Rail vehicle adapter for connecting a rail vehicle body to a bearing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle adapter (14) for radially connecting a rail vehicle body to a bearing (16). The rail vehicle adapter (14) comprises: two lateral channels (42), each lateral channel (42) being defined by a pair of opposing lugs (42b, 42c) and a lateral guiding surface (42a) perpendicular to the opposing lugs (42b, 42c), the lateral channels (42) being adapted to cooperate with the rail vehicle body. The lateral guiding surface (42a) of the lateral channels (42) is curved in a section by a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the bearing.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bearing adapters for rail vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Rail vehicles generally include a bogie frame, which is provided with a pair of side frames on each side. The side frames have jaws that open downward. The bearing adapter can move vertically within the jaws and is placed on a bearing mounted on a rail vehicle axle that supports the wheels of the rail vehicle. Thus, the bearing adapter provides a rigid connection between the bogie frame of the rail vehicle and the bearing. Generally, the bearing for the rail vehicle axle is assembled around a journal at the end of the rail vehicle axle, where the bearing is mounted between a backing ring and an end cap.

[0003] However, the rail vehicle adapter can move relative to the bearing. When the rail vehicle travels on a curved track, the rail vehicle adapter may become misaligned relative to the bearing. This results in undesirable wear of some components, particularly the lugs in the lateral channels that engage the jaws of the bogie frame, thereby reducing their service life.

[0004] When the bearing is of the rolling bearing type, the load applied by the bogie frame through the adapter may not be well distributed over the bearing, especially the rolling elements. This results in wear on the inner and outer surfaces of the rail vehicle adapter and failure of the bearing.

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention address these and other problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a rail vehicle adapter for radially connecting a rail vehicle body to a bearing. The rail vehicle adapter includes two lateral channels, each lateral channel being defined by a pair of opposing lugs and a lateral guiding surface perpendicular to the opposing lugs. The lateral channels are adapted to cooperate with the rail vehicle body. The rail vehicle adapter includes two frontal flanges that project inwardly relative to the inner surface and, together with the inner surface, define a housing for the bearing. The rail vehicle adapter includes an inner surface that serves as a bearing seat for the bearing. The rail vehicle adapter includes an outer surface that is adapted to directly contact the rail vehicle body radially.

[0007] According to the invention, the lateral guiding surfaces of the lateral channels are curved in a section by a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the bearing.

[0008] This configuration increases the service life of the rail vehicle adapter and the bearing by reducing wear. The curved outer lateral guiding surface of the rail vehicle adapter compensates for the relative misalignment between the rail vehicle body and the bearing. When the bearing is of the rolling bearing type, the load applied by the bogie frame through the adapter is evenly distributed on the bearing, especially on the rolling elements.

[0009] This configuration increases the service life of the rail vehicle adapter and the bearing by preventing relative misalignment and wear.

[0010] According to other advantageous but non - mandatory aspects of the present invention, such a rail vehicle adapter may comprise one or more of the following features:

[0011] For example, the inner surface has a concave shape with a constant radius so as to be located on the bearing.

[0012] The outer surface of the rail vehicle adapter is curved in a section passing through the axis of rotation of the bearing.

[0013] The outer surface of the rail vehicle adapter is cylindrical or spherical.

[0014] The outer surface of the rail vehicle adapter is flat.

[0015] The lateral guiding surface of the lateral channel is cylindrical.

[0016] The lateral guiding surface of the lateral channel is spherical.

[0017] The rail vehicle adapter is made of metal, for example, made of metal by casting. For example, the rail vehicle adapter is made of cast steel or cast iron.

[0018] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a rail vehicle adapter assembly, which comprises a rail vehicle adapter according to any one of the foregoing embodiments, a bearing mounted inside the rail vehicle adapter, a cushion ring adapted to axially contact the bearing on a first side, and an end - cap assembly adapted to axially contact the bearing on the other side opposite to the first side.

[0019] In one embodiment, the bearing comprises at least one inner ring and at least one outer ring mounted to contact the inner surface of the rail vehicle adapter radially.

[0020] In one embodiment, the bearing comprises at least one row of rolling elements disposed between the raceways provided on the inner and outer rings.

[0021] In one embodiment, the inner ring of the bearing is manufactured as two components separated axially by an axial spacer.

[0022] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a rail vehicle axle, which includes a rail vehicle adapter assembly according to any one of the foregoing embodiments and a shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted inside the bearing relative to the rail vehicle adapter about a rotation axis. The shaft includes a first end radially mounted inside the spacer ring and a second end opposite to the first end fixed to the end cap assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when reviewing (understanding) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments and the drawings, wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail vehicle axle according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an axial sectional view of the rail vehicle axle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a railcar axle 10 is provided for coupling a bogie frame of a rail vehicle to a wheel (not shown). The railcar axle 10 includes a shaft 12 (shown in dashed lines in Figure 2 ), and the shaft 12 is rotatably mounted relative to the rail vehicle adapter 14 about a rotation axis X10. The rail vehicle adapter 14 is fixed to a rail vehicle bogie frame (frame), and the shaft 12 is fixed to the wheel.

[0027] A bearing 16 is radially disposed between the rail vehicle adapter 14 and the shaft 12. As shown in Figure 2 , the bearing 16 is of the rolling bearing type and includes an inner ring 18 mounted on the shaft 12, an outer ring 20 mounted inside the rail vehicle adapter 14, and two rows of rolling elements 22a, 22b disposed between raceways provided on the inner ring 18 and the outer ring 20. For example, the rolling elements 22a, 22b are rollers. For example, the inner ring 18 is manufactured as two components separated axially by an axial spacer 24. In this embodiment, the bearing 16 is a tapered roller bearing.

[0028] The bearing 16 is also provided with sealing members 26, 28 at two axial ends. The sealing members 26, 28 enclose a radial space defined between the inner ring 18 and the outer ring 20. The rolling elements 22a, 22b are disposed in the sealed radial space.

[0029] The rail vehicle adapter 14 is fixed to the outer ring 20 through its radially inner or bearing seat side (or inner surface) 30, and is mounted on the inner side of the bogie frame through its radially outer or frame seat side (or outer surface) 32.

[0030] The axle 12 includes a journal 12a and a dust guard having a cylindrical surface 12b, and the diameter of the cylindrical surface 12b is larger than that of the journal 12a. A recessed fillet 12c connects the cylindrical surface 12b on the journal 12a. The inner ring 18 of the bearing is mounted on the journal 12a.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the rail vehicle axle 10 further includes a spacer ring 34, and the spacer ring 34 has an inner surface 34a adapted to contact the outer surface of the axle 12 radially on the side of the fillet 12c and contact the inner ring 18 of the bearing 16 axially. Accordingly, the inner surface 34a of the spacer ring 34 has a fillet shape that is almost complementary to the fillet shape of the fillet 12c.

[0032] The rail vehicle axle 10 further includes an end cap assembly 38. The end cap assembly 38 includes an end cap 38a configured to serve as a stop element in the case where the axle 12 translates leftward relative to the inner ring 18 (relative to Figure 2 ). Thus, the end cap 38a is reliably fixed to the journal 12 by three cap screws 38b and contacts the inner ring 18 of the bearing 16 axially.

[0033] As Figure 1 shown in detail above, the rail vehicle adapter 14 includes an adapter body 40 provided with two lateral channels 42. In Figure 1 the figure, only one channel 42 is shown, and the adapter body 40 includes another lateral channel on the opposite lateral side. Each of the lateral channels 42 is defined axially by a pair of opposite lugs (projections) 42b, 42c and a lateral guiding surface 42a perpendicular to the lugs. Each lateral channel 42 has a U-shaped configuration and is adapted to engage with the lugs of the jaws (not shown) of the bogie frame, thereby serving as an insertion guide between the adapter and the bogie frame.

[0034] The body 40 of the rail vehicle adapter 14 further includes two positive surfaces 46, 48, an inner surface 30, and an outer surface 32. The inner surface 30 serves as a bearing seat that contacts the outer ring 20 of the bearing 16 radially, and the outer surface 32 serves as a frame seat that contacts the bogie frame radially.

[0035] The inner surface 30 has a recessed shape with a constant radius, so as to be located on the outer cylindrical surface of the outer ring 20 of the bearing 16.

[0036] The front surfaces 46, 48 are respectively provided with a first positive flange 50 and a second positive flange 52 that point radially inward. The flanges project radially inward relative to the inner surface 30. The flanges are axially opposite to each other. The flanges and the inner surface 30 together define a housing for the outer ring 20 of the bearing 16. The outer ring 20 is axially disposed between the first positive flange 50 and the second positive flange 52.

[0037] The adapter body 40 is made of metal by any suitable process, such as by casting for example. For example, the body 40 is made of steel or cast iron.

[0038] According to the present invention, the lateral guiding surface 42a of the lateral channel is curved in a section by a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis X10 of the bearing 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the lateral guiding surface 42a is cylindrical. As an option, the lateral guiding surface 42a can be spherical.

[0039] The bogie frame includes lugs of the jaws that are received and abutted against the lateral guiding surface 42a within the lateral channel 42 of the rail vehicle adapter 14. In the case of relative misalignment ( / deviation / misalignment) between the bogie frame and the bearing 16, the bogie frame can rotate onto the curved lateral guiding surface 42a. Thereby compensating for the misalignment. Preventing any displacement of the rail vehicle adapter 14 relative to the bearing 16.

[0040] Advantageously, the outer surface 32 of the rail vehicle adapter 14 is also curved. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface 32 is cylindrical in a section by the rotational axis X10 of the bearing 16. As an option, the outer surface 32 can be spherical.

[0041] The bogie frame includes a lower surface that abuts against the outer surface 32 of the rail vehicle adapter 14 in the radial direction. In the case of relative misalignment between the bogie frame and the bearing 16, the bogie frame can rotate onto the curved outer surface 32. The rail vehicle adapter 14 includes curved surfaces 42a, 32 that are in contact with the bogie frame along two directions.

[0042] As an option (not shown), the inner surfaces of the opposite lugs 42b, 42c of the lateral channel 42 are curved in a section by a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis X10 of the bearing 16. For example, the surfaces can be cylindrical or spherical.

[0043] It should be noted that the illustrated and described embodiments are given only by non - restrictive illustrative examples, and modifications, combinations, and variations can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0044] The invention has been illustrated based on a rolling bearing provided with at least one row of rolling elements arranged radially between an inner ring and an outer ring. As an alternative, the bearing may be a plain bearing or a sliding bearing including one or two rings.

Claims

1. An orbital vehicle adapter (14) for radially connecting an orbital vehicle body to a bearing (16), the orbital vehicle adapter (14) comprising: Two lateral channels (42), each lateral channel (42) being defined by a pair of opposing lugs (42b, 42c) and a lateral guiding surface (42a) perpendicular to the opposing lugs (42b, 42c), the lateral channels (42) being adapted to cooperate with the orbital vehicle body, Two positive flanges projecting inwards relative to the inner surface (30) and, together with the inner surface (30), defining a housing for the bearing (16), An inner surface (30) serving as a bearing seat for the bearing (16), and An outer surface (32) adapted to directly contact the orbital vehicle body radially, Wherein the lateral guiding surface (42a) of the lateral channel (42) is curved in a cross-section by a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the bearing.

2. The track vehicle adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that The lateral guiding surface (42a) of the lateral channel (42) is cylindrical.

3. The track vehicle adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lateral guiding surface (42a) of the lateral channel (42) is spherical.

4. The rail vehicle adapter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The outer surface (32) is curved in a cross-section by the rotational axis of the bearing.

5. The track vehicle adapter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer surface of the orbital vehicle adapter is cylindrical.

6. The rail vehicle adapter according to claim 4, characterized in that, The outer surface of the orbital vehicle adapter is spherical.

7. An orbital vehicle adapter assembly comprising the orbital vehicle adapter (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a bearing (16) mounted inside the orbital vehicle adapter (14), a spacer ring (34) adapted to axially contact the bearing (16) on a first side, and an end cap assembly (38) adapted to axially contact the bearing (16) on the other side opposite the first side.

8. The rail vehicle adapter assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The bearing (16) includes at least one row of rolling elements (22a, 22b) disposed between raceways provided on an inner ring (18) and an outer ring (20).

9. The rail vehicle adapter assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The inner ring (18) of the bearing (16) is made of two components separated axially by an axial spacer (24).

10. An orbital vehicle axle (10) comprising the orbital vehicle adapter assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9 and a shaft (12) rotatably mounted inside the bearing (16) relative to the orbital vehicle adapter (14) about a rotational axis, the shaft (12) including a first end (12c) mounted radially inside the spacer ring (34) and a second end (12a) opposite the first end (12c) fixed to the end cap assembly (38).

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