Railway Wagon Height Adjustment for Loading Gauge Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing railway wagons face limitations in adjusting their height to accommodate varying loads due to factors like wheel wear and spring deflection, leading to unnecessary dimensional constraints and restrictions on load height, which prior art systems fail to address efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A railway wagon design featuring a first and second height-adjustment device, where the first device adjusts the chassis vertically and the second device levels the load in response, allowing for automatic height compensation without manual intervention, enabling the wagon to carry larger loads across different railway systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety margin is added to account for wheel wear and spring deflection, then the reliability of the railway wagon is improved, but the construction profile is unnecessarily under-dimensioned and load height is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the railway wagon's construction profile adaptable through height-adjustment devices that can change the position of the chassis and load relative to the bogies. This allows the system to transition between different height configurations, eliminating the need for a fixed safety margin and enabling the wagon to accommodate various load heights while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the vertical position parameters of the chassis and load through the height-adjustment devices. By changing these parameters dynamically, the system can compensate for wheel wear and spring deflection without permanently increasing the construction profile dimensions, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and length constraints.
2Quantity of substance
If the railway wagon height is lowered to increase load capacity, then the load capacity is improved, but the loading gauge compliance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics by implementing height-adjustment devices that enable the railway wagon to dynamically adjust its height position. This allows the wagon to be lowered to increase load capacity when needed, while simultaneously maintaining the ability to comply with loading gauge requirements through active height control, thus resolving the contradiction between load capacity and loading gauge compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback through height-adjustment devices that can sense and respond to height variations, ensuring that the wagon maintains proper positioning relative to the loading gauge while accommodating varying load capacities. The feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustments to maintain compliance while optimizing load capacity.
3Reliability
If manual height adjustment is required before loading, then the loading gauge compliance is ensured, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through height-adjustment devices that automatically adjust the railway wagon's height without requiring manual intervention. The system can autonomously compensate for height variations and ensure loading gauge compliance, eliminating the need for operators to manually adjust settings before loading, thus resolving the contradiction between loading gauge compliance and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the height-adjustment devices pre-position the chassis and load at appropriate heights before loading occurs. This preliminary height adjustment ensures loading gauge compliance is already established, eliminating the need for subsequent manual adjustments and improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A railway wagon for transporting a load (70) on a railway system, comprising a first bogie (20), a second bogie (30) and a chassis (40) configured to carry the load (70). The chassis (40) extends between the first bogie (20) and the second bogie (30). The railway wagon further comprises an arrangement for height-adjustment of the chassis (40), which has a first height-adjustment device (50) arranged in connection with the chassis (40) and configured to vertically displace the chassis (40) with respect to a lower limit of a loading gauge of the railway system; and a second height-adjustment device (60) arranged at one of the first or second bogies (20, 30) and configured to level the load (70) in response to a vertical displacement of the chassis (40) made by the first height-adjustment device (50).