Railway Impact Absorber with Angular Guiding Rod

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing impact energy absorption devices for railway cars fail to effectively absorb energy during collisions with increased angular deviations between cars, leading to uncontrolled displacements and deformation of components, which prevents efficient energy absorption.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a rod with an angular guiding part inclined relative to its axis, connected to a pivotally attached lug and a body sleeve via breakable elements, allowing for improved alignment and energy absorption through a combination of angular guiding and breakable fasteners, which ensures efficient energy absorption even with high angular deviations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a rod with cutting tools is used for energy absorption, then energy absorption capacity is improved, but resistance to lateral forces deteriorates when angular deviations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy absorption capacityVSAvoidresistance to lateral forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is made pivotally attachable to the support via a lug, allowing the rod to dynamically adjust its position and maintain alignment with the body sleeve during angular deviations. This dynamic capability enables the system to absorb energy effectively even when subjected to lateral forces and angular impacts, resolving the contradiction between energy absorption capacity and resistance to lateral forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The angular guiding part of the rod is given a specific inclination angle (7° to 30°) relative to the rod axis. This parameter change allows the rod to better accommodate angular deviations while maintaining structural integrity and alignment, thereby improving resistance to lateral forces without compromising energy absorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rod is rigidly fixed to maintain alignment, then alignment stability is improved, but adaptability to angular deviations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to angular deviations
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rigid fixation, the rod is pivotally attached to the support, enabling it to adapt its orientation in response to angular deviations. The angular guiding part with its inclined surface (7° to 30°) works in conjunction with the body sleeve to guide and constrain the rod's movement, ensuring that alignment stability is maintained while adapting to varying impact angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If breakable elements are used to connect the body sleeve with the support, then ease of alignment is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of alignmentVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Breakable elements (such as shear pins or weak bolts) are intentionally designed with lower strength than the main structural components. These elements act as sacrificial components that break under excessive lateral forces or misalignment conditions, protecting the main rod and body sleeve from damage. This beforehand cushioning approach allows easy alignment during normal operation while providing structural protection during abnormal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3227158B1Device absorbing the energy of impacts of railway cars
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 AXTONE SPOLKA AKCYJNA
  • EP3227158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3227158B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3227158B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The device has a rod (1) with a part (2), suitable for cutting by means of surrounding cutting tools (14) mounted in a body sleeve (12) and oriented to the inside. In addition, the rod (1) has an angular guiding part (3) passing into the part (2) suitable for cutting and is pivoted in a support (9), wherein the body sleeve (12) with the attached cutting tools (14) is connected by breakable elements (13) with the support (9).