Air Spring Mechanical Height Control Without Diaphragm Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air spring systems for railroad vehicles face complications due to direct contact between height detection members and diaphragms, leading to diaphragm deterioration and increased maintenance complexity.
Innovation Solution
An air spring design featuring a detection unit that measures relative distance changes between supporting members without direct contact, using a mechanical output to control air discharge and prevent abnormal vehicle height rises, simplifying the system compared to electrical processing-based designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a detection member directly contacts the diaphragm to detect vehicle height changes, then the detection function is achieved, but the diaphragm deteriorates and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the arm that contacts the upper surface plate rather than the diaphragm) to transfer the detection function away from the diaphragm. The detection member is mounted on the arm, which contacts the upper surface plate, allowing vehicle height changes to be detected without the detection member directly contacting the diaphragm, thus preventing diaphragm deterioration while maintaining detection functionality
2Reliability
If an electrical processing system with sensors and solenoid valves is used for fail-safe function, then the vehicle height control is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical processing system (sensors and solenoid valves) with a purely mechanical fail-safe mechanism. The arm mechanically connects the upper surface plate to the detection member, and the mechanical output directly controls the air discharge valve through mechanical movement, eliminating the need for electrical components while achieving the same fail-safe height control function
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system is designed to automatically respond to vehicle height changes without requiring external electrical control. When the vehicle height changes abnormally, the arm mechanically moves the detection member, which automatically triggers the air discharge valve to discharge air and restore proper height, creating a self-regulating fail-safe mechanism
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively suppresses abnormal vehicle height rises without deteriorating the diaphragm, maintaining system simplicity and reducing maintenance complexity by using a mechanical detection and discharge mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The diaphragm is elastically deformed, so that impacts and vibrations applied in the upward and downward directions during traveling of the vehicle can be reduced
Implementation Method 2
the air supply/discharge valve (leveling valve) is opened to supply the pressurized air within an air reservoir into the air spring. Thereby, the height of the upper surface plate can be raised relative to the lower surface plate
Implementation Method 3
a detection unit detecting a change of a relative distance between the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and producing a mechanical output of the change of the relative distance
Data Source
AI summary
Included are: a first supporting member; a second supporting member arranged to be spaced away from the first supporting member in a main load direction; an elastically deformable diaphragm forming a closed space by connecting the first supporting member and the second supporting member; a detection unit detecting a change of a relative distance between the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and producing a mechanical output of the change of the relative distance; and a controlling member capable of discharging air in an inside of the closed space S to an outside of the closed space S in response to the mechanical output from the detection unit. Thereby, an air spring having a mechanism for suppressing an abnormal rise of a vehicle height without deteriorating the diaphragm can be provided.