One of the problems which is encountered with the conventionally used railway car trucks is the rock and roll encountered due at least in part to the staggered rail joints generally used in the United States.
Another problem is that of hunting or the tendency of the truck to oscillate resonantly about the center plate of the car body, due to dynamic instability.
It is preferred to solve the problems of rock and roll hunting with a construction wherein the static height of the truck between empty and full loads is not too great and preferably not greater than about 21/2inch. It further is desired that the railway car truck be capable of utilizing a standard wheel base, a standard center plate, and standard brakes.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or eliminate rock and roll commonly occurring in conventional railway car trucks.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce or eliminate hunting commonly occurring in conventional railway car trucks.
Another object of the present invention is to increase the speed at which the instability that results in hunting occurs to a speed beyond the usual maximum operating speed of freight trains.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truck which reduces wheel flange wear.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truck having a standard wheel base.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a railway car truck in which the car may utilize standard brakes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a railway car truck which can utilize a standard center plate.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce or eliminate the problem of car center plate failures which is presently commonly occurring.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a railway car truck wherein the difference in the static height of the truck between empty and fully loaded car is not too great.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a truck design which will allow the attachment of an interface between the car body and truck of a sufficient area to transmit longitudinal loads between the car body and truck without inducing substantial torsional deflections into the transverse member.
Other objects will be apparent from the following description and drawings.