System for a rocker assembly

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a rocker assembly for a side frame pedestal of a rail vehicle truck. In one example, a system may include a rail vehicle truck that includes a pedestal rocker laterally adapted to move about an axis perpendicular to an axle of a wheelset. The pedestal rocker may be positioned between a roof of a pedestal jaw of a side frame and a bearing adapter with a convex lower surface of the pedestal rocker in face sharing contact with a concave upper surface of the bearing adapter.

1 . A system for a rail vehicle truck, comprising:
 a pedestal rocker laterally movable about an axis perpendicular to an axle of a wheelset, the pedestal rocker positioned between a roof of a pedestal jaw of a side frame and a bearing adapter with a convex lower surface of the pedestal rocker in face sharing contact with a concave upper surface of the bearing adapter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the roof of the pedestal jaw includes a recess. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein an upper, flat surface of the pedestal rocker is in face sharing contact with the recess on the roof of the pedestal jaw. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the recess is longer than a corresponding length of the pedestal rocker and a width of the recess is greater than a corresponding width of the pedestal rocker. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the convex lower surface includes a first radius of curvature and wherein the concave upper surface includes a second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first radius of curvature is lower than the second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first radius of curvature is in a range of 2-3 inches and the second radius of curvature is in a range of 3-4 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the axis of the pedestal rocker about which it is movable is parallel to a direction of railway tracks on which the rail vehicle truck is configured to be positioned. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the pedestal rocker is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of railway tracks on which the rail vehicle truck is configured to be positioned. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the axle of the wheelset is positioned within an opening framed by the bearing adapter, the axle perpendicular to the direction of the railway tracks. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail vehicle truck includes two parallel side frames coupled via a bolster, each side frame including two pedestal jaws and two corresponding bearing adapters. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pedestal rocker is cast from steel. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pedestal rocker is coupled to the roof of the pedestal jaw via one or more screws. 
     
     
         14 . A system, comprising:
 a rail vehicle truck including two spaced apart parallel side frames coupled via a bolster;   the two side frames including two pedestal jaws at each end; and   a pedestal jaw of the two pedestal jaws interfaced with a wheel bearing adapter via a pedestal rocker adapted to swing laterally about an axis parallel to straight railway tracks on which the rail vehicle truck is configured to be positioned, the pedestal rocker including a flat upper surface in face sharing contact with a recess in a roof of the pedestal rocker, and a convex lower surface placed on a concave mating surface of the bearing adapter.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the bearing adapter frames a wheelset including an axle, and two or more wheels mounted on the axle, the axle perpendicular to the axis about which the pedestal rocker is adapted to swing. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein a radius of curvature of the convex lower surface of the pedestal rocker is lower than another radius of curvature of the concave mating surface of the bearing adapter. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the pedestal rocker touches the mating surface at a center of the mating surface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the pedestal rocker extends along an entire length of an opening between two parallel walls of the pedestal jaw. 
     
     
         19 . A system for a rail vehicle truck, comprising:
 a pedestal jaw including a recess on a first surface of the pedestal jaw facing a second surface of a bearing adapter, the second surface being concave; and   a pedestal rocker in face sharing contact with each of the recess on the first surface of the pedestal jaw and the second surface of the bearing adapter, the pedestal rocker adapted to laterally swing about its longitudinal axis perpendicular to each of a direction of straight railway tracks on which the rail vehicle truck is configured to be positioned and another direction of an axle of a wheelset housed within the bearing adapter.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pedestal rocker includes a convex lower surface contacting the second surface of the bearing adapter, a flat upper surface contacting the recess on the first surface of the pedestal jaw, and arcuate side walls coupling the upper surface and the lower surface.