Draft box wear liner

Abstract

The present invention relates to a draft box wear liner configured for insertion between a draft gear and a draft box of a rail car coupling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A draft box wear liner configured for insertion between a draft box and a draft gear in order to reduce wear between the draft box and the draft gear. 
     
     
         2 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the draft box wear liner defines an inner profile adapted to substantially conform with at least part of an outer profile of a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         3 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the draft box wear liner extends to a position closer to the draft box than the draft gear, thereby reducing contact between the draft box and the draft gear. 
     
     
         4 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the draft box wear liner defines an outer profile adapted to substantially conform with at least part of an outer profile of a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         5 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a body member composed of abrasion resistant polymer. 
     
     
         6 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising at least one locating formation configured for locating the body member in snug engagement with the outer profile of a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         7 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the locating formation comprises at least one interior rib. 
     
     
         8 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one locating formation configured for locating the body member in snug engagement with an inner surface of a draft box in use. 
     
     
         9 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the draft box wear liner is adapted to fasten to a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         10 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a securing arrangement configured for securing the draft box wear liner to a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         11 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the securing arrangement is configured for engaging the draft box wear liner directly with a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         12 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the securing arrangement is configured for securing a plurality of complementary draft box wear liners to a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         13 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the securing arrangement is configured for securing a plurality of adjacent draft box wear liners to each other on substantially opposed outer faces of a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         14 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the securing arrangement comprises clipping-type formations configured for clipping adjacent draft box wear liners to each other on opposed outer faces of a draft gear in use. 
     
     
         15 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein one or more draft box wear liner is adapted to at least partially surround the draft gear in use. 
     
     
         16 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the draft box wear liner is adapted to allow movement of the draft gear with respect to the draft box in use. 
     
     
         17 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the draft box wear liner is configured for snug engagement inside a draft box in use. 
     
     
         18 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the draft box wear liner comprises at least two complementary portions configured for locating against an outer surface of a draft gear in a complementary fashion. 
     
     
         19 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the complementary portions are pivotably connected to each other. 
     
     
         20 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the draft box wear liner is bifurcated. 
     
     
         21 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the at least two portions adapted for fastening together. 
     
     
         22 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the at least two portions respectively comprise complementary mechanical interlock portions. 
     
     
         23 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the mechanical interlock portions are clip type portions. 
     
     
         24 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the draft box wear liner is composed of a plastic. 
     
     
         25 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the draft box wear liner is integrally formed. 
     
     
         26 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the draft box wear liner is integrally moulded with a strengthening fibre. 
     
     
         27 . A draft box wear liner configured for lining at least a portion of an interface between a draft box and a draft gear of a railway coupling system, the draft box wear liner comprising
 a. a body member adapted and configured for snugly engaging at least a portion of an outer surface of a draft gear;   b. wherein at least part of the body member is composed of abrasion resistant plastic material.   
     
     
         28 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the draft box wear liner comprises locating formations for locating the draft box wear liner against said at least a portion of an outer surface of a draft gear. 
     
     
         29 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the draft box wear liner comprises a securing arrangement for securing the draft box wear liner to said at least a portion of an outer surface of a draft gear. 
     
     
         30 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the securing arrangement is configured for securing a plurality of draft box wear liner is around an outer surface of a draft gear in a complementary manner. 
     
     
         31 . A draft box wear liner as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the securing arrangement is configured for securing a pair of complementary draft box wear liners around an outer surface of a draft gear.