BOGIES AND SUSPENSION - South Central Railway

CHAPTER 6 – BOGIES AND SUSPENSION
WAGON MAINTENANCE MANUAL
Page 62 of 121
It should be ensured that packing plate sits properly on the axle box crown and
the spring buckle rests properly over it and there should be no chance for them to
come out of the crown.
605 H. AXLE GUARD HORN CHEEK ASSEMBLY
On 4 Wheeled stock, the axle guards are provided to keep the axle boxes in
their correct aligned position. They are riveted to the sole bars except in MG
weighted brake vans. On latter, use of bolts is permitted. The distance between the
centres of the axle guard on the same side of the wagons is kept equivalent to the
required rigid wheel base.
The axle guards are subjected to wear on the inner portions due to the relative
movement between axle guard and axle box grooves in service. On portion where
wear takes place, horn cheeks have been provided on the axle guard. After reaching
condemning limit the horn cheeks can be replaced at lesser cost as compared to
replacement of complete axle guards.
The axle guards are of various types and sizes, standard being the IRS and
IRCA types. Axle guards get seriously damaged on account of hump or rough
shunting. IRS type axle guards are built up of pressed steel and are robust in
construction. Incidence of breakage in service of IRS type of axle guards is much less
as compared to IRCA and other types.
To avoid widening of the axle guards jaw in service, a bridle bar is riveted to
the axle guard at the lowest position. One end of the bridle bar is riveted to the left
hand and the other end to the right hand leg of the axle guard. The two jaws of the
axle guards on either side of the axle box are connected by bridle bar at the bottom
and thus the widening is prevented.
The axle guard, horn cheeks and bridle bar are described below.
a) AXLE-GUARDS (PRESSED STEEL TYPE)
For one axle box, one right handed and one left handed axle guard is required.
It is made of steel plate (8 mm thick for MG & 10 mm thick for BG) to specification
IS: 3747 and pressed to shape. Its inner edge is vertical and the outer edge is inclined.
Its top and bottom edges are horizontal. Its shape is like a trapezium having two right
angles. The plate is bent at right angles along the vertical and inclined edges forming
a channel. The bent side on outer edge has a tapering width, maximum at the top and
minimum at the bottom. Similarly, the bent side at the inner edge has tapering width
from top up to about half the height and thereafter, uniform width up to the bottom.
Both the bent sides have been chamfered at the top at an angle of about 45 degrees.