Pre-Compression Emergency Air Spring Assembly for Soft Stop Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rubber emergency air springs in high-speed train applications suffer from creep deformation, increased vertical rigidity, and inability to meet soft stop and transverse rigidity requirements due to nonlinearity and sliding friction issues.
Innovation Solution
A pre-compression type emergency air spring assembly featuring a parallel structure with steel springs providing vertical rigidity and laminated spring elastomers for damping, along with transverse pre-compression cavities and plates, and a combination of steel and rubber components for controlled damping and reduced sliding friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rubber emergency spring is used, then damping effect is provided, but creep deformation occurs and vertical rigidity increases during service life
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency spring assembly is divided into two independent functional systems: a steel spring system for providing vertical rigidity and supporting loads, and a rubber elastomer system for providing damping. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without the drawbacks of the other - the steel spring doesn't creep while the rubber provides controlled damping.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining steel (for rigidity) and rubber elastomer (for damping). The steel spring and rubber elastomer work together in parallel, with the steel providing structural stability and the rubber providing vibration damping, creating a hybrid system that overcomes the limitations of using either material alone.
2Strength
If rubber emergency spring is used, then damping is provided, but vertical rigidity changes non-linearly when loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function and damping function are segmented into separate components. The steel spring handles the vertical load-bearing with linear elastic characteristics, providing stable vertical rigidity. The rubber elastomer handles only the damping function, isolated from the primary load path, thus preventing non-linear rigidity changes under increasing loads.
3Force
If air spring is deflated, then vertical hard stop is generated, but transverse sliding friction occurs between cover plate and wearing plate
Solution Approach 1:
A transverse elastomer is introduced as an intermediary component between the upper and lower end plates. When the air spring is deflated, this elastomer provides transverse buffering and soft stopping, replacing the direct sliding contact between metal plates. The elastomer mediates the interaction, eliminating sliding friction while maintaining the vertical hard stop function through the air spring's structural constraints.
4Force
If transverse sliding friction occurs in deflated state, then hard stop is generated, but soft stop requirement cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse elastomer serves as a mediator that enables soft stopping in the deflated state. When transverse displacement occurs, the elastomer deforms elastically to provide a progressive, controlled resistance force rather than abrupt sliding friction. This intermediary component bridges the gap between the hard stop structural constraint and the soft stop comfort requirement.
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 reduces heavy-load vertical rigidity, enhances comfort, prevents creep, and achieves both vertical hard and transverse soft stops, improving dynamic displacement and stability while minimizing nonlinearity and noise.
Implementation Method 1
Multiple steel springs are arranged between the upper cover plate and the upper end plate in a pressing mode
Implementation Method 2
the transverse pre-compression cavities are internally provided with laminated spring elastomers through the transverse pre-compression plates in a pressing mode
Implementation Method 3
A periphery of the upper end plate is connected with a periphery of the lower end plate through the air bag
Data Source
AI summary
A pre-compression type emergency air spring assembly includes an upper cover plate, an air bag, an upper end plate, and a lower end plate. A periphery of the upper end plate is connected with a periphery of the lower end plate through the air bag. A top part of the upper end plate is provided with transverse pre-compression cavities and transverse pre-compression plates arranged at transverse openings of the transverse pre-compression cavities. The transverse pre-compression cavities are internally provided with laminated spring elastomers through the transverse pre-compression plates in a pressing mode. Multiple steel springs are arranged between the upper cover plate and the upper end plate in a pressing mode along a circumferential direction of the laminated spring elastomers. The upper cover plate is arranged on a periphery of the transverse pre-compression cavities in a sleeving mode.