WO1996012636A1

WO1996012636A1 - Suspension system for wheel axle

Info

Publication number: WO1996012636A1
Application number: PCT/CA1995/000545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Viens
Original assignee: Innotermodal Inc.
Priority date: 1994-10-24
Filing date: 1995-09-22
Publication date: 1996-05-02
Also published as: AU3515495A; GB9421360D0

Abstract

A suspension system is disclosed, for use to connect a wheel axle to a supporting frame which can be part of the bogie (1) of a railroad vehicle. This system comprises three basic structural elements which are operatively connected in such a manner as to cooperate and provide controlled freedom of the suspended axle in three different axes. The first structural element of the systems is a combined axle adaptor and spring holder (11). The axle adaptor (11) is intended to receive and hold one end of the axle (3, 5) to be supported. The spring holder which is rigidly connected to the axle adaptor to move in unison with it, is intended to receive and hold coil- and leaf-springs. The second structural element consists of the above mentioned coil-leaf-springs (13, 49) that are used to control the movement of the axle adaptor (11) in all directions. The third structural element consists of a downwardly oriented, U-shaped holder (15) that is attached to the supporting frame. The axle adaptor (11) is slidably mounted and retained between the arms of this holder (15) by the coil- and leaf-springs (13, 49). Advantageously, a damper assembly can also be incorporated into the system to dampen any motion of the axle adaptor with respect to the U-shaped holder (15) in the forwards and rearwards directions.

Description

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR WHEEL AXLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a suspension system for use to connect a wheel axle to a supporting frame, and more particularly to a suspension system for use to connect each end of the wheel axles of a railroad vehicle to the frame or bogie of such vehicle. The invention also relates to a railroad bogie having two wheel axles and a frame to which the wheel axles are connected by each end with such a suspension system.

b) Brief description of the prior art In railroad vehicles, it is of common practice to connect each end of the wheel axles under a supporting frame that may be part of a bogie, using to do so a suspension system which usually consists of coil springs or pneumatic bags whose purpose is essentially to absorb vertical shocks.

So far, no means have been used to absorb other kind of shocks, such as "longitudinal" shocks, i.e. shocks given in an horizontal direction perpendicular to the corresponding wheel axle, or "transversal" shocks, i.e. shocks given in an horizontal direction coaxial to the corresponding wheel axle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a suspension system for use to connect a wheel axle to a supporting frame, which system comprises three basic structural elements operatively connected to each other in such a manner as to cooperate and provide controlled freedom of the suspended axle in three different axes.

The first structural element of this system is a combined axle adaptor and spring holder. The axle adaptor is intended to receive and hold one end of the axle to be supported. The spring holder which is rigidly connected to the axle adaptor so as to move in unison therewith, is intended to receive and hold coil- and leaf-springs.

The second structural element of the system consists of the above mentioned coil- and leaf-springs that are used to control the movement of the axle adaptor in three orthogonal axes, thereby making it movable in all directions.

The third component of the system consists of a downwardly oriented, U-shaped h older that is attached to the supporting frame. The axle adaptor is slidably mounted and retained between the arms of this holder by the coil- and leaf-springs. Thus, the suspension system according to the invention as broadly claimed hereinafter basically comprises: a U-shaped holder attached to the supporting frame, said U-shaped holder having a pair of downwardly oriented arms extending in a plane perpendicular to the wheel axle; - a combined axle adaptor and spring holder movably mounted between the arms of the U-shaped holder, said axle adaptor being devised to receive and hold one end of the axle to be supported and to move in unison with the spring holder; and springs mounted between the U-shaped holder and the spring holder in order to control the movement of the axle adaptor and of the axle held by said axle adaptor in three orthogonal axes.

Preferably, the axle adaptor is box-shaped and defines an opening in which the end of the axle to be suspended is rigidly mounted. Preferably also, the springs holder comprises a pair of opposite spring holder elements that project forwardly and rearwardly from the axle adaptor in the plane perpendicular to the wheel axle. Then, the springs advantageously include: a first set of coil springs extending vertically between the supporting frame and the spring holder elements to allow the axle adaptor to move up and down and to absorb vertical shocks; - a set of compression springs fixed to the arms of the U- shaped h older, the compression springs bearing against the axle adaptor and allowing this axle adaptor to move forwards and rearwards within the arms of the U-shaped holder and to absorb longitudinal shocks; and two leaf-springs that project downwardly from the supporting frame towards the two spring holder elements, respectively, each of these leaf- spring having a free end engaged into a vertically oriented through-hole provided in the corresponding spring holder element to hold the axle adaptor within the arms of the U-shaped and to absorb transversal shocks.

Advantageously, the suspension system according to the invention may also incorporate a damper assembly in order to dampen any motion of the axle adaptor with respect to the U-shaped holder in the forwards and rearwards directions. Another object of the invention is to provide a railroad bogie comprising a suspension system as disclosed hereinabove for use to connect each end of the each wheel axle under the frame of the bogie.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a railroad bogie provided with four wheels mounted onto two axles whose ends are each connected to the frame of the bogie by a suspension system according to the present invention;

Fig.2 is a semi-exploded perspective view of one of the suspension systems shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a fully exploded perspective view of the suspension system shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a semi-exploded perspective view of the axle adaptor and damper components of the suspension system shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As aforesaid, Fig. 1 shows a railroad bogie 1 provided with a front axle 3 and a rear axle 5, each supporting two wheels 7. The general structure of this bogie 1 and its use are not actually relevant to the understanding of the present invention and thus need not be described in greater detail.

In accordance with the invention, the end of each axle 3, 5 is connected to the frame of the bogie 1 by means of a suspension system 9 comprising three basic structural elements which cooperate so as to provide freedom and control to the suspended axle in three orthogonal axes.

More particularly, referring to Figs. 2 to 3, each suspension system 9 comprises a combined axle adaptor and spring holder 11 , a plurality of springs 13 and a U-shaped holder 15.

The U-shaped holder 15 has an horizontal structural member 17 from which a pair of opposite arms 19, 19' extends downwards. The structural member 17 has a U-shaped cross-section and is intended to be connected to a longitudinal beam forming part of the frame of the bogie 1 , so that its arms 19, 19' extend in a plane perpendicular to the corresponding wheel axle.

The combined axle adaptor and spring holder 11 comprises a central box-shaped adaptor 21 defining an adjustable opening 23 in which the end of the axle to be suspended can rigidly be mounted. It also comprises a pair of opposite spring holder elements 25, 27 that project forwards and rewards from the axle adaptor 21. Each element 25, 27 has a main body 29 with an upper surface 31 which is inclined downwardly and outwardly and on which can slid a wedge-shaped member 33, thanks to as et of sliding pads 32. Each element 25, 27 also comprises an outwardly projecting lateral member 35 which is provided with a vertically oriented through-hole 37 whose opposite side surfaces are covered with a set of sliding pads 38.

As is shown in Fig. 4, each wedge-shaped member 33 is slidingly held against the inclined surface 31 of the body 29 by holding means consisting of a set of pings 41 and a retaining hollow plate 43. The combined axle adaptor and spring holder 11 is mounted between the arms 19 and 19' of the U-shaped holder 15 in such a manner that the axle-receiving opening 23 extends transversely to the structural member 17 of this holder 15 and the opposite ends of the wedge-shaped members 33 are in contact with the inner surfaces of the arms 19, 19' (see Figs. 2 and 3). Such a mounting is achieved with the springs 13 which includes: a first set of coil springs consisting of four large coil springs 45 extending vertically between the bottom surface of the structural member 17 of the holder 15 and the upper surfaces of the retaining plates 43; a second set of coil springs consisting of four smaller coil springs 47 extending vertically within the coil springs 45 between the bottom surface of the structural member 17 of the holder 15 and the pins 41 projecting from the upper surfaces of the wedge-shaped members 33 through the retaining plates 43; two leaf-springs 49 projecting downwardly from one side of the structural member 17 of the holder 15, each of these springs 49 having a padded free end 51 slidably engaged into one of the though-holes 37 of the spring holder elements 25, 27; and - two horizontally oriented compression springs 53 that are fixed preferably externally to the arms 19 and 19' of the holder 15, each spring 53 having a piston rod 55 passing through the corresponding arm and bearing against the axle adaptor 21.

The large coil-springs 45 allow the axle adaptor 21 to move up and down and thus to absorb vertical shocks.

The compression springs 53 allow the axle adaptor 21 to move forwards and rewards within the arms 19 and 19' of the U-shaped holder 15 and thus to absorb longitudinal shocks.

The leaf-springs 49 hold the axle adaptor 21 within the arms of the U-shaped holder 15 and absorb any transversal shock that the wheels and its supporting axle may receive and transmit to the frame of the bogie.

Last of all, the smaller coil springs 47 apply a constant pressure onto the wedge-shaped members 33 and cause them to move outwardly and permanently contact he inner surface of the arms 19, 19', thereby acting as a damper.

Advantageously, retaining means 57 can be fixed to the bottom end of each arm 19, 19' of the holder 15 to keep all the components assembled.

Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above described, preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suspension system for use to connect a wheel axle to a supporting frame, said suspension system comprising:

- a U-shaped holder attached to the supporting frame, said U- shaped holder having a pair of downwardly oriented arms extending in a plane perpendicular to the wheel axle;

- a combined axle adaptor and spring holder movably mounted between the arms of the U-shaped holder, said axle adaptor being devised to receive and hold one end of the axle to be supported and to move in unison with the spring holder; and

- springs mounted between the U-shaped holder and the spring holder in order to control the movement of the axle adaptor and of the axle held by said axle adaptor in three orthogonal axes.

2. The suspension of claim 1, wherein:

- said axle adaptor is box-shaped and defines an opening in which the end of the axle to be suspended is rigidly mounted; - said spring holder comprises a pair of opposite spring holder elements that project forwardly and rearwardly from the axle adaptor in the plane perpendicular to the wheel axle, and

- said springs include: a first set of coil springs extending vertically between the supporting frame and the spring holder elements to allow the axle adaptor to move up and down and to absorb vertical shocks; a set of compression springs fixed to the arms of the U- shaped holder, said compression springs bearing against the axle adaptor and allowing said axle adaptor to move forwards and rearwards within the arms of the U-shaped holder and to absorb longitudinal shocks; and two leaf-springs that project downwardly from the supporting frame towards the two spring¹ holder elements, respectively, each of said leaf-spring having a free end engaged into a vertically oriented through-hole provided in the corresponding spring holder element to hold the axle 5 adaptor within the arms of the U-shaped and to absorb transversal shocks.

3. The suspension system of claim 1 , wherein:

- each one of said spring holder elements comprises:

10 a main body with an upper surface which is inclined downwardly and outwardly; a wedge-shaped member slidably mounted onto said upper surface, said wedge-shaped member having an outer end opposite to the axle adaptor, said outer end in contact with

15 the adjacent arm of the U-shaped holder; sliding pads mounted in between the upper surface and the wedge-shaped member; holding means to slidingly hold the wedge-shaped member onto the upper surface with the sliding pads in between;

20 an outwardly projecting lateral member defining together with said main body, said vertically oriented through-hole; and other sliding pads mounted on opposite side surfaces of said through-hole; and

25 - said springs also include: a second set of coil springs extending vertically between the supporting frame and the wedge-shaped members in order to apply a constant pressure onto said wedge-shaped members and cause them to move outwardly and thus to

30 permanently contact the arms of the U-shaped holder, thereby acting as a damper.

4. The suspension system of claim 3, wherein said holding means comprises:

- a retaining plate rigidly attached to the main body of the corresponding spring holder element, said retaining plate having at least one opening, and - at least one pin upwardly projecting from the corresponding wedge-shaped member through said at least one opening.

5. The suspension system of claim 4,w herein:

- the coil springs of the first set of coil springs bear onto the retaining plates of the holding means;

- the coil springs of the second set of coil springs extend concentrically within the coil springs of the first set and are connected to the pins of the wedge-shaped elements.

6. The suspension system of claim 5, further comprising:

- retaining means fixed to each arm of the U-shaped holder to keep all the parts assembled.

7. A railroad bogie comprising a supporting frame under which a front axle and a rear axle extend, each of said axles having two opposite ends and supporting two wheels, wherein each of said ends of said axles are connected to the supporting frame by a suspension system as claimed in claim 1.

8. A railroad bogie comprising a supporting frame under which a front axle and a rear axle extend, each of said axles having two opposite ends and supporting two wheels, wherein each of said ends of said axles are connected to the supporting frame by a suspension system as claimed in claim 6. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 16 January 1996 ( 15.01 .95) original cl aims 1 -8 replaced by amended cl aims 1 -6 (3 pages) ]

1 . A suspension system for use to connect a wheel axle 3, 5 to a supporting frame, said suspension system comprising:

- a U-shaped holder 1 5 attached to the supporting frame, said U- shaped holder having a pair of downwardly oriented arms 1 9, 19' extending in a plane perpendicular to the wheel axle;

- a combined axle adaptor and spring holder 1 1 movably mounted between the arms of the U-shaped holder, said axle adaptor 21 being devised to receive and hold one end of the axle to be supported and to move in unison with the spring holder, said axle adaptor 21 being box-shaped and defining an opening 23 in which the end of the axle to be suspended is rigidly mounted, said spring holder comprising a pair of opposite spring holder elements 25, 27 that project forwardly and rearwardly from the axle addaptor in the plane perpendicular to the wheel axle, and

- springs mounted between the U-shaped holder and the spring holder in order to control the movement of the axle adaptor and of the axle held by said axle adaptor in three orthogonal axes, said springs including: a first set of coil springs 45 extending vertically between the supporting frame and the spring holder elements 25, 27 to allow the axle adaptor to move up and down and to absorb vertical shocks; a set of compression springs 53 fixed to the arms 1 9, 1 9' of the U-shaped holder, said compression springs bearing against the axle adaptor 21 and allowing said axle adaptor to move forwards and rearwards within the arms of the U-shaped holder and to absorb longitudinal shocks; and another set of springs bearing against the axle adaptor and allowing said axle adaptor to move transversally within the arms of the U-shaped holder; characterized in that: said another set of springs consists of two leaf-springs 49 that project downwardly from the supporting frame towards the two spring holder elements 25, 27, respectively, each of said leaf-spring having a free end engaged into a vertically oriented through-hole 37 provided in the corresponding spring holder element to hold the axle adaptor within the arms of the U-shaped and to absorb transversal shocks.

2. The suspension system of claim 1 , characterisez in that: - each one of said spring holder elements 25, 27 comprises: a main body 29 with an upper surface 31 which is inclined downwardly and outwardly; a wedge-shaped member 33 slidably mounted onto said upper surface, said wedge-shaped member having an outer end opposite to the axle adaptor, said outer end in contact with the adjacent arm of the U-shaped holder; sliding pads 32 mounted in between the upper surface and the wedge-shaped member 33; holding means 41 , 43 to slidingly hold the wedge-shaped member onto the upper surface with the sliding pads in between; an outwardly projecting lateral member 35 defining together with said main body, said vertically oriented through-hole; and other sliding pads 38 mounted on opposite side surfaces of said through-hole; and - said springs also include: a second set of coil springs 47 extending vertically between the supporting frame and the wedge-shaped members 33 in order to apply a constant pressure onto said wedge-shaped members and cause them to move outwardly and thus to permanently contact the arms of the U-shaped holder, thereby acting as a damper.

3. The suspension system of claim 2, characterized in that said holding means 41 , 43 comprises:

- a retaining plate 43 rigidly attached to the main body of the corresponding spring holder element, said retaining plate having at least one opening, and

- at least one pin 41 upwardly projecting from the corresponding wedge-shaped member through said at least one opening.

4. The suspension system of claim 3, characterized in that: - the coil springs 45 of the first set of coil springs bear onto the retaining plates 43 of the holding means;

- the coil springs 47 of the second set of coil springs extend concentrically within the coil springs of the first set and are connected to the pins 41 of the wedge-shaped elements.

5. The suspension system of claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises:

- retaining means 57 fixed to each arm of the U-shaped holder to keep all the parts assembled.

6. A railroad bogie 1 comprising a supporting frame under which a front axle 3 and a rear axle 5 extend, each of said axles having two opposite ends and supporting two wheels 7, characterized in that each of said ends of said axles 35 are connected to the supporting frame by a suspension system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

Original claims 1 and 2 have been combined and amended in order to better emphasize the characterizing features of the invention and to make reference to the structural elements shown in the drawings.

Of course, the numbering and dependency of the remaining claims have been amended accordingly.

The statement of the invention on pages 2 and 3 of the description should be amended to conform with the invention as now reflected in newly submitted claim 1 .

Two obvious clerical errors should also be corrected in page 4, line 1 8 (... thanks to a set of sliding pads...) and line 24 (...a set of pins...) .