Cylindrical elastic connecting device for axle beam

WO2026176948A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-08-27SUMITOMO RIKO CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2026/004278
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2025-02-21
Filing Date
2026-02-05
Publication Date
2026-08-27

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Abstract

Provided is a novel cylindrical elastic connecting device for an axle beam, the device having a structure that enables a common stopper member to be used for a plurality of types of inner shaft members having different outer diameter dimensions, outer peripheral surface shapes, and the like. In a cylindrical elastic connecting device 10 for an axle beam, an inner shaft member 12 and outer split bodies 14a, 14b are connected by a main body rubber elastic body 16. A stopper member 28 is attached to the inner shaft member 12, which is attached to a bogie frame 78, the stopper member 28 limiting the amount of relative displacement from the outer split bodies 14a, 14b, attached to a housing portion 90 of an axle beam 88, by means of abutment against the housing portion 90. An intermediate member 54 is disposed between the inner shaft member 12 and the stopper member 28, the intermediate member 54 being overlapped with an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft member 12 and the stopper member 28. The stopper member 28 is fixed to the inner shaft member 12 by means of an attachment bolt 62 passed through a bolt insertion hole 56 of the intermediate member 54.
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Description

Cylindrical Elastic Coupling Device for Axle Stay

[0001] The present invention relates to a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle stay that elastically couples one end of an axle stay to a bogie frame of a railway vehicle.

[0002] Conventionally, in railway vehicles, a structure has been generally adopted in which an axle stay extends from an axle box portion that supports an axle in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an end portion of the axle stay is elastically coupled to a bogie frame by a cylindrical elastic coupling device. As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 7189809 (Patent Document 1) and the like, this cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle stay has a structure in which a pair of outer split bodies (outer portions) extending in the circumferential direction are disposed on the outer peripheral side of an inner shaft member (central shaft), and the inner shaft member and the pair of outer split bodies are elastically connected to each other by a main body rubber elastic body (elastic portion). Then, both axial ends of the inner shaft member are attached to the bogie frame, and the outer split body is attached to a cylindrical housing portion provided at one end of the axle stay, so that the axle stay is elastically supported by the bogie frame via the cylindrical elastic coupling device for the axle stay.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 7189809

[0004] By the way, in the cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle stay, a stopper member may be provided to limit the relative displacement amount between the inner shaft member and the pair of outer split bodies in a specific radial direction where a large load input is expected. That is, in the cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle stay of Patent Document 1, since a large load during deceleration by a tread brake is input in the radial direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a stopper member (elastic stopper) that protrudes from the inner shaft member toward the outer periphery in the radial direction is provided. Then, when the inner shaft member and the housing portion abut against each other via the stopper member, the relative displacement amount between the inner shaft member and the outer split body is limited in a specific radial direction, and the durability of the main body rubber elastic body and the braking performance of the target railway vehicle are realized.

[0005] Furthermore, the stopper member described in Patent Document 1 comprises a rigid base portion that constitutes the fixing portion to the inner shaft member, and an elastic portion (elastic material) fixed to the tip side of the base portion that constitutes the stopper contact surface. The stopper member is fixed to the inner shaft member by a mounting bolt inserted from the tip side into an open tip hole (large diameter hole portion) that opens on the tip surface.

[0006] However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, since the base of the stopper member is directly superimposed on the outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft member, it becomes necessary to prepare a separate stopper member for each of the multiple types of inner shaft members with different outer diameters and outer circumferential surface shapes.

[0007] The present invention was made against the background described above, and its objective is to provide a novel cylindrical elastic coupling device for shaft beams that allows a common stopper member to be used for multiple types of inner shaft members with different outer diameters, outer surface shapes, etc.

[0008] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention. However, each embodiment described below is illustrative and can be combined with others as appropriate. Furthermore, the multiple components described in each embodiment can be recognized and adopted as independently as possible, and can be combined with any component described in another embodiment as appropriate. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments can be realized.

[0009] In the first embodiment, a pair of outer segments are arranged on the outer circumference of an inner axle member, facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments are elastically connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body, the inner axle member is attached to the bogie frame of a railway vehicle, and the pair of outer segments are attached to a cylindrical housing portion provided at one end of the axle beam, thereby elastically connecting the bogie frame and the axle beam, in a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle beam, the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments are connected in either the front-rear direction of the railway vehicle A stopper member is attached by mounting bolts to limit the relative displacement of the inner shaft member by contact with the housing portion. Between the inner shaft member and the stopper member, there is an intermediate member having an inner-side corresponding surface that overlaps with the outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft member and a stopper-side corresponding surface that overlaps with the stopper member. The intermediate member has bolt insertion holes that penetrate through to open into the inner-side corresponding surface and the stopper-side corresponding surface, and the stopper member is fixed to the inner shaft member by the mounting bolts inserted through the bolt insertion holes of the intermediate member.

[0010] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for shafts and beams constructed in accordance with this embodiment, for example, when attaching stopper members to multiple types of inner shaft members with different outer diameters and outer surface shapes, it is possible to attach a common stopper member to multiple types of inner shaft members by preparing multiple types of intermediate members having inner-side corresponding surfaces corresponding to those multiple types of inner shaft members. Therefore, it is possible to use a common stopper member for multiple types of inner shaft members with different outer diameters, outer surface shapes, etc., related to the attachment of the stopper member.

[0011] The second embodiment is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam as described in the first embodiment, wherein the contact surface of the stopper member with the housing portion is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the central axis of the mounting bolt, and at least one of the stopper-side corresponding surface and the inner-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a rotation-permissible surface that allows relative rotation of the stopper member with respect to the inner shaft member around the mounting bolt.

[0012] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for axial beams constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the contact surface of the stopper member with the housing portion is rotationally symmetrical around the mounting bolt. Therefore, regardless of the orientation of the stopper member around the mounting bolt, a substantially uniform contact pattern between the stopper member and the housing portion is achieved. Consequently, localized contact between the stopper member and the housing portion is avoided, for example, thereby stabilizing the stopper characteristics and ensuring the durability of the stopper member.

[0013] Furthermore, the rotation-permissible surface allows relative rotation of the stopper member around the mounting bolt to the inner shaft member, at least when attaching the stopper member to the inner shaft member. For example, if the mounting bolt is fixedly provided on either the inner shaft member or the stopper member, the stopper member and the inner shaft member can be fixed together by rotating the stopper member around the mounting bolt relative to the inner shaft member.

[0014] The third embodiment is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam as described in the first or second embodiment, wherein the stopper-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a plane that extends perpendicularly to the central axis of the mounting bolt.

[0015] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for axial beams with a structure conforming to this embodiment, the stopper-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is flat, which allows the overlapping surface of the stopper member with the intermediate member to be flat, making it easy to manufacture the stopper member.

[0016] The fourth embodiment is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam described in any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein the inner-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a curved surface extending in the circumferential direction of the inner axial member.

[0017] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for shafts and beams with a structure conforming to this embodiment, the rotation of the intermediate member around the mounting bolt to the inner shaft member can be restricted by overlapping the inner corresponding surface of the curved intermediate member with the outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft member.

[0018] The fifth aspect is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam described in any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the stopper member has a rigid base that is bolted to the inner axial member, and the stopper member has an elastic portion fixed to the tip side of the base and forming the tip surface of the stopper member.

[0019] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for shafts and beams constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the stopper member has a rigid base, allowing the stopper member to be fixed stably to the inner shaft member with sufficient strength. Furthermore, since the tip portion of the stopper member is composed of an elastic part, the stopper action exerted by the contact between the stopper member and the housing can be adjusted, and the noise generated during contact can also be reduced.

[0020] For example, when molding an elastic part fixed to the tip of a rigid base, if the bases set in the molding die come in multiple types with different shapes and sizes, it becomes necessary to prepare a separate die for each of these bases. However, by using an intermediate component, the bases can be standardized, which simplifies management and reduces manufacturing costs compared to preparing multiple types of molds for molding the elastic part.

[0021] The sixth aspect is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam described in the fifth aspect, wherein the elastic part is made of a material harder than the main rubber elastic body.

[0022] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for shafts and beams constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the elastic part is made of a harder material than the main rubber elastic body, thereby ensuring durability in the elastic part of the stopper member that is subjected to a large stopper load. Furthermore, because the elastic part is made of a harder material than the main rubber elastic body, the relative displacement between the inner shaft member and a pair of outer segmented bodies can be effectively limited.

[0023] The seventh aspect is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam as described in the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the elastic portion of the stopper member is a laminated structure comprising a tip elastic body constituting the tip surface of the stopper member, an intermediate elastic body fixed to the tip side of the base, and a rigid intermediate restraining member disposed between the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body.

[0024] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for axial beams with a structure conforming to this embodiment, when the tip surface of the stopper member is pressed against the housing and a stopper load is applied to the stopper member, the total thickness of the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body can be increased while adjusting the spring characteristics of the entire stopper member, compared to a stopper member with a single layer of elastic material, thereby improving the durability of the elastic material.

[0025] The eighth aspect is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam described in the seventh aspect, wherein the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body are made of the same elastic material.

[0026] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for axial beams with a structure conforming to this embodiment, it becomes easier to form the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body simultaneously.

[0027] The ninth aspect is a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam described in any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein at least one of the pair of outer divisions has a radially penetrating window portion, and the stopper member is exposed through the window portion.

[0028] According to the cylindrical elastic coupling device for shafts and beams constructed in accordance with this embodiment, when mounted on a railway vehicle, the stopper member contacts the housing through the window, thereby exhibiting a stopper action that limits the relative displacement between the inner shaft member and the pair of outer split parts. Furthermore, the installation of the stopper member to the inner shaft member can be performed through the window, thus facilitating the installation process.

[0029] According to the present invention, in a cylindrical elastic coupling device for shaft beams, it becomes possible to use a common stopper member for multiple types of inner shaft members that differ in outer diameter dimensions, outer surface shape, etc.

[0030] A plan view showing a rubber bushing for a shaft beam as the first embodiment of the present invention. A left side view of the rubber bushing for a shaft beam shown in Figure 1. A cross-sectional view of the rubber bushing for a shaft beam shown in Figure 1, corresponding to the III-III section in Figure 2. A cross-sectional view of the rubber bushing for a shaft beam shown in Figure 1, corresponding to the IV-IV section in Figure 3. A diagram showing the state in which the rubber bushing for a shaft beam shown in Figure 1 is mounted on a railway vehicle. A cross-sectional view showing the main part of a rubber bushing for a shaft beam as another embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view showing the main part of a rubber bushing for a shaft beam as yet another embodiment of the present invention. A cross-sectional view showing a rubber bushing for a shaft beam as the second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the VIII-VIII section in Figure 9. A cross-sectional view of the rubber bushing for a shaft beam shown in Figure 8, corresponding to the IX-IX section in Figure 8. A left side view of a stopper member constituting a rubber bushing for a shaft beam as yet another embodiment of the present invention. A front view of the stopper member shown in Figure 10.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Figures 1 to 4 show a rubber bushing 10 for a shaft beam as a cylindrical elastic coupling device for a shaft beam, as a first embodiment of the present invention. The rubber bushing 10 for a shaft beam has a structure in which an inner shaft member 12 and front and rear outer splits 14a and 14b, which are arranged opposite each other on the outer circumference of the inner shaft member and the outer shaft member, are elastically connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body 16. In the following description, as a general rule, the vertical direction refers to the vertical direction in Figure 2, the front and rear direction refers to the left and right direction in Figure 2, and the left and right direction refers to the left and right direction in Figure 1.

[0033] The inner shaft member 12 is rod-shaped and extends linearly in the left-right direction as a whole, and is a highly rigid member made of a metal such as iron or an aluminum alloy. The inner shaft member 12 has a structure in which a cylindrical central shaft body 18, a pair of flange-shaped inner flange portions 20, 20 that protrude outward at both axial ends of the central shaft body 18, and a pair of mounting portions 22, 22 that protrude further outward in the axial direction than the inner flange portions 20, 20 are integrally formed.

[0034] The central shaft body 18 has a substantially constant circular cross-section and extends linearly in the left-right direction. The central shaft body 18 has screw holes 24 that open to the outer circumferential surface. The screw holes 24 are bottomed concave shapes with a substantially circular cross-section, and screw threads are formed on the inner circumferential surface. The screw holes 24 are provided in a part of the circumferential direction so as to open forward in the axial central portion of the central shaft body 18.

[0035] The inner flange portions 20, 20 are annular plate-shaped, with the axial outer surface widening in a direction approximately perpendicular to the axis, and the inner circumference portion of the axial inner surface being tapered, with the inner circumference portion gradually becoming thinner towards the outer circumference, and the outer circumference portion widening to a substantially constant thickness.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mounting portion 22 has a roughly polygonal prism shape and has bolt holes 26 that pass through it linearly in the vertical direction. The mounting portion 22 is then fixed to the trolley frame 78, which will be described later, by bolts (not shown) that are inserted through the bolt holes 26.

[0037] Furthermore, the shape of the inner shaft member 12 is not limited by the specific description of the embodiment, and the specific shapes of each part constituting the inner shaft member 12 (the central shaft body 18, inner flange portion 20, mounting portion 22, and bolt hole 26 in this embodiment) are not particularly limited.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a stopper member 28 is attached to the central shaft body 18 of the inner shaft member 12. The stopper member 28 is approximately rectangular in shape when viewed from the front. The stopper member 28 comprises a rigid base portion 30 fixed to the inner shaft member 12 and an elastic portion 32 provided on the tip side opposite to the inner shaft member 12 relative to the base portion 30.

[0039] The base portion 30 is a highly rigid member made of a metal such as iron or an aluminum alloy, and is shaped like a roughly rectangular plate. The tip surface of the base portion 30, which overlaps with the elastic portion 32, is a curved surface that curves in the circumferential direction of the inner shaft member 12. Furthermore, the base end surface of the base portion 30, which is the end surface on the inner shaft member 12 side, is a flat plane that extends perpendicular to the front-rear direction.

[0040] A bolt housing hole 34 is formed in the base portion 30, penetrating in the front-rear direction. The bolt housing hole 34 is a circular hole, with the base end side, on the inner shaft member 12 side, being a shaft insertion hole 36 with a smaller diameter, and the tip end side, on the elastic portion 32 side, being a head housing hole 38 with a larger diameter than the shaft insertion hole 36. An annular seating surface 40 is formed at the connection point between the shaft insertion hole 36 and the head housing hole 38, due to the difference in the inner diameter dimensions of the shaft insertion hole 36 and the head housing hole 38.

[0041] The elastic portion 32 constitutes the tip surface of the stopper member 28 and has a laminated structure in which a hard intermediate restraining member 46 is positioned between a tip elastic body 42 and an intermediate elastic body 44, both of which are made of elastic material. The entire elastic portion 32 is made of a material that is harder than the main rubber elastic body 16. In particular, both the tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44 are made of an elastic material that is harder than the main rubber elastic body 16.

[0042] The tip elastic body 42 is a thin rubber layer that is superimposed on and fixed to the tip surface of the intermediate restraining member 46, and constitutes the tip surface of the stopper member 28. The tip elastic body 42 is made of a rubber material that is harder than the main rubber elastic body 16. The tip elastic body 42 may also be made of a resin elastomer that exhibits rubber-like elasticity.

[0043] The intermediate elastic body 44 is a thin rubber layer that is superimposed on and fixed to the tip surface of the base portion 30. The intermediate elastic body 44 is made of a rubber material that is harder than the main rubber elastic body 16. In this embodiment, the tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44 are made of the same elastic material, and manufacturing is facilitated by making it easier to mold the tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44 simultaneously. The intermediate elastic body 44 may also be made of a resin elastomer that exhibits rubber-like elasticity.

[0044] The intermediate restraint member 46 is formed in a plate shape that curves corresponding to the front end surface of the base portion 30, and is arranged spaced apart from the front end side of the base portion 30. And an intermediate elastic body 44 is arranged between the opposing surfaces of the base portion 30 and the intermediate restraint member 46, and the base portion 30 and the intermediate restraint member 46 are interconnected by the intermediate elastic body 44. The front end surface of the intermediate restraint member 46 is substantially entirely covered by the tip elastic body 42.

[0045] A tip open hole 50 is formed in the elastic portion 32. The tip open hole 50 is a circular hole having substantially the same inner diameter dimension as the head accommodation hole 38 of the base portion 30, and penetrates the elastic portion 32 in the front-rear direction. The tip open hole 50 is in series communication with the bolt accommodation hole 34 of the base portion 30 in the front-rear direction, and the bolt accommodation hole 34 is opened forward through the tip open hole 50. By the bolt accommodation hole 34 and the tip open hole 50 being connected in series, the bolt accommodation hole 34 and the tip open hole 50 penetrate the stopper member 28 in the front-rear direction.

[0046] An intermediate member 54 is overlaid on the stopper member 28. The intermediate member 54 is a high-rigidity member formed of a metal such as iron or an aluminum alloy. The intermediate member 54 is formed in a rectangular plate shape as a whole, and has a bolt insertion hole 56 penetrating in the plate thickness direction. The bolt insertion hole 56 is a circular hole having a larger diameter than the shaft portion of a mounting bolt 62 described later, and it is possible to insert the mounting bolt 62 with a gap without screwing it.

[0047] The intermediate member 54 has an inner-side corresponding surface 58 that curves and extends in the circumferential direction so that the base end surface, which is the overlapping surface with the central axis main body 18 of the inner shaft member 12, corresponds to the outer peripheral surface of the central axis main body 18 having a cylindrical surface. The intermediate member 54 has a stopper-side corresponding surface 60 whose front end surface, which is the overlapping surface with the base portion 30 of the stopper member 28, is a plane extending in a direction orthogonal to the central axis (front-rear direction) of the bolt insertion hole 56. Therefore, the intermediate member 54 becomes gradually thicker as it goes to both sides in the circumferential direction of the inner shaft member 12. The bolt insertion hole 56 penetrating the intermediate member 54 opens to the inner-side corresponding surface 58 and the stopper-side corresponding surface 60, respectively.

[0048] The stopper member 28 having such a structure is fixed to the inner shaft member 12 by the mounting bolt 62. That is, the mounting bolt 62 inserted into the bolt accommodation hole 34 from the tip open hole 50 of the stopper member 28 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 56 of the intermediate member 54 overlapped on the base end side of the stopper member 28. Then, the mounting bolt 62 protruding from the bolt insertion hole 56 to the base end side is screwed into the screw hole 24 of the inner shaft member 12, whereby the base portion 30 of the stopper member 28 is bolt-fixed to the inner shaft member 12. Thereby, the stopper member 28 is indirectly overlapped on the inner shaft member 12 with the intermediate member 54 disposed therebetween, and is provided so as to protrude forward from the inner shaft member 12. Note that the tip of the mounting bolt 62 screwed into the screw hole 24 is separated from the bottom of the screw hole 24, and the inner side corresponding surface 58 of the base portion 30 in the stopper member 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the central shaft main body 18 in the inner shaft member 12 are overlapped in a contact state.

[0049] On both the front and rear sides of the inner shaft member 12 to which the stopper member 28 is attached, outer divided bodies 14a and 14b are disposed. The outer divided bodies 14a and 14b each have a curved plate shape extending in the circumferential direction with a length less than half a circumference. At both axial ends of the outer divided bodies 14a and 14b, outer flange portions 64, 64 protruding to the outer peripheral side are integrally formed. The outer flange portion 64 protrudes to the outer periphery while inclining outward in the axial direction, and is disposed to face the inner flange portion 20 at a predetermined distance inside in the axial direction. One outer divided body 14a has a larger circumferential length dimension than the other outer divided body 14b.

[0050] A window portion 66 is formed in one outer divided body 14a. The window portion 66 penetrates in the front-rear direction through the central portions in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the outer divided body 14a, and has a substantially square opening shape. In the shaft key rubber bush 10, the window portion 66 is larger than the tip surface of the stopper member 28 in the projection in the front-rear direction, and is sized such that the entire tip surface of the stopper member 28 can be exposed through the window portion 66. Note that a through hole such as the window portion 66 is not formed in the other outer divided body 14b.

[0051] The outer segments 14a and 14b are positioned separately on the outer circumference of the central shaft body 18 of the inner shaft member 12, and the inner shaft member 12 and the outer segments 14a and 14b are elastically connected to each other by the main rubber elastic body 16. The outer segments 14a and 14b are positioned radially opposite each other with the central shaft body 18 in between, and their circumferential ends are separated from each other.

[0052] The main rubber elastic body 16 has a generally thick, substantially cylindrical shape, and rubber flanges 68, 68 projecting outward are integrally formed at both axial ends. The inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical central axial portion of the main rubber elastic body 16 is vulcanized and bonded to the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 of the inner shaft member 12, while the outer circumferential surface is vulcanized and bonded to the inner circumferential surfaces of the outer segmented bodies 14a, 14b. Each rubber flange 68 is positioned between the opposing surfaces of the inner flange 20 of the inner shaft member 12 and the outer flanges 64, 64 of the outer segmented bodies 14a, 14b, and is vulcanized and bonded to the inner flange 20 and outer flanges 64, 64. In this embodiment, the main rubber elastic body 16 is formed as an integrally vulcanized molded product comprising the inner shaft member 12 and the outer segmented bodies 14a, 14b.

[0053] A pocket portion 70 is formed in the main rubber elastic body 16. The pocket portion 70 is a recess that opens on the outer circumferential surface of the main rubber elastic body 16 and is formed in the axial central portion of the main rubber elastic body 16. The outer circumferential surface of the main rubber elastic body 16 is fixed to the outer segment 14a around the opening of the pocket portion 70, and the window portion 66 of the outer segment 14a is positioned with the opening of the pocket portion 70, so that the pocket portion 70 is open to the outer circumferential surface through the window portion 66.

[0054] The stopper member 28 attached to the inner shaft member 12 protrudes into the pocket portion 70. The stopper member 28 is positioned in the central part of the pocket portion 70, and at least the elastic portion 32 is separated from the inner surface of the pocket portion 70 wall. The protruding tip surface of the stopper member 28 located inside the pocket portion 70 is exposed through the opening and window portion 66 of the pocket portion 70.

[0055] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the main rubber elastic body 16 is exposed between the outer segments 14a and 14b in the circumferential direction, and a free surface is provided in the exposed portion that is not constrained by metal fittings or the like. An annular groove 72 is opened on the outer circumferential surface of the main rubber elastic body 16 that is exposed between the outer segments 14a and 14b in the circumferential direction, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The annular groove 72 is composed of a transverse groove that extends axially along the circumferential ends of the outer segments 14a and 14b, and a circumferential groove that extends circumferentially along the base end of the rubber flange portion 68 of the main rubber elastic body 16, and extends continuously in a substantially rectangular annular shape in the exposed portion of the main rubber elastic body 16. The region of the main rubber elastic body 16 surrounded by the annular groove 72 is a protruding portion 74 that protrudes outward.

[0056] As shown in Figure 5, the axle beam rubber bush 10, with this structure, is attached to the bogie 76 of a railway vehicle. The bogie 76 comprises a bogie frame 78 and wheels 80. The axle box portion 84 that supports the axle 82 of the wheel 80 is elastically connected to the bogie frame 78 by an axle spring 86, and the axle beam 88 extends from the axle box portion 84 toward the front of the vehicle. The housing portion 90 provided at the extended end of the axle beam 88 is connected to the bogie frame 78 by the axle beam rubber bush 10. Figure 5 shows the longitudinal and vertical directions of the railway vehicle. As can be seen from Figure 5, the longitudinal and vertical directions of the axle beam rubber bush 10 are approximately the same as the longitudinal and vertical directions of the railway vehicle.

[0057] In Figure 5, the front portion of the bogie 76 is omitted, but on both sides of the bogie frame 78 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, axle box portions 84 are provided, and wheel support structures supporting wheels 80 are provided on each side. The front of the bogie 76 is provided with a wheel support structure that is substantially symmetrical to that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle as shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the right side in Figure 5 is considered to be the front of the vehicle, but the left side in Figure 5 may also be the front of the vehicle. In that case, the stopper member 28 of the axle beam rubber bush 10 protrudes from the inner axle member 12 toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0058] More specifically, the roughly cylindrical housing portion 90 is constructed by fixing together roughly semi-cylindrical semi-tubular members 92a and 92b that face each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The axle beam rubber bush 10 is fitted into the housing portion 90 in an inserted state, with its outer divided parts 14a and 14b sandwiched between the opposing semi-tubular members 92a and 92b.

[0059] The outer splits 14a and 14b are oriented so that their opposing directions are the front and rear of the vehicle, with the orientation of the axle beam rubber bushings 10 set accordingly. The semi-cylindrical members 92a and 92b are then superimposed on the outer splits 14a and 14b from the opposing outer sides. In this way, the housing portion 90 is a split structure composed of a front and rear pair of semi-cylindrical members 92a and 92b, allowing the outer splits 14a and 14b to be attached to the housing portion 90 with simple work. Furthermore, since the circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical members 92a and 92b are positioned between the circumferential ends of the outer splits 14a and 14b, the edges of the circumferential ends of the semi-cylindrical members 92a and 92b are prevented from contacting the outer circumferential surfaces of the outer splits 14a and 14b, thus preventing damage to the outer splits 14a and 14b due to galling.

[0060] The housing portion 90 is attached to the outer circumferential surfaces of the outer segment 14a and 14b, so that the window portion 66 of the outer segment 14a is covered by the semi-cylindrical member 92a of the housing portion 90. The semi-cylindrical member 92a of the housing portion 90 and the stopper member 28 attached to the inner shaft member 12 face each other in the front-rear direction at a predetermined distance apart.

[0061] On the other hand, the inner shaft member 12 of the shaft beam rubber bush 10 is attached to the bogie frame 78 by fastening bolts (not shown) that are inserted through bolt holes 26, with mounting portions 22 provided at both ends in the axial direction.

[0062] In this way, the inner axle member 12 of the axle beam rubber bush 10 is attached to the bogie frame 78, and the outer divided parts 14a and 14b are attached to the axle beam 88 on the axle box section 84 side, so that the axle box section 84 is elastically connected to the bogie frame 78 via the axle spring 86 and the axle beam rubber bush 10. Then, vertical vibrations input to the bogie frame 78 due to passengers getting on and off are absorbed by the axle spring 86. Furthermore, when the axle box section 84 is displaced vertically with deformation of the axle spring 86, the oscillation of the axle beam 88 around the inner axle member 12 is permitted by the elastic deformation of the main rubber elastic body 16.

[0063] Incidentally, the bogie frame 78 is equipped with a brake device 94, which applies a brake shoe 96 to the outer surface of the wheel 80 from either the front or rear using hydraulic pressure or the like, thereby braking the rotation of the wheel 80. Thus, in the bogie 76 of this embodiment, the brake device 94 is a single-sided brake.

[0064] For example, when the brake shoe 96 is pressed against the wheel 80 from the front of the vehicle, a rearward force acts on the axle beam 88, causing the axle beam 88 to be displaced rearward, and the housing portion 90 provided on the axle beam 88 to be displaced rearward relative to the inner axle member 12. Then, the stopper member 28 fixed to the inner axle member 12 comes into contact with the semi-cylindrical member 92a of the housing portion 90 that covers the window portion 66 of the outer split body 14a, thereby limiting the amount of forward relative displacement of the inner axle member 12 with respect to the outer split bodies 14a and 14b fixed to the housing portion 90. This prevents excessive deformation of the main rubber elastic body 16 that connects the inner axle member 12 and the outer split bodies 14a and 14b, thereby improving durability.

[0065] Since the tip portion of the stopper member 28, including the contact surface with the housing portion 90, is an elastic portion 32, the shock sensation when the stopper member 28 and the housing portion 90 come into contact is adjusted by the elasticity of the elastic portion 32. In particular, in this embodiment, since the contact surface of the stopper member 28 with the housing portion 90 is made of an elastic tip 42, the reduction of impact noise and shock caused by the contact between the stopper member 28 and the housing portion 90 can be achieved more advantageously.

[0066] In this embodiment, the stopper member 28 has a laminated structure in which the elastic portion 32 is provided with a tip elastic body 42 and an intermediate elastic body 44 on both the front and rear sides of the intermediate restraint member 46. Therefore, by setting a large total thickness dimension of the tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44, durability can be improved, while adjusting the spring of the elastic portion 32 can achieve appropriate stopper characteristics.

[0067] The tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44 that constitute the elastic portion 32 are both made of a harder material than the main rubber elastic body 16. Therefore, sufficient durability of the tip elastic body 42 and the intermediate elastic body 44 is ensured in the stopper member 28, which is subjected to a large load due to the brake.

[0068] The stopper member 28 has an open tip hole 50 that opens on its protruding tip surface. By having the open tip hole 50 open on the tip surface of the stopper member 28 that abuts against the inner circumferential surface of the housing portion 90, the contact area and contact location between the stopper member 28 and the housing portion 90 can be adjusted using the open tip hole 50.

[0069] The stopper member 28 is attached to the inner shaft member 12 via an intermediate member 54. The presence of the intermediate member 54 between the stopper member 28 and the inner shaft member 12 makes it possible to attach a common stopper member 28 to multiple types of inner shaft members 12, for example, whose outer diameter dimensions and outer surface shapes differ from one another. That is, by preparing multiple types of intermediate members 54, each having an inner-side corresponding surface 58 corresponding to the central shaft body 18 of the multiple types of inner shaft members 12, and by making the stopper-side corresponding surfaces 60 of these multiple types of intermediate members 54 all the same shape that corresponds to a common stopper member 28, a common stopper member 28 can be attached to these multiple types of inner shaft members 12. This makes manufacturing easier and reduces costs compared to preparing multiple types of stopper members 28 having elastic portions 32 to match the inner shaft member 12. In particular, in this embodiment, since the intermediate member 54 has a simple structure composed of a single part, it is easy to prepare multiple types.

[0070] In this embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 in the inner shaft member 12 is a cylindrical surface that curves in the circumferential direction, and the overlapping surface (base end surface) of the intermediate member 54 with the central shaft body 18 is an inner-side corresponding surface 58 that curves in the circumferential direction with a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18. The outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18, which is the rotation limiting surface on the inner shaft member 12 side, and the inner-side corresponding surface 58, which is the rotation limiting surface on the intermediate member 54 side, are overlapped with each other, thereby forming a rotation limiting mechanism that limits the relative amount of rotation of the intermediate member 54 around the mounting bolt 62 with respect to the inner shaft member 12. This rotation limiting mechanism fixes the intermediate member 54 to the inner shaft member 12 in an appropriate orientation around the central axis of the mounting bolt 62. Furthermore, by screwing the mounting bolt 62 into the screw hole 24 with the inner corresponding surface 58 of the intermediate member 54 superimposed on the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 of the inner shaft member 12, relative rotation of the intermediate member 54 with respect to the inner shaft member 12 can be prevented when the mounting bolt 62 is fastened.

[0071] The stopper-side corresponding surface 60 of the intermediate member 54 is flat, and the overlapping surface of the stopper member 28 with the intermediate member 54 is also flat. Therefore, there is no need to perform machining such as cutting on the base end surface of the base portion 30 of the stopper member 28, making it easy to manufacture the stopper member 28 and also easy to manufacture the intermediate member 54.

[0072] As shown in Figure 6, a rotation limiting mechanism can also be configured to limit the relative amount of rotation between the stopper member 100 and the intermediate member 102. In the following description, components and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures, and their descriptions are omitted. Also, in Figures 6 and 7, which show only the main parts, the parts not shown are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0073] The base portion 104 of the stopper member 100 has a regulating recess 106 that opens to the base end face. The regulating recess 106 is a bottomed recess corresponding to the regulating wall portion 108, which will be described later, and is located to the right of the bolt housing hole 34.

[0074] The intermediate member 102 is provided with a restricting wall portion 108 that protrudes from the stopper-side corresponding surface 60 toward the front side, which is the stopper member 100 side. The restricting wall portion 108 is columnar in shape and is located to the right of the bolt insertion hole 56. However, the protruding position of the restricting wall portion 108 on the stopper-side corresponding surface 60 is not particularly limited, and it is sufficient that the restricting wall portion 108 can be inserted into the restricting recess 106 when the stopper member 100 and the intermediate member 102 are superimposed, as will be described later.

[0075] In the state in which the stopper member 100 is attached to the inner shaft member 12, the restricting wall portion 108 of the intermediate member 102, which is positioned between the inner shaft member 12 and the base portion 104 of the stopper member 100, is inserted into the restricting recess 106 of the base portion 104 of the stopper member 100. Then, by the contact and locking between the restricting wall portion 108 and the inner surface of the restricting recess 106, a first rotation limiting portion is formed that limits the relative amount of rotation between the stopper member 100 and the intermediate member 102 around the mounting bolt 62.

[0076] Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 in the inner shaft member 12 is a cylindrical surface that is curved in the circumferential direction, and the inner corresponding surface 58 of the intermediate member 102 is a curved surface that corresponds to the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18. By overlapping the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 and the inner corresponding surface 58 of the intermediate member 102, a second rotation limiting section is formed that limits the relative amount of rotation of the intermediate member 102 around the mounting bolt 62 to the inner shaft member 12.

[0077] The first and second rotation limiting parts work together to form the rotation limiting mechanism of this embodiment, which limits the relative amount of rotation between the stopper member 100 and the inner shaft member 12 around the mounting bolt 62. By providing such a rotation limiting mechanism, it becomes easier to mount the stopper member 100 to the inner shaft member 12 in the correct orientation around the mounting bolt 62, and in the stopper formed by the contact between the stopper member 100 and the housing portion 90, the characteristics are stabilized and durability is improved by avoiding uneven contact.

[0078] The restricting wall portion may be provided so as to engage with the outer circumferential surface of the stopper member, in which case it is not necessary to provide a restricting recess in the stopper member. Alternatively, the restricting wall portion may be provided on the stopper member, and the restricting recess may be provided on the intermediate member.

[0079] Figure 7 shows a rotation limiting mechanism with a different structure from that in Figure 6. The rotation limiting mechanism in Figure 7 includes a first rotation limiting section located between the stopper member 110 and the intermediate member 112.

[0080] The stopper member 110 is provided with an engaging projection 116 that protrudes from the base end face of the base portion 114. The engaging projection 116 is a ridge that extends in the left-right direction of the stopper member 110. In this embodiment, the engaging projection 116 is provided continuously along the entire left-right length of the base portion 114 of the stopper member 110. The bolt housing hole 34 of the stopper member 110 is formed by passing through the central portion of the engaging projection 116.

[0081] The intermediate member 112 is in the shape of a roughly rectangular plate, and the vertical width dimension of the front end surface that overlaps with the stopper member 110 is larger than the vertical width dimension of the base end surface that overlaps with the inner shaft member 12. The intermediate member 112 has a bolt insertion hole 56 that penetrates through the center in the thickness direction. The front end surface of the intermediate member 112 has a groove 118 that extends linearly in the left-right direction from the central part in the vertical direction, and the side walls (upper and lower walls) of the groove 118 serve as the regulating wall in this embodiment. The bolt insertion hole 56 opens to the bottom surface of the groove 118.

[0082] The intermediate member 112 is interposed between the inner shaft member 12 and the stopper member 110. The engaging projection 116 of the stopper member 110 is inserted into the groove 118 of the intermediate member 112, and the engagement between the engaging projection 116 and the side wall of the groove 118 constitutes a first rotation limiting part that limits the relative amount of rotation between the stopper member 110 and the intermediate member 112 around the mounting bolt 62.

[0083] With the structure shown in Figure 7, the first rotation limiting section, which limits the relative amount of rotation between the stopper member 110 and the intermediate member 112, and the second rotation limiting section, which limits the relative amount of rotation between the intermediate member 112 and the inner shaft member 12, work together to ensure that the stopper member 110 is mounted to the inner shaft member 12 in the correct orientation around the mounting bolt 62. This allows for effects such as stabilization of stopper characteristics and improvement of durability. In addition, a groove can be provided in the stopper member, and an engaging projection can be provided in the intermediate member. The engaging projection can be inserted into the groove, and the engagement between the engaging projection and the inner surface of the groove can constitute the first rotation limiting section.

[0084] Figures 8 and 9 show a shaft beam rubber bush 120 as a cylindrical elastic coupling device for shaft beams according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The shaft beam rubber bush 120 has a structure in which an intermediate member 54 is interposed between the inner shaft member 12 and the stopper member 122.

[0085] The stopper member 122 has a structure in which an elastic part 126 is fixed to the tip surface of the base 124. The base 124 is a hard member made of metal and integrally comprises a disc-shaped base body 128 and a bolt part 130 which is a mounting bolt protruding from the base body 128 toward the base end. The base body 128 has a flat base end surface and a spherical tip surface, and is rotationally symmetrical around its central axis. The bolt part 130 is rod-shaped and extends linearly in the front-rear direction, and has screw threads formed on its outer circumference. The bolt part 130 is positioned on the central axis of the base body 128. As a result, the base 124, including the base body 128, is a rotating body with respect to the central axis of the bolt part 130, and is rotationally symmetrical at any angle. The tip surface of the base body 128 is covered by an elastic part 126 made of a thin rubber layer. The elastic portion 126 in this embodiment has a single-layer structure and is an elastic body as a whole. The tip surface of the elastic portion 126 opposite to the base body 128 is a spherical contact surface 132, and is a rotating body with respect to the central axis of the bolt portion 130, and has a rotationally symmetric shape at any angle. The contact surface 132, which is the tip surface of the stopper member 122, is a smoothly continuous curved surface without holes.

[0086] In this structured stopper member 122, the base end surface of the base body 128 is superimposed on the stopper-side corresponding surface 60, which is the tip surface of the intermediate member 54, and the bolt portion 130 is inserted through the bolt insertion hole 56 of the intermediate member 54. The stopper member 122 is then attached to the inner shaft member 12 by screwing the bolt portion 130, which passes through the bolt insertion hole 56, into the screw hole 24 of the inner shaft member 12. The intermediate member 54 is interposed between the stopper member 122 and the inner shaft member 12.

[0087] The rubber bushing 120 for the shaft beam of this embodiment can also obtain the same effects as in the first embodiment. Note that, as shown in this embodiment, the mounting bolt is not limited to being separate from the stopper member and inner shaft member as in the first embodiment, but may be integrally provided with the stopper member.

[0088] In this embodiment, the stopper member 122, including the contact surface 132, has a rotationally symmetric shape with respect to the central axis of the bolt portion 130. Therefore, for example, when fastening the bolt portion 130 to the screw hole 24 of the inner shaft member 12, it is not necessary to position the stopper member 122 relative to the inner shaft member 12 around the bolt portion 130, making it easier to attach the stopper member 122 to the inner shaft member 12. In particular, the tip surface of the stopper member 122 that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical housing portion 90 is spherical in shape, which ensures stability of the contact between the stopper member 122 and the housing portion 90 and secures the contact area, regardless of the orientation of the stopper member 122 and the inner shaft member 12 around the bolt portion 130.

[0089] Furthermore, the overlapping surface between the base body 128 of the stopper member 122 and the intermediate member 54 is a plane that extends perpendicularly to the bolt portion 130, allowing relative rotation of the stopper member 122 and the intermediate member 54 around the bolt portion 130. In other words, the stopper-side corresponding surface 60 of the intermediate member 54, which is shaped to correspond to the base end surface of the base body 128, is a rotation-permitting surface that allows relative rotation of the stopper member 122 with respect to the intermediate member 54 and, consequently, the inner shaft member 12, around the bolt portion 130. As a result, for example, by overlapping the inner-side corresponding surface 58 of the intermediate member 54 with the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft body 18 of the inner shaft member 12, the base body 128 of the stopper member 122 can be gripped and rotated to screw the bolt portion 130 into the screw hole 24. Such rotation-permissible surface only needs to be a surface that allows relative rotation when the stopper member 122 is attached to the inner shaft member 12, and in the state in which the stopper member 122 is attached to the inner member 12, it may be in a fixed state in which relative rotation is prevented by a tightening force or frictional force.

[0090] Furthermore, if the base body 144 is made into a polygonal plate shape, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the stopper member 140 can be easily bolted to the inner shaft member 12 by, for example, holding the outer circumferential surface of the base body 144 with a tool such as a socket wrench and rotating the stopper member 140 around the bolt portion 130.

[0091] In the stopper member 140 shown in Figures 10 and 11, the elastic portion 146 is cylindrical, and the protruding tip surface is rounded into a spherical shape. Even when such an elastic portion 146 is used, the tip surface of the stopper member 140, which is the contact surface with the housing portion 90, is made rotationally symmetrical around the bolt portion 130, thus forming a rotation-allowable surface. Therefore, similar to the second embodiment, regardless of the orientation of the stopper member 140 with respect to the inner shaft member 12 around the bolt portion 130, the contact manner between the housing portion 90 and the tip surface of the stopper member 140 is stabilized and the contact area is secured. In addition, although the stopper member 140 shown in Figures 10 and 11 has a base body 144 that is 60° rotationally symmetrical with respect to the central axis of the bolt portion 130, if the contact surface of the stopper member with the housing portion is a rotating body with the central axis of the mounting bolt as its axis of rotation, even if other parts of the stopper member, such as the base, are not rotating bodies, it is possible to stabilize the stopper characteristics and improve durability regardless of the orientation of the stopper member around the mounting bolt relative to the inner shaft member.

[0092] Furthermore, the present invention includes a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle beam in which a pair of outer segments facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the axis is arranged on the outer circumference of an inner axle member, and the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments are elastically connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body, the inner axle member is attached to the bogie frame of a railway vehicle, and the pair of outer segments is attached to a cylindrical housing portion provided at one end of an axle beam, thereby elastically connecting the bogie frame and the axle beam, wherein a stopper member is attached to the inner axle member by a fixed axle member such as a mounting bolt, which limits the amount of relative displacement between the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments in either the front-rear direction of the railway vehicle by contact with the housing portion, and both the contact surface of the stopper member with the housing portion and the overlapping surface of the stopper member with the inner axle member side are circumferentially position unspecified surfaces that allow attachment without specifying the direction around the central axis of the fixed axle member.

[0093] Such embodiments may be recognized as separate inventions from the inventions relating to each embodiment described in the aforementioned "Means for Solving the Problems."

[0094] In other words, the present invention differs in its problems and effects from those of the present inventions described in the aforementioned "Means for Solving the Problems." The present invention relates to a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam in which a separate stopper member is attached and fixed to an inner shaft member by a fixed shaft member. This invention can alleviate or avoid problems such as the complexity or cumbersomeness of the structure and installation work required to specify the mounting direction of the stopper member around the central axis of the fixed shaft member. Furthermore, the present invention can achieve, for example, stabilization of stopper characteristics and improvement of durability regardless of the orientation (direction) of the stopper member around the fixed shaft member relative to the inner shaft member. Also, for example, when the stopper member is attached and fixed to the inner shaft member by a mounting bolt integrally provided on the stopper member or the inner shaft member, the bolt fixing of the stopper member and the inner shaft member by the mounting bolt can be easily achieved by rotating the stopper member relative to the inner shaft member around the mounting bolt.

[0095] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited by its specific description. For example, the mounting bolts may be integrally provided on the inner shaft member side, or they may be fixed to the inner shaft member. Furthermore, there may be multiple mounting bolts, and if multiple mounting bolts are provided, they may have different shapes and sizes from each other.

[0096] The mounting bolt may be screwed into only one of the inner shaft member or the stopper member, or it may be a structure that is screwed into both the inner shaft member and the stopper member, for example, a threaded rod. Furthermore, the mounting bolt may be screwed into the intermediate member in addition to at least one of the inner shaft member and the stopper member.

[0097] When the elastic portion of the stopper member has a laminated structure as in the first embodiment, the number of layers is not particularly limited.

[0098] A first rotation limiting portion is provided between the overlapping surfaces of the stopper member and the intermediate member to limit the relative amount of rotation around the mounting bolt between the stopper member and the intermediate member, while the overlapping surface of the intermediate member and the inner shaft member can be made into a rotation-allowing surface that allows relative rotation around the mounting bolt between the intermediate member and the inner shaft member.

[0099] 10 Rubber bushing for shaft beam (cylindrical elastic coupling device for shaft beam of the first embodiment) 12 Inner shaft member 14a, 14b Outer split body 16 Main rubber elastic body 18 Central shaft body (second rotation limiting part) 20 Inner flange part 22 Mounting part 24 Screw hole 26 Bolt hole 28 Stopper member 30 Base part 32 Elastic part 34 Bolt housing hole 36 Shaft insertion hole 38 Head housing hole 40 Seat surface 42 Tip elastic body 44 Intermediate elastic body 46 Intermediate restraining member 50 Tip open hole 54 Intermediate member 56 Bolt insertion hole 58 Inner side corresponding surface (second rotation limiting part) 60 Stopper side corresponding surface 62 Mounting bolt 64 Outer flange part 66 Window part 68 Rubber flange part 70 Pocket part 72 74 Annular groove 76 Protruding part 76 Bogie 78 Bogie frame 80 Wheel 82 Axle 84 Axle box part 86 Axle spring 88 Axle beam 90 Housing part 92a, 92b Semi-cylindrical member 94 Brake device 96 Brake shoe 100 Stopper member (another embodiment) 102 Intermediate member 104 Base part 106 Restricting recess (first rotation limiting part) 108 Restricting wall part (first rotation limiting part) 110 Stopper member (yet another embodiment) 112 Intermediate member 114 Base part 116 Engaging projection (first rotation limiting part) 118 Groove (first rotation limiting part) 120 Rubber bush for axle beam (cylindrical elastic coupling device for axle beam in a second embodiment) 122 Stopper member 124 Base part 126 Elastic part 128 Base body 130 Bolt portion 132 Contact surface 140 Stopper member (in yet another embodiment) 142 Base 144 Base body 146 Elastic portion

Claims

1. In a cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axle beam, an inner axle member is provided, in which a pair of outer segments facing each other perpendicular to the axis is arranged on the outer circumference of the inner axle member, and the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments are elastically connected to each other by a main rubber elastic body, the inner axle member is attached to the bogie frame of a railway vehicle, and the pair of outer segments is attached to a cylindrical housing portion provided at one end of the axle beam, thereby elastically connecting the bogie frame and the axle beam, a stopper member is attached to the inner axle member by mounting bolts, which limits the relative displacement between the inner axle member and the pair of outer segments in either the front-rear direction of the railway vehicle by contact with the housing portion, and an intermediate member is provided between the inner axle member and the stopper member, having an inner-side corresponding surface that overlaps with the outer circumference of the inner axle member and a stopper-side corresponding surface that overlaps with the stopper member, The intermediate member has a bolt insertion hole formed through it so as to open into the inner side corresponding surface and the stopper side corresponding surface, and the stopper member is fixed to the inner shaft member by the mounting bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole of the intermediate member, in a cylindrical elastic coupling device for shaft beams.

2. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface of the stopper member with the housing portion is rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis of the mounting bolt as the axis of rotation, and at least one of the stopper-side corresponding surface and the inner-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a rotation-permissible surface that allows relative rotation of the stopper member with respect to the inner shaft member around the mounting bolt.

3. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for axial beams according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a plane that extends perpendicularly to the central axis of the mounting bolt.

4. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner-side corresponding surface of the intermediate member is a curved surface extending in the circumferential direction of the inner axial member.

5. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for a shaft beam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper member comprises a rigid base that is bolted to the inner shaft member, and the stopper member comprises an elastic portion fixed to the tip side of the base and constituting the tip surface of the stopper member.

6. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for a axial beam according to claim 5, wherein the elastic part is made of a material harder than the main body rubber elastic body.

7. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam according to claim 5, wherein the elastic portion of the stopper member is a laminated structure comprising a tip elastic body constituting the tip surface of the stopper member, an intermediate elastic body fixed to the tip side of the base, and a rigid intermediate restraining member disposed between the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body.

8. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam according to claim 7, wherein the tip elastic body and the intermediate elastic body are formed of the same elastic material.

9. The cylindrical elastic coupling device for an axial beam according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the pair of outer divisions has a radially penetrating window portion, and the stopper member is exposed through the window portion.