Body Suspension And Springs Patents (Class 105/453)
  • Patent number: 10745065
    Abstract: An overland vehicle is provided which includes a chassis with a roll-over protection structure, a powertrain configured to generate power to drive the overland vehicle, a first suspension system configured as a chassis to ground suspension system, and an operator compartment. The vehicle may also include a second suspension system configured to pneumatically suspend the operator compartment within the chassis, where the second suspension system includes a plurality of pneumatic couplers, including at least a first pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a first vector extending in a first direction, and a second countering pneumatic coupler suspending the operator compartment to the chassis along a second vector extending in a second direction, where the second direction is generally opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Howe & Howe Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Howe, Michael Howe
  • Patent number: 10138937
    Abstract: An intermediate bearing for a drive shaft train of a motor vehicle has an elastic bearing body which has a bore and a supporting ring which is arranged in the bore and has a receiving space for receiving an anti-friction bearing. The receiving space defines a longitudinal axis, and two sealing washers which are spaced apart axially from one another and have in each case one central opening for receiving a drive component. The supporting ring is arranged between the two sealing washers. The sealing washers have in each case one groove which extends concentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis. The supporting ring engages into the two grooves of the sealing washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Spicer Gelenkwellenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Stein
  • Patent number: 9981674
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a rail vehicle event analysis system configured to facilitate analysis of rail vehicle event records that correspond to rail vehicle events. The system may be configured to visually present a user with information related to operation of a rail vehicle. The user may review the information related to operation of the rail vehicle in real time, responsive to the rail vehicle being involved in a rail vehicle event, and/or at other times. The system may be configured to visually present information based on output signals generated by one or more sensors associated with the rail vehicle. The system may synchronize the presented information such that information from individual sensors may be compared and/or viewed at the same time by the user. The system may be configured to receive observations made by the user based on the user's review of the presented visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Slaven Sljivar, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, Shahriar Ravari
  • Patent number: 9765813
    Abstract: A center bearing bush unit for a propeller shaft can effectively decrease the amount of large/small displacement that occurs in the propeller shaft during driving of a vehicle. A center bearing bush unit for a propeller shaft includes an inner pipe; an outer pipe disposed on a common axis as the inner pipe at the outside of the inner pipe; a cushion rubber attached between the inner and outer pipes, and having a plurality of voids disposed on the common axis; and a plurality of stoppers attached to the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe while being spaced apart from the cushion rubber at a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jang Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9643622
    Abstract: This track-guided vehicle is provided with a car body, and a bogie that supports the car body from the bottom, and has a frame capable of pivoting around an axis perpendicular to a track. The bogie is provided with: a car body tilting part that tilts the car body to the left and right in the direction of travel; a detection part that detects the amount of pivot of the frame; and a tilt control part that allows the car body to be tilted by the car body tilting part on the basis of the amount of pivot detected by the detection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, So Tamura, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 9487222
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a rail vehicle event analysis system configured to facilitate analysis of rail vehicle event records that correspond to rail vehicle events. The system may be configured to visually present a user with information related to operation of a rail vehicle. The user may review the information related to operation of the rail vehicle in real time, responsive to the rail vehicle being involved in a rail vehicle event, and/or at other times. The system may be configured to visually present information based on output signals generated by one or more sensors associated with the rail vehicle. The system may synchronize the presented information such that information from individual sensors may be compared and/or viewed at the same time by the user. The system may be configured to receive observations made by the user based on the user's review of the presented visual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Slaven Sljivar, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, Shahriar Ravari
  • Publication number: 20150144026
    Abstract: A device transmits a force between a chassis and a body of a rail vehicle. The device is a structurally simple, space-saving device which allows spring movements and rotational movements of the body relative to the chassis. This is achieved in that at least one first traction link buffer, which has a first end face, and at least one second traction link buffer, which has a second end face, are fixed to the chassis. The first end face is spaced from the second end face in a longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. The two end faces point in at least approximately opposite directions, and a stop plate with sliding portions which are mutually spaced in the longitudinal direction is provided on the body. The end faces of the traction link buffers rest against the sliding portions in a slidable manner at least along some sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AG OESTERREICH
    Inventors: David Kreuzweger, Christian Plankensteiner, Michael Sumnitsch
  • Publication number: 20150122145
    Abstract: End members (202, 204) dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall (206) of a rail spring assembly (200) can include an end member body formed from a polymeric material and can have a longitudinal axis (AX). The end member body can include an end wall (232) that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis. An outer side wall (234) can extend longitudinally from along the end wall. An outer peripheral wall (264) can extend from along the outer side wall and can be dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated flexible wall. A plurality of support walls (272) can extend between and operatively interconnect the outer side wall and the outer peripheral wall and thereby buttress at least the outer peripheral wall against loads applied by the associated flexible wall. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members and suspension systems for rail vehicles including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: David D. Jackson, JR.
  • Patent number: 8939090
    Abstract: In a guided vehicle of air spring suspension for running along exclusive guideways, decreasing of center distance of the left and right air spring to mount air springs of increased dimension and increased load carrying capacity, which decreasing of the center distance induces decrease in rolling stiffness of the vehicle resulting in deteriorated ride quality and also induces difficulty in adjusting vehicle height resulting in spending long time in height adjusting operation, will not be required even when load carrying capacity of air springs is required to be increased in order to comply with increased vehicle load. A plurality of air spring elements are mounted tandem along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the air spring elements connected with each other so that air pressure thereof is always equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tokumitu Tomada, Masahiro Inui
  • Patent number: 8794160
    Abstract: A low-floor railcar bogie of the present invention includes: a bogie frame including a pair of left and right side beams and a cross beam, each of the left and right side beams including a front portion, an intermediate portion, and a rear portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction, the intermediate portion being located at a position lower than the front portion and the rear portion, the cross beam connecting the intermediate portions of the pair of side beams each other; a pair of front and rear axle beams formed separately from the bogie frame, respectively located on a front side and rear side of the cross beam, and each extending in a vehicle width direction; independent wheels rotatably supported by left and right side portions of the axle beams, respectively; primary suspensions configured to elastically couple the front and rear portions of the side beams and the left and right side portions of the axle beams; and secondary suspensions provided on upper surfaces of the front and rear portions of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Keiichiro Kamura, Junichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8651026
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a bolster spring, a bogie supporting the vehicle body via the bolster spring and a vehicle height adjusting mechanism. The vehicle height adjustment mechanism includes an integrating device, a measuring device and an elastic force adjusting device. The integrating device integrates a first relative displacement amount at a first position between the vehicle body and the bogie and a second relative displacement amount at a second position between the vehicle body and the bogie. The measuring device measures an integrated value of the first relative displacement amount and the second relative displacement amount. The elastic force adjusting device adjusts elastic force of the bolster spring based on the integrated value so as to adjust a relative displacement amount between the vehicle body and the bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Yoshinori Mitsui, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20130319284
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: NIPPON SHARYO, LTD
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinmura, Tetsuya Hayashi, Nobuyuki Okada, Naohide Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 8413592
    Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to self steering that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The trucks may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Jamal Hematian
  • Patent number: 8356558
    Abstract: A constant contact side bearing (CCSB) for use between a truck and car of a rail car that includes a generally hollow housing that includes a closed bottom end and an open top end. An attachment member is attached to an outside surface of the housing and is positioned in a center region between the top end and the bottom end. A resilient member is positioned inside the housing, and a cap is fitted over resilient member and is sized relative to the housing to enable slidibly moving into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: TTX Company
    Inventors: Jon Jeambey, Corine Kolenda, Don Kroesch
  • Publication number: 20120240817
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a membrane for secondary air suspension of a land or rail vehicle, in particular of heavy truck or passenger wagon type, this secondary suspension incorporating it, such a vehicle which is provided therewith, and the method for manufacturing this membrane. This substantially toroidal membrane (103) comprises two attachment areas (110) and at least one corded layer (106) of fabric and/or metallic threads which is situated between two radially internal (104) and external (105) elastomer layers and which extends between these attachment areas. According to the invention, said at least one corded layer has its or each of its thread(s) individually sheathed by an elastomer sheath compatible with the internal and external layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin Bujeau, Victor Zarife
  • Publication number: 20120240818
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spring assembly for level controlled support of a wagon body on a running gear of a vehicle, in particular of a railway vehicle, including a spring device and an actuator device, wherein the spring device takes up a first installation space, the actuator device takes up a second installation space, the spring device and the actuator device are connected to each other in a direction of action in a kinematically serial arrangement, and the actuator device is designed for at least partially compensating for a change in length of the spring device in the direction of action by a displacement at an actuator component in the direction of action, and wherein the first installation space and the second installation space overlap each other in the direction of action in an overlapping region. Also disclosed is a vehicle having such a spring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: BOMBARDIER TRANSPORTATION GMBH
    Inventors: Cedric Zanutti, Michael Wusching, Andreas Wolf
  • Patent number: 8210106
    Abstract: An adjustable cab isolator bracket is provided for adjusting the height of an isolated cab of a locomotive. Alternatively, the adjustable bracket may adjust spring loading of an isolated locomotive cab. The adjustable cab isolator bracket generally comprises a spring retainer adapted to engage a spring and mountable to the underframe, and a bracket body for receiving and engaging the spring retainer and mountable to the cab. The adjustable bracket may further be fixed to the isolated locomotive cab. In this arrangement, the bracket body is adapted to receive and engage at least a portion of the spring retainer. The engagement between the spring retainer and the bracket body is adaptable to selectively adjust a portion of the spring retainer to be received by the bracket body in relation to a spring, thereby adjusting cab height or spring loading in relation to the underframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Tai, Michael Oddie
  • Patent number: 8196524
    Abstract: A device has a pneumatic spring for supporting a load on a bogie of a rail vehicle and a compressed air supply which is pneumatically connected to the air spring via an air spring valve in order to vent and to fill the air spring with compressed air. A closed-loop control unit adjusts the air volume and/or the air pressure in the air spring. A compressed air line provides for the pneumatic connection between the compressed air supply, air spring, air spring valve and control unit. Unnecessary filling and venting of the air spring is prevented by way of a device for limiting the volume flow into the compressed air line in dependence on the speed of the rail vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Wiesand
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110121526
    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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: LTK Consulting Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alexander Popjoy, Michael McGuinness
  • Patent number: 7946229
    Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to self steering that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The trucks may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Jamal Hematian
  • Patent number: 7874254
    Abstract: A device for the secondary suspension of a body of a rail vehicle, the device comprising a spring element which is between the body and a bogie and to ensure at least one raised transport level for the body during the journey of the rail vehicle. The spring element can be compressed by a traction cylinder when the rail vehicle is stationary, in order to adjust a sunken platform level for the body, which is arranged below the raised driving level. The traction cylinder is provided with means for mechanically decoupling the advancing movement of the body from a pressure reduction in the pressure chamber of the traction cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lehmair, Eduard Nies, Winfried Hommen, Martin Waldstein, Ralf Oberthur
  • Patent number: 7712420
    Abstract: Provided is a cab isolation system for a locomotive is provided including a cab having a front and a rear. The cab isolation system further includes a pivot located generally near the rear of the cab and at least one spring generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, dampers may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, lateral links may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. This system may include any of the above elements, alone or in combination, to provide for a cab isolation system for isolating a locomotive cab from engine generated structure borne noise and vibration, while lower frequency track induced motions are not magnified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Thomas Scott, Xiangling Zhang
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7527003
    Abstract: An improved side bearing for railway cars is provided that achieves improved tracking and curving by the limitation of rock of the railway car. The side bearing comprises a base with a generally upwardly extending wall portion. A cap comprising a top section with generally downwardly extending wall portion is provided. The cap extends into or around the wall section of the base. Two coil springs are provided within the base that extend to the underside and support the cap. An elastomer spring is also provided that is located within an least of one of the coil springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ASF Keystone, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph H. Schorr, Bradford Johnstone
  • Patent number: 7503264
    Abstract: A side bearing assembly for a railway vehicle includes a cage, a cap coupled to and moveable relative to the cage, and an insulator disposed between the cage and the cap. The railway vehicle includes a bolster extending laterally and a car body disposed on the bolster. The cage is attached to the bolster and the cap supports a portion of the car body such that the side bearing assembly is disposed between the bolster and the car body to dampen lateral pivoting of the car body relative to the bolster. The insulator is formed of microcellular polyurethane for resiliently deforming and storing energy during compressive movement between the car body and the bolster through a range of temperatures between ?40° C. and 80 ° C. Microcellular polyurethane maintains flexibility at this temperature range such that the side bearing assembly maintains its ability to dampen lateral pivoting through this temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel L. Mitchell, Anand G. Huprikar, Terrence A. Bell
  • Publication number: 20090031917
    Abstract: A kit and method for converting a locomotive from a first configuration to a second configuration having a different operational capability. The kit includes a traction assembly including a mechanical subassembly configured to mechanically couple a first axle of a truck to a traction system of the locomotive; and an electromotive subassembly configured to electromotively couple the first axle to the traction system of the locomotive via the mechanical subassembly. When the kit is installed in the locomotive, the locomotive is converted from the first configuration having the first axle uncoupled from the traction system and a second axle of the truck coupled to the traction system to the second configuration having the first axle coupled to the traction system and a second axle coupled to the traction system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Dwayne Worden
  • 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: 7243606
    Abstract: A secondary suspension system for a rail vehicle includes a superstructure, a bogie arranged below the superstructure, a hydropneumatic spring unit located between the superstructure and the bogie, and at least one emergency spring cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Hommen, Henry Kirsch, Eduard Nies, Martin Waldstein, Reinhard Loebner
  • Patent number: 7185592
    Abstract: A secondary suspension for a rail vehicle includes a superstructure, a bogie and a steel spring arranged between the superstructure and the bogie. The steel spring ensures at least one raised traveling level for the superstructure when the rail vehicle is traveling. Further included is a tension cylinder. When the rail vehicle is stopped, the steel spring is compressed by the tension cylinder to adjust the superstructure to a lowered station platform level below the at least one traveling level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Hommen, Henry Kirsch, Martin Lehmair, Reinhard Loebner, Martin Waldstein, Ralf Oberthür
  • Patent number: 7174837
    Abstract: An improved three-piece truck system for railroad cars provides long travel side bearings for improved stability, a “wide” friction shoe design or equivalent to improve sideframe and bolster squareness, a resilient pedestal pad for improved curving performance and enhanced wear resistance, and a suspension system tuned and optimized for rail cars to have a minimum reserve capacity of less than 1.5 to improve motion control and ride quality, increase resistance to suspension bottoming, and increase hunting threshold speed. Such a motion control truck system is able to meet recent, more stringent American Association of Railroads standards, such as M-976, for railcars having a 286,000 lb. gross rail load rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: ASF-Keystone, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berg, Nathan J. Reese, Ralph H. Schorr, Jeffrey M. Ruback, Julius I. Pershwitz
  • Patent number: 7168370
    Abstract: System for the secondary suspension of a superstructure (1) of a rail vehicle, having a hydropneumatic spring unit (3), with an assigned suspension accumulator (7) as an active spring element, placed between the superstructure (1) and a bogie (2) arranged below it, which active spring element ensures at least one raised travelling level (NF) for the superstructure during the travel of the rail vehicle, in which case, by way of the hydropneumatic spring unit (3), by means of a level control, in addition to the raised travelling level (NF), a lowered station platform level (NB) for the superstructure (1) can also be adjusted, the suspension accumulator (7) being blockable when the rail vehicle is stopped in order to relieve the level control during a change of load, and in that, for an emergency operation caused by a pressure drop, additionally at least one emergency spring cylinder (18) is provided which, in the event of a pressure failure, by means of an independent moving-out, ensures an emergency spring lev
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Hommen, Henry Kirsch, Martin Lehmair, Reinhard Loebner, Martin Waldstein, Ralf Oberthür
  • Patent number: 6923125
    Abstract: A railed vehicle with bodies and at least one chassis is disclosed, rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, whereby rotating coupling elements are provided between chassis and body. At least two tie rods (6, 7, 6?, 7?, 27, 28, 29) with predetermined spring rate and damping are arranged as torque coupling elements between chassis (1, 26) and body, with a predetermined separation in the transverse direction of the chassis. The tie rods (6, 7, 6?, 7?, 27, 28, 29) are each flexibly connected to brackets (9) on the body, at one end and to a transverse support (2) of the chassis frame, at the other end. A tie rod (6, 7, 6?, 7?, 27, 28) comprises a universal housing, with a shell (12) and end head pieces (13, 14), which guides a push-/pull-rod (11), whereby, within said universal housing at least one friction ring set is mounted and which can be operated by a push-/pull-segment (18) of the push-/pull-rod (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Reinard Pieper, Guido Bieker
  • Publication number: 20040261654
    Abstract: A tuned spring group with load springs, control springs, and a frictional damping arrangement for a railcar truck assembly provides better ride quality, increased resistance to suspension bottoming, and increased hunting threshold speed of a railroad car. Specifically, this tuned damping and suspension arrangement provides a spring group reserve capacity of less than 1.50. Spring assemblies for different car types are tuned such that a reserve ratio less than 1.50 may be achieved. By reducing the spring assembly reserve capacity for a railcar and truck of a standard weight and configuration to less than 1.50, an unexpected result of a decrease in maximum vertical acceleration as the railcar truck assembly approaches a speed of 55 miles per hour is achieved. The decrease in vertical acceleration allows for improved ride quality, increased resistance to suspension bottoming and increased hunting threshold speed of the railcar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: ASF-KEYSTONE, INC.
    Inventors: Julius I. Pershwitz, Thomas R. Berg
  • Publication number: 20040129170
    Abstract: A railroad car energy absorption apparatus is disclosed. The railroad car energy absorption apparatus includes a spring assembly having an elastomer spring element arranged in operable combination with structure for inhibiting localized heat deterioration of the elastomer spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: William P. O'Donnell, Michael D. VanMaldegiam, Erik D. Jensen, Donald E. Wilt, Michael S. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6644214
    Abstract: A side bearing provides constant contact between a truck bolster and a railway car body. The side bearing includes a base member having a central portion mounted on top of the bolster. The base member includes end portions which extend downwardly and outwardly fore and aft beyond the bolster. A top member is mounted on the base member for vertical movement relative thereto. The end portions of the top and base members define pockets. Resilient members, such as springs, are positioned in each of the pockets for urging the top member upwardly relative to the base member. A post formed on the central portion of the top member mates with a reciprocal aperture formed on the central portion of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: ASF-Keystone, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph H. Schorr
  • 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: 6457420
    Abstract: A rail vehicle including an end car extended by a cab, wherein the car and the cab have separate structures with adjacent ends that are pivotally mounted on the same bogie, the structure of the cab being supported solely by the bogie while cantilevered therefrom, the cab being connected to a control device for controlling the angular positioning of the cab relative to the bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Laporte, Frédéric Papin
  • Patent number: 6435098
    Abstract: A suspension system configured to provide suspension to a railroad maintenance machine having a frame and a chassis, where the suspension system is selectively operable between work and transportation modes of the machine. The suspension system includes a suspension that is operable between a first position and a second position. The first position is when the suspension is substantially inflated for transportation of the machine, and the second position is when the suspension is substantially deflated for conducting railroad maintenance. Contact with the rail is maintained in either position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Nordco Inc.
    Inventors: Leary Peterson, William D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20020017216
    Abstract: A single-axle wheel set with outer suspension supports for railway vehicles with pendulum-type suspension. This wheel set consists of a flat, horizontal chassis on which the independent, movable wheels are mounted, and upright suspension supports situated at the outer part of the wheels and joined to each other at their upper part by means of a crosspiece to form a portico, in whose upper part suspension springs are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: PATENTES TALGO, S.A.
    Inventors: Luis Archilla Aldeanueva, Julio Frutos Aguado
  • Patent number: 6279488
    Abstract: A coupling element unit with spring action is located between a car body and an undercarriage of a railway vehicle. To largely relieve the coupling element unit from forces that act at a right angle to the suspension direction, a sliding adapter is provided that has two sliding elements and that can be displaced with respect to one another parallel to a floor of the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Rail Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hachmann, Thomas Benker, Uwe Schüller
  • Patent number: 6273003
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tilt control for the superstructure of a rail vehicle, that includes a transversal acceleration sensor and a tilt control device controlled therefrom for tilting the superstructure along its longitudinal axis in relation to the running gear or the bogie supporting the superstructure. A low-pass filter is connected in the signal path between the transversal acceleration sensor and the tilt control device. In order to at least amply compensate the operation time of the low-pass filter, a steady state member is connected in the signal path between the transversal acceleration sensor and the low-pass filter, whose output signal is selected at least in the middle segment of a predetermined measuring value of the transversal acceleration values to be detected in such a way that the transversal acceleration in the superstructure remains almost constant in said segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Benker, Bernd Metzner
  • Patent number: 6205933
    Abstract: A support for a car body on a chassis, in particular on a truck of a rail vehicle. A support comprises a fluid-actuated piston-cylinder unit arranged between car body and chassis, and a rocker support arranged also between car body and chassis which comprises a first support part and a second support part which is arranged between the first support part and a part of the car. Each support part has a rolling surface via which it rests on another rolling surface, in which connection at least one rolling surface of the two rolling surfaces contacting each other is cylindrical and the contact between a pair of rolling surfaces is linear. The support part takes up little space. The distance between the car body and the chassis can be very small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Rexroth AG
    Inventor: Jörg Dantlgraber
  • Patent number: 6102378
    Abstract: A spring device arrangement in particular for the area of railway vehicles, in particular for spring suspension between a bogie and coach body, in which a spring device is located between a supporting plate and a substructure includes two spring systems connected in parallel. Each spring system comprises three parallel springs, the spring being an air spring or hydropneumatic spring comprising a bellows of elastomer material which connects the supporting plate to the upper part of a spring-support piston, the springs of the spring system being interconnected in a pressure-equalizing manner by an overflow duct. The spring is disposed outside the spring and extends from the supporting plate to the substructure, and the spring is installed in the support piston of the spring, a force-transmitting pressure piston simultaneously being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Phoenix Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eckhard Gieseler, Dirk Lambrecht
  • Patent number: 6092469
    Abstract: An improved railroad car wheel truck assembly comprises four arcuate weight bearing surfaces, one above each axle bearing, providing a direct load path such that a light weight frame can be used, each weight bearing surface being received within a matching arcuate channel mounted on the underside of the rail car body, the channels having a greater arc length that the corresponding weight bearing surface such that the wheel truck is allowed to rotate relative to the rail car body, about a central pivot pin, the wheel truck assembly further comprising a two part spring assemblies for each wheel with long springs that are always under compression and shorter springs that are compressed only when the car is under a load, each wheel spring assembly having one long spring that urges a wedge between the wheel truck frame and wheel set axle holding saddle to urge the wheel set and axle into alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Dale Monsell
  • Patent number: 5970883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a link tilt device for a tilting cross-member suitable for being disposed in a bogie frame in such a manner as to be suspended from the bogie frame by means of the links, secondary suspensions being disposed between the tilting cross-member and the vehicle body, wherein the middle cross-members of the bogie frame, the links, and the tilting cross-member form an assembly such that the angular stiffness between the bogie frame and said vehicle body is a characteristic that is predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventor: Jean-Daniel Nast
  • Patent number: 5960719
    Abstract: A railway car yaw control device includes a housing mounted on the upper surface of a truck bolster with an engagement member biased upwardly from the housing into engagement with a depression formed in a wear plate attached to the bottom of a car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventors: John R. Sunderman, Dale E. Monsell, Robert E. Owen
  • Patent number: 5950544
    Abstract: A rail vehicle, includes an air-suspended body having an underside, an air spring having a base point and an internal air pressure, and cars supporting the body. The body rests on the cars and swings out on the air spring. There is also an emergency spring which has a core. Guide and damping devices are further disposed between the body and the cars. The guide and damping devices serve to stabilize the cars at traveling speeds of >100 km/h and suppress any sway of the cars. The guide and damping devices include a friction plate loaded against the underside of the body by the internal air pressure of the air spring. The friction plate is linked to the core of the emergency spring or the base point of the air spring to form a connection to the cars in a longitudinal direction for suppressing the sway of the cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation (Technology) GmbH
    Inventor: Guido Bieker
  • Patent number: 5947031
    Abstract: A railway truck leveling valve arrangement for improved railway car floor height control comprises a pneumatic level regulating valve, a rigid, lightweight bar, and a leveling valve linkage. The level regulating valve is connected to and mounted above a secondary air spring suspension. The rigid, lightweight bar extends between the axleboxes of the railway truck wheelsets, the railway truck wheelsets being coupled to a primary suspension. The leveling valve linkage connects the level regulating valve and the rigid bar. The level regulating valve senses spring deflection in both the primary and secondary suspensions and signals the secondary air spring suspension to compensate for both deflections. Consequently, the correction of the overall railway car floor height by the secondary suspension provides more precise car floor to station platform height control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Buckeye Steel Castings
    Inventor: Richard B Polley
  • Patent number: 5893330
    Abstract: Suspension apparatus for a mobile vehicle having a frame and a plurality of wheel units adapted to travel on rails. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a housing member that is rigidly attached to the frame and corresponds to a wheel unit. The housing member has an enclosed end and a downwardly-extending open end. The apparatus further includes a wheel unit support assembly, a portion of which is telescopingly received within the housing member. The wheel unit support assembly is adapted for attachment to a wheel unit and is biased out of the housing member by a spring. A travel-limiting pin arrangement is provided to limit the axial travel of the wheel unit support assembly relative to the housing member to a predetermined range of axial travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Emery Properties, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Emery