Rail Vehicle Intermediate Module with Multi-Wheel Bogies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rail vehicle designs face challenges in achieving favorable mass distribution and high transport capacity while maintaining permissible wheel loads and maximizing traction power, particularly in double-decker vehicles where the concentration of drive equipment leads to reduced passenger module length and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates two running gears in the short intermediate module, with at least one having multiple wheel units, allowing for concentrated drive equipment while maintaining low wheel loads, enabling longer passenger modules and optimized traction power transfer by adjusting the number and dimensions of wheel units and car bodies to achieve 92-99% of maximum permissible wheel loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If drive equipment is concentrated in a short intermediate module, then mass distribution is improved and traction power is maximized, but passenger module length is reduced and transport capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction powerVSAvoidtransport capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle is divided into three functional modules: a short intermediate module containing concentrated drive equipment, and two longer passenger modules for passenger transport. This segmentation allows the drive equipment to be localized in a compact space while maintaining long passenger modules for high transport capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different modules have specialized functions with optimized characteristics: the intermediate module is short and houses all drive equipment including engines, transmissions, and differentials, while the passenger modules are long to maximize passenger capacity. Each module's length and equipment distribution are locally optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Power

If drive equipment is concentrated in a short intermediate module, then mass distribution is improved, but wheel loads exceed permissible limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraction powerVSAvoidwheel load
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The drive equipment is segmented into three main components distributed within the intermediate module: engines mounted on the vehicle frame, transmissions mounted on the frame, and differentials mounted on the axles. This segmentation allows weight distribution to be optimized across multiple mounting points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate module is designed to extend in the transverse direction (width) rather than only in the longitudinal direction (length). This dimensional change allows the heavy drive equipment to be distributed across a wider area, reducing the concentration of weight on any single wheel and thereby reducing wheel loads to permissible limits while maintaining effective mass distribution for traction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2229305B1Multiple-unit rail vehicle
Publication Date: 2012.12.05 BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
  • EP2229305B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2229305B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2229305B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a rail vehicle having a first carriage body (102), supported on at least one first bogie (105), a second carriage body (103), supported on at least one second bogie (106), and a third carriage body (104) arranged adjacent to the first carriage body (102) and the second carriage body (103). In proportion to the first carriage body (102) and the second carriage body (103) in the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle the third carriage body (104) is configured short and takes up at least the majority of the traction equipment (107) of the rail vehicle. The first bogie (105) is arranged in the connecting area (101.5) between the first carriage body (102) and the third carriage body (104), whereas the second bogie (106) is arranged in the connecting area (101.6) between the second carriage body (103) and the third carriage body (104). The first bogie (105) and/or the second bogie (106) have at least two wheel units (105.1, 106.1).