Leveling railway vehicle and related systems and methods
AssigneeWabtec Holding Corp.
InventorsJames Franks, Adam W. Kohler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Leveling railway vehicles, leveling secondary suspension systems, lift-systems for suspension systems, and other related systems and methods are shown and described. In one example, a railway vehicle includes a superstructure, a bogey, and a leveling secondary suspension system. The leveling suspension system includes at least one spring positioned between the superstructure and the bogey, and a secondary suspension-mounting lift system (SMLS) interfaced with coil spring. The SMLS includes a spring-mount (SM) and a piston assembly. In operation, pressurized hydraulic fluid acts on the piston and lifts the superstructure, thereby allowing the superstructure's access to be raised to a desired height, e.g. a platform height.
Claims40
A railway vehicle configured to raise its access floor of to platform level, the vehicle comprising:
- (a) a superstructure having an access floor;
- (b) a bogie;
- (c) a coil spring positioned between the superstructure and the bogie,
- the coil spring having an internal diameter (Din) and an external diameter (Dex),
- the coil spring having a top and a bottom and being configured to maintain, at least in part, the superstructure in a raised coasting configuration (Hc) relative to the bogie;
- and
- (d) a secondary suspension-mounting lift system (SMLS) comprising
- (d.1) a spring-mount (SM) mounted to the bottom of the coil spring comprising
- (d.1.a) a hollow cylinder positioned aligned with the coil spring and
- (d.1.b) a flange connected to the cylinder, the flange extending externally from the coil spring and supporting one end of the coil spring, and
- (d.1.c) an expansion surface defined on the inside of the hollow cylinder and in fluid communication, and
- (d.2) a piston assembly comprising
- (d.2.a) a piston sized to fit within the hollow cylinder, and
- (d.2.b) a connector for hydraulic interface, the connector being in fluid communication with the piston and the expansion surface, whereby pressurized hydraulic fluid acts on the piston and the expansion surface and lifts the superstructure.
(canceled)
The vehicle of 1, wherein hollow cylinder extends into the bottom of the coil spring and the flange abuts the bottom of the coil spring.
The vehicle of 3, wherein the bottom of the spring is frictionally attached to the flange.
5-7. (canceled)
The vehicle of 1, further including a seat on the bogie, the seat configured to receive the piston assembly.
The vehicle of 8, wherein the seat defines a finger for receiving an extrusion that serves as the connector.
The vehicle of 9, wherein the extrusion is positioned at an angle α=90°±45°.
The vehicle of 10, further including a flexible hydraulic line, thereby accommodating the lifting of the superstructure and shimming of the suspension.
The vehicle of 1, further including a bumper assembly positioned inside the coil spring.
The vehicle of 12, wherein the bumper assembly is positioned opposite the SM.
The vehicle of 1, further including a hydraulic power unit (HPU) in fluid communication with the connector.
The vehicle of 14, further including an electronics control unit (ECU) in communication with the HPU, the ECU in communication with a level sensor configured to detect the suspension settlement in relation to a platform level and output a signal to actuate the hydraulic power unit to control fluid pressure to the piston assembly to raise or lower the spring and the superstructrure to align the access floor with the platform level.
A secondary suspension system for a railway vehicle, the secondary suspension system comprising:
- (a) a coil spring configured to position between a superstructure and a bogie,
- the coil spring having an internal diameter (Din) and an external diameter (Dex),
- the coil spring having a top and a bottom and being configured to maintain, at least in part, the superstructure in a raised coasting configuration (Hc) relative to the bogie;
- and
- (b) a secondary suspension-mounting lift system (SMLS) comprising
- (b.1) a spring-mount (SM) mounted to the bottom of the coil spring comprising
- (b.1.a) a hollow cylinder positioned aligned with the coil spring and
- (b.1.b) a flange connected to the cylinder, the flange extending externally from the coil spring and supporting one end of the coil spring, and
- (b.2) a piston assembly comprising
- (b.2.a) a piston sized to fit within the hollow cylinder, and
- (b.2.b) a connector for hydraulic interface, the connector being in fluid communication with the piston, whereby pressurized hydraulic fluid acts on the piston and lifts the superstructure.
(canceled)
The suspension system of 15, wherein hollow cylinder extends into the bottom of the coil spring and the flange abuts the bottom of the coil spring.
The suspension system of 17, wherein the spring is frictionally attached to the flange.
20-22. (canceled)
The suspension system of 16, wherein the SMLS further includes a seat on the bogie, the seat configured to receive the piston assembly.
The suspension system of 23, wherein the seat defines a finger for receiving an extrusion that serves as the connector.
The suspension system of 24, wherein the extrusion is positioned at an angle α=90°±45°.
The suspension system of 25, further including a flexible hydraulic line, thereby accommodating the lifting of the superstructure and shimming of the suspension.
The suspension system of 16, further including a bumper assembly positioned inside the coil spring.
The suspension system of 27, wherein the bumper assembly is positioned opposite the SM.
The suspension system of 19, further including a hydraulic power unit (HPU) in fluid communication with the connector.
The suspension system of 29, further including an electronics control unit (ECU) in communication with the HPU, the ECU in communication with a level sensor configured to detect the suspension settlement in relation to a platform level and output a signal to actuate the hydraulic power unit to control fluid pressure to the piston assembly to raise or lower the spring and the superstructure to align the access floor with the platform level.
A secondary suspension-mounting lift system (SMLS) for mounting to the bottom of a coil spring of a secondary suspension, the SMLS comprising:
- (a) a spring-mount (SM) comprising
- (a.1) a hollow cylinder configured to be aligned with the coil spring and
- (a.1) a flange connected to the cylinder, the flange extending externally from the cylinder and configured to support one end of the coil spring, and
- (b) a piston assembly comprising
- (b.1) a piston sized to fit within the hollow cylinder, and
- (b.2) a connector for hydraulic interface, the connector being in fluid communication with the piston, whereby pressurized hydraulic fluid acts on the piston and lifts the superstructure.
The SMLS of 31, wherein the SM is configured to mount to the bottom of the coil spring.
The SMLS of 32, wherein hollow cylinder is configured to extend into the bottom of the coil spring and the flange is configured to abut the bottom of the coil spring.
The SMLS of 31, wherein spring can be frictionally attached to the flange.
35-37. (canceled)
The SMLS of 31, further including a seat configured to mount to the bogie and receive the piston assembly.
The SMLS of 38, wherein the seat defines a finger for receiving an extrusion that serves as the connector.
The SMLS of 39, wherein the extrusion is positioned at an angle α=90°±45°.
The SMLS of 40, further including a flexible hydraulic line configured to accommodate the lifting of the superstructure and shimming of the suspension.
The SMLS of 31, further including a hydraulic power unit (HPU) configured to be in fluid communication with the connector.
The SMLS of 42, further including an electronics control unit (ECU) in communication with the HPU, the ECU in communication with a level sensor configured to detect the suspension settlement and output a signal to the hydraulic power unit based on platform level.
A method of aiding passenger ingress and egress from a rail car at a platform station comprising,
- moving a railway vehicle having at least one bogie and a superstructure that has an access floor on tracks between stations,
- stopping the railway vehicle at a station having a platform,
- determining if there is a misalignment of the superstructure access floor above or below platform level,
- if a misalignment is determined, pressurizing hydraulic fluid to act on at least one piston and thereby lifting the superstructure until the vehicle's access floor is at approximately equal height as the platform level to allow passenger or cargo loading and unloading,
- after unloading and loading, adjusting pressure on the hydraulic fluid acting on the piston, thereby moving the superstructure to the desired level, and
- resuming movement of the railway vehicle to a next station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.