Segmented Rail Wheel Sound Absorber for Lightweight Noise Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sound absorber elements for rail wheels are heavy, inflexible, and difficult to handle, leading to increased wear and braking issues while providing limited noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
The sound absorber element is designed with subdivided base and absorber plate segments, featuring varying radial sections and a damping element, allowing for flexible handling and effective noise reduction by generating a counterforce to wheel vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If large surface area sound absorber elements are used to reduce noise emissions, then noise reduction effect is improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The sound absorber element is divided into multiple base plate segments and absorber plate segments that are arranged adjacently. This segmentation allows the total surface area to be maintained for noise reduction while using thinner individual segments with less material, thereby reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the sound absorber element have different thicknesses. The intermediate spaces between segments have at least two sections in the radial direction that differ from one another, allowing optimization of material distribution - thicker where needed for damping effectiveness, thinner where less material is required, thus reducing total weight while maintaining noise reduction performance.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If large surface area sound absorber elements are used to reduce noise emissions, then noise reduction effect is improved, but handling flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the sound absorber element into multiple smaller segments, the overall structure becomes more flexible and easier to handle. The segmented design allows the element to be adapted to different wheel sizes and shapes while maintaining the necessary surface area for noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented structure with varying intermediate space sections provides dynamic adaptability. The different thickness sections allow the sound absorber to conform to different mounting positions and wheel geometries, improving handling flexibility during installation and application.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If more material is used in sound absorber elements, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but wear on rail wheels and tires increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sound absorber element features intermediate spaces with at least two sections in the radial direction that differ from one another. This allows strategic placement of damping material - concentrated in specific sections where vibration damping is most effective - rather than uniformly distributing material throughout. This localized approach reduces total material usage while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness, thereby reducing added weight and subsequent wear.
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 provides a lightweight, flexible, and efficient noise reduction mechanism that sustains noise reduction throughout the rail wheel's service life by converting vibration energy into thermal energy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one damping element extends planarly between the base plate and the absorber plate
Implementation Method 2
converting vibration energy into thermal energy
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A sound absorber element (10), which is designed to be arranged on a rail wheel of a rail vehicle, has at least one base plate (20) which can be fixed to the rail wheel by means of at least one fastening means (30) such that it is arranged parallel to a wheel plane of the rail wheel; and at least one absorber plate (40) which can be connected to the base plate (20) at least indirectly in the axial direction by means of at least one connecting means (50) and is held connected to it, wherein at least one damping element (60) extends planarly between the base plate (20) and the absorber plate (30).The least one base plate (20) and/or the at least one absorber plate (40) is/are each subdivided along at least one space (72, 74) into a plurality of mutually adjacent base plate segments (24, 26) and/or absorber plate segments (44, 46), and the at least one space (72, 74) is provided in a radial direction with at least two sections (72a, 72b, 74a, 74b) having different cross-sectional areas.