Rail Vehicle Spring System with Pressure-Actuated Abutment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydropneumatic strut systems for rail vehicles are complex due to the need for individual hydraulic accumulators, which complicates the design and operation.
Innovation Solution
A spring system with a strut between the dolly and body of a rail vehicle, featuring a cylinder and piston with a non-resilient hydraulic system for adjusting strut length, and an abutment member that actuates when pressure falls, ensuring a minimum vehicle height through springs and eliminating the need for hydraulic accumulators for suspension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydropneumatic struts with individual hydraulic accumulators are used for suspension, then suspension function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the suspension function from multiple individual hydropneumatic systems into a single mechanical spring system. Instead of using separate hydraulic accumulators for each strut, the invention combines the suspension function into centralized spring elements (leaf springs or coil springs) that serve all struts simultaneously, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the suspension function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the suspension function from the hydraulic system entirely. By removing the hydraulic accumulators and hydraulic fluid from the suspension mechanism, the patent isolates and eliminates the complex hydraulic components while preserving the essential suspension capability through purely mechanical spring elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic accumulators are used for adjusting strut length, then vehicle height adjustment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic system (which uses hydraulic fluid and accumulators) with a purely mechanical system. The vehicle height adjustment function is achieved through mechanical means such as adjustable spring pre-loads, mechanical linkages, or adjustable mounting points, eliminating the need for complex hydraulic components while maintaining the adaptability for height adjustment.
3Reliability
If abutment member is added to ensure minimum vehicle height, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment member serves as a pre-positioned mechanical stop that prevents the piston from moving beyond a certain position in the cylinder. This beforehand cushioning mechanism ensures that the minimum vehicle height is maintained by physically blocking excessive piston retraction, thereby providing safety against complete strut collapse without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment member provides a passive, self-acting mechanism that automatically prevents minimum height violation. When the piston approaches the dangerous position, the abutment member physically blocks further movement without requiring external power, control systems, or additional active components. The mechanism serves itself by using the mechanical geometry of the strut assembly to enforce the minimum height constraint.
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
Simplifies the structure by using springs for suspension and ensuring a minimum vehicle height through actuation of the abutment member, maintaining safety and operational efficiency without the complexity of hydraulic accumulators.
Implementation Method 1
one or more springs which cushion the body with respect to the dolly
Implementation Method 2
means which are designed such that they actuate the abutment member when the piston chamber or the hydraulic system is pressure-less or when the pressure in the piston chamber or in the hydraulic system falls below a value
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a spring system comprising a strut for arrangement between a dolly and a body of a rail vehicle with a cylinder and a piston displaceably received in the cylinder which bound a piston chamber, with the piston or the cylinder being connectable to the dolly and the other of the components being connectable to the body and with one or more spring which cushion the body with respect to the dolly, with a non-resilient hydraulic system which is in communication with the piston chamber and by means of which the amount of the hydraulic medium in the piston chamber can be varied for the purpose of adjusting the strut length, with an abutment member being provided by means of which the end position of the piston can be changed in the cylinder and with means being provided which are made such that the means actuates the abutment member when the piston chamber of the hydraulic system is pressure-less or the pressure in the piston chamber or in the hydraulic system falls below a value.