Abstract
The invention pertains to a discharge nozzle for discharging grit or lubricant into the gap between a rail and a track wheel of a rail vehicle, with the discharge nozzle comprising a base body with at least one connection for being connected to a conveyor line for the grit or lubricant and an outlet that is connected to the connection via a channel. In order to achieve an efficient and purposeful discharge of the majority of grit and/or lubricant into the gap between the rail and the track wheel, the outer contour of the base body is in the longitudinal direction shaped in a convex manner at least in the rear region lying opposite of the outlet and, if applicable, surrounded by an attachment such that the air flowing around the base body is accelerated in the direction of the outlet.
Claims
1. A discharge nozzle for discharging grit or lubricant into a gap between a route and a wheel of a vehicle, the discharge nozzle comprising: a base body with at least one connection for being connected to a conveyor line for the grit or the lubricant and an outlet that is connected to the at least one connection via a channel, wherein an outer contour of the base body is shaped in a convex manner in a longitudinal direction at least in a rear region of the base body lying opposite of the outlet such that air flowing around the base body is accelerated in a direction of the outlet.
2. The discharge nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the outer contour of the base body is shaped in the convex manner in the longitudinal direction over an entire length of the base body.
3. The discharge nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a circumferential attachment is arranged in the rear region of the base body and an annular gap is formed between a surface of the base body and an inner side of the circumferential attachment.
4. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the annular gap is tapered in the direction of the outlet.
5. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the circumferential attachment is arranged to be adjustable relative to the base body in the longitudinal direction.
6. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the base body include air control elements for conducting the flow of the air on one or more of: (a) an inner side of the circumferential attachment or (b) on the surface of the base body.
7. The discharge nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the air control elements are arranged to be adjustable.
8. The discharge nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the air control elements are formed by blades obliquely arranged relative to the longitudinal direction.
9. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the circumferential attachment is closed in a region of the at least one connection and the circumferential attachment includes at least one compressed air connection for being connected to a compressed air line.
10. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein one or more of: (a) the base body or (b) the circumferential attachment is formed from three dimensional printed metal.
11. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein one or more of (a) the base body or (b) the circumferential attachment is formed from three dimensional printed plastic.
12. The discharge nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater is arranged on the base body.
13. The discharge nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is arranged at an acute angle to the longitudinal direction.
14. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein one or more of: (a) the base body or (b) the attachment has a circular cross section.
15. The discharge nozzle according to claim 3, wherein one or more of: (a) the base body or (b) the attachment has an elliptical cross section.
16. A discharge nozzle, comprising: a base body configured to be connected to a conveyor line for receiving one or more of a grit or a lubricant for a route surface, the base body including an outlet configured to be connected with the conveyor line from which the one or more of the grit or the lubricant is directed out of the base body, the base body having a convex shape in a longitudinal direction at least in a rear region of the base body that is opposite of the outlet such that air flowing around the base body is accelerated in a direction of the outlet.
17. The discharge nozzle of claim 16, further comprising: a circumferential attachment in the rear region of the base body that is separated from the base body by an annular gap.
18. The discharge nozzle according to claim 17, wherein the annular gap is tapered in the direction of the outlet.
19. A discharge nozzle, comprising: a base body configured to receive one or more of grit or lubricant for a route, the base body including an outlet through which the one or more of the grit or the lubricant is directed out of the base body toward a gap between a route surface and a vehicle wheel, the base body shaped in a convex manner in a longitudinal direction such that air flowing around the base body is accelerated in a direction of the outlet.
20. The discharge nozzle according to claim 19, further comprising: a circumferential attachment arranged in a rear region of the base body with a tapered annular gap between a surface of the base body and an inner side of the circumferential attachment, the base body including air control elements configured to conduct the flow of the air on one or more of: (a) an inner side of the circumferential attachment or (b) on the surface of the base body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that show different embodiments of discharge nozzles for discharging grit and/or lubricant into the gap between a rail and a track wheel of a rail vehicle. In these drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device for discharging grit and/or lubricant into the gap between a rail and a track wheel of a rail vehicle according to the prior art;
[0030] FIGS. 2A and 2B show a front view and a section through a conventional type of discharge nozzle for discharging grit and/or lubricant;
[0031] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a front view and a section through a first embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle, in which the base body has a rotationally symmetrical cross section and the outer contour of the base body is shaped in a convex manner in the rear region;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a second embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle, in which the base body has an elliptical cross section;
[0033] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a front view and a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle with an attachment arranged thereon;
[0034] FIGS. 6A to 6B show a front view and a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle with an attachment arranged thereon, as well as a perspective view of the attachment;
[0035] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a rear view and a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle with an attachment and blades arranged obliquely therein;
[0036] FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show sections through other embodiments of inventive discharge nozzles with a compressed air connection; and
[0037] FIGS. 9A to 9D show a comparison of the flow patterns of the discharged grit and/or lubricant in a conventional discharge nozzle and an inventive discharge nozzle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device for discharging grit G and/or lubricant O into the gap between a route (e.g., a rail) S and a vehicle wheel (e.g., a track wheel) R of a vehicle Z according to the prior art. The device is arranged at a suitable location in a rail vehicle Z. The vehicle Z travels on corresponding rails S by the track wheels R. Depending on the driving direction A of the vehicle Z, the discharge nozzle 1 for introducing the grit G, particularly sand, and/or the lubricant O or the mixture of grit G and lubricant O for optimizing the coefficient of friction into the gap between the route S and the wheel R is located in front of the respective wheel R. The discharge nozzle 1 is provided with a connection 3 for being connected to a conveyor line F for the grit G and the lubricant O. A channel 4, through which the grit G or the lubricant O is conveyed, is located between the connection 3 and the opposite outlet 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor line F is connected to a container B for a mixture of grit G and lubricant O. A corresponding metering and conveying device T on the underside of the container B, such as a pneumatic injector or a star feeder, conveys the grit G and/or the lubricant O from the container B to the discharge nozzle 1 through the conveyor line F. The grit G or lubricant O is purposefully introduced into the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R through the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle. It would also be possible to provide multiple containers B for grit G or lubricant O instead of a single container B for grit G or lubricant O and to transport the grit or lubricant to the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R via a common conveyor line F and a common discharge nozzle 1 or via multiple separate conveyor lines F and a common discharge nozzle 1 or via multiple separate conveyor lines F and multiple discharge nozzles 1.
[0039] The highest possible proportion of a metered quantity of grit G or lubricant O or the mixture for optimizing the coefficient of friction is respectively introduced into the gap between the track wheel R of the rail vehicle Z and the rail S by means of the discharge nozzle 1. Due to the traveling speed of the rail vehicle Z in the driving direction A, the relative wind W, but also crosswinds, cause vorticities Y in the region between the discharge nozzle 1 and the track wheel R such that the jet of grit G and lubricant O is deflected and partially ends up adjacent to the rail S.
[0040] A control unit may be provided and connected to the metering and conveying device T. As a result, optimal metering and mixing of the grit G or lubricant O or the mixture for optimizing the coefficient of friction can be achieved at best with consideration of influencing factors and environmental parameters. The control unit may also be connected to a sensor for detecting the speed of the rail vehicle Z, as well as to sensors for detecting environmental parameters such as the temperature, the humidity, or the wind speed. Furthermore, the control unit may also be connected to sensors for detecting the state between the track wheel R and the rail S. Such sensors may be realized, for example, in the form of optical devices. The values acquired by such sensors make it possible to determine the coefficient of friction between the track wheel R and the rail S by means of corresponding algorithms. Furthermore, the control unit may also be connected to a (not-shown) GPS receiver to detect the current geographic position of the rail vehicle Z and to also control the discharge of the grit G or lubricant O in dependence on the position of the rail vehicle Z.
[0041] FIG. 2A shows a front view and FIG. 2B shows a section through a conventional type of discharge nozzle 1 for discharging grit G and/or lubricant O along the line of section II-II in FIG. 2A. The discharge nozzle 1 has a connection 3 for being connected to a conveyor line F that may be provided with a thread 12, in this case an external thread, to simplify the installation and removal of the conveyor line F. A channel 4 for conveying the grit G or lubricant O is located between the connection 3 and the outlet 5. In the example shown, the channel 4 is realized in the form of a bore with constant inside diameter. In the rear region 6, which is assigned to the connection 3 and arranged opposite of the outlet 5 referred to the longitudinal direction X, the outer contour or surface of the discharge nozzle 1 is designed symmetrically and converges conically toward the outlet 5 in the front region. A jet with a certain dispersion is formed during the discharge of the grit G or lubricant O. The jet is deflected due to vorticities Y caused by the relative wind W or crosswinds (see FIG. 1) such that only a small proportion of grit G or lubricant O ends up at the intended location, namely in the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R.
[0042] FIG. 3A shows a front view and FIG. 3B shows a section through a first embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle 1 along the line of section in FIG. 3A. The discharge nozzle 1 comprises a base body 2 that is manufactured of metal or plastic. In the example shown, the connection 3 for being connected to the conveyor line F is realized with a thread 12 in the form of an internal thread. The outer contour of the base body 2 is shaped in a convex manner, i.e. curved outward, in the rear region 6 of the base body 2 assigned to the connection 3. The base body 2 converges toward the outlet 5 in the longitudinal direction X of the discharge nozzle 1 downstream of its convexly shaped rear region 6. The taper of the base body 2 toward the outlet 5 in the longitudinal direction X may be realized straight, i.e. essentially conical, or even shaped in a concave manner, i.e. curved inward. The air L flowing around the discharge nozzle 1 is accelerated toward the outlet 5 in accordance with the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect due to the concave outer contour of the base body 2 in the rear region 6 of the discharge nozzle 1. In this way, the jet of grit G or lubricant O is in a manner of speaking constricted during the discharge from the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle 1. As a result, this jet is less sensitive to vorticities Y or other air flows such that a higher proportion of grit G or lubricant O ends up at the intended location in the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R and less grit G or lubricant O is lost. Such a rotationally symmetrical discharge nozzle 1 can be manufactured very easily and cost-effectively. 3D printing processes using metallic materials or plastics may also be considered in addition to conventional mechanical manufacturing processes.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows a front view of a second embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle 1, in which the base body 2 has an elliptical cross section. This type of shape makes it possible to change the flow profile of the surrounding air L and to constrict the jet of grit G and lubricant O asymmetrically. A change of the flow profile can be achieved by rotating the discharge nozzle 1 about the longitudinal axis X. The manufacture of such a discharge nozzle 1 is in fact more elaborate than the manufacture of the discharge nozzle 1 according to FIGS. 3A and 3B but can also be easily and cost-effectively realized with 3D printing processes.
[0044] FIG. 5A shows the front view and FIG. 5B shows a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle 1 along the line of section V-V in FIG. 5A. In this case, an attachment 7 is arranged on the base body 2, which is shaped similar to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3B, in the rear region 6 such that an annular gap 8 is formed between the surface of the base body 2 and the inner side of the attachment 7. The outer side of the attachment 7 may be once again shaped in a convex manner, i.e. curved outward. In addition, the attachment 7 is designed in such a way that the annular gap 8 is tapered in the longitudinal direction X from the rear end of the discharge nozzle 1 at the connection 3 toward the outlet 5. Consequently, the width b 1 of the annular gap 8 at the rear end of the discharge nozzle 1 is greater than the width b″ at the front end of the annular gap 8 or at the end of the attachment 7 facing the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle 1, respectively. In this way, the air L flowing through the annular gap 8 is additionally accelerated in the direction of the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle 1. The air L flowing past on the outside is accelerated in the direction of the outlet 5 by the outer surface of the attachment 7, which may be shaped in a convex manner. Consequently, the air L surrounding the jet of grit G or lubricant O provides even better protection against external influences on the flow. As a result, the degree of efficiency of the discharge nozzle 1 can be additionally improved.
[0045] FIG. 6A shows a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle 1 with an attachment 7 arranged thereon. FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of the attachment 7 according to FIG. 6A. The outer contour and the inner contour of the attachment 7 are modified in comparison with the embodiment according to FIGS. 5A and 5B such that the shape and the progression of the annular gap 8 are also designed differently. According to another characteristic of the invention, the attachment 7 may be designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction X as indicated with the arrows x. A displacement of the attachment 7 makes it possible to change the annular gap 8 and to thereby change the resulting flow of the air L. The use of automatic adjustment options such as corresponding (not-shown) servomotors or the like makes it possible, for example, to control the flow of the air L in dependence on the speed of the rail vehicle Z. The perspective view of the attachment 7 in FIG. 6B shows webs 13 that are required for fastening the attachment on the base body 2 and interrupt the annular gap 8.
[0046] FIG. 7A shows a rear view and FIG. 7B shows a section through another embodiment of an inventive discharge nozzle 1 along the line of section VII-VII in FIG. 7A. The discharge nozzle 1 comprises the base body 2 and an attachment 7, as well as air control elements 9 or blades 10 that are arranged in the attachment and serve for conducting the flow of the surrounding air L. The air control elements 9 or blades 10 make it possible to correspondingly steer the flow of the air L such that the resulting jet of grit G or lubricant O is directed, for example, toward the wheel flange K of the track wheel R. The change in direction of the flow of the air L can be adjusted within certain limits if the air control elements 9 are arranged in an adjustable manner. A heater 14, particularly an electric resistance heater, may be arranged in the region of the outlet 5 of the base body 2 of the discharge nozzle 1.
[0047] FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show sections through other embodiments of inventive discharge nozzles 1. In this case, the attachment 7 is closed in the region of the at least one connection 3 of the base body 2 and at least one compressed air connection 11 for being connected to a (not-shown) compressed air line is arranged on the attachment 7. This embodiment of the discharge nozzle 1 is particularly advantageous when the installation situation of the discharge nozzle 1 does not allow any undisturbed access for the surrounding air L. This is the case, for example, in low-floor streetcars. In this case, the compressed air supplied via a compressed air line fulfills the function of the “constriction” of the jet of grit G or lubricant O exiting the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle 1 to improve the proportion of grit G or lubricant O ending up in the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8A, the attachment 7 with the compressed air connections 11 for being connected to a compressed air line is arranged separately of the base body 2. In addition, the outlet 5 may be arranged obliquely to the longitudinal axis X at an acute angle α. In the variation according to FIG. 8B, the base body 2 and the attachment 7 with the compressed air connection 11 are respectively realized in one piece or integrally. The integrated attachment 7 and therefore the resulting annular gap 8 between the attachment 7 and the base body 2 extend up to the outlet 5 of the discharge nozzle 1 in this variation.
[0048] FIGS. 9A to 9D ultimately show the flow patterns of the discharged grit G and/or lubricant O in a conventional discharge nozzle 1 and in an inventive discharge nozzle 1. In a discharge nozzle 1 according to the prior art, which is illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a relatively high dispersion of the jet of grit G or lubricant O takes place such that only a small proportion of grit G or lubricant O arrives in the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R.
[0049] In the inventive embodiment of the discharge nozzle 1 illustrated in FIGS. 9C and 9D, in contrast, the flow pattern of the jet of grit G or lubricant O is constricted by the flow of the air L surrounding the discharge nozzle 1 such that significantly more grit G or lubricant O can be introduced into the gap between the rail S and the track wheel R and fulfill its function therein.
[0050] The inventive discharge nozzle 1 makes it possible to increase the degree of efficiency of the discharge system and to reduce the resulting costs.
