Center Bowl Liner with Conductive Wave Spring Washer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-metallic center bowl liners in railroad cars lack electrical conductivity, leading to static electric charge buildup, and existing solutions like metallic buttons or carbon black are either ineffective or prone to failure due to wear and compression issues.
Innovation Solution
A center bowl liner with a disc-shaped element and a conductive wave spring washer that provides both electrical connection and load-bearing support, using a non-conductive material like polyether thermoset polyurethane with a conductive wave spring washer made of carbon steel, ensuring constant contact and preventing static charge buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-metallic liner is used between the center plate and center bowl, then wear is reduced and cost is lowered, but electrical conductivity is lost leading to static charge buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining non-metallic liner material (for wear resistance) with metallic conductive elements (for electrical conductivity). The liner includes a non-conductive body with embedded or attached metallic components that provide electrical continuity while the non-metallic portions provide wear resistance and low friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner is designed with different material properties in different regions: the bulk of the liner remains non-metallic for wear resistance, while specific localized areas contain metallic conductive elements to provide electrical continuity. This allows each region to perform its optimal function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If metallic buttons or carbon black are added to provide conductivity, then electrical continuity is improved, but the buttons can lift the car body out of the bolster bowl or become loose over time
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive elements are merged with the liner structure itself rather than being separate buttons or additives. The metallic conductive portions are integrated into the liner body through embedding or attachment methods, creating a unified component that maintains both conductivity and structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner structure itself serves as the intermediary that holds the conductive elements in place. The non-metallic liner material acts as a mediator that secures the metallic conductive portions, preventing them from becoming loose or dislodged while maintaining electrical continuity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If glass fibers are added to non-metallic liner material to improve compression set characteristics, then compression resistance is improved, but the glass can be abrasive and increase the rate of wear in the center bowl or center plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting non-metallic liner materials that inherently resist compression set without requiring abrasive glass fiber reinforcements. Alternative materials or formulations are used that maintain compression resistance while avoiding the abrasive characteristics of glass fibers.
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 maintains the benefits of non-metallic liners such as lower cost and reduced wear while providing effective electrical conductivity and improved mechanical properties, reducing stress and wear, and preventing static charge buildup.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive spring washer attached to the disc-shaped element and having a contoured profile such that portions of the conductive spring washer are exposed at the top and bottom surfaces of the disc-shaped element to create an electrical connection between the railroad car center plate and the center bowl on the truck bolster
Implementation Method 2
The conductive spring washer, since it may have spring-like properties, will also undertake to bear a limited amount of the load of the railroad car center plate
Data Source
AI summary
A center bowl liner provided for use between a center plate of a railroad car and a center bowl surface on a truck bolster. The center bowl liner includes a disc-shaped element having top and bottom surfaces and a central opening for receiving a center pin. A conductive washer is attached to the disc-shaped element, the conductive washer having a profile wherein portions of the conductive washer are exposed at the top and bottom surfaces of the disc-shaped element and create an electrical connection between the railroad car center plate and the center bowl on the truck bolster. The disc-shaped element acts as a load-bearing element supporting the railroad car center plate. The conductive washer, since it may have spring-like properties, will also undertake to bear a limited amount of the load of the railroad car center plate in addition to providing electrical connection between the car and truck.