Railroad car bearing adapter pad

Abstract

A railroad car bearing adapter pad including a wear resistant body formed with one or more compressible resilient conductive plugs which provide electrical conductivity or continuity between a side frame and a bearing adapter and thus between the railroad car body and the railroad tracks when the bearing adapter pad is mounted on a bearing adapter in a pedestal jaw opening of a side frame.

1 . An railroad car bearing adapter pad comprising:
 a body including a top section having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a plurality of legs extending from the body; and   a plurality of spaced apart compressible resilient conductive plugs positioned in the top section of the body, each of the conductive plug having a top engager that extends slightly above the top surface of the top section and a bottom engager that extends slightly below the bottom surface of the top section to facilitate electric conductivity or continuity between a side frame and a bearing adapter.   
     
     
         2 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive plugs are made from a resilient wear resistant material which enables them to continue to provide electric conductivity or continuity even when they are compressed or deformed. 
     
     
         3 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive plug includes an outwardly extending flange. 
     
     
         4 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive plug includes a cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         5 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced apart conductive plugs are symmetrically arranged in the top section. 
     
     
         6 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive plug defines a central opening. 
     
     
         7 . The railroad bearing adapter pad of  claim 1 , wherein each conductive plug is press fit into the top section of the body.