Dual friction wear plate assembly for a railcar side frame saddle

摘要

A wear plate assembly (20) adapted to engage a friction wedge of a railroad car truck. The wear plate assembly (20) includes a base member (40) having an upper wear member (52) adapted to engage the friction wedge. The upper wear member (52) is formed from a first material such as steel. The wear plate assembly (20) includes a lower wear member (80) located adjacent to and below the upper wear member (52). The lower wear member (80) is adapted to engage the friction wedge and is formed from a second material such as cast iron. The upper wear member (52) has a coefficient friction with the friction wedge of approximately 0.30 and the lower wear member (80) has a coefficient friction with the friction wedge of approximately 0.15. When a rail car is at tare weight the friction wedge will slidably engage the upper wear member (52) and when the rail car is at fully laden weight the friction wedge will slidably engage the lower wear member (80). The vertical dampening force created by the friction wedge at fully laden weight is thereby less than the dampening force that is created by the friction wedge at tare weight.