LOW-FLOOR DRIVE CHASSIS WITH SINGLE-SIDED DRIVE WHEELS SHAFT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a low-floor motorized bogie and a method for driving a low-floor motorized bogie.

[0002] Low-floor vehicles are used in local public transport to provide passengers with the most barrier-free, ground-level boarding and alighting possible. This is achieved, among other things, by coordinating the chassis or chassis components and the passenger compartments. For example, aisle areas are provided with inclines to overcome height differences between the ground-level entrances and exits and the chassis components. To keep these height differences as small as possible, drive systems are often located away from the aisle area. For example, passenger seats are raised to accommodate drive systems below them. However, this results in increased emissions such as vibrations or noise in the passenger compartment. In addition, such an arrangement requires a complex chassis design, requiring a large number of clutches and transmission components.

[0003] A chassis for a low-floor vehicle is known from FR 3014398 A1.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a low-floor traction chassis that is lightweight and inexpensive to implement.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of providing a method for driving a low-floor motorized bogie.

[0006] This task is solved by the subordinate procedural claim.

[0007] Advantageous further developments of the present invention can be found in the respective dependent subclaims.

[0008] The low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention has at least two wheelset shafts, each with a wheelset, wherein the at least two wheelset shafts are each rotatably mounted about a wheelset axle. Furthermore, the low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention has an electric drive for driving each of the at least two wheelset shafts. A motor axle of the electric drive and the wheelset axle are arranged coaxially. Furthermore, the electric drive is arranged on one side in an area around the wheelset axle outside a free area of ​​the wheelset axle. The free area of ​​the wheelset axle extends cylindrically around a section of the wheelset axle that is delimited by a wheelset connected to the wheelset shaft. In particular, the low-floor motorized bogie is a low-floor motorized bogie for a rail-bound vehicle.

[0009] In the present context, a one-sided arrangement along a section of the wheelset axle should be understood to mean that this arrangement occurs exclusively along a first of two possible sections of the wheelset axle, which lies outside the free area of ​​the wheelset axle. Consequently, the wheelset axle can only be driven on one side by means of the electric drive. No electric drive is arranged along a second of the two possible sections of the wheelset axle.

[0010] A coaxial arrangement is understood to mean an exactly coaxial arrangement, as well as an arrangement of two axes that are arranged parallel to one another such that they are spaced apart by a maximum of 100 mm, or that are arranged to one another such that they enclose an angle of no more than 20°. Furthermore, in the present context, a coaxial arrangement is understood to mean that two axes are arranged coaxially during non-operational periods. During operation, a relative movement of the coaxially arranged axes can occur. For example, the relative movement can occur due to the use of compensating couplings.

[0011] Using the low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention, the number of required drive components can be minimized. This allows the weight of the low-floor motorized bogie to be kept low. Furthermore, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0012] An advantageous further development provides that at least two of the wheelset axles, each with an electric drive connected to it on one side, are arranged in succession in such a way that the electric drives of immediately adjacent wheelset axles are arranged laterally offset from one another. In the present context, "later offset from one another" should be understood to mean that the electric drives, viewed along an arrangement direction of the successively arranged wheelset axles, are arranged alternately on a left side and a right side of the respective wheelset axle, starting from its free area. The free area is the aforementioned free area of ​​the wheelset axle, which is delimited by a wheelset connected to the corresponding wheelset axle. In this way, a low-floor motorized bogie with an even weight distribution can be realized.

[0013] In a further advantageous development, a braking device is provided which is connected to the wheelset axle and which is arranged on one side along a section of the wheelset axle outside the free area of ​​the wheelset axle. This one-sided arrangement should be understood as previously described in connection with the electric drive. Consequently, the wheelset axle can be braked exclusively on one side by means of the braking device. This allows for wheelbases to be dimensioned simply and according to requirements.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the braking device be arranged along a section of the wheelset axle, which is separated by the aforementioned free space from another section of the wheelset axle, along which the electric drive is arranged. In this way, a braking device can be arranged in a compact and cost-effective manner.

[0015] An advantageous design variant provides for the braking device to have a brake disc directly connected to the wheelset axle. This allows for cost-effective maintenance and repair.

[0016] According to the invention, at least one electric drive is a direct drive. This allows the total number of components of the electric drive to be kept small.

[0017] Furthermore, an alternative advantageous development provides for the electric drive to have a transmission, with an output axle of the transmission and the wheelset axle being coaxial. This enables a demand-based transmission of torques or speeds in a compact manner.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, the transmission is designed as a planetary gear. This makes it possible to provide a low-maintenance and reliable transmission ratio.

[0019] Furthermore, an advantageous development provides for the electric drive to be connected to the wheelset shaft by means of a cardanic coupling or a radial coupling. This reduces the loads acting on the connection between the wheelset shaft and the electric drive during operation. Either the cardanic coupling or the radial coupling can be used to connect the direct drive or the electric drive with a transmission to the respective wheelset shaft.

[0020] In a further advantageous development, the electric drive is rigidly connected to a frame of the low-floor motorized bogie. This allows for a reduction in unsprung masses. This leads to reduced wear on components of the low-floor motorized bogie as well as on associated infrastructure, such as rails or switches.

[0021] Furthermore, a vehicle according to the invention is provided, which has the low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention. In particular, the vehicle is a rail-bound vehicle. In this way, a vehicle with a lightweight and cost-effective low-floor motorized bogie can be provided.

[0022] The low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention can be driven by the method according to the invention.

[0023] In the method according to the invention, a wheelset axle is driven on one side by means of an electric drive whose motor axis is aligned coaxially with a wheelset axis of the wheelset axle. In the present context, a one-sided drive is to be understood as meaning that the wheelset axle is driven exclusively on a first of two possible sides of the wheelset axle, which are separated from one another by a free area. The free area is the free area previously described in connection with the low-floor powered bogie. Furthermore, the aforementioned electric drive is the electric drive previously described in connection with the low-floor powered bogie. In addition, a coaxial alignment between the motor axis and the wheelset axle is to be understood as described previously in connection with the low-floor powered bogie.Accordingly, there is no drive to the wheelset shaft on a second of the two possible sides mentioned.

[0024] In this way, a vehicle can be powered by a low-floor traction chassis that is lightweight and inexpensive to implement.

[0025] The properties, features, and advantages of the invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, are explained in more detail in conjunction with the figures in the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used in the figures for the same or corresponding elements of the invention. The exemplary embodiments serve to illustrate the invention and do not limit the invention to the combinations of features specified therein, including with regard to functional features. Furthermore, all features specified in the exemplary embodiments can be considered in isolation and combined as appropriate with the features of any claim.

[0026] They show: FIG 1 shows a first normal projection of a first exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation, as well as an illustration of an example of the method according to the invention; FIG 2 shows a second normal projection of the first exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation, as well as an illustration of the example of the method according to the invention; FIG 3 shows a third normal projection of the first exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor motorized bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation, as well as an illustration of the example of the method according to the invention; FIG 4 shows a first normal projection of a second exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a low-floor motorized bogie not according to the invention in a schematic representation;FIG 5 shows a second normal projection of the second exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor powered bogie in a schematic representation; FIG 6 shows a third normal projection of the second exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor powered bogie in a schematic representation; FIG 7 shows a first normal projection of a third exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a low-floor powered bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation; FIG 8 shows a second normal projection of the third exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor powered bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation; FIG 9 shows a third normal projection of the third exemplary embodiment of the vehicle with the low-floor powered bogie according to the invention in a schematic representation.

[0027] FIG 1-3 show in a schematic representation three normal projections of a first embodiment of a vehicle 54a with a low-floor motorized bogie 10a. FIG 1 a front view, FIG 2 a top view and FIG 3 a side view of the low-floor motorized bogie 10a. representative of the vehicle 54a is FIG 1 Only a section of a car body 64 of the vehicle 54a is shown schematically. This illustrated section shows the profile of the underside of the car body 64 in the area of ​​the low-floor powered bogie 10a. In the present exemplary embodiment, an overall width 58 of the vehicle 54a is predetermined by an overall width of the car body 64. For example, the overall width 58 of the vehicle 54a is slightly smaller than an overall width 56 of the low-floor powered bogie 10a. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, the entire car body 64 and other parts of the vehicle 54a are not shown.

[0028] In the FIG 1 The front view shown schematically shows that the low-floor motorized bogie 10a has a first wheelset shaft 12 and a second wheelset shaft 14 (not visible). Each of the said wheelset shafts 12, 14 is rotatably mounted about its own wheelset axle 20, 22. Furthermore, a first wheelset 16 is connected to the first wheelset shaft 12 and a second wheelset 18 is connected to the second wheelset shaft 14. Each of the said wheelsets 16, 18 has two wheel discs, which are arranged at a distance from one another on the respective wheelset shaft 12, 14. The area between two wheels of a wheelset 16, 18 is referred to below as the free area 32, 34. Furthermore, the low-floor motorized bogie 10a has two electric drives 24a, 26a. A first electric drive 24a of the two electric drives 24a, 26a is configured to drive the first wheelset shaft 12 on one side.A second electric drive 26a of the two electric drives 24a, 26a is configured to drive the second wheelset shaft 14 on one side. Each of the two electric drives 24a, 26a has a motor axle 28, 30. A first motor axle 28 of the first electric drive 24a and the first wheelset axle 20 are arranged coaxially. Furthermore, a second motor axle 30 of the second electric drive 26a and the second wheelset axle 22 are arranged coaxially. In addition, the first electric drive 24a is arranged on one side around a section of the first wheelset axle 20 that lies outside the free area 32 of the first wheelset axle 20. Accordingly, the second electric drive 26a is arranged on one side around a section of the second wheelset axle 22 that lies outside the free area 34 of the second wheelset axle 22.In this way, it is possible for the first wheelset shaft 12 to be driven unilaterally by means of the first electric drive 24a, whose motor axis 28 is coaxial with the first wheelset axle 20. Furthermore, this way, it is possible for the second wheelset shaft 14 to be driven unilaterally by means of the second electric drive 26a, whose motor axis 30 is coaxial with the second wheelset axle 22.

[0029] FIG 2 shows that the first wheelset axle 12 and the second wheelset axle 14 are arranged consecutively in an arrangement direction 68. The first electric drive 24a and the second electric drive 26a are arranged laterally offset from one another. Viewed along the arrangement direction 68, the first electric drive 24a in the present exemplary embodiment is connected to the first wheelset axle 12 on the left outside the free area 32 of the first wheelset axle 20. The second electric drive 26a is connected to the second wheelset axle 14 laterally offset outside the free area 34 of the second wheelset axle 22.

[0030] In the FIG 1-3 In the first exemplary embodiment shown, the two electric drives 24a, 26a are each designed as direct drives. The two electric drives 24a, 26a are each connected to the corresponding wheelset shaft 12, 14 by means of a hollow motor shaft and a cardan coupling 60. Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the two electric drives 24a, 26a are each rigidly and directly connected to a frame 52 of the low-floor motorized bogie 10a. The wheelset shafts 12, 14 are also rigidly connected to the frame 52 in the present exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the wheelset shafts 12, 14 are connected to the frame 52 in a spring-loaded manner by means of a spring system (not shown in detail). Furthermore, the frame 52 is coupled to the car body 64 by means of a spring device 66 known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] Furthermore, the low-floor motorized bogie 10a has a first braking device 36 and a second braking device 38, each with a brake disc 40, 42. A first brake disc 40 of the first braking device 36 is connected directly and on one side to the first wheelset shaft 12. Furthermore, a second brake disc 42 of the second braking device 38 is connected directly and on one side to the second wheelset shaft 14. A center axis of a respective brake disc 40, 42 is arranged coaxially with the corresponding wheelset axle 20, 22. Furthermore, the respective brake disc 40, 42 is arranged around a section of the respective wheelset axle 20, 22, which is separated by the respective free area 32, 34 from the section of the respective wheelset axle 20, 22 around which the associated electric drive 24a, 26a is arranged. In this way, the braking devices 36, 38 are arranged laterally offset from one another.The first braking device 36 with the first brake disc 40 is arranged to the right outside the free area 32 of the first wheelset axle 20, as viewed in the arrangement direction 68. Accordingly, the second braking device 38 with the second brake disc 42 is arranged to the left outside the free area 34 of the second wheelset axle 22, as viewed along the arrangement direction 68.

[0032] FIG 4-6 schematically show three normal projections of a second embodiment of a vehicle 54b with a low-floor motorized bogie 10b. FIG 4 a front view, FIG 5 a top view and FIG 6 a side view of the low-floor motorized bogie 10b. The low-floor motorized bogie 10b of the second embodiment is a component of the vehicle 54b. The FIG 4-6 The second embodiment described differs from the one described in connection with the FIG 1-3 described first exemplary embodiment exclusively in that a first electric drive 24b and a second electric drive 26b of the low-floor motorized bogie 10b each have a transmission 44, 46. Here, the first electric drive 24b has a first motor axle 28 and a first transmission 44 with a first output axle 48. Furthermore, the second electric drive 26b has a second motor axle 30 and a second transmission 46 with a second output axle 50. In the second exemplary embodiment described here, the first output axle 48, the first motor axle 28 and the first wheelset axle 20 are arranged coaxially. Furthermore, the second output axle 50, the second motor axle 30 and the second wheelset axle 22 are arranged coaxially. By way of example, the first and the second transmission 44, 46 are each designed as a planetary gear.

[0033] FIG 7-9 schematically show three normal projections of a third embodiment of a vehicle 54c with a low-floor motorized bogie 10c. FIG 7 a front view, FIG 8 a top view and FIG 9 a side view of the low-floor motorized bogie 10c. The low-floor motorized bogie 10c of the third embodiment is a component of the vehicle 54c. The FIG 7-9 The third embodiment described differs from the one described in connection with the FIG 1-3 The first exemplary embodiment described above differs from the coupling by means of which the wheel set shafts 12, 14 are connected to the respective electric drive 24c, 26c. In the present third exemplary embodiment, a radial coupling 62 is provided instead of the cardanic coupling 60. Furthermore, in the case of the radial coupling 62, no hollow motor shaft is provided.

[0034] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) having at least two wheel set shafts (12, 14) each with a wheel set (16, 18), which are respectively rotatably mounted about a wheel set axis (20, 22), and each with an electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) for driving one of the at least two wheel set shafts (12, 14) in each case, wherein a motor axis (28, 30) of the respective electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) and the respective wheel set axis (20, 22) are coaxially arranged and the respective electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) is arranged unilaterally in a region around a section of the respective wheel set axis (20, 22), which lies outside of a free area (32, 34) of the respective wheel set axis (20, 22), delimited by a wheel set (16, 18) connected to the respective wheel set shaft (12, 14), characterised in that at least one electric drive (24a, 26a; 24c, 26c) is a direct drive.

2. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least two wheel set shafts (12, 14) each with an electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) connected thereto are arranged consecutively such that the electric drives (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) of wheel set shafts (12, 14) arranged directly adjacent to one another are arranged laterally offset in relation to one another.

3. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a braking apparatus (36, 38) which is connected in each case to one of the at least two wheel set shafts (12, 14) and which is unilaterally arranged in a region about the respective wheel set axis (20, 22) outside of the free area (32, 34) of the respective wheel set axis (20, 22).

4. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to claim 3, characterised in that the braking apparatus (36, 38) is arranged in the region about a section of the respective wheel set axis (20, 22), which, due to the free area (32, 34) mentioned, is separated from another region about another section of the respective wheel set axis (22, 24), in which the respective electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) is arranged.

5. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the braking apparatus (36, 38) has a brake disk (40, 42), which is directly connected to the respective wheel set shaft (12, 14).

6. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least one electric drive (24b, 26b) has a transmission (44, 46), wherein a drive axis (48, 50) of the transmission (44, 46) and the wheel set axis (20, 22) are coaxial.

7. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to claim 6, characterised in that the transmission (44, 46) is embodied as a planetary transmission.

8. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the electric drives (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) is connected to the respective wheel set shaft (12, 14) by means of a gimbal coupling (60) or a radial coupling (62).

9. Low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c) is fixedly connected to a frame (52) of the low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c).

10. Vehicle (54a; 54b; 54c), in particular rail-bound vehicle, with a low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Method for driving a low floor powered bogie (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which at least one wheel set shaft (12, 14) is unilaterally driven by means of an electric drive (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b; 24c, 26c), the motor axis (28, 30) of which is coaxially aligned with a wheel set axis (20, 22) of the at least one wheel set shaft (12, 14).