use in a railway locomotive coupling assembly, 
 the draft gear assembly comprising:    a yoke comprising:    a front wall, a back wall, a top strap extending from the front wall to the back wall, a bottom strap extending from the front wall to the back wall,    the front wall comprising two side sections, each side section extending vertically between the top strap and the bottom strap, the front wall further comprising a bottom section, a center section and a top section, each of the bottom, center and the top sections having a laterally convex shape and extending laterally between the two side sections,    the top strap of reduced width extending from the front wall to the back wall,    the bottom strap of reduced width extending from the front wall to the back wall,    and the back wall includes at least one indented section of reduced thickness extending from near the top strap to near the bottom strap,    a front coupler follower positioned between the top strap and the bottom strap and adjacent an internal surface of the front wall,    a rear coupler follower positioned between the top strap and the bottom strap and adjacent an internal surface of the back wall,    and a resilient draft gear located between the front and rear coupler followers.    
   
   
       6 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the yoke top strap includes an indented area of reduced thickness,    and the yoke bottom strap includes an indented area of reduced thickness.    
   
   
       7 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein an inside facing surface of the back wall forms a bearing area.    
   
   
       8 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the width of the top strap is about 8.25 inches,    the width of the bottom strap is about 8.25 inches    and the width of the back wall is about 8.25 inches.    
   
   
       9 . The draft gear assembly by  claim 5 , 
 wherein the front coupler follower comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top edge, a bottom edge, two laterally spaced side edges, a front face and rear face,    and each side edge having a side support structure extending longitudinally from the rear face, each side edge support structure having a lightener opening therein.    
   
   
       10 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the front coupler follower comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top edge, a bottom edge and two laterally spaced side edges,    and a center support structure extending longitudinally from the rear face, the center support structure having lightener areas at each corner.    
   
   
       11 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the rear coupler follower comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top edge, a bottom edge, two laterally spaced side edges, a front face and a rear face,    and each side edge having a side support structure extending longitudinally from the rear face, each side edge support structure having a lightener opening therein.    
   
   
       12 . The draft gear assembly of  claim 5 , 
 wherein the rear coupler follower comprises a generally rectangular structure having a top edge,    a bottom edge and two laterally spaced side edges,    and a center support structure extending longitudinally from the rear face, the center support structure having Lightener areas at each corner.    
   
   
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