CN112096768A

CN112096768A - Air spring

Info

Publication number: CN112096768A
Application number: CN202010413743.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 田中哲
Original assignee: Bridgestone Corp
Current assignee: Prologia Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-18
Filing date: 2020-05-15
Publication date: 2020-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-15
Also published as: JP7206158B2; JP2020204370A; CN112096768B

Abstract

The invention provides an air spring, which can inhibit the weight increase of the whole upper surface plate, improve the strength of the whole upper surface plate and make the spring characteristic have anisotropy. The upper surface plate of the air spring includes a main body portion and a rib portion. The upper surface of the main body portion includes: a tilt angle constant surface which is located closer to the outer edge side of the main body than the fixed portion and is tilted downward at a constant angle toward the outer edge side of the main body; and an inclination angle changing surface inclined downward while changing an angle as going toward an outer edge side of the main body portion. The upper surface of the rib portion includes a top surface and an inclined surface inclined downward toward the outer edge side of the main body portion. The outer edge of the top surface of the rib portion is located closer to the outer edge of the main body than the intersection of the extension line of the inclination angle constant surface of the main body and the tangent line at the outer edge of the inclination angle varying surface of the main body.

Description

Air spring

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air spring.

Background

Among conventional air springs are air spring devices in which: an upper surface plate and a lower surface plate are connected by a cylindrical flexible film body, and a rib portion (a protrusion portion) is provided in a main body portion of the upper surface plate (see, for example, patent document 1). With this air spring, the strength of the upper surface plate can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate by the reinforcing effect of the rib portion formed locally in the main body portion. In addition, in the air spring, since the rib portion serves as a contact portion of the upper surface plate with respect to the railway vehicle, the spring characteristic of the air spring can be controlled by changing the shape of the main body portion.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: international publication No. 2015/115198

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the conventional air spring described above is not an air spring in which the spring characteristics of the air spring are made anisotropic by making the spring characteristics different between the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the railway vehicle.

The invention aims to provide an air spring which comprises the following components: the strength of the entire upper surface plate can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate, and the spring characteristics can be made anisotropic.

Means for solving the problems

An air spring according to the present invention includes an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate, and a cylindrical flexible film body connecting the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate, wherein the upper surface plate includes a main body portion and a plurality of rib portions formed on an upper surface of the main body portion, a fixing portion of the cylindrical flexible film body is formed on a lower surface of the main body portion, and in a cross-sectional view of the upper surface plate at a part of the plurality of rib portions, the upper surface of the main body portion includes: a tilt angle constant surface which is located closer to the outer edge side of the main body than the fixing portion and is tilted downward at a constant angle toward the outer edge side of the main body; and a tilt angle varying surface which is continuous with an outer edge of the tilt angle constant surface and is inclined downward while changing an angle toward an outer edge side of the main body, wherein an upper surface of the part of the rib portion includes a top surface and a tilt surface which is continuous with an outer edge of the top surface and is inclined downward toward the outer edge side of the main body, and the outer edge of the top surface of the part of the rib portion is located closer to the outer edge side of the main body than an intersection point of an extension line of the tilt angle constant surface of the main body and a tangent line at an outer edge of the tilt angle varying surface of the main body. With the air spring according to the present invention, the strength of the entire upper surface plate can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate, and the spring characteristics can be made anisotropic.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the plurality of ribs radially extend in a plan view, and when a periphery of a radial center of the plurality of ribs is divided into four regions in the plan view, an upper surface of the main body portion of two regions facing each other across the radial center includes the constant inclination angle surface and the variable inclination angle surface, and the ribs of the two regions are the part of the ribs. In this case, the spring characteristics of the air spring can be controlled while taking into consideration the balance of the spring characteristics of the two regions opposed to each other across the radial center.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the upper surfaces of the main body in the remaining two of the four regions include a constant inclination angle surface which is located closer to the outer edge side of the main body than the fixing portion and which is inclined downward at a constant angle until the outer edge of the main body, and the upper surfaces of the rib portions in the remaining two regions are top surfaces. In this case, the spring characteristics of the air spring can be controlled while considering the balance of the spring characteristics of the two regions opposed to each other across the radial center and the remaining two regions.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the angle of the inclination angle change surface of the two regions approaches the constant angle of the inclination angle constant surface as the inclination angle change surface approaches the positions of the remaining two regions. In this case, the balance of the spring characteristics between the two regions facing each other with the radiation center interposed therebetween and the remaining two regions can be changed to a desired balance.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the inclination angle change surface of the main body portion and a portion of the lower surface of the main body portion corresponding to the inclination angle change surface are curved lines which are respectively convex in a downward-upward direction in the cross-sectional view. In this case, productivity in the casting method can be improved.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the upper surface plate is a cast member made of an aluminum alloy. In this case, the air spring is lightweight and has high productivity.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the air spring is an air spring for a railway vehicle. In this case, the strength of the entire upper panel can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper panel, and both the riding comfort and the truck performance can be achieved.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air spring including: the strength of the entire upper surface plate can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate, and the spring characteristics can be made anisotropic.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a top-bottom sectional view of an air spring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the upper surface plate shown in fig. 1 from the upper side.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the upper surface plate shown in fig. 1 from the lower side.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional O-S view of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view O-F of fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the upper surface plate of fig. 2 from the upper side of one of the four regions when the upper surface plate is divided into the four regions.

Description of the reference numerals

1. An air spring; 10. an upper surface plate; 10e, the outer edge of the upper surface plate; 11. a main body portion; 12. a rib portion; 14. a fixed part; 15. an annular rib portion; 16. an annular rib portion; 20. a lower surface plate; 30. a cylindrical flexible film body; a1, front zone (area); a2, rear area (region); a3, left area (region); a4, right area (region); F11A, the upper surface of the main body; f11a, constant inclination angle plane; f12a, inclination angle change surface; f13a, middle inclined plane; f14a, outer rim upper surface; F11B, the lower surface of the main body portion; f11b, inclination angle constant surface (lower surface corresponding thereto); f12b, inclination angle changing surface (lower surface corresponding thereto); f13b, middle inclined surface (lower surface corresponding thereto); f14b, arc surface; f2a, upper surface of rib; f21a, top surface of rib; f22a, inclined face of rib; f2b, lower surface of rib; f13b, middle inclined plane; f14b, outer edge lower surface; n, an intersection point; r1, radius of curvature of inclination angle change face; r2, the radius of curvature of the portion of the lower surface corresponding to the inclination angle change surface; p, a gradual change position; θ 11, angle of the inclination angle constant plane; theta 12, the angle of the inclination angle change plane; θ 13, angle of the intermediate inclined plane; θ 14, angle of the outer rim upper surface.

Detailed Description

An air spring according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an air spring according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air spring 1 can be used for railway vehicles, industrial machines, motor vehicles, and the like. In the following description, the air spring 1 will be described as an air spring for a railway vehicle.

In the following description, "front" and "rear" refer to the front and rear of the railway vehicle, respectively. Further, "left" and "right" refer to the left and right of the railway vehicle, respectively. "axis" refers to the central axis O of the air spring. In the present embodiment, the axis O is a vertical line extending in the vertical direction. Further, the "axial direction" refers to a direction orthogonal to the central axis O of the air spring. Further, the "axial direction" refers to a direction extending in the horizontal direction or a radial direction centered on the axis. Further, "circumferential direction" means a direction of surrounding around the center axis O of the air spring.

As shown in fig. 1, the air spring 1 includes an upper surface plate 10, a lower surface plate 20, and a cylindrical flexible film body 30 connecting the upper surface plate 10 and the lower surface plate 20.

In the present embodiment, the upper panel 10 is a substantially circular disc-shaped member attached to a railway vehicle (not shown). A railway vehicle (not shown) is mounted on the upper surface F1a of the upper panel 10. The upper surface plate 10 will be described later in detail.

In the present embodiment, the lower surface plate 20 is a substantially circular disc-shaped member attached to the bogie (not shown) side of the railway vehicle.

The cylindrical flexible film body 30 connects the upper surface plate 10 and the lower surface plate 20. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical flexible film body 30 includes an annular upper end portion 31 and an annular lower end portion 32. The upper end portion 31 is fixed to the upper surface plate 10 in an airtight state over the entire circumference of the upper end portion 31. The lower end 32 is also fixed to the lower surface plate 20 in an airtight state over the entire circumference of the lower end 32. Thus, a space S defined by the tubular flexible film body 30 is formed between the upper surface plate 10 and the lower surface plate 20. A gas such as air or an inert gas can be enclosed or supplied into the space S.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a cushioning member 21 is attached to the upper end of the lower surface plate 20. A slide plate 22 is attached to the upper surface of the cushioning member 21. When the upper surface plate 10 slides in the horizontal direction in contact with the sliding plate 22, the sliding plate 22 reduces the frictional resistance caused by the sliding. Reference numeral 20a denotes a gas flow path that penetrates the cushioning member 21 and the slide plate 22. The gas can flow between the gas flow path 20a and the space S.

In addition, in the present embodiment, a cylindrical laminated elastic body 40 is attached to the lower end of the lower surface plate 20. In the present embodiment, the layered elastic body 40 includes an annular hard member 41 and an annular soft member 42. The annular hard member 41 and the annular soft member 42 are laminated on each other, whereby the gas flow channel 20b is formed inside the laminated elastic body 40. The gas can flow between the gas flow path 20b and the gas flow path 20 a. Further, in the present embodiment, the laminated elastic body 40 includes the mounting shaft 43. The mounting shaft 43 has a seal ring 44 and can be mounted to the bogie of the railway vehicle. The mounting shaft 43 is formed with a gas flow passage 20 c. The gas can flow between the gas flow path 20c and the outside.

The upper surface plate 10 is explained in detail herein.

As shown in fig. 2, the upper surface plate 10 includes a main body 11 and a plurality of rib portions 12 formed on an upper surface F11A of the main body 11.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the plurality of ribs 12 extend radially in a plan view. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the rib 12 is a linear rib in a plan view. In the present embodiment, the radial center of the plurality of ribs 12 is set as the center axis O of the air spring 1. In the present embodiment, 16 ribs 12 are exemplarily formed. In the present embodiment, an annular rib 15 and a rib 16 are also formed on the upper surface F11A of the main body 11. As shown in fig. 2, in plan view, the annular rib 15 is located radially outward of the annular rib 16, and is formed concentrically with the rib 16. The rib 16 is formed integrally with a shaft portion 17 for mounting the railway vehicle. In the present embodiment, the plurality of ribs 12 are formed integrally with the

ribs

15 and 16, respectively.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the periphery of the radial center of the plurality of ribs 12 of the upper surface plate 10 may be divided into four regions a1 to a4 in plan view. In the present embodiment, the region a1 and the region a2 are two regions facing each other with the radiation center interposed therebetween. Specifically, the area a1 is the left area, and the area a2 is the right area. In this embodiment, the region A3 and the region a4 are the remaining two regions of the four regions a1 to a 4. Specifically, region A3 is the forward region, and region a4 is the rearward region.

As shown in fig. 3, the fixing portion 14 of the cylindrical flexible film body 30 is formed on the lower surface F11B of the main body 11. In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 14 is an annular groove that surrounds the central axis O of the air spring 1. In the present embodiment, the upper end portion 31 of the cylindrical flexible film body 30 is fitted to the fixing portion 14 in an airtight state.

Here, fig. 4 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the upper surface plate 10 in the left area a 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional O-S view of fig. 2. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of O-S is parallel to the left-right direction. That is, fig. 4 is a sectional view of the upper surface plate 10 at the rib 12 extending leftward from among the plurality of ribs 12 on the main body portion 11. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of fig. 4. In the present embodiment, the "cross-sectional view" means a cross-sectional view including the center axis O of the air spring.

In the present embodiment, the main body 11 and the rib 12 in the left region a1 of the upper surface plate 10 are each configured as described below.

As shown in fig. 5, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 includes an inclination angle constant surface F11a and an inclination angle varying surface F12a in a range from the rib portion 16 to the left region a1, the inclination angle constant surface F11a is located closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e side than the fixing portion 14 and is inclined downward at a constant angle θ 11a toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side, and the inclination angle varying surface F12a is continuous with the outer edge of the inclination angle constant surface F11a and is inclined downward while varying the angle θ 12a as going toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side.

As shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the angle θ 11a of the inclination angle constant surface F11a is an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal line Lh) and is an acute angle side angle. As described above, the angle θ 11a is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclination angle constant surface F11a becomes a straight line L11 a. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 12a of the inclination angle change surface F12a is also an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal line Lh) and is an acute angle. As described above, the angle θ 12a changes so as to be inclined downward toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclination angle change surface F12a is a curve formed by a tangent L12a of the angle θ 12 a.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 includes an intermediate inclined surface F13a and an outer edge upper surface F14a, the intermediate inclined surface F13a is continuous with the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle change surface F12a and is inclined downward toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side, and the outer edge upper surface F14a is continuous with the outer edge 131e1 of the intermediate inclined surface F13a and extends toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the intermediate inclined surface F13a is inclined downward at an angle θ 13 toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side in a cross-sectional view. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 13a of the intermediate inclined surface F13a is also an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal line Lh) and is an acute angle side angle. The angle θ 13a is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the sectional view, the contour line of the intermediate inclined surface F13a becomes the straight line L13 a. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the outer edge upper surface F14a of the main body portion 11 extends in the horizontal direction toward the main body portion outer edge 11 e. However, in the sectional view, the outer edge upper surface F14a may extend downward at an angle θ 14a (not shown) toward the main body portion outer edge 11 e. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 14a of the outer edge upper surface F14a is also an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal line Lh) and is an acute angle side angle. The angle θ 14a is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the outer edge upper surface F14a becomes a straight line L14 a. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 14a is such that θ 14a is 0 °. Further, according to the present invention, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the outer edge upper surface F14a can be a curved line.

On the other hand, the upper surface F2a of a part of the ribs 12 among the plurality of ribs 12 includes a top surface F21a and an inclined surface F22a, the inclined surface F22a being continuous with the outer edge 211e of the top surface 21a and inclined downward toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side.

In the present embodiment, referring to fig. 2, the partial rib portion 12 is a plurality of rib portions 12 in each of a plurality of rib portions 12 (5 rib portions 12 in the drawing) in a left region a1 and a plurality of rib portions 12 (5 rib portions 12 in the drawing) in a right region a2 of the rib portion 12 on the side of the main body portion outer edge 11e with respect to the annular rib portion 15.

In the present embodiment, the rib 12 supports the railway vehicle together with the

ribs

15 and 16. As shown in fig. 4 and the like, in the present embodiment, the top surface F21a of the rib 12 in the left region a1 is a horizontal surface extending parallel to the horizontal direction. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the sectional view, the contour line of the top surface F21a of the rib 12 is a straight line L21a extending parallel to the horizontal direction. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, in the sectional view, the top surface F21a of the rib 12 is flush with the upper surface F15a of the rib 15 and the upper surface F16a of the rib 16. In contrast, as shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the inclined surface F22a of the rib 12 is inclined downward at an angle θ 22a toward the main body outer edge 11 e. The angle θ 22a is also an angle with respect to the axial straight direction (horizontal line Lh), and is an acute angle side angle. The angle θ 22a is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the sectional view, the contour line of the inclined surface F22a becomes the straight line L22 a. In the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclined surface F22a may be curved.

The outer edge 211e of the top surface F21 of the partial rib 12 among the plurality of ribs 12 is located closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e than the intersection point N of the extension line of the constant inclination angle plane F11a of the main body portion 11 and the tangent line to the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle change plane F12a of the main body portion 11.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the outer edge 211e of the top surface F21 of the rib portion 12 in the left region a1 is the intersection of the top surface F21a and the inclined surface F22 a. In the present embodiment, as described above, the contour line of the ceiling surface F21a is the straight line L21 a. In the present embodiment, the contour line of the inclined surface F22a of the rib 12 is a straight line L22 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the outer edge 211e of the top surface F21 of the rib 12 is the intersection of the straight line L21a and the straight line L22 a.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the intersection point N is an intersection point of an extension line of the inclination angle constant surface F11a of the main body portion 11 and a tangent line at the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle varying surface F12a of the main body portion 11. In the present embodiment, as described above, the contour line of the inclination angle constant plane F11a is the straight line L11a as shown in fig. 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the extension line of the inclination angle fixing surface F11a of the main body 11 is the straight line L11 a. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle change face F12a coincides with the inner edge of the intermediate inclined face F13 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the tangent line at the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle change surface F12a becomes an extension of the contour line of the intermediate inclined surface F13a at the inner edge of the intermediate inclined surface F13 a. In the present embodiment, as described above, the contour line of the intermediate inclined surface F13a is the straight line L13a, as shown in fig. 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the extension line of the contour line of the intermediate inclined surface F13a becomes the straight line L13 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the intersection point N is an intersection point of the straight line L11a and the straight line L13 a.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in the left region a1, the outer edge 211e of the top surface F21a of the rib portion 12 is located farther to the body portion outer edge 11e side in the left-right direction by the distance Δ D than the intersection point N.

In the present embodiment, left area a1 and right area a2 of upper surface plate 10 are symmetrically configured with axis O in between. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the body portion 11 and the rib portion 12 in the right region a2 of the upper surface plate 10 are also configured in the same manner as the left region a1 described above.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, in the cross-sectional view of the rib portion 12 of the plurality of rib portions 12, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 includes the constant inclination angle surface F11a and the variable inclination angle surface F12a on the main body portion outer edge 11e side of the fixing portion 14 of the tubular flexible film body 30, so that the spring constant of the air spring 1 (the stiffness of the air spring 1) can be increased in the portion 111 of the main body portion 11 where the constant inclination angle surface F11a is formed and the portion 121 of the main body portion 11 where the variable inclination angle surface F12a is formed. That is, according to the present embodiment, the spring characteristics of the air spring 1 can be controlled by changing the shape of the main body portion 11. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the spring characteristics of the air spring 1 can be controlled locally.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the plurality of ribs 12 extend radially in a plan view. In this case, as shown in fig. 2, when the periphery of the radial center of the plurality of ribs 12 of the main body 11 is divided into four regions a1 to a4 in plan view, the four regions a1 to a4 can be divided into a left region a1, a right region a2, a front region A3, and a rear region a4, respectively. Thus, if the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 is disposed in any one of the four regions a1 to a4 as shown in fig. 4, the portion 111 including the inclination angle constant plane F11a and the portion 121 including the inclination angle varying plane F12a are located closer to the main body outer edge 11e than the fixed portion 14 of the tubular flexible film body 30, the upper surface plate 10 can have an anisotropic structure in which the structures of the four regions a1 to a4 are different from each other. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, anisotropy can be imparted to the spring characteristics of the air spring 1.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the strength of the entire upper surface plate 10 can be improved by the reinforcing effect of the plurality of ribs 12. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the plurality of ribs 12 are provided locally on the body portion 11 of the upper surface plate 10, the weight of the entire upper surface plate 10 can be reduced as compared with a case where the strength of the entire upper surface plate 10 is increased by increasing the thickness of the entire upper surface plate 10.

As shown in fig. 5, when the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 includes the constant-inclination-angle surface F11a and the variable-inclination-angle surface F12a at a position closer to the main body outer edge 11e than the fixed portion 14 of the tubular flexible film body 30 in the cross-sectional view of the upper panel 10 at a part of the plurality of ribs 12, a load applied to the main body 11 from a supporting object such as a railway vehicle via the ribs 12 causes stress concentration between the outer edge 111e1 of the constant-inclination-angle surface F11a and the outer edge 121e1 of the variable-inclination-angle surface F12a of the main body 11, that is, at the middle portion of the variable-inclination-angle surface F12 a.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the outer edge 211e of the top surface F21a of the rib 12 is located closer to the main body outer edge 11e than the intersection point N of the extension line (L11a) of the inclination angle constant surface F11a of the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 and the tangent line (L13a) at the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle varying surface F12a of the main body 11. In this case, as shown in fig. 5, the outer edge 211e of the top surface F21a of the rib 12 is displaced from the middle portion of the inclination angle change surface F12a toward the main body outer edge 11e side between the outer edge 111e1 of the inclination angle constant surface F11a of the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 and the outer edge 121e1 of the inclination angle change surface F12a, and the middle portion of the inclination angle change surface F12a is covered with the top surface F21a directly below the top surface F21a of the rib 12. As a result, since the load applied from the supporting object such as a railway vehicle to the main body 11 via the rib 12 is applied via the top surface F21a of the rib 12, the stress concentration generated in the middle portion of the inclination angle change surface F12a of the main body 11 can be alleviated.

As described above, according to the air spring 1 of the present embodiment, the strength of the entire upper surface plate 10 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate 10, and the spring characteristics can be made anisotropic.

In addition, the operation of the railway vehicle is liable to be unstable in the right-left direction during operation. Therefore, in the case of the air spring for a railway vehicle, it is preferable to increase the rigidity in the left-right direction. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 and the upper surface F2a of the rib portion 12 in the left region a1 and the right region a2 of the upper surface plate 10 are configured to increase the spring constant of the air spring 1 in the portion 111 of the main body portion 11 where the inclination angle constant surface F11a is formed and in the portion 121 of the main body portion 11 where the inclination angle varying surface F12a is formed, as described above. Thus, in the present embodiment, the spring constant, i.e., the stiffness, in the left-right direction of the air spring 1 can be increased. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the air spring is stable in the lateral movement of the railway vehicle and excellent in the riding comfort.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the plurality of ribs 12 extend radially in plan view, and the periphery of the radial center (axis O) of the plurality of ribs 12 is divided into four regions a1 to a 4. In this case, it is preferable that the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 of the two regions a1 and a2 (the region A3 and the region a4) opposed to each other across the radiation center include the constant inclination angle surface F11a and the inclination angle change surface F12a, and the rib 12 of the two regions a1 and a2 (the region A3 and the region a4) is the partial rib 12.

In the present embodiment, as described with reference to fig. 4 and 5, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 of the left region a1 and the right region a2 opposed to each other across the radiation center among the four regions a1 to a4 divided around the radiation center of the plurality of ribs 12 includes the inclination angle constant surface F11a and the inclination angle varying surface F12a, respectively. In this case, the upper surface plate 10 may have an anisotropic structure different from that of the other regions in the left region a1 and the right region a2 which face each other across the radiation center among the four regions a1 to a 4. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the spring constant of the air spring 1 in the left region a1 and the right region a2 and to impart anisotropy to the spring characteristics of the air spring 1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the spring characteristics of the air spring 1 can be controlled while considering the balance of the spring characteristics of the left area a1 and the right area a 2.

In the air spring 1 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that, in the cross-sectional view, the inclination angle change surface F12a of the main body portion 11 and the portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body portion 11 corresponding to the inclination angle change surface F12a are curved lines that are convex in the downward and upward direction.

For example, in the case of forming the upper surface plate 10 by a casting method, if the thickness of the upper surface plate 10 is made uniform (constant), the productivity of the upper surface plate 10 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 includes a constant inclination angle surface F11a on the main body outer edge 11e side of the fixing portion 14. In contrast, as shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body 11 corresponding to the constant-inclination-angle surface F11a includes a constant-inclination-angle surface F11b parallel to the constant-inclination-angle surface F11 a. As shown in fig. 5, the inclination angle constant surface F11b is located closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e than the fixed portion 14, and is inclined downward at an angle θ 11b toward the main body portion outer edge 11 e. The angle θ 11b of the inclination angle constant plane F11b is an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal direction), and is an acute angle side angle. As described above, the angle θ 11b is a constant angle at which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclination angle constant surface F11b becomes a straight line L11 b. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 11b is the same angle as the angle θ 11 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thickness t11 of the portion 111 of the main body portion 11, which is defined by the inclination-angle-constant surface F11a and the inclination-angle-constant surface F11b of the main body portion 11, becomes uniform (constant).

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 includes an inclination angle changing surface F12a protruding in a downward-upward direction at a position closer to the main body outer edge 11e than the inclination angle constant surface F11 a. As shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle change surface F12a of the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 is formed with a radius of curvature R1. In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, a portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body 11 corresponding to the inclination angle changing surface F12a is an inclination angle changing surface F12b that protrudes in a downward-upward direction, like the inclination angle changing surface F12 a. As shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle change surface F12b of the lower surface F11B of the main body portion 11 is formed with a radius of curvature R2. According to the present embodiment, by setting the size of the curvature radius R1 and the size of the curvature radius R2 to be the same or substantially the same value, and by appropriately arranging the curvature center O1 of the inclination-angle-changing surface F12a and the curvature center O2 of the inclination-angle-changing surface F12b so as to be offset, the thickness t12 of the portion 121 of the main body 11 defined by the inclination-angle-changing surface F12a and the inclination-angle-changing surface F12b of the main body 11 can be made uniform (constant).

In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 includes an intermediate inclined surface F13a on the main body portion outer edge 11e side of the inclination angle change surface F12 a. In contrast, as shown in fig. 5, in the present embodiment, the portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body 11 corresponding to the intermediate inclined surface F13a is an intermediate inclined surface F13b parallel to the intermediate inclined surface F13 a. As shown in fig. 5, the intermediate inclined surface F13b is continuous with the outer edge 121e2 of the inclination angle change surface F12b, and is inclined downward at an angle θ 13b toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side. The angle θ 13b of the intermediate inclined surface F13b is an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal direction), and is an acute angle side angle. As described above, the angle θ 13b is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclination angle constant surface F13b becomes a straight line L13 b. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 13b is the same angle as the angle θ 13 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thickness t13 of the portion 131 of the main body portion 11 defined by the intermediate inclined surface F13a and the intermediate inclined surface F13b of the main body portion 11 becomes uniform (constant).

In the present embodiment, the thickness t12 of the portion 121 of the inclination angle varying surface F12a of the main body portion 11 is made uniform (constant) with the thickness t11 of the portion 111 of the inclination angle constant surface F11a of the main body portion 11 and the thickness t13 of the portion 131 of the intermediate inclined surface F13 a. Thus, according to the present embodiment, productivity of the upper surface plate 10, for example, productivity in a casting method can be improved by securing a portion having a uniform thickness to be large.

As shown in fig. 5, in the cross-sectional view, in the present embodiment, the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 includes an outer edge upper surface F14a on the main body outer edge 11e side of the intermediate inclined surface F13 a. In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, in a cross-sectional view, a portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body portion 11 corresponding to the outer edge upper surface F14a is an arc surface F14b that protrudes in a downward direction. As shown in fig. 5, in the sectional view, the contour line of the arc surface F14b is an arc-shaped curve L14b continuous with the outer edge of the intermediate inclined surface F13 b. This enables the tubular flexible film body 30 to smoothly follow the upper surface plate 10 during the operation of the air spring 1 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the outer edge upper surface F14a of the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 extends in the horizontal direction toward the main body outer edge 11e, and is more preferably inclined toward the upper surface outer edge 10 e. Thus, according to the present embodiment, foreign matter such as moisture and dust can be prevented from adhering to the outer edge upper surface F14a of the main body 11.

In the air spring according to the present invention, it is preferable that the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 in the remaining two regions A3 and a4 of the four regions a1 through a4 include a constant inclination angle surface F18a, the constant inclination angle surface F18a is located closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e than the fixing portion 14, and is inclined downward up to the main body portion outer edge 11e at a constant angle θ 18a with respect to the vertical direction, and the upper surface F2a of the rib portion 12 in the remaining two regions A3 and a4 is a ceiling surface F28 a.

Here, fig. 6 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the upper panel 10 in the front region a 3. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view O-F of fig. 2. In the present embodiment, the extending direction of O-F is parallel to the front-rear direction. That is, fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper surface plate 10 at the rib 12 extending in the front-rear direction among the plurality of ribs 12.

In the present embodiment, the main body 11 and the rib 12 in the front region a3 of the upper surface plate 10 are each configured as described below.

In the present embodiment, the inclination angle maintaining surface F18a is located closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e side than the fixing portion 14 in the front region A3, and is inclined downward at an angle θ 18a toward the main body portion outer edge 11e side. As shown in fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the angle θ 18a is an angle with respect to the vertical direction (horizontal line Lh). The angle θ 18a is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. Therefore, as shown in fig. 6, in the cross-sectional view, the contour line of the inclination angle constant surface F18a becomes a straight line L18 a.

In the present embodiment, the upper surface F2a of the rib 12 in the front area a3 is the top surface F28a of the rib 12. In the present embodiment, the railway vehicle is supported by the top surfaces F28a of the rib portions 12. As shown in fig. 6 and the like, in the present embodiment, the top surface F28a of the rib portion 12 in the front region A3 and the top surface F21a of the rib portion 12 in the left region a1 and the right region a2 form the same plane. That is, in the present embodiment, the top surface F28a of the upper surface F2a of the rib 12 of the front region a3 is a horizontal surface. As shown in fig. 6, the contour line of the top surface F28a of the rib 12 of the front region a3 is a straight line L28 a. The straight line L28a is parallel to a straight line L21a that is the outline of the top surface 21a of the rib portion 12 in the left and right regions a1 and a 2.

In the present embodiment, the front region A3 and the rear region a4 of the upper panel 10 are symmetrically configured with the axis O therebetween. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the main body 11 and the rib 12 in the rear region a4 of the upper surface plate 10 are also configured in the same manner as the front region A3 described above.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 of the remaining two regions, i.e., the front region A3 and the rear region a4, out of the four regions a1 to a4 includes a constant inclination angle surface F18a at a position closer to the main body portion outer edge 11e than the fixing portion 14, the constant inclination angle surface F18a is inclined downward at a constant angle θ 18a until the main body portion outer edge 11e, and the upper surface F2a of the rib portion 12 of the front region A3 and the rear region a4 is the ceiling surface F28 a. In this case, the upper panel 10 may have an anisotropic structure in which two regions a1 and a2 of the four regions a1 to a4 facing each other with the radiation center interposed therebetween are different from the remaining two regions A3 and a 4. That is, according to the present embodiment, the spring constant of the left region a1 and the right region a2 facing each other across the radial center is increased, and the spring constant is made different from the spring constant of the front region A3 and the rear region a4, which are the remaining two regions, whereby anisotropy can be imparted to the spring characteristics of the air spring 1. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the spring characteristics of the air spring 1 can be controlled while considering the balance of the spring characteristics in the left and right regions a1 and a2 facing each other across the radial center and the remaining two regions, i.e., the front region A3 and the rear region a 4.

In particular, when the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 is configured as described above in the two remaining regions, i.e., the front region A3 and the rear region a4, the main body 11 has the inclination angle stabilizing surface F18a in the front region A3 and the rear region a4, and the thickness of the portion from the main body outer edge 11e side with respect to the fixing portion 14 to the main body outer edge 11e is made uniform (constant). Thereby, productivity of the upper surface plate 10, for example, productivity in a casting method can be improved in correspondence with the portion capable of securing a uniform thickness to be large.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, in a cross-sectional view, the upper surface F11A of the main body 11 includes a constant inclination angle surface F18a on the main body outer edge 11e side of the fixing portion 14. In contrast, as shown in fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the portion of the lower surface F11B of the main body 11 corresponding to the inclination angle constant surface F18a is an inclination angle constant surface F18b parallel to the inclination angle constant surface F18 a. As shown in fig. 6, the inclination angle constant surface F18b of the lower surface F11B of the main body 11 is located closer to the main body outer edge 11e than the fixed portion 14, and is inclined downward at an angle θ 18b toward the main body outer edge 11 e. The angle θ 18b of the inclination angle constant plane F18b is an angle with respect to the axial direction (horizontal direction). The angle θ 18b is a constant angle of which the angle is fixed. In the present embodiment, the angle θ 18b coincides with the angle θ 18 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thickness t18 of the portion 18 of the main body portion 11, which is defined by the inclination-angle-constant surface F18a and the inclination-angle-constant surface F18b of the main body portion 11, becomes uniform (constant). Thus, according to the present embodiment, productivity in the casting method can be improved.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the angle θ 12a of the inclination angle changing surface F12a of two regions a1 and a2 with respect to the vertical direction is close to the constant angle θ 11a of the inclination angle constant surface F11a as the inclination angle changing surface F12a is close to the remaining two regions A3 and a 4.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 7, the inclination of the inclination-angle changing surface F12a of the left region a1 and the right region a2 is configured to be close to the constant inclination of the inclination-angle constant surface F11a as the inclination-angle changing surface F12a is located closer to the front region A3 and the rear region a4, which are the remaining two regions. In fig. 7, a mark P indicates a position (gradation position) where the slope of the inclination change plane F12a of the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 starts to approach the constant angle θ 11a of the inclination angle constant plane F11 a. In this case, as shown in fig. 7, by adjusting the position (gradation position) P at which the slope of the inclination varying surface F12a of the upper surface F11A of the main body portion 11 starts to approach the constant angle θ 11a of the inclination angle constant surface F11a in the circumferential direction, the balance of the spring characteristics of the left and right regions a1 and a2, which are two regions opposed to each other, and the front and rear regions A3 and a4, which are the remaining two regions, can be changed to a desired balance.

In the present embodiment, the upper surface plate 10 is preferably a cast member made of an aluminum alloy. In the present embodiment, the upper surface plate 10 is a cast member made of an aluminum alloy. In this case, the upper surface plate 10 is a lightweight member with high productivity. Therefore, the air spring 1 is lightweight and has high productivity.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the air spring 1 is preferably an air spring for a railway vehicle. In this case, while the weight of the entire upper panel 10 is suppressed from increasing, the strength of the entire upper panel 10 can be improved, and the riding comfort and the truck performance can be achieved at the same time.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the air spring 1: the strength of the entire upper surface plate 10 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the entire upper surface plate 10, and the spring characteristics can be made anisotropic.

The above description is merely illustrative of several embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications can be made according to the claims. The air spring according to the present invention is not limited to the structure adopted in the above-described embodiment. For example, in the upper panel 10, the configuration of the main body 11 and the rib 12 on the inner edge (radial center) side of the upper panel with respect to the fixing portion 14 can be set as appropriate. The configurations of the lower surface plate 20, the cylindrical flexible film body 30, and the laminated elastic body 40 can also be set as appropriate.

Claims

1. An air spring comprising an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate, and a cylindrical flexible film body connecting the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate,

the upper surface plate includes a main body portion and a plurality of rib portions formed on an upper surface of the main body portion,

a fixing portion of the cylindrical flexible film body is formed on a lower surface of the main body portion,

in a cross-sectional view of the upper surface plate at a portion of the plurality of ribs,

the upper surface of the main body portion includes: a tilt angle constant surface which is located closer to the outer edge side of the main body than the fixing portion and is tilted downward at a constant angle toward the outer edge side of the main body; and an inclination angle changing surface which is continuous with an outer edge of the inclination angle constant surface and is inclined downward while changing an angle toward an outer edge side of the main body,

an upper surface of the portion of the rib portion includes a top surface and an inclined surface which is continuous with an outer edge of the top surface and inclined downward toward an outer edge side of the main body,

the outer edge of the top surface of the partial rib portion is located closer to the outer edge of the main body than an intersection point of an extension line of the inclination angle constant surface of the main body and a tangent line at the outer edge of the inclination angle varying surface of the main body.

2. The air spring of claim 1,

in a plan view, the plurality of ribs extend radially,

in the plan view, when the periphery of the radial center of the plurality of rib portions is divided into four regions, the upper surface of the main body portion in two regions opposed to each other across the radial center includes the inclination angle constant surface and the inclination angle varying surface,

the rib of the two regions is the part of the rib.

3. The air spring of claim 2,

the upper surface of the main body portion of the remaining two of the four regions includes a constant inclination angle surface which is located on the outer edge side of the main body portion with respect to the fixing portion and which is inclined downward at a constant angle up to the outer edge of the main body portion,

the upper surface of the rib of the remaining two regions is a top surface.

4. The air spring according to claim 2 or 3,

in the air spring, the angles of the inclination angle change surfaces of the two regions approach the constant angle of the inclination angle constant surface as the inclination angle change surface approaches the remaining two regions of the four regions.

5. Air spring according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

in the cross-sectional view, the inclination angle change surface of the main body portion and a portion of the lower surface of the main body portion corresponding to the inclination angle change surface are curved lines that are convex in a downward-upward direction, respectively.

6. Air spring according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the upper surface plate is a casting made of aluminum alloy.

7. Air spring according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the air spring is used for a railway vehicle.