Rail Vehicle Floor Structure Vertical Tolerance Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor structures in vehicles, such as rail vehicles, can only compensate for tolerances in longitudinal and transverse directions, requiring complex hollow profiles and are not easily adaptable for vertical direction compensation, which complicates installation and assembly.
Innovation Solution
A floor structure with a simple compensating device featuring two straight, right-angled arms that can be preassembled with the floor bearing element, allowing for vertical tolerance compensation, and a method for installing the floor structure that includes preassembling components like insulation and drainage systems to simplify assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex hollow profiles with grooves are used for tolerance compensation, then tolerance compensation in longitudinal and transverse directions is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor structure is divided into modular components: floor panels with integrated leveling feet, separate base plates, and distinct compensating devices. Each component can be manufactured independently with standard tolerances, and the segmentation allows tolerance accumulation to be managed at the assembly level rather than requiring complex monolithic profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The leveling feet act as intermediary elements between the floor panels and the base plates. These simple cylindrical or conical elements with adjustable heights provide the necessary tolerance compensation without requiring complex hollow profiles with grooves, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If floating mounting with movable T-nuts in grooves is used, then tolerance compensation in longitudinal and transverse directions is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex clamping system with movable T-nuts in grooves is extracted and replaced by simpler alternative mounting methods. The patent uses either direct fixed mounting with pre-adjusted leveling feet or simplified adjustable mounting mechanisms that achieve the same tolerance compensation function without the complexity of floating mounts with sliding components.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using expensive and complex reusable clamping systems with movable T-nuts, the invention employs simpler, potentially disposable or single-use leveling feet and base plates that are adjusted and fixed in position. This approach reduces device complexity while achieving the required tolerance compensation.
3Ease of manufacture
If pre-assembly of base plate with floor support element is implemented, then assembly process is simplified, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base plates are pre-assembled with floor support elements and leveling feet in a controlled manufacturing environment where precision tools and fixtures can be used. This preliminary assembly allows for precise adjustment and fixation of the leveling components before the entire floor structure is installed in the vehicle, thereby simplifying the on-site assembly process while maintaining manufacturing precision through proper sequencing.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a floor structure for a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one subfloor and at least two side walls opposite each other, the floor structure having at least one floor plate and at least one floor covering, which lies on the floor plate, the floor plate being fastened to at least one floor support element. In order to enable a tolerance compensation of a flooring plate in a vertical direction by simple means, the assembly of the floor structure being simplified, a pre-assembled unit is formed at least by the floor plate together with the floor support element and the pre-assembled unit lies on the subfloor and on at least one compensating device for compensating tolerances, which is fastened to at least one side wall, the compensating device being adjustable in a vertical direction and having only two arms, which are arranged at a right angle to one another and are provided only for compensating tolerances.