Air Spring Elastic Body Recess for Horizontal Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air spring devices for railway vehicles face durability issues due to inadequate horizontal rigidity, especially when deflated, leading to reduced ride comfort and increased risk of derailing, as they fail to maintain soft spring characteristics in both vertical and horizontal directions under heavy loads.
Innovation Solution
An air spring device with an elastic body made entirely of elastic material, featuring a recessed portion on the support plate side and a protruding portion on the face plates, which increases horizontal rigidity and maintains soft spring characteristics in the vertical direction by allowing larger elastic deformation and internal pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the elastic body is made only of elastic material without rigid material, then horizontal spring characteristics are softened, but horizontal rigidity under heavy load is insufficient leading to face plate inclination and reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the elastic body by introducing a recessed portion in the center region. This geometric modification allows the elastic material to distribute and manage internal pressure more effectively under heavy loads, providing the necessary horizontal rigidity to prevent face plate inclination while maintaining soft horizontal spring characteristics through the elastic material composition
2Ease of operation
If the vertical spring constant is reduced for soft spring characteristics, then ride comfort is improved, but the ability to handle large horizontal input forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed portion in the center region of the elastic body creates a geometric configuration that allows the elastic material to effectively manage internal pressure and distribute loads. This structural parameter change enables the elastic body to provide adequate horizontal rigidity to handle large input forces while maintaining the soft vertical spring characteristics needed for ride comfort
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
The solution enhances durability and ride comfort by providing desired horizontal rigidity under heavy loads while maintaining soft spring characteristics in the vertical direction, preventing deformation and improving the air spring's ability to handle large input forces without compromising durability.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic body is provided with a recessed portion in a center region of a face adjacent to the support plate, the recessed portion being recessed toward the one of the upper and lower face plates
Data Source
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AI summary
An air spring device includes: an air spring (4) having a gas-filled interior defined by an upper face plate (1), a lower face plate (2), and a cylindrical flexible diaphragm body (3) hermetically connecting the respective face plates; a support plate (5) arranged at a given distance from one of the upper and lower face plates (1, 2) of the air spring (4); and an elastic body (6) connecting the support plate (5) and the one of the upper and lower face plates (1, 2). The elastic body (6) is provided with a recessed portion (7) in a center region of a face adjacent to the support plate (5) and the recessed portion (7) is recessed toward the one of the upper and lower face plates (1, 2). The elastic body (6) is surrounded and restrained at a support plate (5) side by an annular body (8) provided on the support plate (5). The one of the upper and lower face plates (1, 2) is provided with a protruding portion (9) protruding to an interior of the annular body (8).