Spring-Mounted Transverse Beam for Rail Vehicle Coupling Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicle designs face challenges in absorbing impact energy during collisions due to the obstruction caused by a transverse beam, which prevents uninterrupted deformation of the energy consumption arrangement.
Innovation Solution
A rail vehicle with a spring-mounted transverse beam supported by retaining sheets that engage in guide grooves, allowing for guided spring motion and secure attachment to the chassis, with predetermined breaking points to facilitate destruction and free up an alternative route for the central buffer coupling during collisions, enabling uninterrupted deformation of the energy consumption arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid transverse beam is used to support the coupling shaft, then the coupling shaft is stably supported, but the beam obstructs the deformation path of the energy consumption arrangement during collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse beam is replaced by a spring-mounted support device that can dynamically change its configuration. During normal operation, the support device maintains a stable configuration to support the coupling shaft. During collision, the spring elements allow the transverse beam to deform and move, clearing the deformation path for the energy consumption arrangement while maintaining support functionality throughout.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the transverse beam is made movable to clear the deformation path during collision, then energy absorption is improved, but the guiding and positioning of the transverse beam becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is segmented into distinct functional components: base plate, spring elements, transverse beam, and retaining sheets. Each component has a specific function - the base plate provides mounting, the spring elements provide controlled movement and force, the transverse beam provides support, and the retaining sheets provide guiding. This segmentation allows each part to be simple while the assembly achieves the required complex behavior of guided movement during collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining sheets engage with guide grooves to constrain the transverse beam's movement to specific paths. The guide grooves provide form-locking engagement that guides the beam in vertical and transverse directions, adding dimensional constraints that simplify the movement mechanism while ensuring proper collision behavior.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the retaining sheets are made strong to securely mount the transverse beam, then support stability is improved, but the beams cannot be destroyed to free the coupling head during severe collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining sheets have non-uniform strength distribution with predetermined breaking points. The sheets are strong in most areas to provide secure mounting and stable support during normal operation, but have localized weak sections at predetermined breaking points that will fail under extreme collision loads. This local quality variation allows the retaining sheets to provide both stable mounting and controlled destruction capabilities.
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
This design allows for secure and cost-effective guiding of the spring motion of the transverse beam, ensuring uninterrupted deformation of the energy consumption arrangement during collisions, thereby effectively absorbing kinetic energy while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-mounted transverse beam for supporting the coupling shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A rail vehicle, in particular a locomotive, includes a chassis, a central buffer coupling, a coupling shaft which is hinged to the chassis and carries a coupling head, and a coupling support which has a spring-mounted transverse beam for supporting the coupling shaft. The coupling support has two retaining sheets which are secured to the chassis, and the transverse beam has two guide grooves which run in the spring direction. Each of the retaining sheets engages into a respective one of the guide grooves in a form-locking manner such that the transverse beam is guided in a movable manner in the spring direction and transversely thereto, and each retaining sheet has a predetermined breaking point. In this way, the coupling support is secured to the chassis in a simple manner.