High capacity draft gear assembly

摘要

A friction clutch for a draft gear assembly includes two outer stationary plates having outer surfaces engageable with the inner surfaces of a gear housing. A slot formed in each outer stationary plate receives a lubricating insert to provide lubrication and prevent clutch sticking after closure and during a release of such gear. A pair of movable plates have outer surfaces fractionally engaged with the inner surfaces of such outer stationary plates for absorbing energy during closure of such gear. A pair of inner stationary plates have outer surfaces fractionally engaged with the inner surfaces of such pair of movable plates for absorbing energy during such closure. An inner surface of each inner stationary plate is tapered. Another slot formed in each tapered stationary plate adjacent it's outer surface receives another lubricating insert which provides lubrication to prevent clutch sticking during release of the gear. A pair of wedge shoes having a tapered outer surface fractionally engage an inner surface of such tapered stationary plates for absorbing energy during closure. An upper surface of the wedge shoe is tapered at an angle of between 46.5 degrees and 48.5 degrees and a bottom surface of the wedge shoe is tapered at an angle of between 21.0 degrees and 22.00 degrees. Another slot formed in each wedge shoe adjacent it's outer surface has another lubricating insert to provide lubrication and prevent clutch sticking during release of the gear. A center wedge having correspondingly tapered surfaces fractionally engages an upper surface of a respective one of such pair of wedge shoes for absorbing energy during closure.