Bidirectional Railway Coupler Buffer with Elastic Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coupler buffers in railway vehicles are ineffective in handling bidirectional loads, leading to fatigue damage due to direct application of rigid loads on coupler bodies and yokes, and suffer from friction issues during compression, causing damage to the buffer casing.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional coupler buffer design incorporating a coupler yoke, front and rear stop bodies, first and second elastic elements, a casing, and a rotating sleeve, with reinforcing plates for overload protection, allowing for effective buffering during both traction and compression forces, and reducing friction through spherical contact surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way buffer structure is used, then the buffer can protect components from compression loads, but it cannot function well when traction force is small, causing rigid load to be directly applied on coupler body and yoke
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer structure is designed to perform both compression buffering and tension buffering functions through a single integrated mechanism. The elastic component can be compressed from either direction, and the follower assembly can transmit forces bidirectionally, allowing the same buffer to protect against both compression and tension loads without requiring separate buffer systems for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer incorporates movable components including the follower that can slide along the coupling rod, and the elastic component that can deform dynamically in response to varying load conditions. This dynamic design allows the buffer to adapt its buffering characteristics based on the direction and magnitude of applied forces, providing effective protection whether the load is compressive or tensile.
2Device complexity
If a dry friction buffer is used, then the buffer structure is simple, but the quasi-static rigidity is great, causing the buffer to cannot function well when traction force is small
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer uses an elastic component (such as a rubber or polymer element) that changes its mechanical properties based on the applied load. Under small traction forces, the elastic material deforms easily providing low rigidity and good buffering. Under large compression loads, the same elastic component becomes stiffer, providing high rigidity and structural stability. This parameter change with load magnitude resolves the contradiction between simplicity and performance.
3Reliability
If the elastic component is compressed between coupler yoke and front follower stop during tensile load, then the buffer provides tension buffering, but the elastic component is apt to be damaged due to over compression
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer design incorporates pre-compression of the elastic component between the follower and the front follower stop. This pre-compression ensures that the elastic component is already in a state ready to absorb tensile loads, and the geometry of the components is designed to prevent excessive compression that would damage the elastic element. The follower travel distance is limited by the structure to avoid over-compression of the elastic component.
4Reliability
If the follower is further compressed by the coupler during excessive compression load, then the buffer provides compression buffering, but the follower and casing are apt to be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer design incorporates a pre-compressed elastic component that acts as a preliminary protective element. When excessive compression load is applied, the elastic component deforms first, absorbing the excess energy before the follower can be damaged. The casing is designed with sufficient strength to contain the pre-compressed elastic element, and the overall geometry is configured to distribute loads in a way that prevents direct impact damage to the follower and casing during overload conditions.
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 coupler buffer provides effective bidirectional buffering, reducing fatigue damage and preventing damage from excessive loads, while minimizing friction and wear, ensuring reliable operation under varying vehicle loads.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic element arranged between the coupler yoke and the front stop body, wherein in a case that the vehicle body suffers a traction force, the first elastic element is compressed under force
Implementation Method 2
an outer surface of the rotating portion in the rotating sleeve is a spherical surface, thereby the contact between the rotating sleeve and the coupler yoke is a line contact, which avoids a friction problem
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler buffer is provided that includes a coupler yoke for connection to a coupler, a front stop body for mounting to a vehicle body, a first elastic element, wherein a rear end thereof abuts against the coupler yoke and a front end thereof abuts against the front stop body, a casing arranged at a rear end of the coupler yoke, wherein a rear end of the casing is configured to be connected to the vehicle body, and the casing is connected with the coupler yoke via a connecting shaft, and the coupler yoke is movable along an axial direction of the connecting shaft, and a second elastic element arranged between the casing and the coupler yoke, wherein even when a vehicle body suffers a traction force or a compression force, the coupler buffer may function well.