Hydropneumatic Suspension with Arched Spring Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle suspension systems face challenges in replacing air springs with hydropneumatic solutions that are complex and costly, requiring complex mechanical implementations to accommodate vertical, transverse, longitudinal movement, and rotation, while also risking bearing jamming due to dirty roller bearings.
Innovation Solution
A hydropneumatic suspension system with arched end segments and layered spring segments, integrated with a hydraulic cylinder and piston, and a pressure accumulator, allowing for adjustable damping characteristics and reduced complexity, enabling 'airless' trains without compressed air supply, featuring a compact and lighter running gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If air springs are used for suspension, then vertical rigidity is reduced for comfort, but complex mechanical solutions are required to replace them with hydropneumatic suspension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex mechanical components (roller bearings, transverse suspension mechanisms) from the hydropneumatic suspension system and replaces them with a simpler direct connection between the hydraulic cylinder and the vehicle body, achieving the same suspension function with reduced complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic cylinder arrangement serves multiple functions simultaneously: vertical suspension, transverse rigidity control, and longitudinal movement accommodation, eliminating the need for separate specialized components for each function
2Adaptability or versatility
If roller bearings are used in hydropneumatic suspension, then transverse characteristics can be generated, but the bearings are prone to jamming when dirty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the roller bearings entirely from the suspension system, replacing them with a direct mechanical connection that does not require rolling elements, thereby eliminating the risk of bearing jamming while maintaining transverse rigidity through the structural design of the connection points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rigid connection elements (fastening plates, mounting brackets) as intermediaries between the hydraulic cylinder and the vehicle body, which transmit transverse forces without requiring rolling elements, thus avoiding bearing-related reliability issues
3Quantity of substance
If air springs are replaced with hydropneumatic suspension, then compressed air supply is eliminated, but the system becomes more expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air springs, compressed air supply) with a hydraulic system (hydraulic cylinder, piston, fluid reservoir), using liquid hydraulics instead of gas pneumatics to achieve the same suspension function with different mechanical characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the compressed air supply system from the vehicle, replacing it with a self-contained hydraulic system that uses incompressible fluid to provide suspension forces, thereby removing the need for expensive air compression infrastructure
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 improved suspension with reduced complexity, enhanced vertical damping, and adjustable transverse rigidity, enabling the development of 'airless' trains with smaller, lighter, and cheaper running gear, while minimizing the risk of bearing jamming and maintaining comfort and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic cylinder arrangement (2) with a hydraulic cylinder (3) and a cylinder piston (4) that can be moved back and forth therein, so that when a vertical force is applied, which leads to a pushing in of the hydraulic cylinder (3), the desired damping characteristics come into play
Implementation Method 2
Both the hydraulic cylinder (3) and the cylinder piston (4) have a fastening plate (7) on their respective distal section, on which a spring segment (5, 6) is arranged
Implementation Method 3
a pressure accumulator (9), which is connected to the chamber of the hydraulic cylinder arrangement (2) that can be compressed by the cylinder piston (4) via a connecting line (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3f
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a hydropneumatic suspension (1) for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, comprising a hydraulic cylinder arrangement (2) with a hydraulic cylinder (3) and a cylinder piston (4) movable back and forth in the hydraulic cylinder, a first spring segment (5) arranged at one of the two longitudinal ends of the hydraulic cylinder arrangement, and a second spring segment (6) arranged at the other of the two longitudinal ends of the hydraulic cylinder arrangement, wherein the respective longitudinal ends of the hydraulic cylinder arrangement and the associated spring segments are each designed such that they form an arc shape curved inwards towards the hydraulic cylinder arrangement.