Locomotive Sensor Protection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Railway rolling stock, particularly high-speed passenger trains, suffer significant damage and repair costs due to collisions with obstacles on the tracks, which often damage signal sensors and require extensive repair time.
Innovation Solution
A sensor protection device is integrated into the nose of the power car, comprising a fixing part secured to the obstacle chaser, a protection part designed to withstand collisions, and a non-deformable connecting part that maintains the sensor at a distance from the protection part, made of austenitic stainless steel with a high breaking stress, ensuring the sensor remains undamaged during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is mounted directly on the obstacle chaser, then the sensor is protected from collision forces, but the sensor is exposed to damage from obstacles and the fairing suffers significant damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protection device is divided into distinct segments: a fixing part attached to the obstacle chaser, a protection part forming a cage structure, and a non-deformable connecting part. This segmentation allows the sensor to be isolated from collision forces while the protection part absorbs impact, resolving the contradiction between sensor protection and fairing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection part acts as an intermediary element between the obstacle and the sensor. It forms a cage structure that intercepts collision forces before they can reach the sensor, while the non-deformable connecting part transmits minimal forces to the obstacle chaser. This intermediary structure protects the sensor without transmitting damaging forces to the fairing.
2Force
If the sensor is mechanically coupled to the protection part, then the protection part can absorb collision forces, but the sensor may be damaged by transmitted forces
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the force transmission path by being mechanically decoupled from the protection part. The non-deformable connecting part creates a mechanical discontinuity that prevents force transmission from the protection part to the sensor, allowing the protection part to absorb collision forces independently while maintaining sensor integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical coupling parameter between the protection part and sensor is changed from coupled to decoupled. The non-deformable connecting part maintains a fixed geometric relationship while preventing force transmission, changing the mechanical interaction parameter to protect the sensor from collision forces.
3Loss of energy
If a deformable connecting part is used, then the device can absorb collision energy, but the sensor position may shift and the structure may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The non-deformable connecting part is designed in advance to maintain a fixed geometric relationship between the fixing and protection parts. This preliminary structural configuration ensures that the sensor position remains stable during collisions, preventing position shifts while the protection part absorbs collision energy through its cage structure design.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates mainly to a railway motor (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising an obstacle deflector (5), at least one railway signal sensor (3) and at least one boarding and protection device (1) for said sensor (3), which boarding and protection device (1) comprises a fixing part (6) intended to be attached to the obstacle deflector (5), an opposing protection part (7) of the sensor (3) intended to absorb a collision with an obstacle present on the railway track and a non-deformable connecting part (8) securing and keeping apart the fixing and protection parts (6, 7), and in that the sensor (3) is disposed between the fixing and protection parts (6, 7) by being mechanically decoupled from said protection part (7).