Railway Bogie Primary Suspension Offset for Disc Brake Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing railway vehicle bogie designs cannot accommodate a disc braking device due to space constraints between the wheel and the cylindrical housings supporting the longitudinal and transverse suspension elements, which is essential for high-speed trains but violates the gauge when trying to shift the axle box to increase this space.
Innovation Solution
The bogie design offsets the center of the first support housing outward and the second support housing inward, allowing sufficient space for a disc brake actuator while maintaining the axle box's stability and adhering to the gauge, using radially compressed ovoid-shaped springs and helical vertical suspension elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the axle box is shifted outward to increase space for disc brake actuator, then space for braking device is improved, but the axle box overhang becomes too great and violates the train gauge
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into two separate housings: a first support housing for the longitudinal suspension element and a second support housing for the transverse suspension element. This segmentation allows the first housing to be positioned outward to provide space for the disc brake actuator, while the second housing is positioned inward to maintain the axle box overhang within gauge limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single centralized support element to a distributed two-housing configuration. By redistributing the support functions across two separate housings positioned at different transverse locations, the design creates space for braking components without increasing the overall axle box overhang beyond gauge specifications.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cylindrical housings with circular base are used for longitudinal and transverse suspension elements, then stability at high speed is improved, but space for additional parts around the wheel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single cylindrical housing is segmented into two separate support housings with optimized geometries. The first support housing has a shape optimized for longitudinal suspension elements, while the second support housing is optimized for transverse suspension elements. This segmentation allows each housing to be compact in its specific orientation, creating space around the wheel while maintaining the stability provided by the suspension elements.
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 enables the integration of a disc braking system with primary suspension, ensuring stability and comfort at high speeds without infringing the train's gauge, reducing the size of support housings and allowing effective braking performance.
Implementation Method 1
Each longitudinal and transverse suspension element is formed by a radially compressed spring, the compression in the radial direction being effected by an internal wall of said housing
Implementation Method 2
The vertical suspension element is a helical spring extending between the support element and the frame in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The bogie has a primary suspension comprising a vertical suspension element and a transverse and longitudinal suspension element (14) to respectively suspend an axle (4) with respect to a frame along a vertical direction and transverse and longitudinal directions. Center (32) of a support housing (26) is shifted towards exterior of the bogie along the transverse direction with respect to center (20) of a support element (18) such that a distance (d') separating a wheel (8) from the center of the housing is greater than a distance (d) separating the wheel from the center of the support element. The vertical suspension element and the transverse and longitudinal suspension element are placed on the support element and in the housing, and are formed by a helical spring and a radial compression spring such as rubber metal spring, respectively.