Parallel Spring Arrangement for Rail Vehicle Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring arrangements for rail vehicles, particularly those using helical springs, require significant forces to adjust car body height for low entrance at stations, which is inefficient and strains components.
Innovation Solution
A spring arrangement comprising a suspension spring, a prestressed damping spring, a contact body, and an auxiliary spring, where the longitudinal axes are parallel, allowing for low overall stiffness for height adjustment without compromising drive operation stiffness, featuring a hydraulic cylinder with a first hydraulic piston and a piston rod connected to the running gear for compact and efficient force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a helical spring is used as the secondary spring, then the structure is simple, but great forces are required to adjust the car body height
Solution Approach 1:
The spring system is segmented into multiple springs arranged in parallel: a first spring (primary suspension spring) and a second spring (auxiliary spring for height adjustment). This segmentation allows each spring to have optimized characteristics for its specific function, reducing the force required for height adjustment while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different spring configurations based on operational mode. During height adjustment, the second spring is engaged to provide lower stiffness and reduce required force. During drive operation, both springs work together to provide the necessary stiffness, creating a dynamic adaptation to operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the spring arrangement is designed for low overall stiffness to reduce adjustment forces, then height adjustment becomes easier, but the stiffness during drive operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangement dynamically adapts its stiffness characteristics based on operational requirements. During height adjustment, the system operates with lower overall stiffness to reduce required forces. During drive operation, the combined stiffness of multiple springs provides the necessary strength, achieving dynamic optimization of both ease of operation and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its effective stiffness parameter based on operational mode by engaging or disengaging different springs. The second spring is specifically configured to provide lower stiffness during height adjustment operations, while the combination of springs during drive operation provides higher stiffness, effectively changing the system parameter to match operational requirements.
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
Reduces the forces needed to lower the car body during height adjustment, enabling a lightweight and compact design while maintaining stiffness during vehicle travel, and allows for high-pressure generation within the hydraulic cylinder.
Implementation Method 1
By virtue of configuring the hydraulic cylinder as a housing for the damping spring, on the one hand, a particularly compact arrangement is achieved and, on the other hand, high pressures are generated via the hydraulic cylinder.
Data Source
AI summary
A spring arrangement for a vehicle, particularly a rail vehicle with at least one wagon and at least one bogie, wherein so as to create favorable construction conditions the spring arrangement includes at least one suspension spring, at least one pre-stressed damping spring, a contact body connected to the damping spring, and at least one first auxiliary spring, where a first longitudinal axis of the suspension spring, a second longitudinal axis of the damping spring, a third longitudinal axis of the contact body, and a fourth longitudinal axis of the first auxiliary spring are arranged parallel to each other, and where the contact body is arranged between the damping spring and the first auxiliary spring such that a low level of overall rigidity of the spring arrangement is obtained for a height adjustment of the vehicle.