Keywords: active steering, embedded execution unit, flexible-elastomer, rubber bladder, stiffness, volume, pressure.

Active steering technology can effectively improve the curving performance of railway vehicles. The execution unit is an important part of the active steering system; it is used to implement the active steering control. Therefore, this paper proposes a scheme for designing an active steering embedded execution unit in railway vehicles that is based on flexible elastomers. This technique can be used to perform active steering control actuation, while also allowing the device to function as primary longitudinal suspension and fail-safe. The scheme adopts a working principle, which is significantly different from that of the conventional actuator, through the expansion or compression deformation of the rubber–metal mesh composite rubber bladder. The stiffness and displacement actuating capacity are realized by the expansion or compression deformation of the rubber bladder, thereby greatly improving the structural integration of existing technical solutions. To clarify the working performance of the primary longitudinal suspension and displacement actuation of the proposed unit, the stiffness, volume, and pressure characteristics of the core functional components (rubber bladder) of the scheme were analysed by establishing a finite element model. The calculation results show that in the passive state, the execution unit can provide primary longitudinal suspension stiffness between the wheel and bogie by using nonlinear characteristics. When the unit produces an active steering actuating displacement, the volume characteristics of the rubber bladder are similar to that of the conventional hydraulic cylinder, and the displacement control of the proposed unit can be implemented effectively by the conventional hydraulic servo-control system with a working pressure of not less than 16 MPa. The findings of this study can provide reference for the engineering application of the active steering system of railway vehicles.

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