Three-Suspension Bogie for Enhanced Curve Negotiation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bogie designs limit the displacement and rotation angle between the vehicle body and the bogie, making it difficult for vehicles to navigate small radius turns, requiring large turning radii and increasing construction complexity and cost on complex terrain.

Innovation Solution

A bogie design incorporating three suspensions, where a primary suspension is arranged between the side beam and the axle box, a secondary suspension is positioned beneath the bolster and between the bolster and the cross beam, and a tertiary suspension is placed above the bolster to handle transverse displacement, allowing for increased rotation and transverse movement, with specific components like laminated rubber pads, air springs, and spiral steel springs used for vibration attenuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional two-suspension system is used, then the structure is simple, but the displacement and rotation angle between vehicle body and bogie are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurve negotiating capacityVSAvoidsuspension system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system is segmented into three distinct functional levels: primary suspension (axle box to frame) for wheelset movement, secondary suspension (bolster to cross beam) for rotation around vertical axis, and tertiary suspension (above bolster) for transverse displacement. This segmentation allows each suspension level to specialize in specific degrees of freedom, collectively enabling enhanced curve negotiating capacity while maintaining structural clarity through functional decomposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a third dimension of suspension movement beyond the traditional two-suspension system. By introducing the tertiary suspension above the bolster that handles transverse displacement perpendicular to the traveling direction, the system achieves three-dimensional movement capability, allowing the vehicle body to rotate and displace in multiple directions simultaneously, thereby improving curve negotiating capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the turning radius is increased, then the vehicle can operate safely with traditional bogie, but construction difficulty and cost increase on complex terrain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe operation capabilityVSAvoidconstruction difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow the vehicle body to rotate and displace relative to the bogie during curve negotiation. The secondary suspension enables rotation around the vertical axis while the tertiary suspension provides transverse displacement, creating a dynamic response that allows the vehicle to navigate smaller radius curves safely, thereby reducing the need for large turning radii and simplifying construction on complex terrain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If only air spring displacement is used for rotation, then the structure is simple, but the rotation angle is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation angle capacityVSAvoidsuspension component complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation function is segmented between the secondary suspension (handling rotation around vertical axis) and the tertiary suspension (handling transverse displacement). This segmentation allows the rotation angle capacity to be increased by distributing the rotational movement across two suspension systems rather than relying solely on air spring displacement, thereby enhancing adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 three-suspension bogie design enhances the vehicle's ability to navigate curves, improves vibration isolation, and reduces noise, enabling better riding comfort and adaptability to complex terrain without the need for large turning radii.

Implementation Method 1

a suspension apparatus generally includes an elastic support component (e.g., a spring) and a vibration attenuating component (e.g., a hydraulic damper) for absorbing energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a vibration attenuating component (e.g., a hydraulic damper) for absorbing energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration attenuation: Damping

Implementation Method 3

a vibration attenuating component (e.g., a hydraulic damper) for absorbing energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3473516B1bogie
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 CRRC TANGSHAN CO LTD
  • EP3473516B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3473516B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3473516B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A bogie, including a frame (1) and a bolster (2), the frame (1) including two parallel side beams (11), and a cross beam (12) coupled to the middle of the side beams (11), wherein a primary suspension is arranged between an end of the side beam (11) and an axle box (31), a secondary suspension is arranged between the below of the bolster (2) and the cross beam (12), and a tertiary suspension coupled to a vehicle body is arranged above the bolster (2). The disclosed bogie is provided with a bolster, and on the basis of the original two suspensions, another suspension is added beneath the bolster and between the bolster and the cross beam to achieve separation of the functions, so that the tertiary suspension above the bolster only functions to handle the transverse displacement, and the secondary suspension beneath the bolster only functions to handle the rotation, thereby further increasing, when the vehicle negotiates a curve, the relative displacement and rotation angle between the vehicle body and the bogie, improving curve negotiating for the vehicle. Combining three suspensions can create good vibration isolation and noise reduction, effectively attenuating the vibration between the wheel and the rail, and improving riding comfort.