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.

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

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.