108Z5~Z
The invention concerns a guidance system for a railway vehicle
bogie on the undercarriage of a railway car body.
Bogie guidance systems are already known in which the bogie
frame is movably connected to the car body via an articulated rod Iying in the
plane vertical to the vehicle~s longitudinal centre and in which any possible
transverse play between the two vehicle members is limited by a resilient
limiting device. In the bogie provided with this type of device the load of
the car body is transmitted directly, that is to say without the interpositioning
of a movable beam, onto the bogie by means of pneumatic suspension bellows
10 in the shape of a semi-torus, the bulge-shaped edges, varying in diameter,
of these pneumatic suspension bellows each being connected to the under-
carriage of the car body and to the bogie frame by means of appropriate metal
rims. This bogie guidance system is designed only for traversing curves r
such as are common on major railways.
The method is also known of increasing the possible angle of
outward swing between the car body and the bogie equipped with a pneumatic
suspension system in such a way that the pneumatic suspension bellows
receive addit70nal support which adds freely malleable resilience in both the
longitudinal as well as the transverse directions of the vehicle between the -
20 parts that need shock-absorbant protection. For such a rocker type suspension
system the limit in the current state of technology lies at about 60 meters
radius of curvature of the track. There are, however, several inter-city
rail lines which have even tighter radial curves.
Greater angles of outward swing are allowed for in a known type
of system which provides lateral support for the car body using sliding
plates having steel spring suspensions affixed beneath the plates, these
suspensions having a sliding block mounting in an oil-tight housing which
incorporates a sliding block guide in whose slot a sl iding block from the
car body is engaged. The sides of the sliding block guide and the sliding
30 block facing each other are curved in accordance with radii whose centre
points lie on the longitudinal axis of the truck centre. In this case the siiding
block mounting is additionally guided in relation to the bogie frame by means
of sliding plates; the acceleration and retardation forces between the super-
structures and the bogie are transmitted via a truck centre inserted in a cross
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108252Z
rail, in which the cross rail is guided in relation to the bogie frame by means
of a pa i r of gu i de rods.
In~contrast to this, the aim of the subject invention is to produce
a guida~3oe system For a pneumatic type suspension for railway vehicie bogies
or, with regard to weight-saving construction, to develop the system further
in such a way that the space in the middle of the bogie, for which there are so
many uses, is left open to the greatest extent possible while, at the same time,allowing the bogie to travel in the smallest possible radii of curvature.
This objective is achieved by means of the system described herein
which results in the following advantages, among others:
The range of uses for pneumatic suspension systems in such short
distance traffic vehicle which are required to travel around especially tight
curves (for example, less than 60 meters radius of curvature) is considerably
extended.
The space between the axles of the sets of wheels or the bogiels
longitudinal beams remains largely open, particularly since there is no
requirement for a construction member running transversely through the
vehicle (for example, a movable beam consisting of one or more parts) which
is disadvantageous in respect to space requirements, weight and cost.
Moreover, the system in accordance with the invention allows all ~ i
the necessary relative motions in both vertical and lateral directions between
the car body and the bogie. In this manner the system retains all the desired
functions of a cradle while avoiding the disadvantages of the latter (weight,
space requirements, maintenance cost and effort). The low inherent fre-
quencies of pneumatic suspension in the z and y directions are ensured by
means of practically friction-free guide elements. The normal sliding guides~
subject to severe friction, are not present in the subject of the invention.
Drive and braking systems, or the like, can be built in without
any trouble. The system is equally suitable for both powered and free running
bogi es.
Other practical embodiments of the invention will become clear
hereinafter.
Insofar as the pneumatic suspension bellows are affixed below the
sliding plate support, this allows the easiest method of incorporating the
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system into existing bogie designs.
The inverse method of construction, namely by putting the pneumatic
suspension bellows above the sliding plate support, allows for an extremely
low profile in equipment designed for special uses; in this method the pneumatic
suspenslon bellows extend upward into a chamber in the undercarriage, this
chamber, if required, also having in addition a supplementary air container.
In this case the air is fed in without the need for hoses. The sliding block to
the sliding block guide extends above the level-running longitudinal beam of
the bogie only as far as required to allow free play.
Insofar as a sliding block guide with a U-shaped cross-section,
open toward the bottom, is used, the sliding block guided in this ring-shaped
type of channel is particularly well protected against dust deposits and there- ~ -;
fore against wear and tear.
The sliding block can be made of self-lubricating~ abrasion-proof
plastic material or else it can slide within an oil bath, in which case the oil
pan is protected against dust penetration by means of a labyrinth seal.
The device in accordance with the invention which engages the bogie
by means of longitudinal guide rods subjected only to push or pull forces is
very light~ space-saving and not subjected to wear and tear. Acceleration or
20 retardation forces are transmitted by the resilient flexible joints which absorb
shocks. The design of the universal joint as a ball-shaped rubber and metal
composite joint makes the articulating action completely free of friction and t
wear and tear.
Also free of wear and tear or friction is the guidance of the
pneumatic suspension mounting in relation to the vehicle member which holds
it, being provided by longitudinal guidance devices designed in the form of
rubber and metal composite members.
The transverse suspension device allows the pneumatic suspension
mounting only a slight amount of rocking play in the longitudinal direction
30 while, conversely, allowing the intended amount of rocking play in the trans-
verse direction; its slight effect on the vertical characteristic of the pneumatic
suspension device can be determined mathematically
By proposing various equivalent variations of designs for longitu-
dinal guidance devices the invention takes into special account the constricted
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space relationships, always a cause of problems, at the interface between
the running gear and the superstructure. Depending on particular factors
pertaining in individual cases, the longitudinal guidance devices are provided
in the form of longitudinal or transverse guide rods to the pneumatic suspension
mountings. The longitudinal guidance device can also be affixed to the mounting
member which supports the pneumatic suspension mounting. The designer is
thus afforded a large amount of scope in this respect as well.
The system can be adapted to use for special cases by the use of
more than two pneumatic suspension devices and sliding block guides.
A principal object is to provide a guidance system for a railway
vehicle bogie on the undercarriage of a car body, in which pneumatic suspen-
sion devices are affixed on each of the two sides between the undercarriage
and the frame of the bogie, as well as a device in the central portion which
allows turning movements and in which, in addition, the lateral play between
the car body and the bogie can be limited by means of lateral stops and
resilient buffers and, in additionj each pneumatic suspension device is designed
as a pneumatic suspension bellows whose bulge-shaped edges are each attached
to a metal rim, characterized in that one of the said metal rims is directly
connected either to the bogie frame or to the undercarriage which are to be
20 supported relative to one another, and the other of said metal rims`being
indirectly connected with the remaining one of either of the undercarriage or
the bogie frame which are to be supported relative to one another, ths
connection being via at least one pneumatic suspension mounting for each side
of the veh7cle, and that, in addition, a sliding plate support is located on the
side of the pneumatic suspension mounting facing away from the pneumatic sus-
pension device, said sliding plate support consisting of a sliding block and a
sliding block guide, the pneumatic suspension mounting being held laterally
and vertically rocl<able in relation to the vehicle bogie frame or undercarriage
which carries the fixed supporting metal rim by means of a longitudinal
30 guidance device.
- The invention will be described in connection with the attached
drawings~ wherein:
Figure 1 is a top schematic view of a guidance apparatus for guiding
a bogie within its frame and under a car body, including the longitudinal
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guidance devices designed in the form of longitudinal guide rods, shown in
top view;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the system taken through
the line ll - ll of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the centre line of the
system showing the transverse play limiters affixed at the ends of a longitudinal
guide rod; .-
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a pneumatic ~. ~
suspension mounting taken through the line IV - IV of Figure 1; ~ -
Figure 5 is a top view of an alternative arrangement of the longitu- ~ .
dinal guidance device on transverse guide rods to the pneumatic suspension ~
mounting; and ~ -
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a further alternative for the longitudinal
guidance device, in which this device is affixed to the mounting member of the
pneumatic suspension bellows.
The drawings show the arrangement of the system in accordance ~:
with the invention in a bogie frame 7 or under the undercarriage 2 of the car
body 2a, not further represented, of a railway vehicle. The load of the car
body is transmitted via a sliding plate support 1, consisting of a sliding block
20 guide 3 and a sliding block 4, onto laterally affixed pneumatic suspension
mountings 11 and from here via pneumatic suspension devices 5 onto the frame
7 of the bogie 17. The pneumatic suspension mounting 11 is held transversely
rockable in relation to the firmly supported vehicle member (frame 7 or under-
carriage 2) carrying the metal rims 19 or 18, by means of the longitudinal
guidance device 28. Each pneumatic suspension mounting 11 is flexibly connect-
ed via at least one guide rod 6 to the frame 7 The abrasion-free flexible
joints 16 between the guide rod 6 and the vehicle member 7 to which it is
connected are designed as rubber and metal composite members whose
characteristic~.is so selected that the pneumatic suspension mounting 11 can
30 rock horizontally in the transverse direction by the intended amount of lateral
rocker play q (by way of example ~ 30 mm) working against a progressive
equilibrium reestablishing force. In the longitudinal direction the flexible ..
joints 16 guide the pneumatic suspension mounting 11 practically without play,
at the same time only slightly affecting the vertical play of the pneumatic
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suspension device 5.
At least one longitudinally placed guide rod 6a is provided for each
pneumatic suspension mounting 11. The installation of two such guide rods 6a
per pneumatic suspension mounting can result in a more favourable load factor
for the flexible joint 16 as well as the guide rod 6a.
Given the appropriate dimensions for the rubber and metal compo-
site members, the guide rods 6b, in this case designed to be shear-resistant,
could alternatively also be installed transversely in accordance with Figure
5. This variation comes into consideration, by way of example, if it is desired
10 to have an extremely short wheel base for the bogie, or else, if the pneumatic
suspension mounting 11 plus the pneumatic suspension device 5 and the guide
rod 6b are part of the undercarriage 2. In this case, the flexible joint 26
is preferably designed as a rubber and metal disk spring whose amount of
yield in the y-direction is determined by the desired transverse springing
characteristic of the vehicle.
The similarly abrasion-free flexible joint 27 only permits rotary
movements of the guide rod 6b around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis
of the vehicle. Because of the attempt to keep the guide rod 6b firmly aligned,
the rubber and metal composite sleeve has a relatively long extension longitu-
20 dinally at 27.
To transmit the longitudinally exerted forces between the bogie andthe superstructure there is a longitudinal guide rod 10 which, in an ideal pivot;
of rotation 20 between the car body and the bogie, is connected to the latter by
a flexible rubber ball joint 25 (Figures 1, 3). On the car body the guide rod 10
is attached to the undercarriage 2 by means of the flexible rubber disk joint 24
which yields primarily in the two x-directions. Both of these flexible rubber
joints are free from wear and tear.
In addition to this, the rubber ball joint 25 is combined into a
single constructional unit together with a known type of transverse play limiter
30 (a lateral stop 9 and a resilient buffer 13) a fact which leaves a lot of room free
in the middle of the bogie, by way of example, for the installation of a motor 8
or sim71ar systems. Such unit may be affixed to the bogie frame or alternatively
to the motor or the like.
The pneumatic suspension device 5 represented here is only shown,
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108Z5Z2
by way of example, as a torus-shaped pneumatic suspension bellows 15 with
bulge-shaped edges of different diameters, the narrower of which is mounted
by way of a metal rim 19 and a supporting member 12 on the frame 7 of the
bogie 17, whereas the wider one is attached by way of a metal rim 18 to the
pneumatic suspension mounting 11. As a more expedient method a known type
of emergency and/or supplementary suspension (Flgures 2, 4) acts as the
supporting member 12. In place of the pneumatic suspension illustrated in the
subject of the invention, one could also use another type of already known
pneumatic suspension.
Between the pneumatic suspension mounting 11 and the other
vehicle member (undercarriage 2 or bogie 17) the sliding plate support 1 is
interpositioned, this support consisting of a sliding block 4 located below and
a sliding block guide 3 located above~ the latter being cross-sectionally ~-
U-shaped and, by way of example, designed with its side arms pointing down-
wards (Figures 1, 2~. Seen in plan view, as in the example illustrated in the
drawing, the side faces of the sliding block guide 3 and the sliding block 4
guided in a sliding seating between these faces, can be made radially curved,
in which case the centre point of the curvature radii is identical with the
ideal pivot of rotation between the car body 2a and the bogie 17. The sliding
block guide 3 is connected to a sliding plate 14 which, on its part~ is attached
to the undercarriage 2.
To reduce friction or abrasion, the sliding block 4 and sliding
block guide 3 work in an oil bath 21 located in an oil pan 22 which is laterally
protected against the penetration of dirt by means of a laybrinth seal 23. The
sliding plate 14 extends in the direction of travel at least far enough so that
the oil pan 22 is provided with a roof-like cover even when the bogie 17 swings
outward relative to the car body 2a.
The sliding block 4, made in one or more parts, can alternatively
consist of self-lubricating, wear-resistant plastic material.
In accordance with the embodiment example of the subject of the
invention shown in the drawing, the pneumatic suspension device 5 together
with the pneumatic suspension mounting 11 and the guide rod 6 are located
as component parts of the bogie 17 underneath the sliding plate support 1.
This arrangement is especially easy to incorporate in already existing vehicle
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10825ZZ
or bogie constructions.
In order to meet special requirements, however, the scope of the
invention also includes the inverse arrangement whereby the parts just named
are attached to the undercarriage 2 as a component part of the car body 2a,
or else they extend up into the undercarriage. In this case, however, the
sliding plate support 1 as well as the oil bath 21 remain unchanged in their
above described locations.
In accordance with this alternative, the bogie frame need not be
elbowed downwards. Since only a limited amount of lateral displacement is
10 demanded of the pneumatic suspension bellows 15 (corresponding to the lateral
rocker play q) the bellows may be housed in a pocket in the undercarriage
which if necessary, may also, in addition, extend upward beneath a vehicle
seat located there. A supplementary air container for the pneumatic suspension
device could possibly also be housed in the undercarriage.
Insofar as a particularly heavy car body load has to be transmitted
and/or installations (machine units) are required in the middle of the bogie,
an alternative method in accordance with the invention allows for the installa-
tion of four sliding plate supports, one per bogie. In this case, as well, the
curvature radii of the sliding block guides 3 and the sliding block 4 point to
20 the ideal pivot of rotation 20.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the longitudinal
guidance device 28 in the invention, this device is combined with the supporting
member 12, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7. In this embodiment the bogie
frame 7 carries the sliding block guide 3, working 7n the oil bath 21, inside
which the sliding block 4 is guided. In this case, the supporting member 12
consists of a plate 2~ connected to the sliding block, on which one of either
metal rim 19 or 18 is supported by a cylindrical supporting member 30. Inside
the supporting member is located an emergency support which cansists of a
resilient plate 32 as well as the guide members 33, 34 guided in opposing
30 directions in a sliding seating. Between the guide member 33 and the supporting
member 30 flexible segments 35 have been inserted in such a fashi~on that they
are stressed for push or pull forces in the direction of travel and, contrariwise,
for shear forces in the lateral direction. The maximum lateral rocker play q
can be limited by the distance of a drill hole in the plate by the guide member 34.
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By means of the above described embodiment of the longitudinal guidance
device 28 the guide rod 6 to guide the sliding plate support 1, 1 1 can be
dispensed with.
In specially supported equipment one can dispense with the
longitudinal guide rod 10 by installing three sliding plate supports 1, of
appropriate dimensions, per bogie, insofar as purely sliding block guidance :
systems of the bogie relative to the superstructure appear to be practical in :
themse Ives.
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