NOISE REDUCTION DAMPER OF VEHICLE WHEEL

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a noise-reducing damper for reducing the running noise of wheels of rail vehicle.

Technical background

One of the current vehicle wheel noise-reducing methods is to install a damper on the wheel to absorb the vibration energy from the wheel so as to increase vibration damping, reduce noise radiation and decrease modal oscillation amplitude of the wheel. As such, the goal of reducing the running noise of the wheel can be achieved.

Noise-reducing damper is made of metal and comprised of a noise-reducing damping ring and a connector. The damper is installed in an annular groove on the wheel. In order to install this damping ring, the damping ring necessarily has an open section and a connector which is mounted in the open section is required. The patent application CN 2009 2017 9686.2 discloses a vehicle wheel noise-reducing damper comprising a damping ring with an open section, in which open section a connector is mounted, whose two ends are connected with installation holes at both ends of the open section of the damping ring. A closed ring-shaped noise-reducing damper is then constituted. However, for the connection between the connector and the ends of the open section of the damper, it is necessary to use high-strength adhesive to connect the connector and the damping ring, and the connected area is limited, which affects the connection effect, the effect of noise reduction and the safety of usage of the damper. For long-term use, the effect of noise reduction will gradually diminish and new noise may also arise as wearing occurs between the damping ring and the installation groove.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a noise-reducing damper through which the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome, the running noise of the wheel is reduced and the effective connection between the damping connector and the ends of the open section of the damping ring is ensured. The noise-reducing damper of the present invention provides adequate compensation at the open section, which utilizes the centrifugal force of the spinning wheel to improve the effect of noise reduction during the running of the vehicle. It is ensured that the noise reduction effect and usage safety of the wheel can be maintained even there is wearing in the damping ring.

In the present invention, the noise-reducing damper comprises a damping connector and a damping ring, wherein the damping ring comprises an open section, which has an inclined surface or a step surface at both ends thereof, wherein the damping connector comprises a tubular body, at both ends of which a locator is provided, respectively, wherein the tubular body has a length slightly less than the length of the open section of the damping ring and the locator comprises a cylindrical part, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body, and a wedge-shaped part, which comprises an inclined plane or a step surface cooperating with the inclined surface or the step surface at the end of the open section of the damping ring, and wherein a spring is arranged inside the tubular body, which pushes outwards the two locators at both ends of the tubular body, wherein the locator comprises a locating hole, into which a locating pin is insertable through the tubular body so as to limit the location of the locator. When the locating pin is pulled out the locator will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring.

During the installation of the damper, the damping ring is installed into the groove on the wheel for receiving it so that the inclined surface or the step surface at the end of the open section of the damping ring cooperates with the inclined plane or the step surface at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect occurring in the axial, radical and peripheral directions among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove on the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

The shape of the tubular body can be manufactured to a certain degree of radian corresponding to the diameter of the damping ring so as to provide maximized noise reduction and strengthen the location of the connector itself as well as make the running of the wheel more safe and stable.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in the first embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the first embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 3 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in the second embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 4 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the second embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 5 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in third embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 6 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the third embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 7 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in the fourth embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 8 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the fourth embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 9 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in the fifth embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 10 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the fifth embodiment according to the invention;
• Figure 11 is a schematic structural view of the damping ring in the sixth embodiment according to the invention; and
• Figure 12 is a schematic axial sectional structural view of the damping ring connector in the sixth embodiment according to the invention.

In the Figures, the damping ring connector is of a bilaterally symmetrical structure and therefore the Figures only present half of the symmetrical structure and the other half is omitted.

In Example 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a wedge-shaped part 4, which comprises an inclined plane cooperating with an inclined surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body 1, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise a plane substantially in the radical direction and an inclined surface facing the outside of the damping ring, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the inclined surface of the damping ring engages the inclined plane at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In Example 2 shown in Figures 3 and 4, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a ladder part 4, which comprises a step surface cooperating with a step surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring 11.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise a plane substantially in the radical direction and a step surface facing the outside of the damping ring, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the step surface of the damping ring engages the step surface at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In Example 3 shown in Figures 5 and 6, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a truncated cuboid with a wedge-shaped part 4, which wedge-shaped part comprises an inclined plane cooperating with an inclined surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body 1, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring 11.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise an inclined surface facing the outside of the damping ring and a plane substantially in the radical direction, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the inclined surface of the damping ring engages the inclined plane at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In Example 4 shown in Figures 7 and 8, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a wedge-shaped part 4, which comprises an inclined plane cooperating with an inclined surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body 1, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring 11.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise an inclined surface facing the outside of the damping ring, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the inclined surface of the damping ring engages the inclined plane at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In Example 5 shown in Figures 9 and 10, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a wedge-shaped part 4, which comprises an inclined plane cooperating with an inclined surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body 1, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring 11.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise an inclined plane facing the outside of the damping ring and a plane substantially in the radical direction, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the inclined surface of the damping ring engages the inclined plane at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In Example 6 shown in Figures 11 and 12, the damping connector has a substantially tubular body 1 whose length is slightly less than that of an open section 12 of the damping ring. There is provided a locator 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1, respectively. The locator 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which is insertable into one end of the tubular body 1, and a truncated cuboid with a wedge-shaped part 4, which wedge-shaped part comprises an inclined plane cooperating with an inclined surface (shown in dotted line) at the end of the damping ring. A spring 5 is arranged inside the tubular body 1, which pushes outwards the two locators 2 at both ends of the tubular body 1. The locator 2 comprises a locating hole 6, into which a locating pin 7 is inserted through the tubular body 1 so as to limit the location of the locator 2. When the locating pin 7 is pulled out, the locator 2 will be pushed outwards by the spring to engage the noise-reducing damping ring 11.

The damping ring 11 is an annular metal ring with a open section 12 whose both ends comprise an inclined surface facing the outside of the damping ring and a step surface substantially in the radical direction, respectively.

When the damping ring 11 is installed into an installation groove (not shown in the Figures) on the wheel, the inclined surface and the step surface of the damping ring engages the inclined plane and the step surface at the end face of the damping connector. With the interacting effect among the damping ring, the damping connector and the installation groove of the wheel in the axial, radical and peripheral directions of the wheel, the damping ring and the damping connector are firmly attached to the wheel.

In the above-mentioned examples, the length of the open section 12 of the damping ring 11 is determined such that the diameter of the damping ring 11 enables the damping ring to be installed in the groove on the wheel for mounting the damping ring when both ends of the open section 12 contact with each other during mounting of the damping ring 11, or the damping ring 11 is pushed continuously into the groove for mounting the damping ring after one end of the open section 12 of the damping ring 11 is placed into the groove.

In the above-mentioned examples, the tubular body 1 can be designed such that it has the same degree of radical and/or axial curvature as those of the installation groove on the wheel for the damping ring.

In the invention, one of the two locators 2 can be fixedly attached to one end of the tubular body 1 or can be formed integrally with the tubular body 1.