Increasing the Dynamic Characteristics of the Locomotive by Changing the Position of the End Coils of the Springs of the Body Spring Suspension

The article presents the results of a study of the influence of the position of the end coils of the springs of the locomotive body spring suspension on their static deflection and on the parameters of the elastic transverse connection of the bogie with the body, which depends on angular movement of the end coils when a locomotive negotiates curves of different directions, to improve the dynamic qualities of the electric locomotive. Consideration of various options for installing body springs with the method of mathematical modelling using a computeraided design software package has resulted in the rationale and description of the optimal version of the position of the end coils of the springs allowing to improve dynamic qualities of the locomotive thanks to the least resistance to bogie rotation, to the symmetry of the restoring torque and to favourable curve negotiation by locomotive thus reducing the wear rate of the flanges of the wheel tires. It has been established that if the position of end coils is optimal, the direction of coiling of body springs does not have a significant effect on the symmetry of the restoring torque when the bogie negotiates the curves of different directions.