Research on Life Extension of Primary Rubber Springs for Railway Vehicles

Abstract

In order to understand and master the real change after the operation of a lifespan (5 years or 600,000 km) of the primary conical rubber spring, which is a critical part for railway vehicles, and to provide data support for life extension research and products localization, primary conical rubber springs of railway vehicles were set as the research object and tested. The data of key characteristics and rubber material were achieved by testing the rubbers samples which composed of new manufactured samples and samples that have been used in service for a lifespan. The test results showed that the appearance and bonding performance of the primary conical rubber springs after the operation for a lifespan still remained in good condition, and their vertical stiffness, lateral stiffness, longitudinal stiffness were increased, while compression height, fatigue tolerance, and aging resistance were decreased. Finally, according to the actual change from the research, the optimization suggestions for research on domestic production of conical rubber spring were proposed.

Keywords

• railway vehicles
• primary conical rubber spring
• change of characteristics
• change of rubber
• optimization suggestion
• life extension