Elastomer Profile Connecting Bellows Articulated Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting devices for bellows between articulated vehicles, particularly double-corrugated bellows, are complex and costly, failing to securely and simply connect the bellows to the vehicle end faces while accommodating necessary movements like pitching and rolling.
Innovation Solution
An elastomer profile is designed to fit within a C-shaped recess on the vehicle, with a welt-like end and a clamp-like claw to securely grasp the bellows, allowing for form-fitting connection and accommodating multiple bellows for increased passage width and reduced wall thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connecting devices are used to connect double-corrugated bellows to vehicle end faces, then the bellows can be securely connected, but the construction becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting device is divided into distinct functional components: the C-shaped recess provides structural support and positioning, the elastomer profile provides flexible form-fitting connection, and the clamp-like claw provides secure grasping of the bellows. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall construction compared to conventional integrated connecting devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the connecting profile from rigid to elastomeric, allowing the profile to be compressed and inserted into the C-shaped recess where it then expands to provide a form-fitting connection. This parameter change enables a simpler installation process and reduces construction complexity while maintaining secure connection.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple bellows are accommodated through a single C-shaped recess, then passage width increases for wheelchair users, but the connection device must handle increased loads and movements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple bellows are merged within a single C-shaped recess structure, with each bellows grasped by the clamp-like claw. This merging approach increases the passage width to accommodate wheelchair users while the unified C-shaped recess and elastomer profile provide integrated support for all bellows, distributing the mechanical loads and movements across the entire structure rather than requiring separate connection devices for each bellows.
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
The solution provides a simpler, cheaper, and secure connection for bellows, enabling significant stretching capacity to accommodate movements and wider passage requirements, such as for wheelchair users, while minimizing the wall thickness of double-corrugated bellows.
Implementation Method 1
the profile is designed as an elastomer profile that lies in a form-fitting manner in the C-shaped recess of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a transition (5) between two vehicles (2, 3) connected by a hinge, wherein the transition (5) comprises at least one tunnel-shaped circumferential bellows (26, 28), wherein a connecting device is provided for connecting the bellows (26, 28) to the front face of a vehicle (2, 3), wherein the connecting device has a tunnel-like circumferential recess (7) arranged on the front face of the vehicle (2, 3), having at least one angle profile (11, 13) which has means for engaging the at least one bellows (26, 28) at its first free end and is connected at its second end to the C-shaped recess (7) by at least one elastomer profile (9).