EP4344977A1 - Dispositif d'attelage pour véhicule ferroviaire - Google Patents

Dispositif d'attelage pour véhicule ferroviaire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4344977A1
EP4344977A1 EP22198207.7A EP22198207A EP4344977A1 EP 4344977 A1 EP4344977 A1 EP 4344977A1 EP 22198207 A EP22198207 A EP 22198207A EP 4344977 A1 EP4344977 A1 EP 4344977A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
handle
handles
rod
axis
coupler
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22198207.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Erik Hedlund
Anders Janers
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dellner Couplers AB
Original Assignee
Dellner Couplers AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dellner Couplers AB filed Critical Dellner Couplers AB
Priority to EP22198207.7A priority Critical patent/EP4344977A1/fr
Priority to US18/372,809 priority patent/US20240101168A1/en
Priority to CN202311265673.5A priority patent/CN117775060A/zh
Publication of EP4344977A1 publication Critical patent/EP4344977A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G1/00—Couplings comprising interengaging parts of different shape or form and having links, bars, pins, shackles, or hooks as coupling means
    • B61G1/02—Couplings comprising interengaging parts of different shape or form and having links, bars, pins, shackles, or hooks as coupling means having links or bars coupling or uncoupling by rotating around a transverse horizontal axis
    • B61G1/04—Operating devices therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G7/00—Details or accessories
    • B61G7/02—Hand tools for coupling or uncoupling

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle, in particular for automatic coupling systems (AC) in rail freight transportation (RFT).
  • AC automatic coupling systems
  • RFT rail freight transportation
  • DAC One type of a DAC is the Scharfenberg coupling which is, however, not used in RFT so far but is the standard for high-speed rail transportation in Europe.
  • Scharfenberg couplings are also available as DAC Type 4.
  • the coupler heads of a Scharfenberg coupling have a coupling profile with a cone and a cup, the cone of one coupler head being guided into and centered in the cup of the opposing coupler head during the coupling process, thereby aligning the two coupler heads.
  • Each coupler head contains a rotating metal disc, also known as "hook plate”, which is sometimes also referred to as the heart of the coupler head. Attached to one circumferential side of the disc is a plunger, often also referred to as "coupling link" or "hoop".
  • DE 102020119328 A1 discloses a manual uncoupling device including a hand lever attached to a pull wire so as to reduce the force needed for uncoupling the coupler head by pulling the pull wire.
  • the hand lever is located on a lateral side of the wagon. Thus, the hand lever can be reached easily by an operator without the need to get between two wagons.
  • the hand lever is arranged vertically and is tilted outwards from the wagon in order to uncouple the coupler head. There are rest positions for the hand lever which indicate the respective positions in which the coupler head is in a coupled and an uncoupled state.
  • the hand lever may be designed with a removable handle bar, such that removal of the handle bar prevents unauthorized operation of the manual uncoupling device.
  • the invention relates to a coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle, comprising a coupler head and an uncoupling device having at least one handle which is manually swivellable about an axis of rotation in a swivel direction from a first position, in which the coupler head is in a state in which it is coupled to or ready to couple with a coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a second position, in which the coupler head is in an uncoupled state.
  • the axis of rotation is horizontal and one end of the at least one handle forms a handle arm which extends in a vertical swivel plane and which has a free end that can be gripped by a person so that the at least one handle arm provides a leverage for the person, wherein the handle arm is oriented horizontally when the at least one handle is either in the first or in the second position.
  • "Horizontally" in the present context also includes positions in which the handle is only approximately horizontal, i.e. within a range of +/- 10° from an exact horizontal position, more preferably within a range of not more than +/- 5° from an exact horizontal position, in which positions a worker would still have the impression that the handle is horizontal.
  • the advantage of the handle arm being oriented horizontally with the axis of rotation also being horizontal is that a worker can put his entire weight on the handle, in an extreme case even hanging onto the handle, wherein the levering effect and, thus, the created momentum about the axis of rotation is high as compared to, e.g., a vertically arranged lever arm.
  • the advantage of the handle arm being oriented horizontally in either the first position, i.e. the coupler head's coupled or ready-to-couple state, or in the second position, i.e. the coupler head's uncoupled state, is that it is easily recognizable from the horizontal or non-horizontal position whether the coupler head is in the one or the other state.
  • a further advantage is that, as compared to an upright vertical orientation of the handle, the uncoupling can be carried out faster because a worker does not have to climb as high up in order to reach the free end of the handle, because the distance from the ground up to the free end of the handle is shorter. Furthermore, if required, an extension rod can be easily attached to the handle in order to increase the leverage, wherein the free end of the extension rod can still be easily reached by a worker, as compared to a situation where the handle was oriented vertically.
  • swivel of the handle between the first position and second position includes a starting position, intermediate position or end position in which the free end of the handle and the axis of rotation are on a same vertical level.
  • the lever arm is longest and, thus, the momentum created about the axis of rotation is highest when the free end of the handle and the axis of rotation are on a same vertical level. Therefore, it is advantageous if the movement of the handle between the first and second positions passes through this point.
  • the angle of rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation between the first position and second position is less than 45°, preferably about 30° or less. The smaller the angle of rotation is, the lesser will the levering effect change during the movement of the handle between the two positions.
  • the handle is mounted on a front side, lateral side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle with the horizontal axis of rotation extending perpendicularly relative to said side of the wagon.
  • swivel of the at least one handle about the horizontal axis of rotation results in a movement of the handle in a plane that is parallel to the respective front, lateral or rear side.
  • the handle will not extend outwards away from the side of the wagon upon swivelling. This increases the overall safety of the coupler arrangement.
  • the handle may be arranged on a lateral side of the wagon or car, in which case the horizontal axis of rotation is preferably oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coupler rod, in order to keep the space between the wagons, i.e. the Berne rectangle, substantially free of components.
  • the handle While an arrangement of the handle on a front side of the wagon is generally preferred, it is nevertheless possible to mount the handle in front of a front side or rear side of the wagon or car. In this case, the free end of the handle is arranged to point towards a lateral side of the wagon. This way, the handle is manually accessible and movable from the first into the second position by a worker standing laterally relative to the wagon.
  • the handle is mechanically lockable by moving at least a portion of the handle in a locking direction from the second position into a third position, wherein the locking direction differs from the swivel direction. That is, usually the handle returns automatically from the second position back to the first position as soon as the weight on the handle is lifted, due to the force of the spring in the coupler head which urges the coupler head back into its coupled or read-to-couple state. However, by moving at least a portion of the handle into a third position so that the handle is mechanically locked in such third position, the handle cannot automatically return to the first position. Thus, the coupler head remains in its uncoupled state and is not ready to couple in this state.
  • This uncoupled and not-ready-to-couple state of the coupler head is referred to as "buff state” or “buffer state” and the respective position of the handle is the “buff position” or “buffer position”.
  • the buff state is helpful on shunting yards where the wagons are pushed uphill and where, after the top of the hump is reached, different wagons can be rolled downhill on a track by gravity. This kind of management is important in the handling of freight wagons
  • the locking of the handle is achieved by movement of the handle in a direction which differs from the swivel direction.
  • the worker who is swivelling the handle from the first to the second position can keep holding on the handle and simply needs to change the direction of motion, for instance in a sidewards direction, in order to reach the handle's third position.
  • the movement of the handle in the locking direction may include a sideways shifting or sideways tilting of at least said portion of the handle in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation. This is easily and intuitively manageable by a worker.
  • the handle in the third position, abuts against a holder such that rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation towards the first position is prevented.
  • the holder may have the function of an undercut under which the handle can slide and from which the handle can easily be shifted backwards in order to release it.
  • a joint may be provided which permits, when the handle is in said second position, sideways tilting of the handle about a tilting axis which is perpendicular relative to the axis of rotation.
  • the handle described so far may be a removable handle with a connecting interface for a worker to attach the removable handle via the connecting interface to the coupler arrangement. This prevents unauthorized access to the uncoupling mechanism.
  • the connecting interface of the removable handle comprises one part of a key-and-lock assembly.
  • a key-and-lock assembly has a connecting interface with irregular mating structures, which are typically non-standard, thereby increasing the security against unauthorized use.
  • a cable may be provided, wherein the handle is arranged to cooperate with the cable so that, upon swivelling of the at least one handle from the first position towards the second position, the cable is being pulled.
  • the coupler arrangement is configured such that pulling of the cable causes the coupler arrangement, i.e. the coupler head, to uncouple.
  • the cable may comprise a Bowden cable, i.e. the cable is guided in a bendable but incompressible sheath, as is well known, e.g., from bicycle cables. This offers flexibility in the positioning of the handle anywhere along the sides of the wagon.
  • first and second handles are functionally connected to the coupler head to uncouple the coupler head.
  • first and second handles are preferably arranged on the same wagon so that either one of the first and second handles can be used to release the coupler head mounted on this wagon.
  • Both the first handle and the second handle are manually swivellable about a respective axis of rotation in a corresponding swivel direction from a respective first position, in which the coupler head of the coupler arrangement is in the state in which it is coupled to or couplable with the coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a respective second position, in which the coupler head is in the uncoupled state.
  • the handles may have the same special characteristics as the above-mentioned handles.
  • the two handles are movable between the first and second positions independent from each other.
  • the configuration is such that swivelling of one of the first and second handles from its respective first to its respective second position causes swivelling of the respective other one of the first and second handles from said other one's respective first to said other one's respective second position
  • each coupler head there is only one handle provided for each coupler head, e.g. on the front left and rear right of a wagon, because then, independent of the side of the wagon where a worker is standing, he has access to one handle to release one of the coupler heads.
  • releasing one coupler head causes simultaneous release of the other coupler head, thereby uncoupling the two coupler heads.
  • the provision of a second handle in such a manner that actuation of one handle associated with one coupler head causes a corresponding action of the other handle associated with the same coupler head has the advantage that a worker standing on one side of the wagon and actuating one coupler head can easily verify whether the other coupler head has already been brought into the uncoupled state by the position of its associated handle.
  • This is particularly helpful in situations where the other coupler head is in a buff state, because such state is not easily recognizable from the coupler head itself. And even in cases where the state of the coupler head is recognizable from the coupler head itself, this is less obvious than a position of the handle when observing from a safe position which is beside the wagons and not between the wagons.
  • the second handle thus avoids in such situations the need for the worker to crawl to the other side in order to verify whether the other coupler head is locked in the buff state.
  • the first and second handles are interconnected by rod which is configured to translate swivelling of one of the first and second handles about its respective axis of rotation to a swivelling of the respective other one of the first and second handles about the respective other one's axis of rotation.
  • both the first handle and second handle may each be attached with one of their ends to the rod and the rod is mounted to be rotatable about said axis of rotation so that swivelling of one of the handles about the axis of rotation causes rotation of the rod and, thus, causes also a corresponding swivelling of the other handle.
  • a cable may be connected to the rod, wherein swivelling of either one of the first and second handles from its respective first position towards its respective second position causes a pulling movement on the cable and, thereby, causes the coupler arrangement, i.e. the coupler head, to uncouple.
  • the axis of rotation coincides with the longitudinal axis of the rod, then the pulling movement results in an up-winding of the cable on the rod.
  • the cable will simply be pulled by the movement of the rod, e.g. upwards or downwards, which movement may be supported by suitable guide rollers for guiding the cable.
  • the cable may be attached to a central section of the rod, close to the coupler head.
  • the (single) cable is very short as compared to the alternative that both handles are directly connected to the coupler head by an own cable.
  • the configuration of the coupler arrangement is such that a direction of orientation of the first handle in the first handle's first and second positions is identical to a direction of orientation of the second handle in the second handle's respective first and second positions.
  • a direction of orientation of the first handle in the first handle's first and second positions is identical to a direction of orientation of the second handle in the second handle's respective first and second positions.
  • the first handle or an extension of the first handle is arranged to extend through a first mounting plate and the second handle or an extension of the second handle is arranged to extend through a second mounting plate, which first and second mounting plates respectively extend laterally from a front side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle, so that the first and second handles extend along a respective lateral side of said wagon or car.
  • the handles extend parallel to the wagon's lateral sides, whereas the afore-mentioned rod may extend in front of the front or rear side of the wagon.
  • the rod may be mounted to the mounting plate so as to be rotatable about said axis of rotation and the handles may be mounted to the rod.
  • the configuration of the coupler arrangement is such that movement of at least a portion of one of the handles in a respective locking direction from its respective second position into a respective third position, with the locking direction differing from the handle's swivel direction, causes movement of the respective other handle in the locking direction of the respective other handle.
  • the configuration is such that the movement of one handle in its respective locking direction and the movement of the other handle in the locking direction of the other handle includes both a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the one handle and a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the other handle.
  • the handles are attached to the afore-mentioned rod such that pushing or pulling one handle in a direction towards the other handle causes the rod to be pushed and pulled, respectively, in that direction, thereby transferring the pushing and pulling movement from the one to the other handle.
  • the two handles and the rod may be fixedly attached to each other or integrally formed so as to form together a wide "U".
  • the configuration is such that the movement of one handle in its respective locking direction and the movement of the other handle in the locking direction of the other handle includes both a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the one handle and a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the other handle.
  • the handles are mounted on the afore-mentioned rod such that, while swivelling of the handles about the rod's axis of rotation causes the rod to rotate accordingly, tilting of the handles has no effect on the position of the rod.
  • the longitudinal axis of the rod may coincide with the axes of rotation of the two handles and the handles may each be mounted on the rod in a bearing in which they can journal about a tilting axis which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Then, in order to transfer the tilting movement from one handle to the other, there may be provided a second rod which interconnects the two handles at a short distance from said bearing.
  • This embodiment is advantageous over the first embodiment in that the worker, when tilting the handle, may benefit from the levering effect provided by the handle, so that the worker does not need to use much force for bringing the handles in and out of the buff position.
  • shifting as well as tilting of one handle in or against the locking direction causes a shifting and tilting, respectively, of the other handle in the same direction.
  • movement of the one handle in a direction towards the wagon's lateral side in order to, e.g., bring the coupler head in the buff state would cause other handle to move away from the wagon's lateral side into its corresponding buff state.
  • both handles should be moved either towards or away from the lateral side in order to reach the buff state, and vice versa, in order not to confuse the worker. Therefore, the first and second embodiments may be further improved by configuring the coupler arrangement such that the locking direction of one handle is opposite to the locking direction of the other handle.
  • the second rod in the second embodiment comprises two separate rod sections, each having one end attached to the handle (at a distance from said axis of rotation) and the other end attached to a return mechanism.
  • the return mechanism has the effect that a movement of one rod section in one direction, e.g. a forward direction, causes the other rod section to move in the opposite direction, i.e. a backward direction.
  • the return mechanism may comprise an element which is rotatable about a rotational axis that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rod sections, and the rod sections may be attached to this element on opposite sides of the rotational axis, preferably at an equal distance therefrom.
  • the coupler arrangement comprises two handles
  • the handles are not feasible to design the handles as removable handles because the worker would have to carry a couple of handles and he would have to attach the handles on both sides of the wagon in order to benefit from the advantages of having two handles. Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a key-and-lock arrangement acting directly on the rod, namely with a key-and-lock mechanism at both ends of the rod,
  • the key-and-lock arrangement is so configured that the rod is prevented from rotating about said axis of rotation when one of the key-and-lock mechanisms is in its locked condition.
  • This kind of key-and-lock assembly can likewise be used on single-handle coupler arrangements.
  • the key-and-lock mechanism at one end of the rod advantageously cooperates with the key-and-lock mechanism at the other end of the rod through the hollow interior of the rod, e.g., by means of a wire or by means of a complete pulley system, so that unlocking the key-and-lock mechanism at the one end of the rod causes unlocking of the respective other key-and-lock mechanism at the other end of the rod.
  • the worker only has to carry one specific tool with him, the "key", which works for all couplers of that particular type (and possibly other types).
  • the coupler arrangement of the present invention is particularly suitable in combination with a biasing element that is configured to permanently bias the handle or handles towards the first position.
  • a biasing element is constituted by a spring of a coupler head, which spring urges the coupler head into its coupled or ready-to-couple state, as is the case in the Scharfenberg-type couplings.
  • the present invention is particularly suitable for coupler arrangement comprising a Scharfenberg-type coupler head.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coupler arrangement attached to the undercarriage of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle.
  • the coupler arrangement comprises a coupler head 1 for coupling with a second coupler head of identical shape, a coupler rod 2 for connecting the coupler head 1 to the undercarriage, and further components which are either not visible in this view or not of importance for the following description.
  • the skilled person will recognize that the coupler head 1 is of the Scharfenberg type, more specifically a Scharfenberg Type 10 coupler head, and fulfils all requirements of a DAC-Type 4.
  • the coupler arrangement further comprises an uncoupling device for bringing the coupler head 1 from a first state in which it is either coupled to a second coupler head or ready to couple to a second coupler head into a second, uncoupled state.
  • the uncoupling device includes a handle 3 which is manually swivellable about an axis of rotation A in a swivel direction S from a first position, as shown in Fig. 1 , in which the coupler arrangement, more specifically the coupler head 1, is in the coupled or ready-to-couple state, into a second position (not shown) in which the coupler head 1 is in an uncoupled state.
  • the handle 3 is connected to a release mechanism 4 via a cable 5.
  • Spring 4A is an additional spring which has the sole purpose of providing an additional tensile force on the handle 3 to force the handle 3 towards the coupler head 1, but this additional spring 4A is optional.
  • the handle 3 when the handle 3 is pushed or pulled downwards so as to swivel about the axis of rotation A in the swivel direction S, it pulls on the cable 5, which is guided (as a Bowden cable) through a mounting plate 6 on the front/rear side of the undercarriage to the release mechanism 4, thereby actuating the release mechanism 4 accordingly.
  • the tension force of the tensile spring(s) inside the coupler head 1 (and of the - optional - spring 4A of the release mechanism 4) acting on the cable 5 urges the handle 3 against a stopper 7, which may be made of a rubber or any other material which provides a damping effect.
  • a further spring (not shown) may be connected to the handle 3 directly or indirectly in order to further support the horizontal position of the handle 3 in the coupled or ready-to-couple state of the coupler head 1.
  • the axis of rotation A is horizontal. More specifically, it runs parallel to the front/rear side of the undercarriage.
  • the handle 3 has a handle arm 3A which extends away from the axis of rotation A, i.e. it extends in a vertical swivel plane. More specifically, the swivel plane is parallel relative to a lateral side of the undercarriage.
  • the free end 3B can be gripped by a worker so that the handle 3 provides a leverage for the worker. In this position, which is also referred to as the "first position" within the present disclosure, the handle arm is oriented horizontally.
  • the handle arm 3A may be oriented horizontally in a respective "second position", which is the position of the handle in which the coupler head 1 is in its decoupled state.
  • the horizontal position of the handle 3 gives a clear indication to the worker about the current state of the coupler head 1.
  • Fig. 2 shows the release mechanism 4 in greater detail.
  • the cable 5 is attached to an eccentric plate or cam plate 4B and runs along a circumference thereof so that pulling of the cable 5 causes the eccentric plate 4B to rotate against the tensile force of the tensioning spring(s) inside the coupler head 1 and against the tensile force of the - optional - spring 4A, thereby releasing (not shown) the coupler head 1 into its uncoupled state.
  • Fig. 3A and 3B show only the mounting of the handle 3 of the coupler arrangement of Fig. 1 in a side view and top view, respectively, namely in said first "coupled position", in which the coupler head 1 is either coupled or ready to couple to a second coupler head.
  • the cable 5 is not shown, except for its Bowden cable mounting fitting 8.
  • the second stop 10 defines the "second position" or "buff position" of the handle 3.
  • Fig. 4A and 4B show the handle 3 of the coupler arrangement in a side view and top view, respectively, in a "third position", also referred to as the "buff position".
  • the handle 3 has been tilted from the intermediate second position (not shown) to the buff position by tilting the handle 3 sideways.
  • the fixed end 3C of the handle is mounted to a bearing 11, which allows both the handle's rotation about the axis of rotation A between the first and second positions and the handle's tilting about a tilting axis T between the second and third positions, wherein the tilting axis T is perpendicular to the axis of rotation A.
  • the holder 12 and the second stop 10 are integrally formed as a hook 13.
  • the holder 12 has the form of an undercut under which the handle 3 can slide when it is moved from the second to the third position and from which the handle 3 can easily be shifted backwards towards its second position in order to release the handle 3 from the holder 12.
  • the arrangement of the handle 3 is on a lateral side of the undercarriage.
  • the handle arrangement as shown in Figs. 3A to 4B may be mounted on a front side or rear side of the undercarriage, for instance attached to the mounting plate 6, provided that the Berne rectangle is not compromised.
  • the handle 3 is removable.
  • the connecting interface provides a key-and-lock assembly, i.e. the connecting interface has non-standard mating structures in order to prevent unauthorized use.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a first principle for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles, namely a first handle 3' and a second handle 3", instead of only the one handle 3.
  • the handles 3', 3" each extend through the mounting plate 6 towards a front of the mounting plate 6 where they are fixedly connected to a rod 14.
  • the rod 14 is rotatably mounted in two bearings 15 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, which is the axis of rotation A of the handles 3', 3". Accordingly, when pushing or pulling the first handle 3' downwards, as indicated by the vertical arrow in Fig. 6 , the second handle 3" automatically moves in the same direction, as indicated by the other vertical arrow in Fig. 6 .
  • the two handles 3', 3" are arranged in parallel to each other, they always have a common orientation.
  • the rod 14 is not only rotatable about the axis of rotation A but can also be shifted in the bearings 15 along the axis of rotation A.
  • the first handle 3' is pulled away from the undercarriage so as to shift it under a holder (not shown) into a buff position, similar to the holder 12 in Fig. 4B , then the second handle 3" is simultaneously shifts the same direction so that, when a second holding element is appropriately arranged, also the second handle 3" will move into its respective buff position.
  • the shifting motion is indicated by the two horizontal arrows on the handles 3', 3" and the two-headed arrow on the rod 14 in Fig. 6 .
  • the coupler arrangement may alternatively be configured such that the two handles 3', 3" are to be moved upwards, instead of downwards, between their first and second positions, and the same is possible for the previously described single handle 3.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a second principle for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles.
  • the arrangement comprises the rod 14 and the first and second handles 3', 3" which are attached to the rod 14 such that upward or downward movement of one of the handles results in a rotation of the rod about the axis of rotation A and, conclusively, a corresponding upward or downward movement of the other handle 3", in the same way as described in relation to Fig. 6 .
  • the differences to the arrangement in Fig. 6 is that the handles 3' and 3" are not fixedly attached to the rod 14, but they are attached in such a way that they can be tilted about a tilting axis T which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation A.
  • Limitators 16 prevent the rod 14 from moving axially in a direction of the axis of rotation A.
  • a second rod 14A connects the ends of the handles 3', 3" which extend beyond the rod 14. This way, when one of the handles 3', 3" is tilted about the tilting axis T, e.g. in order to move the handle back and forth between the afore-described second position and buff position, the second rod 14A translates such tilting into a corresponding tilting of the respective other handle in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 8 .
  • the second rod 14A may alternatively connect the lever arms of the handles 3', 3" at connecting points somewhere between the rod 14 and the free ends of the handles 3', 3". The distance between these connecting points and the rod 14 need only be little in order to achieve the desired sideways movement of the handles.
  • FIG. 9 shows an advancement of the second principle of Fig. 8 , in which the tilting movement of the one handle 3' in one direction results in a corresponding tilting movement of the other handle 3" in an opposite direction, and vice versa. The difference to the principle shown in Fig.
  • the second rod 14A comprises two separate rod sections 14A' and 14A", each having one end attached to one of the handles 3', 3" and the other end attached to a return mechanism 17.
  • the return mechanism 17 comprises a rotatable element 18 which is rotatable about a rotational axis Z which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rod sections 14A', 14A".
  • the rod sections 14A', 14A" are connected with their respective other ends to this rotatable element 18 on opposite sides of its rotational axis Z at an equal distance therefrom, and the rotatable element 18 itself is fixedly mounted to the rod 14 by a connector 19.
  • Fig. 10 shows in more detail how the rod 14, rod sections 14A' and 14A", rotatable element 18 and connector 19 may be configured and arranged relative to each other.
  • the connector 19 may have the form of a cam plate or eccentric plate and the cable 5 may wind up on a circumferential surface thereof when the handles 3', 3" are moved from their first to their second positions.
  • FIG. 11 shows the two handles 3', 3" in their first position, corresponding to the coupled or ready-to-couple state of the coupler head 1
  • Fig. 12 shows the handles 3', 3" in their third position, which corresponds to the buff state of the coupler head 1.
  • an extension of the handle 3' in the form of a connector rod 20 translates the swivel movement of the handle 3' about the axis of rotation A into a corresponding rotation of the rod 14 about an axis of rotation A' that is parallel to the axis of rotation A, on the one hand, and translates the tilting movement of the handles 3', 3" about the tilting axis T (see Fig. 4B ) into a corresponding tilting movement of a ledge 21, to which the first rod section 14A' is attached with one of its ends, on the other hand.
  • the second handle 3" is connected to the rod 14 and second rod section 14" in the same manner.
  • the locking mechanism may comprise a locking pin 22 mounted on a shaft 23 which is rotatably mounted on the rod 14 such that the locking pin 22 can be moved into and out of a static component, such as the mounting plate 6 of the undercarriage.
  • a locking mechanism is provided at both ends of the rod 14, and a wire 24 is wound around the respective two shafts 23 and connects them so as to form a pulley system, i.e. rotation of one shaft 23 is translated by the wire 24 into a rotation of the respective other shaft 23.
  • the locking pins 22 move in opposite directions when one of the two shafts 23 rotates, as is shown in Fig. 13 .
  • the wire 24 and even the entire pulley system can be arranged and, thus, protected inside the rod 14, provided the rod 14 is hollow.
  • the locking mechanism is a key-and-lock mechanism similar to what is disclosed above in relation to Fig. 5 . That is, one end of each of the shafts 23 may be accessible from the outside and may have a specific structure, e.g. as shown in Fig. 5 , so that it can be rotated only by using a tool having a corresponding mating structure.
  • paras Preferred aspects of the present disclosure are specified in the following paragraphs ("paras"), whereas the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended paras:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Handcart (AREA)
  • Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
EP22198207.7A 2022-09-27 2022-09-27 Dispositif d'attelage pour véhicule ferroviaire Pending EP4344977A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22198207.7A EP4344977A1 (fr) 2022-09-27 2022-09-27 Dispositif d'attelage pour véhicule ferroviaire
US18/372,809 US20240101168A1 (en) 2022-09-27 2023-09-26 Coupler arrangement for rail vehicle
CN202311265673.5A CN117775060A (zh) 2022-09-27 2023-09-27 用于轨道车辆的耦合器装置

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22198207.7A EP4344977A1 (fr) 2022-09-27 2022-09-27 Dispositif d'attelage pour véhicule ferroviaire

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EP4344977A1 true EP4344977A1 (fr) 2024-04-03

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US (1) US20240101168A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4344977A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN117775060A (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH405395A (fr) * 1963-10-22 1966-01-15 Soc D App Boirault Commande manuelle pour le décrochage d'attelages automatiques de wagons
JPS5777077U (fr) * 1980-10-30 1982-05-12
EP1149751B1 (fr) * 2000-04-26 2004-06-30 Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH Dispositif d' actionnement d' un adaptateur de longueur et/ou d' un dispositif de verrouillage d' un attelage automatique
DE102020119328A1 (de) 2019-08-20 2021-02-25 Voith Patent Gmbh Automatische Zugkupplung und Schienenfahrzeugrahmen mit einer automatischen Zugkupplung

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH405395A (fr) * 1963-10-22 1966-01-15 Soc D App Boirault Commande manuelle pour le décrochage d'attelages automatiques de wagons
JPS5777077U (fr) * 1980-10-30 1982-05-12
EP1149751B1 (fr) * 2000-04-26 2004-06-30 Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH Dispositif d' actionnement d' un adaptateur de longueur et/ou d' un dispositif de verrouillage d' un attelage automatique
DE102020119328A1 (de) 2019-08-20 2021-02-25 Voith Patent Gmbh Automatische Zugkupplung und Schienenfahrzeugrahmen mit einer automatischen Zugkupplung

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DAC4EU DIGITAL AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR EUROPE: "DAC4EU - Operational Tests", 13 January 2022 (2022-01-13), XP093027696, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1ESfnkXac> [retrieved on 20230228] *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20240101168A1 (en) 2024-03-28
CN117775060A (zh) 2024-03-29

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