Railway Motor Axial Locking Rod for Transport Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway vehicle engines face premature wear due to axial micro-movements of the motor shaft during transport, which are not adequately addressed by existing vibration protection methods.

Innovation Solution

A motor shaft locking device that applies a compressive or tensile force in the longitudinal direction to prevent axial movements of the motor shaft relative to the casing, allowing for rotation and secure mounting on a bogie while preventing axial displacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed plate is placed at one end of the motor transverse to the axis of rotation to protect the motor during transport, then the motor is protected from major movements, but axial micro-displacements of the motor shaft are not prevented, leading to the false Brinell effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor protection during transportVSAvoidaxial micro-displacements of motor shaft
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protection system is segmented into two functional parts: a fixed plate for preventing major movements and a longitudinal locking rod for preventing axial micro-displacements. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of the protection problem without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking rod acts as an intermediary element that directly contacts the motor shaft to prevent axial micro-displacements. It mediates between the housing and the shaft, providing precise axial positioning while allowing the fixed plate to handle overall motor protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the locking rod is in direct contact with the drive shaft to prevent axial movements, then axial micro-movements are prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial micro-movements of drive shaftVSAvoidlocking device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component (locking rod) rather than being integrated into the existing contact shoe or housing structure. This extraction simplifies the overall design by giving each function its own optimized component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking rod is designed as a simple, easily manufactured component that can be quickly installed and removed. Its simplicity allows for easy replacement if needed, and the entire locking mechanism can be readily disposed of or replaced without complex tooling or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3667877B1Railway vehicle engine and method for installing the engine
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3667877B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3667877B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3667877B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A railway vehicle motor (10) comprising a drive shaft and a drive shaft housing (22), the drive shaft extending along a longitudinal direction (L) between two ends (26, 28) and being rotationally free about a longitudinal axis (X) relative to the housing (22), the housing (22) comprising two sides (24, 25) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X). The motor (10) comprises at least one device (30) for locking the axial movements of the drive shaft relative to the housing (22), said locking device (30) comprising a drive shaft locking rod, the locking rod extending along the longitudinal direction (L) and being mounted along the longitudinal direction (L) in a locking position, preferably reversible, in which the locking rod (L) is in direct contact with the drive shaft and prevents axial movements of the drive shaft relative to the housing (22).