Single axle suspension for rail vehicle allows steering effect - improving ride, and reducing noise emission and wheel flange wear

摘要

A suspension unit 11 for supporting an end of a rail vehicle wheelset (axle) comprises upper frame 12 mounted on the vehicle chassis, and lower frame 14 including bearing assembly 15 carrying an end of wheelset 10. Primary helical compression springs 20 are mounted between upper and lower frames fore and aft of the bearing. Oppositely inclined hydraulic dampers 24, which may be two-rate dampers, damp relative vertical and lateral movement between the two frames. A longitudinal track rod 27, which may have longitudinally flexible end connections 28 and 30, is connected between lower frame 14 and a fixed vehicle part 29 to restrain relative fore-and-aft movement. Secondary helical compression springs 23 are mounted on spring mounts 21, with flanges 22 bearing on the primary springs. These secondary springs are of lower rate, for a good ride in the unladen condition; but are bypassed by full compression in the laden condition.