Railway Coupling Damping Device Segmented Guide Bars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorption devices for rail vehicle coupling systems are heavy due to the need for high-mass guide bars that perform both guiding and energy absorption functions, which is inefficient and increases the overall mass of the device.
Innovation Solution
The use of deformable blocks made of metallic or composite materials threaded onto guide bars, where the energy absorption occurs through crushing, allowing the guide bars to be lighter as they only serve a guiding function during impacts, with fusible fastening means breaking to redirect force to a structural surface for absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If guide bars are made with high mass to perform both guiding and energy absorption functions, then energy absorption effectiveness is improved, but device mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: guide bars for guiding only, and separate deformable blocks for energy absorption. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with guide bars having reduced mass since they no longer need to absorb energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy absorption function is extracted from the guide bars and transferred to separate deformable blocks. This extraction allows the guide bars to be designed with minimal mass required only for guiding, while the absorption function is handled by the dedicated blocks that deform under impact.
2Weight of stationary object
If guide bars are made lighter to reduce device mass, then device mass is reduced, but guiding reliability during high-force impacts may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Deformable blocks serve as intermediaries between the coupling device and the guide bars. These blocks absorb the high impact forces through deformation, preventing direct transmission of extreme loads to the guide bars, thereby allowing the guide bars to be lighter while maintaining guiding reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable blocks are designed as sacrificial elements that deform or fail during impact events. By using these disposable energy-absorbing components, the guide bars are protected from high stresses and can be designed with lower mass, accepting that the blocks will need replacement after impact.
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 design reduces the overall mass of the shock absorption device by minimizing the mass of the guide bars while maintaining effective energy absorption, with the guide bars now only responsible for guiding and not absorbing forces, resulting in a lighter system that can absorb impact energy efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
energy absorption means for absorbing the energy of a shock by deformation, distinct from the guide bars
Implementation Method 2
the fusible fasteners break, so that the second support plate is no longer held by the guide bars
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The shock-absorbing device (16) comprises a support member (30), intended to be fixed to a structural part (12) of the vehicle (10), at least one guide bar, extending in a longitudinal direction (X) between a first end fixed to the support member (30) and a second end, a first support plate (34), intended to cooperate with the coupling device (14), movable along the guide bar, a second support plate (36), arranged at a distance from the first support plate (34) in the longitudinal direction (X), fusible fastening means (38), fusiblely fixing the second end of each guide bar to the second support plate (36), and means (46) for absorbing the energy of a shock by deformation, separate from the guide bars, extending in the longitudinal direction (X) between the first support plate (34) and the second support plate. (36).