Air spring with different transverse and longitudinal rigidities

Abstract

The utility model relates to an air spring with different transverse and longitudinal rigidities, which comprises an upper cover, an air bag and a rubber pad, the upper cover is arranged on the air bag, and the rubber pad is arranged below the air bag; the rubber-metal pad has different rigidities in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction of a horizontal plane, and comprises one or more structures as follows: the diameters of the rubber-metal pad in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction are different, the rubber-metal pad is oval, square or rhombic, and the long side and the short side of the oval, square or rhombic are respectively in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction or in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the rubber-metal pad; and / or the built-in metal piece of the rubber-metal pad further comprises reinforcing ribs arranged in the transverse direction and / or the longitudinal direction. The air spring solves the technical problem that in the prior art, an air spring cannot provide rigidity in different horizontal directions in different directions in the horizontal plane.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of rail transportation technology, and in particular relates to an air spring with different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses. Background Art

[0002] An air spring is a vibration-damping device installed on railway vehicles. It is used to block vibrations between the railway vehicle bogie (equivalent to the chassis of a car) and the vehicle body, thereby providing passengers with a comfortable ride experience. When the train turns, the front and rear bogies deflect. Since the vehicle body is rigid, the air spring needs to provide horizontal deformation so that the vehicle can turn smoothly. At this time, the horizontal stiffness of the air spring will affect the stability of the vehicle's operation.

[0003] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation position of the air spring on the vehicle. The typical structure of the air spring is as follows Figure 2 As shown, there are two key components: the airbag and the rubber pack. The airbag is a flexible component made of a rubber composite material, while the rubber pack is a flexible component made of rubber and metal. The black portion in the figure represents the flexible rubber material, while the other colored portions represent rigid metal or polymer materials. Traditional air springs have completely centrally symmetrical structures for both the airbag and the rubber pack.

[0004] Figure 2 For the existing air spring structure, see Figure 2 When the air spring is working, pressurized air is filled into the interior through the air inlet hole. When the airbag is filled, the upper cover and the rubber pile are relatively suspended. The vertical stiffness characteristics of the airbag and the rubber pile play a vertical vibration reduction function. When the train turns, the upper cover and the rubber pile undergo horizontal relative displacement, so that the vehicle can turn smoothly. The horizontal stiffness characteristics of the airbag and the rubber pile stabilize the vehicle operation. The vertical and horizontal stiffness characteristics of the air spring are jointly determined by the vertical and horizontal stiffness characteristics of the airbag and the rubber pile. Figure 3 As shown, we define the vehicle's direction of motion as the x-direction (also known as the longitudinal direction in the industry), and the direction perpendicular to the vehicle body as the y-direction (also known as the lateral direction in the industry). From now on, when referring to the horizontal stiffness of an air spring, we will distinguish between longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness. In engineering practice, air springs are sometimes required to provide inconsistent horizontal stiffness in the x- and y-directions to meet the vehicle's smooth operation requirements, meaning that the longitudinal and lateral stiffness characteristics differ. Because traditional air spring airbags and rubber stacks are completely centrosymmetrical structures, they cannot provide different horizontal stiffnesses in different directions within the horizontal plane. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In response to the deficiencies in the related art, the invention provides an air spring with different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses, which solves the technical problem that the air spring has different stiffness requirements in different directions.

[0006] In one possible embodiment, an air spring with different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses is provided, comprising: an upper cover, an airbag, and a rubber pile, wherein the upper cover is placed on the airbag, and the rubber pile is arranged below the airbag; the rubber pile has different stiffnesses in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the horizontal plane, including one or more of the following structures: the diameters of the rubber pile in the lateral and longitudinal directions are different, including: the rubber pile is elliptical, square, or diamond-shaped, and the long side and short side of the elliptical, square, or diamond-shaped are respectively in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the rubber pile, or in the longitudinal and lateral directions; and / or the built-in metal parts of the rubber pile also include reinforcing ribs arranged in the lateral and longitudinal directions.

[0007] In a possible implementation, the reinforcing ribs are metal sheets or metal wires vertically arranged along the horizontal plane of the rubber pile.

[0008] In a possible implementation, the rubber pile has different stiffness in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the horizontal plane, and further includes: the material of the rubber pile has different stiffness in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, the density and / or hardness of the material of the rubber pile in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction are different.

[0010] In a possible embodiment, the rubber pile is provided with holes or grooves of different numbers and shapes inside the transverse and longitudinal structures.

[0011] In a possible embodiment, the rubber pile is a composite structure of rubber and other composite materials in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

[0012] In a possible embodiment, the metal parts built into the rubber stack are rigid metals or polymer materials that are arranged differently in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

[0013] Based on the above technical solution, the air spring of the present invention has different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses. By setting the rubber pile to a centrally symmetrical structure, the rubber pile has different stiffnesses in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the horizontal plane, thereby solving the problem of stiffness requirements of the air spring in different directions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings described herein are used to provide further understanding of the invention and constitute a part of this application. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute improper limitations on the invention.

[0015] In the attached figure:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation position of the air spring on the vehicle;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air spring in the prior art;

[0018] Figure 3 is the definition of the lateral displacement direction of the air spring;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air spring with an elliptical rubber pile and different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air spring in which the rubber pile is pure rubber and the lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses are different according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 5a for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the oval rubber pile structure;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air spring with a rectangular rubber pile and different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6a This is a schematic structural diagram of an air spring with a diamond-shaped rubber pile and different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 A structural line diagram of an air spring having different lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 A structural line diagram of an air spring with different transverse and longitudinal stiffnesses and a metal part provided with reinforcing ribs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] In the picture:

[0027] 1. Car body; 2. Bogie; 3. Wheels; 4. Rails; 5. Air springs;

[0028] 51. Upper cover; 52. Rubber pile; 53. Air intake hole; 54. Airbag; 57. Metal parts; 58. Reinforcement ribs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the examples of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0031] The terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or to implicitly specify the quantity of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first," "second," or "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features.

[0032] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] The air spring 5 is a vibration damping device installed on a railway vehicle. The wheels 3 of the railway vehicle run on the rails 4. The air spring 5 is used to block the vibration between the railway vehicle bogie 2 (equivalent to the chassis of a car) and the vehicle body 1, thereby providing passengers with a comfortable riding experience. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation position of existing air springs on vehicles. The typical structure of air springs is as follows Figure 2 As shown, there are two important components, namely the airbag 54 and the rubber pile 52. The airbag is a flexible component made of a rubber composite material, and the rubber pile is a flexible component made of a rubber and metal composite. The black part in the figure is the rubber flexible material, and the other colored parts are rigid metal or polymer materials.

[0034] Figure 2 For the existing air spring structure, see Figure 2When the air spring is working, pressurized air is injected into the interior through the air inlet 53. When the airbag 54 is filled, the upper cover 51 and the rubber pile 52 are relatively suspended. The vertical stiffness characteristics of the airbag 54 and the rubber pile 52 play a vertical vibration reduction role. When the train turns, the upper cover 51 and the rubber pile 52 undergo horizontal relative displacement, allowing the vehicle to turn smoothly. The horizontal stiffness characteristics of the airbag 54 and the rubber pile 52 stabilize the vehicle operation. The vertical and horizontal stiffness characteristics of the air spring are jointly determined by the vertical and horizontal stiffness characteristics of the airbag 54 and the rubber pile 52. Figure 3 As shown in the figure, we define the vehicle running direction as the x-direction (also known as the longitudinal direction in the industry), and the direction perpendicular to the vehicle body as the y-direction (also known as the lateral direction in the industry). When we refer to the horizontal stiffness of the air spring, we will distinguish between longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness.

[0035] This patent designs an air spring with different lateral and longitudinal stiffness, and designs a non-center-symmetrical rubber stack structure, so that the longitudinal and lateral stiffness characteristics of the air spring are different. The air spring provides inconsistent horizontal stiffness in the x-direction and y-direction to meet the vehicle's smooth operation requirements and meet customer usage needs.

[0036] See also Figure 4 、 Figure 5 、 Figure 5a 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 6a and Figure 7 In one possible embodiment, the air spring includes an upper cover 51, an airbag 54, and a rubber pile 52, wherein the upper cover 51 is placed on the airbag 54, and the rubber pile 52 is arranged below the airbag 54; the rubber pile 52 has different stiffness in the horizontal and longitudinal directions of the horizontal plane, including one or more of the following structures: the diameter of the rubber pile 52 in the horizontal and longitudinal directions is different, including: the rubber pile is oval, square, or diamond-shaped, and the long side and short side of the oval, square, or diamond-shaped are respectively in the horizontal and longitudinal directions of the rubber pile, or in the longitudinal and horizontal directions; and / or the built-in metal part 57 of the rubber pile 52 further includes reinforcing ribs 58 arranged in the horizontal or longitudinal directions, see Figure 8 .

[0037] In this embodiment, the air spring achieves its primary pneumatic support function through the combined action of the upper cover 51 and the airbag 54, while the rubber pile 52 provides additional mechanical support and stiffness adjustment. The transverse and longitudinal diameters of the rubber pile 52 are different, causing it to exhibit different stiffness characteristics in different directions. For example, when the rubber pile is elliptical, its long and short sides are in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the rubber pile, or in the longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively. By adjusting the size ratio of the elliptical rubber pile, different stiffness in the transverse and longitudinal directions, or in the longitudinal and transverse directions, can be achieved. In addition, the reinforcing ribs 58 within the rubber pile 52 further enhance its stiffness in specific directions. By properly setting the position and number of the reinforcing ribs, the mechanical properties of the rubber pile in the transverse and longitudinal directions can be further controlled.

[0038] This configuration enables the air spring to provide improved support and comfort in complex road conditions. By adjusting the shape and internal structure of the rubber stack, the air spring can achieve greater lateral stability while also providing better longitudinal vibration absorption, thereby enhancing the overall vehicle driving experience. Furthermore, by integrating metal components 57 and reinforcing ribs 58 within the rubber stack, the stiffness distribution of the air spring can be further optimized to meet the needs of different usage scenarios.

[0039] In another possible embodiment, the shape of the rubber stack 52 is not limited to an ellipse; it can also be a square, rectangle, or diamond. By adjusting the horizontal and vertical distribution of the long and short sides of these shapes, similar stiffness characteristics can still be achieved. Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs 58 can be made of sheet metal or wire, and their thickness and arrangement can be adjusted as needed to optimize the mechanical properties of the rubber stack.

[0040] In a possible implementation, the reinforcing ribs are metal sheets or metal wires vertically arranged along the horizontal plane of the rubber pile 52 .

[0041] The reinforcement ribs 58 are vertically arranged on the horizontal surface of the rubber pile 52, and can be connected to the metal member 57, such as Figure 8 As shown, it can effectively increase the stiffness of the rubber stack in that direction. The selection and layout of the metal sheet or wire material determines the mechanical properties of the rubber stack, making the rubber stack exhibit higher stiffness in a specific direction, thereby improving the overall stability and durability of the air spring.

[0042] By vertically placing metal pieces within the rubber stack 52, the air spring's lateral or longitudinal stiffness can be modified, enhancing its load-bearing capacity and durability. This structure not only optimizes the air spring's performance but also allows for flexible adaptation to varying usage requirements by simply adjusting the number, position, and size of the metal pieces.

[0043] In another possible embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 58 can be made of different metal materials, such as stainless steel, alloy steel, or other composite or polymer materials, to adapt to different usage environments and requirements. The shape of the reinforcing ribs 58 can also be circular, square, or other polygonal to further optimize the mechanical properties of the rubber stack.

[0044] In a possible implementation, the rubber pile 52 has different stiffness in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, and the material of the rubber pile 52 has different stiffness in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction.

[0045] By selecting rubber materials of different types to form the rubber stack 52, it can exhibit different stiffness characteristics in the transverse and longitudinal directions. Rubbers of different materials have different physical and mechanical properties. Combined with a reasonable structural design, the air spring can achieve differentiated support and vibration reduction effects in different directions.

[0046] This design allows the air spring to have optimal stiffness and elasticity in both the lateral and longitudinal directions, enhancing support and comfort in different directions. Furthermore, by selecting rubber of different materials, the durability and anti-aging properties of the air spring can be optimized, extending its service life.

[0047] In another possible embodiment, the rubber stack 52 can be made of a composite material or modified rubber to further enhance its mechanical properties and environmental adaptability. For example, reinforcing fibers or fillers can be added to the rubber to increase the stiffness and strength of the rubber stack. Adding reinforcing fibers to the transverse or longitudinal material of the rubber stack 52 can increase stiffness in that direction.

[0048] In a possible embodiment, the density and / or hardness of the material of the rubber pile 52 in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction are different.

[0049] By using materials with different densities and / or hardnesses in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the rubber stack 52, varying stiffness in different directions can be achieved. High-density or high-hardness rubber deforms less and exhibits greater stiffness when subjected to external forces; low-density or low-hardness rubber exhibits the opposite effect. This design allows for precise control of the mechanical properties of the air spring.

[0050] This structural design can better meet the stiffness requirements in different directions and improve the overall performance of the air spring.

[0051] In another possible embodiment, the density and hardness of the rubber pile 52 can be further optimized by adjusting the proportion or distribution of fillers within the rubber pile 52. For example, micron-sized fillers or bubbles can be added to the rubber to achieve density and hardness differences in different directions.

[0052] In a possible embodiment, the rubber pile 52 is provided with holes or grooves of different numbers and shapes inside the transverse and longitudinal structures.

[0053] By providing different numbers and shapes of holes or grooves within the rubber pile 52, its transverse and longitudinal mechanical properties can be changed. The presence of holes and grooves affects the stress distribution and deformation characteristics of the rubber, causing it to exhibit different stiffness in different directions.

[0054] This design can achieve a difference in lateral and longitudinal stiffness of the air spring through simple structural adjustments, improving its vibration damping performance and user comfort. At the same time, the arrangement of holes and slots can also reduce the weight of the rubber stack and reduce material costs.

[0055] In another possible embodiment, the shapes of the holes and grooves may be circular, square, bar or other shapes, and their number and distribution positions may be adjusted as needed to further optimize the mechanical properties of the rubber pile.

[0056] In a possible embodiment, the rubber pile 52 is a composite structure of rubber and other composite materials in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

[0057] By combining rubber with other composite materials (such as fiber-reinforced materials and polymer materials) to create a composite rubber stack 52, its mechanical properties and environmental adaptability can be further improved. Different composite materials have different mechanical and physical properties. A reasonable combination can enable the rubber stack to exhibit optimal stiffness and elasticity in different directions.

[0058] This composite structural design can significantly enhance the performance of air springs, including increasing their stiffness, strength, durability, and environmental adaptability. Furthermore, through appropriate material selection and design, it can also reduce the weight and cost of air springs, enhancing their market competitiveness.

[0059] In another possible embodiment, different types of composite materials, such as carbon fiber composites, glass fiber composites, or polymer materials, can be used to achieve different mechanical properties and usage requirements. In addition, the performance of the rubber pile can be further optimized by adjusting the proportion and distribution of the composite materials.

[0060] In a possible embodiment, the metal parts built into the rubber stack 52 are rigid metals or polymer materials that are arranged differently in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

[0061] By embedding metals or polymers of varying rigidity within the rubber stack 52, its lateral and longitudinal stiffness can be effectively enhanced. The rigidity and layout of these metals or polymers determine the mechanical properties of the rubber stack in different directions. Proper design and configuration can enhance the stiffness and stability of the rubber stack in specific directions.

[0062] This design of built-in metal or polymer materials can significantly improve the overall stiffness and durability of the air spring while maintaining its good shock absorption performance. By selecting materials with different stiffness, the weight and cost of the air spring can also be optimized, improving its market competitiveness.

[0063] In another possible implementation, the built-in metal or polymer materials can be selected from different types and specifications, such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, or engineering plastics, to meet different mechanical performance requirements. Furthermore, the stiffness and elasticity of the rubber stack can be further optimized by adjusting the layout and quantity of these materials.

[0064] The non-centrosymmetrical rubber pile structure of the present invention makes the longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness characteristics of the rubber pile different. Since the overall stiffness characteristics of the air spring are determined by the stiffness characteristics of the airbag and the rubber pile, when the longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness characteristics of the rubber pile are different, the overall longitudinal stiffness and lateral stiffness characteristics of the air spring are also different.

[0065] The typical air spring products currently used in engineering have air bags and rubber piles with completely central symmetric structures and circular horizontal cross-sections, which makes the stiffness characteristics in any direction in the horizontal plane completely consistent. This patent designs the air spring rubber pile into a non-central symmetric structure, such as Figure 4 、 Figure 5a 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 6a This is an air spring structure with an elliptical horizontal cross-section of the rubber pile. The stiffness characteristics of the rubber pile vary in different directions within the horizontal plane, resulting in varying horizontal stiffness in the air spring. When installed on a rail vehicle, aligning the longer diameter of the ellipse in the x-direction provides the vehicle with relatively high longitudinal stiffness and relatively low lateral stiffness. Conversely, aligning the shorter diameter of the ellipse in the x-direction provides relatively low longitudinal stiffness and relatively high lateral stiffness. Customers can choose the air spring installation direction based on their specific needs.

[0066] Taking a typical rubber-metal composite rubber pile as an example, the pure rubber rubber pile structure shown in the figure below can also use this method to achieve different lateral and longitudinal stiffness characteristics.

[0067] The air spring of the utility model with different transverse and longitudinal stiffness has the following beneficial effects:

[0068] 1. Solved the problem that traditional air springs cannot provide different longitudinal and lateral stiffness.

[0069] 2. By controlling the eccentricity of the horizontal cross-section ellipse of the air spring rubber pile, different differences or ratios between the longitudinal stiffness and the lateral stiffness can be achieved to meet the personalized needs of customers.

[0070] 3. The production process is similar to that of traditional air springs, without increasing additional production costs.

[0071] The utility model is suitable for air springs of rubber-metal composite rubber piles. Figure 5 and Figure 5a The pure rubber rubber pile structure shown can also use this method to achieve different lateral and longitudinal stiffness characteristics.

[0072] The air spring of the present invention realizes a structural scheme with different transverse and longitudinal stiffness. That is, different transverse and longitudinal stiffness characteristics are achieved by changing the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the rubber pile, and non-center-symmetrical cross-sectional shapes such as elliptical, rectangular, and diamond are all acceptable.

[0073] This utility model is applicable to different air spring rubber stack structures. Air springs have a variety of different structural forms and a variety of different rubber stack structures. This patent only introduces a few typical structures as examples. Other rubber stacks or air springs with the same solution to achieve different lateral and longitudinal stiffness characteristics should also be protected by this patent.

[0074] Finally, it should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0075] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application and are not intended to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, ordinary technicians in the relevant field should understand that the specific implementation methods of the present application can still be modified or some technical features can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present application. They should all be included in the scope of the technical solutions requested for protection in the present application.

Claims

1. An air spring with different lateral and longitudinal stiffness, characterized in that: include: An upper cover (51), an air bag (54), and a rubber pile (52), wherein the upper cover (51) is placed on the air bag (54), and the rubber pile (52) is arranged under the air bag (54); The rubber pile (52) has different rigidities in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the horizontal plane, and includes one or more of the following structures: The diameters of the rubber pile (52) in the transverse and longitudinal directions are different, including: the rubber pile is elliptical, square or diamond-shaped, and the long side and short side of the elliptical, square or diamond-shaped are respectively in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the rubber pile, or in the longitudinal and transverse directions; and / or the rubber pile (52) also includes reinforcing ribs (58) arranged in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

2. The air spring according to claim 1, characterized in that The reinforcing ribs (58) are metal sheets or metal wires vertically arranged along the horizontal plane of the rubber pile (52).

3. The air spring according to claim 2, characterized in that The rubber pile (52) has different rigidities in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction of the horizontal plane, and further includes: the material of the rubber pile (52) has different rigidities in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction.

4. The air spring according to claim 3, characterized in that The density and / or hardness of the material of the rubber pile (52) is different in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction.

5. The air spring according to claim 4, characterized in that The rubber pile (52) is provided with holes or grooves of different numbers and shapes inside the transverse and longitudinal structures.

6. The air spring according to claim 3, characterized in that The rubber pile (52) is a composite structure of rubber and different composite materials in the transverse and longitudinal directions.

7. The air spring according to claim 6, characterized in that The metal parts built into the rubber pile (52) are rigid metals or polymer materials that are arranged differently in the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction.

Images