Railway Bogie Load Weigh Valve Wedge Mounting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway bogie load weigh valves, fixed between the sprung and unsprung masses, suffer from inaccuracies in measuring braking load due to vertical misalignment and horizontal movements during wheel steering, leading to inconsistent braking performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a wedge element between the load and spring suspension, allowing the load weigh valve to move with the wedge element, which accommodates changes in vertical alignment and horizontal movements, and mounting the valve on the wedge element to maintain accurate load measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the load weigh valve is fixed in location on the bogie frame, then the structure is simple and stable, but measurement precision deteriorates due to vertical misalignment and horizontal relative movement during wheel steering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload measurement accuracyVSAvoidvalve mounting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load weigh valve is mounted on the wedge element instead of being fixed to the bogie frame, allowing it to move dynamically with the wedge element during steering operations. This dynamic mounting maintains the valve's vertical alignment with the spring throughout the steering range, ensuring accurate load measurement without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge element serves as an intermediary carrier between the fixed bogie frame and the load weigh valve. By mounting the valve on the wedge element, the system transfers the valve's position relative to the moving components while maintaining its measurement accuracy, effectively decoupling the valve from direct frame fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the load weigh valve moves with the wedge element during steering, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to the movable mounting arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking load application consistencyVSAvoidvalve mounting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load weigh valve is mounted on the wedge element instead of being fixed to the bogie frame, allowing it to move dynamically with the wedge element during steering operations. This dynamic mounting maintains the valve's vertical alignment with the spring throughout the steering range, ensuring accurate load measurement without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge element serves dual functions: it accommodates the vertical movement of the spring suspension system and simultaneously carries the load weigh valve, ensuring the valve moves correctly with the suspension while maintaining measurement accuracy. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the load weigh valve remains stationary relative to the frame during steering, then ease of manufacture is improved, but braking performance deteriorates due to inaccurate load indication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve installation simplicityVSAvoidbraking load accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The load weigh valve is mounted on the wedge element instead of being fixed to the bogie frame, allowing it to move dynamically with the wedge element during steering operations. This dynamic mounting maintains the valve's vertical alignment with the spring throughout the steering range, ensuring accurate load measurement without requiring complex alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wedge element serves as an intermediary carrier between the fixed bogie frame and the load weigh valve. By mounting the valve on the wedge element, the system transfers the valve's position relative to the moving components while maintaining its measurement accuracy, effectively decoupling the valve from direct frame fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration mitigates errors in load measurement, ensuring precise application of braking load, even during steering, by allowing the load weigh valve to move with the wedge element, thus providing accurate load indication and improving braking system responsiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a suspension for supporting the load on the wheel set, the suspension including at least one spring mounted on the wheel set

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a wedge element for location between the load and spring to accommodate changes in vertical alignment between the load and wheel set

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP2038155B1Railway bogie with a load weigh valve

Publication Date: 2010.12.08 SCT EURO

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to a bogie (10), including a load bearing point (11), a wheel set portion (12) and an intervening spring suspension (13). A load weigh valve (15) is fixed between the load portion (11) and the spring (16) of the suspension (13). The valve (15) is mounted within a wedge element (19) so that it continually measures the vertical load.