Railway Axle Backing Ring Assembly With Plastic-Hinge Wear Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing backing ring assemblies for railway axles face challenges in efficiently adapting to axles with varying degrees of wear within specified tolerances, leading to inefficiencies and potential looseness due to the complex implementation and limited adaptability of stabilizing rings.

Innovation Solution

A backing ring assembly comprising a high-strength backing ring and an L-shaped annular insert with a reduced thickness section that forms a plastic hinge, allowing for universal fit and secure mounting on axles with varying wear, using an interference fit and elastic deformation to absorb play and maintain reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a stabilizing ring with elastic annular component is used to reduce radial and circumferential movement, then the backing ring can accommodate axle wear, but the device complexity increases and the elastic component loses efficiency over time due to repeated deflections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to axle wearVSAvoidcomplexity of stabilizing ring

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the elastic stabilizing component from the backing ring assembly, replacing it with a simple rigid backing ring that has a tapered inner surface. The extraction eliminates the complex multi-component stabilizing ring while maintaining adaptability through the tapered geometry that accommodates axle wear without requiring elastic deformation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the backing ring into a tapered inner surface portion and a separate locking mechanism portion. The tapered surface accommodates the axle journal while the locking mechanism (set screw or keyway) provides stabilization, separating the wear accommodation function from the stabilization function to simplify the overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a stabilizing ring is provided to reduce play, then radial and circumferential movement is reduced, but the implementation becomes complex and efficiency is lost over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability over timeVSAvoidcomplexity of stabilizing ring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a simple rigid backing ring with tapered surface that can be easily replaced if worn, rather than a complex stabilizing ring with elastic components designed for long service. The simplicity of the rigid ring makes it more reliable over time as it has fewer components that can fail or lose efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using an elastic component that deforms to accommodate wear (as in conventional stabilizing rings), the patent inverts the approach by using a rigid tapered surface that geometrically accommodates wear through its angle. The rigidity provides long-term reliability while the taper provides the adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a complex stabilizing ring is used to adapt to different wear degrees, then axle play is reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying wearVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameter of the backing ring inner surface from a cylindrical shape to a tapered shape with a specific angle. This parameter change allows the ring to accommodate various degrees of axle wear through the taper angle, while the ring itself remains a simple rigid component that is easy to manufacture using standard machining processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 reliable, easy-to-manufacture backing ring assembly that maintains performance across a range of axle wear conditions, minimizing play and ensuring a secure, long-lasting connection with reduced risk of accidental disassembly.

Implementation Method 1

an L-shaped annular insert with a reduced thickness section that forms a plastic hinge, allowing for universal fit and secure mounting on axles with varying wear, using an interference fit and elastic deformation to absorb play

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12151719B2Universal fit backing ring assembly for railway axles

Publication Date: 2024.11.26 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A backing ring assembly is for railway axles and includes a backing ring and an annular insert having L-shaped axial cross sections. The insert includes a sleeve portion fitted to a radially outer cylindrical surface of the backing ring, which delimits a first axial section thereof. The annular insert sleeve portion includes first and second axial sections hingedly connected by an intermediate, reduced thickness section designed to form a plastic hinge. The first axial section of the sleeve portion projects axially from the first section of the backing ring, which is provided with an annular projection designed to induce elastic deformation of the reduced thickness section to ensure that the second axial section of the sleeve portion is always coupled with the cylindrical outer surface of the backing ring first axial section by an interference fit.