Compact Buffer Overload Protection via Housing-Elastic Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-performance railway vehicle coupling buffers face challenges in integrating overload protection due to design limitations, particularly in breaking connections without damaging the revolving pair between the buffer and mount, restricting the application scope and requiring complex component arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A compact buffer design that breaks the connection between the buffer housing and the elastic element, utilizing a stop nut as a caging device with a tensile and compressive converter plate, allowing for internal overload protection without external adapter plates, reducing weight and complexity while maintaining stability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connection between the mount and the shell is broken for overload protection, then the coupling buffer can separate from the vehicle body under overload, but the shell size must be small and the hole in the mount must be enlarged, which is difficult due to vehicle body design limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the overload protection function from the traditional mount-shell connection and relocates it to the connection between the buffer housing and elastic element. This allows the overload protection device to be integrated inside the buffer without requiring external adapter plates or enlarging the mount hole, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving overload protection and maintaining compact shell dimensions.
2Reliability
If external adapter plates are used for overload protection, then the buffer can protect the vehicle body, but the weight and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the overload protection device with the buffer housing and elastic element connection, integrating it inside the buffer rather than using separate external adapter plates. This integration eliminates additional components and reduces overall weight while maintaining the overload protection function.
3Reliability
If multiple components break out of the mount for overload protection, then the protection is effective, but the volume of the overload protection device increases and the opening on the vehicle body installation surface must be larger, reducing vehicle body strength
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the overload protection mechanism from the mount connection and places it within the buffer housing, connecting the buffer housing and elastic element instead. This allows overload protection to be achieved with minimal component exit from the mount, reducing the required opening area and preserving vehicle body strength.
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
Enables a large-volume high-performance buffer with reduced component exit and volume, improved structural simplicity, enhanced stability, and lower manufacturing costs by adopting a tensile failure mode over shear, thus improving vehicle body strength and modularity.
Implementation Method 1
the buffer mainly takes part in longitudinal energy absorption in the normal running process of railway vehicles. Many existing buffers realize the function of energy absorption by means of compressing internal elastic components
Implementation Method 2
a method breaking the connection between the buffer housing and the elastic element is used for realizing integration of the overload protection device and the coupling buffer... overload protection devices adopting a tensile failure mode are more simple for manufacturing and processing
Data Source
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AI summary
A compact buffer having overload protection, comprising a buffer connected to a coupling, a mount (1) connected to a vehicle body, and a rotating shaft (2) connecting the buffer to the mount (1); the buffer comprises an elastic element (4), a buffer housing (3) accommodating the elastic element (4), and a protective cover (5) for bearing impact force located at the tail end of the buffer housing (3); the buffer housing (3) and the protective cover (5) are connected by means of an overload protection device (6). Use of the method which involves breaking the connection between a buffer housing and an elastic element enables the integration of an overload protection device and a coupling buffer.