Railcar Underframe Attaching Metal Fitting for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attaching metal fittings for underfloor devices on railcars increase the weight of the underframe and are inefficient in terms of work efficiency and cost, as they require additional structural elements and complex machining.
Innovation Solution
An attaching metal fitting with a first member at the lower side and a second member at the upper side of a projecting portion on the beam member, allowing for flexible fixing positions and reducing the need for additional structural elements, thereby minimizing weight increase and improving versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a beam member extending in the car longitudinal direction over the entire length of the underframe is added, then the types of attaching metal fittings and the number of attaching metal fittings can be reduced, but the weight of the underframe increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential supporting function from the beam member and relocates it to the projecting portion. The projecting portion is formed integrally with or separately from the beam member, and the first and second members are fixed to this projecting portion to support the underfloor device. This extraction eliminates the need for a beam member extending over the entire length of the underframe, thereby reducing weight while maintaining the ability to support devices at multiple positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The attaching metal fitting with the projecting portion serves multiple functions: it provides support at various positions along the underframe, eliminates the need for extensive beam members, and can accommodate different types of underfloor devices. The first member fixed to the lower side and the second member fixed to the upper side of the projecting portion create a universal supporting structure that replaces the need for multiple specialized attaching fittings.
2Weight of stationary object
If the number of cross beams is reduced, then the weight of the underframe decreases, but the floor panel requires higher strength
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the entire floor panel to have higher strength, the invention applies local reinforcement through the projecting portion and the first and second members. These components are fixed to the beam member and extend to support the underfloor device, concentrating the structural strength exactly where needed rather than requiring uniform high-strength flooring across the entire underframe.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the number of cross beams is increased, then the floor panel deflection is prevented, but the weight of the underframe increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the floor support function from the cross beams and relocates it to the projecting portion with the first and second members. By forming the projecting portion integrally with or separately from the beam member and fixing the attaching members to it, the system provides localized support that prevents floor panel deflection without requiring multiple heavy cross beams throughout the underframe.
Data Source
AI summary
An attaching metal fitting is used to attach an underfloor device to an underframe of a railcar including a beam member and includes: a first member located at a lower side of a projecting portion projecting in a horizontal direction at a lower end portion of the beam member and formed integrally with or separately from the beam member; and a second member located at an upper side of the projecting portion, wherein: the first member includes a first supporting portion overlapping the projecting portion from below to be fixed to the projecting portion; the second member includes a second supporting portion overlapping the projecting portion from above to be fixed to the projecting portion; and an upper surface of the second supporting portion supports the underfloor device with the projecting portion sandwiched between the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion.