US20090133599A1 - Steering links - Google Patents
Steering links Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090133599A1 US20090133599A1 US12/313,634 US31363408A US2009133599A1 US 20090133599 A1 US20090133599 A1 US 20090133599A1 US 31363408 A US31363408 A US 31363408A US 2009133599 A1 US2009133599 A1 US 2009133599A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- link
- assembly
- head
- chamber
- bogie
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61F—RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES
- B61F5/00—Constructional details of bogies; Connections between bogies and vehicle underframes; Arrangements or devices for adjusting or allowing self-adjustment of wheel axles or bogies when rounding curves
- B61F5/26—Mounting or securing axle-boxes in vehicle or bogie underframes
- B61F5/30—Axle-boxes mounted for movement under spring control in vehicle or bogie underframes
- B61F5/301—Axle-boxes mounted for movement under spring control in vehicle or bogie underframes incorporating metal springs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61F—RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES
- B61F5/00—Constructional details of bogies; Connections between bogies and vehicle underframes; Arrangements or devices for adjusting or allowing self-adjustment of wheel axles or bogies when rounding curves
- B61F5/38—Arrangements or devices for adjusting or allowing self- adjustment of wheel axles or bogies when rounding curves, e.g. sliding axles, swinging axles
Definitions
- This invention relates to steering links for bogies and to wagons incorporating such bogies.
- the invention consists in a variable length steering link assembly including an elongate link having a generally T-shaped head at each end and an anchor for each end, wherein each anchor defines an axially extending chamber for slidably receiving a respective head and a compression spring, wherein in one chamber the spring acts on the end face of its associated head and in the other chamber the spring acts on the back face of its associated head.
- the first mentioned chamber arrangement allows for telescopic contraction along an axial direction
- the second mentioned chamber allows for telescopic extension of the link assembly.
- the link assembly is always acting to compress a spring.
- the arrangement is particularly economic to manufacture and assemble, because the anchor portions and springs can be identical and only a single spring has to be manipulated in the assembly of each anchor.
- the link may have a central element and two head elements, the head elements being identical and therefore requiring a small inventory of easy to manufacture parts.
- the link assembly may include hard stops for limiting extension or contraction of the assembly. These conveniently can be provided by rigid cylinders circumjacent respective springs.
- the invention consists in a container wagon having at least a pair of bogies having wheels of diameters of less than 600 mm characterised in that each bogie has a steering link, extending from its frame to a wheel set, for each wheel set.
- a steering link is a device which reactively responds to forces moving the wheel sets relative to the frame to control and limit that movement.
- Each link may be extendable and may include a pair of compression springs, one of which is compressed on extension of the link and one of which is compressed on contraction of the link.
- the or each link may be constituted by a steering link assembly as defined above.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of a low deck wagon
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a bogie of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a steering link
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the steering link of FIG. 3 .
- a wagon for containers is generally indicated at 10 . It includes a pair of bogies 11 , having 577 mm diameter wheels 12 , and a deck 13 which is carried on side bearers 14 of the bogies 11 .
- the deck height is 730 mm above the rail level.
- the bogie 11 includes a frame 15 , which is suspended on wheel sets 16 , by respective suspensions 17 .
- the frame is cranked at 18 to allow for a low position of the side bearers 14 .
- Steering links 19 are provided to extend respective fixed points 20 on the frame 15 and the respective axle boxes of respective wheel sets 16 .
- Each steering link 19 can be extended and contracted in a controlled manner in response to longitudinal displacement of the associated wheel 12 so as to simultaneously allow a degree of movement, but in a controlled fashion.
- This arrangement enables the disadvantages that arise from using the smaller wheels, i.e. wheels of less that 600 mm diameter, whilst avoiding the significant cost of fully steerable or self-steerable wheel sets.
- the steering link 19 comprises a central elongate link element 22 having T-shaped heads 23 fixed to its respective ends, and anchor portions 24 , which telescopically house the heads 25 of the members 23 .
- each anchor member 24 comprises a ball joint 26 which is integrally connected to a first housing member 27 , which can be joined with a second housing member 28 , by means of bolts 29 to form a chamber 30 in which a head 25 is received.
- Each chamber 30 also contains a compression spring 31 and a rigid cylinder 32 which is circumjacent the spring 31 .
- the compression spring 30 is mounted to act between the first housing member 27 and the end face 33 of the head 25 , whereas at the left hand end the spring 31 is located to act between the second housing member 28 annular rear face 34 of the head 25 .
- the sleeves 32 provide “hard stops” for the respective heads 25 so as to limit the degree of longitudinal movement that can occur for the wheels 12 , for example under heavy braking.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Springs (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to steering links for bogies and to wagons incorporating such bogies, a variable length steering link assembly for a bogie including an elongate link having a generally T-shaped head at each end and an anchor for each end, wherein each anchor defines an axially extending chamber for slidably receiving a respective head an a compression spring wherein in one chamber the spring acts on the end fact of its associated head and in the other chamber the spring acts on the back face of its associated head.
Description
- This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/004,355, filed Nov. 27, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- Not Applicable.
- This invention relates to steering links for bogies and to wagons incorporating such bogies.
- There is a significant need for wagons which can carry containers throughout the rail network in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world. For historical reasons many of the bridges and structures extending over the rail in the network are too low to receive containers on wagons with beds at the normal wagon height. The initial approach was to form the rail equivalent of a low loader with a low bed spanning between the bogies of the wagon. This however rendered a significant length of any set of wagons completely redundant. Proposals have been made to overcome this problem by reducing the wheel diameter and hence allowing for a lower bed or deck height which can still extend over the bogies and overcome the redundant length problem. However, these new wheel sets are much more sensitive to cornering forces and the current arrangements experience significant wheel wobble. Self-steering bogies are known, but these tend to be quite expensive to configure. Bogies have been provided with yaw dampers and traction rods incorporating rubber bushings for taking out vibration and other distortion forces.
- From one aspect the invention consists in a variable length steering link assembly including an elongate link having a generally T-shaped head at each end and an anchor for each end, wherein each anchor defines an axially extending chamber for slidably receiving a respective head and a compression spring, wherein in one chamber the spring acts on the end face of its associated head and in the other chamber the spring acts on the back face of its associated head.
- It will be seen that in this way the first mentioned chamber arrangement allows for telescopic contraction along an axial direction, whilst the second mentioned chamber allows for telescopic extension of the link assembly. In all cases the link assembly is always acting to compress a spring.
- The arrangement is particularly economic to manufacture and assemble, because the anchor portions and springs can be identical and only a single spring has to be manipulated in the assembly of each anchor.
- Even more conveniently the link may have a central element and two head elements, the head elements being identical and therefore requiring a small inventory of easy to manufacture parts.
- The link assembly may include hard stops for limiting extension or contraction of the assembly. These conveniently can be provided by rigid cylinders circumjacent respective springs.
- From another aspect the invention consists in a container wagon having at least a pair of bogies having wheels of diameters of less than 600 mm characterised in that each bogie has a steering link, extending from its frame to a wheel set, for each wheel set.
- Preferably there are a pair of steering links for each wheel set, one on each side of the bogie.
- It will be understood that in the terms of this specification a steering link is a device which reactively responds to forces moving the wheel sets relative to the frame to control and limit that movement.
- Each link may be extendable and may include a pair of compression springs, one of which is compressed on extension of the link and one of which is compressed on contraction of the link.
- The or each link may be constituted by a steering link assembly as defined above.
- Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.
- The invention may be performed in various ways and specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of a low deck wagon; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a bogie ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a steering link; and -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the steering link ofFIG. 3 . - A wagon for containers is generally indicated at 10. It includes a pair of
bogies 11, having 577mm diameter wheels 12, and adeck 13 which is carried onside bearers 14 of thebogies 11. The deck height is 730 mm above the rail level. - Referring particularly to
FIG. 2 , thebogie 11 includes aframe 15, which is suspended onwheel sets 16, byrespective suspensions 17. The frame is cranked at 18 to allow for a low position of theside bearers 14. -
Steering links 19 are provided to extend respectivefixed points 20 on theframe 15 and the respective axle boxes ofrespective wheel sets 16. - Each
steering link 19 can be extended and contracted in a controlled manner in response to longitudinal displacement of the associatedwheel 12 so as to simultaneously allow a degree of movement, but in a controlled fashion. - Thus, whilst a bogie is going round a curve on a rail, those wheels which are travelling on the inner part of the curve will tend to move in a sense to contract the
link 19, whilst those on the outer side of the curve will move in a sense to extend their associatedlink 19. It will be understood that there are links on each side of the bogie. - This arrangement enables the disadvantages that arise from using the smaller wheels, i.e. wheels of less that 600 mm diameter, whilst avoiding the significant cost of fully steerable or self-steerable wheel sets.
- A particularly economic form of
steering link 19 is illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4 . Thesteering link 19 comprises a centralelongate link element 22 having T-shaped heads 23 fixed to its respective ends, andanchor portions 24, which telescopically house theheads 25 of themembers 23. - As can be clearly seen in
FIG. 4 , eachanchor member 24 comprises aball joint 26 which is integrally connected to afirst housing member 27, which can be joined with asecond housing member 28, by means ofbolts 29 to form achamber 30 in which ahead 25 is received. Eachchamber 30 also contains acompression spring 31 and arigid cylinder 32 which is circumjacent thespring 31. - At the right hand end, the
compression spring 30 is mounted to act between thefirst housing member 27 and theend face 33 of thehead 25, whereas at the left hand end thespring 31 is located to act between thesecond housing member 28 annularrear face 34 of thehead 25. - It will readily be appreciated that on compression of the
link 19 telescopic contraction will take place in the righthand anchor member 24, whilst on extension of the link telescopic extension will take place in the lefthand anchor member 24. At all times these movements will take place by compressing therespective spring 31 and so they can be controlled. - It will be understood that the design is such that it has a very low component count and is very easy to assemble. Further springs of different rating can easily be put into their
respective chambers 30 so that tuning can take place as necessary. - The
sleeves 32 provide “hard stops” for therespective heads 25 so as to limit the degree of longitudinal movement that can occur for thewheels 12, for example under heavy braking.
Claims (12)
1. A variable length steering link assembly for a bogie comprising an elongate link having a generally T-shaped head at each end and an anchor for each end, wherein each anchor defines an axially extending chamber for slidably receiving a respective head and a compression spring wherein in one chamber the spring acts on an end face of its associated head and in the other chamber the spring acts on a back face of its associated head.
2. A link as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one anchor includes a ball joint for connecting to a part of the bogie.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the link has a central element and two head elements.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the anchors are identical.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 including hard stops for limiting the extension or contraction of the assembly.
6. A variable length steering link assembly for a bogie comprising an elongate link having a generally T-shaped head at each end and an anchor for each end, wherein each anchor defines an axially extending chamber for slidably receiving a respective head and a compression spring wherein in one chamber the spring acts on the end face of its associated head and in the other chamber the spring acts on the back face of its associated head wherein at least one anchor includes a ball joint for connecting to a part of the bogie and wherein the link has a central element and two head elements.
7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the anchors are identical.
8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including hard stops for limiting the extension or contraction of the assembly
9. A container wagon having at least a pair of bogies having wheels of diameters of less than 600 mm characterised in that each bogie has a steering link extending from its frame to a wheel set, for each wheel set.
10. A wagon as claimed in claim 9 wherein there are a pair of steering links for each wheel set, one on each side of the bogie.
11. A wagon as claimed in claim 9 wherein each link is extendable and includes a pair of compression springs, one of which is compressed on extension of the link and one of which is compressed on contraction of the link.
12. A wagon as claimed in claim 9 wherein the link is a steering link assembly as claimed in claim 1 .
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/313,634 US20090133599A1 (en) | 2007-11-27 | 2008-11-21 | Steering links |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US435507P | 2007-11-27 | 2007-11-27 | |
US12/313,634 US20090133599A1 (en) | 2007-11-27 | 2008-11-21 | Steering links |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090133599A1 true US20090133599A1 (en) | 2009-05-28 |
Family
ID=40668636
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/313,634 Abandoned US20090133599A1 (en) | 2007-11-27 | 2008-11-21 | Steering links |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090133599A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN102963382A (en) * | 2012-12-06 | 2013-03-13 | 南车二七车辆有限公司 | Rail wagon bogie |
JP2016113074A (en) * | 2014-12-17 | 2016-06-23 | 川崎重工業株式会社 | Steering bogie for rolling stock |
US20230132924A1 (en) * | 2020-11-24 | 2023-05-04 | Crrc Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. | Rail vehicle and bogie |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4588324A (en) * | 1984-01-09 | 1986-05-13 | Hermann Goellner | Slalom pole |
US4806046A (en) * | 1987-06-29 | 1989-02-21 | Clark Richard O | Self-uprighting delineator post |
US4903613A (en) * | 1987-08-01 | 1990-02-27 | Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh | Undercarriage for a track-bound vehicle |
US5461986A (en) * | 1994-07-05 | 1995-10-31 | Standard Car Truck Company | Diagonally braced rail truck with improved end block |
US5746134A (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1998-05-05 | Scheffel; Herbert | Railway vehicle suspensions |
US6418859B1 (en) * | 1998-06-13 | 2002-07-16 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Running gear for rail vehicles |
-
2008
- 2008-11-21 US US12/313,634 patent/US20090133599A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4588324A (en) * | 1984-01-09 | 1986-05-13 | Hermann Goellner | Slalom pole |
US4806046A (en) * | 1987-06-29 | 1989-02-21 | Clark Richard O | Self-uprighting delineator post |
US4903613A (en) * | 1987-08-01 | 1990-02-27 | Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh | Undercarriage for a track-bound vehicle |
US5746134A (en) * | 1993-03-09 | 1998-05-05 | Scheffel; Herbert | Railway vehicle suspensions |
US5461986A (en) * | 1994-07-05 | 1995-10-31 | Standard Car Truck Company | Diagonally braced rail truck with improved end block |
US6418859B1 (en) * | 1998-06-13 | 2002-07-16 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Running gear for rail vehicles |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN102963382A (en) * | 2012-12-06 | 2013-03-13 | 南车二七车辆有限公司 | Rail wagon bogie |
JP2016113074A (en) * | 2014-12-17 | 2016-06-23 | 川崎重工業株式会社 | Steering bogie for rolling stock |
US20230132924A1 (en) * | 2020-11-24 | 2023-05-04 | Crrc Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. | Rail vehicle and bogie |
US11827251B2 (en) * | 2020-11-24 | 2023-11-28 | Crrc Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd. | Rail vehicle and bogie |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9096240B2 (en) | Bogie for railway vehicle with a suspension system | |
US6942230B1 (en) | Anti-rolling and anti-pitching system for a motor vehicle, and device for making the same | |
DE102008049761A1 (en) | Independent wheel suspension for multiple linkage of vehicle wheels, has transverse leaf spring running in vehicle transverse direction | |
EP3551528B1 (en) | Suspension group for motor vehicle, wheel group for motor vehicle, front end of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle thereof | |
US10807430B2 (en) | Axle/suspension systems | |
US9428200B2 (en) | Device disposed in the roof area of two articulated vehicle parts for limiting the pitch movement of the vehicle parts relative to each other | |
DE102014205632A1 (en) | Independent and rear suspension with independent wheel suspension for a vehicle and vehicle equipped accordingly | |
US20090133599A1 (en) | Steering links | |
US20170341479A1 (en) | Vehicle suspension comprising a leaf spring assembly | |
US6273002B1 (en) | Rail vehicle with a vertical support actuator | |
EP2605923A1 (en) | Pneumatic spring strut having a resilient piston bearing | |
JP2006312393A (en) | Suspension device for travelling vehicle | |
EP2065284B1 (en) | Steering links for railway bogies | |
US10703156B2 (en) | Variable rate flat spring arrangement | |
ZA200100104B (en) | Bogie construction | |
WO1995026291A1 (en) | Anti-roll support for rail vehicles with a transverse tilting device | |
CN103692876A (en) | Automobile suspension | |
DE102017220238A1 (en) | Axle | |
US10486483B2 (en) | Leaf spring suspension system | |
US10946952B2 (en) | Aircraft landing gear assembly | |
DD279855A5 (en) | CHASSIS ARRANGEMENT FOR RAIL VEHICLES | |
DE202015101117U1 (en) | Independent and rear suspension with independent wheel suspensions for one vehicle | |
EP2088049B1 (en) | Device for connecting the bogie of a railway vehicle to the bolster or to the vehicle underframe | |
DE10321879B4 (en) | Independent wheel suspension with swiveling axle component | |
DE20321700U1 (en) | Axle suspension of a commercial vehicle |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SCT EUROPE LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AITKEN, ALAN;TAYLOR, DAVID;JAMIESON, WAYNE;REEL/FRAME:022933/0318 Effective date: 20080511 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |