Adjustable Weight Transfer System for Bogie

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018170408-A1
Application number	US-201615386274-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 21, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bogie for a train vehicle includes two side frames, each side frame including two axle openings, each axle opening disposed on a corresponding end of the respective side frame, each side frame further forming a central slot disposed between the two axle openings; two wheelsets, each wheelset including an axle passing through two opposing axle openings between the two side frames; and a central beam having two ends, each end being slidably disposed within a corresponding central slot such that the central beam is disposed generally parallel to the axles of the two wheelsets and is slidable towards or away either of the two wheelsets.

First claim

1 . A bogie for a train vehicle, comprising:
two side frames, each side frame including two axle openings, each axle opening disposed on a corresponding end of the respective side frame, each side frame further forming a central slot disposed between the two axle openings; two wheelsets, each wheelset including an axle passing through two opposing axle openings between the two side frames; a central beam having two ends, each end being slidably disposed within a corresponding central slot such that the central beam is disposed generally parallel to the axles of the two wheelsets and is slidable towards or away either of the two wheelsets.

2 . The bogie of claim 1 , wherein each central slot includes a frame that slidably engages a respective end of the central beam.

3 . The bogie of claim 1 , wherein each end of the central beam includes a box that is constrained to move axially along the central slot in two directions.

4 . The bogie of claim 1 , wherein each end of the central beam includes a pin that is constrained to move axially and pivotally relative to the central slot in two directions.

5 . The bogie of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator connected between at least one of the two side frames and the central beam, the actuator operating to move the central beam relative to the two wheelsets.

6 . The bogie of claim 5 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

7 . The bogie of claim 1 , wherein the central beam further includes a socket adapted to provide a bolster connection between the central beam and a rail vehicle.

8 . A rail vehicle, comprising:
a platform; two bogies pivotally connected, one each, at either of two ends of the platform; wherein each bogie includes:
two side frames, each side frame including two axle openings, each axle opening disposed on a corresponding end of the respective side frame, each side frame further forming a central slot disposed between the two axle openings;
two wheelsets, each wheelset including an axle passing through two opposing axle openings between the two side frames;
a central beam having two ends, each end being slidably disposed within a corresponding central slot such that the central beam is disposed generally parallel to the axles of the two wheelsets and is slidable towards or away either of the two wheelsets.

9 . The rail vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each central slot includes a frame that slidably engages a respective end of the central beam.

10 . The rail vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each end of the central beam includes a box that is constrained to move axially along the central slot in two directions.

11 . The rail vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each end of the central beam includes a pin that is constrained to move axially and pivotally relative to the central slot in two directions.

12 . The rail vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising an actuator connected between at least one of the two side frames and the central beam, the actuator operating to move the central beam relative to the two wheelsets.

13 . The rail vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

14 . The rail vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the central beam further includes a socket adapted to provide a bolster connection between the central beam and the rail vehicle.

15 . A method for operating a rail vehicle, comprising:
determining a loading condition of a bogie of the rail vehicle in terms of a load applied into a socket of the bogie and reaction forces present at each of at least two wheelsets of the bogie; determining a reaction force at each of the at least two wheelsets; and selectively adjusting a geometrical relation between the socket of the bogie and each of the at least two wheelsets of the bogie.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the bogie comprises:
two side frames, each side frame including two axle openings, each axle opening disposed on a corresponding end of the respective side frame, each side frame further forming a central slot disposed between the two axle openings; two wheelsets, each wheelset including an axle passing through two opposing axle openings between the two side frames; and a central beam having two ends, each end being slidably disposed within a corresponding central slot such that the central beam is disposed generally parallel to the axles of the two wheelsets and is slidable towards or away either of the two wheelsets.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein each central slot includes a frame that slidably engages a respective end of the central beam.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein each end of the central beam includes a box that is constrained to move axially along the central slot in two directions.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein determining a reaction force includes monitoring a speed of each of the wheelsets and comparing the respective speeds of at least two wheelsets to determine whether a set of wheels attached to each of the two wheelsets is slipping relative to a railway.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising activating an actuator connected between at least one of the two side frames and the central beam to move the central beam relative to the two wheelsets such that a reaction force on a wheelset having a set of wheels that are determined to be slipping is increased.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Rutherford Stephen P

Classifications

• B61F3/08

  without driven axles or wheels · CPC title

• B61F5/386

  fluid actuated · CPC title

• B61F5/04

  Bolster supports or mountings (side bearings B61F5/14) · CPC title

• B61F5/40 Primary

  Bogies with side frames mounted for longitudinal relative movements · CPC title

• B61F5/14

  Side bearings · CPC title