REPORT OF TEST OF WELEX HYDRAULIC DRAFT GEAR

The purpose of this test was to determine the cushioning qualities of the production model hydraulic draft gear manufactured by Welex Jet Service. The new Welex draft gears have a self-aligning socket plate on the end of the piston rod, which is designed to eliminate any bending forces on the piston rod. A car equipped with Welex draft gears, was used as the striking car throughout the test, being empty for one series of runs and loaded to 169,000 pounds gross weight during the remainder. Car AT-64999, also equipped with Welex draft gears, was used as the struck car during part of the test, and car AT-75377, equipped with reconditioned Minor A-22XL friction draft gears, was used during the remaining runs. Both struck cars were loaded to 169,000 pounds gross weight, and were backed up by six loaded cars with the brakes set, except in a few runs in the series when the striking car was loaded to 169,000 pounds, when the struck car was standing free to roll. A Hathaway electronic oscillograph and amplifier unit were used to record the coupling force, draft gear travel, speed, and longitudinal acceleration during the various impacts. A 16-mm Wollensak Fastax high-speed camera was used to show the draft gear action at impact. It was concluded that the Welex hydraulic draft gear has very desirable characteristics in buff, in that it brings about a marked reduction in coupling forces and accelerations in the equipment at impact. It is not felt, however, that equivalent protection is afforded by the gear in draft or run-out. The Welex gear would give adequate protection to the lading and equipment at switching impacts of 10 miles per hour.

• Corporate Authors:

  Santa-Fe Railway

  Office of Mechanical and Research Engineer
  Topeka, KS  United States 
• Publication Date: 1971-10-31

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 41 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Couplers; Crashes; Cushioning materials; Freight cars; Gears; Railroad cars; Technology; Vehicle dynamics; Velocity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Draft gears
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Car impact; Cushioning
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039921
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 5 1976 12:00AM