Elastic side bearing and method of adjusting wear limit

Abstract

This invention discloses an elastic side bearing and a method for adjusting wear limits. The elastic side bearing includes a side bearing body, a support plate disposed on top of the side bearing body, and a side bearing wear plate disposed on the support plate. The side bearing wear plate includes a wear plate body and a fixing ring. The wear plate body includes a wear layer and a non-wear layer disposed at the bottom of the wear layer. The fixing ring is fitted onto the outer wall of the non-wear layer with an interference fit. The upper surface of the fixing ring contacts the lower surface of the wear layer. The fixing ring is press-fitted into a groove on the top of the support plate. The elevation of the upper surface of the wear layer is higher than the elevation of the upper surface of the support plate. This invention combines a composite side bearing wear plate structure of a metal wear layer and a non-wear layer, and introduces an adjustable thickness fixing ring to achieve a more efficient and convenient side bearing maintenance mechanism. This approach can not only significantly improve the durability and reliability of the side bearing system, but also significantly reduce maintenance costs during operation, bringing substantial improvements to the railway transportation industry.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of railway freight car side bearing technology, specifically relating to an elastic side bearing and a method for adjusting wear limits. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the railway transportation industry, the requirements for the safety and stability of freight car operation are increasing. In the structural design of railway freight cars, the side bearing is one of the key components connecting the bogie and the car body. It not only bears the responsibility of transmitting vertical loads, but also suppresses lateral swaying and wobbling motions of the vehicle during operation by generating friction, thereby ensuring the stability of the train. Traditional elastic side bearings are mainly made of metal or nylon. Although these materials can meet the requirements to a certain extent, they each have some insurmountable problems.

[0003] Firstly, for traditional side bearing systems using nylon as the wear plate, although nylon has a certain degree of self-lubrication, which can reduce the coefficient of friction and alleviate wear to some extent, its long-term exposure to the external environment, especially under high-speed operating conditions, causes it to be subject to continuous mechanical stress and temperature changes. This leads to accelerated aging of the nylon material and a gradual decline in its mechanical properties. This not only shortens the service life of the nylon side bearing wear plate and increases maintenance frequency, but also, over time, the aging of the nylon material causes changes in the coefficient of friction, thus affecting the vehicle's dynamic performance. Furthermore, replacing the nylon wear plate after it reaches a certain level of wear is relatively complex and requires significant manpower and time.

[0004] On the other hand, choosing metal as the wear plate for the bearing can significantly improve wear resistance and the stability of the coefficient of friction. However, due to its high hardness, metal is often installed in the bearing body via an interference fit in practical applications. While this installation method ensures good fixation, it also leads to difficulties in disassembly. Once the wear plate needs to be replaced, it often requires special tools or even destructive methods to remove it from the bearing body. This undoubtedly increases the difficulty of maintenance and repair, and can easily damage the bearing body, reducing the reliability and economy of the entire system.

[0005] To overcome the aforementioned problems, it is particularly important to develop a new type of side bearing wear plate that maintains good wear resistance and stable coefficient of friction while being easy to install, disassemble, and maintain. An ideal side bearing wear plate should possess the following characteristics: First, it should be made of materials with good wear resistance and a stable coefficient of friction to meet the performance requirements of long-term high-load operating environments; second, the design of the wear plate should consider ease of replacement, allowing for rapid replacement when wear reaches a predetermined limit; finally, it is also necessary to consider how to effectively extend the overall service life of the side bearing assembly and reduce the increased costs caused by frequent replacements. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Against this backdrop, the present invention innovatively provides a method for elastic side bearings and adjusting wear limits. This method combines a composite side bearing wear plate structure with both metallic and non-wearing layers, while incorporating an adjustable-thickness fixing ring design. This achieves a more efficient and convenient side bearing maintenance mechanism. This approach not only significantly improves the durability and reliability of the side bearing system but also substantially reduces maintenance costs during operation, bringing substantial improvements to the railway transportation industry.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution:

[0008] An elastic side bearing includes a side bearing body, a support plate disposed on the top of the side bearing body, and a side bearing wear plate disposed on the support plate. The side bearing wear plate includes a wear plate body and a fixing ring. The wear plate body includes a wear layer and a non-wear layer disposed at the bottom of the wear layer. The fixing ring is fitted onto the outer side wall of the non-wear layer and is interference-fitted thereto. The upper surface of the fixing ring contacts the lower surface of the wear layer. The fixing ring is press-fitted into a groove on the top of the support plate. The elevation of the upper surface of the wear layer is higher than the elevation of the upper surface of the support plate.

[0009] As a further optimization of the present invention, the height difference between the upper surface of the wear layer and the upper surface of the support plate is set as the wear limit, and the thickness of the wear layer is greater than the wear limit.

[0010] As a further optimization of the present invention, there is a gap between the outer wall of the wear layer and the inner wall of the groove.

[0011] As a further optimization of the present invention, the diameter of the non-wearing layer is smaller than the diameter of the wear layer.

[0012] As a further optimization of the present invention, the wear layer and the non-wear layer are integrally molded.

[0013] As a further optimization of the present invention, the wear layer is made of powder metallurgy or other wear-resistant metals with stable friction coefficients, and the non-wear layer is made of other metals.

[0014] As a further optimization of the present invention, the retaining ring is made of nylon or rubber.

[0015] A method for adjusting wear limits using the aforementioned elastic side bearing, the method comprising:

[0016] When the wear limit decreases with wear, the wear limit can be increased by replacing the retaining ring with one of increased thickness so that the upper surface of the wear layer is higher than the upper surface of the support plate, thus recreating the height difference.

[0017] As a further optimization of the present invention, when the wear layer wears to its limit, the wear plate body can be replaced, and the fixing ring can be reused.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages and beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. The elastic side bearing includes components such as a side bearing body, a support plate, and a side bearing wear plate. The side bearing wear plate is one of the core components of this invention. It adopts a design with a metal wear plate body and a fixing ring. The wear plate body includes a wear layer and a non-wear layer located at the bottom of the wear layer. The fixing ring is fitted onto the outer wall of the non-wear layer with an interference fit. This design not only ensures the performance stability and service life of the side bearing wear plate but also makes its installation and disassembly more convenient and quick. Specifically, the fixing ring is made of a material with a certain amount of deformation, such as nylon or rubber. This material can be pre-pressed with the wear plate body with an interference fit before being integrally pressed onto the elastic side bearing. During installation, the side bearing wear plate can be installed into the groove of the support plate by manual tapping. Because the fixing ring has a certain amount of deformation, it can adapt well to the shape and size of the groove, thus achieving a tight fit. During disassembly, the side bearing wear plate can also be removed from the support plate by tapping. Because the retaining ring has a certain elastic recovery capability, it can maintain its integrity during disassembly, thus enabling the reusability of the side bearing wear plate.

[0020] 2. The main body of this side bearing wear plate is made of metal, which, compared to the previous nylon material, offers more stable performance, wear resistance, high-temperature resistance, and a longer storage time. Specifically, the wear layer uses powder metallurgy materials, which have a stable coefficient of friction, ensuring stable rotational torque for the vehicle. Powder metallurgy materials are more wear-resistant than nylon, extending the replacement cycle and service life of the side bearing wear plate and reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, powder metallurgy materials have good thermal conductivity and high-temperature resistance, preventing the wear plate from melting due to heat generated by the friction surface when the vehicle is running at high speeds. The non-wear layer uses other common metals with lower costs, effectively reducing overall manufacturing costs.

[0021] 3. This invention also proposes a method for adjusting the wear limit. When the wear limit decreases with wear, the height difference can be regenerated by replacing the retaining ring with one of increased thickness to increase the wear limit. This method not only extends the service life of the side bearing wear plate but also allows for flexible adjustment of the wear limit according to actual needs, thereby ensuring the operational stability and safety of railway freight cars. When the main body of the side bearing wear plate reaches its wear limit, only the main body of the side bearing wear plate can be replaced, while the retaining ring can be reused. This design further reduces operation and maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the elastic side bearing of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the elastic side bearing structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wear plate of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wear plate body of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixing ring of the present invention.

[0027] In the diagram: 1-Side support body; 2-Support plate; 21-Groove; 3-Side support wear plate; 31-Wear plate body; 32-Fixing ring; 311-Wearing layer; 312-Non-wearing layer. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with specific examples. However, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the present patent. For better illustration of this embodiment, some components in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual dimensions of the product. For those skilled in the art, the omission of certain well-known structures and their descriptions in the drawings is understandable. The positional relationships described in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the present patent.

[0029] This embodiment provides an elastic side bearing and a method for adjusting its wear limit, the specific structure and technical features of which are described below:

[0030] The elastic side bearing in this embodiment mainly includes a side bearing body 1, a support plate 2, and a side bearing wear plate 3. The side bearing body 1 serves as the basic structure of the elastic side bearing, responsible for connecting and supporting other components. The support plate 2 is located on top of the side bearing body 1, and its top surface has a groove 21 for mounting the side bearing wear plate 3. The side bearing wear plate 3 is the core component of this embodiment, including a wear plate body 31 and a fixing ring 32.

[0031] Specifically, the wear plate body 31 includes a wear layer 311 and a non-wear layer 312. The wear layer 311 is made of powder metallurgy materials or other wear-resistant metals with a stable coefficient of friction, exhibiting excellent wear resistance and a stable coefficient of friction. The powder metallurgy materials can be copper-based alloys, iron-based alloys, and stainless steel-based alloys. Copper-based alloys, such as copper-tin (bronze) and copper-lead, are not only wear-resistant but also have good corrosion resistance. Iron-based alloys, such as iron-copper-carbon and iron-nickel-molybdenum, have high hardness and relatively low cost. Stainless steel-based alloys, such as 304L or 316L stainless steel powder metallurgy products, provide excellent corrosion resistance while maintaining good wear resistance. Other wear-resistant metals with a stable coefficient of friction can be cemented carbide, titanium alloys, etc.

[0032] Specifically, there is a gap of 1 mm between the outer wall of the wear layer 311 and the inner wall of the groove 21. The upper surface elevation of the wear layer 311 is higher than that of the upper surface elevation of the support plate 2, for friction with the contact surface of the bogie or car body. The non-wear layer 312 is located at the bottom of the wear layer 311, made of other common metals with lower cost, and has a smaller diameter than the wear layer 311. The main function of the non-wear layer 312 is to serve as the mounting base for the fixing ring 32 and to provide a certain mechanical strength. The material of the non-wear layer 312 can be low-carbon steel, aluminum alloy, etc.

[0033] Specifically, the retaining ring 32 is made of a material with a certain amount of deformation, such as nylon or rubber. The retaining ring 32 is fitted onto the outer wall of the non-wearing layer 312 with an interference fit. The upper surface of the retaining ring 32 contacts the lower surface of the wearing layer 311, ensuring stable installation of the wear plate body 31 on the support plate 2. Due to its certain amount of deformation, the retaining ring 32 can adapt well to the shape and size of the groove, and its design allows it to be easily installed into the groove 21 at the top of the support plate 2 by simple tapping.

[0034] The installation method for the side bearing wear plate is as follows:

[0035] Preparation stage: First, select a wear plate body 31 of appropriate size and a fixing ring 32 of corresponding thickness.

[0036] Assembly process: Insert the retaining ring 32 into the non-wearing layer 312 of the wear plate body 31, ensuring a tight fit between the two. Then place the assembled side-bearing wear plate into the pre-set groove 21 on the top of the support plate 2. Gently tap the wear plate with a soft tool such as a rubber mallet until it is fully embedded in the groove 21. At this time, the retaining ring 32 will deform slightly due to the force, thereby achieving a stable installation.

[0037] Inspection and Adjustment: After installation, it is necessary to check whether the upper surface of the wear layer 311 is higher than the upper surface of the support plate 2 to ensure that the predetermined height difference, i.e., the wear limit H, is reached.

[0038] The method for adjusting the wear limit is as follows:

[0039] Initial settings: During the initial installation of the elastic side bearing, the height difference between the upper surface of the wear layer 311 and the upper surface of the support plate 2 is set as the wear limit H. The thickness of the wear layer 311 is greater than the wear limit H to ensure that there is still sufficient remaining thickness when it is worn to a certain extent.

[0040] Wear limit adjustment: As wear progresses, the thickness of the wear layer 311 gradually decreases, and the wear limit H also decreases accordingly. When it is necessary to increase the wear limit, a retaining ring 32 with increased thickness can be replaced, so that the height of the upper surface of the wear layer 311 is higher than the upper surface of the support plate 2 again, thereby creating a new height difference to increase the wear limit.

[0041] Wear plate body replacement: When the wear layer 311 wears to its limit, only the wear plate body 31 can be replaced, while the fixing ring 32 can continue to be used due to its reusability, which further reduces maintenance costs.

[0042] Through the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand the technical solution and implementation steps of the present invention, ensuring that the flexible side bearing and its method for adjusting wear limits can be effectively implemented. Specifically, the present invention, by adopting a composite side bearing wear plate structure, combines a high-performance wear layer with an economical non-wear layer, achieving a balance between cost control and performance improvement. The adjustable fixing ring design makes the maintenance of the side bearing system more flexible and efficient, extending its service life without frequent replacement of the entire side bearing device. The overall solution not only improves the safety and stability of railway freight car operation but also effectively reduces maintenance costs during long-term operation.

[0043] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are only specific implementations of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of this specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An elastic side bearing, the elastic side bearing comprising a side bearing body (1), a support plate (2) disposed on the top of the side bearing body (1), and a side bearing wear plate (3) disposed on the support plate (2), characterized in that: The side bearing wear plate (3) includes a wear plate body (31) and a fixing ring (32). The wear plate body (31) includes a wear layer (311) and a non-wear layer (312) disposed at the bottom of the wear layer (311). The fixing ring (32) is fitted onto the outer wall of the non-wear layer (312) and is interference-fitted thereto. The upper surface of the fixing ring (32) is in contact with the lower surface of the wear layer (311). The fixing ring (32) is pressed into the groove (21) at the top of the support plate (2). The elevation of the upper surface of the wear layer (311) is higher than the elevation of the upper surface of the support plate (2). The height difference between the upper surface of the wear layer (311) and the upper surface of the support plate (2) is set as the wear limit. The thickness of the wear layer (311) is greater than the wear limit.

2. The elastic side bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: There is a gap between the outer wall of the wear layer (311) and the inner wall of the groove (21).

3. The elastic side bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the non-wearing layer (312) is smaller than the diameter of the wearing layer (311).

4. The elastic side bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wear layer (311) and the non-wear layer (312) are integrally molded.

5. The elastic side bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wear layer (311) is made of powder metallurgy or other wear-resistant metals with a stable coefficient of friction, while the non-wear layer (312) is made of other metals.

6. The elastic side bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retaining ring (32) is made of nylon or rubber.

7. A method for adjusting wear limit using the elastic side bearing according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The method includes: When the wear limit decreases with wear, the height difference can be increased by replacing the retaining ring (32) with a thicker one so that the upper surface of the wear layer (311) is higher than the upper surface of the support plate (2).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the wear layer (311) wears down to its limit, the wear plate body (31) can be replaced, and the fixing ring (32) can be reused.

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