Rail Carriage Box Connecting Device for Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing car body designs for rail vehicles, particularly those made of aluminum, face challenges in efficiently distributing and managing longitudinal forces, leading to high connection costs and complexity, especially when using flange connections which are difficult to implement and result in less economical multi-part rail vehicle production.
Innovation Solution
A connecting device comprising a central rod with articulated arms and outer joints that directly transmit longitudinal forces between adjacent car bodies, bypassing the car body housing, allowing for a separate load path and eliminating the need for flange connections, and can be made of steel with compact dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If flange connections are used to connect car bodies, then the connection can transmit longitudinal forces, but the car body housing is subjected to high stress and complex transition structures are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into two independent parts: the car body housing and the coupling rod. The coupling rod is a separate component that handles all longitudinal force transmission, while the car body housing only provides lateral guidance. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex transition structures in the car body housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling rod acts as an intermediary element between adjacent car bodies. It mediates the longitudinal force transmission independently, allowing the car body housing to focus solely on its primary function of containing passengers and providing lateral guidance.
2Weight of moving object
If aluminum car bodies with thin-walled hollow chamber profiles are used, then the car body weight is reduced, but the car body is poorly suited for concentrated load applications
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is segmented away from the car body housing and assigned to a separate steel coupling rod. This allows the aluminum car body to remain lightweight while the steel coupling rod handles all concentrated longitudinal loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system uses a composite material approach by combining aluminum car body housing with a steel coupling rod. Each material is used where it performs best: aluminum for lightweight housing, steel for high-strength force transmission.
3Productivity
If short car bodies are used to increase the number of car bodies in a multi-unit rail vehicle, then the production becomes more economical, but the connection complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of how connections work by introducing a dedicated coupling rod mechanism. This allows standardization of the connection interface regardless of car body length, making short car bodies economically viable without increasing connection complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling rod automatically handles force transmission and guides itself within the longitudinal channel of the car body housing. The system is self-aligning and self-adjusting, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms when assembling multiple short car bodies.
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 solution simplifies and reduces the cost of producing short car bodies, enabling more economical multi-part rail vehicle designs by providing a continuous connection that relieves the car body housing and allows for flexible load distribution, making the production of short, lighter car bodies more feasible.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling rod is capable of withstanding both tensile and compressive loads and directly transmits longitudinal forces between the adjacent car bodies
Implementation Method 2
a first articulated arm connected to the central rod via a first connection, wherein the first articulated arm has the first external joint at one end away from the central rod, and a second articulated arm connected to the central rod via a second connection
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a carriage box (1) for a rail vehicle, comprising a carriage box housing (4) and a connecting device (5), which is arranged in or on the carriage box housing (4) in a longitudinal direction, and which is designed to connect the carriage box (1) to two adjacent carriage boxes. It is the object of the invention to provide a carriage box (1) of a kind that allows carriage arrangements with a higher number of short carriage boxes. According to the invention, a carriage box (1) is provided, wherein the connecting device (5) comprises a coupling rod, a first external articulation (9) for connection to an adjacent carriage box, and a second external articulation (12) for connection to an adjacent carriage box. The coupling rod can be subjected to both tension and pressure. Such a solution has the advantage that the high longitudinal forces within multiple-member rail vehicles are transmitted between the outer articulations (9, 12) without force flow in the longitudinal direction via the carriage box housing (4).