Trailer hitch having elastomer-in-shear cushioning in the diagonal strut

摘要

A diagonal strut energy absorbing cushioning assembly for use in a trailer hitch for holding piggyback trailers in place on railway flat cars including an inclined longitudinally extending fixed member attached to the deck of a railway car and an inclined longitudinally extending movable member spaced from said fixed member. The movable member is attached to a kingpin engagement assembly of a railway trailer hitch for holding in place the kingpin of a highway trailer. A resilient assembly is carried by the fixed and movable members. The resilient assembly includes at least one elastomeric member attached to a first surface on the fixed member and a second surface spaced from the first surface attached to the movable member. The elastomeric material is shearable between the first and second surfaces under cushioning loads. The fixed and movable members further include side portions which together with the first and second surfaces cooperate to define a housing for the resilient material, including spaced, juxtaposed flange portions. One of the flange portions includes a channel and the other of the flange portions includes a projection located within the channel. The projection is movable relative to the channel to guide movement of the movable member relative to the fixed member as the resilient material deflects in shear during cushioning of the trailer hitch.