ELASTIC WHEEL FOR A RAIL VEHICLE

Abstract

A wheel for a rail vehicle has a wheel tire (1) with a ridge (9) formed on the inner circumference of the wheel tire (1), a wheel body (3) with a ring flange (11) formed on the outer circumference and running radially outward, and a clamp ring (5) attached to the wheel body (3) via a fastening means (13), on a side face opposite the ring flange (11). Damping means formed as at least two separate circular ring segments (7) extend between the clamp ring (5) and the circumferential ridge and between the circumferential ridge (9) of the wheel tire (1) and the ring flange in the circumferential direction of the wheel. On at least one side, the circular ring segments (7) have at least two centering cams (19) meshing into corresponding recesses (21). The circular segments (7) have an elastomer core enclosed by metal sheet segments (17).

Claims

1. A wheel for a rail vehicle, comprising a wheel tire with a circumferential ridge formed on an inner circumference of the wheel tire and extending circumferentially in the direction of a rotation axis of the wheel, a wheel body with a ring flange formed on an outer circumference and on an axial side face of the wheel body and extending radially outward, and a clamp ring (5) attached to the wheel body in a friction-locking or positively locking manner via a fastening means on a side face opposite the ring flange, with damping means being arranged between the clamp ring and the circumferential ridge of the wheel tire and between the circumferential ridge of the wheel tire and the ring flange of the wheel body, wherein each of the damping means is configured as at least two separate circular ring segments extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel, each circular ring segment extending over a circular segment of the wheel having a central angle of at least 30 to a maximum of 180, wherein the circular ring segments have contact surfaces with, at least on one side, at least two centering cams extending in the axial direction and spaced apart in the circumferential direction, which mesh in a positively locking manner into corresponding recesses on the circumferential ridge of the wheel tire and on the ring flange of the wheel body or on the clamp ring, wherein the circular ring segments have a core made of an elastomer material, wherein the core of the circular ring segments is enclosed by metal sheet segments, at least on the contact surfaces bearing against the circumferential ridge of the wheel tire and against the clamp ring or the ring flange of the wheel body.

2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein on one of the contact surfaces or on one side of each of the circular ring segments, a centering cam is arranged, and on another contact surface or side, a plurality of centering cams are arranged.

3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein each of the circular ring segments has exactly two centering cams on each contact surface.

4. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein each of the centering cams of the circular ring elements has a frustoconical, cylindrical or parabolic shape.

5. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein at a transition area between a base of the metal sheet segment and the centering cams of the circular ring segment, a bead consisting of radii is formed, which is set inward into the elastomer material and extends around the centering cams.

6. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the circular ring segments extend next to one another and form a circular ring on a circular path having a constant radius between the circumferential ridge and the ring flange or the clamp ring.

7. The wheel according to claim 6, wherein the circular ring segments are configured and are arranged on the circular path with play between adjacent end faces of two circular ring segments in the circumferential direction, thereby forming a butt gap between the adjacent end faces with a circumferential width of at least 0.05 to a maximum of 1.

8. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein groups of the circular ring segments are arranged mirror symmetrically to a center plane of the wheel, the butt gaps of the circular ring segments of the individual groups being set at an angle to one another.

9. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein two adjacent circular segments are configured as overlapping at their respective ends between the butt gaps.

10. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the circular ring segments are arranged offset from one another between the circumferential ridge and the ring flange or the clamp ring, in at least two groups that have different circular paths with different radii in relation to the rotation axis.

11. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein play is present between the centering cams and the bottom of the recesses in the circumferential ridge, and also at least in one of the clamp ring or the ring flange.

12. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces of the circular ring segments surfaces of the circumferential ridge and also of at least the clamp ring or the ring flange bearing against the contact surfaces extend perpendicular to the rotation axis.

13. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces of the circular ring segments and surfaces of the circumferential ridge and also of at least the clamp ring or the ring flange bearing against the contact surfaces enclose an angle of 45 to 90 with the rotation axis.

14. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein one of the circular ring segments extends over a circle segment of the wheel that has a central angle of 60 to 120.

15. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the distance in the circumferential direction between the center points of two centering cams on the contact surface of one of the circular ring segments is designed such that the center points of the centering cams enclose a circular segment of the wheel having a central angle of 15 to 90.

16. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the centering cams of one of the circular ring segments that are opposite one another in the axial direction on different contact surfaces extend radially at different distances from the rotation axis.

17. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein in the area of the centering cams, at least one opening is located in the metal sheet segments.

18. Damping means for use in a wheel according to claim 1.

19. A wheel tire to be used in a wheel according to claim 1.

20. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein the width of the butt gap is 0.2 to 0.3

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In the drawings,

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a partial section through a first embodiment of a wheel according to the invention in the area of the fastening means for the clamp ring with a first embodiment of a circular ring segment,

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a partial section through a second embodiment of a wheel according to the invention with a second embodiment of a circular ring segment,

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a wheel according to the invention with a presentation and view of the inset circular ring segments,

[0022] FIG. 4a shows a three-dimensional presentation of a first embodiment of a circular ring segment, not clamped in, for a wheel according to FIG. 1,

[0023] FIG. 4b shows a side view of the first embodiment of a circular ring segment, not clamped in, for a wheel according to FIG. 4a,

[0024] FIG. 4c shows a cross-section A-A of the circular ring segment according to FIG. 4b,

[0025] FIG. 4d shows a cross-section B-B of the circular ring segment according to FIG. 4b with centering cams embodied as conical or frustoconical,

[0026] FIG. 5a shows a side view of a third embodiment of a circular ring segment, not clamped in, for a wheel according to the invention,

[0027] FIG. 5b shows a cross-section A-A of the circular ring segment according to FIG. 5a,

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a schematic presentation of a second arrangement according to the invention of the circular ring segments of a wheel according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a schematic presentation of a third arrangement according to the invention, offset on the clamp ring and wheel body side, of the circular ring segments of a wheel according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a schematic presentation of a fourth arrangement according to the invention with circular ring segments of a wheel according to the invention arranged on various circular paths,

[0031] FIG. 9a shows a partial side view of another embodiment of two adjacent overlapping ends of circular ring segments according to the invention for a wheel according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 9b shows a partial side view of another embodiment of two adjacent overlapping ends of circular ring segments according to the invention for a wheel according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 10a-shows a cross-section through another embodiment of a circular ring segment according to the invention with parabolic centering cams,

[0034] FIG. 10b shows a cross-section through a further embodiment of a circular ring segment with cylindrical centering cams,

[0035] FIG. 11 shows a cross-section through another embodiment of a circular ring segment according to the invention with inlays made of various possible materials, geometries, number, and positioning in the core, and

[0036] FIG. 12 shows a cross-section through another embodiment of the circular ring segment according to the invention with an opening in the metal sheet segments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Equivalent parts are always marked in the various figures of the drawings with the same reference number.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the examples of embodiments and is not thereby limited to all or several features of the combinations of features that are described, but rather each individual partial feature of each and every example of an embodiment is separate from all the others in connection with the partial features described for it, and also in combination with any features of another embodiment example that is significant for the subject of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show partial sections through a first and a second embodiment, respectively, of a wheel according to the invention. The wheel comprises a wheel tire 1, a wheel body 3, a clamp ring 5, and a plurality of damping means designed as circular ring segments 7. The wheel tire 1 has a circumferential ridge 9 extending from the inner circumference of the tire in the direction of the X-X rotation axis. The wheel body is formed as a wheel hub of the wheel, and on its outer circumference and on its axial side face has a ring flange 11 running radially outward. The clamp ring 5 is attached in a friction-locking and/or positively locking manner to the wheel body 3 on a side face opposite the ring flange 11 by means of fastening means 13. In FIG. 2, the fastening means 13 are not shown, since the partial section of FIG. 2 does not go through the fastening means 13. The fastening means 13 comprise in particular a plurality of wheel screws and associated threaded holes. By means of the clamp ring 5, the circular ring segments 7 are offset by pre-stressing pressure running sideways in an approximately axial direction X-X. Thereby the fastening means 13 are arranged in such a way and distributed along the circumference of the wheel that a uniform pre-stressing of the circular ring segments 7 can be achieved.

[0040] At least two separate circular ring segments 7 are arranged both between the clamp ring 5 and the circumferential ridge 9 of the wheel tire 1 and between the circumferential ridge 9 and the ring flange 11 of the wheel body 3, and in particular are distributed evenly on each side over the circumference of the circumferential ridge. The circular ring segments 7 extend in the circumferential direction of the wheel. In particular, their radial height is smaller than their circumferential length at their radial center. The circular ring segments 7 have a core 15 made of an elastomer material, wherein the core 15 of the circular ring segments 7 is enclosed by metal sheet segments 17 at least on its contact surfaces that bear against the clamp ring 5 or the ring flange 11 and on the circumferential ridge 9. The elastomer volume of the core 15 is distributed evenly, in particular in mirror symmetry with the cross-sectional axes of the circular ring segments 7. On their contact surfaces on at least on one side, and in particular on both sides, the circular ring segments 7 have a plurality of closed centering cams 19, in particular two each, preferentially extending in an X-X axial direction. According to the invention, it is possible in particular to arrange only one centering cam 19 on one contact surface or on one side of the circular ring segments 7, and to arrange a plurality of centering cams 19, in particular two, on the other contact surface or side. The metal sheet segments 17 are fabricated with the centering cams 19 preferentially from a blank, in particular through reshaping. The centering cams 19 on one contact surface are arranged spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. The centering cams 19 mesh in a positively locking manner into corresponding recesses 21 on the ring flange 11 or the clamp ring 5, and/or on the circumferential ridge 9. In particular, there is play between the centering cams 19 and a bottom of the recesses 21 in the circumferential ridge 9 and/or in the clamp ring 5 or the ring flange 11. The position of the circular ring segments 7 in the wheel is determined by the centering cams 19 and the recesses 21, and is unambiguously controllable according to tolerances.

[0041] In one advantageous embodiment, a coating is applied to the outer surfaces of the metal sheet segments 17, in particular only to the base surfaces of the metal segments 17, i.e. not in the area of the centering cams; the coating is thin, preferentially in the range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm, preferentially made of an elastomer. The elastomer layer or coating avoids the tendency to microslippage and the resultant wear and corrosion between the metal sheet segments and the bearing surfaces of the adjacent components.

[0042] As is apparent in the side view of a wheel according to the invention in FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the circular ring segments 7 are arranged side by side circumferentially between the circumferential ridge 9 and the ring flange 11 or the clamp ring 5 in the form of a circular ring, preferentially centered, on a circular path K1 with a constant radius and center point Y of the wheel. Advantageously, the circular ring segments 7 are arranged radially centered on the circular path K1. In particular, four circular ring segments 7 are arranged on each side of the circumferential ridge 9. The number of circular ring segments 7 on one side of the circumferential ridge 9 can essentially be even or odd. And it is especially advantageous if the centering cams 19 are arranged in such a way on the contact surfaces of the circular ring segments 7 that the centering cams 19 also lie with their center point on the circular path K1. In particular, the circular ring segments 7 are designed and arranged on the circular path K1 in such a way that play is available between the adjacent end faces of two circular ring segments 7 in the circumferential direction, and thereby a butt gap 23 is created between the end faces. The butt gaps 23 have, in particular, a circumferential extension of at least 0.05 to a maximum of 1, preferentially at least 0.2 to a maximum of 0.3. In standard wheel sizes of rubber-sprung wheels having a rolling surface diameter of 500 mm to 860 mm, the butt gaps have, in particular, a minimum width of 1 mm to a maximum of 10 mm, preferentially from 4 mm to 6 mm. A minimum amount of distance in the circumferential direction between the circular segments 7 prevents the circular ring segments 7 from touching as a result of manufacturing tolerances and upon compression of the elastomer; this simplifies the assembly of the damping means. In addition, such a butt gap allows ventilation of the damping means and thereby cooling of the components. Larger butt gaps 23 reduce the effective elastomer volume and thereby the weight supporting capability of the circular ring segments 7.

[0043] The centering cams 19 of the circular ring segment 7 are each formed, in particular, as a closed cup, in which the elastomer material of the core 15 is completely enclosed and sealed by the metal sheet segments 17. Advantageously, the circular ring segments 7 are formed as a compound component composed of the core 15 made of elastomer material and the molded integral metal sheet segments 17. The metal sheet segments 17 are connected in a positively locking manner to the elastomer material of the core 15, in particular by vulcanizing, gluing, or pressing.

[0044] In FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d an advantageous embodiment of the circular ring segment 7 according to the invention is presented. The outer form of the centering cams 19 of the circular ring segment 7 is preferentially frustoconical in shape. This allows, in particular, a precisely aligned assembly and a firm seat of the circular ring segments 7 in the recesses 21. The circular ring segments 7 can be prevented from falling out of the recesses 21 during assembly or disassembly by the special shaping and by enclosing them with the metal sheet segments 17. In this embodiment, the centering cams 19 of a circular ring segment 7, which are opposite one another on different contact surfaces in the axial direction, run radially at the same distance from the rotation axis X-X. The contact surfaces of the circular ring segments 7 and in particular of the metal sheet segments 17 are advantageously designed and arranged in such a way that they enclose an acute angle in a range of greater than 45 up to 90, preferentially 74, with the rotation axis X-X. It is especially advantageous that at the transition area between the basic form of the metal sheet segment 17 and the centering cams 19 of the circular ring segment 7, a bead 25 consisting of radii is formed, which is set inward into the elastomer material of the core 15 and runs around the centering cams 19. Alternatively, the centering cams 19 may also be designed as parabolic or cylindrical in shape, as seen for example in FIGS. 10a, 10b, or as frustoconical, as also seen in FIG. 2.

[0045] In FIG. 5a, 5b another embodiment of the circular ring segment 7 according to the invention is presented. In this embodiment, the centering cams 19 of a circular ring segment 7, which are opposite one another on different contact surfaces in the axial direction, run radially at different distances from the rotation axis X-X. They are thus offset radially relative to one another.

[0046] All circular ring segments 7 of a wheel are advantageously designed the same as an individual part. The circular ring segments 7 are designed, in particular, as mirror symmetrical to their central cross-sectional axis Y-Y. It is especially advantageous for a circular ring segment 7 to extend over a circular segment of the wheel with a central angle of 60 to 120, preferentially of 90. In standard wheel sizes of rubber-sprung wheels, an extension of at least 30 is preferred, in particular at least 60, so that the centering cams 19 can be made in a stable production form. With a preferred extension of 90, an optimal state is achieved between manufacturing costs of the damping elements, manufacturing costs of the remaining wheel components, and a stable embodiment of the centering cams 19. In particular, the distance between the center points of two centering cams 19 in the circumferential direction on a contact surface of a circular ring segment 7 is designed such that the center points of the centering cams 19 enclose a circular segment of the wheel with a central angle of 15 to 90, preferentially 45.

[0047] In an advantageous embodiment according to FIG. 6 or according to FIG. 7, the circular ring segments 7 on one side of the circumferential ridge 9 of the wheel tire 1 are arranged offset from the circular ring segments 7 on the other side of the circumferential ridge 9 by a set angle of 15 to 60, in particular 45.

[0048] According to FIG. 8, in another advantageous embodiment, the circular ring segments 7 between the circumferential ridge 9 and the ring flange 11 or the clamp ring 5 on one side of the circumferential ridge 9 are arranged offset from one another in at least two groups that have different circular paths K1 and K2 with different radii in relation to the rotation axis. It is advantageous for the groups of the circular ring segments 7 to be arranged mirror symmetrically to the center plane of the wheel, with the butt gaps 23 of the circular ring segments 7 of the individual groups being set at an angle relative to one another.

[0049] In FIGS. 9a and 9b other advantageous embodiments of the ends of the circular ring segments 7 are shown, in which two adjacent circular ring segments 7 are configured as overlapping at their respective ends between the butt gaps 23.

[0050] FIG. 11 shows another advantageous embodiment of a circular ring segment 7, in which inlays 27 are additionally arranged in the elastomer layer of the core 15. The inlays may be made of various materials, with various geometries, and in various numbers or positions. In particular, they can consist of metal sheets or wires, or can be formed as meshes or pads. This allows the elasticity of the circular ring segments 7 to be adjusted to specific spring or damping requirements.

[0051] The ring flange 11 of the wheel body 3, the clamp ring 5, and the circumferential ridge 9 of the wheel tire 1 have contact surfaces and corresponding recesses 21 that are designed for precise alignment with the embodiment of the circular ring segment 7 according to the invention used.

[0052] FIG. 12 shows another advantageous embodiment of a circular ring segment 7 according to the invention. In the area of the centering cams 19, at least one opening 29 is arranged in the metal sheet segments 17. The opening 29 may be filled by material from the core 15 or, as shown here, may not filled by material of the core 15. The opening is preferentially located centered in the centering cam 19. The opening 29 in particular has the advantage of simplifying the forming process of the metal sheet segments 17, in particular when stronger or thicker materials are used. Advantageously, in this way a reforming of the metal sheet segments 17 for a precise alignment can be achieved more easily. The opening 29 is conceivable in particular in combination with all of the embodiments of the centering cams 19 described above. While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.