Rail Vehicle Chassis Swivel Joint Load Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail-bound transport vehicle chassis face challenges in navigating curves efficiently due to high loads on expensive angular contact ball bearings, which are necessary for transferring loads through swivel joints.
Innovation Solution
The chassis design incorporates a support bearing between the swivel joint and the roller, allowing part of the load to be transmitted via this bearing, reducing the load on the swivel joint and using a plain bearing with low friction sliding surfaces, such as metal and plastic, to facilitate smooth curvature navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If angular contact ball bearings are used in the swivel joint to transfer loads, then the load transfer capability is improved, but the cost and complexity of the swivel joint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load transfer function is segmented between two components: the swivel joint handles the pivoting motion while the support bearing handles the load transfer. This division allows each component to be simpler - the swivel joint no longer needs complex angular contact ball bearings since the support bearing carries the load.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bearing acts as an intermediary element between the chassis axle and the roller assembly. It mediates the load transfer from the vehicle body through the roller to the rail, allowing the swivel joint to focus solely on enabling the necessary pivoting motion without bearing the full load.
2Strength
If angular contact ball bearings are used in the swivel joint to transfer loads, then the load transfer capability is improved, but the cost of the chassis increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the load transfer function to a dedicated support bearing, the expensive angular contact ball bearings are eliminated from the swivel joint. The support bearing can use simpler, less expensive bearing technology while still achieving the required load transfer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bearing provides a cost-effective solution by using simpler, cheaper bearing technology compared to angular contact ball bearings. While the individual support bearing may need replacement, the overall system cost is reduced due to the elimination of expensive angular contact ball bearings from the swivel joint.
3Ease of operation
If a plain bearing with sliding surfaces is used in the support bearing, then the friction is reduced for curve navigation, but the load transfer capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The support bearing uses composite material pairing (metal and plastic sliding surfaces) to achieve both low friction for smooth curve navigation and sufficient load transfer capability. The metal surface provides structural strength while the plastic surface provides low friction characteristics.
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
This design reduces the need for expensive angular contact ball bearings and minimizes friction, enabling smoother and more efficient curve navigation while reducing the overall cost and complexity of the swivel joint.
Implementation Method 1
The plain bearing has two sliding surfaces that slide along one another when the pivot arm is pivoted. This way, the plain bearing can, on the one hand, transmit the forces generated by the load effectively. On the other hand, it allows the pivot arm and roller to pivot with as little friction as possible
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
Chassis (1) for a rail-bound transport vehicle for transporting goods, in particular in intralogistics, wherein the chassis (1) has at least one chassis axle (2) and at least one load-bearing roller (3), wherein the roller (3) is rotatably mounted in a swivel arm (5) about a roller rotation axis (6) for rolling on a rail (4) and the swivel arm (5) together with the roller (3) is pivotably mounted on the chassis axle (2) by means of a pivot joint (7), wherein the swivel arm (5) is additionally supported on the chassis axle (2) by means of a support bearing (8) and the roller (3) is arranged between the pivot joint (7) and the support bearing (8).