Locomotive Anti-Climber Guide Device for Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible elements in locomotive railway vehicles absorb less energy than planned due to asymmetric load distribution and rotation of anti-climber plates during frontal impacts, especially in longer elements, where guide systems fail to prevent deformation and rotation effectively.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible element with a guide device featuring a stem and orthogonal partitions with guide holes and a guide tube, which distributes stress evenly and prevents rotation, allowing uniform energy absorption by plastically deforming tubular bodies and a covering sheet, while maintaining a short stem and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a guide system with vertical partitions and axial stem is used to prevent rotation and guide axial sliding, then the anti-climber plate stability is improved, but the device complexity increases and the stem length becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guiding function from a complex multi-component system (partitions and stem) and implements it through a single integrated guide device with a compact structure, eliminating unnecessary components while maintaining the rotation prevention function
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device is nested within the existing collapsible element structure, with the guide holes and guide tube integrated into the box-type bodies, creating a compact design that avoids excessive stem length while maintaining guiding functionality
2Use of energy by moving object
If the collapsible element is made very long to increase energy absorption capacity, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the guide system becomes ineffective and the stem length becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device uses multiple guide holes distributed along the longitudinal axis of the box-type bodies, providing continuous guidance throughout the length of the collapsible element without requiring a single excessive-length stem
Solution Approach 2:
The guide tube acts as an intermediary component that works in conjunction with the guide holes to provide effective guidance over the entire length of the collapsible element, enabling the system to handle long elements without excessive stem length
3Device complexity
If the anti-climber plates are allowed to rotate during impact, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the energy absorption efficiency decreases due to asymmetric load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device with guide holes and guide tube automatically prevents rotation of the anti-climber plate during impact, ensuring symmetric load distribution and optimal energy absorption without requiring external control mechanisms or complex active systems
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 ensures optimal energy absorption and reduced risk of derailment by distributing load uniformly and minimizing friction, allowing 70% of energy to be dissipated by the deformable bodies, with the remaining dissipated by the covering sheet and weld beads, effectively addressing the inefficiencies in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the box-type bodies absorb kinetic energy by deforming, i.e. by converting said kinetic energy into plastic deformation energy
Data Source
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AI summary
A collapsible element (5) for a locomotive (1) of a railway vehicle' is provided with an absorption structure, which extends along a horizontal axis (6), is plastically deformable to absorb energy, and has a rear end connectable to a support (3) and a front end supporting an anti-climber plate (20); the collapsible element is provided with a guide device (25) having a plurality of vertical partitions, which are housed in the absorption structure in fixed positions and axially spaced from one another and have, at the center, respective holes, coaxial to one another; the holes of the front partitions are engaged by a stem (26) fixed to a rear face of the anti- climber plate (20), while the holes of the rear partitions are engaged by a guide tube (35), which is coaxial with the stem (26) and is fixed to one of the rear partitions.