Railway Brake Actuator With Elastomeric Sealless Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional pneumatic brake actuators in railway vehicle braking systems face issues such as air leakage due to piston misalignment, maintenance challenges of seals and diaphragms, and difficulty in controlling brake shoe forces, especially during light car conditions.

Innovation Solution

A brake actuator assembly featuring a hollow flexible elastomeric member with peripheral flanges and a securing mechanism using retaining members and fasteners, which creates a sealed fluid chamber for pressure application, allowing for controlled movement without air leakage and reduced maintenance effort, and can be retrofitted into existing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional pneumatic brake actuators with seals and diaphragms are used, then braking function is achieved, but air leakage occurs due to piston bail or misalignment and maintenance is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair tightnessVSAvoidmaintenance of seals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the seal and diaphragm components from the brake actuator assembly. By eliminating these sealing elements entirely, the design avoids air leakage issues and maintenance requirements associated with seals, while maintaining the necessary airtight chamber function through the rigid cylindrical member and piston configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive, maintenance-intensive seal and diaphragm components with a simpler, more durable rigid cylindrical member design that does not require periodic replacement or maintenance, effectively using a permanent structure instead of consumable sealing elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Force

If traditional air cylinder piston with seals is used, then pneumatic pressure can be contained, but difficulty in controlling movement and force applied by piston occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol of brake shoe forcesVSAvoidcontrol of piston movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the actuator system by using a rigid cylindrical member with integrated force transfer features instead of a flexible seal system. This allows for more precise control of piston movement and force application through the rigid structure's geometric properties and integrated force transfer members, enabling better control of brake shoe forces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If traditional brake actuator assembly is used, then braking function is achieved, but high pressure is required especially during light car conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrake shoe force applicationVSAvoidair pressure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the traditional pneumatic pressure-dependent seal system with a rigid mechanical structure that incorporates force transfer members directly integrated into the cylindrical wall. This mechanical substitution allows for more efficient force transmission and reduces reliance on high pneumatic pressure, particularly during light car conditions where excessive pressure is problematic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 improved control over brake shoe forces, reduces air pressure requirements, prevents air leakage during piston misalignment, and offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional seal/diaphragm systems, with visual indication of travel distance for force determination.

Implementation Method 1

A fluid under pressure source is in fluid communication with said hollow flexible elastomeric member so as to selectively inflate and deflate said hollow flexible elastomeric member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The hollow flexible elastomeric member has a predetermined shape and a predetermined length and is resiliently expandable and contractible in a longitudinal direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8978841B2Universal brake assembly

Publication Date: 2015.03.17 WABTEC HLDG CORP

AI summary

A brake actuator assembly for a railway vehicle braking system includes a pair of end members spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the brake actuator assembly, a hollow flexible elastomeric member, two peripheral flanges extending outwardly from ends of the hollow flexible elastomeric member. Two retaining members, apertures and fasteners are employed for attaching each peripheral flange directly to a respectively positioned end member. The brake actuator assembly is connected to a source of fluid under pressure enabling inflation of the flexible elastomeric member and initiation of a braking sequence of the railway vehicle braking system. The brake actuator assembly of the instant invention allows for improved control of the brake shoe forces including visual travel measurement indication which is especially desirable during light load conditions. Currently used brake assemblies employing cylinder type actuators may be retrofitted with the brake actuator assembly of the instant invention.