DE102020117289A1 - Electrical contact coupling and central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical contact coupling for an automatic central or central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle with a contact carrier which has an end face in which a large number of connection elements are provided, which comprise at least connection contacts of electrical lines, the connection contacts comprising sockets and plugs made from protrude from the end face and each have a free contact end. The electrical contact coupling according to the invention is characterized in that the contact ends of the sockets and plugs are at the same distance from the end face.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical contact coupling for an automatic central or central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle. The invention also relates to a central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle.

Conventional electrical contact couplings for automatic central buffer couplings of a rail vehicle are usually arranged adjacent to a mechanical contact coupling of the central buffer coupling and have a coupling housing in which a contact carrier with a plurality of connection elements is arranged.

The electrical contact coupling also has a protective flap for covering an access to the connection elements. The protective flap is connected to an actuating device for moving the protective flap between a first position in which the protective flap covers the access and a second position in which the protective flap releases the access.

EP 11 02 696 B1 discloses an electrical contact coupling for an automatic central or central buffer coupling for rail vehicles. The electrical contact coupling has a contact carrier which can be fastened to the coupling head and is guided longitudinally displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling, has contacts for electrical connections and which can be moved from a rear, uncoupled position to a front, ready-to-couple position.

The contact carrier is covered in the rear position by a protective flap and exposed in the front position when the protective flap is pivoted.

DE 811 360 discloses an arrangement for automatically opening the protective flaps on the line coupling of an automatic vehicle coupling.

The arrangement consists of an elastic bracket which is arranged on the front side of the protective flap and has an end face bent in such a way that when the latter touches the end face of the counter-protective flap, both protective flaps are opened.

In order to be able to make the necessary distance between the rear side of the protective flap and the front free end of the connection elements in the contact carrier as small as possible, connection elements whose free end protrudes as little as possible beyond the end face of the contact carrier are advantageous. The less the connection elements protrude, the less the protective flap of the electrical contact coupling extends in front of the coupling level. The smaller the protrusion of the protective flap from the coupling plane, the better the mechanical coupling elements of the central or central buffer couplings, in particular in the form of Scharfenberg couplings, such as grippers, cones and funnels, are aligned with one another.

Conventionally, the contact carrier has identical, that is to say equally deep, bores in which all connection elements, that is to say both sockets and plugs or pressure contacts and fixed contacts, are mounted. The plugs, in particular in the form of pressure contacts, protrude further from the end face of the contact carrier than the sockets or fixed contacts. Thus, the comparatively far protruding connection elements determine the necessary distance between the protective flap and the end face of the contact carrier.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying an electrical contact coupling for an automatic central or central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle, in which the distance between the protective flap and the end face of the contact carrier can be made particularly short.

The object according to the invention is achieved by an electrical contact coupling having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims indicate advantageous and particularly expedient configurations of the electrical contact coupling and a central buffer coupling with an electrical contact coupling according to the invention.

An electrical contact coupling according to the invention for an automatic central or central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle has a contact carrier with an end face in which a multiplicity of connection elements are provided. The connection elements comprise at least connection contacts of electrical lines, the connection contacts including sockets and plugs which each protrude from the end face and each have a free contact end.

According to the invention, the contact ends of the sockets and the plug have the same distance from the end face.

According to the invention, the plugs are inserted comparatively deeper into the contact carrier than before and the sockets are inserted comparatively less deeply into the contact carrier than before. As a result, the maximum distance between the contact ends and the end face of the contact carrier is optimally reduced without the risk of a deteriorated electrical contact.

In particular, the contact ends are each formed by end faces of the sockets and end faces of the plugs, the end faces of the sockets and plugs extending parallel to the end face of the contact carrier. This contributes to the minimal distance between the contact ends and the end face of the contact carrier.

In particular, the contact ends of the sockets and plugs of all electrical lines form a maximum distance between the ends of all connection elements arranged in the end face of the contact carrier with respect to the end face. Thus, no connection element other than the electrical lines or their connection contacts can require a larger air space in front of the end face of the contact carrier in order to avoid a collision, for example a protective flap with the connection elements.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection elements further comprise at least one centering bushing and at least one centering bolt. When coupling two electrical contact couplings according to the invention or one electrical contact coupling according to the invention with a differently designed opposite electrical contact coupling, the centering pin is guided into the centering bushing assigned to it of the other electrical contact coupling and the two electrical contact couplings are thereby centered with respect to one another.

The at least one centering bolt and the at least one centering bushing can each have a free end that is at least substantially the same distance from the end face of the contact carrier as the contact ends of the sockets and plugs of the electrical lines.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the plugs are arranged in an elastically resilient manner in the contact carrier and, in a maximally extended state, have the mentioned distance from the end face of the contact carrier. In this way, particularly easy contacting with correspondingly assigned sockets of an electrical contact coupling of the same type can be achieved.

The sockets are in particular arranged rigidly in the contact carrier.

It is particularly favorable if the end face has receiving bores in which the sockets and plugs are arranged.

The receiving bores of the plug are in particular made deeper than the receiving bores of the sockets in the contact carrier. This allows plugs that are longer than the sockets to be used.

At least in a last section opening into the end face or as a whole, the receiving bores of the plugs preferably have a larger diameter than the receiving bores of the sockets. This makes it easier to insert the free end of a socket into the contact carrier when coupling with the associated plug.

Line bores which have a smaller diameter than the receiving bores can be connected to the receiving bores. This avoids unnecessary weakening of the cross section of the contact carrier.

A protective flap is preferably provided which can be pivoted or displaced between a first position in which the protective flap covers the end face with the connection elements and a second position in which the protective flap exposes the end face with the connection elements. The pivoting or shifting of the protective flap takes place automatically when the electrical contact coupling is coupled, for example by touching the protective flap of an electrical contact coupling of the same type.

A coupling housing is preferably provided in which the contact carrier is arranged and to which the protective flap is connected in an articulated or displaceable manner.

For example, the protective flap can close automatically. For this purpose, an actuating device with an elastic spring element, for example a torsion spring, can be provided, which acts in the sense of moving the protective flap into the first position.

A central buffer coupling according to the invention for a rail vehicle has a mechanical contact coupling, in particular in the form of a Scharfenberg coupling, and an electrical contact coupling of the type shown.

The invention is to be described below using exemplary embodiments and the figures:

• 1 eine Längsschnittansicht einer Anordnung einer Elektrokontaktkupplung und einer Gegenelektrokontaktkupplung für eine automatische Mittelpufferkupplung eines Schienenfahrzeugs gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer Rückseite einer Schutzklappe der Elektrokontaktkupplung für die automatische Mittelpufferkupplung des Schienenfahrzeugs gemäß der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung der Elektrokontaktkupplung für die automatische Mittelpufferkupplung des Schienenfahrzeugs mit geöffneter Schutzklappe gemäß der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung der Elektrokontaktkupplung für die automatische Mittelpufferkupplung des Schienenfahrzeugs mit geschlossener Schutzklappe gemäß der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 5 eine schematische Frontansicht einer Mittelpufferkupplung für ein Schienenfahrzeug gemäß der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kontaktträgers für die Elektrokontaktkupplung gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 7 den Kontaktträger aus der 6 in einer schematischen Querschnittsdarstellung.

Show it:

• 1 a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement of an electrical contact coupling and a mating electrical contact coupling for an automatic central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a schematic representation of a rear side of a protective flap of the electrical contact coupling for the automatic central buffer coupling of the rail vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of the electrical contact coupling for the automatic central buffer coupling of the rail vehicle with the protective flap open according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 4th a schematic representation of the electrical contact coupling for the automatic central buffer coupling of the rail vehicle with the protective flap closed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 5 a schematic front view of a central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 6th a schematic representation of a contact carrier for the electrical contact coupling according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• 7th the contact carrier from the 6th in a schematic cross-sectional view.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or functionally identical elements, parts or components, unless otherwise indicated.

1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an arrangement of an electrical contact coupling 1a and a mating electrical contact coupling 1b for an automatic central buffer coupling 2 of a rail vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The central buffer coupling 2 for the rail vehicle comprises a (in 1 symbolically shown) mechanical contact coupling 3a, which is designed as a Scharfenberg coupling. Furthermore, the central buffer coupling 2 for the rail vehicle comprises a mechanical counter-coupling 3b (also shown symbolically), which is designed as a Scharfenberg coupling.

The mechanical counter-coupling 3b is designed to interact with the mechanical contact coupling 3a. Furthermore, the central buffer coupling 2 has an electrical contact coupling 1a and a mating electrical contact coupling 1b, which is designed to interact with the electrical contact coupling 1a.

The electrical contact coupling 1a is assigned to the mechanical contact coupling 3a. The mating electrical contact coupling 1b is assigned to the mechanical mating coupling 3b.

The electrical contact coupling 1 a has a coupling housing 10 in which a contact carrier 12, also referred to as an interface unit, with a plurality of connection elements 14 is arranged.

Furthermore, the electrical contact coupling 1 a has a protective flap 16 for covering an access 18 to the connection elements 14 of the contact carrier 12. In addition, the electrical contact coupling 1a has a (in 1 actuating device 20 (not shown) for moving the protective flap 16 between a first position P1, in which the protective flap 16 covers the access 18, and a second position P2, in which the protective flap 16 releases the access 18.

A projection 26 is also arranged on an end face 16c of the protective flap 16. On the protrusion 26 is, as in 1 shown, a further protective flap 17 of the adjacently arranged mating electrical contact coupling 1b is placed. The projection 26 of the protective flap 16 is designed to enable the protective flap 17 of the mating electrical contact coupling 1b to close when a predetermined distance from the adjacent mating electrical contact coupling 1b is reached.

The projection 26 of the protective flap 16 is plate-shaped and is arranged in a plane running essentially perpendicular to the end face 16c of the protective flap 16.

A section 26a of the projection 26 which protrudes beyond an end face 12a of the contact carrier 12 in the longitudinal direction L in the open state of the protective flap 16 is inclined in such a way that a first edge 26b and a second edge 26c of the projection 26 each by 30 to 60 degrees, in the present case Embodiment about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis LA of the electrical contact coupling 1 a are inclined when the protective flap 16 is in the 1 shown second position P2 is.

The protective flap 16 of the electrical contact coupling 1a and the further protective flap 17 of the mating electrical contact coupling 1b have a geometry that differs from one another in longitudinal section.

The end face 16c of the protective flap 16 of the electrical contact coupling 1a has a lower inclination than the end face 17a of the further protective flap 17 of the mating electrical contact coupling 1b when the protective flaps 16, 17 are in the 1 second position P2 shown. Such a different tendency can do so used so that one of the two protective flaps 16, 17, in particular the comparatively more inclined protective flap 17, opens faster when the electrical contact coupling 1a and the mating electrical contact coupling 1b move together, i.e. moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2.

2 shows a schematic representation of a rear side of a protective flap 16 of an electrical contact coupling 1 for an automatic central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The electrical contact coupling 1 can be an electrical contact coupling 1 a, as in FIG 1 shown, as well as a mating electrical contact coupling 1b, as in FIG 1 represented, act. In the present case, the reference symbols of the electrical contact coupling 1a are used for explanation.

The protective flap 16 is pivotably mounted relative to the clutch housing 10 on respective side surfaces 10a, 10b of the clutch housing 10 (see also FIGS 3 ). The protective flap 16 has a first pivot bearing 16a having two plates 16a1, 16a2 arranged parallel to one another and a second pivot bearing 16b having two plates 16b1, 16b2 arranged parallel to one another.

The two plates 16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2 of the first pivot bearing 16a and the second pivot bearing 16b, which are arranged parallel to one another and essentially perpendicular to the end face 16c of the protective flap 16, are formed integrally with the protective flap 16, in particular welded.

The projection 26 of the protective flap 16 is formed integrally with one of the plates, in particular by one of the plates 16b1. The projection 26 is formed here by an extension of the plate 16b1 in the plane of the plate.

The projection 26 of the protective flap 16 is connected to one in the width direction B of the electrical contact coupling 1, adjacent to the coupling housing 10 (in 2 not shown) inner plate 16a1, 16b1 of the first pivot bearing 16a or of the second pivot bearing 16b integrally, here by the inner plate 16b1.

Alternatively, the projection 26 of the protective flap 16 can be formed integrally, for example, with an inner plate 16a1 of the first pivot bearing 16a arranged in the width direction B of the electrical contact coupling 1 adjacent to the coupling housing 10, in particular through the inner plate 16a1. Furthermore, alternatively, the projection 26 of the protective flap 16 can be integrally formed by one or more respective plates 16a1, 16b1, 16a2, 16b2 of the first pivot bearing 16a and / or the second pivot bearing 16b, in particular by the two inner plates 16a1, 16b1.

In the embodiment shown, the plates 16a1, 16b1, 16a2, 16b2 have openings 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d through which bearing bushes 21a, 21b or bearing journals connected to the coupling housing 10, in particular the side surfaces 10a, 10b, are guided to form the pivot bearings 16a, 16b. In order to automatically close the protective flap 16, torsion springs 20a, 20b (see FIG 4th ), which act on the protective flap 16 in the sense of bringing the protective flap 16 into the first position P1. However, other embodiments of the actuating device 20 are possible.

3 shows a schematic representation of the electrical contact coupling 1 for the automatic central buffer coupling 2 of the rail vehicle with the protective flap open according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

An end face 12a of the contact carrier 12 is arranged in the longitudinal direction L of the electrical contact coupling 1 about 30 mm behind the protective flap 16 in the closed state of the protective flap 16. The end face 12a is preferably aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the electrical contact coupling and, in particular, is designed to be at least essentially flat.

The protective flap 16 is shown in the present illustration in the second position P2, in which the protective flap 16 releases access 18 to the connection elements 14 of the contact carrier 12.

In the present embodiment, the connection elements 14 of the contact carrier 12 are connected to electrical lines 22, in particular electrical supply lines 22a and electrical signal lines 22b. The connection elements accordingly comprise connection contacts which form the free ends of the electrical lines 22. The connection contacts have sockets 30 and plugs 31, as is shown below with reference to FIG 6th and 7th is described. In addition, the contact carrier 12 has at least one centering bolt 23 for additional centering of the electrical contact coupling 1 with an opposing electrical contact coupling 1, that is, an electrical contact coupling 1a with a mating electrical contact coupling 1b, as in FIG 1 shown on. A centering bush 25 is also provided. The centering pin 23 is when coupling the electrical contact coupling 1a in a corresponding cent Rierbuchse 25 of the opposing electrical contact coupling 1b out and the centering bolt 23 of the opposing electrical contact coupling 1b is guided into the centering bush 25 of the electrical contact coupling 1a. By inserting centering bolt 23 and centering bushing 25 into one another, the two contact carriers 12 and their connection elements 14 are centered with respect to one another.

Alternatively, the contact carrier 12 can, for example, only have connection elements for electrical supply lines 22a or electrical signal lines 22b or a combination of these.

4th shows a schematic representation of the electrical contact coupling 1 for the automatic central buffer coupling of the rail vehicle with closed protective flap 16 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the present illustration, the protective flap 16 is arranged in the first position P1, in which the protective flap 16 provides access 18 to the (in 3 not shown) connecting elements 14 of the contact carrier 12 covers. The protective flap 16 covers in particular the entire end face 12 a of the contact carrier 12.

5 shows a schematic front view of a central buffer coupling 2 for a rail vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

The central buffer coupling 2 for the rail vehicle has a mechanical contact coupling 3, in the present embodiment a Scharfenberg coupling, for the mechanical coupling of rail vehicles. The mechanical contact coupling 3 can be the mechanical contact coupling 3a or the mechanical counter coupling 3b from FIG 1 correspond. The central buffer coupling 2 also has the electrical contact coupling 1.

In the present embodiment, the electrical contact coupling 1 is in an 5 shown installation position of the central buffer coupling 2 in the rail vehicle above the mechanical contact coupling 3 and connected to this by corresponding connecting elements 4a, 4b.

Alternatively, the electrical contact coupling 1 can be arranged, for example, to the side of the mechanical contact coupling or under the mechanical contact coupling 3.

The electrical contact coupling 1 is connected to the central buffer coupling 2 in a rigid or elastically supported manner. According to one embodiment, apart from the elastic support, for example by means of a connection element made of elastic material, there is no longitudinal displacement of the electrical contact coupling 1 with respect to the central buffer coupling 2 at all.

The protective flap 16 is opened automatically when the central buffer coupling 2 or the electrical contact coupling 1 each with an opposing coupling is moved together, in that the respective protective flaps 16 are pivoted due to the mutual contact with one another.

In the 6th a contact carrier 12 according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention is shown as an example, the contact carrier 12 here having only four connection elements 14 in the form of connection contacts of electrical supply lines 22a and / or electrical signal lines 22b. The number can differ from the illustration, in particular more electrical supply lines 22a and / or electrical signal lines 22b are provided and / or further connection elements, for example mechanical connection elements, are provided, for example at least one centering bolt 23 and a centering bush 25, as in FIG 3 is shown.

The connection contacts of the electrical supply lines 22a and the electrical signal lines 22b are each provided in pairs, with a socket 30 and a plug 31 Electrical contact couplings can be introduced.

As can be seen in particular from the representation in the 7th As can be seen, the contact ends of all connection contacts of the electrical lines 22, that is to say the electrical supply lines 22a and the electrical signal lines 22b, are arranged at the same distance from the end face 12a of the contact carrier 12. In particular, the sockets 30 have end faces 30a and the plugs 31 have end faces 31a, with all end faces 30a, 31a lying in a common plane which is parallel to the end face 12a of the contact carrier 12.

The electrical lines 22 or their connection contacts in the form of the sockets 30 and plugs 31, which form the contact ends, are arranged in receiving bores 32 which are made in the end face 12a. All of the receiving bores 32 can have the same diameter. However, at least the last ones preferably open into the end face 12a the sections of the receiving bores 32 of the plug 31 have a larger diameter than the receiving bores 32 of the sockets 30, which facilitates the insertion of the front free section of the sockets 30 into the receiving bores 32 of the plug 31 during coupling.

Line bores 33 with a comparatively smaller diameter can connect to the end of the receiving bores 32 facing away from the end face 12a.

The receiving bores 32 of the plug 31 are in particular made deeper, starting from the contact surface 12a, in the contact carrier 12. This takes into account the fact that the plugs 31 are generally longer than the sockets 30.

List of reference symbols

1

Electrical contact coupling

1a

Electrical contact coupling

1 b

Mating electrical contact coupling

2

Central buffer coupling

3

mechanical contact coupling

4a, 4b

Fasteners

10

Clutch housing

10a, 10b

Side faces

12th

Contact carrier

12a

Face

14th

Connection elements

16

Protective flap

16a

first pivot bearing

16b

second pivot bearing

16a1, 16a2

plates

16b1, 16b2

plates

16c

Front side

17th

another protective flap

17a

Front side

18th

Access

20th

Actuator

20a, 20b

Torsion springs

21a, 21b

Bearing bushes

22nd

electrical line

22a

electrical supply line

22b

electrical signal line

23

Centering bolt

24a to 24d

openings

25th

Centering bush

26th

head Start

26a

section

26b

first edge

26c

second edge

30th

Rifle

30a

Face

31

plug

31a

Face

32

Mounting hole

33

Line bore

B.

Width direction

L.

Longitudinal direction

LA

Longitudinal axis

P1

first position

P2

second position

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 1102696 B1 [0004]
• DE 811360 [0006]

Claims (13)

Electrical contact coupling (1) for an automatic central or central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle, with a contact carrier (12) which has an end face (12a) in which a multiplicity of connection elements (14) are provided which at least connect contacts to electrical lines (22) comprise, wherein the connection contacts comprise sockets (30) and plugs (31) which each protrude from the end face (12a) and each have a free contact end; characterized in that the contact ends of the sockets (30) and plugs (31) have the same distance from the end face (12a). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the contact ends are each formed by an end face (30a) of the sockets (30) and an end face (31 a) of the plug (31), the end faces (30a, 31a) being parallel to the end face (12a) of the contact carrier (12) extend. Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the contact ends of the sockets (30) and plugs (31) of all electrical lines (22) form a maximum distance between the ends of all connection elements (14) arranged in the end face (12a) and the end face (12a). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the connection elements (14) further comprise at least one centering bolt (23) and at least one centering bush (25). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to Claims 3 and 4th , characterized in that the centering bolt (23) and the centering bush (25) each have a free end which is at least substantially the same distance from the end face (12a) of the contact carrier (12) as the contact ends of the sockets (30) and plug ( 31) of the electrical lines (22). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the plugs (31) are arranged in an elastically resilient manner in the contact carrier (12) and, in a maximally extended state, have the said distance from the end face (12a) of the contact carrier (12). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6th , characterized in that the end face (12a) has receiving bores (32) in which the sockets (30) and plugs (31) are arranged. Electrical contact coupling (1) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the receiving bores (32) of the plug (31) are deeper than the receiving bores (32) of the sockets (30). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 7 or 8th , characterized in that the receiving bores (32) of the plug (31) have a larger diameter than the receiving bores (32) of the sockets (30) at least in a last section opening into the end face (12a). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that the receiving bores (32) are followed by line bores (33) which have a smaller diameter than the receiving bores (32). Electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that a protective flap (16) is provided which between a first position (P1), in which the protective flap (16) covers the end face (12a) with the connecting elements (14), and a second position (P2), in which the protective flap (16) releases the end face (12a) with the connection elements (14), can be swiveled or displaced. Electrical contact coupling (1) according to Claim 11 , characterized in that a coupling housing (10) is provided in which the contact body (12) is arranged and to which the protective flap (16) is connected in an articulated or displaceable manner. Central buffer coupling (2) for a rail vehicle with a mechanical contact coupling (3), in particular Scharfenberg coupling, and with an electrical contact coupling (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 12th .

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