Rail Car Body Underbody Support for Center of Gravity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rail vehicle car bodies face challenges in balancing weight distribution and center of gravity due to varying weights and volumes of underfloor equipment, making assembly and maintenance difficult while increasing the overall weight and center of gravity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an underbody support system that extends from one side of the car body to the other, allowing devices to be placed on a U-shaped beam below the floor, which is connected to load-bearing parts, thereby distributing weight forces efficiently and allowing for flexible positioning of equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If devices are arranged under the floor of the car body, then the center of gravity can be lowered, but the weight distribution becomes difficult to balance and assembly/maintenance becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity positionVSAvoidassembly and maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The underbody support structure is divided into multiple discrete support elements ( longitudinal beams and transverse beams) that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of devices under the floor while maintaining balanced weight distribution and facilitating easier assembly and maintenance by addressing the complexity through modular structural division

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a three-dimensional underbody support framework with longitudinal and transverse beams forming a spatial structure. This dimensional approach provides multiple mounting locations and pathways for cable routing, enabling devices to be positioned optimally for center of gravity while maintaining access for assembly and maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If heavy equipment is placed in the front part of the trolley, then the overall center of gravity can be adjusted, but the driving characteristics are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity positionVSAvoiddriving characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The underbody support structure provides different support characteristics at different locations - with longitudinal beams providing continuous support and transverse beams providing localized mounting points. This allows heavy equipment to be positioned at specific locations to adjust center of gravity while the distributed support structure ensures balanced weight distribution that preserves driving characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If a bracket is added to the underside of the floor to lower heavy equipment, then the center of gravity is lowered, but the total weight of the car increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecenter of gravity positionVSAvoidtotal car weight
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The underbody support structure serves multiple functions: it supports heavy equipment to lower the center of gravity, provides a framework for mounting various devices, offers cable routing pathways, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated lowering brackets, achieving center of gravity reduction without significant additional weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2619064B8Car body for a railway rolling stock and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2014.10.08 BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a carriage body for a rail vehicle, in particular for a high-speed train, said carriage body having a base (13) and lateral walls (11) that extend upwards on opposing sides of the base (13). The base (13) and the lateral walls (11) delimit an interior of the carriage body for transporting persons and/or goods. A longitudinal support (24) for transmitting longitudinal forces is located in each transitional region between the base (13) and the lateral walls (11), said longitudinal support extending in the longitudinal direction of the carriage body. The carriage body has at least one undercarriage support (1) that extends below the base (13) from the one longitudinal support (24a) to the other longitudinal support (24b), said undercarriage support (1) extending partly at a distance to the base (13) so that a space for receiving at least one device (15) for operating the rail vehicle is formed between the undercarriage support (1) and the base (13). The weight of the device (15) acts on the undercarriage support (1).