Railway Bogie Primary Suspension with Offset Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle suspension devices with helical springs are too tall to be accommodated under carriages with low floors, such as tramway carriages, and fail to efficiently manage vertical spatial requirements.
Innovation Solution
The use of longitudinally offset connection rods with a rubber/metal sandwich resilient member, positioned in the same vertical plane and connected via cylindrical resilient articulations, allows for a compact primary suspension device that can be arranged below the axle box, offering adjustable vertical stiffness and reduced height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If helical springs are used as resilient members, then the suspension device can support heavy loads, but the vertical height of the device becomes too great to be accommodated below low-floor carriages
Solution Approach 1:
The connection rods are arranged longitudinally offset relative to each other, transitioning from a vertical stacking arrangement to a longitudinal distribution. This dimensional change allows the resilient members to be positioned in the same vertical plane with reduced vertical height, while the longitudinal offset provides sufficient space for the resilient members to function effectively between the offset rods
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient members are positioned within the vertical plane defined by the offset connection rods, effectively nesting the load-bearing function within the spatial envelope created by the longitudinal offset arrangement. This nesting allows the suspension device to maintain load support capability while reducing overall vertical height
2Length of moving object
If the connection rods are positioned close together vertically, then the device height is reduced, but the resilient members have insufficient space to function properly
Solution Approach 1:
By offsetting the connection rods longitudinally, the invention creates sufficient horizontal/longitudinal space for the resilient members to function properly between the rods, while the vertical height is reduced because the rods are positioned in the same vertical plane rather than being vertically stacked
Solution Approach 2:
The connection rods are positioned asymmetrically with longitudinal offset, creating an optimized spatial arrangement where the resilient members can be interposed between the offset rods. This asymmetric positioning allows the resilient members to have adequate functional space without increasing vertical height
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
This configuration enables the suspension device to support heavy loads while maintaining a reduced vertical spatial requirement, allowing for flexible positioning and increased load absorption within a compact height, potentially reducing the need for additional shock-absorbers and allowing for height adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member which is interposed between the two connection rods in order to define at least the vertical stiffness of the suspension device
Implementation Method 2
a sandwich comprising a plurality of layers of a resilient material and a plurality of metal plates which are interposed between the layers of resilient material and which are adhesively-bonded to the resilient layers
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device (20) for suspending a first element (16) on a second element (14, 16, 18) of a railway vehicle. Said suspension device (20) comprises two longitudinal rods (26, 28) which are each connected to the first element (16) by means of a first connection point (30, 32) and to the second element (14, 16, 18) by means of a second connection point (34, 36), and at least one elastic member (38) that is positioned between the two rods (26, 28) to define at least the vertical rigidity of the suspension device (20). The two rods (26, 28) are longitudinally offset relative to one another.