Railway Vehicle Damping Control Voltage Threshold Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing railway vehicle suspension systems face unnecessary deterioration of ride comfort due to incorrect determination of power source abnormalities, leading to premature shutdown of damping force control, even when the vehicle is normal.
Innovation Solution
An actuator apparatus that includes a control device monitoring the power source voltage and implementing limit control to reduce damping force only when necessary, with gradual recovery and shutdown strategies to prevent unnecessary shutdowns and ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control suspension system monitors voltage and stops operation when voltage falls below threshold, then system protection from unstable power is improved, but ride comfort deteriorates due to unnecessary shutdowns during temporary voltage reductions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control mode adjustable based on running state. The control device switches between first control mode (voltage threshold-based shutdown) and second control mode (continuous control regardless of voltage) according to detected running conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to prioritize protection during normal operation while maintaining ride comfort during specific running states where temporary voltage drops are expected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from a fixed voltage threshold to a state-dependent control strategy. By detecting running state and adjusting the control mode accordingly, the system modifies its response to voltage variations. In the second control mode, the system continues operation even when voltage falls below the threshold, effectively changing the operational parameter based on contextual information about the running state.
2Reliability
If the system stops damping force control when voltage reduces, then power source instability is prevented, but unnecessary shutdowns occur during normal vehicle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the running state before voltage fluctuations occur. The control device uses the detected running state information to pre-determine the appropriate control mode, so when voltage drops occur during expected conditions (like passing through dead sections), the system is already configured to maintain operation rather than shutting down unnecessarily.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously detecting the running state and using this information to adjust the control mode. The control device monitors both voltage levels and running state conditions, then adjusts the control strategy accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between genuine power source abnormalities requiring shutdown and temporary voltage reductions during normal operation that should not trigger shutdown.
Data Source
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AI summary
A damper 8 is disposed between a vehicle body 2 and each of bogies 3. The damper 8 is a damping force adjustable damper capable of controlling a force (a damping force) to be generated according to power supplied from an overhead line 9 serving as a power source via a battery 12. A control device 21 controls supply power to be supplied to the damper 8 according to a running state of a railway vehicle 1. The control device 21 (a microcomputer 22 thereof) performs limit control of reducing the supply power directed to the damper 8 compared to when a voltage detection value does not fall below a first threshold value Vb, when the voltage detection value acquired via a voltage reduction circuit 24 falls below the first threshold value Vb.