AT410177B - ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE CLUTCH DEVICE FOR MODEL TRAIN VEHICLES - Google Patents

Description

AT 410 177 B

The invention relates to a coupling head and a coupling device for model railroad vehicles, as they are referred to in claims 1 and 14.

From DE 39 34 818 A1 a conductive coupling device for electric play and model railways is known, in which a narrow separating plate is provided between a coupling head and a coupling foot or a corresponding holding device and, starting from a flat side of this supporting plate, the unevenly long legs of the coupling fork cantilevered. In the end region of the narrow, elongated legs facing the separating plate, edge-side incisions or notches are formed in which the contact springs required for establishing an electrical connection are inserted in a clamping manner. Starting from their clamping position, these contact springs extend laterally along the longer leg protruding from the separating plate and lie against the latter. This assignment of the contact springs to the longer leg proves to be disadvantageous in certain cases. The longer leg of the clutch fork is naturally subject to greater stresses and it cannot be ruled out due to its relatively large longitudinal extension that it will be permanently deformed or even break off from the carrier plate. A consistently exact alignment of the longer leg is absolutely essential for reliable contacting of the contact springs of two coupled coupling heads.

Furthermore, a coupling device for model railroad vehicles is known from DE 40 35 578 A1, which is provided with a coupling head. The coupling head has a coupling body which is provided at one end with a coupling fork and at the opposite end with a holding device. The coupling head is also provided with a coupling bracket that is pivotally mounted in the coupling body and rests on an upper side of the coupling body, and the coupling bracket is connected in motion with a lever arm projecting beyond the underside of the coupling body. In the area between the two protruding tines of the clutch fork, a clutch hook projecting over the top in the direction of the clutch bracket is arranged. The two coupling heads are arranged rotated by 180 ° to one another in a plane parallel to the upper side of the coupling body. The coupling bracket is pivotally mounted in a plane running parallel to a side wall of the coupling body and has a leg projecting in the direction of the coupling body as a coupling extension. The coupling extension is longer than a distance between the side wall facing the coupling bracket and the coupling extension. On the upper side of the coupling body there is arranged a counter-holder projecting above the coupling hook and under a prestressing force directed against this upper side of the coupling body.

The disadvantage of this known coupling device is above all the complex structure. Due to these many complicated parts, the manufacture of such a coupling device is extremely cost-intensive. In addition, due to its complexity, this coupling device is also very susceptible to errors in terms of its functionality, as a result of which the game drive very often breaks off. Especially with such toys, which are often in children's hands, defects in functionality are unacceptable. Since a repair is almost impossible, the entire part must be replaced.

The present invention has for its object to provide a coupling device of the type mentioned, which on the one hand avoids the disadvantages shown above and on the other hand enables a coupling of model railroad vehicles at a distance close to the original.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. The surprising advantage resulting from the features of claim 1 can be seen primarily in the fact that the independent arrangement of the contact springs compared to the means required for the latching or snap connection in the side regions of the cuboid coupling body separates the functionality relating to the contact connection from the functionality regarding the coupling connection is created. The receptacles for the contact springs in the top and / or bottom of the coupling body are namely structurally independent or decoupled from the legs in the coupling head according to the invention for the creation of the latching or snap connection. In particular, the means for creating the contact connection are largely decoupled from the means for producing the coupling connection, so that there can hardly be any adverse, mutual functional influences. Furthermore, 2

AT 410 177 B is essential to the fact that a longer leg, at least in the state coupled with a further coupling head, lies in a corresponding recess in the further coupling head and is thus better protected against deformations or overstressing. This contributes to a higher robustness of the coupling head and enables compact dimensions of the coupling head, which is of great importance in model construction.

Further advantageous developments are characterized in claims 2 to 14. The resulting advantages can be found in the special description of the figures.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

Figure 1 is an oblique view of the coupling device according to the invention with two mutually aligned coupling devices in a simplified, schematic representation.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation.

3 shows a side view of the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation;

4 shows a front view of the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of a cover for the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation.

6 shows a side view of the cover for the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation;

7 is a side view of a contact spring for the coupling device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation;

Fig. 8 is a diagram of two mutually coupled coupling devices according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation.

As an introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to the same parts with the same reference numbers or the same component names. The location information selected in the description, e.g. above, below, laterally, etc. refer to the figure described and illustrated immediately and are to be transferred analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

1 to 8 show a coupling head, in particular a coupling device 1, for a model railroad vehicle, wherein in FIG. 1 two mutually aligned coupling devices 1 for coupling two independent model railroad vehicles are shown schematically and for the sake of clarity the model railroad vehicles are not shown.

The coupling device 1 is formed from an insulating material, in particular from plastic. The coupling device 1 can, for example, be produced in one piece by an injection molding process and has a coupling body 2. The coupling body 2 is preferably cuboid. At least two legs 3, 4 of different lengths are formed on the coupling body 2, the longer leg 3 forming a coupling leg and the shorter leg 4 forming a guide leg. These integrally formed legs 3, 4 serve that, as shown in FIG. 8, the legs 3, 4 snap into a corresponding further coupling device 1, in particular into the coupling body 2. The coupling connection of two coupling devices 1 takes place in such a way that the leg 3, in particular the coupling leg, engages with a locking knob 5 molded onto this in a corresponding groove-shaped locking recess 6 on the further coupling device 1 and thus a fixing or a coupling connection between two coupling devices 1 of different model railroad vehicles can be manufactured.

The two legs 3, 4 are on two mutually opposite sides, in particular each on a narrow side 7, 8, of the coupling body 2 3, which is preferably cuboid

AT 410 177 B arranged or molded. For this purpose, the leg 3, in particular the coupling leg, is preferably formed centrally on the narrow side 8, whereas the further leg 4 is arranged off-center of the narrow side 7. Furthermore, the coupling body 2 on that narrow side 7, on which the shorter leg 4 is formed, has a groove-shaped recess 9, in which the locking recess 6 corresponding to the locking knob 5 of the longer leg 3 is arranged. It is thus possible that when the two coupling devices 1 of different model railroad vehicles are coupled together, the leg 3, in particular the coupling leg, is inserted into the groove-shaped recess 9, so that the locking knob 5 can engage in the corresponding locking connection 6.

So that a safe insertion of the leg 3 into the recess 9 is ensured, the further leg 4, in particular the guide leg, is designed such that a surface 10 which is inclined in the direction of the recess 9 is arranged in the end region of the leg 4. It is thereby achieved that when the leg 3 comes up, it is guided over the surface 10 into the recess 9 and thus a coupling of two coupling devices 1 is ensured in any position. For this purpose, a corresponding recess 11 for the shorter leg 4 is arranged on that narrow side 8 on which the longer leg 3 is arranged. The shorter leg 4 serving as the guide leg is arranged adjacent to the groove-shaped recess 9 with the locking recess 6 for the further, longer leg.

The coupling body 2 also has the two narrow sides 7, 8 connecting upper sides 12 and lower sides 13. At least one further groove-shaped recess 14 to 17, preferably two recesses 14, 15 for the top 12 and two recesses 16, 17 for the bottom 13, is arranged in the top and / or bottom 12, 13. The recesses 14, 15 and 16, 17 assigned to the top 12 and the bottom 13 in pairs can be closed by means of a cover 18, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, so that a corresponding closure of the coupling body 2 is created becomes.

The cover 18 can be attached by simply pressing it onto the coupling body 2. The coupling body 2 has elevations 19 of different designs, so that the corresponding cover 18 can be squeezed or pressed into the free spaces. It is possible here that further snap connections or fastening systems known from the prior art can be used for fastening the cover 18 to the coupling body 2. In order that there is a defined positioning of the cover 18 on the coupling body 2, this has a guide pin 20. For this purpose, a corresponding guide recess 21 is arranged on the coupling body 2. If the cover 18 is pressed onto the coupling device 1, in particular onto the coupling body 2, the guide pin 20 engages in the guide recess 21. This ensures that the cover 18 can also be installed by untrained personnel or a user, since the cover 18 can only be pressed onto the coupling body 2 in one position.

So that such a coupling device 1 can be attached to a model railroad vehicle, the coupling body 2 has on the opposite side to the integrally formed legs 3, 4 a holding device 22 arranged at the front end of the coupling body 2. In the case of a model railroad vehicle, this holding device 22 can be inserted into a receiving shaft, so that such a coupling device 1 can be attached to a model railroad vehicle. Of course, it is possible that the coupling device 1, in particular the holding device 22, can be connected to the receiving shaft of the model railroad vehicle in such a way that a preferably horizontal pivoting movement can be generated via the holding device 22 or via the receiving shaft, as is already known from the state is known in the art and thus such attachment of the coupling device 1 to a model railroad vehicle is no longer discussed in detail. Furthermore, it is possible that other fastening systems known from the prior art can also be used for fastening a coupling device 1 to a model railroad vehicle. These are molded onto the front end of the coupling body 2 in a simple form.

With such a design of the coupling device 1, in particular through the arrangement of the recesses 14 to 17, it is now possible that contact springs 23 can be inserted into the individual recesses 14 to 17, whereby a so-called electrically conductive coupling for model railroad vehicles can be formed, i.e. that due to such a 4th

AT 410 177 B

Coupling device 1 from a model railway vehicle via the contact springs 23, a current transmission to another coupled model railway vehicle can be created.

One of the contact springs 23 used is shown in detail in FIG. 7, the contact springs 23 being arranged or inserted in the recesses 14 to 17 in the coupling position of two coupling devices 1 shown in FIG. 8, so that the contacting of the individual contact springs 23 to one another can be seen is. By arranging the contact springs 23 in the coupling device 1, it can now be said that after the joining of two coupling devices 1, in particular the coupling body 2, a snap-in connection is made through the legs 3, 4, at the same time through those arranged in the recesses 14 to 17 Contact springs 23 an electrical connection between two coupling devices 1 or between two model railroad vehicles is made.

By designing the coupling body 2 from a non-conductive material, in particular from plastic, a current transmission can be created without additional insulation effort, with two independent circuits being able to be transmitted in the illustrated embodiment when the coupling device 1 is fully equipped. Of course, it is possible that a contact spring 23 does not have to be used in each recess 14 to 17, but that, for example, only one contact spring 23 is used in each of the recesses 14 and 15, so that only a single circuit can be transmitted , It is possible that the assembly of the recesses 14 to 17 can be made arbitrarily. It is only necessary to ensure that the corresponding coupling device 1 is fitted in the same form. Furthermore, it is possible that, for example, the coupling device 1 is equipped in such a way that two contact springs 23 are used for the current transmission and that a further contact spring 23 is used, via which control signals are transmitted, whereby the coupling device 1 with three contact springs 23 is used. However, it is possible that the control signals, as is already known from the prior art, are transmitted with the power supply, i.e. that the control signals are modulated onto the power supply and are then evaluated in the individual model railroad vehicles.

The contact spring 23 has a special shape for receiving in the recesses 14 to 17. In an end region 24 of the contact spring 23, the contact spring 23 is designed such that there are two contact surfaces 26, 27 arranged at an acute angle 25 to one another. This configuration of the two contact surfaces 26, 27 at an acute angle 25 to one another ensures that a corresponding spring effect is created by the contact surface 27, which forms the loose end of the contact spring 23, that is to say that when two coupling devices 1 are coupled together in the direction a spring effect is achieved with the corresponding contact surface 27, so that reliable contacting of the two contact surfaces 27 of two coupling devices 1 is established.

This ensures that when pushing together or coupling two coupling devices 1, contact is made with a further contact spring 23 via the contact surface 27, a corresponding force being exerted by a contact surface 27 on the further contact surface 27 and vice versa, so that the spring action of this contact surface 27 a corresponding biasing force of two contact springs 23 to one another is created. This configuration ensures a safe current transfer from a contact spring 23 of a coupling device 1 to a further contact spring 23 of a further coupling device 1, as is shown in FIG. 8.

Furthermore, the contact spring 23 on the opposite side of the end region 24 in an end region 28 has a projection 29 formed in the direction of the contact surface 27. This projection 29 has a rectangular or square shape in a side view, as shown in FIG. 7, and at the same time forms a positioning surface 30. The positioning surface 30 designed as a fastening part serves for fastening the contact spring 23 in the recesses 14 to 17 of the coupling body 2, i.e. that by inserting the contact spring 23 through the positioning surface 30, in particular through the projection 29, an exact positioning in the recess 14 to 17 is achieved.

So that an exact positioning of the contact spring 23 in the recesses 14 to 17 is possible, one of the recesses 5 assigned to the upper side 12 and / or the lower side 13 is provided

AT 410 177 B 14 to 17, in particular in the recesses 14 and 17, a particularly rectangular or square elevation 31, 32 is arranged, that is to say that on the groove base of the recesses 14 and 17 for receiving the contact springs 23 at a distance 33 from a groove end surface 34 the elevations 31, 32 are arranged. The distance 33 corresponds to a deformation length 35 of the positioning surface 30, that is to say that the distance 33 is designed to correspond to the deformation length 35 of the positioning surface 30 and thus an insertion of the cuboidal projection 29, in particular the positioning surface 30, into the free space between the groove end surface 34 and the Survey 31, 32 is possible.

So that the further contact spring 23 can also be fixed in that recess 15 and 16 in which no elevations 31, 32 are arranged, the cover 18 has in the region and in the direction of the recess 15 and 16, that is to say in the direction of the guide pin 20, a further elevation 36 which is rectangular or square in cross section. It is thereby achieved that the projection 29 of the contact springs 23 with the region of the recesses 14 and 17 located between the groove end surfaces 34 of the recesses 14 to 17 and the elevations 31, 32 or with that between the groove end surfaces 34 and the elevation 36 in the cover 18th area correspond to each other.

This configuration with the individual elevations 31, 32 and 36 simplifies the assembly of the contact springs 23 in the recesses 14 to 17, since the direction of insertion or the assembly direction through the elevations 31, 32 in the recesses 14 and 17 and through the elevations 36 is specified in the lid 18. The individual contact springs 23 are inserted into the recesses 14 to 17 such that two adjacent contact springs 23, i.e. those which are assigned to the top 12 and the bottom 13, are mounted rotated by 180 ° in the longitudinal direction of the contact springs 23, that is to say that the contact spring 23 is mounted in the recess 14 in such a way that the positioning surface 30, in particular the projection 29, is inserted into the free space between the elevation 31 and the groove end surface 34, as a result of which the contact surface 27 projects in the direction of the recess 16 lying underneath. In the further recess 15 facing the upper side 12, i.e. that recess 15 in which no elevation 31 or 32 is arranged, the contact spring 23 is mounted such that the contact surface 26 rests on the groove base, so that the positioning surface 30 is in the opposite direction to the groove base , ie extends in the direction of the cover 18. The positioning of this contact spring 23 is achieved by the elevation 36 of the cover 18.

As can now be seen better from FIG. 8, the coupling device 1 with the contact springs 23 arranged in the recesses 14 to 17 is shown in the coupled state with a further coupling device 1 - as shown in dashed lines.

It can be seen from this that the contact surfaces 27 are aligned with one another when two coupling devices 1 are coupled together, as a result of which a correspondingly good current transmission is produced by the contact springs 23 lying flat against one another. Furthermore, it can be seen that the contact springs 23, in particular the end region 24, engage or engage in the recesses 14 to 17 of the further coupling device 1 and thus prevent the contact springs 23 from being pushed apart by the interacting force. It is thereby achieved that a deformation of the contact surface 27 is built up in the direction of the contact surfaces 26. At the same time, the coupling body 2, in particular the edge webs of the recesses 14 to 17, serves as a support surface, thereby ensuring that the two contact springs 23 are contacted in every position.

Furthermore, it can be seen from this FIG. 8 that the contact springs 23 are connected to connecting lines 37, which are led out of the interior via cable channels 38, in particular via the groove end faces 34, of the recesses 14 to 17 and subsequently into a model railway vehicle 39 shown with dashed lines are introduced. In the model railway vehicle 39 it is now possible for the connecting lines 37 to be connected to a control device or a decoder or other electrical or electronic components. This makes it possible for the model railroad vehicle 39, as is known from the prior art, to be able to absorb the supply voltage, for example via the track system, which is applied to the contact spring 23 via the connecting lines 38. By coupling two model railroad vehicles 39, of which only one model railroad vehicle 39 is shown schematically, it is now possible for several model railroad vehicles 39 only 6 when coupling them together

AT 410 177 B, a model railroad vehicle 39 is equipped with a current pickup device, for example in the form of a grinder or other systems belonging to the prior art, since the current is transmitted via the individual coupling devices 1, in particular via the contact spring 23, to the further coupled model railroad vehicle 39 becomes. 5. For this purpose, it may be possible, for example, for the railcar in a train system to be equipped with a current absorption device and for the further coupled model railroad vehicles 39 to be supplied with current and voltage via the coupling devices 1. For this purpose, it is possible that the two coupling devices 1 arranged on a model railway vehicle 39 are connected to the line, so that the supply voltage io can be passed on in a simple form and a consumer can be arranged at the same time. For this purpose, for example, a lighting device can be arranged in each model railroad vehicle 39, which is fed by the current transmission through the model railroad vehicle 39.

The arrangement of the cable duct 38 has the advantage that the cover 18 can thereby be pressed onto the coupling body 2 without the connecting lines 37 being damaged by the cover 18. At the same time, a compact design of the coupling device 1 is achieved.

In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the contact spring 23 can be made of spring bronze or other resilient and conductive materials. Of course, it is also possible that the coupling body 2 is not equipped with four recesses 14 to 17 20, but that the coupling body 2 is formed, for example, only with two recesses 14, 15, in which the contact springs 23 can in turn be positioned. It is also possible that with appropriate dimensioning of the coupling body 2 more than four recesses 14 to 17 are arranged. It should be ensured, however, that with such a design of the coupling body 2, a corresponding insulating web 25 is arranged between each contact spring 23.

It is also possible that a contact insert which is already connected to the connecting lines 37 is fixedly arranged in the recesses 14 to 17, so that a current transfer from the contact insert to the contact spring 23 is achieved by simply inserting the contact spring 23. This ensures that when the coupling device 30 is retrofitted or retrofitted with the contact springs 23, the contact springs 23 do not have to be wired separately and thus an untrained user can carry out this retrofitting or upgrading independently. The contact insert can be formed by an electrically conductive foil or metal insert, it also being possible for this contact insert to be integrated into the coupling body 2 during the manufacture of the coupling device 1, in particular in an injection molding process. 35 For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure of the coupling device 1, these or their components have been partially shown to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The object on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description. 40 Above all, the individual versions shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 can form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

Set of reference numerals 45 1 coupling device 2 coupling body 3 legs 4 legs 50 5 locking knobs 6 locking recess 7 narrow side 8 narrow side 55 9 recess 7

Claims (14)

AT 410 177 B 10 surface 11 recess 12 top 13 bottom 14 recess 15 recess 16 recess 17 recess 18 cover 19 elevation 20 guide pin 21 guide recess 22 holding device 23 contact spring 24 end area 25 angle 26 contact surface 27 contact surface 28 end region 29 projection 30 positioning surface 31 elevation 32 Elevation 33 distance 34 groove end surface 35 deformation length 36 elevation 37 connecting line 38 cable duct 39 model railway vehicle PATENT CLAIMS: 1. Coupling head for an electrically conductive coupling device for model railway vehicles with an approximately cuboidal coupling body which is provided with a coupling fork at one end and with a holding device at the opposite end and the coupling fork has protruding legs of unequal length, the longer leg in the region of its free end having a locking knob for engaging in a locking recess fung and contact springs are provided to transmit the electrical energy, characterized in that the legs (3, 4) are arranged on two opposite sides of the coupling body (2), the shorter leg (4) having a groove-shaped recess (9) The locking recess (6) for the longer leg (3) is arranged adjacent, this groove-shaped recess (9) having a shape corresponding to the longer leg (3) and being formed on one side of the coupling body (2), and in that the coupling body ( 2) on the top and / or bottom (12, 13) connecting the two sides has at least one further groove-shaped recess (14 to 17) for receiving the contact spring (23). 8 AT 410 177 B 2. Coupling head according to claim 1, characterized in that the top and bottom (12, 13) of the coupling body (2) can be closed by means of a cover (18). 3. Coupling head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the groove base of at least one recess (14 to 17) for receiving the contact spring (23) at a distance (33) to the groove end face (34) has a cross-sectionally rectangular or square elevation ( 31, 32) is provided. 4. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (18) in the region and in the direction of the recess (14 to 17) has a cross-sectionally rectangular or square elevation (36). 5. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that both on the top and on the bottom (12, 13) of the coupling body (2) each have two recesses (14, 15 and 16, 17) for receiving each a contact spring (23) are provided. 6. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (23) is made of spring bronze or other spring-elastic conductive materials. 7. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (23) has two contact surfaces (26, 27) arranged at an acute angle (25). 8. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact spring (23) is integrally formed and the contact surfaces (26, 27) are bent at an acute angle (25) to each other. 9. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a serving as fastening part positioning surface (30) of the contact spring (23) has a rectangular or square projection (29) in side view. 10. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection (29) of the contact spring (23) with the area or free space of the recess (14 to.) Located between the groove end face (34) and the elevation (31, 32) 17) or corresponds to the area or free space located between the groove end surface (34) and the elevation (36) in the cover (18). 11. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that two adjacent contact springs (23) are provided on the top and / or bottom (12, 13), a contact spring (23) with respect to the adjacent contact spring ( 23) is arranged rotated by 180 ° about its longitudinal axis. 12. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that openings or cable channels (38) are provided in the groove end surface (34), which are used to lead out connection lines (37) of the contact springs (23). 13. Coupling head according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device (1) is made of plastic or the like. 14. Electrically conductive coupling device for model railroad vehicles with identical coupling heads arranged on two independent model railroad vehicles according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking knob is designed to engage in the locking recess (6) and after the joining of two coupling bodies (2 ) forms a latching connection and the contacts, in particular the contact springs (23) engage in the recesses (14 to 17) of the respective opposite coupling body (2) and bear against the contact springs (23) provided therein and establish an electrical connection to one another. THEREFORE 5 SHEET OF DRAWINGS 9