Elastic Wheel Axial Rigidity V-Shaped Elastomer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastic wheels for railway vehicles face challenges in achieving a balance between axial and radial rigidity while maintaining effective vibration damping and noise attenuation, often resulting in complex and costly solutions that compromise on damping properties or manufacturing versatility.
Innovation Solution
The elastic wheel design features a housing with oblique walls forming an angle of 48° to 52° and inclined sections supporting V-shaped elastomer blocks, providing enhanced axial and radial rigidity with a simple and cost-effective structure, allowing for versatile wheel design modifications without complex mold changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the elastomer is arranged in a housing with oblique walls forming an angle of 48° to 52° with respect to the horizontal, then axial rigidity is improved (minimum 40 KN/mm), but manufacturing complexity increases due to specific mold requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a precise angular range (48° to 52°) for the oblique walls of the housing. This parameter optimization allows the elastomer blocks to be effectively compressed and oriented, achieving the target axial rigidity of minimum 40 KN/mm while maintaining manufacturability within the defined geometric constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic wheel combines metal components (tread, wheel center, retaining ring, attachment screws) with elastomer material (formed by V-shaped blocks) to create a composite structure. This composite design enables the elastomer to work under compression in the axial direction while maintaining vibration damping properties, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and damping
2Strength
If metal parts are inserted into the elastomer to work under compression in the axial direction, then axial rigidity is improved, but damping properties are lost and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the elastic wheel: metal components (tread, wheel center, retaining ring) provide structural strength and axial rigidity, while the elastomer blocks provide vibration damping. The V-shaped configuration of elastomer blocks localized between the oblique walls ensures compression work in the axial direction, achieving rigidity without sacrificing damping capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic wheel combines metal components (tread, wheel center, retaining ring, attachment screws) with elastomer material (formed by V-shaped blocks) to create a composite structure. This composite design enables the elastomer to work under compression in the axial direction while maintaining vibration damping properties, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and damping
3Strength
If a V-shaped elastomer with an angle of 60° with respect to the horizontal is used, then axial rigidity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to complex geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the angle of the oblique walls to a specific range (48° to 52°) rather than using a fixed 60° angle. This parameter optimization achieves the required axial rigidity (minimum 40 KN/mm) while simplifying the geometry for manufacturing, reducing mold complexity and production costs
4Ease of manufacture
If the elastomer works under shear forces in the radial direction, then radial rigidity is reduced, but manufacturing simplicity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates different stress conditions in different directions: the oblique walls (48° to 52°) and V-shaped elastomer configuration ensure compression work in the axial direction for high axial rigidity, while the radial arrangement maintains sufficient radial rigidity through the natural compression of elastomer blocks between the tread and wheel center
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 design ensures a minimum axial rigidity of 40 KN/mm and sufficient radial rigidity for bearing loads, while maintaining high damping capacity and noise attenuation, with a robust attachment that prevents unwanted movements and reduces manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Elastic wheels are commonly used in trams or in another type of railway vehicles which run primarily in urban areas. These wheels are designed for damping vibrations resulting from rolling and reducing the noise produced to the greatest possible extent.
Implementation Method 2
the elastomer being formed by a plurality of V-shaped elastic blocks
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an elastic wheel for railway vehicles, formed by a tread (1) and a wheel center (2), defining a housing for the insertion of an elastomer that is compressed by a retaining ring (3) which is attached to the wheel center (2) by means of attachment screws (4), and in which the elastomer is formed by a plurality of V-shaped elastic blocks (5), having two oblique walls belonging to the wheel center (2) and to the retaining ring (3), respectively, forming an angle of between 48° and 52° with respect to the axis (R) of the wheel, and in which the oblique walls end in respective inclined sections on which the vertices of the V-shaped elastic blocks (5) are supported, said inclined sections forming an angle of between 2° and 10° with respect to the axis (R) of the wheel.