Railway wheel boring machine for machining railway wheel hub hole

Abstract

The invention relates to a railway wheel boring machine for machining a hub hole of a railway wheel. A railway wheel boring machine for machining a hole (16) in a hub (15) of a railway wheel (10) comprises a base (101), a column (102), a working head (103) sliding on the column (102), a rotating boring bar (104) arranged on the working head (103), and a non-rotating clamping plate (105) having a clamping unit (106) for clamping and centering the railway wheel (10), the clamping unit comprises at least three jaws (118) moving along a rectilinear path (T) converging at a center (C ') of the non-rotating clamping plate (105), where each jaw is attached to a transfer bar (119) having a first end (120) attached to the jaw (118) and a second end (121) attached to a swivel ring (122) driven by an actuator (123), where the actuator (123) is configured to actuate the actuator (123) to drive the jaw (118) to move along a rectilinear path (T) converging at a center (C') of the non-rotating clamping plate (105). The actuator (123) rotates the swivel ring (122) to drive the transfer bar (119) and move the jaw (118) to secure the railway wheel (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a railway wheel boring machine for machining a railway wheel hub hole. Background Art

[0002] Railway wheels are among the components subject to the heaviest loads during rail vehicle operation. Therefore, a secure connection between the wheel and the axle via a shrink fit is crucial for rail transport safety. Consequently, the machining accuracy of the hub bore of the railway wheel, which connects the wheel to the axle, demands high precision.

[0003] Traditionally, railway wheel hub bores are machined on vertical lathes, where the wheel is held in a rotating clamping plate that rotates the wheel. A cutting tool positioned in the lathe's workhead machines the hub bore as the wheel rotates. These vertical lathes are versatile machines used for a wide range of machining tasks and refurbishment of railway wheels. However, they are expensive and, in some cases, cannot meet the high precision requirements currently imposed by the railway industry for wheel bore machining. Therefore, boring mills are used as an alternative to vertical lathes for this task.

[0004] In boring machines, railway wheels are securely clamped in non-rotating clamping plates, and a rotating boring bar penetrates the hub bore of the railway wheel for machining. In this case, static wheel clamping ensures high machining accuracy.

[0005] For example, EP4292737A2 shows a railway wheel boring machine for machining railway wheel hub holes. The boring machine includes a base, a column fixed to the base and projecting vertically upward from the base, a work head attached to the column and capable of vertical sliding movement on the column, a rotating boring bar disposed in the work head for machining the railway wheel hub hole, and a non-rotating clamping plate for positioning the railway wheel. The clamping plate has a clamping unit for securing and centering the wheel. The clamping unit comprises three jaws, three spindles, and three hydraulic motors. Each motor drives a spindle attached to a jaw, and the three spindles are synchronized to move the three jaws in unison. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a railway wheel boring machine for machining railway wheel hub holes.

[0007] The present invention relates to a railway wheel boring machine for machining a hub hole of a railway wheel, comprising a base, a column fixed to the base and projecting vertically upward from the base, a workhead attached to the column and vertically slidable on the column, a rotary boring bar arranged in the workhead for machining the hole of the hub of the railway wheel, and a non-rotating clamping plate for arranging the railway wheel. The non-rotating clamping plate has a clamping unit for fixing and centering the railway wheel on the non-rotating clamping plate so that the center of the railway wheel is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotary boring bar when the railway wheel is fixed on the non-rotating clamping plate. The clamping unit includes at least three jaws for clamping the railway wheel, the at least three jaws moving along linear paths converging at the center of the non-rotating clamping plate, wherein each jaw is attached to a drive rod having a first end attached to the jaw and a second end attached to a slewing ring, and the slewing ring is driven by an actuator such that the actuator rotates the slewing ring to drive the drive rod and move the jaws, thereby securing the railway wheel.

[0008] The actuator moves the jaws indirectly via a transmission rod, which allows the actuator to be optimally positioned below the clamping plate with minimal space requirements, while the slewing ring synchronizes the movement of the three jaws by guiding the movement of the transmission rod. This allows the boring machine to have a clamping plate that is compact in both width and height, which allows railway wheels of different diameters to be securely fixed and centered for machining wheel hub bores. For example, in a boring machine with a spindle, such as that shown in EP 4 292 737 A2, the wheel can be securely centered and fixed to the clamping plate, but the actuation of the jaws requires an oversized clamping plate to accommodate the hydraulic motor and spindle.

[0009] These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent in view of the accompanying drawings and detailed description of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of a railway wheel boring machine according to the present invention is shown.

[0011] Figure 2 Shown is a top perspective view of a non-rotating clamping plate of a boring machine.

[0012] Figure 3 A view of the interior of the clamping plate showing the jaws, drive rod, actuator and slewing ring is shown.

[0013] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the clamping plate is shown.

[0014] Figure 5A bottom view of the clamping plate is shown.

[0015] Figure 6 The actuator is shown in a maximum retracted position, and Figure 7 The actuator is shown in a maximum extended position.

[0016] Figure 8 A partially cutaway perspective view of a railway wheel is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Figure 8 The structure of a railway wheel 10 is shown, comprising a flange 11, a tread 12, a rim 13, a web 14 and a hub 15 having a hole 16 in which the axle is mounted. The railway wheel 10 has a center C corresponding to the center of the hole 16. Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a railway wheel boring machine 100 according to the present invention, which is used to fix and center a railway wheel 10 relative to its center C and to machine a bore 16 of a hub 15 of the railway wheel 10. Figure 1 The wheel 10 and the housing of the boring machine 100 are not shown.

[0018] The railway wheel boring machine 100 includes a base 101, a column 102 fixed to the base 101 and protruding vertically upward from the base 101, a working head 103 attached to the column 102 and vertically slidable on the column 102, a rotating boring bar 104 arranged in the working head 103 for machining the hole 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10, and a non-rotating clamping plate 105 for arranging the railway wheel 10.

[0019] The non-rotating clamping plate 105 has a clamping unit 106 for securing and centering the railway wheel 10 on the clamping plate 105 such that when the railway wheel 10 is secured on the clamping plate 105, the center C of the railway wheel 10 is aligned with the longitudinal axis Z of the rotating boring bar 104. Figure 1 As seen in FIG, the boring bar 104 has a longitudinal axis Z extending perpendicularly to the horizontal plane of the floor on which the boring machine 100 is arranged.

[0020] The working head 103 is driven by a first motor that moves the working head 103 vertically on the column 102, and the rotary boring bar 104 is driven by a second motor that rotates the boring bar 104. The boring bar 104 rotates about its own longitudinal axis Z, and the working head 103 moves vertically along an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the floor on which the boring machine 100 is arranged.

[0021] The column 102 may have a guide rail 109 extending vertically on the column 102, and the work head 103 may have a slide seat 110 slidably connected to the guide rail 109 of the column 102. The slide seat 110 may be attached to a nut spindle mechanism that is driven by a first motor to move the work head 103 on the column 102.

[0022] The rotary boring bar 104 has at least one cutting tool 111 that projects radially outward from the boring bar 104 for machining the bore 16 of the railway wheel 10. The cutting tool 111 is movable transversely along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z of the boring bar 104 to vary the distance that the cutting tool 111 projects from the boring bar 104, such that by varying this distance, the diameter of the bore 16 of the railway wheel 10 to be machined can be varied.

[0023] In this way, when the railway wheel 10 is fixed on the clamping plate 105 , the working head 103 with the boring bar 104 is moved vertically toward the clamping plate 105 and the boring bar 104 is rotated about its longitudinal axis Z to machine the hole 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10 .

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the clamping plate 105 preferably has a seat 112 for supporting the railway wheel 10 and a belt 113 that can be vertically moved between an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position, the belt 113 is located above the seat 112 to receive the railway wheel 10, and in the lower position, the belt 113 is located below the seat 112 to allow the railway wheel 10 to rest on the seat 112 (in the lower position). Figure 1 , the belt 113 is shown in the lower position). The railway wheel 10 rests on the seat 112 on the inside of the rim 13, which is the side opposite to the side where the flange 11 is located.

[0025] More preferably, the clamping plate 105 includes a loading unit 114 that transfers the railway wheel 10 toward the belt 113 and a discharge unit 115 that receives the railway wheel 10 from the belt 113. For example, the loading unit 114 and the discharge unit 115 may include motor-driven rotating rollers. The belt 113 of the clamping plate 105 is driven by a motor to receive the wheel 10 from the loading unit 114 and transfer the wheel 10 to the discharge unit 115 after the wheel 10 is processed. In the upper position, the belt 113 is arranged at the level of the loading unit 114 and the discharge unit 115, so that when the wheel 10 is to be machined, the loading unit 114 transfers the wheel 10 towards the belt 113 in the upper position, the belt 113 then moves the wheel 10 to position it above the seat 112, the belt 113 then moves to the lower position until the wheel 10 rests on the seat 112, the clamping unit 106 then fixes and centers the wheel 10 for machining by the boring bar 104, and after machining, the belt 113 moves to the upper position so that the wheel 10 no longer rests on the seat 112 and the belt 113 transfers the wheel 10 towards the discharge unit 115. In this way, the belt 113 initially centers the wheel 10 on the clamping plate 105, and the clamping unit 106 then finally centers the wheel 10 so that the center C of the wheel 10 is aligned with the longitudinal axis Z of the boring bar 104.

[0026] Preferably, the clamping plate 105 has a first detection device 116 and a second detection device 117, the first detection device 116 being arranged at one end of the belt 113 to detect the entry of the railway wheel 10 from the loading unit 114, and the second detection device 117 being arranged at the other end of the belt 113 to detect the exit of the railway wheel 10 toward the discharge unit 115. The first detection device 116 is arranged at the end of the belt 113 adjacent to the loading unit 114, and the second detection device 117 is arranged at the end of the belt 113 adjacent to the discharge unit 115. Each of the detection devices 116 and 117 may include a laser emitter and a laser receiver.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown in detail in FIG, the clamping unit 106 has three jaws 118 for clamping the railway wheel 10, which move along a straight path T converging at the center C' of the clamping plate 105. When the railway wheel 10 is fixed and centered on the clamping plate 105, the center C' of the clamping plate 105 coincides with the center C of the bore 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10.

[0028] As in Figures 3 to 5As seen in detail in FIG, each dog 118 is attached to a drive rod 119 having a first end 120 attached to the dog 118 and a second end 121 attached to a slewing ring 122, and the slewing ring 122 is driven by an actuator 123 such that the actuator 123 rotates the slewing ring 122 to drive the drive rod 119 and move the dog 118, thereby securing the railway wheel 10.

[0029] In this way, the linear displacement of the actuator 123 is converted into a rotational movement of the slewing ring 122, which in turn is converted via the transmission rod 119 into a linear displacement of the jaws 118. This allows for an optimal clamping force on the railway wheel 10 while simultaneously achieving a compact clamping plate 105 that optimizes the space occupied and allows for the clamping of wheels 10 of varying diameters without requiring the clamping plate 105 to be oversized. For example, the clamping unit allows each jaw 118 to exert a force of 2500 kg on the wheel 10 and can secure wheels 10 with diameters between 711 mm and 1200 mm.

[0030] Preferably, as can be seen in the exemplary figures, the clamping unit 106 has three actuators 123 for driving the slewing ring 122, however, alternatively, only two actuators 123 can be used to drive the slewing ring 122, however, preferably, one actuator 123 is used for each of the three jaws 118, in order to avoid having to make the forces applied by the actuators 123 too large. More preferably, the actuators 123 act on three angular positions of the slewing ring 122 that are 120° out of phase with each other, so that a balanced system of forces is obtained.

[0031] Even more preferably, each actuator 123 is attached to the second end 121 of the corresponding transmission rod 119. In this way, the actuators 123 act directly on the transmission rod 119 to displace the jaws 118, thereby optimizing the force applied by each of the actuators 123 to pull the corresponding transmission rod 119. Specifically, each actuator 123 has a fixed end 124 and a free end 125 displaceable relative to the fixed end 124, the free end 125 being attached to the second end 121 of the corresponding transmission rod 119, and the fixed end 124 being attached to the non-rotating clamping plate 105.

[0032] As can be seen in the figure, the claw 118 is arranged in the upper part of the clamping plate 105, and the actuator 123, the transmission rod 119 and the slewing ring 122 are arranged in the lower part of the clamping plate 105 without protruding radially outward from the clamping plate 105, that is, the actuator 123, the transmission rod 119 and the slewing ring 122 do not protrude from the vertical projection of the clamping plate 105, thereby making the width and height of the clamping plate 105 compact.

[0033] As in Figure 4As can be seen in the partial cross-sectional view of , each jaw 118 has a sliding seat 127 that travels on a pair of guide rails 128 of the clamping plate 105, which converge toward the center C' of the clamping plate 105, and each sliding seat 127 is attached to a corresponding transmission rod 119. The guide rails 128 for the movement of the sliding seat 127 of the jaw 118 are arranged in the upper part of the clamping plate 105, and the transmission rod 119 and the actuator 123 that act on the slewing ring 122 are arranged at the lower part of the clamping plate 105.

[0034] The clamping plate 105 has an outer periphery located at a position opposite the center C' of the clamping plate 105, and the fixed end 124 of each actuator 123 is fixed at a point located on the outer periphery of the clamping plate 105, and the jaws 118 are displaced from the outer periphery toward the center C' of the clamping plate 105 so that the actuators 123 are located in a position substantially parallel to the displacement of the jaws 118. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the clamping plate 105 has a preferably circular shape, and the outer periphery of the clamping plate 105 corresponds to the outer diameter of the circular shape. Figure 6 The actuator 123 is shown in a maximum retracted position, with the jaws 118 located on the periphery of the clamping plate 105, and Figure 7 The actuator 123 is shown in a maximum extended position, with the jaws 118 located at the center C′ of the clamping plate 105 .

[0035] Each transmission rod 119 is articulatedly connected to a corresponding actuator 123 via an intermediate piece 129, wherein each intermediate piece 129 articulately connects a free end 125 of the actuator 123 to the second end 121 of the transmission rod 119. The size of the intermediate piece 129, as well as the lengths of the transmission rod 119 and the actuator 123, and the diameter of the slewing ring 122 are selected according to the diameter of the wheel 10 to be attached to the clamping plate 105.

[0036] Preferably, each jaw 118 has a contact surface 130 for securing the railway wheel 10 with the wheel tread 12. Securely securing the wheel 10 requires applying a high clamping force, so it is preferable to apply the force to the tread 12 rather than to other structurally less robust areas of the wheel 10, such as the rim 11.

[0037] The slewing ring 122 has an inner ring 132 fixed to the non-rotating clamping plate 105 and a movable outer ring 133 fixed to the transmission rod 119. A bearing is located between the inner ring 132 and the outer ring 133.

[0038] Preferably, the actuator 123 is a hydraulic cylinder.

[0039] Even more preferably, the actuators 123 may be connected to a hydraulic fluid supply unit (not shown), which may have a flow divider to equally divide the hydraulic fluid supplied to each actuator to facilitate synchronized movement of the actuators 123 .

[0040] The clamping plate 105 has a central hole 131 for chip evacuation, which is connected to the hole 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10 when the railway wheel 10 is fixed to the non-rotating clamping plate 105. Preferably, the diameter of the central hole 131 is larger than the diameter of the hole 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10 to be machined, so that chips are evacuated through the central hole 131. In addition, the rotary boring bar 104 can have a cover 134 that is vertically movable relative to the work head 103 to contact the railway wheel 10 and isolate the hole 16 of the hub 15 of the railway wheel 10 while the wheel 10 is being machined, so as to promote chip evacuation through the central hole 131 of the clamping plate 105.

Claims

1. A railway wheel boring machine, the railway wheel boring machine being used for machining a hole (16) of a hub (15) of a railway wheel (10), the railway wheel boring machine comprising a base (101), a column (102) fixed to the base (101) and protruding vertically upward from the base (101), a working head (103) attached to the column (102) and capable of vertically sliding on the column (102), a rotating boring bar (104) arranged in the working head (103) for machining the hole (16) of the hub (15) of the railway wheel (10), and a non-rotating clamping plate (105) for arranging the railway wheel (10), the non-rotating clamping plate The clamping plate (105) has a clamping unit (106) for fixing and centering the railway wheel (10) on the non-rotating clamping plate (105) so that when the railway wheel (10) is fixed on the non-rotating clamping plate (105), the center (C) of the railway wheel (10) is aligned with the longitudinal axis (Z) of the rotating boring bar (104), the clamping unit (106) comprising at least three jaws (118) for clamping the railway wheel (10), the at least three jaws (118) moving along a straight path (T) converging at the center (C') of the non-rotating clamping plate (105), characterized in that Each dog (118) is attached to a drive rod (119) having a first end (120) attached to the dog (118) and a second end (121) attached to a slewing ring (122), and the slewing ring (122) is driven by an actuator (123) such that the actuator (123) rotates the slewing ring (122) to drive the drive rod (119) and move the dog (118), thereby securing the railway wheel (10).

2. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 1, wherein: The clamping unit (106) has three actuators (123) for driving the slewing ring (122).

3. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 2, wherein: The actuator (123) acts on three angular positions of the slewing ring (122), which are 120° out of phase with each other.

4. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: Each actuator (123) is attached to the second end (121) of the corresponding transmission rod (119).

5. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 4, wherein: Each actuator (123) has a fixed end (124) and a free end (125) that is displaceable relative to the fixed end (124), the free end (125) being attached to the second end (121) of the corresponding transmission rod (119), and the fixed end (124) being attached to the non-rotating clamping plate (105).

6. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 5, wherein: The fixed end (124) of each actuator (123) is fixed at a point located on the periphery of the non-rotating clamping plate (105), and the straight path (T) for moving the clamping claw (118) is set between the periphery of the non-rotating clamping plate (105) and the center (C') of the non-rotating clamping plate (105).

7. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: Each transmission rod (119) is hingedly connected to a corresponding actuator (123) via an intermediate piece (129), and each intermediate piece (129) hingedly connects the free end (125) of the actuator (123) to the second end (121) of the transmission rod (119).

8. Railway wheel boring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Each jaw (118) has a contact surface (130) for securing the railway wheel (10) with the tread (12) of the railway wheel.

9. Railway wheel boring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The non-rotating clamping plate (105) has a central hole (131) for chip removal, which is connected to the hole (16) of the hub (15) of the railway wheel (10) when the railway wheel (10) is fixed to the non-rotating clamping plate (105).

10. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 9, wherein: The diameter of the central hole (131) is larger than the diameter of the hole (16) of the hub (15) of the railway wheel (10) to be machined.

11. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The rotary boring bar (104) has a cover (134) that is vertically movable relative to the work head (103) to contact the railway wheel (10) and isolate the bore (16) of the hub (15) from the railway wheel (10) while the bore (16) of the hub (15) is being machined.

12. Railway wheel boring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The slewing ring (122) has an inner ring (132) fixed to the non-rotating clamping plate (105) and a movable outer ring (133) fixed to the transmission rod (119).

13. A railway wheel boring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The actuators (123) are connected to a hydraulic fluid supply unit having a flow divider to equally divide the hydraulic fluid supplied to each actuator (123).

14. Railway wheel boring machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The clamping plate (105) has a seat (112) for supporting the railway wheel (10) and a belt (113) that is vertically movable between an upper position in which the belt (113) is above the seat (112) to receive the railway wheel (10) and a lower position in which the belt (113) is below the seat (112) to allow the railway wheel (10) to rest on the seat (112).

15. The railway wheel boring machine according to claim 14, wherein: The clamping plate (105) has a first detection device (116) and a second detection device (117), the first detection device (116) being arranged at one end of the belt (113) for detecting the entry of the railway wheel (10) from the loading unit (114), and the second detection device (117) being arranged at the other end of the belt (113) for detecting the exit of the railway wheel (10) towards the discharge unit (115).

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