Articulated Vehicle Joint Assembly for Roll-Decoupled Car Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articulated vehicle joint technologies are either overly complex or fail to effectively couple and decouple relative movements between car bodies, leading to unsatisfactory application characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A simple and robust articulated device comprising a central bearing, two base bearings, and two legs, with the legs forming a triangular link connection between the central and base bearings, allowing for flexible force transmission and relative movement compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex articulated joint structures are used to connect car bodies, then the connection reliability and movement control are improved, but the device complexity and structural robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated device is segmented into distinct functional components: a central bearing for rotational movement, two base bearings for support, and two legs forming triangular link connections. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall simplicity and reliability of the connection system.
2Strength
If rigid connections between car bodies are used, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to compensate relative movements and absorb loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system incorporates dynamic elements including the central bearing that enables rotational movement between car bodies during cornering, and the triangular link structure that allows controlled relative movements. This dynamic design maintains structural strength while adapting to various operational conditions and absorbing loads effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness characteristics of the connection are varied in different directions and conditions. The triangular link structure provides high stiffness in the longitudinal direction for strength, while allowing controlled flexibility in transverse directions for movement compensation. The bearing sections enable parameter changes in movement capability based on operational requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible support means are used in bearings, then the movement freedom and load absorption are improved, but the manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible support means are applied locally within specific bearing sections rather than throughout the entire structure. The central bearing and base bearings incorporate flexible elements at critical locations where movement freedom is needed, while maintaining precise manufacturing and assembly requirements for the overall structural components.
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 articulated device provides effective decoupling of car bodies in the transverse direction, preventing undesirable transverse forces while maintaining high stiffness in the longitudinal direction, thus ensuring efficient and stable movement of articulated vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The force transmission between the bearing section and the support section can take place via the flexible support means
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an articulation device for flexibly connecting car bodies of an articulated vehicle, which device is composed of at least one central bearing, two base bearings and two legs. Correspondingly, the legs form a wishbone connection. At least one base bearing is designed and/or its materials are selected in such a way that the bearing section and support section can perform a forced movement relative to one other. Correspondingly, the bearing section and support section are arranged flexibly with respect to one other as part of a stiffness. According to one embodiment, at least one base bearing and/or components thereof are designed and materials are selected in such a way that a stiffness of a base bearing in at least one leg direction of the leg belonging to the base bearing is at least 3 kN/mm and/or a maximum of 6 kN/mm at least in a quasi-linear range of stiffness. In this way, rolling movements can be effectively compensated for by means of the articulation device. Thus. the car bodies are suitably decoupled in the transverse direction, with a targeted selection of the overall stiffness between the cars helping to prevent the damaging transmission of a rolling movement. At the same time it can be ensured that an overall stiffness in the longitudinal direction is many times higher than the resulting overall stiffness at the central bearing in the transverse direction.