Rollable Compressible Roller for Train Infrastructure Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Railway infrastructure clearances with trains are often compromised due to track settling, leading to potential contact and violation of mandated minimum clearance requirements, which existing technologies fail to consistently maintain.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising rollable and compressible devices affixed to the locomotive, featuring a base plate, arms, and double-acting torsion springs, allows the roller to move inward upon external force and maintain a predetermined minimum clearance by preventing further inward movement and ensuring outward return to the original position upon force removal, thus preventing contact with railway infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If speed restrictions are placed on the train passing the railway infrastructure, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary action by proactively maintaining the minimum clearance distance between the train and railway infrastructure before any contact occurs. The rollable and compressible device is positioned and biased outwardly to prevent encroachment into the infrastructure clearance zone, thereby ensuring safety requirements are met without needing speed restrictions that would reduce productivity
2Productivity
If the train moves forward at normal speed, then productivity is improved, but the train may contact the railway infrastructure due to track settling
Solution Approach 1:
The device prepares in advance by being pre-installed on the train at the specified height and pre-biased outwardly by the torsion springs to maintain the minimum clearance distance. This preliminary positioning ensures that even when the train moves forward at normal speed, the device is already in place to prevent contact with the railway infrastructure caused by track settling
Solution Approach 2:
The rollable and compressible device provides beforehand cushioning by being positioned to maintain the minimum clearance distance before any contact occurs. The compressible nature of the device allows it to absorb any unexpected movements or vibrations, providing a cushioning effect that prevents direct contact between the train and infrastructure, thereby maintaining reliability without reducing productivity
3Reliability
If a rigid barrier is used to maintain clearance, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a flexible approach by using a rollable and compressible structure instead of a rigid barrier. The torsion springs provide flexible biasing force to maintain the minimum clearance distance, allowing the device to adapt to vibrations and unexpected movements while maintaining reliability. This flexible design reduces complexity compared to rigid mechanical systems and eliminates damage risks associated with rigid barriers contacting the infrastructure
4Reliability
If the roller is prevented from moving inward, then clearance compliance is improved, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the anti-weight principle by employing torsion springs that provide an outward biasing force to counteract any inward movement of the roller. This counterbalancing mechanism ensures the roller maintains the minimum clearance distance and cannot move inward to violate clearance requirements. The spring-based counterweight system is simpler than complex mechanical locking or actuating systems that would be needed to achieve the same clearance compliance
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
Effectively maintains the required minimum clearance between the train and railway infrastructure, preventing contact and ensuring compliance with regulations by allowing the roller to compress and return to its original position, thereby safeguarding against track settling-induced clearance breaches.
Implementation Method 1
a set of four double-acting torsion springs fixed to the base plate and respective ones of the first and second arms of the first and second sets of arms. The set of four double-acting torsion springs are configured to bias the first and second arms of the first and second sets of arms and the roller outwardly relative to the base plate
Implementation Method 2
a roller rotatably coupled at an axle thereof to the first ends of each of the first and second sets of arms. The roller is configured to be rotatable in a first direction responsive to a movement of the locomotive forward and in a second direction opposite the first direction responsive to a movement of the locomotive backward
Implementation Method 3
Each of the first and second rollable and compressible devices is configured to allow movement of the roller between a non-rolling state and a rolling state and between an uncompressed state and a predetermined maximum compressed state
Data Source
AI summary
A system for maintaining a minimum clearance between a locomotive and a railway infrastructure is provided. The system includes at least one rollable and compressible device configured to be affixed or otherwise provided on a side of a locomotive or portion of a train. Each rollable and compressible device includes bi-directional rolling element and is configured to allow movement of the roller between a non-rolling state and a rolling state and between an uncompressed state and a predetermined maximum compressed state.