Side Skirt Rotation Controller for Multi-Car Vehicle Underframe
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-car vehicles, such as trains, face a design conflict between allowing couplers to swivel freely for bending and maintaining a covered underframe space, leading to unpredictable side skirt movement that may result in collisions with neighboring cars.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a side skirt and support with a rotation controller that limits the side skirt's rotation between normal and displaced positions, ensuring the side skirt moves in a controlled manner to prevent over-rotation and collision, utilizing a bar with joints that allow rotation relative to the underframe and a coupler side edge that abuts the coupler head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the coupler is given maximum freedom to swivel out of the neutral position to allow the multi-car vehicle to go around bends, then the adaptability of the coupler is improved, but the space below the underframe becomes exposed and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The side skirt is designed as a dynamic component that automatically changes position based on coupler movement. When the coupler swivels, the side skirt rotates accordingly to maintain coverage of the underframe space. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to provide safety coverage while accommodating the full range of coupler motion required for bend navigation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the space below the underframe is covered as much as possible from the side by skirts, then the safety of the underframe area is improved, but the coupler's ability to swivel freely is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The side skirt is integrated with the coupler assembly in a nested configuration where the side skirt is positioned within or adjacent to the coupler structure. This nesting allows the side skirt to move with the coupler while maintaining its protective function, effectively combining the safety coverage function with the coupler's mechanical movement without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
A rotation controller mechanism acts as an intermediary between the coupler and the side skirt. This intermediary component controls and guides the rotation of the side skirt as the coupler swivels, ensuring that the side skirt follows the appropriate path to maintain underframe coverage while accommodating the coupler's full range of motion without restriction.
3Ease of operation
If the side skirt is allowed to move freely when pushed by the coupler head, then the ease of operation is improved, but the side skirt may over-rotate and collide with neighboring cars
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation controller provides a feedback mechanism that monitors the position and movement of the side skirt during coupler swiveling. This feedback control ensures that the side skirt rotates only to the extent necessary to maintain underframe coverage, preventing over-rotation that could lead to collision with neighboring cars while still allowing smooth, natural movement.
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 system effectively controls the side skirt's path, preventing it from over-rotating and colliding with other parts of the vehicle, maintaining a safe distance and ensuring the side skirt remains within designated boundaries during coupler movement.
Implementation Method 1
the bar is arranged to allow rotation relative to the underframe around a first joint
Implementation Method 2
the coupler head is moved to swivel around the coupler rod joint, the coupler head can be made to abut against the coupler side edge of the side skirt. Further movement of the coupler head into the direction of the side skirt after the coupler head has abutted against the side skirt leads to the side skirt being swiveled towards the side.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of a side skirt for a car of a multi-car vehicle and a side skirt support, the side skirt configured to cover a space below the underframe of the car from a side, and having a coupler side edge that forms a side of the side skirt and arranged next to a coupler head of the car, the side skirt support suitable to attach the side skirt to the underframe of the car, the side skirt support having a bar with a first joint suitable to be attached to the underframe to allow rotation relative to the underframe, the bar being attached to a part of the side skirt via a second joint that allows part of the side skirt to rotate relative to the bar, the side skirt support having a rotation controller that limits the rotation that the part of the side skirt attached to the bar can perform relative to the bar, whereby the part attached to the bar can rotate into an end position, but cannot rotate beyond that end position.