Shock-absorbing apparatus

Abstract

The invention pertains to the field of vehicle engineering and relates to friction shock-absorbers for vehicles, and primarily to shock-absorbing apparatus mountable between railway wagons. The aim of the invention is to improve the structure of a shock-absorbing apparatus such as to allow a more uniform distribution of load on the support surfaces of a pressure wedge device and on the stay surfaces of stay wedges. This aim is achieved in that a pressure wedge device and stay wedges, which together form a friction assembly of the shock-absorbing apparatus, are configured to provide for constant mutual contact under a stay angle at any given extent of travel of the friction assembly, wherein the total area of the regions of the support surfaces of the pressure wedge device and of the stay surfaces of the stay wedges which lie inside the zones of mutual contact is not less than the total area of said support surfaces of the pressure wedge device and said stay surfaces of the stay wedges which lie outside the zones of mutual contact. A spring device is configured and mounted in such a way that in its fully compressed state at its maximum extent of travel, it provides a force applied to the friction assembly and the bottom of a housing which is greater than 120 tons. Other elements of the invention are also described. Other elements of the invention are also described.

Description

[0001] Absorbing apparatus

[0002] The invention relates to the field of transport engineering and concerns friction shock absorbers of vehicles, primarily shock absorbers installed between the cars of a railway train.

[0003] Absorbing devices of various designs are known, for example, an absorbing device [1, Patent EA201500915A1, priority 24.08.2015, published 28.04.2017], comprising a housing with a neck and a bottom. On the bottom is a pre-pressed return-support device, made in the form of a spring, a set of springs or in the form of a package of elastic-plastic elements installed on top of each other through plates, made with internal cavities. A rod fixed in a projection of the bottom of the housing passes through this package. A friction device consisting of a pressure unit and wedges is located in the neck.

[0004] All elements of the friction device are arranged in relation to each other with the possibility of creating the value of the stroke of the full movement of the pressure cone from its initial position to the final position, as well as creating the value of the stroke of the intermediate movement of the pressure unit from the beginning of the mating of the pressure cone with the wedges to the final position of the pressure cone:

[0005] The disadvantages of the prototype [1] are the complexity of the design of the pressure unit, which includes an intermediate pressure wedge, as well as the small area of ​​the zones of mutual contact of the intermediate pressure wedge with the spacer wedges and the spacer wedges with the pressure cone.

[0006] The analysis and identified shortcomings of the above-described design variant of the absorbing apparatus determine the objective of the invention - improving the design of the absorbing apparatus by increasing the zones of mutual contact of the pressure wedge device with the spacer wedges, allowing for uniform distribution of loads on the supporting surfaces of the pressure wedge device and the spacer surfaces of the spacer wedges.

[0007] The stated task is achieved in that in the absorbing device (Fig. 1, 7-12, 16-19), comprising a housing (1) having a bottom (2) and walls conjugated with the narrow side (3) of the bottom (2), and adjacent walls conjugated with its wide side (4), as well as a neck (5) having an end (6), in which a friction unit (7) is located, formed from a pressure wedge device (8) and spacer wedges (9) made with friction surfaces (f1) in contact with friction surfaces (f2) made on fixed elements (10) located in the neck (5) of the housing (1), wherein the pressure wedge device (8) is provided with support surfaces (A), and the spacer wedges (9) are provided with spacer surfaces (B), wherein the said support surfaces (A) and spacer surfaces (B) are made with the possibility of mutual contact at the expansion angle (o),wherein at least one of the said friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) is made at an angle (y) to the plane of the end (6) of the neck (5) of the housing (1) exceeding 90° and located towards the friction surface (fl) of the spacer wedges (9) closest to it, in addition, on the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and on the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) zones of their mutual contact (K) are formed, and on the bottom (2) and in contact with the supporting surface (D) of the spacer wedges (9) of the friction unit (7) a spring device (11) is located, made with the possibility of taking its fully compressed position (C1) from its installation position (CO) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) when moving to the maximum value of stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) towards the bottom (2) of the housing (1),there are distinctive features: the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9) are made to ensure constant mutual contact at the spacer angle (a) at any given value of stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7), wherein the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) is not less than the total area of ​​the said support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located outside the zones of mutual contact (K), and the said spacer angle (a) of the pressure wedge device (8) with the spacer wedges (9) is made in the range from 24° to 64°, wherein the spring device (11) is made and installed in such a way that in its fully compressed position (C1) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) it provides a force, falling on the friction unit (7) and on the bottom (2) of the housing (1),amounting to more than 120 tons,

[0008] The above-described distinctive features ensure a more uniform load distribution on the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9). Furthermore, the increased mutual contact zone (K) increases the service life of the device with characteristics within the specified limits, since the small mutual contact zone (K) of the prototype is subject to increased wear and tear with changes in its characteristics.

[0009] Additional distinctive features of the invention aimed at enhancing the above-mentioned advantages:

[0010] - the supporting surfaces (D) of the spacer wedges (9) are made at an angle (P) within the range from 40 to 99° to their friction surfaces (f1); - the spring device (11) occupies at least 70% of the volume of the housing space

[0011] (1), wherein the projection area of ​​the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), connected with the wide side (4) of its bottom (2), is greater than the projection area of ​​the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), connected with the narrow side (3) of its bottom (2), and the spring device (11) is made and installed with the possibility of additionally increasing the force applied to the friction unit (7) and to the bottom (2) of the housing (1), by more than 60 tons;

[0012] - on fixed elements (10) behind the friction surfaces (f2) in the direction of the bottom

[0013] (2) the housing (1) is formed with contact limitation zones (z) to ensure the possibility of displacement of the spacer wedges (9) into such zones when the friction unit (7) is moved;

[0014] - the roughness of the friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) is greater than the roughness of the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9);

[0015] - the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) are made curvilinear;

[0016] - the friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) are made curvilinear;

[0017] - the friction unit (7) is made and installed in such a way that at its maximum stroke (H2) in the fully compressed position (C1) of the spring device (11), the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) is not greater than the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) of the said friction unit (7) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) in the installation position (CO) of the spring device (11).

[0018] The essence of the invention is explained by illustrations, where:

[0019] - Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional image of the general appearance of the absorbing apparatus;

[0020] - Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional image of a longitudinal section of the neck (5);

[0021] - Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional image of the general view of the pressing wedge device (8) and spacer wedges (9), indicating the friction surfaces (f1), support surfaces (A) and spacer surfaces (B);

[0022] - Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional image of the general view of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9), indicating the friction surfaces (f1) and the spacer surfaces (B); - Fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional image of the general view of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9), indicating the support surfaces (A) and the retaining surfaces (D);

[0023] - Fig. 6 shows a view of the absorbing apparatus according to the invention from the side of the friction unit (7);

[0024] - Fig. 7 shows a frontal section of the absorbing apparatus;

[0025] - Fig. 8, 12, 17, 19 show combined frontal sections A-A according to Fig. 6, where the left part shows the absorbing apparatus in the installation position, and the right part shows it in a fully compressed state, in various embodiments according to the invention;

[0026] - Fig. 9 shows a frontal section of the absorber for a design variant with curved support surfaces (A) and curved spacer surfaces (B);

[0027] - Fig. 10 shows a frontal section of the absorbing apparatus for a design variant with curved friction surfaces (f 1 , f2);

[0028] - Fig. 11 shows a frontal section of the absorber apparatus for a variant of the design of the spring device (11), consisting of polymer elastic elements;

[0029] - Fig. 13 shows a section B-B according to Fig. 11 for a variant of the square shape of the polymer elastic element of the spring device (11);

[0030] - Fig. 14 shows a section B-B according to Fig. 11 for a variant of the round shape of the polymer elastic element of the spring device (11);

[0031] - Fig. 15 shows a section B-B according to Fig. 11 for a variant of the elongated shape of the polymer elastic element of the spring device (11);

[0032] - Fig. 16 shows a frontal section of the absorbing apparatus for a variant of the design of the pressure wedge device (8), consisting of parts, and also with an installed central fixed element (10);

[0033] - Fig. 18 shows a frontal section of the absorbing apparatus for a variant of the design of the pressure wedge device (8), consisting of lateral and central parts, as well as with installed central fixed elements (10).

[0034] The absorbing device comprises a housing (1) having a bottom (2) and walls connected with the narrow side (3) of the bottom (2), and walls adjacent to them connected with its wide side (4), as well as a neck (5) having an end (6) (Fig. 1, 2, 6-12, 16-19). In the neck (5) a friction unit (7) is located, formed from a pressing wedge device (8) and spacer wedges (9). The spacer wedges (9) are made with friction surfaces (f1) contacting with friction surfaces (f2) made on fixed elements (10) located in the neck (5) of the housing (1) (Fig. 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 16-19). The pressing wedge device (8) is provided with support surfaces (A), and the expansion wedges (9) are provided with expansion surfaces (B) (Fig. 3-5). The said support surfaces (A) and expansion surfaces (B) are designed with the possibility of mutual contact at the expansion angle (a) (Fig. 7, 10, 11,

[0035] 16, 18). At least one of the said friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) is made at an angle (y) to the plane of the end (6) of the neck (5) of the body (1) exceeding 90° and located towards the friction surface (f1) of the spacer wedges (9) closest to it (Fig. 7, 10, 11, 16, 18). On the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and on the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9), zones of their mutual contact (K) are formed (Fig. 8-10, 12, 17, 19). On the bottom

[0036] (2) and in contact with the supporting surface (D) of the spacer wedges (9) of the friction unit (7) there is a spring device (11), made with the possibility of taking from its installation position (CO) its fully compressed position (C1) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) when moving to the maximum value of stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) towards the bottom (2) of the housing (1) (Fig. 8, 12,

[0037] 17, 19).

[0038] It is important to note that the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) are its surfaces configured to contact the spacer wedges (9) at any stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) when it moves toward the bottom (2) of the housing (1), and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) are their surfaces configured to contact the pressing wedge device (8), also at any stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) when it moves toward the bottom (2) of the housing (1). All other surfaces configured to prevent contact of the pressing wedge device (8) with the spacer wedges (9) do not relate to either the support surfaces (A) or the spacer surfaces (B).In this case, the zones of mutual contact (K) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9) are part of the area of ​​the supporting surface (A) and part of the area of ​​the spacer surface (B), which are in mutual contact of the pressing wedge device (8) with the spacer wedges (9) in any given position of the friction unit (7).

[0039] The pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9) are designed to ensure constant mutual contact along the spacer angle (a) at any given value of stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) (Fig. 7, 10, 11, 16, 18). The total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9), located in the zones of mutual contact (K), is not less than the total area of ​​the said support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges

[0040] (9), located outside the zones of mutual contact (K) (Fig. 8-10, 12, 17-19).

[0041] A simple measurement of figures 1, 4-7, 9 from the prototype materials [1] clearly shows that the numerical values ​​of the thrust angles (a) are more than 64°. The limitation of the numerical value of the thrust angle (a) in the range from 24° to 64° (Figs. 7, 10, 11, 16, 18) used in the designs according to the invention helps to reduce the thrust force on the walls of the housing (1), thereby reducing wear of the walls and the likelihood of their cracking.

[0042] The increased area of ​​the mutual contact zones (K) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9) compared to the prototype [1] allows for a more uniform distribution of loads on the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9). In addition, the increased mutual contact zone (K) increases the service life of the shock absorber with characteristics within the specified limits, while the small mutual contact zone (K) of the prototype [1] is subject to increased wear with a change in characteristics.

[0043] Limiting the numerical value of the angle between the supporting surfaces (D) of the spacer wedges (9) and the friction surfaces (f1) within the range from 40 to 90° improves the pressing of the spacer wedges (9) to the walls of the housing along the entire stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7), helps to obtain a smoother operating characteristic of the shock absorber, and reduces the likelihood of self-oscillations.

[0044] There are possible design variations of the absorbing apparatus in which the pressing wedge device (8), which is part of the friction unit (7), consists of parts, and in the central part of the neck (5) additional fixed elements are placed

[0045] (10) (Fig. 16-19).

[0046] The spring device (11) is designed and installed in such a way that in its fully compressed position (C1) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) it provides a force on the friction unit (7) and on the bottom (2) of the housing (1), delivering more than 120 tons (Fig. 8, 12, 17, 19). The spring device (11) can be designed in the form of compression springs or a set of springs (not shown) or in the form of packages of elastic polymer elements (Fig. 11-15).

[0047] The spring device (11) occupies no less than 70% of the volume of the housing (1), and the area of ​​the projection of the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), connected with the wide side (4) of its bottom (2), is greater than the area of ​​the projection of the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), connected with the narrow side (3) of its bottom (2). It is also useful to design the spring device (11) with the possibility of additionally increasing the force applied to the friction unit (7) and to the bottom (2) of the housing (1) by more than 60 tons.

[0048] In turn, it is useful to use spring devices (11) of various cross-sectional shapes, for example, square (Fig. 13), round (Fig. 14), elongated (Fig. 15), and other shapes.

[0049] On the fixed elements (10) behind the friction surfaces (f2) in the direction of the bottom (2) of the housing (1), restriction zones (z) are formed, providing the possibility of displacement of the spacer wedges (9) into such zones during the movement of the friction unit (7) (Fig. 2, 8, 12, 17, 19). The creation of contact restriction zones (z) on the fixed elements (10) providing the possibility of displacement of the spacer wedges (9) into such zones during the movement of the friction unit (7) is useful for reducing the work of friction forces between the spacer wedges (9) and the fixed elements (10), which has a positive effect on the power characteristic of the shock absorber, and also eliminates the possibility of jamming of the spacer wedges (9) during their return to the initial position.

[0050] It is useful to make the roughness of the friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) greater than the roughness of the support surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9).

[0051] The supporting surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) can be made curved (Fig. 9). The friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) can also be made curved, as shown in Fig. 10. An embodiment is possible in which both the supporting surfaces (A) and the spacer surfaces (B), as well as the friction surfaces (f1, f2) are made curved (not shown).

[0052] The friction unit (7) is made and installed in such a way that at its maximum stroke value (H2) in the fully compressed position (CO) of the spring device (11), the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9), located in the zones of mutual contact (K), is not greater than the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) of the said friction unit (7), located in the zones of mutual contact (K) in the installation position (CO) of the spring device (11).

[0053] The principle of operation of the draft gear is as follows. During the formation of a railway train, a force (P) is generated on the pressure wedge device (8), directed along the longitudinal axis (01) of the draft gear and caused by the action of impact or compressive loads (Fig. 8, 12, 17, 19). Under the action of this force (P), the pressure wedge device (8) moves towards the bottom (2) of the housing (1), while the support surfaces (A) slide along the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9), forming zones of mutual contact (K). The spacer wedges (9) perform a complex movement, moving simultaneously towards the bottom (2) of the housing (1), and also in the direction from the longitudinal axis (01) of the draft gear towards the walls of the housing (1). The spring device (11) is then compressed from its installation position (CO) to the fully compressed position (C1) (Fig. 8, 12, 17, 19). Due to the presence of the expansion angle (a) (Fig.7) the friction surfaces (f1) of the spacer wedges (9) are pressed against the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10). Thus, the energy arising from the action of compressive loads is converted into the energy of friction forces between the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9), as well as between the friction surfaces (f1) of the spacer wedges (9) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10), and into the potential energy of elastic deformation of the spring device (11).

[0054] After the external force (P) is removed, all components of the shock absorber return to their original position under the action of the force of the spring device (11).

[0055] Thus, in the described design of the absorber apparatus, the loads on the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) are distributed more evenly due to the increase in the areas of the mutual contact zones (K).

[0056] Sources of information

[0057] 1. Patent EA201500915A1, priority 08 / 24 / 2015, published 04 / 28 / 2017 / prototype / CLAUSE OF INVENTION

[0058] 1. An absorbing apparatus comprising a housing (1) having a bottom (2) and walls connected to the narrow side (3) of the bottom (2) and walls adjacent to them connected to its wide side (4), as well as a neck (5) having an end (6) in which a friction unit (7) is located, formed from a pressure wedge device (8) and spacer wedges (9) made with friction surfaces (f1) in contact with friction surfaces (f2) made on fixed elements (10) located in the neck (5) of the housing (1), wherein the pressure wedge device (8) is provided with support surfaces (A), and the spacer wedges (9) are provided with spacer surfaces (B), wherein said support surfaces (A) and spacer surfaces (B) are made with the possibility of mutual contact along a spacer angle (a), wherein at least one of said friction surfaces (f2) fixed elements (10) are made at an angle (y) to the plane of the end (6) of the neck (5) of the body (1),exceeding 90° and located towards the friction surface (f1) of the spacer wedges (9) closest to it, in addition, on the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressure wedge device (8) and on the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) zones of their mutual contact (K) are formed, and on the bottom (2) and in contact with the supporting surface (D) of the spacer wedges (9) of the friction unit (7) a spring device (11) is located, made with the possibility of taking its fully compressed position (C1) from its installation position (CO) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) when moving to the maximum value of stroke (H2) of the friction unit (7) towards the bottom (2) of the housing (1), characterized in that the pressure wedge device (8) and the spacer wedges (9) are made with the provision of constant mutual contact along the spacer angle (a) at any given value of stroke (H2) friction unit (7),wherein the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) is not less than the total area of ​​the said support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located outside the zones of mutual contact (K), and the said spacer angle (a) of the pressing wedge device (8) with the spacer wedges (9) is made in the range from 24° to 64°, and the spring device (11) is made and installed in such a way that in its fully compressed position (C1) at the maximum value of its stroke (H1) it provides a force,

Claims

falling on the friction unit (7) and on the bottom (2) of the body (1), amounting to more than 120 tons.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting surfaces (D) of the spacer wedges (9) are made at an angle (|3) in the range from 40 to 99° to their friction surfaces (f1).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring device (11) occupies at least 70% of the volume of the space of the housing (1), wherein the projection area of ​​the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), conjugated with the wide side (4) of its bottom (2) is greater than the projection area of ​​the spring device (11) on the walls of the housing (1), conjugated with the narrow side (3) of its bottom (2), wherein the spring device (11) is designed and installed with the possibility of additionally increasing the force applied to the friction unit (7) and to the bottom (2) of the housing (1) by more than 60 tons.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that on the fixed elements (10) behind the friction surfaces (f2) in the direction of the bottom (2) of the housing (1), contact limitation zones (z) are formed, ensuring the possibility of displacement of the spacer wedges (9) into such zones when the friction unit (7) moves.

5. The apparatus according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the roughness of the friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) is greater than the roughness of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9).

6. The apparatus according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the supporting surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) are made curvilinear.

7. The apparatus according to item 6, characterized in that the friction surfaces (f1) of the friction unit (7) and the friction surfaces (f2) of the fixed elements (10) are made curvilinear.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction unit (7) is made and installed in such a way that at its maximum stroke (H2) in the fully compressed position (C1) of the spring device (11), the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) is not greater than the total area of ​​the sections of the support surfaces (A) of the pressing wedge device (8) and the spacer surfaces (B) of the spacer wedges (9) of the said friction unit (7) located in the zones of mutual contact (K) in the installation position (CO) of the spring device (11).

Images