Railcar Car-Body Tilting System Compressor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The internal pressure of a main tank in a railcar decreases due to the release of pressurized air for operations other than carbody tilting, leading to reduced efficiency in the carbody tilting system, as the discharged pressurized air cannot be efficiently refluxed back to the main tank.
Innovation Solution
A railcar configuration with a separate second compressor to pressurize discharged air from an exhaust tank, allowing continuous operation of the carbody tilting system without interrupting the introduction of atmosphere into the main tank, even when internal pressure is low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discharged pressurized air is refluxed to the main tank using a three-way switching valve configuration, then the operation responsiveness of the car-body tilting system is improved, but the discharged pressurized air cannot be used during the introduction of the atmosphere, deteriorating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compressor function into two separate compressors: a first compressor for introducing atmosphere to the main tank, and a second compressor for refluxing discharged pressurized air to the main tank. This segmentation allows both operations to occur simultaneously without interference, resolving the contradiction between maintaining operation responsiveness and preserving efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The main tank serves multiple functions: it stores pressurized air for carbody tilting operations, receives atmosphere from the first compressor, and receives refluxed discharged pressurized air from the second compressor. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high efficiency while ensuring operation responsiveness.
2Reliability
If the internal pressure of the main tank lowers due to other operations, then the carbody tilting operation requires switching to atmosphere introduction, but this interrupts the reflux of discharged pressurized air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous reflux of discharged pressurized air to the main tank through the second compressor, even when the first compressor is operating to maintain main tank pressure. This continuity eliminates interruptions in the useful action of pressurizing the main tank, reducing time loss while maintaining pressure reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharged pressurized air is preliminarily stored in the exhaust tank before being refluxed to the main tank by the second compressor. This preliminary storage ensures that the reflux action can continue uninterrupted even when the first compressor is actively maintaining main tank pressure, as the second compressor operates independently with its own air supply.
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
Ensures efficient supply of discharged pressurized air to the main tank, maintaining high operational efficiency and reducing the likelihood of railcar stoppages, while extending the life of the second compressor by lowering its operation rate.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first compressor configured to pressurize air introduced from an atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
at least one second compressor configured to operate auxiliarily for an operation of the first compressor and pressurize the discharged pressurized air introduced from the exhaust tank
Implementation Method 3
a car-body tilting system configured to tilt a carbody by supplying pressurized air to at least one of a pair of air springs provided between the carbody and a bogie frame
Data Source
AI summary
A main tank storing pressurized air supplied to a pair of air springs; an air supply passage through which the pressurized air flows between the main tank and each of the pair of air springs; a plurality of compressors configured to supply the pressurized air to the main tank; an air discharge passage which is connected to the pair of air springs and through which discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs flows; and an exhaust tank connected to the air discharge passage and storing the discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs, the plurality of compressors including at least one first compressor configured to pressurize air introduced from an atmosphere and at least one second compressor configured to operate auxiliarily for an operation of the first compressor and pressurize the discharged pressurized air introduced from the exhaust tank.