Rail Vehicle Pivot Joint Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rail transport, connecting elements such as cables and hoses between moving rail vehicle elements tend to bend and buckle when pivoted, leading to excessive sag and reduced service life, necessitating long lengths that result in unnecessary sagging when driving straight.
Innovation Solution
The connection devices are rotatably mounted on rail vehicle elements, allowing them to move relative to the elements they are attached to, optimizing the guidance of the connecting elements by adjusting their position based on the angle of rotation, thereby reducing deflection and bending forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long connecting elements are used to prevent breaking under maximum rotation, then the connection reliability is improved, but the sagging increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is designed with dynamic characteristics allowing it to sway and pivot freely within certain limits, adapting its configuration to the relative motion between vehicle elements. This dynamic design prevents breaking during rotation while reducing excessive sagging, thereby improving both reliability and service life simultaneously.
2Reliability
If long connecting elements with large excess length are used to compensate for distance change during cornering, then the connection reliability is improved, but the sagging increases and requires additional suspensions
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element's dynamic swaying and pivoting capability allows it to automatically adapt to distance changes during cornering without requiring additional suspension devices. The element naturally adjusts its path length through controlled movement, eliminating the need for complex suspension systems while maintaining connection reliability.
3Duration of action of moving object
If short connecting elements are used to reduce sagging, then the service life is improved, but the connection may break under maximum rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is designed with optimal length and dynamic characteristics that allow it to sway and pivot freely within certain limits. This dynamic design enables the element to accommodate maximum rotation angles without breaking while maintaining reduced sagging, thereby achieving both improved service life and maintained reliability.
4Strength
If fixed mounting of connection devices is used, then the structural integrity is improved, but the connecting elements experience excessive bending and buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The connection devices are designed to move relative to the vehicle elements they are attached to, allowing dynamic adjustment of the connecting element's path. This dynamic mounting reduces bending and buckling forces on the connecting elements while maintaining structural integrity, thereby improving fastener service life without compromising strength.
5Duration of action of moving object
If rotatable mounting of connection devices is used, then the bending forces are reduced and service life is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable mounting of connection devices is integrated into the overall dynamic system design, where the rotation capability is a fundamental aspect of the connecting element's operation. This integration minimizes additional complexity while significantly reducing bending forces and improving service life through natural adaptation to vehicle motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Connection arrangement (1; 40), comprising: - a first rail vehicle element (2; 41), - a second rail vehicle element (3; 42), wherein the first and the second rail vehicle element are coupled by a pivot joint (4) and are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot axis (Z), - a first connecting device (9; 45, 46), - a second connecting device (10; 47, 48), wherein the first and the second connecting device (9, 10; 45, 46, 47, 48) are spaced apart from each other and are pivotable relative to each other about the pivot axis (Z), - at least one flexible connecting element (15, 16; 49, 50), wherein the connecting element (15, 16; 49, 50) is connected to the first connecting device (9; 45) by a first section (23, 24). 46) and a second section (25, 26) of the connecting element (15, 16; 49, 50) is connected to the second connecting device (10; 47, 48), wherein the first connecting device (9;45, 46) is movably mounted on the first rail vehicle element (2; 41), and/or the second connecting device (10; 47, 48) is movably mounted on the second rail vehicle element (3; 42).;