Railway axle box body
The innovative axle box design with hollow supports and optimized material distribution addresses the challenges of mass, energy efficiency, and durability, improving railway rolling stock performance through enhanced cooling and load transfer.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024000255
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-01-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing railway axle boxes do not adequately meet the demands for reduced mass, energy efficiency, and durability, failing to optimize cost, weight, and maintenance requirements.
An axle box design featuring hollow supports with air circulation channels and optimized material distribution, combined with a single central web and variable thickness components, enhances cooling and load transfer while minimizing weight.
The design improves durability, reduces mass, and optimizes energy consumption by promoting airflow cooling and efficient material usage, thereby enhancing the performance of railway rolling stock.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Railway axle box body Technical field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of railway axle boxes. Prior art
[0002] A railway axle box is a component that provides the connection between the wheels and the chassis of railway rolling stock or bogie. It must be strong, reliable, and lightweight to guarantee the safety, performance, and energy efficiency of rail transport.
[0003] The prior art includes various types of axle boxes. These boxes have drawbacks in terms of cost, weight, durability, and maintenance. For example, none of these boxes fully meets the growing demands of the railway market, which requires reducing the mass of rolling stock and energy consumption.
[0004] The invention aims to solve this problem by proposing an axle box with an optimized design, while ensuring its robustness and reliability.
[0005] The axle box according to the invention thus makes it possible to improve the performance of railway rolling stock, both in terms of reducing mass and energy consumption, and in terms of durability. Summary of the invention
[0006] The invention relates to an axle box body comprising an axle box bearing and two supports arranged radially on either side of the bearing. Such an axle box bearing is intended to receive a bearing unit equipped with at least one bearing.
[0007] According to a general characteristic, the supports comprise a common lower plate. Each support further comprises an upper plate opposite the lower plate and intended to receive suspension means for a railway vehicle body.
[0008] According to another general feature, each support further comprises two walls which each extend between the upper and lower soles, being axially separated from each other at least in part.
[0009] According to another general feature, an air circulation channel is formed between the lower sole, the upper sole, and the two walls of each support. In other words, each support is hollow, being provided with a channel allowing air to circulate inside each support.
[0010] Thus, we have an axle box body whose durability is improved thanks to to the cooling provided by the airflow through the hollow supports of the body. In addition, when a bearing unit with at least one bearing is mounted inside the axle box body, it also benefits from improved durability thanks to this same cooling.
[0011] Moreover, such an axle box body benefits from a reduced mass thanks to the hollow supports.
[0012] In addition, the shape of such supports allows for good load transfer while optimizing material distribution.
[0013] Advantageously, the axle box body comprises a single central web extending only between an upper face of the lower flange and an outer surface of the bearing. Such a web further reduces the mass of the axle box body.
[0014] In a particular embodiment, the central core has a variable width. Such a core allows for optimization of the material distribution.
[0015] In a particular embodiment, the upper flange of each support is attached to the bearing by means of two axially opposed arms extending between the upper flange and the bearing, creating an air passage between the bearing, the upper flange of each support, and the associated arms. Such an air passage further promotes cooling of the axle housing and contributes to reducing its weight. Moreover, when a bearing unit with at least one bearing is mounted inside the axle housing, such an air passage also promotes cooling of the bearing unit and the bearings. Furthermore, such a configuration simplifies the manufacturing of the axle housing by minimizing machining.
[0016] Preferably, each arm has a cross-section chosen from a polygonal section, a circular section or an elliptical section.
[0017] In a particular embodiment, each arm is attached to an associated vertical post located on the bearing. Such posts allow for efficient transmission of forces between the bearing and the supports.
[0018] Advantageously, the uprights have a variable thickness. Such uprights allow for optimized material distribution.
[0019] In a particular embodiment, each air circulation channel extends radially between two openings longitudinally delimiting said channel.
[0020] Preferably, the air circulation channels are oriented in the same radial direction. Such a design promotes homogeneous air circulation and cooling of the axle box body and bearing unit.
[0021] For example, the axle box body is made of cast iron or steel. Such an axle box body can be easily manufactured by molding or 3D printing.
[0022] The invention also relates to an axle box comprising a bearing unit equipped with at least one bearing and mounted inside an axle box body as described above. Such a bearing unit generally includes one or more associated sensors enabling bearing monitoring. Brief description of the figures
[0023] The present invention will be better understood upon study of the detailed description of embodiments, taken by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] [Fig-1] is a front perspective view of an axle box body according to an embodiment of the invention,
[0025] [Fig.2] is a side perspective view of the axle box body of [Fig. 1], and
[0026] [Fig.3] is a top perspective view of the axle box body of Figures 1 and 2. Detailed description of the invention
[0027] The axle box body 1 illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises an axle box bearing 2 and two supports 3 arranged radially on either side of the bearing 2.
[0028] The supports 3 each comprise a common lower sole 4.
[0029] Each support 3 further comprises an upper base plate 5 opposed to the lower base plate 4 and intended to receive suspension means for a railway vehicle body, in particular springs.
[0030] Each support 3 further comprises two walls 6, 7, each extending between the upper plate 5 and the lower plate 4, being axially separated from each other at least partially. As is particularly visible in [Fig. 2], the walls 6, 7 preferably meet at a distal end 8 of each support 3. Alternatively, it remains possible that the walls 6, 7 do not meet.
[0031] At least one air circulation channel 9 is formed between the lower sole 4, the upper sole 5, and the two walls 6, 7 of each support 3. Each air circulation channel 9 extends radially between two openings 10, 11 longitudinally delimiting said channel and which are formed on each support 3. As particularly visible in [Fig. 2], the opening 10 is formed between the walls 6, 7 on the distal side 8 of the support 3. The opening 11 is formed between the lower sole 4, the upper sole 5, and the two walls 6, 7 of each support 3.
[0032] Preferably, the air circulation channels 9 are oriented along the same radial direction R-R'. Alternatively, it remains possible for the air channels 9 to be oriented in different directions.
[0033] The axle box body comprises a single central web 12 extending only between an upper face 13 of the lower flange 4 and an ex surface external 14 of the bearing 2. Preferably, the central web has a variable width. As particularly visible in [Fig.2], the central web 12 thickens near the junctions 12a, 12b respectively with the external surface 14 of the bearing 2 and with the upper face 13 of the lower flange 4.
[0034] The upper flange 5 of each support 3 is fixed to the bearing 2 by means of two arms 15 that are axially opposed to each other and extend between the upper flange 5 and the bearing 2. An air passage 16 is formed between the bearing 2, the upper flange 5 of each support 3, and the associated arms 15. In other words, the air passage 16 represents an unobstructed area designed to promote air circulation. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection between the upper flange 5 of each support 3 and the bearing 2 is achieved by means of two arms 15. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a different number of arms, for example, one arm or three arms.
[0035] Preferably, each arm 15 has a polygonal cross-section, for example, a rectangular cross-section. The polygonal cross-section of the arms 15 may have chamfered and / or rounded edges. Alternatively, the arms 15 may have a circular or elliptical cross-section. Generally, the dimensions of the cross-section of the arms 15 are chosen according to the loads to be supported by the supports 3.
[0036] Each arm 15 is attached to an associated vertical upright 17 arranged on the bearing 2. Preferably, each vertical upright 17 has a variable thickness, so as to allow for material optimization. Alternatively, the vertical uprights 17 may have a constant thickness.
[0037] The axle box body 1 can be made of cast iron or steel, and can be obtained by manufacturing processes such as molding or 3D printing. Preferably, the axle box body 1 is a single piece, so as to minimize the number of separate parts.
[0038] According to another aspect, the invention relates to an axle box comprising an axle box body as described above associated with a bearing unit. The bearing unit comprises at least one bearing and is generally equipped with one or more associated sensors for monitoring the bearing. Such an axle box may further comprise known additional parts, such as sealing means, support rings, and covers. Such an axle box finds particularly interesting application in the field of railway rolling stock.
Claims
Demands
1. Axle box body (1) comprising an axle box bearing (2) and two supports (3) arranged radially on either side of said bearing (2) and comprising a common lower flange (4), said supports (3) each comprising an upper flange (5) opposite said lower flange (4) and intended to receive suspension means for a railway vehicle body, said body (1) being characterized in that each support (3) further comprises two walls (6, 7) which each extend between the upper flange (5) and the lower flange (4) being axially separated from each other at least in part, an air circulation channel (9) being formed between the lower flange, the upper flange and the two walls (6, 7) of each support (3).
2. Axle box body (1) according to claim 1, comprising a single central web (12) extending only between an upper face (13) of the lower base (4) and an outer surface (14) of said bearing (2).
3. Axle box body (1) according to claim 2, wherein the central web (12) has a variable width.
4. Axle box body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper flange (5) of each support (3) is integral with the bearing (2) through two arms (15) axially opposed to each other and extending between said upper flange (5) and said bearing (2), an air passage (16) being formed between the bearing (2), the upper flange (5) of each support (3) and the associated arms (15).
5. Axle box body (1) according to claim 4, wherein each arm (15) has a cross section selected from a polygonal section, a circular section or an elliptical section.
6. Axle box body (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each arm (15) is integral with an associated vertical post (17) disposed on said bearing (2).
7. Axle box body (1) according to claim 6, wherein said uprights (17) have a variable thickness.
8. Axle box body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each air circulation channel (9) extends radially between two openings (10, 11) longitudinally delimiting said channel.
9. Axle box body (1) according to any one of the claims previous, in which the air circulation channels (9) are oriented along the same radial direction (R-R').
10. Axle box comprising a bearing unit provided with at least one bearing and mounted inside an axle box body (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.