CN118613414A - Electrical contact coupling device for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact coupling device (1) for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle. The electrical contact-coupling device (1) has a coupling device housing and at least one centering mechanism (5, 6) arranged on the coupling device housing (2), which is designed to orient the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) relative to the coupling device housing (2 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device. According to the invention, the electrical contact coupling device (1) has at least one locking mechanism (7, 8), which is preferably arranged on the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling device (1), and which is designed to lock the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling device (1) relative to the coupling device housing (2 ') of the electrical contact coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device, in a particularly autonomous orientation, which is achieved by means of at least one centering mechanism (5, 6), until the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling device (1) and the coupling device housing (2 ') of the electrical contact coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device lie within a predetermined range of action.

Description

Electrical contact coupling device for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for transmitting signals and/or energy between a plurality of rail-guided vehicles, in particular a plurality of adjacent cars of a rail vehicle.

In particular, the invention relates to an electrical contact coupling device for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle, in particular of a rail vehicle.

An automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of the type in question is used to mechanically and friction-fittingly connect a first compartment of a multi-section vehicle to an adjacent second compartment. Such an automatic center coupler or automatic center buffer coupler enables quick and easy coupling and uncoupling of rail-guided vehicles, such as carriages of rail vehicles.

One example of such an automatic center coupler is a "lock/AAR" automatic center buffer coupler. For such automatic center buffer couplings, when two adjacent cars are mechanically coupled, the coupling hook of the center coupler of one car is frictionally coupled with the coupling hook of the center coupler of the other car so as to be able to transmit traction and impact forces between such mechanically coupled cars.

In addition to the mechanical coupling between adjacent cars, electrical lines, such as power and data lines, are typically coupled simultaneously through a plurality of contact terminals disposed in an electrical contact carrier. Furthermore, a simultaneous coupling process of the compressed air lines can be provided.

The simultaneous coupling of the lines (electrical lines and compressed air lines) with the mechanical coupling process is, in particular, a precondition for the electrically connected contact terminals, in that the mechanical coupling, which consists of two coupling heads of adjacent carriages, is a rigid or rigidified system in order to ensure the required contact pressure, in particular to avoid arcing between the contact terminals to be coupled.

For example, DE 2 414 384 Al discloses that the coupling head for the mechanical coupling of adjacent carriages is designed such that the front end of the coupling head has a flat end face, which is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis, in the coupling plane and which abuts against a corresponding interface face of the corresponding coupling device. A compressed air terminal for coupling a compressed air line is arranged on or in the interface surface.

However, the principle of such an arrangement of the respective cars against each other with a rigid and play-free end surface is not well suited for use in certain types of center couplers or automatic center buffer couplers. In particular, in the case of hook-type coupling devices, for example of the "AAR" or "snap-lock (Tightlock)" type, generally no end or interface surface oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis is provided. Furthermore, during the coupling process, each coupling head of this design still has a certain play, so that longitudinal and transverse movements can occur between the respective coupling heads, which must be compensated accordingly in order to achieve perfect coupling of the electrical contact carrier and in particular without arcing at the contact terminals, which stresses the material.

In order to solve this problem, document EP1,102,696 A1 specifies an electrical contact coupling for an automatic center buffer coupler or center coupler, in particular for a "AAR" type coupling, for example, wherein the electrical contact coupling is arranged below a mechanical coupling head (or coupler head) in such a way that the electrical contact coupling can be displaced longitudinally along the longitudinal direction of the center coupler or automatic center buffer coupler. In this case, it is provided that the electrical contact-coupling device is displaced after the coupling plane in the uncoupled state. In this position, damage to the electrical contact carrier can be avoided if the coupling head is moved beyond the coupling surface due to its play due to the design.

Although a centering mechanism and a locking point for improving the contact pressure are provided in the electrical contact coupling according to the method known from document EP 1,696 A1, this method known from the prior art does not address the problem of increased play in mechanical couplings. This results in a high load on the one hand on the electrical contacts and on the other hand in a reliable contact between the two coupled electrical contact coupling means not being always ensured.

In the method known from EP 1,696 Al, the electrical contact coupling device is supported so as to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the coupling head of the mechanical coupling device, and another disadvantage of this method is that a relatively complex mechanism must be provided for the longitudinal mobility of the electrical contact coupling device, which on the one hand creates a disadvantage in relation to the weight of the center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler. On the other hand, the mechanisms required for the longitudinal mobility of the electrical contact coupling are relatively complex and require in particular additional installation space.

Document DE 24 14 A1 relates to an electrical contact coupling for an automatic center coupler or center buffer coupling of a rail vehicle, wherein a coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling can be arranged longitudinally displaceably on a mechanical coupling head of the center coupler or center buffer coupler and can be operated automatically or manually. After the mechanical coupling head of the center coupler or the center buffer coupler has been coupled to the corresponding coupling device, the electrical contact coupling devices are transferred into the coupling plane, so that the electrical contact coupling devices can then be coupled to one another.

Document DE 199 21 611a1 likewise relates to an electrical contact coupling for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle. In this case, it is provided that the electrical contact coupling device is moved into the coupling plane after the mechanical connection has been established between the mechanical coupling heads of the center couplers to be coupled to one another.

Document DE 69 42 919U relates to a universal suspension for an electrical contact coupling of an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle.

From document US 3,249,239A, it is known to rigidly arrange the electrical contact coupling with the coupling heads of the mechanical coupling, wherein the electrical contact coupling has guide elements for correspondingly orienting the coupling heads to be connected to one another during the coupling process.

Document WO 2000/74994A1 relates to an electrical contact coupling device for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle, which has a contact carrier that is fastened to a coupling head of a mechanical coupling device and is guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the longitudinal direction of the coupling device.

The electrical contact coupling devices known from the prior art described above have the disadvantage that during the coupling of the electrical contact coupling devices, the connections which lead the current or lead the data, which are coupled to the electrical contact coupling devices of two adjacent vehicle bodies or carriages, tend to mechanically wear out. This applies in particular to electrical contact coupling devices which are rigidly connected to a mechanical coupling head (see for example document US 3,249,239A).

Although the arrangement of the electrical contact-coupling devices guided longitudinally above, laterally or below the mechanical coupling heads is known, the arrangements known from the prior art are relatively complex. In contrast, in the development of automatic center couplers or center buffer couplers with electrical contact couplings, it is particularly important to elucidate economical and flat solutions for designing and arranging electrical contact couplings that can be coupled together with the mechanical coupling of the coupling head.

However, due to the large play and the continuous movements associated with such coupling device types, considerable technical or economic effort is often required to achieve a corresponding solution. Furthermore, such solutions often suffer from difficulties or limitations in practical use, since the installation space and play required for installing the electrical contact coupling device are not available in particular for automatic center buffer couplings or center couplings which are vertically constructed high.

In the systems known from the prior art, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance and checks of the connection of pilot current and pilot data in order to ensure a perfect signal or data transmission. In particular, the joints of the components of the electrical contact-coupling device that are moved relative to the mechanical coupling heads need to be checked and replaced regularly, since these joints are mechanically worn.

The solution needed is therefore to ensure that the mechanical coupling device (or mechanical coupler) forms a rigid or rigidified system when coupling the electrical contact coupling device, wherein the electrical contact coupling device can also be coupled in an easy manner with as small a construction size as possible, wherein the required contact pressure is ensured and, in particular, arcing between the contact terminals to be coupled is avoided.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for transmitting energy and/or signals between two adjacent carriages of a multi-section vehicle, in particular a rail-guided vehicle, which is distinguished by a simple design, a robust implementation, a high strength and a low price.

Furthermore, the arrangement for transmitting energy and/or signals should be as universally applicable as possible, in particular for passenger and freight trains.

In particular, it is therefore sought to provide an electrical contact coupling device for a rail-guided vehicle, in particular for an automatic center coupler or center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle, which produces a solution which is as simple and economical as possible for the technical problems mentioned above, which occur in particular in the automatic coupling of the electrical contact coupling device.

The object is achieved in particular by the solution of independent claim 1, wherein advantageous developments are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The invention therefore relates in particular to an electrical contact coupling for a rail-guided vehicle, in particular an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle, wherein the electrical contact coupling has a coupling housing. A plurality of contact terminals are arranged on the end face of the coupling device housing on the coupling plane side, via which contact terminals energy and/or signals can be transferred to the electrical contact coupling device of the corresponding coupling device.

The electrical contact coupling according to the invention further has at least one centering means arranged on the coupling housing, which is designed to orient and in particular center the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling in particular autonomously with respect to the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling of the counterpart coupling (counterpart electrical contact coupling).

The solution according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the electrical contact coupling device has at least one locking mechanism, which is preferably arranged on a coupling device housing of the electrical contact coupling device, which is designed to lock the coupling device housing of the electrical contact coupling device relative to a coupling device housing of the electrical contact coupling device of the corresponding coupling device, in a particularly autonomous orientation by means of at least one centering mechanism, until the coupling device housing of the electrical contact coupling device and the coupling device housing of the electrical contact coupling device of the corresponding coupling device lie within an predefined range of action.

The advantages that can be achieved by the invention are: by providing at least one locking mechanism, which is preferably arranged on the coupling housing of the electrical contact-coupling device, it is ensured that the centering mechanisms of the electrical contact-coupling devices to be coupled to each other can only interact to center or orient the respective electrical contact-coupling devices if it is ensured that the two electrical contact-coupling devices are actually within their predetermined range of action. In particular, it is thereby avoided that the centering mechanisms of the electrical contact coupling devices to be coupled to one another already interact and orient the respective electrical contact coupling devices when the mechanical coupling heads of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler have not yet made a mechanical connection that is at least sufficiently rigid. The centering mechanism is therefore only actually used if the mechanical coupling heads of the automatic centering or automatic centering buffer couplers already provide a mechanically rigid connection between the coupling devices to be coupled.

In particular, the centering mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device is thereby prevented from interacting before a mechanically rigid connection is made to the mechanical coupling head of the center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler. In this way, a simple but particularly effective method ensures that no mechanical centering of the coupling head takes place when the electrical contact coupling is centered by means of the centering mechanism.

The provision of at least one locking mechanism therefore makes it possible to dispense with the longitudinal displaceability of the electrical contact coupling device with respect to the mechanical coupling head, wherein at the same time only a small wear of the contact terminals of the electrical contact coupling device during the coupling process is ensured. The complex and complex means for displacing the electrical contact coupling device relative to the longitudinal direction of the mechanical coupling head, which are known from the prior art, can thereby be dispensed with.

In a preferred embodiment of the electrical contact coupling device according to the invention, it is provided that the electrical contact coupling device has at least one centering sleeve and at least one centering pin as centering means. At least one centering sleeve of the electrical contact coupling device is designed at least partially to be complementary to a centering pin of the electrical contact coupling device of the corresponding coupling device. On the other hand, at least one centering pin of the electrical contact coupling device is designed at least partially to be complementary to a centering sleeve of the electrical contact coupling device of the corresponding coupling device.

The at least one centering sleeve and the at least one centering pin of the electrical contact coupling device, or the at least one centering pin and the at least one centering sleeve of the corresponding coupling device, are arranged complementarily with respect to a mirror surface extending perpendicular to the coupling plane. This corresponding complementary arrangement of the pin means and the sleeve means ensures that, when coupled with an electrical contact coupling device of an adjacent vehicle cabin, a correspondingly complementarily arranged and designed centering pin can be accommodated in the centering sleeve of the electrical contact coupling device.

For at least one locking mechanism of the electrical contact-coupling device according to the invention, it is provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the locking mechanism has at least one region protruding in the direction of the coupling plane. The region is here in particular a nose-shaped region.

The region is designed to interact with at least one region of the electrical contact coupling means of the counter-coupling means, which is designed as a locking mechanism and protrudes in the direction of the coupling plane, during the coupling of the electrical contact coupling means with the electrical contact coupling means of the counter-coupling means.

In particular, it is provided in connection therewith that the locking mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device to be coupled cooperates in such a way that the cooperation and in particular the interlocking engagement of the centering mechanisms of the electrical contact coupling devices is locked until the centering mechanisms of the electrical contact coupling devices lie within a predetermined range of action.

A preferred embodiment of the electrical contact coupling device according to the invention provides that the electrical contact coupling device has at least one centering sleeve and at least one centering pin as centering means.

In this embodiment, it is furthermore provided that the electrical contact coupling device has at least one, preferably two, first regions, in particular nose-shaped regions, which are assigned to the centering sleeve as locking means and project toward the coupling plane, and that the electrical contact coupling device also has a second region, in particular nose-shaped regions, which are assigned to the centering pin and project toward the coupling plane as locking means.

The term "associated protruding region" as used herein is to be understood as meaning that, in a top view of the electrical contact coupling device viewed vertically, a first region associated with the centering sleeve protruding in the direction of the coupling plane is arranged adjacent to the centering sleeve. Likewise, the above-mentioned terms mean that, in a top view looking vertically at the electrical contact-coupling device, the second region protruding in the direction of the coupling plane is arranged adjacent to the centering pin.

In particular, it is provided in connection therewith that the first regions projecting toward the coupling plane, i.e. the locking means associated with the centering sleeve or arranged adjacent to the centering sleeve in a top view of the vertically viewed electrical contact coupling, are preferably arranged and/or formed on the coupling housing such that, during the coupling of the coupled electrical contact couplings, if the electrical contact coupling is not within its predetermined range of action, they bear against the projecting regions of the electrical contact coupling of the corresponding coupling, which regions are associated with the centering pins of the electrical contact coupling of the corresponding coupling.

By the latching mechanisms of the electrical contact-coupling devices to be coupled abutting each other in this state, the interaction of the respective centering mechanisms of the electrical contact-coupling devices is advantageously prevented. This effectively prevents the electrical contact coupling device from being automatically centered by means of the centering mechanism.

Alternatively or additionally to the above embodiment, it can be provided that the second region protruding toward the coupling plane, i.e. the locking mechanism associated with the centering pin or arranged adjacent to the centering pin in a top view of the vertically oriented electrical contact coupling, is arranged and/or configured on the coupling housing such that during the coupling of these coupled electrical contact couplings, if the electrical contact coupling is not within its predetermined range of action, the second region rests against the protruding region of the centering sleeve of the electrical contact coupling of the corresponding coupling, which region is associated with the electrical contact coupling of the corresponding coupling.

The mutual abutment of the respective locking mechanisms of the electrical contact coupling devices to be coupled also prevents the respective centering mechanisms of the electrical contact coupling devices from interacting.

On the other hand, it is preferred that the locking means of the centering sleeve of the electric contact coupling device, which preferably protrude toward the coupling plane, are arranged and/or embodied on the coupling device housing in such a way that, when the electric contact coupling device is within its predetermined range of action, the locking means of the centering pins associated with the corresponding coupling device can be accommodated at least in places between these locking means and the centering sleeve of the electric contact coupling device.

Alternatively or additionally, provision is made for the second locking mechanism, i.e. the locking mechanism associated with the centering pin of the electrical contact coupling device, to be arranged and/or embodied on the coupling device housing in such a way that, when the electrical contact coupling device is within its predetermined range of action, the locking mechanism can be accommodated at least in sections between the locking mechanism associated with the centering sleeve of the corresponding coupling device and the centering sleeve of the corresponding coupling device.

In this case, the locking mechanism of the electrical contact coupling to be coupled no longer locks the mating action of the corresponding centering mechanism.

In order to ensure that the locking mechanism can effectively lock the centering function of the centering mechanism as desired, at least one locking mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device protrudes at least to the same extent and preferably to a greater extent in the direction of the coupling plane than the centering mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device, which is designed as a centering pin.

As already mentioned, with the electrical contact coupling according to the invention, the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling no longer has to be designed to be longitudinally displaceable with respect to the coupling housing of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle.

Instead, a preferred embodiment of the electrical contact coupling according to the invention provides that the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling has a holding portion by means of which the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling is connected or connectable in particular to the coupling housing of the mechanical coupling of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle.

In connection therewith, the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling is connected by means of a holding part, in particular elastically, to the coupling housing of the self-centering or self-centering buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle, so that the coupling housing of the electrical contact coupling can be moved at least in sections in the direction of or counter to the coupling plane relative to the coupling housing of the self-centering or self-centering buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle.

The invention also relates to a device for transmitting energy and/or signals between two adjacent carriages of a multisection vehicle, in particular a rail-guided vehicle, as claimed in claim 10.

The device is characterized in that it has a first electrical contact coupling device of the aforementioned type according to the invention, which is connected to a first of two adjacent carriages, in particular by means of an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler.

The device according to the invention also has a second electrical contact coupling device according to the invention of the type described above, which is connected to a second car of two adjacent cars, in particular by means of an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler.

The invention also relates to a rail-guided vehicle, in particular an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle, having a mechanical coupling head for forming a mechanical connection with a coupling head of a corresponding coupling device, and having an electrical contact coupling device according to the invention of the type mentioned above for transmitting energy and/or signals between two adjacent carriages of a multisection vehicle.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows schematically and in an isometric view an electrical contact coupling device which is known at least in principle from the prior art and which is used for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle with an open hood;

Fig. 2 shows schematically and in an isometric view an exemplary embodiment of an electrical contact coupling device according to the present invention for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail vehicle with an open shield;

Fig. 3a shows schematically and in a top view two electrical contact coupling devices during coupling, wherein the centering device of the electrical contact coupling device is located outside the range of action;

Fig. 3b shows the electrical contact coupling according to fig. 3a schematically and in a top view, wherein the centering device of the electrical contact coupling is located within the scope of action; and

Fig. 4 shows schematically and in a front view a variant of the electrical contact-coupling device according to the invention (not included in the claimed invention) and with the protective cover open.

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like or functionally identical elements, components or parts unless otherwise specified.

Fig. 1 shows schematically and in an isometric view an electrical contact coupling device 1 known from the prior art with an open protective cover 11. The electrical contact coupling device 1 shown schematically in fig. 1 is suitable for an electrical contact coupling device 1 for use as an automatic center coupler or automatic center buffer coupler for a rail-guided vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle.

The center coupler or center buffer coupler (not shown) comprises a mechanical contact coupling device, which can be designed in particular asThe coupling device is designed to form a mechanical connection between two adjacent carriages of a multisection vehicle group by means of a mechanical counter-coupling device.

The electrical contact coupling device 1, 1' shown in the figures is used for transmitting energy and/or signals between adjacent cars. Each electrical contact coupling 1, 1' is associated with a mechanical coupling, i.e. a coupling for forming a mechanical connection between two adjacent carriages. The corresponding electrical contact coupling or electrical contact coupling 1' of the corresponding coupling is associated with the corresponding coupling, respectively.

The electrical contact-coupling device 1, 1 'has a coupling device housing 2, 2', wherein a plurality of contact terminals 4 are arranged on the coupling-plane-side end face 3 of the coupling device housing 2, 2', via which contact terminals energy and/or signals can be transferred to the corresponding electrical contact-coupling device or to the electrical contact-coupling device 1' of the corresponding coupling device.

For this purpose, a contact carrier, which may also be referred to as an "interface unit", is used, which has a plurality of connection elements in the form of contact terminals 4.

Furthermore, the electrical contact-coupling device 1 can also have a protective cover 11 for covering the entrance of the contact terminal 4. Furthermore, the electrical contact-coupling device 1 may also have operating means (not shown in the figures) for moving the shield 11 between a first position in which the shield 11 covers the contact terminals 4 and a second position in which the shield 11 leaves the contact terminals 4 open.

The contact terminals 4 of the contact carrier 3 are connected in particular to electrical lines, in particular to supply lines and/or to electrical signal lines. The contact terminals 4 comprise corresponding connection contacts which constitute the free ends of the electrical line. The connecting contact is provided with a sleeve and a plug.

Furthermore, the contact carrier 3 has at least one centering pin 6, 6 'for additionally centering the electrical contact coupling device 1 with the opposite electrical contact coupling device 1', i.e. the corresponding electrical contact coupling device.

Furthermore, centering sleeves 5, 5' are provided. When coupling with the electrical contact-coupling device 1, the centering pins 6, 6 'are guided into the corresponding centering sleeves 5, 5 of the opposite electrical contact-coupling device 1', and the centering pins 6, 6 of the opposite electrical contact-coupling device 1 'are guided into the centering sleeves 5, 5' of the electrical contact-coupling device 1. Centering of the two contact carriers 3 or the coupling housings 2, 2 'of the two contact couplings 1, 1' is achieved by the staggered engagement of the centering pins 6, 6 'and the centering sleeves 5, 5'.

Alternatively, the contact carrier 3 may, for example, have only connection elements for supply lines or electrical signal lines or for a combination of these lines.

During the coupling process, the electrical contact-coupling devices 1, 1', i.e. the electrical contact-coupling device 1 and the opposing electrical contact-coupling device 1', to be coupled are oriented relative to each other by means of the respective centering means, in particular by means of the centering pins 6, 6 'and the centering sleeves 5, 5'. The dimensions of the centering means 5, 5', 6', and in particular the diameters of the centering pins 6, 6' and the centering sleeves 5, 5', determine the range of action of the electrical contact coupling device 1, 1 '.

The stationary electrical contact-coupling device 1 shown in the figures, i.e. the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is not designed as a separate actuating device, in particular is not designed to be able to be displaced longitudinally relative to the coupling head of the mechanical coupling device, for which stationary electrical contact-coupling device 1 the mechanical coupling head has to be pre-centered, thereby enabling centering at the electrical contact-coupling device 1.

In other words, the range of action of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 must be as large as the range of action of the mechanical coupling head that has been pre-centered before the centering action of the electrical contact-coupling device 1.

The range test of mechanical coupling heads in extreme positions shows that the range of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is often inadequate.

Furthermore, in the case of an electrical contact-coupling device 1, for example, according to the variant shown in fig. 1, it is determined that if the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is designed as a stationary electrical contact-coupling device 1, there is the risk that the centering of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 also centers the mechanical coupling head.

In order to solve this problem, it is proposed according to the invention that the electrical contact-coupling device 1 shown in an isometric view in fig. 2 as an exemplary embodiment.

As is known from the prior art and schematically illustrated in fig. 1, the embodiment of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention in fig. 2 has a coupling device housing 2, wherein a plurality of contact terminals 4 are arranged on a coupling-plane-side end face 3 of the coupling device housing 2, i.e. on a contact carrier 3 of the electrical contact-coupling device 1, via which contact terminals 4 energy and/or signals are transmitted to the corresponding coupling device or to the electrical contact-coupling device 1 of the corresponding electrical contact-coupling device.

Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention shown in fig. 2 is also provided with centering means 5, 6, which are arranged on the coupling housing 2. The centering means 5, 6 are designed to automatically orient, in particular center, the coupling housing 2 of the electrical contact coupling 1 relative to the coupling housing 2 'of the corresponding electrical contact coupling 1'.

As can be seen from the view of fig. 2, in an exemplary embodiment of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention, the centering sleeve 5 and the centering pin 6 are used as centering means. The centering sleeve 5 of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is designed to be at least partially complementary to the centering pin 6 'of a corresponding electrical contact-coupling device 1', not shown in fig. 2. The centering pin 6 of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is designed in the same way to be at least partially complementary to the centering sleeve 5 'of the corresponding electrical contact-coupling device 1' (not shown in fig. 2).

The solution according to the invention, as shown in the embodiment example shown in fig. 2, is characterized in that the electrical contact-coupling device 1 has locking means 7, 8, which are arranged on the coupling housing 2 of the electrical contact-coupling device 1.

The locking means 7, 8 are designed to lock the coupling device housing 2 of the electrical contact coupling device 1 against the coupling device housing 2 'of the corresponding electrical contact coupling device 1' in a particularly automatically achieved orientation by means of the centering means (centering pin 6, centering sleeve 5) until the coupling device housing 2 of the electrical contact coupling device 1 and the coupling device housing 2 'of the corresponding electrical contact coupling device 1' lie within a predetermined range of action.

In connection with this, in the exemplary embodiment of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention shown in fig. 2, it is provided that a plurality of regions (lugs) are provided as locking means 7, 8, which protrude in the direction of the coupling plane.

These protruding areas are designed to interact with the respective locking mechanism 7', 8' of the corresponding electric contact-coupling device 1' during the coupling of the electric contact-coupling device 1 with the electric contact-coupling device 1' of the corresponding coupling device, so that the centering mechanism 7, 8 of the electric contact-coupling device 1, 1' to be coupled; the co-operation of 7', 8', in particular the mutual engagement, is blocked until the centering means 5, 6 of the electrical contact coupling 1, 1 '; 5', 6' are in a predetermined range of action.

In the exemplary embodiment of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention shown in fig. 2, the electrical contact-coupling device 1 has two first regions 7 protruding in the direction of the coupling plane as locking means, which are assigned to the centering sleeve 5.

Furthermore, the electrical contact-coupling device 1 has, as a (further) locking mechanism, a second region 8 protruding in the direction of the coupling plane, which is associated with the centering pin 6.

Referring to the views of fig. 3a and 3b, the locking mechanisms 7, 8 are described in detail below; 7', 8'.

In particular, fig. 3a and 3b show the coupling process of two corresponding electrical contact-coupling devices 1, 1' according to fig. 2in the region of the coupling plane from above or below in a top view.

Fig. 3a shows a state in which the electrical contact-coupling device 1, 1' is not in its predetermined range of action. In this state, the locking mechanisms 7, 8 of the two electrical contact-coupling devices 1, 1' to be coupled to each other; 7', 8' abut and thereby prevent the respective centering mechanisms 5, 6;5', 6' cooperate.

Fig. 3b shows the state of the electrical contact-coupling device 1, 1 'in a predetermined range of action, and in this state the corresponding centering means 5, 6 of the electrical contact-coupling device 1, 1'; 5', 6' interact with each other.

Fig. 3b shows in detail that in this state the centering pins 6, 6 'are accommodated between the two first locking mechanisms 7, 7'. By the regional accommodation of the respective locking mechanism, locking of the centering mechanism can be eliminated.

The electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention, which is illustrated schematically in fig. 2 and according to an embodiment, is also characterized in particular in that the coupling device housing 2, 2 'of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 has a holding portion 9 by means of which the coupling device housing 2, 2' of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 is connected or connectable, i.e. with the coupling device housing 2, 2 'of the mechanical coupling device, in particular with the coupling device housing 2, 2' of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle.

In particular, the coupling housing 2, 2 'of the electrical contact coupling 1 is connected here by means of the holding means 9, in particular elastically, to the coupling housing 2, 2' of the mechanical coupling, so that the coupling housing 2, 2 'of the electrical contact coupling 1 can be moved at least in regions in relation to the coupling housing 2, 2' of the mechanical coupling in the direction of the coupling plane or counter to the coupling plane.

In short, according to the invention, it is provided that the coupling housing 2, 2 'of the electrical contact coupling device 1 has locking means, in particular in the form of "lugs", which prevent the electrical contact coupling device 1 from being centered until the mechanical coupling heads of the coupling device to be coupled are pre-centered, thus allowing the electrical contact coupling device 1, 1' to be centered.

If, as shown in fig. 3a, the mechanical coupling head is not sufficiently centered (the centering device of the electrical contact coupling device 1 is outside the range of action), the locking mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device 1, 1 'to be coupled abuts against and the electrical contact coupling device 1, 1' can be deflected horizontally by means of a resilient suspension.

If, on the other hand, the mechanical coupling heads are sufficiently centered (see fig. 3 b), the locking mechanisms slide past each other and the electrical contact coupling device 1, 1' is moved into its coupling plane by the spring preload and is oriented by its centering mechanism. This ensures that the electrical contact coupling device 1 does not center the mechanical coupling head.

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the electrical contact-coupling device 1 according to the invention, which variant is, however, not comprised in the currently applicable claims.

In the electrical contact-coupling device 1 shown schematically in fig. 4, the centering sleeves 5, 5' are enlarged. The centering pins 6, 6 'of the opposite corresponding electrical contact coupling device are in this case brought into abutment with the enlarged surfaces of the centering sleeves 5, 5', and the sleeve bores are only found when the mechanical coupling head is sufficiently centered.

However, the variant shown in fig. 4 is disadvantageous compared to the variant described above, in particular with reference to fig. 2, due to the lack of space required and the expected wear of the centering pins 6, 6'.

The applicant however retains the possibility of protecting the variant shown in fig. 4 in the category of the divisional application.

The invention is not limited to the variants shown in the drawings, but results from an overall view of the technical features disclosed which are all contained therein.

List of reference numerals

1. Electrical contact coupling device

1' Corresponding electrical contact coupling device

2. Coupling housing for an electrical contact coupling

2' Coupling housing for a corresponding electrical contact coupling

3. End face on the contact carrier 3/coupling plane side

4. Contact terminal

5. Centering mechanism/centering sleeve for an electrical contact coupling device

5. Centering mechanism/centering sleeve for corresponding electrical contact coupling device

6. Centering mechanism/centering pin for an electrical contact coupling device

6. Centering mechanism/centering pin for a corresponding electrical contact coupling device

7. First locking mechanism of electric contact coupling device

7' Correspond to the first locking mechanism of the electrical contact coupling device

8. Second locking mechanism of electric contact coupling device

8' To the second locking mechanism of the electric contact coupling device

9. Holding part

10. Spring

11. Protective cover

Claims (10)

1. An electrical contact coupling device (1) for an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle, in particular of a rail vehicle, wherein the electrical contact coupling device (1) has:

-a coupling housing (2), wherein a plurality of contact terminals (4) are arranged on a coupling-plane-side end face (3) of the coupling housing (2), through which contact terminals energy and/or signals can be transferred to an electrical contact coupling (1') of the corresponding coupling, and

At least one centering mechanism (5, 6) arranged on the coupling housing (2) and designed to orient and in particular center the coupling housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling (1) in particular autonomously with respect to the coupling housing (2 ') of the electrical contact coupling (1') of the corresponding coupling,

The electric contact coupling device (1) is characterized in that it has at least one locking mechanism (7, 8), which is preferably arranged on the coupling device housing (2) of the electric contact coupling device (1), and which is designed to lock the coupling device housing (2) of the electric contact coupling device (1) relative to the coupling device housing (2 ') of the electric contact coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device, in a particularly autonomous orientation, which is achieved by means of at least one centering mechanism (5, 6), until the coupling device housing (2) of the electric contact coupling device (1) and the coupling device housing (2 ') of the electric contact coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device lie within a predetermined range of action.

2. The electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contact-coupling device (1) has at least one centering sleeve (5) and at least one centering pin (6) as centering means (5, 6), wherein the at least one centering sleeve (5) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) is designed at least partially to be complementary to the centering pin (6 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device, and the at least one centering pin (6) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) is designed at least partially to be complementary to the centering sleeve (5 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1') of the corresponding coupling device.

3. The electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical contact-coupling device (1) has, as locking means (7, 8), at least one region protruding in the direction of the coupling plane, which region is designed to be locked during the coupling of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) to the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, with at least one region of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, which region is designed as locking means (7 ', 8 ') and protruding in the direction of the coupling plane, such that the co-operation and in particular the staggered engagement of at least one centering means (5, 6) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device with at least partially complementarily designed centering means (5 ', 6 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device is locked until the centering means (5, 6;5', 6 ') of these electrical contact-coupling devices (1 ') lie within a predetermined range of action.

4. An electrical contact coupling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical contact coupling device (1) has at least one centering sleeve (5) and at least one centering pin (6) as centering means (5, 6), and wherein the electrical contact coupling device (1) has a plurality of first regions (7) as locking means (7, 8) which are assigned to the centering sleeve (5) and project toward a coupling plane and a second region (8) which is assigned to the centering pin (6) and project toward a coupling plane.

5. Electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first regions (7) protruding towards the coupling plane are arranged and/or configured on the coupling device housing (2) such that, during the coupling of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) with the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, they abut against the protruding regions of the centering pins (6') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') assigned to the corresponding coupling device if the electrical contact-coupling device (1, 1') is not within its predetermined range of action;

And/or wherein the second region (8) protruding towards the coupling plane is arranged and/or configured on the coupling device housing (2) such that, during the coupling of the electrical contact coupling device (1) to the electrical contact coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, it rests against the protruding region of the electrical contact coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, which region is assigned to the centering sleeve (5 ') of the electrical contact coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device, if the electrical contact coupling device (1, 1 ') is not within its predetermined range of action.

6. The electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a plurality of first regions (7) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) protruding towards the coupling plane are arranged and/or configured on the coupling-device housing (2) such that, when the electrical contact-coupling device (1, 1 ') is within its predetermined range of action, a second region (8 ') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device protruding towards the coupling plane can be accommodated at least partially between these protruding first regions (7) and the centering sleeve (5) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1),

And/or wherein a second region (8) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) protruding towards the coupling plane is arranged and/or configured on the coupling device housing (2) such that it can be accommodated at least partially between the two protruding first regions (7 ') and a centering sleeve (5') of the electrical contact-coupling device (1 ') of the corresponding coupling device when the electrical contact-coupling device (1, 1') is within its predetermined range of action.

7. Electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one region designed as a locking mechanism (7, 8) protrudes at least to the same extent and preferably to a greater extent in the direction of the coupling plane than at least one centering mechanism (5, 6) designed as a centering pin (6) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1).

8. The electrical contact-coupling device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) having a holding portion (9) by means of which the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact-coupling device (1) is connected or connectable in particular with a coupling device housing of a mechanical coupling device of an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler of a rail-guided vehicle.

9. The electrical contact coupling device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling device (1) is connected by means of a holding part (9), in particular elastically, to the coupling device housing (2) of the mechanical coupling device of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle, such that the coupling device housing (2) of the electrical contact coupling device (1) can be moved at least in places in the direction of or counter to the coupling plane relative to the coupling device housing (2) of the mechanical coupling device of the automatic center coupler or the automatic center buffer coupler of the rail-guided vehicle.

10. Device for transmitting energy and/or signals between two adjacent carriages of a multisection vehicle, in particular a rail-guided vehicle, wherein the device has a first electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, which is connected to a first carriage of the two adjacent carriages, in particular by an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler, and wherein the device also has a second electrical contact coupling (1') according to one of claims 1 to 9, which is connected to a second carriage of the two adjacent carriages, in particular by an automatic center coupler or an automatic center buffer coupler.