Track Wheel Elastic Body Locking for Low Radial Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rail wheels with rubber-sprung designs require high pre-tension to ensure safe transfer of drive and braking torques, which increases radial rigidity, compromising comfort and requiring significant space for the rubber suspension.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part rail wheel design with shaped elements on the wheel tire and rim to block elastic bodies' movement in the circumferential direction, reducing the need for high pre-tension and enhancing the positive connection between the wheel tire and rim, thus lowering radial spring stiffness while maintaining functional reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pre-tension is applied to the elastic bodies to ensure safe transfer of drive and braking torques, then the reliability of torque transmission is improved, but the radial rigidity increases which compromises comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the elastic body into multiple segments or layers with different material properties. The outer layer has higher stiffness to ensure torque transmission reliability, while the inner layer has lower stiffness to maintain comfort and reduce radial rigidity. This segmentation allows the elastic body to simultaneously satisfy both requirements of reliable torque transfer and comfortable ride quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material characteristics to different regions of the elastic body. The region contacting the wheel rim and tire is designed with specific friction properties to ensure torque transmission, while the bulk material is designed with lower stiffness to reduce radial rigidity. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between torque transmission reliability and comfort.
2Reliability
If high pre-tension is used to prevent slippage between rubber elements and wheel components, then the reliability of force transmission is improved, but the space required for the rubber suspension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures within the elastic bodies, combining materials with different friction coefficients and mechanical properties. This allows the elastic body to achieve high force transmission reliability through optimized material interfaces while reducing the overall volume of rubber material needed, thereby decreasing the space required for the rubber suspension system.
3Reliability
If multiple elastic bodies are arranged around the circumference to distribute loads, then the reliability and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple elastic bodies into a single integrated elastic body structure that performs the functions of multiple individual elements. This unified structure distributes loads across its entire circumference while reducing the number of separate components, thereby maintaining load-bearing capacity and reliability while reducing device complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the elastic body to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides torque transmission, absorbs radial loads, distributes circumferential stresses, and maintains positional stability. This multi-functionality allows a single elastic body structure to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.
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 design achieves a significant reduction in radial spring stiffness, improving comfort and damping behavior while ensuring secure stress absorption during operation, with a space-saving configuration.
Implementation Method 1
The wheel tire is supported by the elastic bodies in a resilient manner... the elastic bodies are compressed in the radial direction of the rail wheel
Implementation Method 2
shaped elements are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the wheel tire and/or on the outer circumferential surface of the wheel rim which are designed to prevent movement of the elastic bodies in the circumferential direction... a positive connection between the wheel tire and the wheel rim, at least in the circumferential direction, is created
Implementation Method 3
the rubber elements used as elastic bodies between the wheel tire and the wheel rim transmit the moments occurring in use exclusively via force transmission, i.e., exclusively via friction, between the elastic elements and the associated outer circumferential surface of the wheel rim and the inner circumferential surface of the wheel tire
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-part track wheel (1) having a wheel tyre (3), having a wheel rim (2) and having at least two elastic bodies (4) arranged between the wheel tyre (3) and the wheel rim (2), via which the wheel tyre (3) is spring-elastically supported on the wheel rim (2), and which are distributed in the peripheral direction (UR) around the rotational axis (X) of the track wheel (1), wherein the elastic bodies (4) are tensioned between an inner peripheral surface (17) of the wheel tyre (3) and an outer peripheral surface (20) of the wheel rim (2), and are in contact with the inner peripheral surface (17) of the wheel tyre (3) with their outer side (9) associated with the wheel tyre (3), and are in contact with the outer peripheral surface (20) of the wheel rim (2) with their inner side (10) associated with the wheel rim (2). The invention also relates to an elastic body (4) for use in a track wheel (1). The track wheel (1), according to the invention, and configured according to the single-ring concept, creates an optimally low spring constant and the elastic body (4) permits the production of a single-ring track wheel with optimised performance characteristics as an essential component for the spring properties. This is achieved in that the elastic bodies (4) are blocked against a movement in the peripheral direction (UR) by respective shaped elements (19, 21, 26, 27) provided on the inner peripheral surface (17) of the wheel tyre (3) and/or on the outer peripheral surface (20) of the wheel rim (2).