VIBRATION DAMPING ARRANGEMENT FOR A RAIL VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a running gear unit comprising a wheel unit (105), and a torsional vibration reduction mass unit (108, 109). The wheel unit (105) comprises a wheel unit shaft (105.1) and at least one wheel (105.2). The wheel unit shaft (105.1) defines an axis of rotation (105.3) defining an axial, a radial and a circumferential direction. The wheel (105.2) is coupled to the wheel unit shaft (105.1) in a manner torsionally rigid about the axis of rotation (105.3) and is configured to run on a track. The torsional vibration reduction mass unit (108, 109) comprises a torsional vibration reduction mass (108.1) coupled to the wheel unit (105) in a manner torsionally compliant about the axis of rotation via at least one torsional linking arrangement (112, 113). The torsional vibration reduction mass (108.1) is configured to oscillate about the axis of rotation (105.3) in counter-phase with respect to a component (105.2, 120.3) of the wheel unit (105) to reduce torsional vibration. The torsional vibration reduction mass unit (108, 109) defines a reduction resonant frequency of the counter-phase oscillation. The torsional linking arrangement (112, 113) is compliant in the circumferential direction and comprises first and second support elements (112.1, 112.2) and a spring unit (112.4) with at least one spring element (112.5, 112.6, 112.13, 112.14). Either of the first and second element (112.1, 112.2) is connected to a respective one of the wheel unit (105) and the torsional vibration reduction mass (108.1) in a manner rigid in the circumferential direction. The at least one spring element (112.5, 112.6, 112.13, 112.14) is arranged and acts kinematically in series between the first and second support element (112.1, 112.2) to provide the compliance of the linking arrangement (112, 113) at least in a first torsional direction along the circumferential direction. The at least one spring element (112.5, 112.6, 112.13, 112.14) comprises an elongated spring section (112.7) which is elongated along the axial direction, wherein the spring section (112.7) is arranged and configured to provide this compliance of the linking arrangement (112, 113) by a bending compliance about a bending axis (112.8) which is at least substantially parallel to a plane defined by the radial direction and the circumferential direction.