Rail Vehicle Sanding System Rotary Feeder Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanding systems for rail vehicles face issues with drive shaft torque and sealing, leading to complex sealing requirements and potential contamination by brake sand.

Innovation Solution

The sanding system employs torque transmission around the circumference of the cellular wheel, outside the housing, using a ring or rim, and contactless magnetic or electromagnetic coupling to reduce the need for a traditional shaft and minimize brake sand contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional drive shaft is used to transmit torque to the cellular wheel, then the drive structure is simple and direct, but the shaft becomes large and requires complex sealing, increasing the risk of brake sand contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddrive structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the torque transmission function from the traditional central drive shaft and relocates it to the circumference of the cellular wheel. This is achieved by providing a drive wheel that engages with a gear ring on the cellular wheel, allowing torque to be transmitted at the periphery rather than through a central shaft. This extraction eliminates the need for large drive shafts and complex sealing arrangements while maintaining effective torque transmission to the cellular wheel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical drive shaft system with a peripheral gear engagement system. Instead of using a rotating shaft to transmit torque axially, the system uses a drive wheel engaging with a gear ring on the cellular wheel's circumference. This substitution eliminates the sealing problems associated with large drive shafts penetrating the housing, as the new system only requires sealing at the peripheral engagement point between the drive wheel and gear ring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Power

If a large drive shaft is used to transmit torque to the cellular wheel, then torque transmission is direct, but the shaft size increases and sealing becomes more difficult, leading to potential contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque transmissionVSAvoidbrake sand contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the torque transmission function from the central drive shaft and relocates it to the circumference of the cellular wheel. This is achieved by providing a drive wheel that engages with a gear ring on the cellular wheel, allowing torque to be transmitted at the periphery rather than through a central shaft. This extraction eliminates the need for large drive shafts and complex sealing arrangements while maintaining effective torque transmission to the cellular wheel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gear ring and drive wheel as intermediary elements between the motor and the cellular wheel. The motor drives the drive wheel, which engages with the gear ring on the cellular wheel's circumference, thereby transmitting torque indirectly. This intermediary mechanism allows torque transmission without requiring a large drive shaft to penetrate the housing, thus preventing brake sand contamination while maintaining effective power transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the drive shaft is led out of the housing, then the cellular wheel can be driven from outside, but complex sealing is required to prevent brake sand contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive accessibilityVSAvoidsealing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 simplifies the drive shaft, reduces the risk of contamination, and allows for a more efficient and reliable sanding system with improved power transmission and protection from environmental influences.

Implementation Method 1

The torque transmission between the drive and the cellular wheel takes place contactlessly, in particular magnetically or electromagnetically, through the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

The torque transmission between the drive and the cellular wheel takes place contactlessly, in particular magnetically or electromagnetically, through the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3250433B1Sanding system comprising rotary feeder with improved drive

Publication Date: 2019.03.13 KNORR BREMSE GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a sanding system (33) for a rail vehicle (34), comprising a rotary feeder (1). Said rotary feeder (1) comprises a housing (2, 3) with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), a rotor (6), which is rotatably mounted in the housing (2, 3), and a drive for the rotor (6). The transmission of torque between the drive and the rotor (6) takes place in the region of a periphery of the rotor (6). The invention further relates to a rail vehicle (34) comprising said sanding system.