Split End Cover Assembly for Sealed Railway Tread Cleaner Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing railway vehicle tread cleaners face issues with poor sealing at the air inlet structure, difficulty in mounting due to oblique bearing surfaces, and inadequate gap adjustment between abrasive blocks and wheel treads, leading to reduced cleaning effectiveness and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

An end cover assembly with split-type structures and sealing rings for improved sealing, a gap adjustment device with tooth-shaped members for precise gap control, and a mounting base with positioning features to facilitate secure mounting on inclined surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If end face seal is adopted for air inlet structure, then structure is simple, but sealing effect is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidsealing effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The end cover is divided into a first end cover and a second end cover that are separated and connected via a connecting component. This segmentation allows the incorporation of sealing components at the connection interface, thereby improving the sealing effect while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If spring guide rod is mounted without positioning features, then assembly is simple, but mounting accuracy cannot be confirmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidmounting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spring guide rod is replaced with a resilient component that automatically adapts to positioning holes, eliminating the need for precise mechanical positioning during assembly while ensuring accurate mounting through elastic deformation and self-centering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If abrasive block thickness decreases due to wear, then cleaning action increases, but gap distance between abrasive block and wheel tread increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidgap distance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting component incorporates resilient elements that allow dynamic adjustment of the gap distance. As the abrasive block wears and thickness decreases, the resilient component automatically compensates by adjusting its deformation, thereby maintaining consistent gap distance while preserving cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If mounting base is used on oblique bearing surface, then mounting is possible, but positioning is difficult without external force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting adaptabilityVSAvoidpositioning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting base incorporates asymmetric positioning features including positioning holes and positioning protrusions that are specifically designed to work with oblique bearing surfaces. These asymmetric features provide automatic positioning guidance that eliminates the need for manual external force even on inclined mounting surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Enhances sealing performance, simplifies assembly, ensures stable output pressure, maintains gap consistency, and facilitates easy mounting and positioning of the tread cleaner, thereby improving cleaning efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing ring, so as to seal the first end cover and the second end cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

pneumatic devices are usually used to drive the movement and positioning of the abrasive blocks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic actuation:

Implementation Method 3

a spring guide rod... the spring guide rod is resilient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12454251B2End cover assembly, air cylinder, tread cleaner and railway vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 CRRC CHANGZHOU TECH MARK IND CO LTD

AI summary

An end cover assembly, an air cylinder, a tread sweeper and a railway vehicle.