Rail Vehicle Levelling Piston End-Stop Guide Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing levelling systems for rail vehicles are complex and inefficient in assembly and maintenance, lacking a space-saving design that effectively limits relative movement between components to handle forces and prevent undesired movements.
Innovation Solution
An integrated levelling system with a movable levelling piston within a levelling cylinder, utilizing guiding elements that protrude into recesses to provide end stops and limit movement, ensuring a simplified assembly and enhanced structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional levelling systems are used, then the vehicle body level can be adjusted, but the assembly structure is complex and assembly/maintenance is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding elements are integrated directly into the levelling piston structure, merging the guiding function with the piston body. This eliminates the need for separate guiding components and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the ability to adjust vehicle body level.
Solution Approach 2:
The levelling piston is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides hydraulic actuation for levelling adjustment and incorporates built-in guiding elements that constrain relative movement. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the system.
2Productivity
If traditional levelling systems are used, then the vehicle body level can be adjusted, but the system occupies excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding elements are nested within the levelling piston structure, with guiding protrusions integrated into the piston body and corresponding recesses formed in the cylinder. This nesting arrangement allows the guiding function to be accomplished within the existing component envelope, reducing overall system volume.
3Reliability
If traditional levelling systems are used, then the vehicle body level can be adjusted, but relative movement between components is not effectively limited
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is merged into the piston structure itself through integrated guiding protrusions and recesses. This combination ensures that relative movement between the piston and cylinder is effectively constrained by the geometry of the components themselves, rather than requiring separate constraint mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A levelling system for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes at least one levelling cylinder and a levelling piston. The levelling piston is at least partially provided in the levelling cylinder in a movable manner for setting the level of the rail vehicle. Further, the levelling system includes at least one guiding element, which is arranged within the levelling piston and partially protrudes from the levelling piston into at least one recess of the levelling cylinder such that an end stop in a longitudinal direction is provided for the relative movement between the levelling piston and the levelling cylinder.