Underframe of a track-bound vehicle

Abstract

An underframe (1) of a track-bound vehicle in a light metal integral design, comprising a floor structure (4) and at least one coupling connection (5) arranged below the underframe (1), the coupling connection (5) comprising a coupling plate (6), designed for detachably fastening a coupling device (2), and a right support plate (8) and a left support plate (7), the coupling plate (6) being arranged below the underframe (1), transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and being connected to the floor structure (4), and the support plates (7, 8) each being oriented sideways to the coupling plate (6) and each being connected to a vertical edge of the coupling plate (6) and to the floor structure (4), the coupling plate (6) and the support plates (7, 8) each being constructed integrally from a machined light metal plate.

Description

[0001] 202415937

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Undercarriage of a track-bound vehicle.

[0005] Technical field

[0006] The invention relates to a chassis of a track-bound vehicle in light metal integral construction with a coupling connection.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] Rail vehicles, especially those used for passenger transport, are frequently operated in train sets where the screw couplings common in Europe have been replaced by so-called center buffer couplings. These offer a variety of advantages, in particular allowing for closer coupling of the vehicles. Center buffer couplings are mounted lower, i.e., closer to the top of the rail, than conventional couplings, so that the force is typically transferred to the vehicle's underframe via a bracket (coupling plate) located below the underframe. This bracket (coupling jaw) transmits all forces and moments introduced via the center buffer coupling and must therefore be designed with the necessary high strength, especially for transmitting the moments.Vehicles with so-called integral construction are built from a multitude of extruded light-alloy profiles, which are permanently joined together. In such vehicles, the connection of a center buffer coupling is achieved via an assembly located beneath the underframe. This assembly is constructed from numerous sheets and sections of extruded profiles and requires considerable labor to manufacture. In particular, the production of welds is time-consuming, as the large wall thicknesses of this assembly necessitate multi-layer welding. This is prone to errors, and the effort required to inspect the welds, for example using ultrasound or X-rays, is also very high due to their considerable length.Known solutions, such as attaching the coupling using specially shaped cast parts, are disadvantageous because these require particularly complex inspection for casting defects, and welding them to the underframe is also especially difficult. 202415937.

[0009] 2

[0010] Description of the invention

[0011] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a chassis for a track-bound vehicle in lightweight integral construction, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular reduces the number and total length of the welds for producing a coupling connection as well as the complexity of the welded joints.

[0012] The problem is solved by a chassis of a track-bound vehicle with the features of claim 1 and a track-bound vehicle according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0013] According to the basic idea of ​​the invention, a chassis of a track-bound vehicle is constructed in an integral light metal construction, comprising a floor structure and at least one coupling connection arranged below the chassis, wherein the coupling connection comprises a coupling plate designed for the detachable attachment of a coupling device and a right and a left support plate, wherein the coupling plate is arranged below the chassis transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected to the floor structure, and the support plates are each oriented laterally to the coupling plate and are each connected to a vertical edge of the coupling plate and to the floor structure, wherein the coupling plate and the support plates are each made in one piece from a machined light metal plate.

[0014] This offers the advantage of being able to construct a coupling connection on the underside of a chassis, i.e., the base structure of the chassis, with a minimal number of components, which furthermore only requires simple, straight welds for assembling the coupling connection.

[0015] According to the invention, the coupling connection is composed of three components: a coupling plate and two support plates. The coupling plate is shaped as a substantially rectangular plate, which is designed for the detachable fastening of a coupling device, for example a center buffer coupling, and has the necessary bores and recesses, typically for producing screw connections.

[0016] The support plates are designed as plate-shaped components, shaped for connection to both the coupling plate and the base structure of the chassis. 202415937

[0017] 3

[0018] Both the coupling plate and the support plates are each formed in one piece from a light metal plate using a machining process, in particular a milling process. The maximum thickness of the finished plate (coupling plate or support plate) determines the required thickness of the raw material. During this machining process, a large proportion of the raw material's volume can be removed, which, however, is not a disadvantage due to the good recyclability of the chips and the possibility of automated machining. In contrast to conventional coupling connections, which are constructed from numerous individual parts and require a large number of welds, the coupling connection according to the invention represents a significant simplification.

[0019] The support plates advantageously extend from the coupling plate towards the nearest end of the vehicle, forming a so-called coupling jaw. Both the coupling plate and the support plates are connected (welded) to the underframe's floor structure, with the force being transferred to the underframe in areas of high strength, such as an end crossmember. While it is theoretically possible to orient the support plates in the opposite direction, i.e., towards the vehicle's center, this space is typically occupied by the chassis in most vehicles.

[0020] It is particularly advantageous to arrange the support plates at an angle to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, so that the distance between the support plates increases towards the rear of the vehicle. This allows the coupling located between the support plates optimal freedom of movement.

[0021] A particular advantage of the invention is that the connection between the support plate and the coupling plate can be achieved via a straight weld seam oriented vertically in the installed position. Such straight weld seams are significantly easier to produce, have a considerably lower probability of defects, and can be manufactured automatically using simple means. Due to the considerable thickness of the components to be joined (coupling plate and support plate), required by the strength requirements, the weld seams must be executed on both sides and in multiple layers, which is also readily automatable. Furthermore, the good accessibility of both sides makes inspection of this weld seam simple.

[0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention provides for equipping the coupling plate with projections which are arranged on both edges oriented vertically in its installation position and which point towards the surface of these projections.

[0023] The coupling plate is aligned with four fixed support plates. This optimizes the connection to the support plates by preventing stress concentration in the welds. The welds are thus relieved of unfavorable loads caused by the force redirection from the plane of the coupling plate to the plane of the support plates. These loads therefore act only on the one-piece coupling plate, which is better able to absorb them than a weld. The dimensions of the raw material for the coupling plate must therefore be selected so that these features can also be machined from the raw material.

[0024] It is particularly advantageous to design the recesses on the coupling plate so that they are aligned with the support plates attached to these recesses. This eliminates bending stresses on the welds between the coupling plate and the support plates.

[0025] The coupling connection is attached to the floor structure by means of a welding process, whereby the coupling plate is welded to the floor structure along the entire length of its edge facing the floor structure. The support plates can also be welded to the floor structure along their entire edge facing the floor structure; however, it is advantageous to weld the support plates to the floor structure only over a specific section. It is particularly advantageous to position this section near the end of the support plates furthest from the coupling plate. In this way, parts of the edges of the support plates remain unconnected, so that the coupling connection has greater flexibility than if all edges facing the floor structure were connected to it. Typically, welding is only carried out over up to 30% of the edge length of the support plates to the floor structure.The welding of the support plates to the floor structure can also be carried out via multiple welds, which can be oriented in any spatial direction. This ensures optimal force transmission into the components of the floor structure.

[0026] The coupling plate or support plates can be machined to form webs and straps that are formed in one piece from a raw material, a light metal plate, using a machining process. This machining represents a fundamental principle of integral construction, in which the desired component is machined from a base material, such as a metal profile or plate. This avoids weakening the structure through welds, which are unavoidable in differential construction. In particular, the 202415937

[0027] 5

[0028] Cutting out the straps provides a significant stiffening of the structure, so the disadvantage of the increased processing time is clearly outweighed.

[0029] This also allows for openings through the components of a coupling connection according to the invention, particularly at the support plates. The resulting truss-like structure offers the advantage of achieving a minimum component mass while maintaining the required strength.

[0030] The present invention is applicable to all types of track-bound rail vehicles, for example to so-called "people movers", vehicles that follow a predetermined route on gas-filled tires, but especially to rail vehicles.

[0031] Brief description of the drawings

[0032] They show, for example:

[0033] Fig. 1 Underframe with coupling connection from the prior art.

[0034] Fig. 2 Coupling connection from the prior art.

[0035] Fig. 3 Coupling connection.

[0036] Fig. 4 Coupling connection - individual parts.

[0037] Implementation of the invention

[0038] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary and schematic underframe with a coupling connection from the prior art. It is a bottom oblique view of the underframe of a track-bound vehicle, a rail vehicle. The floor structure 4 of the underframe 1 is formed using an integral construction method and comprises a multitude of machined light metal profiles, which are permanently connected to one another to form the floor structure 4. A coupling connection 3, as known from the prior art, is attached to the floor structure 4, to which a coupling device 2 is detachably fastened. This coupling connection 3 is constructed from a plurality of sheets or sections of profiles, which are each cut, shaped, and permanently connected to one another. This requires a large number of welds, most of which are not automated.

[0039] 6 can be manufactured and their control is only possible with great effort due to the complex construction and limited accessibility.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary and schematic representation of a coupling connection from the prior art. The coupling connection 3 from the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is depicted, which particularly illustrates the considerable effort required for its manufacture. Such a coupling connection 3 from the prior art requires seven components, some of which, in addition to cutting and creating recesses, also require bending operations.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary and schematic coupling connection. A coupling connection 5 according to the invention is shown in its installed position, in which it can be attached to a base structure 4 of a subframe 1. The design is significantly simplified, comprising only three components: a coupling plate 6, a left support plate 7, and a right support plate 8. The coupling plate 6 is connected to the support plates 7 and 8 by means of butt welds 12. The straightness of the welds 12, which facilitates automated manufacturing and optimal inspection, is particularly evident in Fig. 3. Such a coupling connection 5 is also suitable for being manufactured separately from the base structure 4 and subsequently joined to it in a later processing step to form a subframe 1.The simple basic shape of the coupling connection 5 with its essentially U-shaped floor plan facilitates the storage and transport of the coupling connection 5, as it can be stacked easily and in a space-saving manner.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows, by way of example and schematically, the individual parts of a coupling connection. The coupling connection 5 from Fig. 3 is depicted, with the individual components coupling plate 6, left support plate 7, and right support plate 8 shown separately from one another, but in their installed position. The projections 9 on the coupling plate 6 are particularly visible; these extend towards the adjacent support plates 7 and 8, so that the projections 9 and their respective support plates 7 and 8 form a plane. The support plates 7 and 8 are essentially mirror images of each other and have a support structure of ribs and flanges machined from a base plate. Openings 10 are provided at points with lower strength requirements, which significantly reduce the mass of the support plates 7 and 8.All components, coupling plate 6 and support plates 7, 8, are equipped with radii to prevent stress concentrations. The connection of the coupling connection 5 to a base structure 4 is made via welds, the positions of which are shown 11 on the components of the coupling connection 5. 202415937.

[0043] 7

[0044] Reference symbol list

[0045] 1 base

[0046] 2 Coupling device 3 Coupling connection from the state of the art

[0047] 4 Soil structure

[0048] 5 Coupling connection

[0049] 6 coupling plate

[0050] 7 Left support plate 8 Right support plate

[0051] 9. Shaping

[0052] 10 Breakthrough

[0053] 11 Position of the weld seam relative to the floor structure

[0054] 12 Weld seam coupling plate - support plate

Claims

202415937 8 Patent claims 1. Underframe (1) of a track-bound vehicle in integral light metal construction, comprising a floor structure (4) and at least one coupling connection (5) arranged below the underframe (1), characterized in that the coupling connection (5) comprises a coupling plate (6) designed for the detachable attachment of a coupling device (2) and a right (8) and a left (7) support plate, wherein the coupling plate (6) is arranged below the underframe (1) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is connected to the floor structure (4), and the support plates (7, 8) are each oriented laterally to the coupling plate (6) and are each connected to a vertical edge of the coupling plate (6) and to the floor structure (4), wherein the coupling plate (6) and the support plates (7, 8) are each made in one piece from a machined light metal plate.

2. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to claim 1 , characterized in that the support plates (7, 8) extend from the coupling plate (6) in the direction of a nearest vehicle end.

3. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the support plates (7, 8) are arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the distance between the support plates (7, 8) increases in the direction of the nearest end of the vehicle.

4. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the support plates (7, 8) are connected to the coupling plate (6) by means of a vertically oriented straight weld (12).

5. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coupling plate (6) or the support plates (7, 8) comprise webs and straps which are integrally machined from a light metal plate by means of a machining 202415937 9 are shaped by the processing process.

6. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coupling plate (6) has a projection (9) on each of its vertically oriented edges in its installation position, which are aligned in the direction of the support plates (7, 8) attached to these projections (9).

7. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the coupling plate (6) or the support plates (7, 8) have openings (10).

8. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connection of the support plates (7, 8) to the floor structure (4) is carried out by means of a welding process, wherein the welding is carried out only over a partial section of the length of the edges of the support plates (7, 8) facing the floor structure.

9. Undercarriage (1) of a track-bound vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the section is shorter than 30% of the length of the edges of the support plates (7, 8) facing the ground structure.

10. Track-bound vehicle comprising a chassis according to one of claims 1

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