Railway Bogie Braking System Height Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed train bogies require significant height due to braking systems between wheels, making access difficult for persons with reduced mobility and bulky objects, as the minimum overall height is typically greater than 1000 mm, necessitating multiple steps between the vehicle floor and platform.

Innovation Solution

A railway vehicle bogie design featuring a braking system mounted on each wheel and outside each wheel, eliminating the need for braking discs between wheels, with a primary suspension system using transverse torsion bars to reduce overall height, allowing a lower vehicle body and improved accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If braking discs are placed between the wheels on the axle structure, then the required braking performance for high-speed trains is achieved, but the overall height of the bogie increases to more than 1000 mm, making access difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking powerVSAvoidbogie height
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The braking system is repositioned from a vertical arrangement between the wheels to a horizontal arrangement on the outer sides of the wheels. The braking discs are mounted on the axle structure outside the wheel pairs, and the brake calipers approach from the radial direction, effectively moving the braking function to a different spatial dimension and eliminating the vertical space requirement.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The braking system is divided into independent braking units, each associated with a specific wheel pair. Each braking unit includes a braking disc mounted on the axle structure and brake calipers that can be independently actuated, allowing the braking function to be distributed rather than concentrated in a single vertical space between wheels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the bogie height is reduced to improve accessibility, then access for persons with reduced mobility is facilitated, but the braking performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidbraking power
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The braking system is repositioned from a vertical arrangement between the wheels to a horizontal arrangement on the outer sides of the wheels. The braking discs are mounted on the axle structure outside the wheel pairs, and the brake calipers approach from the radial direction, effectively moving the braking function to a different spatial dimension and eliminating the vertical space requirement.

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

3Length of stationary object

If multiple steps are installed to maintain high bogie height, then the structural requirements are met, but access becomes troublesome for persons with reduced mobility and bulky objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebogie heightVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The braking system is repositioned from a vertical arrangement between the wheels to a horizontal arrangement on the outer sides of the wheels. The braking discs are mounted on the axle structure outside the wheel pairs, and the brake calipers approach from the radial direction, effectively moving the braking function to a different spatial dimension and eliminating the vertical space requirement.

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

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 reduces the overall height of the bogie, facilitating easier access by lowering the vehicle floor while maintaining effective braking performance, as the braking system is distributed on and outside the wheels, reducing the vertical space required and eliminating the need for high steps.

Implementation Method 1

each device primary suspension device comprises a transverse torsion bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the braking device mounted on each wheel comprises a braking clamp acting on the wheel, the braking device mounted outside of each wheel comprises a disc and a braking clamp acting on the disc

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3219571B1Railway vehicle bogie comprising a braking system and associated railway vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3219571B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3219571B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a railway vehicle bogie (10), comprising: - two pairs of wheels (12), the wheels (12) of each pair being connected to each other by a respective axle structure (14), the axle structures (14) defining an internal space, - a frame (16), each axle structure (14) being supported by the frame (16), and - a braking system (18). The braking system (18) comprises a braking device (50) mounted on each wheel (12) and a braking device (52) mounted on the outside of each wheel (12), the outside of a wheel being defined as the space opposite the internal space.