Body Connections Patents (Class 105/199.1)
  • Patent number: 11479275
    Abstract: A bolster beam of a railcar bogie includes a bolster beam main body in which a pair of auxiliary air chambers respectively communicating with a pair of air springs are formed; and a stopper structure projecting upward from a car width direction middle portion of the bolster beam main body. An upper wall of the bolster beam main body includes a middle upper wall portion at which the stopper structure portion is provided; and a pair of outside upper wall portions adjacently located at both respective car width direction sides of the middle upper wall portion and joined to the middle upper wall portion. The pair of outside upper wall portions include respective upward bent portions that are located at a car width direction middle side and bent upward toward the stopper structure portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI RAILCAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Narita, Kazuo Isomura
  • Patent number: 11332169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a railway vehicle comprising a car (14) and a bogie (16). The bogie (14) comprises a chassis (28) and a secondary suspension system (30). The secondary suspension system (30) comprises: a set (34) of springs; a jack (36) comprising two ends (44, 46); and a supply device (38) of the jack (36). The jack (36) is configured to go from a first so-called retracted configuration in which the jack (36) is only connected to the car (14) by the first end (44) to a second so-called deployed configuration in which the jack (36) is also connected to the chassis (18) by the second end (16). The power supply device (38) is configured, in the deployed configuration, to supply the jack (36) so as to move the car (14) away from the chassis (28) or to keep the distance between the car (14) and the chassis (28) constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ALSTOM Transport Technologies
    Inventor: Jérémy Clavier
  • Patent number: 10882541
    Abstract: The invention relates to a height control mechanism for a rail vehicle comprising suspension units that are arranged between the body and the bogie of the rail vehicle and that each comprise a spring, a pneumatic or a hydraulic reciprocating piston element. In accordance with the invention, the reciprocating piston element is retracted so much in train operation that it does not bridge the spacing between the body and the bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Kremmel, Christian Deutsch
  • Patent number: 10850749
    Abstract: An axle box suspension includes: a coupler extending from an axle box in a car longitudinal direction and including a tubular portion at an end portion of the coupler, the tubular portion being open toward both sides in a car width direction; a core rod inserted into an internal space of the tubular portion, a pair of protruding portions being provided at both sides of the core rod in the car width direction; an elastic body interposed between the tubular portion and the core rod; a pair of receiving seats provided at the bogie frame and including a pair of groove portions which are open toward the car width direction and an upper side; a pair of lids pressing, from above, the pair of protruding portions fitted into the pair of groove portions from above; and fasteners fixing the lids to the receiving seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tamura, Yukitaka Taga, Fumikazu Kounoike, Takaya Ono
  • Patent number: 9855848
    Abstract: A current collector for a rail-mounted vehicle includes a collector arm and an insulation system which has insulating posts for the electrically insulating fastening of the collector arm on a vehicle roof element above an electrically grounded roof surface. In order to achieve a flatter roof structure, the insulation system includes an electrically insulating layer, which is disposed between the roof surface and the collector arm and is spaced apart from the roof surface by an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Glinka
  • Patent number: 9643626
    Abstract: A rail vehicle unit, having a running gear and a wagon body unit. The wagon body unit is supported on the running gear via a suspension device, a first rotational buffer device and a second rotational buffer device being associated to the running gear and the wagon body unit. The first rotational buffer device and the second rotational buffer device are adapted to damp a rotational motion between the running gear and the wagon body unit about a rotational axis parallel to the height direction. The first rotational buffer device and the second rotational buffer device are configured to form a traction link between the running gear and the wagon body unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Wolf, Michael Wusching, Cedric Zanutti
  • Patent number: 9637146
    Abstract: A coupler system includes: a coupler main body attached to a longitudinal direction end of a carbody of a railcar so as to be rotatable in a yaw direction; a curvature information acquiring portion configured to acquire curvature information of a track, the railcar being located on the track; a control portion configured to determine a target rotation angle of the coupler main body in accordance with the acquired curvature information and output a rotation signal regarding the determined target rotation angle; and a rotation angle changing portion configured to rotate the coupler main body to the target rotation angle based on the output rotation signal. When the railcar is stopped or when the railcar is traveling at a coupling speed, the control portion outputs the rotation signal to start rotating the coupler main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Ueda, Hisataka Tamaki, Kouichi Tsunoda, Hiroki Kusakabe, Yoshiyuki Andou, Yoshikazu Ogura, Naoki Wada
  • Patent number: 9090267
    Abstract: A railway vehicle body tilting system has a height control valve for supplying and discharging compressed air to and from an air spring by an actuator, an auxiliary control valve for supplying compressed air to the air spring and thereby causing a car body to tilt, a backup valve for switching the connection between the air spring and either the height control valve or the auxiliary control valve, and a controller installed in each of vehicles linked together as a train. During normal operation, the controller provided in each of the cars controls the height control valve of the respective car and monitors for faulty operation in other linked controllers. If a fault arises in a linked controller, control over the malfunctioning controller is terminated, and another normal controller controls a backup valve in the car with the malfunctioning control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Nobuyuki Okada, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20150114252
    Abstract: A carbody support device of a railway vehicle, including support mechanisms installed between a front bogie and a carbody and between a rear bogie and the carbody in a traveling direction, and supporting the carbody against the respective bogies. The support mechanisms regulate both the front bogie and the rear bogie inclining in the same vehicle width direction with respect to the carbody when the railway vehicle travels through a curve, while the support mechanisms permit the front bogie and the rear bogie inclining in different vehicle width directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshi Sato, Yukitaka Taga, Shunichi Nakao, Kazuo Isomura, Makoto Tamaki, Junichi Shirakawa, Koichi Murata
  • Publication number: 20150021445
    Abstract: Leveling railway vehicles, leveling secondary suspension systems, lift-systems for suspension systems, and other related systems and methods are shown and described. In one example, a railway vehicle includes a superstructure, a bogey, and a leveling secondary suspension system. The leveling suspension system includes at least one spring positioned between the superstructure and the bogey, and a secondary suspension-mounting lift system (SMLS) interfaced with coil spring. The SMLS includes a spring-mount (SM) and a piston assembly. In operation, pressurized hydraulic fluid acts on the piston and lifts the superstructure, thereby allowing the superstructure's access to be raised to a desired height, e.g. a platform height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: James Franks, Adam W. Kohler
  • Patent number: 8935984
    Abstract: A carriage-body inclination device (30) has individual inclination units (112, 113) that are provided corresponding to air springs (22, 23), and a control unit (110). The individual inclination unit (112) can sufficiently execute supply or release of air to or from the air spring (22) by driving a control valve (40) and a large-capacity valve (170) using a height difference value which is a difference between a height instruction value provided by the control unit (110) and a height value obtained from a link-lever mechanism (24). The control valve (40) has a two-layer structure of a fixed sleeve (91), a control sleeve (90), and a spool (80). The control sleeve (90) is moved and driven by the link-lever mechanism (24) and a rotation-translation conversion mechanism (44). The spool (80) is moved and driven by a spool actuator (120) according to a set height value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Pneumatic Servo Controls Ltd., Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Sasaki, Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takeyoshi Mihara, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8893625
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber stopper that can set a shape suitable for mounting and set a desired stopper characteristic. Specifically, a holding fitting 3 fastened to one member by means of bolting is provided. A rubber section 4 that abuts against the other member is held by the holding fitting 3. The holding fitting 3 has a partition wall 8 to divide between a peripheral edge of a bolt hole 7 and a holding section 9 that holds the rubber section 4. A rubber side abutment surface 12 in the rubber section 4 protrudes from a top of the partition wall 8. A bored section 13 is formed near the partition wall 8 of the rubber section 4. The bored section 13 increases durability of the rubber section 4. A size of the rubber stopper 1 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuma Higashi, Hideki Fukumoto, Masahiro Hamada, Masahiro Sakahira
  • Publication number: 20140261058
    Abstract: Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting medication within a healthcare facility. Examples of the invention may include a car for a track-based transport system. The car may include a payload platform configured to support a payload on a payload surface; a first tilt bracket rotatably coupled to the payload platform and rotatable relative to the payload platform about a first axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the payload surface; a first bogie pivotably coupled to the tilt bracket, where the bogie is configured to pivot about a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the car; and a first electric motor coupled to the first bogie and configured to receive electric power through a bus bar disposed along a track on which the car rides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Cody C. Henderson, Paul A. Brayford, Stefan Michael Elsener, Michael P. Zarich, James Kolozs
  • Patent number: 8807049
    Abstract: A vibration suppression device for a railway vehicle includes an actuator (5) disposed between a bogie truck (2) and a vehicle body (1), the actuator adjusting a vibration of the railway vehicle by extension/retraction motion thereof, and a controller (4) for controlling the extension/retraction motion of the actuator (5), and the controller (4) derives the total amount of extension/retraction displacements of the actuator (5) within a predetermined period of time during the running of the railway vehicle, and compares the derived total amount of extension/retraction displacements with a preliminarily registered threshold value to determine that the actuator (5) is seized in the case where the total amount of extension/retraction displacements is smaller than the threshold value. Thereby, seizing of the actuator can be self-diagnosed and found at an early stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Gotou
  • Publication number: 20140196627
    Abstract: A railcar damping device includes: a tank storing a liquid; a first opening/closing valve provided in a first passage connecting a rod side chamber to a piston side chamber, which are defined by a piston, to be capable of opening and closing the first passage; a second opening/closing valve provided in a second passage connecting the piston side chamber to the tank to be capable of opening and closing the second passage; and a pump that is driven to rotate at a predetermined normal rotation speed in order to supply the liquid from the tank to the rod side chamber, wherein a rotation speed of the pump is reduced when a thrust command value is smaller than a normal lower limit value, which is a lower limit value of a thrust that can be generated by the actuator when the pump is rotated at the normal rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ogawa, Jun Aoki, Masaru Uchida
  • Publication number: 20140196628
    Abstract: A railcar damping device includes: a tank storing a liquid; a first opening/closing valve provided in a first passage connecting a rod side chamber and a piston side chamber, which are defined by a piston, to be capable of opening and closing the first passage; a second opening/closing valve provided in a second passage connecting the piston side chamber and the tank to be capable of opening and closing the second passage; a pump that is driven to rotate at a predetermined normal rotation speed in order to supply the liquid from the tank to the rod side chamber; and a temperature determination unit that determines a temperature of the liquid supplied to the actuator, wherein a rotation speed of the pump is reduced below a normal rotation speed when the temperature determination unit determines that the temperature of the liquid is lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ogawa, Jun Aoki, Masaru Uchida, Chie Yabuki
  • Patent number: 8776696
    Abstract: A low floor vehicle can reduce, during curved track traveling of a vehicle, the lateral pressure of the vehicle, can prevent occurrence of vibration and creaking sounds of the vehicle, can improve riding comfort for passengers, and can reduce wear of wheel flanges, is provided. The low floor vehicle includes: a journal member which couples a pair of wheels and is attached to a truck frame; and a truck frame lateral beam arranged along a vehicle width direction closer to the center of the truck frame than the journal member. The journal member can turn with respect to the truck frame. A coupling member which couples the journal member and the truck frame lateral beam is provided. The coupling member is attached to the center in the vehicle width direction of the truck frame lateral beam so as to be pivotable around an axis extending in a vehicle height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okubo, Hiroyuki Kono, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 8667900
    Abstract: A vehicle body tilting device for railway vehicle is arranged to control the tilt of a vehicle body by exchanging compressed air between a pair of left and right air springs. This device includes: a control valve for tilt operation, connected between the air springs; a pump for tilt operation, connected between the air springs through the control valve; and a control device for controlling both the control valve and the pump. The control valve forms a circulation flow path for allowing compressed air, delivered by the pump, to circulate therethrough. Before controlling the tilt of the vehicle body, the control device drives in advance the pump to circulate the compressed air through the circulation flow path to provide a delivery standby state, changes over at predetermined timing the position of the control valve, and delivers the compressed air from one of the air springs to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takeyoshi Mihara, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8667901
    Abstract: A bogie for a vehicle which is guided by guide wheels that rotate while keeping contact with a guide rail arranged along a guideway of the vehicle. The bogie comprises a guide frame which includes a pair of transverse beams and a connecting member arranged between the pair of the transverse beams and each of the traverse beams being equipped with the guide wheels rotatably on both ends thereof, an axle supported on a non-turning part of the bogie such that the axle is capable of turning and running wheels which are attached to both ends of the axle. The running wheels are rigidly fixed to the axle and the guide frame is fixed to the axle so as to steer the guide frame, the axle and the running wheels integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Yoshinori Mitsui, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20140060379
    Abstract: A carriage-body inclination device (30) has individual inclination units (112, 113) that are provided corresponding to air springs (22, 23), and a control unit (110). The individual inclination unit (112) can sufficiently execute supply or release of air to or from the air spring (22) by driving a control valve (40) and a large-capacity valve (170) using a height difference value which is a difference between a height instruction value provided by the control unit (110) and a height value obtained from a link-lever mechanism (24). The control valve (40) has a two-layer structure of a fixed sleeve (91), a control sleeve (90), and a spool (80). The control sleeve (90) is moved and driven by the link-lever mechanism (24) and a rotation-translation conversion mechanism (44). The spool (80) is moved and driven by a spool actuator (120) according to a set height value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD., PNEUMATIC SERVO CONTROLS LTD.
    Inventors: Katsumi Sasaki, Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takeyoshi Mihara, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20140020595
    Abstract: Control of vehicle body tilting when a railway vehicle travels along a curve includes: detecting a pressure of compressed air in an air tank; driving a compressor that supplies compressed air to the tank when detecting a pressure drop in the tank to or below a first threshold level P1 in association with introduction of compressed air into air springs; and limiting the amount of compressed air to be introduced from the tank into the springs to a level equal to or lower than the amount of compressed air to be supplied from the compressor to the tank while continuing the introduction from the tank into the springs. This ensures that the tank pressure is maintained at a level equal to or higher than a minimum level required for braking actuation of the railway vehicle to have ride comfort when traveling along a curve and without causing braking trouble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Shinagawa
  • Publication number: 20130180427
    Abstract: A vehicle body tilting device for railway vehicle is arranged to control the tilt of a vehicle body by exchanging compressed air between a pair of left and right air springs. This device includes: a control valve for tilt operation, connected between the air springs; a pump for tilt operation, connected between the air springs through the control valve; and a control device for controlling both the control valve and the pump. The control valve forms a circulation flow path for allowing compressed air, delivered by the pump, to circulate therethrough. Before controlling the tilt of the vehicle body, the control device drives in advance the pump to circulate the compressed air through the circulation flow path to provide a delivery standby state, changes over at predetermined timing the position of the control valve, and delivers the compressed air from one of the air springs to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Takeyoshi Mihara, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20130145955
    Abstract: A vibration suppression device for a railway vehicle includes an actuator (5) disposed between a bogie truck (2) and a vehicle body (1), the actuator adjusting a vibration of the railway vehicle by extension/retraction motion thereof, and a controller (4) for controlling the extension/retraction motion of the actuator (5), and the controller (4) derives the total amount of extension/retraction displacements of the actuator (5) within a predetermined period of time during the running of the railway vehicle, and compares the derived total amount of extension/retraction displacements with a preliminarily registered threshold value to determine that the actuator (5) is seized in the case where the total amount of extension/retraction displacements is smaller than the threshold value. Thereby, seizing of the actuator can be self-diagnosed and found at an early stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Gotou
  • Publication number: 20130032054
    Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator, in particular for a rail vehicle, comprising a fluidic first actuator unit and a control device having a first control unit, wherein the first actuator unit is connected to the first control unit and can be supplied with power from a fluidic power source under the control of the first control unit. Furthermore, a fluidic second actuator unit is provided, and the control device comprises a second control unit, wherein the second actuator unit is connected to the second control unit and can be supplied with power from the fluidic power source under the control of the second control unit. The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, having an actuator according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicants: LIEBHERR-AEROSPACE LINDENBERG GMBH, BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Schneider, Eduard Mesnjak, Anton Gaile, Thomas Kloos
  • Patent number: 8171861
    Abstract: A bogie includes two pairs of wheels (2), the wheels (2) of one pair being connected to one another by a shaft to form an axle (4), the axles (4) being connected to one another by a chassis (6) having at least two side members (10) resting on axle boxes (14, 14?) of each axle (4). The boxes (14, 14?) are arranged between the wheels (2) of the axle (4), and a motor (24) fixed to the chassis (6) extends between the wheels (2) of the axle (4) and drives the axle (4) in rotation by way of a coupling (42) and a reducing gear (28). One of the axle boxes (14) accommodates the reducing gear (28) of the motor (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Alain Rodet
  • Patent number: 8122835
    Abstract: An undercarriage (1) for a rail vehicle has an undercarriage frame (2) comprising two longitudinal supports (3) and at least one transverse support (4) connected thereto. The undercarriage has at least two wheelsets (7) supported in wheelset bearings (6), each wheelset having a wheelset shaft (8) and two wheels (5). The wheelset bearings (6) are connected to the undercarriage frame (2). The undercarriage (1) has at least one drive (9) accommodated in the undercarriage frame (2) for driving one wheelset shaft (8) each. The at least one drive (9) is suspended in a movable fashion on the at least one transverse support (4). According to the invention, the at least one transverse support (4) can be connected in an articulated fashion to a locomotive or railcar body (16) via at least one tension/pressure element (41, 42) disposed in an articulated fashion on a top side (OS) and a bottom side (US) of the transverse support (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Olaf Körner
  • Patent number: 8082855
    Abstract: A center bowl liner is provided for use between a center plate of a railroad car and a center bowl surface on a truck bolster. The center bowl liner includes a disc-shaped element having top and bottom surfaces and a central opening for receiving a center pin. A conductive spring washer is attached to the disc-shaped element, with the conductive spring washer having a contoured profile such that portions of the conductive spring washer are exposed at the top and bottom surfaces of the disc-shaped element and create an electrical connection between the railroad car center plate and the center bowl on the truck bolster. The disc-shaped element acts as a load-bearing element generally supporting the railroad car center plate. The conductive spring washer, since it has spring-like properties, will also undertake to bear a limited amount of the load of the railroad car center plate in addition to providing an electrical connection between the car and truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: A. Stucki Co.
    Inventors: James Kennedy, Jon Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8079310
    Abstract: A vertical position compensating device for a vehicle, a vehicle using the device, and a method for controlling the vertical position of a vehicle. The vehicle has a wheel set mounted on a chassis by a primary suspension system and a body mounted on the chassis through a secondary suspension system. The device is mounted on the body. As the vehicle is loaded or unloaded the device moves vertically with the body and also moves relative to the body in proportion to the deflection of the primary suspension system. The total motion of the device is used to adjust the vertical position of the body through the secondary suspension in a direction opposite to the deflection of the body to maintain the position of the body constant relative to a datum line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: LTK Consulting Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alexander Popjoy, Michael McGuinness
  • Patent number: 8061698
    Abstract: A geometric shaped side bearing pad includes a top and a surface extending an angle ? towards the top, wherein the bearing pad has a geometric shape and a non-linear spring rate which levels out a reaction force without buckling. The surface of the bearing pad can have two sides or four sides, can have spacing within the surface, or can be solid. The angle ? can be within the range of about 20 degrees and 85 degrees, and may preferably be within the range of about 30 degrees and 45 degrees to achieve non-linear load/deflection. The top of the bearing pad can have a slot defined therethrough to accommodate a protrusion in a fixture to engage the bearing pad. The bearing pad can provide a friction contact with an object and enables lateral force transfer to the bearing pad, thereby providing lateral stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chemtura Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Palinkas
  • Patent number: 8056482
    Abstract: A bogie includes two pairs of wheels (2), the wheels (2) of one pair being connected to one another by a shaft to form an axle (4), the axles (4) being connected to one another by two half-chasses (8) each having two side members (10) connected to one another by a cross-member (12). The side members (10) rest on one of said axles (4), the cross-members (10) of the half-chassis (8) being articulated by an articulation device (18) so as to permit rotation of one half-chassis (8) relative to the other about a substantially longitudinal axis (A). Each side member (10) of a half-chassis (8) is connected to a side member (10) of the other half-chassis (8) by a connector (20) mounted in an articulated manner about substantially transverse axes on the side members (10), the connector (20) extending at least partially in a horizontal plane offset in terms of height relative to the horizontal plane passing through the articulation device (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Alain Rodet
  • Publication number: 20100307371
    Abstract: A bogie includes two pairs of wheels (2), the wheels (2) of one pair being connected to one another by a shaft to form an axle (4), the axles (4) being connected to one another by two half-chasses (8) each having two side members (10) connected to one another by a cross-member (12). The side members (10) rest on one of said axles (4), the cross-members (10) of the half-chassis (8) being articulated by an articulation device (18) so as to permit rotation of one half-chassis (8) relative to the other about a substantially longitudinal axis (A). Each side member (10) of a half-chassis (8) is connected to a side member (10) of the other half-chassis (8) by a connector (20) mounted in an articulated manner about substantially transverse axes on the side members (10), the connector (20) extending at least partially in a horizontal plane offset in terms of height relative to the horizontal plane passing through the articulation device (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventor: Alain Rodet
  • Publication number: 20100199878
    Abstract: A rail vehicle with a car body and a bogie including a bogie frame for holding wheels or wheel sets and a carrier connected to the bogie frame for supporting the car body is provided. A braking means is fastened between the carrier and the car body in order to provide running stabilization so as to dissipate a rotary movement between the car body and bogie by opposing the rotary movement with a counterforce. A preload means imparts an adjustable preload or pressure force to the braking means, wherein the preload is controlled during operation of the rail vehicle by a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Flicker, Gerhard Kaserer
  • Patent number: 7721656
    Abstract: A monorail vehicle includes a cabin for housing a driver, passengers and/or load and also includes one or more driving assemblies, the driving assemblies being suitable for running within a guiding duct on the ground, the cabin being connected to at least one driving assembly by an elongated elevation structure. The elongated elevation structure is actuated in order to vary the elevation of the cabin with respect to the ground during regular travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Luiz Augusto de Siqueira Indio da Costa
  • Publication number: 20100083866
    Abstract: A railway vehicle including two end bogies is provided. Each end bogie includes a chassis; two front wheels and two rear wheels; for each front wheel and each rear wheel, guide for guiding the wheel in rotation and a primary suspension device of the chassis on the guide. At least the primary suspension devices associated with the front and rear wheels arranged on the same first lateral side of the bogie include two longitudinal connecting rods, each connected by a first connection point to the chassis, and by a second connection point to the corresponding guide, at least one resilient component inserted between the two connecting rods to define at least the vertical stiffness of the primary suspension device, the two connecting rods being offset longitudinally relative to one another. Each end bogie includes pivot connector suitable for connecting the end bogie to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT SA
    Inventors: Alain Rodet, Christope Eche, Yves Longueville, Francis Demarquilly
  • Patent number: 7603221
    Abstract: An automatic slowing down system for a vehicle taking a bend includes a computer that integrates a series of instructions to process at least one of first, second and third signals according to kinematic control laws of vehicle displacement to deliver signals for a forward motion actuator and a steering actuator, a forward control and a steering control that supply the first signal representative of a forward motion data and a steering data to the computer based on an operator's requirement, a linear speed sensor and a yaw speed sensor that supply the second signal to the computer, and a unit that supplies the third signal relating to road grip to the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Emile Urvoy, Olivier Pape, Stephane Leveque
  • Publication number: 20090151597
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a slotted joint comprising a central pin and an outer tube. In one embodiment, the slotted joint comprises a first and second elastomer arm, which are bonded to an outer surface of the central pin diametrically opposite each other and spaced apart from each other to form a first and second space. The slotted joint further comprises a first abutment positioned in the first space and a second abutment positioned in the second space. The first and second abutments include an abutment part made of a rigid material and a cylindrical sector made of an elastomer. The cylindrical sector may be bonded to an outer surface the central pin and to an inner surface of the abutment part. An outside face of the cylindrical sector is spaced apart from the inner surface of the outer tube when the joint is at rest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Pierre Pic
  • Patent number: 7438000
    Abstract: The invention relates to a running gear for rail vehicles, especially for passenger traffic, wherein a frame (1) is supported, by means of primary springs, on wheels or sets of wheels, and whereon a superstructure (5) is supported, optionally with insertion of a bolster (4). The bolster (4) or the superstructure (5) is supported by means of secondary springs, in relation to the frame (1), on at least one spring carrier (2), the bolster (4) or the superstructure (5) is connected to the frame (1) by means of a shock absorber used to damp vertical and/or rolling movements, and the spring carrier (2) is suspended on the frame by means of pendulums (3). The fixing points of the pendulums (3) on the running gear frame (1) are inwardly staggered, unlike vertically arranged pendulums, in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the pendulums (3) extend diagonally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Schneider, Wolfgang Auer, Uwe Reimann, Siegmund Möhner
  • Patent number: 7360492
    Abstract: The invention provides an overload detector with a simplified system configuration to be applied to a railway car having a connecting bogie. A connecting bogie 52 (two axle bogie) having front and rear wheels 52C and 52D are disposed to extend between a first car C1 and a second car C2. The front and rear cars C1 and C2 are supported via air springs 52A and 52B on the connecting bogie 52. The other end of the car C1 is supported via air springs 51A and 51B on a bogie 51 (two axle bogie) having front and rear wheels 51C and 51D. The other end of the car C2 is supported via air springs 53A and 53B on a bogie 53 (two axle bogie) having front and rear wheels 53C and 53D. Pneumoelectric converters 41 and 42 are disposed along paths of pneumatic pipings 21 and 22, and the inner pressure of air springs 51A and 51B is converted into an inner pressure signal AS1, and the inner pressure PAS2 of the air springs 52A and 52B is converted into an inner pressure signal AS2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Konishi, Eiji Harada
  • Patent number: 6978719
    Abstract: The railway car comprises a subframe 40 disposed below a floor of the car body with a clearance therebetween, and a bogie 30 disposed below the subframe 40 with a clearance therebetween, wherein car body 10 and subframe 40 are connected via a first center pin 50 protruding downward from car body 10 or via a first center pin 50 protruding upward from subframe 40 toward car body 10, and subframe 40 and bogie 30 are connected via a second center pin 70 protruding downward from the subframe 40. A two-step bumper 61 is disposed between the first center pin 50 and the corresponding adjacent member, and two-step bumper 61 is disposed on both sides of center pin 50 in the width direction of car body 10. Car body 10 swings in the width direction when the bogie passes a point. After passing the point, car body 10 returns to its original position by the force of two-step bumper 61.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Sebata, Hideo Takai, Terumichi Muramoto
  • Patent number: 6786159
    Abstract: In a safe method of controlling the tilt of a rail vehicle traveling on a track, different sections of the track are allocated authorized tilt limit values representative of a safety gauge within which the train can tilt without risk of colliding with infrastructures near the tracks or a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. All tilting of the vehicle is prohibited beyond authorized tilt limit values allocated to the track section on which the vehicle is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Bernard Auge De Fleury, Stéphane Feray-Beaumont
  • Patent number: 6637348
    Abstract: The rail car (1) with a substructure (2) and a car body (3) arranged thereon having a main suspension system (4) on a fluid basis is provided with at least one strut (5) supporting the car body (3) against the substructure (2). The pressure prevailing in the strut being correlated to the weight of the car body, and at least one emergency spring (6) supports the car body (3) against the substructure (2) in case of a failure of the main suspension (4). The at least one emergency spring (6) is biased and maintained in normal operation position (FIGS. 1, 2) by a force (F) generated by the pressure (p) prevailing in the strut (5). The emergency spring (6) expands from the normal operation position into an emergency operation position (FIG. 3) in which it resiliently supports the car body (3) in case of a failure of the main suspension system (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens SGP Verkehrstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Teichmann, Herwig Waltensdorfer, Hans Hödl, Alexander Schimanofsky
  • Patent number: 6622637
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an arcuate tilting mechanism for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a carriage traveling on a track where the mechanism comprises an arcuate roller gear divider mounted on the underside of the passenger compartment. An outer carriage roller track is mounted on the upper side of the carriage, so that the arcuate roller gear divider and the outer carriage roller track are in juxtaposed arcuate relation. A first set of roller gears is provided which engage the arcuate roller gear divider and the outer carriage roller track so that when the vehicle enters a turn, the passenger compartment can be angled into the radius of the turn, where the carriage remains parallel to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Cummins
  • Publication number: 20030097955
    Abstract: A shear pad assembly for use between a rail car side frame pedestal and the rail car roller bearing adapter includes an upper plate formed and adapted to seat the side frame pedestal and a lower plate, spaced from the upper plate, and formed and adapted to seat on the roller bearing adapter. There is an elastomer positioned in the space between the upper plate and the lower plate, with the elastomer having a generally uniform thickness throughout a substantial portion of the space between the plates. There are a pair of spaced metal shims, each extending parallel to a side frame, being adjacent an edge of the elastomer, and being located generally intermediate the upper and lower plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Robert L. Bullock
  • Patent number: 6474455
    Abstract: A current collector is located on a roof cover plate of a car body for a rail vehicle. Mounted on said current collector is an intermediate carrier for a current collector frame which is equipped with two wearing strips. Said intermediate carrier is suspended on oscillating rods. According to the invention, the intermediate carrier is configured in the form of a thin plate so that in its resting position, i.e. in its lowered position, the current collector, including wearing strips, is located within the regulation limitation line of the vehicle. In this way, the construction height is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Daimlerchrysler Rail Systems GmbH
    Inventors: René Blaschko, Stefan Pahnke
  • Patent number: 6401628
    Abstract: On an outer periphery of a link 30 for connecting a member car body 20 and a bogie car frame 11, vessel is provided and 42 into which particle shaped members 41 are inserted. A rotation vibration generated from a drive system of a running electric motor 14, a transmission apparatus and a shaft coupling is transmitted to the link 30. The vibration energy generated at link 30 is converted to the kinetic energy in response to the collision of the particle-shaped members 41 contained in the vessel 42 so that the vibration at the link 30 is reduced. Accordingly, the propagation of the vibration to a car body can be restrained. The particle-shaped members 41 can be inserted into a cylindrical portion 31 of the link 30. Further, the particle-shaped members 41 can be inserted movably into a column 32. In a railway vehicle having a bogie car, the vibration caused by the unbalance of the drive system can be restrained and the noise in a car accompanied with the vibration can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Sebata, Toshiaki Makino, Motomi Hiraishi, Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6397760
    Abstract: A device for transmitting the longitudinal forces of a bogie to the superstructure of a rail vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle with high tractive power. The device includes a transmission rod arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and comprising two rod parts (4), of which one rod part engages on a pivot point of the superstructure and the other rod part engages on a pivot point of the bogie frame. The two rod parts are connected at a joint which is capable of rotary motion about the transverse axis of the vehicle and is supported vertically relative to the bogie frame. The two rod parts and the joint capable of rotary motion are embodied in a buckle-resistant manner, the joint being connected to the bogie frame in a manner which allows force to be transmitted in both vertical directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6363862
    Abstract: This power pick-up for a railway vehicle comprises a pantograph (4) and a pantograph support (7), the pantograph support (7) comprising a stationary chassis (8) for mounting on the roof (2) of a railway vehicle (3), and a mobile chassis (9) carrying the pantograph (4) and connected to the stationary chassis (8) to tilt laterally with respect thereto on each side of a position of rest. The mobile chassis (9) is connected to the stationary chassis (8) by two tilting rigid lateral supports (14), each tilting support (14) being articulated, on the one hand, to the stationary chassis (8) at two longitudinally-spaced points (17) and, on the other hand, to the mobile chassis (9) at two longitudinally-spaced points (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Laurent Hazard, Eric Benard
  • Publication number: 20020011174
    Abstract: A one-piece, cast traction pin for use with railway cars is disclosed. The traction pin is used to connect the railcar cab with the railcar truck assembly. The traction pin includes a mounting plate cast integral with the pin, thereby eliminating the use of multiple welded plates. The one-piece cast traction pin is also solid to reduce the potential for stress related failure of the traction pin during normal operation of the railway car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Bruce A. Milligan, Patrick M. Murphy, Steven R. Pinkstock
  • Patent number: 6336410
    Abstract: A traction link of a bogie frame is connected to a connection member which extends down from a car body. In an interior portion of the connection member, a large number of particle-shaped members are accommodated. The rotation vibrations which are generated from a system drive of a running electric motor, a reduction gear unit and a shaft coupling are transmitted to the connection member and the car body through the traction link. The vibration energy generated in the connection member is converted to kinetic energy in the particle-shaped members by collisions between the particle-shaped members inside the connection member and, so that the vibrations in the connection member can be reduced. Accordingly, the propagation of the vibrations to the car body can be restrained. In a railway vehicle bogie car, the vibrations which are generated by an unbalance of the drive system can be restrained, and the noise inside the car produced by the vibrations can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Makino, Michio Sebata, Motomi Hiraishi, Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6289821
    Abstract: The rail vehicle, especially for a streetcar or metropolitan transit car for local traffic, includes a car body (1) and an undercarriage (2) nonrotatably connected with each other by respective guide rods (3) each extending in a longitudinal direction. The connector members (3a) of these guide rods (3) facing the car body (1) and the corresponding receptacles (4) for them attached to the car body are arranged together in the central plane (M) of the undercarriage, which extends perpendicularly to the vehicle longitudinal axis (L). The connector members (3a) and the corresponding receptacles (4) are arranged together in the central plane (M) in a symmetrical arrangement so that a rapid reversal of the running direction of the undercarriage may be performed by only releasing the guide rods from their receptacles, rotating the undercarriage by about 180° and reconnecting the guide rods to the receptacles without moving the undercarriage from the first head end to the second head end of the car body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Duewag Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Amrath