System and method for dynamically affecting a force applied through a rail vehicle axle
First Claim
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1. A system for a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track, said system comprising:
- a truck comprising a non-powered axle and at least one powered axle, wherein each of the at least one powered axle comprises an axle, a traction motor, and a gear, wherein the gear is drivable by the motor, and wherein the axle is rotatable by the gear;
a device coupled to the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle for dynamically adjusting a weight distribution between the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle, wherein the device is controllable to shift weight to the at least one powered axle from the non-powered axle, thereby decreasing a weight imparted by the non-powered axle on the rail track and increasing a weight imparted by the at least one powered axle on the rail track; and
a controller operable according to a computer program to control the device for dynamically adjusting the weight distribution based on a static weight of each wheel of the rail vehicle on the rail track.
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Abstract
A system is provided for dynamically affecting a force applied through at least one axle of a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track. The rail vehicle includes a plurality of axles and a plurality of wheels received by the plurality of axles. The system includes a device configured to selectively impart the force through the at least one axle to control a respective weight of the at least one axle on the rail track for affecting a traction performance of the rail vehicle traveling along the rail track.
47 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track, said system comprising:
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a truck comprising a non-powered axle and at least one powered axle, wherein each of the at least one powered axle comprises an axle, a traction motor, and a gear, wherein the gear is drivable by the motor, and wherein the axle is rotatable by the gear; a device coupled to the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle for dynamically adjusting a weight distribution between the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle, wherein the device is controllable to shift weight to the at least one powered axle from the non-powered axle, thereby decreasing a weight imparted by the non-powered axle on the rail track and increasing a weight imparted by the at least one powered axle on the rail track; and a controller operable according to a computer program to control the device for dynamically adjusting the weight distribution based on a static weight of each wheel of the rail vehicle on the rail track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track, said system comprising:
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a truck comprising a non-powered axle and at least one powered axle, wherein each of the at least one powered axle comprises an axle, a traction motor, and a gear, wherein the gear is drivable by the motor, and wherein the axle is rotatable by the gear; a device coupled to the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle for dynamically adjusting a weight distribution between the non-powered axle and the at least one powered axle, wherein the device is controllable to shift weight to the at least one powered axle from the non-powered axle, thereby decreasing a weight imparted by the non-powered axle on the rail track and increasing a weight imparted by the at least one powered axle on the rail track; and a controller operable according to a computer program to control the device for dynamically adjusting the weight distribution based on a static weight of the rail vehicle, wherein; the device comprises at least one hydraulic actuator each coupled to a respective one of the non-powered axle or one of the at least one powered axle; and the system further comprises; a displacement pump coupled to the hydraulic actuator, the displacement pump configured to supply a pressurized hydraulic fluid at a selectively controlled pressure to said hydraulic actuator, said hydraulic actuator configured to shift weight to the at least one powered axle from the non-powered axle based upon the selectively controlled pressure; and a compliant member disposed between the hydraulic actuator and respective one of the non-powered axle or one of the at least one powered axle such that the hydraulic actuator is coupled to said respective one of the non-powered axle or one of the at least one powered axle in a compliant manner.
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15. A system for dynamically affecting a force applied through at least one axle of a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track, said rail vehicle having a plurality of axles and a plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said system comprising:
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a device configured to selectively impart said force through said at least one axle to control a respective weight of said at least one axle on said rail track for affecting a traction performance of said rail vehicle traveling along said rail track, wherein said force is a normal force applied through said at least one axle in a normal direction to said rail track, and wherein said device is at least one hydraulic actuator coupled to a respective axle of the rail vehicle; a displacement pump coupled to said hydraulic actuator, said displacement pump configured to supply a pressurized hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic actuator, said hydraulic actuator configured to selectively impart said force through said respective axle based upon a pressure of the pressurized hydraulic fluid; a compliant member disposed between said hydraulic actuator and said respective axle such that said hydraulic actuator is coupled to said respective axle in a compliant manner; and a suspension assembly mounting said respective axle to a truck, the suspension assembly including one or more springs. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for dynamically affecting a force applied through at least one axle of a rail vehicle configured to travel along a rail track, said rail vehicle having a plurality of axles and a plurality of wheels being received by said plurality of axles, said system comprising:
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a device configured to selectively impart said force through said at least one axle to control a respective weight of said at least one axle on said rail track for affecting a traction performance of said rail vehicle traveling along said rail track, wherein said force is a normal force applied through said at least one axle in a normal direction to said rail track, and wherein said device is at least one hydraulic actuator coupled to a respective axle of the rail vehicle; a positive displacement pump coupled to said hydraulic actuator, said positive displacement pump configured to selectively control a position of said hydraulic actuator based upon supplying a pressurized hydraulic fluid at a variable pressure to said hydraulic actuator, said hydraulic actuator configured to selectively impart said force through said respective axle based upon said selectively controlled position of said hydraulic actuator; a pair of displacement limits coupled to said hydraulic actuator to limit said force selectively imparted on said respective axle; a compliant member disposed between said hydraulic actuator and said respective axle such that said hydraulic actuator is coupled to said respective axle in a compliant manner; and a suspension assembly mounting said respective axle to a truck, the suspension assembly including one or more springs.
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Specification