The current state of art for attaching rail wheels to an axle is to utilize an interference press fit at the wheel/axle interface. This process requires large specialized presses and the removal of the entire truck from the rail car with the total disassembly of the truck to press off and on the wheels. A wheel design that allows the easy removal without the need to remove and disassemble the truck (and the frame that holds the axles) will be a major improvement.
The current state of the art utilizes an interference press fit to secure the wheel to the axle. (as illustrated in
Additionally, as the current state of the art requires a large, factory-based press machine, it is not possible to change wheels in the field or on the rail. The current state of the art requires the changing of the wheels at the factory where the specialized press machine is available.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
A first aspect of the disclosure provides a wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising: a wheel; an axle with an end that fits into the center of the wheel thereby creating an interface between the wheel and the axle; and a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of pre-machined holes at the interface of the wheel and the axle. The plurality of pins may lock the wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the vehicle.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides a rail wheel assembly for use with a rail vehicle on a rail, the rail wheel assembly comprising: a rail wheel; an axle with an end that fits into the center of the rail wheel thereby creating an interface between the rail wheel and the axle; and a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of pre-machined holes at the interface of the rail wheel and the axle. The plurality of pins may be geometrically and evenly spaced around the rail wheel. The plurality of pins may lock the rail wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the rail vehicle on the rail. A first set of one or more half-circle grooves may be machined into an inside diameter of the rail wheel parallel to a centerline axis. A second set of one or more half-circle grooves may be machined on an outside diameter of the axle. The first set of grooves and the second set of grooves may mate and align to create the plurality of holes.
In another aspect of the disclosure provides a wheel assembly for use with a vehicle, the wheel assembly comprising: a wheel; an axle with an end that fits into the center of the wheel thereby creating an interface between the wheel and the axle; a plurality of pins that are pressed into a plurality of pre-machined holes at the interface of the wheel and the axle; and a bearing and a bearing end cap that applies a force to the bearing by pushing against the wheel. The plurality of pins may be geometrically and evenly spaced around the wheel. The plurality of pins may lock the wheel to the axle and carry a dynamic load and a static load of the vehicle. The bearing end cap may apply the force to the bearing by a plurality of screws that are threaded into the end of the axle through the bearing end cap. The force may be generated on the bearing end cap by tightening the screws and the force is transferred through the wheel to load the bearing.
The details of these and other embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent form the description and drawings.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale.
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a wheel design and wheel/axle interface that allows rail wheels to be changed quickly without the need for major disassembly of the rail vehicle. Aspects of this disclosure also relate to a wheel design and wheel/axle interface that reduces the need for high cost press equipment for this change. While this wheel assembly is designed specifically for rail wheels, this wheel assembly design may be utilized with any transit system that utilizes press-fit wheel/axle assemblies.
In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below. “Plurality” indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.
In the following description of the various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure
As illustrated in
The pins 130 may be pressed into the grooves/holes 125 and pulled out of the grooves/holes 125 with a specialized tool. The pins 130 may be pressed into the interface/holes/grooves 125 via a specialized portable press that may attach to the axle 120 and the pins 130. This press may also be capable of removing the pins 130 from the wheel/axle interface/holes/grooves 125. The pins 130 may have a unique head 135 that will allow the press to grab the pins 130 for this operation.
As illustrated in
Additionally, as the number of pins 130 increases, the diameter of the pins 130 may decrease. For example, more pins 130 utilized and press fit into the wheel 110 may require a smaller diameter pin 130. Additionally, as the number of pins 130 decreases, the diameter of the pins 130 may increase. For example, less pins 130 utilized and press fit into the wheel 110 may require a larger diameter pin 130.
As discussed above and illustrated in
As illustrated in
Additionally, as illustrated in
The bearing end cap 240 may include a plurality of slots 246 that allow the plurality of pins 230 to be pressed into the wheel/axle interface/holes/grooves 225. The number of slots 246 matches the number of pins 230. Additionally the plurality of screws 244 may be threaded through the bearing end cap 240 on an inside portion of the bearing end cap and inside the circumference of the slots 246 where the pins 230 are pressed into the holes 225.
The pins 230 may be pressed into the grooves/holes 225 and pulled out of the grooves/holes 225 with a specialized tool. The pins 230 may be pressed into the interface/holes/grooves 225 via a specialized portable press that may attach to the axle 220 and the pins 230. This press may also be capable of removing the pins 130 from the wheel/axle interface/holes/grooves 225. The pins 230 may have a unique head 235 that will allow the press to grab the pins 230 for this operation.
As illustrated in
Additionally, as the number of pins 230 increases, the diameter of the pins 230 may decrease. For example, more pins 230 utilized and press fit into the wheel 210 may require a smaller diameter pin 230. Additionally, as the number of pins 230 decreases, the diameter of the pins 230 may increase. For example, less pins 230 utilized and press fit into the wheel 210 may require a larger diameter pin 230.
As discussed above and illustrated in
For the embodiments illustrated in
The wheel assembly 100, 200 may include the removal of the wheel 110, 210 from the axle 120, 220 that may be accomplished with removable pins 130, 230. For example, removable pins 130, 230 may be press-fit pins that have a shoulder 135, 235 or hole to grab onto that would allow the pins 130, 230 to be removed. A tool similar to a gear puller could be utilized to pull out the pins 130, 230 evenly.
In another embodiment without departing from this invention, the removal of the wheel 110, 210 from the axle 120, 220 may be accomplished by removing the wheel 110, 210. The wheel assembly 100, 200 may include pins 130, 230 that may be press fit in the holes 125, 225 and the wheel 110, 210 could then be pulled off with a similar tool to a gear puller. Slots or holes may need to be made in the thick part near the center of the wheel 110, 210 that a device could be hooked into to pull the wheel 110, 210 off of the axle 120, 220.
In another embodiment without departing from this invention, the removal of the wheel 110, 210 from the axle 120, 220 may be accomplished by loose fitting pins 130, 230 with an endcap. The wheel assembly 100, 200 may include pins 130, 230 that would not be press fit, but would therefore include an endcap to be locked into place in the holes 125, 225. The end of the shaft of the pins 130, 230 may have threading to hold the endcap on the pin 130, 230, similar to a washer on a bolt.
In another embodiment without departing from this invention, the removal of the wheel 110, 210 from the axle 120, 220 may be accomplished by expandable pins/bolts. The wheel assembly 100, 200 may include expandable pins/bolts 130, 230 that may be utilized similar to concrete expansion anchors that could be tightened and therefore expanded once placed in the holes 125, 225. This design may still require an endcap to keep the pins/bolts 130, 230 from falling out in the case that the expansion bolts loosened over time.
This designs illustrated in
Additionally, the wheel assembly 100, 200 as described in the embodiments herein and illustrated in
Below illustrates a benefit summary of the prior art wheel/axle design and the wheel assembly 100, 200 as described in the embodiments herein and illustrated in
The present disclosure is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application, U.S. Ser. No. 62/490,153, filed Apr. 26, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62490153 | Apr 2017 | US |