GB2163112A - Sound damping in a rail vehicle wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

The wheel is provided with sound damping means in the form of an annular disc made up from tapering sound conducting elements 1a to 1h arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel. The elements are arranged so that at least one side of each element extends tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc. For damping of axial oscillations of the wheel, the elements 1a to 1h are, at their radially outer ends, bent to extend parallel to the axis of the wheel and are secured to the wheel rim 2 at these ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sound damping in a vehicle wheel The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel, especially a rail vehicle wheel, incorporating sound damping means.

A body-conducted sound silencer for a wheel is described in DE-PS 3119 497. The wave guides of the silencer are at their base surface connected into a common base by means of spacer members and connected to the wheel rim by means of screws. There is, however, scope for improving the silencer of DE-PS 3119 497 without departing from the basic concept of wave guides forming an annular disc. Radial and axial oscillations shall preferably be damped.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle wheel provided between its hub and rim with a sound damping device which comprises a plurality of tapered sound conducting elements arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel to form an annular disc and so arranged that one edge of each element extends substantially tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc, the radially outer end portion of each element being bent to extend substantially parallel to the wheel axis and being secured to the wheel rim.

In a preferred embodiment, the sound damping device comprises wave guide elements in the shape of horn parts arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel, the wave guides forming an annular disc and being constructed in such a manner that at least one side of each element extends tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc. A part of the element can be divided into further segments in the shape of horn parts.

For the damping of oscillations of the wheel, the elements are at the base surface bent away outwardly and parallelly to the axial direction of the wheel and are force-lockingly connected at the bent-away base surface with the wheel rim.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of part of a wheel embodying the present invention, the wheel incorporating sound damping means; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of one half of the wheel.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rail vehicle wheel provided between its rim 2 and hub 3 with a body-conducted sound silencer constructed from wave guide elements 1a to 1h which have the shape of horn parts and are arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel. The elements 1a to 1h are secured to the rim 2 of the wheel. An axle 3 passes through the inner circumference defined by elements 1a to 1h.

in respect of further details, reference is made to DE-PS31 19497.

Several congruent wave guides 4, 5 and 6, which are arranged one above the other, are recognisable in the cross-section according to Fig. 2. The guides 4, 5 and 6 are, at their base surface, bent outwardly and parallelly to the axial direction of the wheel, connected into a common base by means of rigid intermediate layers 7 and, by means of screws 8, force-lockingly connected at the bentaway base surface with the wheel rim 2.

The intermediate layers 7 are disposed between the individual guides 4, 5 and 6. If so desired, an intermediate layer of that kind can also be arranged between the rim 2 and the guide 6. The intermediate layers in the region of the fastening to the rim ensure maintenance of a certain spacing between the guides and, optionally also, from the wheel rim.

Layers 9 of damping material are disposed in the remaining region between the guides 4, 5 and 6, i.e. externally of the fastening.

Each element 1a to 1h is fastened to the rim 2 by means of at least one screw. Of course, each of the elements 1a to 1h arranged in circumferential direction at the rim 2 must, for static balance reasons, have the same number of fastening screws 8.

1. A vehicle wheel provided between its hub and rim with a sound damping device which comprises a plurality of tapered sound conducting elements arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel to form an annular disc and so arranged that one edge of each element extends substantially tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc, the radially outer end portion of each element being bent to extend substantially parallel to the wheel axis and being secured to the wheel rim.

2. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the elements comprises a plurality of tapered conductor members.

3. A wheel as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, the wheel being a rail vehicle wheel.

4. A vehicle wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sound damping in a vehicle wheel The present invention relates to a vehicle wheel, especially a rail vehicle wheel, incorporating sound damping means. A body-conducted sound silencer for a wheel is described in DE-PS 3119 497. The wave guides of the silencer are at their base surface connected into a common base by means of spacer members and connected to the wheel rim by means of screws. There is, however, scope for improving the silencer of DE-PS 3119 497 without departing from the basic concept of wave guides forming an annular disc. Radial and axial oscillations shall preferably be damped. According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle wheel provided between its hub and rim with a sound damping device which comprises a plurality of tapered sound conducting elements arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel to form an annular disc and so arranged that one edge of each element extends substantially tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc, the radially outer end portion of each element being bent to extend substantially parallel to the wheel axis and being secured to the wheel rim. In a preferred embodiment, the sound damping device comprises wave guide elements in the shape of horn parts arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel, the wave guides forming an annular disc and being constructed in such a manner that at least one side of each element extends tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc. A part of the element can be divided into further segments in the shape of horn parts. For the damping of oscillations of the wheel, the elements are at the base surface bent away outwardly and parallelly to the axial direction of the wheel and are force-lockingly connected at the bent-away base surface with the wheel rim. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of part of a wheel embodying the present invention, the wheel incorporating sound damping means; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of one half of the wheel. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rail vehicle wheel provided between its rim 2 and hub 3 with a body-conducted sound silencer constructed from wave guide elements 1a to 1h which have the shape of horn parts and are arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel. The elements 1a to 1h are secured to the rim 2 of the wheel. An axle 3 passes through the inner circumference defined by elements 1a to 1h. in respect of further details, reference is made to DE-PS31 19497. Several congruent wave guides 4, 5 and 6, which are arranged one above the other, are recognisable in the cross-section according to Fig. 2. The guides 4, 5 and 6 are, at their base surface, bent outwardly and parallelly to the axial direction of the wheel, connected into a common base by means of rigid intermediate layers 7 and, by means of screws 8, force-lockingly connected at the bentaway base surface with the wheel rim 2. The intermediate layers 7 are disposed between the individual guides 4, 5 and 6. If so desired, an intermediate layer of that kind can also be arranged between the rim 2 and the guide 6. The intermediate layers in the region of the fastening to the rim ensure maintenance of a certain spacing between the guides and, optionally also, from the wheel rim. Layers 9 of damping material are disposed in the remaining region between the guides 4, 5 and 6, i.e. externally of the fastening. Each element 1a to 1h is fastened to the rim 2 by means of at least one screw. Of course, each of the elements 1a to 1h arranged in circumferential direction at the rim 2 must, for static balance reasons, have the same number of fastening screws 8. CLAIMS

1. A vehicle wheel provided between its hub and rim with a sound damping device which comprises a plurality of tapered sound conducting elements arranged one beside the other in the circumferential direction of the wheel to form an annular disc and so arranged that one edge of each element extends substantially tangentially to the inner circumference of the annular disc, the radially outer end portion of each element being bent to extend substantially parallel to the wheel axis and being secured to the wheel rim.

2. A wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the elements comprises a plurality of tapered conductor members.

3. A wheel as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, the wheel being a rail vehicle wheel.

4. A vehicle wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.