Running gear frame for a rail vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9919719-B2
Application number	US-201314403745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2013
Priority date	May 30, 2012
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

A running gear frame for a rail vehicle, comprising a frame body. The frame body comprises two longitudinal beams and a transverse beam unit providing a structural connection between the longitudinal beams, such that a substantially H-shaped configuration is formed. Each longitudinal beam has a free end section forming a primary suspension interface. Each longitudinal beam has a pivot interface section associated to the free end section and forming a pivot interface for a pivot arm. Each longitudinal beam has an angled section associated to the free end section, the angled section being arranged such that the free end section forms a pillar section. The pivot interface section is integrated into to the angled section and the frame body is formed as a monolithically cast component made of a grey cast iron material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A running gear frame, comprising
a frame body defining a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a height direction;
said frame body comprising two longitudinal beams and a transverse beam unit providing a structural connection between said longitudinal beams in said transverse direction, such that a substantially H-shaped configuration is formed,
each longitudinal beam having a free end section forming a primary suspension interface for a primary suspension device connected to an associated wheel unit;
each longitudinal beam having a pivot interface section associated to said free end section and forming a pivot interface for a pivot arm connected to said associated wheel unit;
each longitudinal beam having an angled section associated to said free end section;
said angled section being arranged such that said free end section forms a pillar section at least mainly extending in said height direction;
said pivot interface section being associated to said angled section;
wherein:
said pivot interface section is integrated into to said angled section, and
said frame body is formed as a monolithically cast component made of a grey cast iron material;
said pivot interface section, in said longitudinal direction, is arranged to be at least partially retracted behind said associated free end section;
a forward free end section and a rearward free end section of one of said longitudinal beams, in said longitudinal direction, defines a maximum longitudinal beam length of said longitudinal beam;
a forward pivot interface section is associated to said forward free end section;
a rearward pivot interface section is associated to said rearward free end section;
said forward pivot interface section and said rearward pivot interface section, in said longitudinal direction, define a maximum pivot interface dimension of said longitudinal beam; and
said maximum pivot interface dimension is 70% to 110%, of said maximum longitudinal beam length.

2. The running gear frame according to claim 1 , wherein
said frame body is made of a spheroidal graphite iron cast material;
said spheroidal graphite iron cast material being one of EN-GJS-400-18U LT and EN-GJS-350-22-LT.

3. The running gear frame according to claim 1 , wherein
a forward pivot interface section associated to said forward free end section defines a forward pivot axis for a forward pivot arm;
a rearward pivot interface section associated to said rearward free end section defines a rearward pivot axis for a rearward pivot arm;
said forward pivot axis and said rearward pivot axis, in said longitudinal direction, defining a pivot axis distance;
said pivot axis distance being 60% to 90% of said maximum longitudinal beam length.

4. The running gear frame according to claim 1 , wherein,
in said height direction, one of said longitudinal beams, in a longitudinally central section, defines a longitudinal beam underside and a maximum central beam height of said longitudinal beam above said longitudinal beam underside, and
one of said free end sections of said longitudinal beam defines a maximum beam height above said longitudinal beam underside;
said maximum beam height being 200% to 450% of said maximum central beam height.

5. The running gear frame according to claim 1 , wherein,
said primary suspension interface is configured to take a total resultant support force acting on said free end section when said frame body is supported on said associated wheel unit;
said primary suspension interface being configured such that said total resultant support force is inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction or inclined with respect to said height direction;
said total resultant support force being inclined with respect to said height direction by a primary suspension angle, said primary suspension angle ranging from 20° to 80°.

6. The running gear frame according to claim 5 , wherein,
said primary suspension interface defines a main interface plane;
said main interface plane being configured to take at least a major fraction of said resultant support force;
said main interface plane being inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction or inclined with respect to said height direction;
said main interface plane being inclined with respect to said height direction by a main interface plane angle, said main interface plane angle ranging from 20° to 80°;
said main interface plane being substantially parallel with respect to said transverse direction.

7. The running gear frame according to claim 5 , wherein,
said pivot interface section, in said longitudinal direction, is configured to be at least partially retracted behind a center of said primary suspension interface;
a center of a forward primary suspension interface and a center of a rearward primary suspension interface of one of said longitudinal beams, in said longitudinal direction, defining a primary suspension interface center distance;
a forward pivot interface section being associated to said forward primary suspension interface and defining a forward pivot axis for a forward pivot arm;
a rearward pivot interface section being associated to said rearward primary suspension interface and defining a rearward pivot axis for a rearward pivot arm;
said forward pivot axis and said rearward pivot axis, in said longitudinal direction, defining a pivot axis distance;
said pivot axis distance being 60% to 105% of said primary suspension interface center distance.

8. The running gear frame according to claim 5 , wherein,
said primary suspension interface is configured as an interface for a single primary suspension device;
said primary suspension device being formed by a single primary suspension unit;
said primary suspension unit being formed a single primary suspension spring.

9. The running gear frame according to claim 1 , wherein,
said transverse beam unit comprises at least one transverse beam;
said at least one transverse beam, in a sectional plane parallel to said longitudinal direction and said height direction, defining a substantially C-shaped cross section;
said substantially C-shaped cross section being arranged such that, in said longitudinal direction, it is open towards a free end of said frame body and substantially closed towards a center of said frame body;
said substantially C-shaped cross section extending, in said transverse direction, over a transversally central section of said transverse beam unit;
said substantially C-shaped cross section extending, in said transverse direction,
over a transverse dimension, said transverse dimension being at least 50% of a transverse distance between longitudinal center lines of said longitudinal beams in the area of said transverse beam unit.

10. The running gear frame according to claim 9 , wherein,
said at least one transverse beam is a first transverse beam and said transverse beam unit comprises a second transverse beam;
said first transverse beam and said second transverse beam being substantially symmetric with respect to a plane of symmetry parallel to said transverse direction and said height direction;
said first transverse beam and said second transverse beam being separated, in said longitudinal direction, by a gap having a longitudinal gap dimension;
said longitudinal gap dimension being 70% to 120% of a minimum longitudinal dimension of one of said transverse beams in said longitudinal direction;
said first transverse beam and said second transverse beam each defining a transverse beam center line, at least one of said transverse beam center lines, at least section wise, having a generally curved or polygonal shape in a first plane paralle

Assignees

• Bombardier Transp Gmbh

Inventors

• Zanutti Cedric

Classifications

• B61F3/16

  with a separate axle for each wheel · CPC title

• B22D25/02

  by its peculiarity of shape; of works of art {(cylinders, pistons B22D15/02)} · CPC title

• B61D3/02

  with multiple deck arrangements (for carrying vehicles B61D3/18) · CPC title

• B61F5/52 Primary

  Bogie frames · CPC title

• B61F5/305

  incorporating rubber springs · CPC title