US 12,459,550 B2
Railroad freight car draft gear friction modifying insert
Erich A. Schoedl, Sugar Grove, IL (US); Donald E Wilt, Batavia, IL (US); and Andy R. Kries, Elgin, IL (US)
Assigned to Miner Enterprises, Inc., Geneva, IL (US)
Filed by Miner Enterprises Inc., Geneva, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/665,058.
Prior Publication US 2023/0249720 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. B61G 9/10 (2006.01); B61G 9/06 (2006.01); B61G 11/14 (2006.01)
CPC B61G 9/10 (2013.01) [B61G 9/06 (2013.01); B61G 11/14 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A railroad freight car draft gear, comprising:
a friction clutch assembly including friction members arranged in operable combination with an actuator adapted for longitudinal reciprocation during operation of said draft gear, and with each friction member having an outer friction surface which slides along a respective mating surface;
a spring assembly for absorbing, dissipating, and returning energy imparted to said draft gear;
with recesses being provided on the respective mating surfaces on the draft gear; and
with a preformed friction modifying insert being pressed into each recess, with each insert including an elongated leg having opposed ends and projections extending radially outward from the leg and disposed between said ends, and wherein the projections on each insert includes a plurality of adjacent and raised ribs extending radially outward from the leg of each insert, and with each insert serving to facilitate reciprocatory movements of said friction clutch assembly relative to mating components during operation of said railroad freight car draft gear.