Identical Rail Car Bodies with Single-Axle Bogies for Tight Curve Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tramway vehicles face challenges in reducing size for navigating tight urban curves without compromising capacity, particularly in curves with small radii, due to limited space constraints.

Innovation Solution

A tramway vehicle design featuring identical structural bodies for each car, articulated connections, and single-axle bogies at the ends of each car, which allows for reduced gauge in curves while maintaining capacity, with balanced mass distribution and optional features like low floors and motorized bogies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional multi-axle bogies are used to support multiple cars, then the vehicle structure is simplified and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the vehicle cannot navigate tight curves with small radii due to larger footprint

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle structure simplificationVSAvoidcurve navigation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the bogie system into separate single-axle bogies for each car rather than using shared multi-axle bogies. Each car has its own independent single-axle bogie at each end, which segments the support function and reduces the footprint on curves while maintaining structural simplicity through standardization of identical car bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If single-axle bogies are positioned at the ends of each car, then curve navigation capability is improved with reduced footprint, but the bogie configuration becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurve navigation capabilityVSAvoidbogie configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies homogeneity by making all car bodies identical and equipping each with the same single-axle bogie configuration. This standardization reduces complexity through repetition of identical modules, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance while achieving the desired curve navigation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

3Ease of manufacture

If identical structural bodies are used for all cars, then manufacturing cost is reduced and maintenance is simplified, but the vehicle loses flexibility in accommodating different functional requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost reductionVSAvoidfunctional configuration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves universality by designing identical structural bodies that can serve multiple functions and positions in the train composition. The standardized car bodies can be arranged in different configurations (e.g., with or without driver's cabs, different numbers of cars) to meet various operational requirements, making the system adaptable while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2918472B1Rail vehicle, in particular such as a tram, with restricted clearance

Publication Date: 2021.12.15 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The railway vehicle (10) comprises at least two cars (12, 13), each car (12, 13) including a structural body (14) extending longitudinally between two ends (14A, 14B). The structural bodies (14) of the different cars (12, 13) are identical. Each car (12, 13) has, at each end (14A, 14B) of its structural body (14), its own single-axle bogie (20).