RR-56-1 Roller-Bearing Service in Locomotive, Passenger, and Freight Equipment B y T. V. BUCKWALTER,1 CANTON, OHIO Modern civilization is based on transportation, and the tive was designed for application of Timken bearings on all fundamental prime mover in transportation is the steam of the drivers, engine-truck, trailer, and tender-truck locomotive. Improvements in the steam locomotive wheels, on the Franklin booster, and on various elements affecting its efficiency and reliability are reflected in a of the control mechanism. The introduction of roller corresponding manner in the entire transportation in­ bearings on the drivers permits of higher rotative speeds, dustry. The loads and stresses developed in locomotive as the bearings surround the drivers completely, and elim i­ service on bearings are exceptionally severe, and the con­ nates pounds within the bearing boxes. Heating is elim i­ sequences of failure are far reaching, and these conditions nated, as the temperature rise does not exceed 25 deg above together have militated against rapid introduction of the atmosphere. The wheel diameter was therefore selected roller bearing in locomotive service. The application of between that prevailing for modern high-speed freight the roller bearing in passenger service has progressed in an locomotives, averaging 70 in., and high-speed passenger encouraging manner over a period of years, but efforts to locomotives, with 80-in. drivers. The economy in friction, interest railroad men in application of roller bearings estimated at 12 to 15 per cent, was utilized in increasing to a complete locomotive were unsuccessful, and finally the diameter of the drivers over that of the modern freight convinced the Timken company of the desirability of locomotive, and developing through the saving in friction building a locomotive equipped on all wheels with roller a drawbar capacity equivalent to the latter. The 73-in. bearings and loaning it for an extended period of service to wheel was therefore selected. The 4-8-4 wheel arrange­ the railroads of the United States. The Timken locomo­ ment with four-wheel trailer truck was favored. \HE Timken locomotive was de­ The weight was held within the limits imposed on certain signed for application of Timken American roads, namely, 61,000 lb per driving axle, but in order bearings on all of the drivers, en­ to compare reasonably with much heavier freight power on other gine-truck, trailer, and tender-truck wheels, roads a duplex steam pressure was utilized in connection with on the Franklin booster, and on various the weight transfer between the drivers and trucks, making elements of the control mechanism. The available a weight of 66,000 lb per driver and a steam pressure introduction of roller bearings on the of 250 lb on roads permitting of the heavier axle loads. The drivers permits of higher rotative speeds, supporting of the large boiler capable of developing maximum as the bearings surround the drivers com­ power at high speeds favored the adoption of the 4-8-4 wheel pletely, and eliminates pounds within the arrangement with four-wheel trailer truck. bearing boxes. Heating is eliminated, as the temperature rise does not exceed 25 Locomotive Specifications deg above atmosphere. The wheel diameter was therefore se­ The locomotive companies, the motive-power departments of lected between that prevailing for modern high-speed freight lo­ the railroad companies, and the specialty companies assisted comotives, averaging 70 in., and high-speed passenger locomotives, wholeheartedly in the selection of specifications for the locomo­ with 80-in. drivers. The economy in friction, estimated at 12 to 15 tive and made available their enormous funds of information and per cent, was utilized in increasing the diameter of the drivers over data on locomotive design. The locomotive is a composite of that of the modern freight locomotive, and developing through specifications of a number of trunk-line railroads and was built the saving in friction a drawbar capacity equivalent to the as large and powerful as the clearance limitations of the principal latter. railroads of the United States would permit. Specifications are The 73-in. wheel was therefore selected. Careful proportioning as follows: of reciprocating parts and rods permits of operating the 73-in. Owner, Timken Roller Bearing Company driver at speeds sufficiently high to handle the existing American Builder, American Locomotive Company passenger-train schedules. Type of locomotive, 4-8-4 Service, freight and passenger M axim um rated tractiv e force (boiler pressure, 235 lb), lb ............. 59,900 1 Vice-President, Timken Roller Bearing Company. Mem. A.S.- Rated tractive force of booster (boiler pressure, 235 lb), lb............ 12,000 M.E. Mr. Buckwalter entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Tractive force at starting (boiler pressure, 235 lb), lb ...................... 71,900 Railroad at the Altoona Works in 1900, and after six years of shop Maximum rated tractive force (boiler pressure, 250 lb), lb ............. 63,700 Rated tractive force of booster (boiler pressure, 250 lb), lb ............ 12,800 experience was transferred to the motive power engineering depart­ Tractive force at starting (boiler pressure, 250 lb), lb ...................... 76,500 ment, continuing work on automotive engineering matters until Weight on drivers -4- tractive force (boiler pressure, 235 lb).......... 4 .1 0 1916. He developed the electric baggage, mail, and express trucks Weight on drivers -j- tractive force (boiler pressure, 250 lb).......... 4 .1 4 Cylinders, diameter and stroke, in ........ .........................•• •*.................. ^7 X 30 generally used at railway terminals throughout the world. He was Valve gear, W alschaert type; valves, piston type, size, i n .............. 12 Chief Engineer of the Timken Roller Bearing Company from 1916 M axim um travel, in ........................................................................................ 8V 2 to 1922 and Vice-President since 1923. Steam lap, in ...................................................................................................... 1*A Exhaust clearance, in ...................................................................................... V* Contributed by the Railroad Division and presented at the Semi- Lead, in ................................................................................................................ V* Annual Meeting, Bigwin Inn, Lake of Bays, Ontario, Canada, June Cut-off in full gear, per cen t........................................................................ 85 27 to July 1, 1932, of T h e A m e r ic a n S o c ie t y o p M e c h a n ic a l Weights in working order (boiler pressure, 235 lb): E n g i n e e r s . On drivers, lb ............................................................................................... 246,000 N o t e : Statements and opinions advanced in papers are to b e On trailing truck, front, lb ......................................................................48,500 On trailing truck, rear, lb ........................................................................55,500 • understood as individual expressions of their authors, and not those On front truck, lb .......................................................................................67,500 of the Society. T otal engine, lb ............................................................................................417,500 23 24 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Weights in working order (boiler pressure, 250 lb): Weight proportions (boiler pressure, 250 lb): On drivers, lb ........................................................................................... 264,000 Weight on drivers -7- total engine weight per cent.................... 63.4 On trailing truck, front, lb .................................................................. 34,500 W eight on drivers -s- tractive force................................................. 4. 14 On trailing truck, rear, lb .................................................................... 59,000 Boiler proportions: On front truck, lb ................................................................................... 60,000 Tractive force -j- comb, heating surface........................................ 8.77 T otal engine, lb ....................................................................................... 417,500 Tractive force X diam. drivers -f- comb, heating surface... 639 Total tender, lb ....................................................................................... 294,000 Total engine and tender, lb ................................................................ 711,500 Wheelbases: R o l l e r -B e a r in g A pplications Driving, f t ................................................................................................. 193/iJ D riving, rigid, f t ...................................................................................... 1210/i2 The driver application was made without adjustable mecha­ Total engine, f t ........................................................................................ 4510/i2 nism. Hardened steel trunnion guides are mounted on the T otal engine and tender, f t ................................................................. 899/u Wheels, diameter outside tires: bearing housings centrally pivoted to permit of the housing D riving, in ................................................................................................