Patent Application
20250145187
The subject matter described herein relates to bogies or trucks of vehicles.
A rail vehicle may include bogies or trucks that include a chassis or framework that carries a wheelset and is attached to the underside of a rail vehicle. Optionally, other types of vehicles may include bogies, such as semi-trucks or trailers. The bogies include side frames that are connected by a bolster. The bolster includes a center plate, on which the vehicle (e.g., a rail car) sits. Springs may be disposed beneath opposite ends of the center plate and a spring seat of each of the side frames. Wheels may be rotatably coupled with opposite ends of the side frames with axles extending from one side frame to the other side frame of the same truck or bogie.
Sides or surfaces of the side frames that face each other may include elongated slots in which brake beams may move back and forth. These slots can be referred to as unit guide pockets. The brake beams include horizontal beams that connect brake shoes to a brake rigging. When a brake cylinder is activated, the cylinder forces the brake beam to move within the slot to apply pressure to the brake shoes, which clamp the wheels to slow or stop movement (e.g., rotation) of the wheels. Release of the brakes causes the brake beams to move in the unit guide pockets in an opposite direction (opposite of engagement of the brakes).
Recent changes to bogies include a desire to lower the unit guide pockets to locations below the spring seats of the bogies. This may be due to the desire to re-arrange other components of the bogies, to include additional components in the bogies, to reduce how high the vehicles or cars are located above the ground (e.g., lowering the car center of gravity can help prevent derailment), etc.
It may be desirable to have a bogie assembly and method for providing the same that differs from those that are currently available.
In one example, a bogie assembly includes a bolster having a plate on which a rail vehicle is supported, and side frames disposed on opposite sides of the plate of the bolster. The side frames can have pedestal jaw ends that can couple with wheelsets of the rail vehicle. The side frames can have openings sized to receive the bolster and springs between spring seats of the side frames in the openings and the bolster. The side frames also can include unit guide pockets that can receive brake beams that move during engagement or release of brake shoes from wheels in the wheelsets. The unit guide pockets can be located below the spring seats in the side frames.
In another example, a bogie assembly can include a side frame that may be coupled with one end of a bolster that supports a vehicle. The side frame can have pedestal jaw ends that may couple with wheelsets of the vehicle. The side frame can have openings sized to receive the bolster and springs between the bolster and spring seats of the side frames in the openings. The side frame can include unit guide pockets that may receive brake beams that move during engagement or release of brake shoes from wheels in the wheelsets. The unit guide pockets may be located below the spring seats in the side frames.
In another example, a bogie assembly can include a bolster configured to be coupled with a vehicle, and side frames connected with each other by the bolster. The side frames can include spring seats that may support springs between the bolster and the side frames. The side frames also can include unit guide pockets in which brake beams move during actuation of brakes. The unit guide pockets may be located below the spring seats.
The subject matter may be understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:
Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate to bogie assemblies or truck assemblies having unit guide pockets below the spring seats in the side frames of the bogie assemblies. Lowering the unit guide pockets can induce significant stresses in the body of the side frames of the bogies. External ribs can be added to the side frames at or on the turn of the spring seat (TOSS) parallel to center planes of the side frames. The unit guide pocket can then transition back into the spring seat with an “S” shape. With this external TOSS rib and “S” shape transition, the unit guide can be located below the spring seat while also keeping stress concentrations in the side frames low enough to prevent failures (e.g., cracks) in the side frames.
A bolster 118 may extend between and couple the side frames together. The bolster may be elongated between opposite ends 120, with each of these ends extending into a spring seat opening 122 in one of the side frames. As shown in
Brake shoes 130 of the bogie assembly may engage the wheels to slow or stop rotation of the wheels. The brake shoes may be moved by brake beams 132 moving relative to the side frames. As described and shown herein, the brake beams may extend into and move within unit guide pockets 202 of the side frames that are located below the spring seats. When the brake shoes engage the wheels (e.g., move toward the wheels), ends of the brake beams that are in unit pocket guides of the same side frame may move outward, away from each other, and away from the bolster. When the brake shoes disengage the wheels (e.g., move away from the wheels), the ends of the brake beams may move inward, toward each other, and toward the bolster.
The undulating portion of the slot of the unit guide pocket (e.g., the lower sidewall) can have two or more curves 312, 314, and may have an S-shape (e.g., the shape of the letter S, or a shape with at least two curves in different directions, such as a convex curve and a concave curve coupled with each other). As described below, these curves or this shape can help reduce or spread out the mechanical stress imparted on the end (e.g., the undulating portion) of the unit guide pocket by the weight or mass of the vehicle (relative to the unit guide pocket not having these curves or shape). This can reduce wear and tear on the side frame, and may extend the useful life of the side frame before cracking or other faults occur. Alternatively, the undulating portion of the slot may have another non-linear shape. The undulating portion of the slot may be open such that no end wall is provided to enclose the slot at the undulating portion. Optionally, the undulating portion of the slot may be filled with a solid material, such as a metal or metal alloy. Adding this material to this area can provide additional structural support to withstand stress from the weight or mass of the vehicle that is carried by the bogie assembly.
As shown in
Lowering the unit guide pocket can be requested by a customer or user of the bogie assembly for a variety of reasons, including a need to lower the location of the brake beams, to change a location of the brake shoe (or where the brake shoe contacts the wheel), to lower the vehicle or part of the vehicle undercarriage relative to the bogie assembly, or the like. Regardless of the reason or requirement for doing so, the inventors of the subject matter described herein have discovered that lowering the unit guide pocket can significantly increase the concentration of stress from weight of the vehicle at or near the intersection between the unit guide pocket and the spring seat. This significant increase in stress can reduce the longevity or useful life of the bogie assembly before the side frame(s) need to be taken offline for inspection, repair, or replacement.
To avoid this shortening of the longevity of the side frame(s), the inventors of the subject matter described herein have discovered that providing the unit guide pocket with the undulating shape or portion and/or adding an external supporting rib structure 320 can help reduce and/or spread out the stress imparted in this area by the weight or mass of the vehicle. The undulating shape of the unit guide pocket may help spread out the stress to be borne or supported by more structure or parts of the side frame relative to the unit guide pocket not having the undulating shape. The external rib can be added to provide further support for this stress, thereby reducing the stress imparted on other areas at or near the intersection between the unit guide pocket and the spring seat.
The ribs of the side frame may be located at a turn of the spring seat (TOSS). For example, the side frame can have an interface 322 between the spring seat and a portion 324 of the side frame that is between the internal/facing side and the external side. This interface may be curved as shown in
The rib may protrude above or beyond this intersection or the TOSS, as shown in
Inclusion of the ribs and/or the undulating portion or end of the unit guide pockets can provide increased structural strength, increased durability, increased lifespan, and/or an increased maximum amount of stress that can be withstood by the bogie assembly relative to other bogie assemblies that do not include the external ribs and/or undulating portions of the unit guide pockets. This can allow for the bogie assemblies to support heavier vehicles, to travel over rougher (e.g., less smooth) terrain, and/or to have lower unit guide pockets relative to bogie assemblies that do not have the ribs or undulating portions of the unit guide pockets.
In one example of the inventive subject matter described herein, a method for providing a bogie assembly is provided. The method can include forming side frames to include the unit guide pockets and/or ribs described herein. These side frames may be formed by casting, or alternatively can be formed by additive manufacturing, forging, or the like. The side frames can be joined with each other using a bolster, springs, or the like, and may be connected with wheelsets, as described above.
While one or more embodiments are described in connection with a rail vehicle system, not all embodiments are limited to rail vehicle systems. Unless expressly disclaimed or stated otherwise, the subject matter described herein extends to other types of vehicle systems, such as automobiles, trucks (with or without trailers), buses, marine vessels, aircraft, mining vehicles, agricultural vehicles, or other off-highway vehicles. The vehicle systems described herein (rail vehicle systems or other vehicle systems that do not travel on rails or tracks) may be formed from a single vehicle or multiple vehicles. With respect to multi-vehicle systems, the vehicles may be mechanically coupled with each other (e.g., by couplers) or logically coupled but not mechanically coupled. For example, vehicles may be logically but not mechanically coupled when the separate vehicles communicate with each other to coordinate movements of the vehicles with each other so that the vehicles travel together (e.g., as a convoy).
In one example, a bogie assembly includes a bolster having a plate on which a rail vehicle is supported, and side frames disposed on opposite sides of the plate of the bolster. The side frames can have pedestal jaw ends that can couple with wheelsets of the rail vehicle. The side frames can have openings sized to receive the bolster and springs between spring seats of the side frames in the openings and the bolster. The side frames also can include unit guide pockets that can receive brake beams that move during engagement or release of brake shoes from wheels in the wheelsets. The unit guide pockets can be located below the spring seats in the side frames.
The side frames may include internal sides that face each other and opposite external sides that face away from each other. The internal sides can include protruding ribs that outwardly extend from the internal sides. The external ribs of the side frames can be located at turns of the spring seats. The unit guide pockets can include elongated slots having S-shapes that start at the external ribs. The S-shapes of the unit guide pockets may spread out mechanical stress imparted on the side frames by the rail vehicle. The external ribs may protrude along first directions that are parallel to a center plane of the bogie assembly.
These external ribs can protrude along the first directions that also are perpendicular to second directions along which the bolster is elongated and extends between the side frames. The external ribs can provide structural support to the side frames. Ends of the unit guide pockets that face the unit guide pockets in the same side frame can be filled with a solid material to reduce stress in the side frames from the rail vehicle.
In another example, a bogie assembly can include a side frame that may be coupled with one end of a bolster that supports a vehicle. The side frame can have pedestal jaw ends that may couple with wheelsets of the vehicle. The side frame can have openings sized to receive the bolster and springs between the bolster and spring seats of the side frames in the openings. The side frame can include unit guide pockets that may receive brake beams that move during engagement or release of brake shoes from wheels in the wheelsets. The unit guide pockets may be located below the spring seats in the side frames.
The side frame can include an internal side and an opposite external side. The internal side may have protruding ribs that outwardly extend from the internal side. The external ribs can be located at turns of the spring seat. The unit guide pockets can include elongated slots with S-shapes that start at the external ribs. The S-shapes of the unit guide pockets can spread out mechanical stress imparted on the side frame by the rail vehicle. The external ribs may protrude along first directions that are parallel to a center plane of the bogie assembly and that are perpendicular to second directions along which the bolster is elongated and extends between the side frames. Ends of the unit guide pockets that face the unit guide pockets in the side frame can be filled with a solid material to reduce stress in the side frame from the rail vehicle.
In another example, a bogie assembly can include a bolster configured to be coupled with a vehicle, and side frames connected with each other by the bolster. The side frames can include spring seats that may support springs between the bolster and the side frames. The side frames also can include unit guide pockets in which brake beams move during actuation of brakes. The unit guide pockets may be located below the spring seats.
The side frames also can include ribs that project from the side frames in directions that are perpendicular to the bolster, parallel to internal sides of the side frames that face each other, and parallel to external sides of the side frames that face away from each other. The unit guide pockets may have S-shapes at ends of the unit guide pockets. The side frames can include ribs that project from the side frames in directions that are perpendicular to the bolster, parallel to internal sides of the side frames that face each other, and parallel to external sides of the side frames that face away from each other, the unit guide pockets having S-shapes at ends of the unit guide pockets.
Use of phrases such as “one or more of . . . and,” “one or more of . . . or,” “at least one of . . . and,” and “at least one of . . . or” are meant to encompass including only a single one of the items used in connection with the phrase, at least one of each one of the items used in connection with the phrase, or multiple ones of any or each of the items used in connection with the phrase. For example, “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C” each can mean (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, (3) at least one C, (4) at least one A and at least one B, (5) at least one A, at least one B, and at least one C, (6) at least one B and at least one C, or (7) at least one A and at least one C.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” do not exclude the plural of said elements or operations, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the invention do not exclude the existence of additional embodiments that incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “comprises,” “including,” “includes,” “having,” or “has” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and do not impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112 (f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function devoid of further structure.
This written description uses examples to disclose several embodiments of the subject matter, including the best mode, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/595,868, filed Nov. 3, 2023, entitled “BOGIE ASSEMBLY”. The entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63595868 | Nov 2023 | US |
