Rail Vehicle Sand Nozzle Insert Bypass Air Duct

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sand discharge devices for rail vehicles face blockages in sand conveying lines due to moisture and heavy alternative agents like metal oxides, leading to malfunctions and increased maintenance, especially when moving parts become blocked.

Innovation Solution

A suction nozzle insert with a second cavity and an air duct between the compressed air line and nozzle, allowing for adjustable airflow to bypass the nozzle, ensuring the sand conveying lines can be blown free without sand and accommodating heavier grits like metal oxides, with no moving parts to wear out.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If moving parts are used in the suction nozzle insert to control sand suction, then the device can effectively discharge sand, but the moving parts become blocked by sand over time leading to malfunctions and leaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesand discharge efficiencyVSAvoiddevice functionality over time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the moving parts (valves, actuators) from the suction nozzle insert by using a fixed bore configuration. The control mechanism is transferred to the simpl e geometric shape of the bore itself, which naturally controls airflow paths without requiring moving components that can fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical control system (moving parts, valves) is replaced with a fixed geometric configuration of bores. The airflow control is achieved through the fixed spatial arrangement and dimensions of the bores rather than mechanical movement, eliminating wear and blocking issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If compressed air pressure is increased to transport heavier grits like metal oxides, then the grit can be conveyed through the sand conveying line, but the existing nozzle design cannot achieve the required air pressure or volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrit transport capabilityVSAvoidair pressure and volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The air supply is segmented into multiple independent bores (first bore, second bore, third bore) with different functions. The first bore provides primary compressed air, the second bore provides additional air volume, and the third bore provides supplementary air pressure. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high pressure and high volume without requiring a single oversized nozzle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple air supply paths (three separate bores) into a unified grit discharge system. The air streams from all bores combine in the sand conveying line to create the necessary pressure and volume for transporting heavy grits like metal oxides, achieving capabilities that a single nozzle cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the air duct diameter is increased to a multiple of the nozzle diameter, then compressed air flows more easily through the air duct preventing vacuum formation, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of vacuum formationVSAvoidair duct configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air duct serves multiple functions: it provides a low-resistance path for compressed air flow, prevents vacuum formation in the injection chamber, and can be configured in different patterns (first, second, third duct configurations) to accommodate different installation requirements. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural elements.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the key parameter of air duct diameter to be a multiple of the nozzle diameter. This parameter change ensures that the air duct offers significantly less flow resistance than the nozzle, allowing compressed air to easily bypass the injection chamber and prevent vacuum formation without requiring excessive pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution prevents blockages, ensures continuous functionality, reduces maintenance, and allows for precise dosing and application of various grits, including metal oxides, by regulating airflow and maintaining unrestricted air availability for efficient grit discharge.

Implementation Method 1

a jet of compressed air sucks a grit out of a reservoir

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

flowing through a nozzle, a Venturi tube and then the sand conveying line in succession

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2311653B1Sanding device for a rail vehicle
Publication Date: 2013.03.13 MBM HLDG
  • EP2311653B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2311653B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a suction nozzle insert (102) for arrangement in a storage container (101) of a sand discharge device (100) of a rail vehicle, which can be supplied with compressed air via a compressed air line (112), wherein the compressed air flows successively through a nozzle (113), an injection chamber (114), a Venturi tube (115) and then a sand conveying line (106), wherein the injection chamber (114) and the Venturi tube (115) are located in a first cavity (111), and the housing (109) of the suction nozzle insert (102) further provides at least one suction channel (116) which connects the storage container (101) with the injection chamber (114), wherein the housing (109) has a second cavity (117) which is arranged between the compressed air line (112) and the nozzle (113) and between this a second cavity (117) and the first cavity (111) are provided with at least a partially closable air duct (118),wherein the air duct inlet (119) is located in the second cavity (117) and the air duct outlet (120) is located in the first cavity (111).