Electromagnetic Wheelset Locking for Self-Service Gauge Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional locking mechanisms for variable gauge rail vehicles are passive and require external auxiliary apparatuses for operation, leading to low efficiency and high investment costs.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism for gauge-changing wheelsets that incorporates traction electromagnets and locking pins, allowing for direct locking and unlocking of wheels without external assistance, utilizing a movable core driven by a traction coil to insert or remove a locking pin from locking holes on the wheel hub.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional passive locking mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but external auxiliary apparatuses are required for operation, leading to low efficiency and high investment costs
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to operate autonomously using the vehicle's own power source and control systems. The electromagnet activates the locking pin to engage or disengage from locking holes on the wheel hub, eliminating the need for external auxiliary apparatuses and enabling self-service gauge changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical passive locking mechanism is replaced with an electromagnet-driven active locking system. The electromagnet converts electrical energy to mechanical motion, driving the locking pin to move between locked and unlocked states, thereby substituting complex external mechanical operations with a simpler electrical control system.
2Reliability
If traditional passive locking mechanisms are used, then the investment cost is high due to external auxiliary apparatuses, but the locking function is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The external auxiliary apparatuses are extracted and removed from the system. The locking function is achieved entirely by the on-board electromagnet and locking pin mechanism, eliminating the need for external ground apparatuses and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If electromagnet-driven active locking is implemented, then external apparatuses are eliminated and efficiency improves, but the locking mechanism structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Complex manual or external mechanical operations are replaced with an electromagnet-driven system. The electromagnet converts electrical signals to direct mechanical motion of the locking pin, simplifying the operation to an electrical control action while the internal structure remains compact and integrated.
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 the ground apparatus for variable gauge operations, improves reliability and efficiency, and reduces costs by enabling direct wheel locking and unlocking, while also enhancing the stability and reliability of gauge changes through lateral movement.
Implementation Method 1
a traction electromagnet including a traction coil and a movable core being controlled to move by turning on and off the traction coil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A locking mechanism (3) of a gauge-changing wheelset, a gauge-changing wheelset and a gauge-changing bogie. The locking mechanism includes: a traction electromagnet (32) and a locking pin (33), the traction electromagnet (32) includes a traction coil (32-1) and a movable core (32-2) being controlled to move by turning on and off the traction coil (32-1), the locking pin (33) is fixedly connected to an end of the movable core (32-2) away from the traction coil (32-1), a plurality of locking holes (41) are disposed on an inner hub of each of wheels (4) at intervals in an axial direction, and the movable core (32-2) may drive the locking pin (33) to insert into or remove from the locking holes (41) to lock or unlock the wheels (4). The gauge-changing wheelset includes wheels (4) and an axle (5) splined to the wheels, a locking mechanism (3) and lateral drive mechanisms (1), both ends of the axle (5) located outside the wheels (4) are respectively supported in an axle box body (7); the locking mechanism (1) is respectively disposed on the inner side of each of the wheels (4), the lateral drive mechanisms (1) are respectively disposed on the outer side of each of the wheels (4), and is fixed on the axle box body (7), the lateral drive mechanism (1) includes an electric cylinder (11) having an extension end for pushing or pulling unlocked wheels to change the gauge of wheels.