Hydraulic Roll Compensation for Rail Vehicle Chassis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rail vehicles face issues with excessive rolling movements due to centrifugal acceleration in curves, leading to reduced driving comfort, potential collisions, and increased strain on the chassis, which conventional roll support devices with torsion bars cannot easily adapt to varying vehicle designs or adjust for different operational conditions.

Innovation Solution

A rail vehicle equipped with a hydraulically acting roll compensation device featuring flexible hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic accumulators that provide a progressive counter-torque, allowing for easier adjustment and reduced space requirements, along with a monitoring unit for operational safety and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a torsion bar is used to counteract rolling movements, then the rolling movements are reduced, but the device complexity increases and adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling movement reductionVSAvoidtorsion bar structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical torsion bar system with a hydraulic system consisting of a hydraulic cylinder, piston, and hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic cylinder provides the counter-torque through fluid pressure, eliminating the need for a complex mechanical torsion bar structure while achieving the same rolling movement reduction effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a hydraulic cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid to generate the counter-torque. The hydraulic fluid transmits force through the piston, providing a smooth and adjustable counteracting force that reduces rolling movements without requiring complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a torsion bar is designed for a specific rail vehicle, then the rolling movements are effectively counteracted, but the adaptability to different vehicle configurations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling movement counteractionVSAvoidvehicle configuration adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic system allows for dynamic adjustment of the counter-torque by changing the hydraulic fluid pressure or piston position. This enables the same basic hydraulic roll compensation device to adapt to different vehicle configurations, weights, and operational conditions without requiring redesign, unlike a fixed torsion bar.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hydraulic cylinder-based system serves multiple functions: it provides roll compensation, allows for adjustment to different vehicle types, and can be configured for various operational conditions. A single hydraulic roll compensation device can be adapted to different rail vehicle configurations by adjusting hydraulic parameters rather than requiring vehicle-specific torsion bars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Force

If the torsional stiffness of the torsion bar is increased, then the counter-torque increases, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecounter-torque magnitudeVSAvoidtorsion bar manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manufacturing a torsion bar with specific geometric parameters to achieve a desired counter-torque, the patent uses a hydraulic system where the counter-torque is controlled by changing hydraulic parameters such as fluid pressure, piston area, or stroke length. This allows for easier adjustment of the counter-torque magnitude without complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively counteracts excessive rolling movements, enhances driving comfort, reduces the load on the chassis, and provides increased design freedom and operational safety by allowing for easier adaptation to different vehicle configurations and operational conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulically acting roll compensation device which comprises at least one first hydraulic cylinder (38) which is arranged on a first side of the vehicle at a distance from the longitudinal axis and at least one second hydraulic cylinder (40) which is arranged on a second side of the vehicle at a distance from the longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

A rail vehicle equipped with a hydraulically acting roll compensation device featuring flexible hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic accumulators that provide a progressive counter-torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic accumulation: Hydraulic Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP4339056A1Rail vehicle having a chassis and a roll compensation device, and roll compensation device, in particular for a rail vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 HEMSCHEIDT ENG GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4339056A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4339056A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4339056A1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

The present invention relates to a rail vehicle (10) with a bogie (12), wherein the rail vehicle (10) comprises a car body (30) rotatably supported on the bogie frame (14) by means of support means (32) about a roll axis (A) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the rail vehicle (10), and a hydraulically actuated roll compensation device (36) which has at least a first hydraulic cylinder (38) arranged on a first side (41) of the vehicle spaced apart from the longitudinal axis (L) and at least a second hydraulic cylinder (40) arranged on a second side (42) of the vehicle spaced apart from the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the first hydraulic cylinder (38) and the second hydraulic cylinder (40) interact with the car body (30) and the bogie frame (14) or with the car body (30) and the wheelset (16) such that they counteract the roll movements of the car body (30) about the Counteract the roll axis (A).Furthermore, the invention relates to a roll compensation device (36) as such.