Backing ring for railcar axle

Abstract

A backing ring assembly for a railcar axle is provided. According to various aspects, the backing ring assembly may include a main body and a ring. The main body may include an inner surface configured to abut a fillet of a railcar axle and a receiving element on an inboard radial face of the main body. The ring may be engaged in the receiving element and may be configured to protrude over a cylindrical surface of a shoulder on the railcar axle. The ring may include an inner face having a recess and a generally flat outer face.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A backing ring assembly comprising:
 a main body including an inner surface configured to abut a fillet of a railcar axle and a receiving element on an inboard radial face; and   a ring engaged in the receiving element and configured to protrude over a cylindrical surface of a shoulder on the railcar axle, the shoulder being positioned inboard of the fillet, wherein the ring includes an inner face having a recess and a generally flat outer face.   
     
     
         2 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, when the backing ring assembly is installed on the railcar axle, an inboard-most portion of the main body projects over the fillet of the railcar axle without extending over the cylindrical surface of the shoulder. 
     
     
         3 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, when the backing ring assembly is installed on the railcar axle, the recess of the ring spans the receiving element and the cylindrical surface. 
     
     
         4 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an inboard-most portion of the main body below the receiving element projects further inboard than an inboard-most portion of the main body above the receiving element. 
     
     
         5 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring engages in the receiving element of the main body in an interference fit. 
     
     
         6 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a radially extending flange attached to the outer face of the ring. 
     
     
         7 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a laterally extending flange on an inboard face of the ring. 
     
     
         8 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the laterally extending flange includes one or more overhangs and/or depressions. 
     
     
         9 . A railcar axle assembly comprising:
 a roller bearing assembly including a journal having a fillet on an outer surface and a shoulder inboard of the journal, the shoulder including an outer cylindrical surface, wherein the fillet abuts the cylindrical surface; and   a backing ring abutting the fillet of the journal, the backing ring including:
 a main body having an inner surface abutting the fillet of the journal and a receiving element on an inboard radial face; and 
 an insertable ring engaged in the receiving element and extending over the cylindrical surface of the shoulder, the insertable ring including an inner face having a recess and a generally flat outer face. 
   
     
     
         10 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein an inboard-most portion of the main body projects over the fillet without extending over the cylindrical surface of the shoulder. 
     
     
         11 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the recess of the ring spans the receiving element of the main body and the cylindrical surface of the shoulder. 
     
     
         12 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein an inboard-most portion of the main body below the receiving element projects further inboard than an inboard-most portion of the main body above the receiving element. 
     
     
         13 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the insertable ring engages the receiving element of the main body and the cylindrical surface of the shoulder in an interference fit. 
     
     
         14 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the insertable ring includes a radially extending flange on an outer face of the insertable ring. 
     
     
         15 . The railcar axle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the insertable ring includes a laterally extending flange on an inboard face of the ring. 
     
     
         16 . A backing ring assembly comprising:
 an annular main body configured to abut a fillet of a railcar axle, the annular main body including a receiving element on an inboard radial face; and   a ring having an outboard end engaged in the receiving element, an inboard end configured to project over a cylindrical surface of a shoulder of the railcar axle, an inner face having a recess and an outer face without a recess.   
     
     
         17 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 16 , wherein, when the backing ring assembly is installed on the railcar axle, an inboard-most portion of the annular main body projects over the fillet of the railcar axle without extending over the cylindrical surface of the shoulder. 
     
     
         18 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 16 , wherein, when the backing ring assembly is installed on the railcar axle, the recess of the ring spans the receiving element and the cylindrical surface. 
     
     
         19 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 16 , wherein an inboard-most portion of the annular main body below the receiving element projects further inboard than an inboard-most portion of the annular main body above the receiving element. 
     
     
         20 . The backing ring assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the ring includes one or more projections extending from an inboard portion of the ring.