CN114056373A - End cover assembly and axle box device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an end cover assembly for an axle box assembly and an axle box assembly. The end cover assembly comprises an end cover (6) and a conductive ring (2), wherein the end cover (6) is used for being fixed at the axial end side of the transmission shaft (3) and is provided with an annular flange part protruding along the axial direction, the conductive ring (2) is fixed at the inner circumferential surface of the annular flange part of the end cover (6) in a conductive mode, and the conductive ring (2) can be fixed at the outer circumferential surface of the transmission shaft (3) through interference fit at the inner circumferential surface. The axle box device comprises the end cover assembly and a rolling bearing sleeved on the transmission shaft (3).

Description

End cover assembly and axle box device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of bogies. The invention relates in particular to an axle box arrangement for a bogie.

Background

The bogie of a train usually comprises a frame, wheel sets and axlebox units. Axle box arrangements are used to couple the wheel sets and the truck frame.

In an axle box arrangement for a train bogie, an axle box body and a rolling bearing are provided, the rolling bearing comprising in particular an outer ring fixed to the axle box body and an inner ring fixed to the axle. The axle box arrangement further comprises an end cap screwed to the axle, which end cap holds the rolling bearing at its predetermined axial position at one axial side of the rolling bearing.

For example, patent document CN 102859217B discloses a bearing device for an axle of a railway vehicle, the bearing device including a rolling bearing and an end cap, wherein the end cap is fixed to a wheel axle by a bolt member fastened to a front end face of the wheel axle, and an annular flange portion of the end cap surrounds an axial end portion of the wheel axle and abuts against an inner ring of the rolling bearing through an intermediate member. Also for example, in patent document CN 102951170B, an axle box for a railway vehicle is disclosed, which comprises a rolling bearing and an end cap, wherein the end cap has an annular ridge defined by two cylindrical surfaces, which is inserted in an annular groove formed by an axle and an inner ring of the rolling bearing. In the above solution, the annular flange portion or the annular ridge portion of the end cap is in clearance fit with the end section of the axle.

Furthermore, the end caps can also be connected with the grounding device for the bogie, so that the charge at the grounding device can be transferred through the end caps to the axle and further via the wheels to the rail. In the case of the solutions according to the prior art, however, galvanic corrosion phenomena occur at the ends of the wheel axle, in particular in the region of contact with the annular flange portion or the annular bead of the end cap.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an axle box arrangement, in particular for a bogie, which avoids or reduces the problem of galvanic corrosion at the ends of the axle.

The above objects are achieved in one aspect by an end cap assembly, particularly for an axle housing arrangement, provided herein. The end cap assembly provided herein may be used in particular for an axle housing arrangement, the end cap assembly comprising an end cap and an electrically conductive ring, wherein the end cap is intended to be fixed at an axial end side of a drive shaft and has an axially protruding annular flange portion, wherein the electrically conductive ring is fixed in an electrically conductive manner at an inner circumferential surface of the annular flange portion of the end cap, and the electrically conductive ring is fixable with its inner circumferential surface at an outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft by interference fit.

The conductive ring is arranged here in particular concentrically with the annular flange portion of the end cap. When the gearbox assembly is mounted to a drive shaft, e.g. an axle, the centre axis of the end cap assembly, i.e. the centre axis common to the conductive ring and the annular flange portion of the end cap, coincides with the axis of rotation of the drive shaft.

Within the scope of this disclosure, the terms "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" are defined with reference to the central axis of the end cap assembly, unless otherwise specified.

The conductive ring is configured here as a ring with conductive capability. Preferably, the conductive ring has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface. Preferably, the conductive ring has a cylindrical inner peripheral surface. Thereby facilitating a stable radial fixation of the conductive ring between the annular flange portion of the end cap and the drive shaft. Both the end cap and the drive shaft are made of an electrically conductive material, such as metal.

In a preferred embodiment, the conductive ring can be fixed with its outer circumferential surface at the inner circumferential surface of the annular flange portion of the end cap by interference fit, thereby facilitating replacement of the conductive ring when the end cap assembly is disassembled.

Alternatively, the conductive ring can be fixed at the inner circumferential surface of the annular flange portion of the end cap by means of a welding process or by means of a conductive adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment, the conductive ring is made of metal. It is particularly preferred that the conductive ring is composed of a metal having a lower hardness and a higher electrical conductivity than the material of the end cap and the drive shaft. For example, the conductive ring is made of a copper material.

Alternatively, the conductive ring may be made of a conductive polymer material.

In an advantageous embodiment, the end cap has a connection for connection to an axial end face of the drive shaft.

Particularly advantageously, the connection is configured as a bolt hole. In this case, the axle housing arrangement further comprises a bolt for fastening the end cap on the end face of the drive shaft. Thereby enabling a reliable positioning of the end cap, in particular in axial and radial direction.

The above object is achieved in another aspect by a spindle housing arrangement. The axle box device comprises the end cover assembly according to the embodiment and a rolling bearing sleeved on the transmission shaft.

Preferably, the axle housing arrangement comprises an axle housing. The end cap assembly may be an integral part of the axle housing. The end cap assembly can in particular enclose the drive shaft, preferably the wheel axle, on one axial side.

The rolling bearing is preferably designed as a bearing suitable for an axle box arrangement of a bogie, for example a double-row tapered roller bearing or a double-row cylindrical roller bearing. Here, the rolling bearing is preferably accommodated in the axle housing. The rolling bearing comprises an inner ring fixed to the drive shaft, e.g. the wheel shaft, and an outer ring mounted in a bearing housing, e.g. the axlebox housing. In this case, the components of the rolling bearing, in particular the inner ring, can be positioned on one axial side by means of the end cap assembly. Furthermore, the rolling bearing is advantageously provided with a lubricant, wherein the lubricant is, for example, grease or lubricating oil.

In an alternative embodiment, the axle housing arrangement further comprises a sealing member. The seal member is preferably configured at the axially outer end of the rolling bearing to prevent leakage of lubricant filled in the annular inner space of the rolling bearing and to prevent intrusion of dirt such as dust into the annular inner space. Advantageously, the sealing component is designed as an annular sealing cap arranged concentrically to the rolling bearing. The sealing cap is preferably a metal component, in particular a steel component. The sealing element, for example a sealing cap, is preferably mounted on the outer ring of the rolling bearing by means of an interference fit.

In an alternative embodiment, the axlebox arrangement further comprises a sensing member. The sensor element is designed, for example, as a sensor ring for measuring a rotational speed or a rotational angle.

By the end cover assembly for the axle box device and the axle box device provided by the invention, tight connection can be established between the annular flange part of the end cover and the transmission shaft, particularly the axle shaft, by means of the conductive ring, so that a reliable current path is established, electric charge can be discharged in time, and electric charge accumulation is avoided. Meanwhile, the fixing mode of the conducting ring can reduce or even avoid oil films formed by the lubricant between the end cover and the conducting ring and between the conducting ring and the transmission shaft, so that electric erosion caused by sparks generated by the oil films can be avoided as much as possible.

In particular, in the preferred embodiment in which the conductive ring is configured as a copper ring, since the copper material has a higher electrical conductivity than the steel, in particular the cast steel material, which configures the end cap and the transmission shaft, the electrical charge at the end cap can be more timely guided to the transmission shaft, which is beneficial for more efficiently implementing the grounding function. Furthermore, since the copper material has a low hardness, the conductive ring can be very easily clamped, for example, by interference fit, between the end cover and the propeller shaft when mounted, whereby lubricant that may be present at the outer periphery of the axial end portion of the propeller shaft can be squeezed away, preventing the formation of an oil film, and thus contributing to avoiding the formation of galvanic corrosion, particularly at the axial end portion of the propeller shaft. In addition, when maintenance or service is required, the end caps can be removed relatively easily without excessive wear on the drive shaft and the end caps.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are schematically illustrated in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. The attached drawings are as follows:

fig. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of an axle housing arrangement according to a preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an axial cross-section of an axle housing arrangement according to a preferred embodiment. The axle box device is used for a bogie of a train in the present embodiment and is mounted at an axial end of the axle 3.

As shown in fig. 1, the axle housing assembly includes an end cap assembly, a rolling bearing 1, a sealing member 7, and a sensing member 8, which are coaxially arranged.

The rolling bearing 1 is configured as a double-row tapered roller bearing in the present embodiment. Specifically, the rolling bearing 1 includes an inner ring fixed to the wheel shaft 3 and an outer ring mounted in a housing (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the seal member 7 is disposed at the axial end portion of the rolling bearing 1 on the free end side of the wheel shaft 3 to prevent grease filled in the annular inner space of the rolling bearing 1 from leaking out, and to prevent dirt such as dust from intruding into the annular inner space. The sealing component is designed here as a sealing cap 7 which is fixed to the outer ring of the rolling bearing 1 by means of an interference fit. The sealing cap 7 is a steel stamping and is annular in shape as a whole.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sensor element 8 is designed as a sensor ring for measuring a rotational speed or a rotational angle. The sensor ring 8 is also arranged here at the axial end of the rolling bearing 1 on the side of the free end of the wheel axle 3.

The end cap assembly comprises an end cap 6 and a conductive ring 2. The end cap 6 is constructed as a disk-shaped cover member in its entirety and has an annular flange portion projecting in the axial direction. The end cover 6 is fixed at the axial end face of the hub 3 by the bolt 4. The end cap 6 in this case stops the rolling bearing 1, in particular the inner ring, in the axial direction. The conductive ring 2 is configured in the present embodiment as a copper ring that is fixed with a cylindrical outer peripheral surface by interference fit at an inner peripheral surface of an annular flange portion of the end cover 6, and is fixed with a cylindrical inner peripheral surface by interference fit at an outer peripheral surface of an end portion of the hub 3.

Fig. 1 also shows a grounding member 5 for the bogie, which grounding member 5 can be mounted at the outer circumferential surface of the end cover 6 by interference fit in the present embodiment. The electrical charge thus transferred via the grounding part 5 to the end cover 6 can be transferred in time in the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 1 to the axle 3 via the copper ring 2 with high electrical conductivity. In this case, an oil film is not easily formed between the copper ring 2 and the wheel axle 3, so that galvanic corrosion at the end of the wheel axle 3 is advantageously avoided.

Although possible embodiments have been described by way of example in the above description, it should be understood that numerous embodiment variations exist, still by way of combination of all technical features and embodiments that are known and that are obvious to a person skilled in the art. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. From the foregoing description, one of ordinary skill in the art will more particularly provide a technical guide to convert at least one exemplary embodiment, wherein various changes may be made, particularly in matters of function and structure of the components described, without departing from the scope of the following claims.

List of reference numerals

1 rolling bearing

2 conducting ring

3 drive shaft, wheel axle

4 bolt

5 ground connection part

6 end cap

7 sealing member, sealing cover

8 sensing member, sensing ring

Claims (9)

1. An end cap assembly for an axle housing apparatus, the end cap assembly comprising:

an end cap (6) for fixing at an axial end side of the drive shaft (3) and having an annular flange portion projecting in an axial direction,

characterized in that, the end cover subassembly still includes:

the conductive ring (2) is fixed at the inner circumferential surface of the annular flange part of the end cover (6) in a conductive manner, and the conductive ring (2) can be fixed at the outer circumferential surface of the transmission shaft (3) through interference fit at the inner circumferential surface.

2. End cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive ring (2) is fixable with its outer circumference at the inner circumference of the annular flange portion of the end cap (6) by interference fit.

3. The end cap assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrically conductive ring (2) is comprised of metal.

4. The end cap assembly according to claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive ring (2) is composed of a copper material.

5. End cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the end cap (6) has a connection for connection with an axial end face of the drive shaft (3).

6. The bearing unit according to claim 5, wherein the connecting portion is configured as a bolt hole.

7. Axlebox arrangement comprising an end cap assembly according to any one of the claims 1 to 6 and a rolling bearing for fitting over the drive shaft (3).

8. Axlebox arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the axlebox arrangement further comprises a sealing member (7).

9. Axlebox arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the axlebox arrangement further comprises a sensing member (8).

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