Railway vehicle bogie and associated railway vehicle

Abstract

Railway Vehicle Bogie and Associated Railway Vehicle The invention relates to a high-speed railway vehicle bogie (10), comprising: - a bogie frame, - at least one wheel (20) rotatably mounted on the frame by means of an axle (18) and a primary suspension system (22), - at least one motor (24), - for each motor (24), at least one reduction gear (26) for mechanically connecting the motor (24) and the axle (18). Each motor (24) is rigidly fixed to the frame (12). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Railway vehicle bogie and associated railway vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-speed rail vehicle bogie, the bogie comprising:

[0002] - a bogie frame,

[0003] - at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the chassis via of an axle and a primary suspension system,

[0004] - at least one motor,

[0005] - for each motor, at least one suitable gearbox for mechanically connecting the engine and axle.

[0006] The propulsion of high-speed rail vehicles, i.e. capable of reaching speeds above 300 km / h, requires powerful motors which generally have a significant mass, i.e. above 1100 kg in the case of an asynchronous motor and 900 kg in the case of a permanent magnet motor.

[0007] It is therefore known to fix the motors to the body of the railway vehicle, in a suspended manner, and to transmit the rotation to the axles mounted on the bogies by a complex transmission shaft known as a "tripod".

[0008] This transmission shaft includes a ball-finger joint known as a Cardan joint, in order to accommodate variations in orientation and lateral movements between the body and the bogie, and therefore large clearances between the motor and the axle.

[0009] These transmission systems can still be improved.

[0010] Indeed, tripod-type drive shafts are generally expensive and heavy, and require a chrome plating treatment to give them significant hardness and ensure their surface finish. However, these chrome plating treatments are harmful to the environment and are expected to be phased out as environmental standards evolve.

[0011] Moreover, transmission by a cardan joint is non-linear and causes energy losses in the transmission from the motor to the axle.

[0012] One object of the invention is thus to provide a high-speed rail vehicle bogie comprising a transmission system allowing to do away with the "tripod" type shaft.

[0013] For this purpose, the invention relates to a bogie of the aforementioned type, in which each motor is rigidly fixed to the chassis.

[0014] Such a bogie makes it possible to do away with the tripod by eliminating the need to accommodate large lateral clearances between the motor and the axle.

[0015] According to particular embodiments, the bogie according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0016] - each motor includes a protective and mounting casing, the casing defining fixing points, the engine being fixed to the chassis by rigid fixing devices engaged in the fixing points of the casing;

[0017] - the frame defines exactly four attachment points arranged so as to form a rectangle between them;

[0018] - two of the fixing points are located above a median plane of the chassis substantially perpendicular to a direction of elevation of the chassis, and the other two fixing points are located below the median plane of the chassis;

[0019] - the reducer is suitable for transmitting torque generated by the motor to the axle in a roughly linear fashion;

[0020] - each reducer is suspended from the chassis by a suspension system having a single degree of freedom oriented essentially along a direction of elevation of the chassis;

[0021] - the reducer is devoid of an element comprising a surface having a layer chrome;

[0022] - the bogie includes a coupling device which mechanically connects the motor to the reducer, the coupling device comprising a crowned-gear coupling; and

[0023] - each engine has a mass greater than or equal to 900 kg, preferably 1100 kg-

[0024] The invention also relates to a high-speed rail vehicle comprising at least one bogie as described above, the rail vehicle being intended to travel at speeds greater than or equal to 300 km / h during high-speed travel phases.

[0025] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0026] - [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a partial perspective view of a bogie according to the invention,

[0027] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic top view of the bogie of [Fig.1], and

[0028] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a detailed perspective view of a bogie motor according to the invention.

[0029] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a railway vehicle bogie 10 is described. The bogie 10 is fitted to a high-speed railway vehicle, that is to say a railway vehicle capable of moving at speeds greater than or equal to 300 km / h during high-speed movement phases.

[0030] The bogie 10 is described below with reference to a longitudinal direction X-X' substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the bogie 10 on rails, a transverse direction Y-Y' substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bogie 10, and an elevation direction Z-Z' substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction X-X' and to the transverse direction Y-Y'.

[0031] The longitudinal direction X-X' and the transverse direction Y-Y' are substantially horizontal and the elevation direction Z-Z' is substantially vertical, when the bogie 10 runs normally on substantially horizontal rails.

[0032] The bogie 10 comprises a frame 12, including side members 14 and at least one cross member 16 forming a frame. The bogie 10 also comprises axles 18 and wheels 20 supporting the frame 12 via primary suspension systems 22.

[0033] The wheels 20 and axles 18 are mounted on the chassis 12 in a rotatable manner to allow the bogie 10 to run on a railway track.

[0034] The bogie 10 further includes at least one motor 24 and at least one reducer 26 intended to drive the axles 18 and the wheels 20 in rotation.

[0035] The chassis 12 includes in particular two longitudinal members 14 and a cross member 16, assembled so as to form a frame having a substantially H-shaped form, by sets of fixings (not shown) arranged at the ends of the cross member 16.

[0036] The longitudinal members 14 extend substantially parallel to each other, along the longitudinal direction X-X', and the cross member or each cross member 16 extends substantially along the transverse direction Y-Y'.

[0037] Advantageously, the bogie 10 comprises two motors 24 and two reducers 26 arranged on either side of the cross member 16, each motor 24 driving one of the axles 18 via one of the corresponding reducers 26.

[0038] For the sake of simplifying the figures, only one motor 24, one reduction gear 26 and one axle 18 have been shown, the others being arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner with respect to the center of gravity of the chassis 12.

[0039] The axles 18 extend substantially parallel to each other, along the transverse direction Y-Y'. The side members 14 of the chassis 12 extend above the axles along the elevation direction Z-Z', and are supported by the primary suspension systems 22 (not visible in [Fig. 1]) which rest on the ends of each axle 18.

[0040] The wheels 20 are for example arranged internally with respect to the longitudinal members 14 and the primary suspension systems 22, in the transverse direction Y-Y'.

[0041] Each primary suspension system 22 includes, in a known manner, at least one shock absorber and at least one elastic return element, such as a spring. The shock absorber and the elastic return element are both arranged between the longitudinal member 14 and the axle 18, and are arranged to dampen the shocks and vibrations transmitted from the wheel 20 to the chassis 12.

[0042] Each motor 24 comprises a protective casing 28, as well as, in a known manner, a stator contained in the casing for its protection and a rotor mounted rotatably in the stator (not shown in the figures).

[0043] Each motor 24 is a high-speed rail vehicle motor, i.e., capable of enabling the rail vehicle to reach a speed greater than or equal to 300 km / h. Each motor 24 has a mass greater than or equal to 900 kg, preferably 1100 kg.

[0044] The rotor drives in rotation a rotor shaft 29 linked to a coupling device 30 which mechanically links the motor 24 to the reducer 26. The coupling device 30 is positioned between the rotor shaft 29 and the reducer and in particular between the rotor shaft 29 and an input pinion 48 of the reducer 26.

[0045] The coupling device 30 advantageously comprises a crowned toothed coupling including an input suitable for cooperating with the rotor shaft 29 and an output suitable for cooperating with an input pinion 48 of the reducer 26.

[0046] The crowned toothed coupling makes it possible to compensate for axial, radial and angular misalignments between the rotor and the reducer 26, in particular between the rotor shaft 29 and the input pinion 48 of the reducer 26.

[0047] The coupling is said to have curved teeth because it includes, on its periphery at the level of its entry and exit, teeth having curved, rather than straight, edges. The teeth are specifically designed to cooperate with complementary recesses formed on the periphery of a coupling sleeve extending between the entry and exit points.

[0048] The crowned tooth coupling is for example as described in WO 97 / 47894 Al in figures 1 and 5.

[0049] The frame 28 includes side walls 32, for example substantially cylindrical, two end flanges 34 closing the side walls 32, and superstructures 36 (not shown in Figures 2 and 3), playing in particular a role of heat dissipation.

[0050] The carcass 28 defines a plurality of fixing points 40, arranged opposite a support 42 carried by the cross member 16 when the engine is mounted on the chassis.

[0051] Advantageously, the frame 28 defines four fixing points 40, arranged at the four corners of a rectangle, with two of the fixing points 40 located above a median plane of the chassis 12 substantially perpendicular to the elevation direction Z-Z', and the other two fixing points 40 located below said median plane of the chassis 12.

[0052] The median plane of the chassis 12 is in particular a substantially horizontal plane, extending to mid-height of the cross member 16 and the longitudinal members 14, in the elevation direction Z-Z', when the railway vehicle travels on horizontal rails.

[0053] Each fixing point 40 includes, for example, a through conduit having substantially smooth internal walls, suitable for receiving a bolt.

[0054] Alternatively, each fixing point 40 includes a threaded hole, opening at one or both ends, suitable for receiving a screw.

[0055] The support 42 is for example a plate substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X-X', which defines a plurality of orifices 44, at least one of the orifices 44 opening opposite each of the fixing points 40 of the frame 28.

[0056] Rigid fastening elements 46 are locked engaged both in the orifices 44 of the support 42 and in the conduits of the fastening points 40 of the frame 28.

[0057] The fasteners 46 are, for example, bolts.

[0058] Alternatively, the fasteners 46 are screws or rivets.

[0059] In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, each mounting point 40 comprises two substantially parallel through conduits, and the support 42 defines two openings 44 opposite each mounting point 40, each opening 44 leading into one of the conduits. Each fastening member 46 comprises two bolts substantially parallel to each other, each engaged in one of the openings 44 and in one of the conduits. This embodiment increases the rigidity of the motor 24 mounting and improves its safety.

[0060] Each reducer 26 includes the input pinion 48, cooperating with the output of the coupling device 30, and an output pinion 50 fixed to the axle 18. The reducer 26 transmits the mechanical drive from the coupling device 30 to the axle 18, which allows the motor 24 to drive the wheels 20 in rotation.

[0061] Each reducer 26 is fixed to the chassis 12 by a respective suspension system, having a single degree of vertical freedom, i.e. advantageously allowing travel of the reducer essentially along the elevation direction Z-Z'.

[0062] The suspension system of the reducer 26 includes, for example, a pivot joint allowing the reducer 26 to be articulated in rotation relative to the chassis 12, around an axis substantially collinear with a central axis of the coupling device 30, such as an elastic return link 54.

[0063] The articulation of the reducer 26 around the central axis of the coupling device 30 minimizes the relative movements of the motor 24 and the reducer 26 at its input pinion 48, which allows the coupling device 30 to be used instead of a "tripod" type shaft.

[0064] The reducer 26 ensures a substantially linear transmission of the drive from the motor 24 to the wheels 20, that is to say that the torque transmitted to the wheels 20 depends substantially linearly on the torque generated by the motor 24, without non-linearities during rotation as is the case with a Cardan joint.

[0065] This helps to reduce energy losses in the transmission.

[0066] Furthermore, the reducer 26 does not include any element with a chromed surface, as no element requires significant hardness.

Claims

Demands

1. High-speed rail vehicle bogie (10), the bogie (10) comprising: - a bogie frame (12) (10), - at least one wheel (20) rotatably mounted on the frame (12) by means of an axle (18) and a primary suspension system (22), - at least one motor (24), - for each motor (24), at least one reduction gear (26) suitable for mechanically connecting the motor (24) and the axle (18), characterized in that each motor (24), which has a mass greater than or equal to 900 kg, is rigidly fixed to the frame (12).

2. Bogie (10) according to claim 1, wherein each motor (24) comprises a protective and fixing frame (28), the frame (28) defining fixing points (40), the motor (24) being fixed to the chassis (12) by rigid fixing members (46) engaged in the fixing points (40) of the frame (28).

3. Bogie (10) according to claim 2, wherein the frame (28) defines exactly four attachment points (40) arranged to form a rectangle between them.

4. Bogie (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein the frame (28) defines at least: - two attachment points (40) located above a median plane of the chassis (12) substantially perpendicular to a direction of elevation of the chassis (12), and - two other attachment points (40) located below the median plane of the chassis (12).

5. Bogie (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reducer (26) is suitable for transmitting torque generated by the motor (24) to the axle (18) in a substantially linear manner.

6. Bogie (10) according to claim 5, wherein each reducer (26) is suspended from the chassis (12) by a suspension system having a single degree of freedom oriented essentially along an elevation direction (Z-Z') of the chassis (12).

7. Bogie (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the reducer (26) is devoid of an element comprising a surface having a layer of chrome.

8. Bogie (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the bogie (10) comprises a coupling device (30) which mechanically links the motor (24) to the reducer (26), the coupling device (30) comprising a crowned toothed coupling.

9. Bogie (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each motor (24) has a mass greater than or equal to 1100 kg.

10. High-speed rail vehicle comprising at least one bogie (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the rail vehicle being capable of moving at speeds greater than or equal to 300 km / h during high-speed travel phases.

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