Extended travel railcar damping system

1 . A clutch mechanism for a railcar draft gear, the clutch mechanism comprising:

a center wedge having a wedge front end and a wedge rear end with a longitudinal axis running from the wedge front end to the wedge rear end, the wedge front end configured to mechanically engage a coupler, the wedge rear end configured to mechanically engage a friction shoe assembly, the wedge rear end having a first wedge rear surface that makes a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and a second wedge rear surface that makes a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

the friction shoe assembly, comprising a first shoe configured to mechanically engage the first wedge rear surface and a second shoe configured to mechanically engage the second wedge rear surface, wherein:

the first shoe has a front shoe surface, a rear shoe surface, and a side shoe surface, the front shoe surface making a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage the first wedge rear surface, the rear shoe surface making a 110-120° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a spring seat, the side shoe surface making a 2-5° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a tapered plate assembly; and

the second shoe has a front shoe surface, a rear shoe surface, and a side shoe surface, the front shoe surface making a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage the second wedge rear surface, the rear shoe surface making a 110-120° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a spring seat, the side shoe surface making a 2-5° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with the tapered plate assembly;

the spring seat having a seat front end and a seat rear end, the seat front end having a first seat front surface configured to mechanically engage the rear shoe surface of the first shoe and a second front seat surface configured to mechanically engage the rear shoe surface of the second shoe;

the tapered plate assembly, comprising:

a first tapered plate having a tapered plate front end and a tapered plate rear end defining a length of 6-10 inches, the first tapered plate having a straight side and a tapered side, the tapered side configured to mechanically engage the side shoe surface of the first shoe; and

a second tapered plate having a tapered plate front end and a tapered plate rear end defining a length of 6-10 inches, the second tapered plate having a straight side and a tapered side, the tapered side configured to mechanically engage the side shoe surface of the second shoe;

a moveable plate assembly, comprising:

a first moveable plate having a moveable plate front end and a moveable plate rear end defining a length of 12-18 inches, the first moveable plate having a moveable plate inner side and a moveable plate outer side, the moveable plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the straight side of the first tapered plate; and

a second moveable plate having a moveable plate front end and a moveable plate rear end defining a length of 12-18 inches, the second moveable plate having a moveable plate inner side and a moveable plate outer side, the moveable plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the straight side of the second tapered plate; and

an outer plate assembly, comprising:

a first outer plate having an outer plate front end and an outer plate rear end defining a length of 5.25-10 inches, the first outer plate having an outer plate inner side and an outer plate outer side, the outer plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the moveable plate outer side of the first moveable plate; and

a second outer plate having an outer plate front end and an outer plate rear end defining a length of 5.25-10 inches, the second outer plate having an outer plate inner side and an outer plate outer side, the outer plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the moveable plate outer side of the second moveable plate.

2 . The clutch mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing configured to hold both the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly stationary relative to the housing.

3 . The clutch mechanism of claim 2 , wherein:

the housing has a housing front end and a housing rear end;

the clutch mechanism is configured to transition between a fully compressed state and a fully uncompressed state;

in the fully compressed state, each moveable plate front end is flush with the housing front end; and

in the fully uncompressed state, each moveable plate front end extends 5-8 inches beyond the housing front end.

4 . The clutch mechanism of claim 3 , wherein:

during transitioning from the fully uncompressed state towards a fully compressed state:

the center wedge engages the friction shoe assembly;

the friction shoe assembly engages the spring seat and the tapered plate assembly;

the moveable plate assembly engages the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly; and

movement of the center wedge, the friction shoe assembly, and the moveable plate assembly relative to the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly transforms kinetic energy into thermal energy via friction, wherein motion along the longitudinal axis is damped via energy dissipation.

5 . A method of damping motion within a railcar draft gear comprising the clutch mechanism of claim 1 , the method comprising:

allowing movement of the center wedge, the friction shoe assembly, and the moveable plate assembly relative to the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly to transform kinetic energy into thermal energy via friction such that motion along the longitudinal axis is damped via energy dissipation by 5-9 inches of movement.

6 . A railcar draft gear, comprising:

a housing having an open housing front end and a closed housing rear end;

a clutch mechanism located within the housing front end, the clutch mechanism comprising:

a center wedge having a wedge front end and a wedge rear end with a longitudinal axis running from the wedge front end to the wedge rear end, the wedge front end configured to mechanically engage a coupler, the wedge rear end configured to mechanically engage a friction shoe assembly, the wedge rear end having a first wedge rear surface that makes a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and a second wedge rear surface that makes a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

the friction shoe assembly, comprising a first shoe configured to mechanically engage the first wedge rear surface and a second shoe configured to mechanically engage the second wedge rear surface, wherein:

the first shoe has a front shoe surface, a rear shoe surface, and a side shoe surface, the front shoe surface making a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage the first wedge rear surface, the rear shoe surface making a 110-120° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a spring seat, the side shoe surface making a 2-5° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a tapered plate assembly; and

the second shoe has a front shoe surface, a rear shoe surface, and a side shoe surface, the front shoe surface making a 55-65° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage the second wedge rear surface, the rear shoe surface making a 110-120° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with a spring seat, the side shoe surface making a 2-5° angle relative to the longitudinal axis and is configured to mechanically engage with the tapered plate assembly;

the spring seat having a seat front end and a seat rear end, the seat front end having a first seat front surface configured to mechanically engage the rear shoe surface of the first shoe and a second front seat surface configured to mechanically engage the rear shoe surface of the second shoe, the seat rear end configured to mechanically engage an elastomer pad assembly;

the tapered plate assembly, comprising:

a first tapered plate having a tapered plate front end and a tapered plate rear end defining a length of 6-10 inches, the first tapered plate having a straight side and a tapered side, the tapered side configured to mechanically engage the side shoe surface of the first shoe; and

a second tapered plate having a tapered plate front end and a tapered plate rear end defining a length of 6-10 inches, the second tapered plate having a straight side and a tapered side, the tapered side configured to mechanically engage the side shoe surface of the second shoe;

a moveable plate assembly, comprising:

a first moveable plate having a moveable plate front end and a moveable plate rear end defining a length of 12-18 inches, the first moveable plate having a moveable plate inner side and a moveable plate outer side, the moveable plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the straight side of the first tapered plate; and

a second moveable plate having a moveable plate front end and a moveable plate rear end defining a length of 12-18 inches, the second moveable plate having a moveable plate inner side and a moveable plate outer side, the moveable plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the straight side of the second tapered plate; and

an outer plate assembly, comprising:

a first outer plate having an outer plate front end and an outer plate rear end defining a length of 5.25-10 inches, the first outer plate having an outer plate inner side and an outer plate outer side, the outer plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the moveable plate outer side of the first moveable plate;

a second outer plate having an outer plate front end and an outer plate rear end defining a length of 5.25-10 inches, the second outer plate having an outer plate inner side and an outer plate outer side, the outer plate inner side configured to mechanically engage the moveable plate outer side of the second moveable plate; and

the elastomer pad assembly, comprising a plurality of elastomer pads arranged within the housing rear end.

7 . The railcar draft gear of claim 6 , wherein:

the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly are secured to the housing such that each is held stationary relative to the housing.

8 . The railcar draft gear of claim 6 , wherein:

the draft gear is configured to transition between a fully compressed state and a fully uncompressed state;

in the fully compressed state, each moveable plate front end is flush with the housing front end; and

in the fully uncompressed state, each moveable plate front end extends 5-8 inches beyond the housing front end.

9 . The railcar draft gear of claim 8 , wherein:

during transitioning from the fully uncompressed state towards a fully compressed state:

the center wedge engages the friction shoe assembly;

the friction shoe assembly engages the spring seat and the tapered plate assembly;

the moveable plate assembly engages the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly; and

movement of the center wedge, the friction shoe assembly, and the moveable plate assembly relative to the tapered plate assembly and the outer plate assembly transforms kinetic energy into thermal energy via friction, wherein motion along the longitudinal axis is damped via energy dissipation.

10 . The railcar draft gear of claim 9 , wherein:

during transitioning from the fully uncompressed state towards a fully compressed state, the seat rear end mechanically engages the elastomer pad assembly to cause the elastomer pad assembly to compress.

11 . The railcar draft gear of claim 6 , wherein:

the elastomer pad assembly includes a pad shim disposed between two elastomer pads.