EP1319569A1 - Coupling device, especially for a railway vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The coupling device has at least one coupling claw (1) with corresponding coupling gap (2). each coupling claw on one side, and each coupling cap on the other side, are symmetric to a mirror plane running in the coupling direction. An adapter plate (8) is fitted to enable power and signal lines to be coupled through automatically.

Description

The invention relates to a coupling arrangement for connecting two adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle.

To improve the competitiveness of the railway, in particular with regard to freight transport, is an EU-wide harmonization necessary for transport policy. On important point here is the adaptation of the individual Different countries of the European Union technical coupling principles. This is aimed at a to introduce uniform automatic clutch, which the previous ones Replace screw couplings. In addition to an EU-wide Harmonization of the coupling principle leads the automatic Coupling also leads to a significant reduction of Time factor in maneuvering, which in particular in freight traffic are required to a large extent.

The individual European transport associations agree that with the uniform automatic clutch as technical Coupling principle, the principle of known as particularly robust Claw clutch is best suited. Talk about it including extensive overseas experience, in particular in the US, and the former Soviet Union. Nevertheless, they are The European railway companies also agree that it is not makes sense, these already used clutches as such directly to take over. On the other hand speaks above all that the so far used automatic clutch principles an automatic Do not realize co-coupling of air and electric lines. However, this is being done by European transport associations deemed necessary.

Further different demands of the European railway companies to the planned automatic clutch principle are listed in a technical list of demands, which in the UIC Code 522-2 VE November 1994 according to the fifth Meeting of UIC SG 45-B-40. An essential Point concerns the requirement that the conventional manually operated Claw couplings with the least possible material Effort must be converted to an automatic clutch. Furthermore, the entire clutch mass in the automatic Couplings do not grow significantly. As part of the tightened Competition on the rail is also significant Point that the conversion must be made as cheap as possible. Of Further, it is imperative that a newly introduced automatic coupling even with the conventional screw coupling is compatible.

From the prior art are a variety of design options an automatic coupling for rail vehicles, in particular an automatic traction coupling, known. Representative is on the two documents DE 199 47 829 A1 and EP 0 230 263 B1. The in these publications described in the conventional solutions exist essentially from a coupling head with centering surfaces, a Clutch arm, a bolt system, an actuation system for the bolt system, a support, and the coupling bodies associated line couplings for coupling air lines.

Since the application of the operating principle of the screw coupling considered as problematic in an automatic clutch was based, the known automatic clutches on other clutch principles. As a result, the previously proposed automatic clutch principles in essence In the UIC Code 522-2 in November 1994 in accordance with the fifth meeting of the UIC SG 45-B-40 laid down technical Do not fulfill the catalog of demands. The retooling of the previous ones conventional screw couplings on the proposed automatic Couplings proves to be relatively expensive and costly, which in particular in the highly competitive Competitive business of rail freight transport practically not is feasible.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem such known from rail vehicle engineering to further develop a manually operated screw coupling in such a way that this is an automatic coupling of adjacent car bodies allows. With a view to fulfilling the different Demands of European railway companies to strive for it, an automatic clutch based on the Previously used manually operated screw couplings to develop. Furthermore, it should be noted in the automatic coupling, that the entire coupling mass compared to today Stand does not grow significantly. Another point exists in that the automatic clutch continue to be with the conventional manual screw coupling must be compatible. Further, the problem is an automatic clutch assembly to propose, at which the conversion of the so far used manual clutch with the lowest possible financial and technical effort is feasible.

On the basis of the described problem is the present invention, the object of a clutch of the The aforementioned type such that they the essential Points of the function determination required by the UIC concerning an automatic coupling for rail vehicles as optimally fulfilled.

This object is achieved in a coupling arrangement for connecting two adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle of the type mentioned solved in that at least one Coupling claw and a corresponding number of complementary arranged Kupplungsmäulern are provided, each coupling claw on the one hand and each coupling jaw on the other hand symmetrical to a mirror plane extending in the coupling direction is arranged.

The solution according to the invention has a whole series of essential Advantages over those known from rail vehicle technology and above-described coupling arrangements. To the one guarantees the symmetrical construction of the coupling claws and the complementarily arranged Kupplungsmäuler the possibility that always two identically constructed coupling heads for Coupling can be used. For another, here are Elements for catching the clutch with those for power transmission combined. A significant advantage is that by using of at least two elements to verkuppelnden a power flow division due to a parallelogram of the coupling elements is realized. For this reason, the inventive Coupling arrangement designed for higher tensile loads become. This allows in particular freight trains, which equipped with the coupling arrangement according to the invention are, can be admitted for a higher speed. Above all, this corresponds to a UIC standard and leads to it an increase in the working efficiency of the train set used.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in the dependent claims specified.

For example, it is provided that the coupling claw and the coupling jaw together with the towing hook of a conventional Screw coupling on the coupling pin this so far used screw coupling mounted around this pivotally are. This arrangement allows car bodies, which Already equipped with the clutch assembly according to the invention are, as before, with conventional car bodies, which equipped with the traditional screw coupling, can be verkuppelt. For this it is necessary that the Coupling claw and the coupling jaw around the coupling pin of Fold down the screw coupling. This conversion is to do in a few steps. In particular by the Use of components from the screw coupling, namely the Tow hook and the coupling pin, includes the inventive Solve only a small number of parts that are newly formed Need to become. An advantage of this is that the inventive Solution on the one hand has a particularly low coupling mass, on the other hand, the financial as well as the material Effort for a conversion extremely low. Thus, herewith Essential points from the catalog of demands of the UIC met.

One possible constructive realization is that the Clutch claw is shaped so that they are in the coupling process slides by itself into the coupling mouth. The essential Advantage of this embodiment is that thereby the inventive Coupling arrangement only an automatic coupling in the simplest way possible. Of course, here are but also other embodiments conceivable.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention Coupling arrangement is a centering device for self-centering two in making the connection with each other Coupling arrangements to be verkupelnder provided. This centering device allows for automatic pairing adjacent car bodies also completely without manual Support can come about. This will increase the work efficiency of the train considered significantly increased.

In an advantageous embodiment are as a centering device a guide pin and a symmetrical to the mirror plane arranged guide tube provided. Guide pin and Guide tubes have similar devices as a centering device already proven. Thus, here can on the State of the art can be used, so that a new development on this point is no longer necessary. Advantageous this is mainly that guide pins and guide tubes in radial direction with respect to the main pull and main push direction leave little play. This is mainly a shift in vertical direction no longer possible. The centering device in this advantageous embodiment as a guide pin or Guide tube thus also serves as a rigor element, which ensures that also in the vertical direction an orientation of the fixation takes place. Of course they are here also other embodiments as a centering device conceivable.

In a particularly preferred manner, it is provided that a funnel as Grobzentriereinrichtung mounted axially on the guide tube becomes. As a result, the self-centering property of Centering device of the coupling arrangement according to the invention strengthened. Other coarse centering devices are also here of course conceivable.

Furthermore, to ensure an automatic Mitkuppelns of power signal or data transmission lines in one advantageous embodiment of the coupling arrangement according to the invention an adapter plate with contacts or complementary contacts as a terminal for energy, signal and / or data transmission provided, wherein the adapter plate in the contact mirror the Kupplungsanordung lies and the contacts or complementary contacts are arranged symmetrically to the mirror plane. This becomes an essential point from the catalog of demands the UIC met. At the adapter plate with the corresponding trained contacts or complementary contacts can here recourse to already proven technology, which especially when Verkuppeln car bodies, especially in suburban railways and subways, is used successfully.

In an advantageous embodiment, the adapter plate on the guide pin of the centering device or on the Guide tube against the force of spring elements displaced stored. By combining the centering device with Terminals for energy, signal and / or data transmission is achieved that in the clutch assembly according to the invention only few components in addition to the conventional dog clutch must be introduced.

To guarantee that the automatic co-coupling of the energy and Data lines error-free and as possible at any time without incident can be performed is in a preferred Embodiment the adapter plate with its own centering device, in particular a groove / pin arrangement, which has already been tested in similar fields of application. Of course, here are also own centering devices the adapter plates conceivable.

In a possible realization of the coupling arrangement according to the invention Fixing devices are provided which a unintentional release of the engaged clutch assembly prevent. This has the advantage that the inventive Coupling arrangement can be used reliably. In particular In freight traffic, mainly strong vibrations occur and shocks, so that a clutch assembly in durchgekuppelten state advantageously with fixing devices should be equipped. This allows one as possible trouble-free application of the coupling arrangement ensured become.

A possible realization of such a fixing device consists of rotatable springs, which after coupling the Coupling claw fixed with the associated coupling jaw.

In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention Coupling arrangement for coupling of adjacent Car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle in particular a rail vehicle explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispieles der erfindungsgemäßen Kupplungsanordnung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht auf den Kontaktspiegel der Kupplungsanordnung des Ausführungsbeispieles gemäß Fig. 1; und

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht auf das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 1, in einer Position zum Gemischkuppeln.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the coupling arrangement according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

Fig. 4

a view of the contact mirror of the clutch assembly of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

Fig. 5

a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, in a position for mixture coupling.

Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment the coupling arrangement according to the invention. At the base body it is designed as a welded construction Device, which together with the coupling claw 1 and the coupling jaw 2 on the hitch 3 a traditional Screw coupling is attached. These three ingredients will be on the coupling bolt 4 in the conventional screw coupling usually the clutch hanger with the spindle carries, swivel mounted. On the bottom of the main body are welded two form tubes as guides, wherein in the in Fig. 1 selected perspective only a guide tube 5 visible while the second is obscured by components. The visible Guide tube serves as a guide pin 5, the other concealed as a guide tube 6. Guide pin 5 and guide tube. 6 serve as a centering device 13 for self-centering two to connect with each other when connecting to each other Coupling arrangements. To insert the guide pin 5 in a corresponding guide tube 6 of a second to be coupled To facilitate coupling arrangement, serves a coarse centering device, which by an axial on the guide tube 6 patch and at the free end as an opening funnel 7 is trained.

On the underside of the main body are in the illustrated in Fig. 1 Embodiment of the coupling arrangement according to the invention an adapter plate 8 with contacts 9 or due to the selected perspective concealed complementary contacts 10 as Terminal arranged for energy, signal or data transmission. The adapter plate 8 lies in the contact mirror of Coupling arrangement, and the contacts 9 and complementary contacts 10 are arranged mirror-symmetrically. The adapter plate 8 is on the guide pin 5 and the guide tube 6 against the Power of spring elements 11 slidably mounted and is fixed by the spring force. For better guidance of the adapter plate 8 is a self-centering 12, which here is designed as a groove / pin arrangement.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1. As already described in Fig. 1, this is in particular the hitch 3 of the traditional screw coupling to recognize. Furthermore, the coupling jaw 2 in the front. reason, as well as its arrangement in cooperation with the coupling pin 4 to see. In this illustration, the guide pin 5 below the tow hook 3 together with the spring elements 11 and the adapter plate 8 as a whole to recognize completely. In contrast, the guide tube 6 of the guide pin. 5 partially hidden, here is only part of the funnel 7 to recognize as Grobzentriereinrichtung. The reference numeral 101 denotes the coupling direction of the coupling arrangement according to the invention.

The dome-ready position becomes vertical and horizontal Level ensured by spring-loaded stops 14. additionally act spring elements 11 during the coupling process as attenuators in horizontal direction. The guide plates, which the spring elements 11 are included with the conventional Replaced guide plates of the tow hook 3 and so attached in that the springs 11 act directly on the pull hook 3 via pressure plates.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1. This view illustrates in particular, in which Way in the inventive solution, the newly introduced Elements, namely the coupling claw 1, the coupling jaw 2, the guide pin 5 and the guide tube 6, with the traditional Elements of the previous screw coupling, namely with the tow hook 3 and the coupling pin 4, are combined. In the perspective selected in FIG. 3, the coupling direction is dropped 101 with the mirror plane 100, with respect to which the contact mirror of the coupling arrangement according to the invention is symmetrical, together.

Fig. 4 shows a view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, wherein the contact surface of the clutch assembly will be shown. The contact mirror is symmetrical with respect to Mirror level 100 built. In this illustration are in particular the contacts 9 and the complementary contacts 10, which each formed as a terminal for data or energy transfer are, on the guide pin 5 and in the guide tube. 6 recognizable. Furthermore, the self-centering 12 comes the adapter plate 8 to advantage.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in a position for mixture coupling. To mixed Domes, i. for coupling the coupling arrangement according to the invention with a traditional screw coupling is the Coupling head, consisting of the coupling jaw 1, the coupling jaw 2, the guide pin 5, the guide tube 6 and the Folded down adapter plate 8. As a rotation axis is used here the used in the traditional screw coupling Coupling pin 4. In this position, the inventive Coupling arrangement with a traditional screw coupling be verkuppelt. For this purpose, the tow hook 3 takes a coupling bracket the traditional screw on.

It should be noted that all of the above Parts seen on their own and in any combination, in particular the details shown in the drawings claimed as essential to the invention. amendments thereof are familiar to the expert.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

coupling claw

2

hitch

3

Hitch

4

coupling pin

5

spigot

6

guide tube

7

funnel

8th

adapter plate

9

contacts

10

complementary contacts

11

spring elements

12

Eigenzentriereinrichtung

13

centering

14

Stop (sprung)

100

mirror plane

101

coupling direction

Claims (11)

Coupling arrangement for connecting two adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle,
marked by
at least one coupling claw (1) and a corresponding number of complementarily arranged Kupplungsmäulern (2), each coupling claw (1) on the one hand and each coupling jaw (2) on the other hand symmetrical to a coupling direction (101) extending mirror plane (100) is arranged. Coupling arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the coupling claw (1) and the coupling jaw (2) are pivotally mounted together with the draw hook (3) of a screw coupling on the coupling pin (4) of the screw coupling to this. Coupling arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
the coupling claw (1) is shaped so that it slides in the coupling process by itself in the coupling jaw (2). Coupling arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized by
a centering device (13) for self-centering two to be verkuppelnder in making the connection with each other coupling arrangements. Coupling arrangement according to claim 4,
characterized in that
the centering device (13) contains a guide pin (5) and a guide tube (6) arranged symmetrically to the mirror plane (100). Coupling arrangement according to claim 4 or 5,
marked by
a Grobzentriereinrichtung, which is formed by an axially on the guide tube (6) and placed at the free end opening funnel (7). Coupling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
marked by
an adapter plate (8) with contacts (9) or complementary contacts (10) as a terminal for energy, signal and / or data transmission, wherein the adapter plate (8) is located in the contact mirror of the clutch assembly, and the contacts (9) or complementary contacts (10) are arranged symmetrically to the mirror plane (100). Coupling arrangement according to claim 7,
characterized in that
the adapter plate (8) on the guide pin (5) and / or on the guide tube (6) against the force of spring elements (11) are displaceably mounted. Coupling arrangement according to claim 7 or 8,
characterized in that
the adapter plate (8) is equipped with a self-centering device (12), in particular a groove / pin arrangement. Coupling arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
marked by
a fixing device for preventing unintentional release of the through-clutch assembly. Coupling arrangement according to claim 10,
characterized in that
the fixing device includes torsion springs rotatably mounted on a bolt.

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