U.S. patent application number 16/004410 was filed with the patent office on 2018-10-11 for rubber-metal spring unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH. Invention is credited to Mark Lindenberg.
Application Number | 20180290668 16/004410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57345940 |
Filed Date | 2018-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180290668 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindenberg; Mark |
October 11, 2018 |
RUBBER-METAL SPRING UNIT
Abstract
A rubber-metal spring unit is for use in bogies of rail
vehicles, wherein the rubber-metal spring unit is arranged between
an upper connection element, which is connected to the sprung mass,
and a lower connection element, which is connected to the unsprung
mass. The rubber-metal spring unit is configured as a conical
layered spring composed of multiple alternately and concentrically
arranged layers of elastomer material or rubber, on the one hand,
and metal, on the other hand. The individual layers are formed as
conical annular-shaped bodies, wherein the two conical surfaces of
at least one of the conical annular-shaped bodies have different
cone angles in relation to the common vertical axis of the
concentric layers of rubber and metal which form the conical
layered spring.
Inventors: |
Lindenberg; Mark; (Garbsen,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Contitech Luftfedersysteme GmbH |
Hannover |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57345940 |
Appl. No.: |
16/004410 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2016/077940 |
Nov 17, 2016 |
|
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16004410 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61F 5/04 20130101; F16F
1/41 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61F 5/04 20060101
B61F005/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 224 744.9 |
Claims
1. A rubber-metal spring unit arranged between an upper connection
element, which is connected to a sprung mass, and a lower
connection element, which is connected to an unsprung mass, said
rubber-metal spring unit comprising: the spring unit being
configured as a conical layered spring composed of multiple
alternately and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer
material or rubber, on the one hand, and metal, on the other hand;
and, the individual ones of said layers being formed as conical
annular-shaped bodies, wherein the two conical surfaces of at least
one conical annular-shaped body have different angles or cone
angles in relation to the common vertical axis of the concentric
layers of rubber and metal which form the conical layered
spring.
2. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of
the conical surfaces of at least one conical annular-shaped body
has a structured shape or undulating shape which deviates from a
smooth hollow cone, preferably over the entire cone
circumference.
3. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 1, wherein the conical
surfaces of at least two conical annular-shaped bodies vulcanized
onto one another have, over their cone circumference, a structured
shape or undulating shape which deviates from a smooth hollow
cone.
4. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 1, wherein the alternately
and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer material and metal
have layer thicknesses which vary from the inside to the outside
over their cone profile.
5. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 4, wherein the layer
thickness of at least one concentrically arranged layer is formed
so as to be smaller at its inner diameter than at its outer
diameter.
6. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 1, wherein the alternately
and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer material and metal
have different cone angles or layer angles.
7. The rubber-metal spring unit of claim 1, wherein said sprung
mass is the chassis of a railway vehicle; and, said unsprung mass
is a bogie of the railway vehicle.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of
international patent application PCT/EP2016/077940, filed Nov. 17,
2016, designating the United States and claiming priority from
German application 10 2015 224 744.9, filed Dec. 9, 2015, and the
entire content of both applications is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a rubber-metal spring unit, in
particular for use in running gears of rail vehicles, wherein the
rubber-metal spring unit is arranged between an upper connection
element, which is connected to the sprung mass, and a lower
connection element, which is connected to the unsprung mass, and
which is constructed as a conical layered spring composed of
multiple alternately and concentrically arranged layers of
elastomer material or rubber, on the one hand, and metal, on the
other hand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the drawings, FIG. 2 shows a spring unit of this type
from the prior art.
[0004] Rubber-metal spring units for rail vehicles in particular
are, owing to the demands placed thereon with regard to the
stiffnesses and stabilities to be achieved during deformation,
commonly composed of a combination of layered and conical springs.
These are generally conventional and known. Here, the layered
spring provides the lateral mobility. The conical spring permits
primarily vertical mobility with set stiffnesses, which are
responsible in particular for the protection of the train against
derailment. Layered springs are commonly composed of multiple
layers divided horizontally by intermediate plates. Conical springs
are commonly composed of multiple conically inclined layers which
are divided by intermediate plates. The intermediate plates have a
uniform material thickness.
[0005] Disadvantages of this structural form are: [0006] The use of
two components which, owing to their functional division, require a
considerably greater structural space, in particular in the
vertical direction. [0007] It is necessary for two vulcanization
molds to be provided (costs). [0008] Twice the vulcanization time
is required on one press. [0009] The connecting elements between
the two components must be subjected, in a relatively cumbersome
manner, to cutting machining (higher weight, more expensive
components). [0010] The connecting elements must be installed in a
secure and corrosion-protected manner (installation effort, risk of
corrosion). [0011] Owing to their structural form, such
combinations have a tendency to tilt in the event of lateral
deformation. This has an adverse effect on the usability of the
component.
[0012] Other rubber-metal elements, such as for example barrel
springs, require considerably more structural space, in particular
in terms of diameter, owing to their large unattached rubber
surface, can be adjusted little in terms of their vertical spring
characteristics, and also have a tendency to tilt in the event of
lateral deflection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] For the invention, it is thus an object to permit the good
technical characteristics (mobility, easily adjustable different
lateral and vertical stiffnesses) of a conical and layered spring
combination in a very compact structural form with considerably
lower weight, less technical effort in terms of
production/installation, and at the same time better corrosion
resistance.
[0014] It is furthermore sought to avoid the disadvantageous
characteristic of layered springs having lateral stiffnesses which
decrease with increasing vertical load (softening under stress or
load), because the resulting adverse effect (load and deflection
instability), in particular for air spring systems, limits the
usability of the components, in particular those of air spring
systems.
[0015] A rubber-metal spring unit is arranged between an upper
connection element, which is connected to a sprung mass, and a
lower connection element, which is connected to an unsprung mass.
The rubber-metal spring unit includes: the spring unit being
configured as a conical layered spring composed of multiple
alternately and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer
material or rubber, on the one hand, and metal, on the other hand;
and, the individual ones of the layers being formed as conical
annular-shaped bodies, wherein the two conical surfaces of at least
one conical annular-shaped body have different angles or cone
angles in relation to the common vertical axis of the concentric
layers of rubber and metal which form the conical layered
spring.
[0016] Here, the individual layers are formed as conical
annular-shaped bodies, wherein the two conical surfaces of at least
one of the conical annular-shaped bodies have different cone angles
in relation to the common vertical axis of the concentric layers of
rubber and metal which form the conical layered spring.
[0017] The individual rubber layers of the compact spring are, in
accordance with their desired function, arranged with different
layer angles and layer diameters. This is made possible through the
use of connecting elements which, by contrast to the classic
plates, have a different geometry in relation to the individual
rubber layers.
[0018] The differences may comprise different angles and/or
diameters, or freely contoured surfaces at each connecting surface.
Owing to a practical combination of different layers, not only can
softening under stress and thus an increased susceptibility to
tilting be avoided, but it is even the case that a stabilizing
effect arises (opposite tilting in the event of lateral deflection
owing to the geometry), by means of which it is even possible for
tilting effects from an air spring that may be connected in series
to be compensated. This considerably increases the usability of air
spring systems in the event of lateral deflection (more load and
more deflection are possible).
[0019] One advantageous embodiment is that at least one of the
conical surfaces of at least one conical annular-shaped body has a
structured shape or undulating shape which deviates from a smooth
hollow cone, preferably over the entire cone circumference. In this
way, the spring can be adapted to a particular form of use, and a
reduction of the tilting or buckling tendency can be achieved. This
is the case in particular in conjunction with a further
advantageous embodiment, which consists in that the conical
surfaces of at least two conical annular-shaped bodies vulcanized
onto one another have, over their cone circumference, a structured
shape or undulating shape which deviates from a smooth hollow
cone.
[0020] A further advantageous embodiment is seen in that the
alternately and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer
material and metal have layer thicknesses which vary from the
inside to the outside over their cone profile. In particular if the
layer thickness of at least one concentrically arranged layer is
formed so as to be smaller at its inner diameter than at its outer
diameter, this yields an increased supporting moment provided by
the rubber-metal spring unit configured in this way, such that a
reduced tilting and buckling tendency arises owing to a stabilizing
effect of the different layers in the event of lateral deformation.
In this way, the tilting moment of the air spring in the event of
lateral deflections is compensated. The result is thus a
considerably increased linear characteristic of the air spring
system in the event of lateral deflections, and instability of the
air spring system is avoided. In this way, air spring systems of
the same structural size can be operated with greater loads and
lateral deflections.
[0021] A further advantageous embodiment consists in that the
alternately and concentrically arranged layers of elastomer
material and metal have different cone angles or layer angles, in
particular if one considers the average cone angle, that is, the
average between the different cone angles of the inner and outer
surfaces of the individual conical annular-shaped bodies. This
further increases the linear characteristic of the air spring
system, whereby traveling comfort is increased. Protection against
derailment is also increased, because the stiffnesses in the event
of small lateral deflections are reduced.
[0022] In the embodiment according to the invention, softening
under load and stress is avoided by means of higher vertical loads
in the event of lateral deflection.
[0023] There is also less wear (abrasion) of the air spring at the
rim seat and of the bead ring clamping point owing to a parallel
movement of the upper and lower clamping points. By means of these
parallel movements of the upper and lower clamping points, lower
stresses arise in the air spring, self-evidently also resulting in
an increased service life.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment according to the invention of the
rubber-metal spring unit; and,
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a unit of this type from the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0027] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment according to the invention of the
rubber-metal spring unit for use in the bogie of a railbound
vehicle. The rubber-metal spring unit is arranged between an upper
connecting element 2 and a lower connecting element 1. The upper
connecting element 2 is connected to the chassis or mass which is
spring supported and the lower connecting element 1 is connected to
a mass which is not spring supported and can be in the form of an
undercarriage or bogie. The rubber-metal spring unit is configured
of a conical layered spring of several alternating and
concentrically arranged layers of elastomeric material such as
rubber, on the one hand, and metal 3, 4, on the other hand. The
elastomeric material or rubber is arranged between each two of the
connecting elements 1, 2 and the metal layer 3, 4.
[0028] The individual layers of elastomer material and of metal are
configured as conically-shaped annular bodies. The two conical
surfaces of at least one conically-shaped annular body 4 have
different angles or conical angles with reference to the common
vertical axis of the concentric layers forming the conical layered
spring made of rubber and/or metal.
[0029] For example, the layer 4 of metal has different layer
thicknesses over its conical extent from inside to outside. There,
the layer thickness is at least configured to be smaller at least
at the inner diameter of layer 4 than at the outer diameter
thereof.
[0030] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of
the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes
and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
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