Center clamp assembly for frame brace rail truck

摘要

A rail car truck has a pair of longitudinally spaced wheelsets and a pair of laterally spaced side frames which extend between and are supported by the wheelsets. A bolster extends between the side frames to support the rail car vehicle body. There is a brace which is connected to the side frames to control relative longitudinal movement therebetween. The brace includes a pair of struts which are diagonally connected to the side frames on opposite sides of the centerline thereof. The struts intersect generally centrally of the side frames and there is a clamp assembly for attaching the struts together. The clamp assembly includes a pair of clamp plates, each having a channel formed and adapted to receive a strut. Each clamp plate channel terminates at opposite ends of the clamp plate, with each clamp plate channel having a generally U-shaped opening. Each clamp plate is welded to a strut along the generally U-shaped openings thereof. There are fasteners which attach the facing surface of the clamp plates directly to each other. The clamp plates are welded, one to another. The clamp plate assembly inhibits relative movement between the struts in a generally horizontal plane.