WEAR TEST ON COUPLER CARRIER WEAR PLATES

Wear testing of coupler carrier wear plates was carried out by mounting them in a framework which moved them side-to-side beneath stationary couplers testing on the wear plates. Criterion used for comparison was the resulting wear rate on the coupler shank plate, with the proviso that the carrier wear plate itself should have a reasonable life. It was found that, of the carrier plates tested, mild steel did badly, hardened steel and gray iron did twice as well and manganese plates did still better. The non-metallic plates, however, caused almost zero wear to the coupler shank plate.