Bogie Patents (Class 105/182.1)
  • Patent number: 11731669
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam extending in a car width direction; a first traction motor supported by a first car longitudinal direction portion of the cross beam; a second traction motor supported by a second car longitudinal direction portion of the cross beam; and a coupling member arranged under the cross beam and between the first traction motor and the second traction motor and coupling the first traction motor and the second traction motor to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI RAILCAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumikazu Kounoike, Yosuke Matsushita, Yoshihiro Tamura, Yukihiro Sano, Toshifumi Machida
  • Patent number: 11708097
    Abstract: A hydromechanical wheelset control system for a rail vehicle that comprises a leading wheelset and a trailing wheelset that is arranged behind the leading wheelset in the direction of locomotion, with the trailing wheelset having the property of adopting a favorable position in an arc of an undercarriage frame interacting with it and of a rail pair. The wheelset control system is characterized in that a wheelset control is provided that is connected to the leading wheelset control system and to the trailing wheelset control system and that is adapted to hydraulically deflect the leading wheelset in dependence on a deflection of the trailing wheelset, preferably by the same amount as the trailing wheelset, but in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Richard Schneider, Ivo Kovacic
  • Patent number: 11623668
    Abstract: A vehicle truck includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a bolster, a first yaw separator connected to the first side frame, and a second yaw separator connected to the second side frame. Each yaw separator includes two steering arms and an arm connector assembly. The yaw separators are configured to alter yaw movement of the truck that leads to truck hunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew J. Morin
  • Patent number: 11584402
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes a bogie frame including a cross beam and supports, the supports disposed at respective car width direction end portions of the cross beam. There are a plurality of axle boxes to accommodate a plurality of bearings supporting a pair of axles, a plate spring extending in a car longitudinal direction and supported by a pair of the axle boxes which are away from each other in the car longitudinal direction among the plurality of axle boxes. The plate spring supports the cross beam while being pressed by the corresponding support from above such that the pressing member is separable from the plate spring. Elastic walls are at both respective sides of the supports in the car longitudinal direction and sandwiched between a lower surface of the bogie frame and an upper surface of the plate spring so as to be compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI RAILCAR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Narita, Kazuo Isomura, Takaya Ono
  • Patent number: 11541916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sleeper transport vehicle (1) having a loading area (25) which includes a lower supporting loading plane (7) and an upper supporting loading plane (8), wherein in each loading plane (7,8) a guide (10) is arranged in which pallets (9) are guided in the longitudinal direction of the sleeper transport vehicle (1), wherein, at a front side, a transfer area (26) is arranged into which the guides (10) protrude in order to pass along during a working operation pallets (9) with new sleepers (15) in one loading plane (7, 8) to a further sleeper transport vehicle (1) or loading/unloading vehicle (34) arranged at the front side, and to receive pallets with old sleepers (16) in the other loading plane (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PLASSER & THEURER EXPORT VON BAHNBAUMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventor: Gerard Lintz
  • Patent number: 11230301
    Abstract: Transit Cleaning Unit is able to clean the walls, overhead, insulators third rail covers and flooring of the subway systems in a minimum amount of time. It provides an effective means of providing a clean environment for the benefit of the customers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Richard William Lewis, II
  • Patent number: 11104360
    Abstract: A method of assembling a railcar bogie includes: a plate spring arranging step of making a pair of axle boxes support a plate spring extending in a car longitudinal direction, the axle boxes being arranged away from each other in the car longitudinal direction; a bogie frame arranging step of placing a bogie frame directly or indirectly on a longitudinal direction middle portion of the plate spring from above, the bogie frame including a side wall on which an opening is formed, the side wall covering the plate spring from an outside in a car width direction; and a measuring step of measuring a positional deviation between the plate spring and the bogie frame in the car longitudinal direction through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaya Ono, Yukitaka Taga, Fumikazu Kounoike
  • Patent number: 10829132
    Abstract: A vehicle body inclination controller includes an air spring, an air reservoir, valve devices, an acquisition section, and a determination section. The determination section compares, with a predetermined threshold, at least one of a value of a ratio between supply control information of a supply valve and exhaust control information of an exhaust valve in the same valve device among the valve devices, a value of a ratio between pieces of the supply control information of the supply valves of different valve devices among the valve devices, or a value of a ratio between pieces of the exhaust control information of the exhaust valves of different valve devices among the valve devices, and determines that a failure occurs in the same valve device or at least one of the different valve devices when the value of the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Tanase, Tsukasa Hosomi, Toru Tatsuno, Kota Terada
  • Patent number: 10377393
    Abstract: A high-speed rail train bogie frame includes side sills and cross beams located between the side sills, and each of the side sills is provided with an air spring seat configured to install an air spring; wherein each of the cross beams has a seamless steel tube structure; the frame further includes a passage, and a main air chamber of the air spring and a cavity of the cross beam are in communication with each other through the passage; and an anti-roll bar seat configured to install an anti-roll bar is welded below the side sill, and the anti-roll bar seat is in a circular arc transition with a bottom of the side sill, to form a dovetail structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenxian Zhang, Xiaoyan Li, Pingyu Zhou, Xiaowen Song, Xiaoming Wang
  • Patent number: 10259475
    Abstract: A railway wheel includes: a wheel including a plate portion; and a brake disc including a circular plate portion whose front face side is a sliding surface, and a plurality of fin portions which are radially projected on a back face of the circular plate portion, wherein two of the brake discs are fastened in a region within the sliding surface. Regarding an area of a section crossing a space between the brake disc and the wheel along a circumferential direction, a minimum section portion in which the sectional area is minimum is present in a region formed by an outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion and an inner peripheral surface of the rim portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion follows the inner peripheral surface of the rim portion in a region extending to the outer side from the minimum section portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nogami, Takahiro Fujimoto, Yuiko Sakayama, Atsushi Sakaguchi, Kazutaka Asabe
  • Patent number: 10041891
    Abstract: A system for radiographic inspection of welds from at least a portion of a vertical wall such as the wall of a storage tank for gas or oil wherein the wall comprising a plurality of metal plates connected by means of the welds, the system comprising a frame comprising a first sub frame arranged to be positioned, in use, on a first side of the portion of the wall and a second sub frame arranged to be positioned, in use, on a second side of the portion of the wall which lays opposite to the first side of the portion of the wall. The system comprises a radiation source which is attached to the first sub frame for transmitting electromagnetic radiation towards the weld and a radiation detector which is attached to the second sub frame for detecting radiation which has traveled through the weld for carrying out the inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: RONTGEN TECHNISCHE DIENST B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Meijlom Molenaar, Martin Ander Hartwigsen, Bernardus Norbertus Mulder
  • Patent number: 10011287
    Abstract: A bogie for a high-speed railway vehicle includes a wheel set, an axle box, a primary spring suspension device, a frame, a secondary spring suspension device and a foundation braking device. A wheel of the wheel set has an LMA wheel tread. The foundation braking device is mounted by a three-point hitch structure. The axle box is a structure which is separatable in a vertical direction, and an off-line safety protecting device is mounted at a lower portion of the axle box. A traction rod of the secondary spring suspension device is a single traction rod. A center pin is provided with an integral hoisting device. Two anti-yaw dampers, as a group, are arranged at either side of the secondary spring suspension device, and the two anti-yaw dampers have the same damping coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lijun Ma, Zhenxian Zhang, Pingyu Zhou, Sansan Ding, Zhiguo Cui, Guoping Zhang
  • Patent number: 9776646
    Abstract: A wheelset bearing for the wheelset of a rail vehicle having an internally mounted truck that includes one bearing housing per side of the wheelset that encloses the wheelset bearing for the wheelset, where the wheelset bearing and bearing housing are within the wheels in an installed state and a torsion spring serves as a roll stabilizer that is connected to the bearing housing such that the torsion springs are rigidly connected to one bearing housing each on the two ends thereof (without interconnection of draw-pressure rods) so as to implement roll stabilization for the wheelsets in a manner that is as technically simple as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens AG Österreich
    Inventors: David Kreuzweger, Christian Kueter, Martin Teichmann
  • Patent number: 9688292
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a bogie frame including a cross beam and plate springs, the plate springs supporting both respective car width direction end portions of the cross beam and extending in a car longitudinal direction; axles extending in a car width direction; bearings provided at both respective car width direction sides of each of the axles; axle boxes accommodating the respective bearings and supporting the plate springs from below; and rubbing plates provided on an upper surface of the bogie frame to slidingly contact respective rubbed plates provided on a lower surface of a bolster. In a plan view, each of the rubbing plates is arranged within a region where the cross beam and the plate spring intersect with each other and is arranged on a center line of the plate spring, the center line extending in the car longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao
  • Patent number: 9096240
    Abstract: A bogie is provided. The bogie includes two pairs of wheels, the wheels of each pair are connected to each other by an axle structure, this axle structure includes, for each wheel, an axle box. The bogie includes an articulated chassis, each axle structure is supported by the chassis by way of the primary suspension device. The primary suspension device includes, for each wheel, an arm extending substantially longitudinally between a first end that is integrally joined with the axle box associated with this wheel, and a second free end. The arm is articulated between the first and second ends about a pivot connection with the chassis. For each arm, a primary helical spring extends between a first seat provided on the second end of the arm, and a second seat carried by the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Alain Rodet
  • Patent number: 9016211
    Abstract: Disclosed are wheelsets having a cured coating produced from the application and curing of a composition comprising a component A comprising a1) 18 to 30% by weight of a polyether polyol with a hydroxy number of 300 to 500 mg KOH/g, a2) 38 to 60% by weight of castor oil, a3) 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of at least one di- or polyamine, a4) 5.6 to 9.0% by weight of trizinc bis(orthophosphate), a5) 2.2 to 3.5% by weight of zinc oxide and/or zinc phosphate, a6) 0.05 to 0.4% by weight of a catalyst which catalyzes urethane formation, where the percentage by weight data are based on the total mass of the coating composition, and a component B comprising one or more di- and/or polyisocyanates in an amount corresponding to a molar ratio of 0.6:1 to 1.2:1 of the isocyanate groups to the hydroxy groups of the constituents a1) and a2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: BASF Coatings GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Klauer, Egon Warntjes, Klaus Buck, Eugen Hoegele, Achim Gast
  • Publication number: 20150033979
    Abstract: A rail carriage group (1) for a crane (3), in particular a gantry crane, which is moveable on rails (2) with a rectilinear rail profile and around at least one curve and in a transition between the rectilinear rail profile and the curve, with at least two, in particular at least four, running wheels (4), the running wheels (4) supporting subframes (5) of the rail carriage group (1), and the subframes (5) supporting a superstructure (6) of the rail carriage group (1), wherein at least one of the running wheels (4), preferably each running wheel (4), is rotatable individually about a running-wheel axis of rotation (7) which is vertical in the operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: David Moosbrugger, Georg Klapper, Peter Lerchenmuller
  • Patent number: 8925466
    Abstract: A brake beam assembly for a railway car truck includes a brake beam mounted between opposed side frames of the railway car truck with opposite right hand and left hand ends. A strut is coupled to the brake beam and has opposite right hand and left hand ends coupled to the brake beam. Brake heads are coupled to the brake beam and struts proximate to the right hand and left hand ends thereof. Each brake head holds a brake shoe configured to engage a wheel of the railway car truck. Paddles extend from the brake heads. The paddles have distal ends configured to be received in wear liners in corresponding side frames of the railway car truck. A separation distance between the distal ends of the paddles is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Reese, Brad Myers, Joseph Halford
  • Publication number: 20140290527
    Abstract: Disclosed are wheelsets having a cured coating produced from the application and curing of a composition comprising a component A comprising a1) 18 to 30% by weight of a polyether polyol with a hydroxy number of 300 to 500 mg KOH/g, a2) 38 to 60% by weight of castor oil, a3) 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of at least one di- or polyamine, a4) 5.6 to 9.0% by weight of trizinc bis(orthophosphate), a5) 2.2 to 3.5% by weight of zinc oxide and/or zinc phosphate, a6) 0.05 to 0.4% by weight of a catalyst which catalyzes urethane formation, where the percentage by weight data are based on the total mass of the coating composition, and a component B comprising one or more di- and/or polyisocyanates in an amount corresponding to a molar ratio of 0.6:1 to 1.2:1 of the isocyanate groups to the hydroxy groups of the constituents a1) and a2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BASF COATINGS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Klauer, Egon Warntjes, Klaus Buck, Eugen Hoegele, Achim Gast
  • Patent number: 8844447
    Abstract: A frame for use with a railway truck may have a pivot housing, a first arm member extending outward from the pivot housing and having opposing distal ends, and a second arm member substantially identical to the first arm member and extending outward from the pivot housing opposite the first arm member. Each of the first and second arm members may have a generally planar upper plate, a generally planar lower plate, and plurality of webs vertically disposed between the generally planar upper and lower plates. An upper surface of the pivot housing may be generally co-planar with the generally planar upper plates of the first and second arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140137765
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam supporting a carbody; a pair of front and rear axles sandwiching and arranged in front of and behind the cross beam in a railcar longitudinal direction to extend in a railcar width direction; bearings provided at both railcar width direction sides of each and rotatably supporting the axles; axle boxes accommodating the bearings; side members extending in the railcar longitudinal direction supporting both railcar width direction end portions of the cross beam and each including both railcar longitudinal direction end portions supported by the axle boxes; contact members provided at both railcar width direction end portions and disposed on railcar longitudinal direction middle portions of the side members so as not to be fixed to the side members in an upper-lower direction; and supporting members provided at the axle boxes and supporting the railcar longitudinal direction end portions of the side members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao, Takeyoshi Kusunoki, Yasufumi Okumura
  • Patent number: 8720346
    Abstract: In a bogie frame, a lateral beam disposed in the left-right direction which is the direction in which the rail ties extend is joined to left and right side beams arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction which is the direction in which the rails extend. The lateral beam has a flat shape having a width in the front-rear direction greater than the thickness thereof in the top-bottom direction, and the lateral beam is provided with left and right joining sections joined to the side beams, and also with an intermediate section sandwiched between the left and right joining sections. The width of the intermediate section in the front-rear direction is greater than the width of the joining sections in the front-rear direction. A through-hole is formed in the intermediate section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Sharyo, Ltd., Central Japan Railway Company
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinmura, Daizo Kanaya, Yasuyuki Fukui, Yuki Kunimatsu, Shotaro Ozu, Yoshitomo Watanabe, Takehiro Tozawa, Koichi Yamada, Junichi Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 8661988
    Abstract: A railway truck is disclosed for use with a locomotive. The railway truck may have a first axle with a first end and an opposing second end, and a second axle with a first end and an opposing second end. The railway truck may also have a plurality of wheels connected to each of the first and second axles, a first bearing assembly positioned at the first end of the first axle, and a second bearing assembly positioned at the first end of the second axle. The railway truck may further have an equalizer having a first end vertically supported by the first bearing assembly and a second end vertically supported by the second bearing assembly, and at least one pin connecting the equalizer to the first and second bearing assemblies and configured to transfer tractive forces between the plurality of wheels and the equalizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electromotive-Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Goding
  • Patent number: 8656839
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: a cross beam configured to support a carbody; a pair of front and rear axles respectively provided on front and rear sides of the cross beam so as to extend along a crosswise direction; bearings respectively provided on both crosswise-direction sides of each of the axles and configured to rotatably support the axles; bearing accommodating portions configured to respectively accommodate the bearings; and plate springs extending in a front-rear direction so as to be respectively supported by both crosswise-direction end portions of the cross beam, end portions of each of the plate springs being respectively supported by the bearing accommodating portions. Each of the bearing accommodating portions includes: a case portion configured to accommodate the bearing; and supporting portions configured to support the plate springs. The plate springs are supported by the supporting portions on a center side of the axle in the front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Shunichi Nakao, Takeyoshi Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20130333590
    Abstract: A bogie is provided. The bogie includes two pairs of wheels, the wheels of each pair are connected to each other by an axle structure, this axle structure includes, for each wheel, an axle box. The bogie includes an articulated chassis, each axle structure is supported by the chassis by way of the primary suspension device. The primary suspension device includes, for each wheel, an arm extending substantially longitudinally between a first end that is integrally joined with the axle box associated with this wheel, and a second free end. The arm is articulated between the first and second ends about a pivot connection with the chassis. For each arm, a primary helical spring extends between a first seat provided on the second end of the arm, and a second seat carried by the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TRANSPORT SA
    Inventor: Alain Rodet
  • Publication number: 20130255532
    Abstract: A railway wagon bogie and a railway wagon are provided. The bogie includes wheel sets, side frames provided with triangular holes, a swing bolster provided with a preset hole in its body, and cross-braced rods. Cavities are formed in the side frames, symmetric around the center of the side frames, and located below the triangular holes. A connecting seat is provided in each of the cavities, and provided with a vertical mounting hole in a middle portion of the connecting seat. The cross-braced rods are elastically connected to the connecting seats through the mounting holes. In the railway wagon bogie and the railway wagon, the strength of the bogie is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: QIQIHAR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhenming Liu, Shihui Duan
  • Patent number: 8418628
    Abstract: A 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 is turnable with respect to the struck frame. A pair of left and right stub links extending between the journal member and the truck frame lateral beam, are provided. Axes passing both ends of the pair of stub links are arranged to tilt so as to widen a space between the ends in the vehicle width direction with going from the truck frame lateral beam toward the journal member. Both the ends of the stub links are attached to be pivotable respectively around axes which extend in a height direction to the journal member and the truck frame lateral beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okubo, Hiroyuki Kono, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 8418626
    Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Gorski, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8371234
    Abstract: A bogie for a railway vehicle including a chassis; two front wheels and two rear wheels; and for each front wheel and each rear wheel, a guide for guiding the wheel in rotation and a primary suspension device of the chassis on the guide is provided. At least the primary suspension devices associated with the front and rear wheels arranged on the same first lateral side of the bogie each include two longitudinal connecting rods, each connected to the chassis by a first connection point and to the corresponding guide by a second connection point, and 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 from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Alain Rodet, Christophe Eche, Yves Longueville
  • Patent number: 8365675
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Transport SA
    Inventors: Alain Rodet, Christophe Eche, Yves Longueville, Francis Demarquilly
  • Patent number: 8365674
    Abstract: An intermodal transportation system having interconnected railcars adapted for transporting interconnected freight trailers where the freight trailers remain connected while being transported on the railcars. Individual trailers are assembled into trailer assemblies at an assembly area. Trailers containing freight are assembled into trailer assembles using specialized dollies. A preferred embodiment includes using a self-powered dolly having tires and mounting a fifth-wheel pickup plate and a ring coupler for engaging the kingpin of a trailer. Multiple dolly-trailer assemblies are connected together to form a trailer assembly. A self-powered movable ramp is positioned at an end of the railcar assembly and a tractor pulls the trailer assembly onto a railcar assembly by driving up a self-powered movable ramp and across the top of the railcars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventor: Donald D. Banwart
  • Patent number: 8327772
    Abstract: A bogie for a low floor type railway vehicle, in which the accuracy of the distance between left and right wheels is enhanced and which enables a vehicle body to be low-floored. The bogie has a bogie frame for supporting the body of the railway vehicle, a main axle and an auxiliary axle arranged so as to laterally extend at the front and rear in the traveling direction of the bogie frame, wheels attached to both the left and right sides of each of the axles, shaft boxes attached to both the left and right sides of each of the axles and supporting the axle, and shaft box support devices respectively supporting each of the shaft boxes by elastically joining the shaft boxes and the bogie frame together. The wheels attached to the main axle are large-diameter wheels, and the wheels attached to the auxiliary axle are small-diameter wheels having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasumasa Oku, Shinya Matsuki, Masaru Tachibana, Yoshinori Seki, Noboru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8322289
    Abstract: A low floor vehicle reduces, when the vehicle enters a curved track, the lateral force of the vehicle, prevents occurrence of vibration and creaking sounds of the vehicle, improves riding quality of passengers, and reduces wear of wheel flanges. A low floor vehicle includes a bogie frame 9 of a bogie 7, a pair of bogie frame cross beams 9a arranged along a vehicle lateral direction in the middle of a vehicle longitudinal direction of the bogie frame 9 and arranged spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pair of wheels 8 provided in each of a vehicle front edge direction and a vehicle rear edge direction with respect to the pair of bogie frame cross beams 9a of the bogie frame 9 and configured to travel on a track 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okubo, Hiroyuki Kono, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 8256585
    Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly includes a base wall extending between a rear end and front end. The base wall has opposite side edges. The base wall has a tapered thickness between the rear end and the front end with the base wall being thicker proximate to the rear end and being narrower proximate to the front end. The brake beam wear liner also includes side walls extending from the opposite side edges and flanges extending outward from the side walls generally opposite the base wall. The side walls and the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Halford, Doug Compton, Nathan Reese, Jay Monaco
  • Patent number: 8196522
    Abstract: A running gear frame for a running gear of a rail vehicle with a frame body, which is configured to be supported at least on one wheel unit of the running gear. The frame body has two longitudinal beams extending in a longitudinal direction of the running gear and at least one transverse beam extending in a transverse direction of the running gear. The transverse beam substantially rigidly connects the two longitudinal beams to each other. The frame body is at least partially made of grey cast iron material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Bieker, Reinhard Pieper
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120097065
    Abstract: A bogie for a vehicle of a guide rail type which is guided by guide wheels that rotate while keeping contact with a guide rail arranged along a guideway of the vehicle, comprises: a guide frame which includes a pair of transverse beams and a connecting member arranged between the pair of the transverse beams, each of the traverse beams being equipped with the guide wheels rotatably on both ends thereof; an axle which is 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, wherein 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Yoshinori Mitsui, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20120060719
    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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Keiichiro Kamura, Junichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20120048139
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okubo, Hiroyuki Kono, Kousuke Katahira
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120037033
    Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly includes a base wall extending between a rear end and front end. The base wall has opposite side edges. The base wall has a tapered thickness between the rear end and the front end with the base wall being thicker proximate to the rear end and being narrower proximate to the front end. The brake beam wear liner also includes side walls extending from the opposite side edges and flanges extending outward from the side walls generally opposite the base wall. The side walls and the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Halford, Doug Compton, Nathan Reese, Jay Monaco
  • Publication number: 20120037032
    Abstract: A brake beam wear liner for receiving a brake beam assembly of a railway car truck includes a base wall having an inner surface and an outer surface extending between opposite side edges, and having a base wall thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof. The brake beam wear liner also includes sidewalls extending from the opposite side edges. The sidewalls have inner surfaces and outer surfaces, and have a sidewall thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof. The inner surfaces of the sidewalls and the inner surface of the base wall define an open ended trough configured to receive an end of the brake beam assembly. The brake beam wear liner also includes flanges extending outward from the sidewalls. The flanges have inner surfaces and outer surfaces, and have a flange thickness between the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces thereof. The base wall thickness is greater than the sidewall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Amsted Rail Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Halford, Stephen W. Becker, Jay Monaco
  • Patent number: 8104409
    Abstract: A freight rail car suspension has independent but co-operating springs; a first spring is load carrying and has a variable damping function and a second control spring operates on a friction shoe to apply a constant damping component. A practical embodiment has a friction shoe engaged for vertical displacement by the first spring which is mounted on a side frame and the second spring is obliquely arranged between the bolster of the bogie and the friction shoe, which has guides to cause it to move into greater frictional engagement upon load being applied through the spring. This arrangement provides a dual damping characteristic involving both constant damping and variable damping forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Bradken Resources Pty Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Wolinski, Philip Edward Morris
  • Publication number: 20120017800
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bogie for a guide rail type vehicle that runs along a predetermined guideway. The bogie includes a turn frame connected to a vehicle body; an axle turnably mounted to the turn frame via bearings and; a guide frame mounted to the axle; a first pair of guide wheels rotatably provided at a vehicle body end side portion of the guide frame; a second pair of guide wheels rotatably provided at a vehicle body center side portion of the guide frame; a stopper provided so as to project from an upper surface on a vehicle body side of the axle toward the vehicle body; and a pair of stopper receivers arranged facing each other at intervals from the stopper in a vehicle lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kurahashi, Nobuyuki Fujio, Hiroyuki Kono, Yukihide Yanobu, Akihisa Kawauchi, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20120000391
    Abstract: A bogie (16) for a guide rail system vehicle, wherein the bogie (16) is configured so that a load on a guide wheel is reduced and the bogie has increased durability obtained by increasing the strength of a bogie structure including a guide frame and achieves stable travel performance not affected by surface irregularity of a guide rail. A bogie (16) for a guide rail system vehicle, wherein the bogie is guided by guide wheels (42) in contact with and rolling on a guide rail (10) mounted along a travel path (T) and wherein rubber tires (28) are steered by a steering mechanism (46) interlocked with the guide wheels. The bogie (16) is provided with a guide frame (36) having a structure comprising two lateral beam members (38) mounted to the front and rear of a bogie structure, to opposite ends of which the guide wheels (42) are rollably mounted. The structure also comprises join members (40) mounted between the two lateral beam members (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeyama, Yoshinori Mitsui, Kousuke Katahira
  • Publication number: 20110239899
    Abstract: A low floor vehicle reduces, when the vehicle enters a curved track, the lateral force of the vehicle, prevents occurrence of vibration and creaking sounds of the vehicle, improves riding quality of passengers, and reduces wear of wheel flanges. A low floor vehicle includes a bogie frame 9 of a bogie 7, a pair of bogie frame cross beams 9a arranged along a vehicle lateral direction in the middle of a vehicle longitudinal direction of the bogie frame 9 and arranged spaced apart from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a pair of wheels 8 provided in each of a vehicle front edge direction and a vehicle rear edge direction with respect to the pair of bogie frame cross beams 9a of the bogie frame 9 and configured to travel on a track 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Okubo, Hiroyuki Kono, Kousuke Katahira
  • Patent number: 7954436
    Abstract: Truck assemblies, systems and methods are provided for transferring weight supported by various wheels, and axles. The vehicle suspension method includes operating the suspension in a first mode with a first effective suspension spring rate; and operating the suspension in a second mode with a second, different, effective suspension spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Gorski, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang
  • Patent number: 7900563
    Abstract: A reinforcing assembly for a tubular cross member of a rail and tram car bogie has a liner elongated along an axis, deformable radially, and insertable axially inside one end of the tubular cross member to line an inner cylindrical surface of the end; a tubular body insertable coaxially inside the liner; and a number of radial forcing devices, which are activated to force the tubular body, and hence the liner, radially outwards to lock the liner frictionally against the inner cylindrical surface of the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ansaldobreda S.p.A.
    Inventor: Aldo Frediani
  • Publication number: 20100319564
    Abstract: The bogie of variable rail gauge comprises two lateral carrier mountings (1;2) with two wheels (1?, 1?, 2?, 2?) independent of each others, which lean one against the other, forming between them an articulation (3) allowing a variation of the rail bogie in sliding between the traverses forming part of the two lateral carrier mountings (1;2), entirely, allowing anytime a relative rotation or tipping, respectively, between the traverses (2;3) in the vertical plains of the wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Forclaz, Cédric Giller