GB1585872A

GB1585872A - Suspensions for rail vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1585872A
Application number: GB1214877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Co Ltd
Current assignee: Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-03-20
Filing date: 1978-03-20
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: ES468190A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSPENSIONS FOR RAIL VEHICLES (71) We, GLOUCESTER RAILWAY CAR RIAGE & WAGON COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company, of Winglos House, Bristol Road, Gloucester, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to suspensions for rail vehicles and provides suspension means applicable to two-axle vehicles as well as to bogie vehicles. In the latter case, references to "the vehicle frame" are to be construed as referring to the frame of the bogie.

According to the invention, suspension means for a rail vehicle comprise a radius arm carrying an axle box, the pivot axis of which radius arm is carried by a beam, and a linkage structure connected to the beam and adapted for connection to the vehicle frame in a manner to permit lateral movement of the beam, and hence of the radius arm and axle box, relative to the vehicle frame.

A damped suspension spring preferably acts between the radius arm and the beam, and is located on the side of the axle box remote from the pivot axis of the radius arm.

The axle box may include a bearing adaptor connected directly to the radius arm, or resilient pads may be interposed between the bearing adaptor and the radius arm.

The linkage structure may comprise a first link pivotally connected to the forward end of the beam and a second link pivotally connected to the rearward end of the beam, the links being adapted for connection to the vehicle frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal longitudinal axis. The first and second links may be connected to the beam by universal joints.

Spring means may be provided for connecting each link to the vehicle frame. For example, the spring means may comprise a helical compression spring encircling each link, the lower end of the spring engaging the lower end of the link, and the upper end of the spring being engageable with a part of the vehicle frame.

In an alternative arrangement, the linkage structure may comprise a link pivotally connected to the rearward end of the beam and adapted for connection to the vehicle frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal longitudinal axis, there being provided a pivotal connection for connecting the forward end of the beam to the vehicle frame for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis.

In any of the above arrangements an adjustable traction rod may be provided to connect the beam to the vehicle frame.

The following is a more detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle suspension arrangement applicable to both two-axle wagons and bogie vehicles, Figures 2 and 3 illustrate alternative radius arm constructions, and Figure 4 and 5 are side views of alternative forms of suspension arrangement.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, the vehicle or bogie framework 9 includes depending limbs 10 which are spaced apart in the fore-and-aft direction and at the lower ends of which there are pivotal mountings 11 for links 12 which are arranged to pivot relative to the limbs 10 about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the vehicle.

The links 12 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to a longitudinally extending top beam 13 with the links 12 pivoting relative to the beam 13 about longitudinal horizontal axes, the horizontal axes at the upper and lower ends of one of the links 12 coin ciding with the corresponding axes of the other link 12. The links 12 permit lateral movement of the framework relative to the wheelsets, and damping means are provided for damping this lateral movement.

The wheelset axle box 14 is connected to a radius arm 15 which is pivotally connected to the top beam 13 by means of a pivot mounting 16 which is such as to permit pivotal movement of the radius arm 15 about a transverse horizontal axis relative to the top beam 13. Vertical and longitudinal loads applied to the radius arm 15 by the axle box cause the radius arm to rotate about the axis of the pivot mounting 16 and the resulting pivotal movement is controlled by a spring and damper 17 which acts between an extension 18 of the radius arm and the top beam 13. A link 19 extends between a mounting bracket 20 on the framework 9 and the top beam, the link 19 having universal joints at its ends and serving to transmit traction or braking loads between the wheelset and the framework.

Adjustment of the stiffness characteristics of the suspension with respect to deflection of the wheelset relative to the vehicle frame in a vertical direction and in a longitudinal direction can be effected by varying the coordinates of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the centre line of the axle bearing. Such adjustment can be achieved either in the initial assembly of the suspension or by providing a turnbuckle or similar mechanism for effecting movement of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the top beam 13.

In the particular construction illustrated in Figure 1, there is direct engagement between the bearing adaptor (not shown) of the axle box and the radius arm 15.

However, Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which bonded rubber pads 21 are disposed between the bearing adaptor 22 and the radius arm 15, the rubber pads 21 acting as impact-absorbing elements to reduce the transmission of rail impact loads to the radius arm 15. The pads 21 also provide for controlled movement of the wheelset in the yawing plane, thereby assisting in steering at curves in the track.

Turning next to Figure 3, this shows an arrangement in which the bearing adaptor 23 is provided with two longitudinally spaced pivot mountings 24 for relative movement between the adaptor 23 and the radius arm 15. Thus, when the wheelset steers in negotiating curved track, the ends of the axle move longitudinally in opposite directions with pivotal movement taking place about the two pivot mountings 24.

Figure 4 shows an alternative suspension arrangement in which there is a single swinging link 12 between the top beam 13 and the vehicle frame 9, the top beam 13 being provided, at its end remote from the swinging link 12, with an upwardly extending pivot pin 25 the axis of which intersects the axis of the pivot mounting 16, wear plates 26 being disposed between the top beam 13 and the underside of the vehicle frame 9. The stiffness characteristics of the suspension can again be adjusted by changing the coordinates of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the centre line of the axle bearing.

In the further alternative arrangement shown in Figure 5, the lower ends of the swinging links 12 carry abutment plates 27, and helical compression springs 28 encircle the links 12 between the plates 27 and further abutment plates 29 provided on the lower ends of the depending limbs 10, these limbs being shorter than in the arrangement of Figure 1.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Suspension means for a rail vehicle comprising a radius arm carrying an axle box, the pivot axis of which radius arm is carried by a beam, and a linkage structure connected to the beam and adapted for connection to the vehicle frame in a manner to permit lateral movement of the beam, and hence of the radius arm and axle box, relative to the vehicle frame.

2. Suspension means according to claim 1, wherein a damped suspension spring acts between the radius arm and the beam.

3. Suspension means according to claim 2, wherein the damped suspension spring is located on the side of the axle box remote from the pivot axis of the radius arm.

4. Suspension means according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axle box includes a bearing adaptor connected directly to the radius arm.

5. Suspension means according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the axle box includes a bearing adaptor and resilient pads interposed between the bearing adaptor and the radius arm.

6. Suspension means according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the linkage structure comprises a first link pivotally connected to the forward end of the beam and a second link pivotally connected to the rearward end of the beam, the links being adapted for connection to the vehicle frame for pivoted movement relative whereto about a horizontal longitudinal axis.

7. Suspension means according to claim 6 wherein the first and second links are connected to the beam by universal joints.

8. Suspension means according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein spring means are provided for connecting each link to the vehicle frame.

9. Suspension means according to claim 8, wherein said spring means comprise a helical compression spring encircling each link, the lower end of the spring engaging the lower end of the link, and the upper end of the spring being engageable with a part of the vehicle frame.

10. Suspension means according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the linkage structure comprises a link pivotally connected to the rearward end of the beam and adapted for connection to the vehicle frame for pivotal movement relative thereto about a horizontal longitudinal axis, there being provided a pivotal connection for connecting the forward

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. beam 13. Vertical and longitudinal loads applied to the radius arm 15 by the axle box cause the radius arm to rotate about the axis of the pivot mounting 16 and the resulting pivotal movement is controlled by a spring and damper 17 which acts between an extension 18 of the radius arm and the top beam 13. A link 19 extends between a mounting bracket 20 on the framework 9 and the top beam, the link 19 having universal joints at its ends and serving to transmit traction or braking loads between the wheelset and the framework. Adjustment of the stiffness characteristics of the suspension with respect to deflection of the wheelset relative to the vehicle frame in a vertical direction and in a longitudinal direction can be effected by varying the coordinates of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the centre line of the axle bearing. Such adjustment can be achieved either in the initial assembly of the suspension or by providing a turnbuckle or similar mechanism for effecting movement of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the top beam 13. In the particular construction illustrated in Figure 1, there is direct engagement between the bearing adaptor (not shown) of the axle box and the radius arm 15. However, Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which bonded rubber pads 21 are disposed between the bearing adaptor 22 and the radius arm 15, the rubber pads 21 acting as impact-absorbing elements to reduce the transmission of rail impact loads to the radius arm 15. The pads 21 also provide for controlled movement of the wheelset in the yawing plane, thereby assisting in steering at curves in the track. Turning next to Figure 3, this shows an arrangement in which the bearing adaptor 23 is provided with two longitudinally spaced pivot mountings 24 for relative movement between the adaptor 23 and the radius arm 15. Thus, when the wheelset steers in negotiating curved track, the ends of the axle move longitudinally in opposite directions with pivotal movement taking place about the two pivot mountings 24. Figure 4 shows an alternative suspension arrangement in which there is a single swinging link 12 between the top beam 13 and the vehicle frame 9, the top beam 13 being provided, at its end remote from the swinging link 12, with an upwardly extending pivot pin 25 the axis of which intersects the axis of the pivot mounting 16, wear plates 26 being disposed between the top beam 13 and the underside of the vehicle frame 9. The stiffness characteristics of the suspension can again be adjusted by changing the coordinates of the pivot mounting 16 relative to the centre line of the axle bearing. In the further alternative arrangement shown in Figure 5, the lower ends of the swinging links 12 carry abutment plates 27, and helical compression springs 28 encircle the links 12 between the plates 27 and further abutment plates 29 provided on the lower ends of the depending limbs 10, these limbs being shorter than in the arrangement of Figure 1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. Suspension means for a rail vehicle comprising a radius arm carrying an axle box, the pivot axis of which radius arm is carried by a beam, and a linkage structure connected to the beam and adapted for connection to the vehicle frame in a manner to permit lateral movement of the beam, and hence of the radius arm and axle box, relative to the vehicle frame.

end of the beam to the vehicle frame for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis.

11. Suspension means according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein an adjustable traction rod is provided to connect the beam to the vehicle frame.

12. Suspension means for a rail vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drwings, or Figures 1, 4 or 5 modified according to Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A rail vehicle including suspension means according to any of the preceding claims.