Rail Vehicle Roll Compensation Coupling for Crosswind Torsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rail vehicles face challenges with roll stabilization, leading to reduced driving comfort, increased risk of derailment, and sensitivity to crosswinds, which compromise both passenger comfort and transport capacity.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a vehicle design with actively coupled roll compensation devices that counteract torsional loads caused by crosswinds, allowing for reduced torsional load on the car body through active intervention or mechanical coupling, thereby enhancing crosswind resistance and maintaining high transport capacity and comfort levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If roll compensation devices are used to counteract rolling movements, then ride comfort is improved, but the vehicle becomes sensitive to crosswinds causing torsional loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride comfortVSAvoidcrosswind sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent couples the first and second roll compensation devices together so they act in coordination. The coupling mechanism ensures that both devices work synergistically to counteract torsional loads from crosswinds while maintaining their individual functions of preventing roll movements, thereby resolving the contradiction between improved ride comfort and reduced crosswind sensitivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device monitors the operational state of both roll compensation devices and adjusts their operation accordingly. When crosswinds induce torsional loads, the control device coordinates the response of both devices to counteract the harmful effects while maintaining comfort, implementing a feedback mechanism that adapts to varying wind conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the car body is spring-mounted to support the car body, then suspension comfort is improved, but roll movements occur when traveling around curves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuspension comfortVSAvoidroll stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The spring mounting and roll compensation devices are integrated into a unified system where the roll compensation devices are coupled together and work in coordination with the spring suspension. This combination allows the system to maintain the comfort benefits of spring mounting while actively counteracting roll movements through the coupled compensation devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The roll compensation devices dynamically adjust the mechanical parameters of the suspension system by applying counteracting forces through their actuation mechanisms. This changes the effective stiffness and damping characteristics of the suspension to prevent excessive roll movements while preserving comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If roll compensation devices are used to counteract rolling movements, then inclination comfort is improved, but tipping stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinclination comfortVSAvoidtipping stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupled roll compensation devices work together to provide a balanced response that maintains both inclination comfort and tipping stability. By coordinating their action, they prevent excessive roll angles that would compromise stability while still providing sufficient counteraction to maintain passenger comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively reduces the vehicle's sensitivity to crosswinds, maintains high travel comfort, and increases permissible speed while ensuring compliance with safety standards, allowing for wider car bodies with enhanced vibration and inclination comfort.

Implementation Method 1

the car body is supported on the first chassis via a first spring device in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis, and the car body is supported on the second chassis via a second spring device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the first roll compensation device and the second roll compensation device counteract roll movements of the car body outwards around a roll axis parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsional resistance: Torsion Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2414208B1Vehicle having pitch compensation
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA
  • EP2414208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2414208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2414208B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, comprising a car body (102), a first chassis (104), and a second chassis (114) arranged at a distance to the first chassis (104) in the direction of a vehicle longitudinal axis, wherein the car body (102) is supported on the first chassis (104) in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis by means of a first spring device (103), the car body (102) is supported on the second chassis (114) in the direction of the vehicle vertical axis by means of a second spring device (113), the car body (102) is coupled to the first chassis (104) by means of a first roll compensation device (105), the car body (102) is coupled to the second chassis (114) by means of a second roll compensation device (115), the first roll compensation device (105) and the second roll compensation device (115) counteract roll motions of the car body (102) toward the outside of the curve about a roll axis parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis during curved travel, wherein the first roll compensation device (105) is designed in such a way and/or the first roll compensation device (105) and the second roll compensation device (115) are coupled to each other in such a way that a torsional load on the car body (102) about the vehicle longitudinal axis, which is caused in particular by a wind load acting on the car body (102), is counteracted.