Railway Anti-Vibration Mount With Fire-Barrier Elastomer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire-resistant anti-vibration devices for railroad applications do not adequately meet the increasingly stringent fire resistance standards, particularly EN 45545-2, which poses a challenge in ensuring both effective vibration absorption and sufficient fire protection.
Innovation Solution
The proposed anti-vibration device incorporates a polychloroprene-based fire barrier layer with alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide as flame retardants, along with additional components like zinc oxide, Bis(Pentabromophenyl)ethane, and carbon black, to enhance fire resistance and mechanical properties, while maintaining a thickness of at least 0.5 mm to ensure compliance with stringent fire resistance standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fire barrier layer is added to improve fire resistance, then fire protection performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire barrier layer with the anti-vibration device into a single integrated component. The fire barrier layer is formed as an integral part of the elastomeric anti-vibration device, merging fire protection functionality with vibration absorption in one unified structure, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite adding fire resistance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by incorporating flame retardant agents (such as alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide) into the elastomeric matrix of the fire barrier layer. This composite approach enhances fire resistance while maintaining the elastomeric properties needed for vibration absorption, resolving the contradiction between fire protection and device simplicity.
2Reliability
If flame retardant agents are added to the elastomer, then fire resistance is improved, but mechanical properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and distribution of flame retardant agents within the elastomeric matrix. By carefully controlling the amount and type of flame retardant (e.g., using 20-40 parts per 100 parts of elastomer), the patent achieves adequate fire resistance while minimizing the negative impact on mechanical strength and vibration absorption performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite elastomeric materials with dispersed flame retardant particles creates a synergistic effect where the flame retardants provide fire protection without significantly compromising the base elastomer's mechanical properties. The composite structure allows both fire resistance and mechanical strength to coexist.
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 solution effectively improves fire resistance and mechanical properties, enabling the device to pass the most demanding fire resistance criteria (R9) of EN 45545-2, as demonstrated by significant reductions in heat release rate, smoke opacity, and toxicity, while maintaining adequate mechanical resistance and vibration absorption capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorbing structure for the vibrations, situated between the two frames
Implementation Method 2
The shock absorbing structure is made from elastomer
Implementation Method 3
at least one fire retardance agent chosen from among alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide
Implementation Method 4
The fire barrier layer includes a bonding agent, for example an elastomer, and a flame retardance agent
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an anti-vibration device (100), for example intended for a railroad application, comprising:a first frame (10),a second frame (20),a shock absorbing structure (30) for the vibrations, situated between the two frames (10, 20), andat least one fire barrier layer (40) at least partially covering the shock absorbing structure (30);characterized in that said at least one fire barrier layer (40) is a polychloroprene-based elastomer including at least one fire retardance agent chosen from among alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide.