# US 9,517,781 B2 · Air spring for railroad car

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- Number: US 9,517,781 B2
- Document ID: US9517781B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/125,800
- Filed: 2011-07-08
- Published: 2014-05-01
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-08
- Assignees: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kenji Fujimoto
- Inventors: Kenji Fujimoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517781B2

## CPC

- B61F 5/08: incorporating rubber springs
- B60G 11/62: having both rubber springs and fluid springs
- B61F 5/02: Arrangements permitting limited transverse relative movements between vehicle underframe or bolster and bogie; Connections between underframes and bogies
- B61F 5/10: incorporating fluid springs
- F16F 9/0454: {characterised by the assembling method or by the mounting arrangement, e.g. mounting of the membrane (F16F9/0409, F16F9/0445 take precedence)}
- F16F 13/002: {comprising at least one fluid spring (F16F13/005, F16F13/02, F16F13/04 take precedence)}
- B61F: RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C)
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

An air spring for railroad cars includes an air spring part formed by an upper support on a vehicle body side, an intermediate support arranged therebelow, and a diaphragm made of rubber and extending between the upper support and the intermediate support; and an elastic mechanism b formed by a rubber mass 5 interposed between the intermediate support and a lower support 4 on a bogie side arranged therebelow. The rubber mass 5 has an end in contact with the lower support 4 formed as an enlarged end 5A increasing in diameter as approaching the lower support 4 in a vertical direction. An outer circumferential portion of this enlarged end is fitted in and bonded to an annular groove 12 formed in the lower support 4, and the annular groove 12 has an annular bottom 12A inclined to decrease in height radially outwards to have an annular tapered bottom 12a.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air spring for railroad cars, comprising:
an air spring part formed by an upper support on a vehicle body side, an intermediate support arranged below the upper support, and a diaphragm made of an elastic material and extending between the upper support and the intermediate support; and
an elastic mechanism formed by an elastic member interposed between said intermediate support and a lower support on a bogie side arranged below the intermediate support,
said elastic member having an end in contact with said lower support formed as an enlarged end increasing in diameter as approaching said lower support in a vertical direction, an outer circumferential portion of this enlarged end being fitted in and bonded to an annular groove formed in said lower support, and said annular groove having an annular bottom inclined to decrease in height radially outwards to have an annular tapered bottom, an annular horizontal outer peripheral bottom that is horizontal and continuous with a radially outer side of said annular tapered bottom, and an outer circumferential wall has an angle which is perpendicular to an upper surface of the lower support, and an angle between the annular horizontal outer peripheral bottom and the annular tapered bottom is substantially different from the perpendicular outer circumferential wall angle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air spring for railroad cars according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is interposed between said intermediate support and said lower support in a state where the elastic member has a generally barrel-shaped outer contour having a largest diameter in a middle part in a height direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The air spring for railroad cars according to claim 2, wherein said elastic member is made of rubber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The air spring for railroad cars according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is made of rubber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The air spring for railroad cars according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is interposed between said intermediate support and said lower support in a state where the elastic member has a generally barrel-shaped outer contour having a largest diameter in a middle part in a height direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The air spring for railroad cars according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is made of rubber.