Crane wheel design with contact well clear of rail edge

摘要

Alongside its point of rail etc. contact (6), the wheel profile (8) is curved to dissimilar radii (R1,R2) so as to work with conical opposing surfaces (4a,4b) of surfaces running parallel to the wheel axis (1a). The centres of the profile curvature (9) are arranged so that the contact points of the wheel stand at equal distance (11) from the outside edge (7) of both conical and wheel-parallel opposing surfaces. The point of wheel contact stands equi-distant between the roller bearings which support the wheel. In detail, the wheel running surface (3) conforms to the opposing rail etc. surface so the load and curvature give rise to a defined contact area (5) and contact point (6) maximally spaced from the outside edge (7) of the rail. The wheel profile with its differing degrees of curvature can work with conical or parallel opposing surfaces as involved, so that the intercept (A1) for a parallel surface lies below the wheel diameter (D) at a centre point (9) for offset angle ( beta ), as against intercept (A2) for a conical rail etc. surface where the centre of curvature (11) lies on a diameter (D) normal to axis (1a) at radius (R2).