Vehicle frame system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12539724-B2
Application number	US-202217731394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2022
Priority date	May 6, 2021
Publication date	Feb 3, 2026
Grant date	Feb 3, 2026

Abstract

A vehicle frame system includes a lower cross frame assembly that is coupled with an axle and includes a frame bar extending between a first end and a second end along a first axis. The frame bar includes a first external circumferential surface extending along at least a portion of the first axis. A first sleeve is configured to be disposed over the first external circumferential surface. A first internal surface of the first sleeve is operably coupled with the first external circumferential surface of the frame bar. The first sleeve is configured for a temperature of the first sleeve to be controlled to change one or more characteristics of the first sleeve. The first sleeve is prohibited from moving relative to the frame bar responsive to changing the one or more characteristics of the first sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle frame system comprising:
a lower cross frame assembly configured to be coupled with an axle, the lower cross frame assembly comprising:
a frame bar extending between a first end and a second end of the frame bar along a first axis, the frame bar having a first external circumferential surface extending along at least a portion of the first axis; and
a first sleeve configured to be disposed over the first external circumferential surface, wherein a first internal surface of the first sleeve is configured to be operably coupled with the first external circumferential surface of the frame bar;
wherein the first sleeve is configured for a temperature of the first sleeve to be controlled to change one or more characteristics of the first sleeve, wherein the first sleeve is prohibited from moving relative to the frame bar responsive to changing the one or more characteristics of the first sleeve; and

a guide assembly operably coupled with the lower cross frame assembly, the guide assembly comprising:
a guide tube extending between a first end and a second end of the guide tube along a second axis; and
a second sleeve configured to be disposed within a portion of the guide tube, wherein the second sleeve is configured for a temperature of the second sleeve to be controlled to change one or more characteristics of the second sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is prohibited from moving relative to the guide tube responsive to changing the one or more characteristics of the second sleeve.

2. The vehicle frame system of claim 1 , wherein the guide assembly is a first guide assembly, the vehicle frame system further comprising a second guide assembly, wherein the first guide assembly is configured to be coupled with the first end of the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly, and the second guide assembly is configured to be coupled with the second end of the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly.

3. The vehicle frame system of claim 2 , the lower cross frame assembly further comprising a first end plate disposed at the first end of the frame bar and a second end plate disposed at the second end of the frame bar, wherein the first end plate is operably coupled with the first guide assembly and the first end of the frame bar, and the second end plate is operably coupled with the second guide assembly and the second end of the frame bar.

4. The vehicle frame system of claim 3 , wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are manufactured of an aluminum alloy.

5. The vehicle frame system of claim 1 , wherein the frame bar is manufactured of an aluminum alloy, the axle is manufactured of an aluminum alloy, and the first sleeve is manufactured of a steel alloy.

6. The vehicle frame system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an upper cross frame assembly coupled to the lower cross frame assembly;
an actuator device operably coupled with the lower cross frame assembly, and configured to control movement of the axle between different states of the axle relative to the upper cross frame assembly.

7. The vehicle frame system of claim 6 , wherein vehicle frame system is disposed onboard a hybrid vehicle system, the hybrid vehicle system configured to operate as a rail vehicle responsive to the axle being in a first state of the different states, and the hybrid vehicle system is configured to operate as a non-rail vehicle responsive to the axle being in a second state of the different states.

8. The vehicle frame system of claim 6 , wherein the actuator device is a linear actuator device or a hydraulic cylinder actuator device.

9. The vehicle frame system of claim 1 , wherein the axle is operably coupled with a first guide wheel disposed at the first end of the axle and a second guide wheel disposed at the second end of the axle.

10. The vehicle frame system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more springs disposed between the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly and the axle, the one or more springs configured to allow movement of the axle relative to the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly.

11. A vehicle frame system comprising:
an axle extending between a first end and a second end, a first guide wheel operably coupled with the first end of the axle and a second guide wheel operably coupled with the second end of the axle;
a lower cross frame assembly operably coupled with the axle, the lower cross frame assembly comprising:
a frame bar extending between a first end and a second end of the frame bar along a first axis; and
a first sleeve and a second sleeve respectively disposed over the first end and the second end of the frame bar; and
a first guide assembly operably coupled with the first end of the frame bar and a second guide assembly operably coupled with the second end of the frame bar, each of the first and second guide assemblies respectively comprising:
a guide tube extending between a first end and a second end of the guide tube along a second axis; and
a third sleeve disposed within a portion of the guide tube, wherein the first and second sleeves are interference fit with the frame bar and the third sleeve is interference fit within the guide tube so that the first and second sleeves are prohibited from moving relative to the frame bar and the third sleeve is prohibited from moving relative to the guide tube.

12. The vehicle frame system of claim 11 , wherein the interference fit of the first and second sleeves with the frame bar and the interference fit of the third sleeve within the guide tube are each a temperature shrink fit.

13. The vehicle frame system of claim 11 , wherein the axle, the frame bar, and the guide tubes of the first and second guide assemblies are manufactured of an aluminum alloy, and the first, second, and third sleeves are manufactured of a steel alloy.

14. The vehicle frame system of claim 11 , further comprising:
an upper cross frame assembly coupled to the lower cross frame assembly;
an actuator device operably coupled with the lower cross frame assembly, and configured to control movement of the axle between different states of the axle relative to the upper cross frame assembly.

15. The vehicle frame system of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle frame system is disposed onboard a hybrid vehicle system configured to operate as a rail vehicle responsive to the axle being in a first state of the different states, and the hybrid vehicle system is configured to operate as a non-rail vehicle responsive to the axle being in a second state of the different states.

16. The vehicle frame system of claim 14 , wherein the actuator device is a linear actuator device or a hydraulic cylinder actuator device.

17. The vehicle frame system of claim 11 , further comprising plural springs disposed between the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly and the axle, the plural springs configured to allow movement of the axle relative to the frame bar of the lower cross frame assembly in a direction toward the frame bar or in a direction away from the frame bar.

18. A railgear for a hi-rail vehicle comprising:
an axle extending between a first end and a second end, a first guide wheel operably coupled with the first end of the axle and a second guide wheel operably coupled with the second end of the axle;
a lower cross frame assembly operably coupled with the axle, the lower cross frame assembly comprising a frame bar extending between a first end and a second end of the frame bar along a first axis, a first sleeve disposed over the first end of the frame bar and a second sleeve

Assignees

• Westinghouse Air Brake Tech Corp

Inventors

• Pollock Jarred Michael

Classifications

• B60F1/043

  Vehicles comprising own propelling units · CPC title

• B60F1/02

  with rail and road wheels on the same axle · CPC title

• B60F1/04 Primary

  with rail and road wheels on different axles · CPC title