GB2580935A

GB2580935A - Improved flanged wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2580935A
Application number: GB1901310.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Cantrell Raymond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-01-30
Filing date: 2019-01-30
Publication date: 2020-08-05
Also published as: GB201901310D0

Abstract

A wheel for use on rail tracks, the wheel comprising a frame 1 which supports a plurality of rollers or ball bearings for providing a bearing surface on the side of a rail. This can reduce wear on railway or tramway rails and wheels by eliminating the metal to metal sliding when wheel flanges come into contact with the rail. The frame may be made of two or more sections so that it is removable from the wheel for maintenance. The rollers may be tapered or truncated cone shaped and may be mounted at an angle and offset from the edge of the wheel. The wheel may also have an outer ring section on each frame part for ensuring the balls remain attached during the event of bearing failure.

Description

IMPROVED FLANGED WHEEL

DESCRIPTION

Introduction

This invention relates to a means of reducing wear on railway or tramway rails and wheels by eliminating the metal-to-metal sliding when wheel flanges come into contact with the rail.

A railway or similar wheel has a single line of contact with the top of the rail. On this single line of contact the wheel is momentarily stationary. This results in there being little metal-on-metal sliding on the rail top. However the flange on the wheel is moving relative to the rail, and there is a sliding movement when it is in contact with the rail. This invention replaces the sliding with a rolling movement, with tapered rollers or other rolling parts mounted on a demountable frame.

In addition to reducing wear on rails and wheels the invention will also reduce energy wastage, both from energy lost because of the friction between flange and rail and in some circumstances, such as on underground railways, in reducing the energy used in fans or cooling to remove the heat. The invention will also in some instances improve train performance, as the reduction in friction should allow higher speeds on bends. This will lead to further energy saving if trains can, because of the reduced friction on bends, avoid having to brake before bends and accelerate after the bend. Also the use of rollers will reduce any tendency for the wheel to ride up onto the flange.

The invention will also reduce noise pollution from the flanges rubbing on the rails. This may be of particular benefit in underground railway stations.

The invention allows for easy maintenance and repair of the rollers by the use of demountable frames. Other patents have been granted seeking to remove the sliding of the flange on the rail but, so far as is known, none have been used in practice. It is believed that without the rollers being mounted on a detachable frame problems of maintenance make the idea impractical. This invention enables the rollers to be easily removed for maintenance.

Statement of Invention

The invention consists of providing in place of a solid flange on a railway or similar wheel a number of demountable plates each bearing a series of rollers or balls, arranged so that each roller or ball bears against the side of the rail when required. This avoids the sliding of metal on metal between flange and rail.

Introduction to the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an embodiment with rollers shaped as truncated cones mounted on axles angled away from the wheel so that each part of the roller in contact with the rail is as closely as possible matched to the required speed of rotation. The taper of the rollers is such that the tip of the cone would be at the centre of the wheel axle.

Detail Description

In Figure 1 a frame (1) is attached to the wheel (2). In this embodiment the frame is made in two sections to enable them to be removed from the wheel for maintenance without removing the wheel from the axle. The frame sections each have a number of spokes (3). In this embodiment eighteen spokes are used.

The spokes slope away from the wheel, in this embodiment at fifteen degrees. On each spoke is mounted a roller (4).

Each roller is in the form of a truncated cone, the apex of which would be on the centre line of the axle of the wheel (8).

In this embodiment the spokes and angle of the cones is such that the roller edges facing the rail are five degrees from vertical when in contact with the rail. The use of tapered rollers is to further reduce wear above what would be achieved with parallel rollers. Each part of the roller in contact with the rail is thus as closely as possible matched to the required speed of rotation The rollers are in this embodiment mounted by means of ball bearings (5) on axles extending from the frame. The bearing nearest the axle of the wheel is a tight fit to keep the roller in place, the other bearing is fitted to allow for expansion when the roller heats. In this embodiment the bearings are of the sealed-for-life type.

In this embodiment the frame sections are mounted to the wheel by bolts (6).

An outer ring piece (7) is fixed to the frame to prevent rollers falling off in the event of bearing failure. As with the frame, in this embodiment this is made in 2 sections to allow removal for maintenance.

In this embodiment the frame is made of cast iron and the rollers and outer ring piece are made of steel. Other materials may be used if preferred and the rollers may, if preferred, be covered with a flexible material to further reduce noise and wear.

If preferred the sections of the frame may be overlapped to increase strength. Similarly the sections of the outer ring may, if preferred, be overlapped.

Other Embodiments Other embodiments may include: The use of balls instead of rollers Means other than bolts to fix the frame sections to the wheels and fix the outer ring to the frame sections.

Overlapping the frame sections to increase strength. Overlapping the outer ring sections to increase strength. The use of other than 2 sections for the frame.

Selecting the number and angling of the spokes and rollers to suit particular applications.

The use of alternative materials.

Provision of a temperature sensor on each roller axle to detect bearing failure.

Making roller axles as an integral part of the wheel instead of providing a mounting frame.

The use of other types of bearings in place of ball bearings to mount the rollers Provision of a flexible coating around the rollers to further reduce noise and wear. The use of parallel rollers instead of tapered rollers.

Provision of a means of lubrication for the bearings instead of using sealed-for-life bearings.

Omission of the outer ring piece.

Claims

IMPROVED FLANGED WHEELCLAIMSProvision of a frame attached to a wheel, with rollers or balls mounted on the frame to provide the bearing surfaces on the sides of the rails instead of a conventional solid flange.
Provision of a frame in accordance with Claim 1 made in two (or more) sections so that it can be removed for maintenance without removing the wheel..
3. Provision in accordance with Claim 1 of rollers of a truncated cone shape, with the apex of each cone being on the centre line of the wheel axis.
4. Provision of rollers or balls in accordance with Claim 1 of a frame with the rollers or balls mounted at an angle and offset from the wheel edge as best suited for the particular application.
5. Provision of a roller or ball mounting frame in accordance with Claim 1 with the sections overlapping for additional strength.
6. Provision of rollers or balls mounted in accordance with Claims 1 -5 with an outer ring on each section of frame to prevent the rollers or balls becoming detached in the event of bearing failure.
7. Provision of an outer ring in accordance with Claim 7 with the outer ring made in two (or more) sections so that it can be removed for maintenance without removing the wheel.
8. Provision of an outer ring in accordance with Claims 7-8 with the outer ring sections overlapping for additional strength.