ASpanish railway engineerde Talgo has received in Amsterdam theEuropean Inventor Award, 2013 edition, granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) bya wheel suspension system that dramatically improves high-speed train travel. José Luis López Gómez is the first winner of the Popular Award, a new category presented in 2013. Unlike the awards of the other 5 categories, the winner was not voted by an international jury, but by the public, who could choose their Favorite inventor among 15 finalists for the award.
López Gómez’s invention ensures that the railway wheels maintain an optimal and safe position on the rails at all times. This is an element ofparticularly relevant in countries where high-speed trains cross mountainous regionsin curved paths. To cope with the undulating terrain, the Talgo’s wheels are mounted individually rather than joined by an axle. The invention, patented in 2007 by López Gómez, allows the wagon and wheels to automatically adapt to slopes and curves, and prevents passengers from noticing the forces pulling the train while it is driving around a curve. Because the wheels have a slight conical shape, as well as the difference in length between the inner and outer tracks in a curved section of the track, the system is able to determine the exact point of contact of the wheels. The pneumatic springs that are connected to the wheels make them turn in a better position.
“This invention has made train travel faster, safer and more energetically efficient, and that López Gómez receives the award shows that the public highly values the technical progress that clearly improves the mobility of thousands and thousands of travelers every day. “said Benoît Battistelli, president of the EPO.
Nanotechnology, hinges and USB
It was not the only award for inventiveness in Europe. In the Industry category, the award went to the Austrians Claus Hämmerle and Klaus Brüstle, for a soft-closing furniture hinge that allows the smooth closing of drawers and kitchen cabinets, and which today is practically a industry standard. In the Research category, the winner was Patrick Couvreur, from France, for using nanotechnology to create tiny capsules that carry anticancer drugs directly to affected cells, where they work without damaging healthy tissue. In the SME category, first place went to Swedish Pål Nyré for inventing pyrosequencing , a technique that has made DNA analysis easier, faster and much cheaper, paving the way for personalized treatment of serious diseases. The American Ajay V. Bhatt has also been awarded, in the category of non-European countries, for the Universal Serial Bus (USB) , which has become an industrial standard that connects computers and electronic equipment.
