APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LATERAL MOVEMENT OF VEHICLE BODIES

Abstract: A railway vehicle has a passenger carrying body (10) mounted on a bogie comprising a frame (12) and wheelsets (14). To accommodate lateral movement of the body (10) relative to the bogie frame (12), subsequent to the movement accommodated by conventional shear rubber mounts (16), a bump stop arrangement is provided towards each end of the vehicle. Each arrangement is mounted on a body part and has a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies providing rubber abutments (18) towards respective sides of the body part for engagement with the bogie frame (12). The spaces in each cylinder (24) on respective sides of the piston (22) communicate with respective fluid accumulators (28, 30), a valve controller (32) monitoring lateral movement of the vehicle body (10), and controlling movement of fluid supply between the cylinders and the accumulators. Movement of a respective abutment (18) into contact with the bogie frame (12) only when necessary, and subsequent continuous adjustment of the resistance provided by the abutment (18), prevents significant increase in the dynamic stiffness of the bump stop arrangement and mitigates unwelcome impact between the body (10) and the bogie frame (12), resulting in a relatively smoother ride for passengers.

Description: Apparatus for Controlling Lateral Movement of Vehicle Bodies This invention relates to apparatus for use in controlling relative movement of interconnected bodies, and is particularly concerned with the control of the lateral suspension of a vehicle body on its chassis. When a railway vehicle moves around a track cur . the centrifugal force causes the vehicle bod> to move laterally on the vehicle bogie. Heretofore, fixed burr.p stops have been provided on the bogie for engagement by s bod> part when the bod> mo es laterally o a respec¬ tive side of the bogie. Such bump stops are gen al! * formed of a resilient flexible material such as rubber on a metal mounting. Initial lateral movement of tne bodv is accommodated by seconαarv suspension members but once the body engages against a bu p stop, e α> narr i c stiffness of the rubber increases progressives witn increased movement of the body until eventuallv ther is little flexibility. Normally the body moves laterally through a nominal air gap before engaging the rubber, and subsequently the metal , of the bump stop. The increasing dynamic stiffness of the rubber of the bump stop increasingly trans its vibrations fro the bog.s c the body , to the discomfort of passengers, while it is the SHOCK cf he engagement with the metal ich is most unccmfcrtably felt b passengers in the * . emcie coα_.. According to the present invention there is prG . i-_ αed apparatus for use in controlling relative movement cf interconnected bodies, the apparatus comprising actuator means providing a movable abutment externsll;. thereof, means for mounting the actuator means on one c"" " the bodies whereby the abutment is movable between sr in-use first position in engagement with a part of tne other of the bodies, and an out-of-use second position removed from the body part, means for accumulating fluic anc moving fluiα to and from the actuator means, and eans for monitoring relati e movement of the bodies anc controlling the movement of fluid to and from the accumulator means and tne actuator means, tc therec. s lec ive1v move the abutment to saic first ccεitior engaging tne ooαy part, and also proviαe for conti uous sαjustment of the resistance to relative movemen c * t e DOGies when the latter are operatively coπnectec b πε engagement of the abutment. Preferably the actuator means is a piston and cylinder arrangement, a piston rod of which mounts the abutment on an outer end thereof. The abutment may crovide a lo friction surface and may be formed cf ε resilientlv flexible material such as rubber. Preferably also the accumulator means comprises a first accumulator providing hydraulic fluid to one side of the piston, and a second accumulator providing hydraulic fluid to the other side of the piston. The monitoring means may be a control valve, the characteristics of which may be designed to limit movement of fluid within certain parameters when further relative movement occurs after the abutment engages with the body part . The present invention also provides a vehicle having interconnected bodies, one of which comprises at least one frame assembly with wheels, and the other of which is mounted on the frame assembly, and apparatus according to any of the four preceding paragraphs for use in controlling lateral movement of said other body relative to the frame assembly. The present invention further provides a ethoα of controlling relative movement of interconnected bodies, the method comprising monitoring relative movement of the bodies and moving fluid to and from fluid accumula¬ tor means and actuator means, the latter providing a movable abutment externally thereof, selectively moving the abutment by way of the fluid relative to one of the bodies, towards and away from a part of the other of the bodies to be engageable therewith, and adjusting the 3 O TO 3 TO 3 3 TO 0) a C c extending part 26 on the bogie fra e 12. anc eacn ceir,c located on a downwardly extending par o the venicie body 10. The interior space of each of the cylinders 2 . tc the side of the piston 22 remote from the piston rcc 20 is in communication with a respective hydraulic fluid accumulator 28, while the other interior space of eacn of the cylinders 24 is in communication with an accumulator 30. The cylinder 24 and the accumulators 28, 30 are suitably positioned on the vehicle boαy ■ 0. Control of the movement of the hydraulic fiuic supply to and from the circuit defined by the cy li der 2- and the accumulators 28 is effected by wa > c r \. a . \ e controller 32 wnich is mounted on the hicle tec. ' i and is designed to monitor lateral mover- nt c f t h•"- latter. The controller 32 is operative!; , connec ec ; .he accumulators 28 in any suitable way . i ■"* ? £ : tor 30 provides the piston 22 with an hyαra lie reaction spring force. In use, when the controller 32 monitors the commencement of lateral movement of the vehicle boαy 10 under centrifugal forces, effective when the icl moves on to a curve in the track, movemen of a di ional hvdraulic fluid into a respective one of the aecur U - ators prevention of he bump stocε om , stiff inimises the transmission of v ibrations tc the body , and the minimising of movement o f the ooαv before engagement with the metal of a respective Dump stop aisc mitigates the unwelcome impacts between the body and the bogie, resulting in a much smoother ride for the passengers , Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the bump stop arrangements may be prov ided on the bogie frame for engagement with respective parts on the body . Also. control of movement of the hydraulic fluid in the circuit may be effected by ether than a mechanically controlled valve, for example by av of a microcomputer and acceleration measurement , or other precictive methods.

Claims: - 6 - Claims : - -ccaratus " " cr use in controlling relati ve c . erent z f i ercαn εctec bodies, tne apparatus ccrr.crisinc actuator means pro iding a movable abutment exter ail, thereof, means for mounting the actuator means on one c " " e bααies hereby the abutment is movable betwee ar i -use first position in engagement ith a part cf the otner cf the bodies, and an αut-of-use seccnc ooεiticn removec from the oody part, means for accumulati g f 1uic ana mcviπc * fluid tc and from the actuator means, anc r.eans or monitoring relative movement of the boαieε an controlling the movement of fluid to and fro." " the accumulator eans and the actuator means, tc there:. selectively move tne abutment tc saiα ^irεt po iticr engaging the COG . cart, and also prcv iαe *" :: cc" ~ t:nuo_.s ac;ustme t c " e resistance to relative r-c . erer.t c * ne cσcieε when the latter are operati e!;, connεctεc c. t " * e en agement of tne abutment. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1. wherein the actuator means is a piston and cylinder arrangeme , a piston rod of which mounts the abutment on an outer en t ereof . 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, w-erεi"- the abutment provides a lo friction surface. Apparatus according to Claim 3. wherein the abutment is formed of rubber. 5. Apparatus according to any of the precedi g Claims, wherein the accumulator means comprises a first accumulator providing hydraulic fluid to one side of the piston, and a second accumulator providing hydraulic fluid to the other side of the piston. 6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the monitoring means is a control valve. the characteristics of which are designed to limit movement of fluid within certain parameters when further relative movement occurs after the abutment engages with the body part. 7. A vehicle having interconnected bodies, one c * which comprises at least one frame assembly with wnee ^ ε. and the other of which is mounted on the frame assemoi, . and apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims for use in controlling lateral movement of said other body relative to the frame assembly. 8. A method of controlling relative movement of interconnected bodies, the method comprising monitoring relative movement of the bodies and moving fluid tc and from fluid accumulator means and actuator means, the u - latter providing a ovable abutment externally t ereof, selec ively moving the abutment by way of the ' iuic rel¬ ative to one of the bodies, towards and away from a cart of the other of the bodies to be engageable therewith. and adjusting the quasi-static resistence to moveme t of the abutment when engaged by the body part. 9. Apparatus for use in controlling relative movement of interconnected bodies, subs antially as hereinbefore αescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1C. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore describee ith reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 '■ . A ethoc of controlling relative movement of i erconnected bodies, substantial! as hereinbefore αescribed ith reference to the accompanying drawings

Inventors: ALLEN DAVID HENRY, ALLEN, DAVID, HENRY
Applicants: BREL LTD, BREL LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B61F5
IPC codes: B60G25, B61F5