Wheel load adjusting apparatus of railcar

A wheel load adjusting apparatus for use in a railcar,

• the railcar comprising:
• first and second air springs arranged between a carbody and a first bogie so as to be spaced apart from each other in a car width direction;
• third and fourth air springs arranged between the carbody and a second bogie so as to be spaced apart from each other in the car width direction;
• first to fourth automatic level controlling valves provided upstream of the first to fourth air springs, respectively, and configured to adjust heights of the first to fourth air springs, respectively, to maintain the heights of the air springs constant;
• and
• first to fourth wheel load adjusting valves provided at first to fourth channels, respectively, the first to fourth channels connecting the first to fourth automatic level controlling valves and the first to fourth air springs, respectively, wherein
• when the railcar passes through a curve, the wheel load adjusting apparatus limits an air supply/air discharge operation of at least one of the first to fourth automatic level controlling valves so as to suppress an increase in a pressure difference between at least two of the first to fourth air springs,
• when a first differential pressure between the first and third air springs arranged at a first side in the car width direction exceeds a first threshold, the first and third wheel load adjusting valves perform an operation of suppressing an increase in the first differential pressure to limit the air supply/air discharge operation of the first automatic level controlling valve and the air supply/air discharge operation of the third automatic level controlling valve, and
• when a second differential pressure between the second and fourth air springs arranged at a second side in the car width direction exceeds a second threshold, the second and fourth wheel load adjusting valves perform an operation of suppressing an increase in the second differential pressure to limit the air supply/air discharge operation of the second automatic level controlling valve and the air supply/air discharge operation of the fourth automatic level controlling valve.