EP1905661B1 - Coupling bar for transmitting drawing and puffing forces. - Google Patents

Abstract

The coupling rod (1) has a force transmission element (10) and another force transmission element (20). The force flow flows through another force transmission element. The force flow takes place during the transmission of traction force and percussive energy in longitudinal direction of the coupling rod. The hollow chamber (22) is formed by the wall of the force transmission body (21) and by the top face (14) of the head section (13,23,25) of the traction rod (12) and by a side surface (15) of the hollow body facing the force transmission element.

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling rod for transmitting tensile and impact forces between two adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, with a first power transmission element and a second power transmission element, over which takes place in the transmission of tensile and impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod Power flow flows, wherein the first power transmission element a destructively trained energy absorbing element, which flows in the normal driving operation taking place in the transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod power flow, and a pull rod, which takes place during the transmission of tensile forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod power flow flows, and wherein the second power transmission element comprises a power transmission body having a cavity formed in its interior, in which the second Kraf tübertragungselement facing head portion of the tie rod at least partially protrudes, and has a first power transmission element facing head portion, on the normal energy consumption is exerted on the energy absorbing element, wherein the energy absorbing element is designed such that up to a transmitted through the power flow through the energy absorbing element, determinable amount of energy, the transmission elements relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod are substantially rigid, and the transfer elements are displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod on exceeding the transferred by the power flow through the energy dissipation element, definable amount of energy wherein at least a portion of the amount of energy transmitted is absorbed and dissipated by the energy dissipation member, and the head portion of the drawbar is pushed further into the cavity of the power transmission body in accordance with the amount of longitudinal displacement.

The document FR 2 062 515 A describes a device for absorbing jerky forces, especially in central buffer couplings of rail vehicles, wherein for the conversion of kinetic energy, a deformation tube is pressed under diameter reduction in a pressure tube and the diameter reduction takes place on a conical surface of the pressure tube.

The document DE 196 36 225 A1 relates to a central buffer coupling with a telescopic support. The carrier consists of a multi-unit telescopic cylinder with a deformable by collisions guide tube, guided therein, supported by a piston-cylinder unit inner cylinder and the guide tube closing tear-off and / or a tear-off.

Coupling rods of the type mentioned are known in principle from the prior art and are used for example in rail vehicle technology as power transmission members with shock protection. In general, such a shock absorber consists of a combination of a pull / push device (spring apparatus) and an energy dissipation device, the shock absorber protects the vehicle, especially at higher Auffahrgeschwindigkeiten. It is provided, for example, that the train / Stoßeinrich device absorbs tensile and impact forces up to a defined size and forwards beyond the forces in the vehicle undercarriage. As a result, although tensile and impact forces, which occur during normal driving operation, for example in a multi-unit vehicle between individual car bodies, absorbed in this usually regenerative shock protection, when exceeding the operating load of the train / shock device, however, such as the impact of the vehicle On an obstacle or in an abrupt braking of the vehicle, the regenerative shock protection and possibly provided coupling or articulation between the individual car bodies may be destroyed or damaged. In any case, the pull / push device is not sufficient for consumption of the total energy. As a result, this shock protection is no longer involved in the energy consumption concept of the entire vehicle, so that the resulting impact energy is transmitted directly to the vehicle undercarriage. This will be extreme stress exposed and possibly damaged or even destroyed. In rail vehicles running in such a case, the car body risk derailment.

In order to protect the vehicle undercarriage against damage caused by strong collision, therefore, often a destructive or regenerative trained energy absorbing element is used, which is designed, for example, that after exhaustion of the work consumption of the train / shock device responds and transmitted through the power flow through the energy dissipation element Energy at least partially absorbed and thus degrades. As energy-absorbing elements, for example, deformation tubes come into question, in which the impact energy is converted into deformation work and heat by a defined plastic deformation of an element in a destructive manner.

For this purpose, it is known from the prior art rail vehicle technology, for example, to integrate a preferably destructively designed energy dissipation element in the coupling rod of a clutch arrangement which is designed to respond when an energy amount transmitted through the power flow exceeds the energy dissipation element and at least part of the clutch rod and the clutch assembly absorbed energy amount to absorb.

In Fig. 1 is a known from the prior art coupling rod, in which a destructively designed energy dissipation element 110 is integrated in the form of a deformation tube as shock protection, shown in longitudinal section. The known coupling rod has a first force transmission element 100 and a second force transmission element 200, which are connected in such a force-locking manner with the aid of the energy dissipation element 110 that tensile and impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod are transferable. In the transmission of impact forces via the coupling rod, the power flow from the first power transmission element 100 to the second power transmission element 200 runs substantially completely over the deformation tube integrated in the first power transmission element 100 and designed as an energy dissipation element 110.

On the other hand, the second power transmission element 200 has a power transmission body 210 with a cavity 220 formed in its interior, in which the second power transmission element 200 facing head portion 130 of the first power transmission element 100 associated pull rod 120 projects at least partially. The pull rod 120 of the first power transmission element 100 is fixedly connected with its second power transmission element 200 facing away from the head portion with an end plate 160 of the first power transmission element 100. On the other hand, the head portion 130 of the pull rod 120 facing the second power transmission member 200 at least partially protrudes into the cavity 220 formed inside the power transmission body 210 of the second power transmission member 200 to bias the first power transmission member 100 against the second power transmission member 200. The biasing force is transmitted from the power transmission body 210 via a conical ring 170 on the energy dissipation element (deformation tube) 110.

In the transmission of tensile forces via the coupling rod runs with this arrangement, the power flow of the end plate 160 of the first power transmission element 100th via the pull rod 120 and the head portion 130 of the pull rod 120 to the power transmission body 210 of the second power transmission element 200.

In Fig. 1 a normal operating state is shown in which the energy transmitted via the coupling rod by tensile and impact forces is less than the energy amount characteristic of the response of the energy dissipation element 110 (deformation tube). As can be seen, the power transmission elements 100 and 200 are rigid relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod, ie, in the normal operating state, the coupling rod has no play.

In Fig. 2 however, is a state after the response of the coupling rod in accordance with Fig. 1 Integrated energy dissipation element 110 shown. As already mentioned, the energy dissipation element 110 is integrated in the coupling rod such that the force flow occurring in the transmission of impact forces from the first force transmission element 100 to the second force transmission element 200 (and vice versa) substantially completely over the head portion of the power transmission body 210, the conical ring 170 and the trained as a deformation tube energy dissipation element 110 runs. The energy dissipation element 110 itself is designed such that upon exceeding a characteristic amount of energy transmitted through the force flow through the deformation tube, a plastic deformation of the energy dissipation element takes place, so that the force transmission elements 100 and 200 are displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod, at the same time due to the deformation of the Deformation tube absorbed at least a portion of the transmitted energy amount and converted into deformation work or heat and thus degraded.

The size of the relative longitudinal displacement of the force transmission elements 100 and 200 caused by the plastic deformation of the energy dissipation element 110 toward one another is also referred to below as the "longitudinal stroke of the energy dissipation element".

As in Fig. 2 2, after the energy dissipation element 110 responds with the longitudinal displacement of the power transmission elements 100 and 200, the head portion 130 of the drawbar 120 is pushed further into the cavity 220 of the power transmission body 210 according to the amount of longitudinal displacement.

The coupling rod 120 is in the in Fig. 2 shown shortened state, however, no longer able to play-free connection between (not explicitly shown) to guarantee adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle. Although in the in Fig. 2 As shown in the state shown, the head portion of the second power transmission element 200 with the conical ring 240 on the end plate 160 of the first power transmission element 100, so that a transmission of impact forces on the coupling rod is still possible, thereby, however, that the head portion 130 of the tie rod 120 no longer with engages the head portion 230 of the power transmission body 210, the coupling rod in the transmission of tensile forces on a certain clearance whose size substantially corresponds to the longitudinal displacement stroke of the energy absorbing element 110.

In one case, when the in Fig. 2 shown shortened coupling rod is used for connecting adjacent car bodies of a articulated train, the above-described, caused by the deformation of the energy dissipation element 110 game leads in particular to problems if the associated (accident) car body to be towed over the shortened coupling rod, for example. When towing the car body via the coupling rod namely occur due to the game caused by the deformation of the energy dissipation element uncontrolled relative movements between the accidented car body and the car body, which is used for towing the crashed car body. This uncontrolled relative movements are often associated with high acceleration peaks and correspondingly high forces and can damage or even destroy the coupling components of the adjacent car bodies, which are connected via the coupling rod, which may even lead to an unwanted separation of the connection constructed with the coupling rod in the extreme case ,

Based on the above-described problem, the present invention is an object of the invention to provide a coupling rod with an integrated energy dissipation element, in which a play-free state of the coupling rod can be achieved even after the response of the energy dissipation element.

This object is achieved with a coupling rod of the type mentioned in the present invention that the cavity, which is provided in the interior of the power transmission body, by the wall of the power transmission body on the one hand and by the top surface of the head portion of the tie rod and by a side facing away from the first force transmission element side surface of the hollow body on the other hand is formed such that the hollow body with a preferably non-or only slightly compressible fluid medium via at least one corresponding fluid connection is completely fillable, wherein the filled in the cavity fluid medium so cooperates with the head portion of the tie rod, regardless of the state of the energy absorbing element taking place in the transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod flow substantially over the completely filled in the cavity fluid medium and the tie rod flows.

According to the invention, the existing space in the power transmission body is thus exploited to fill a flowable filling medium and thus to prevent relative movement between the power transmission elements can also occur when transmitting tensile forces on the coupling rod. The filled up with the fluid medium cavity is formed such that it is fluid-tight with respect to the fluid medium to be filled. The filling of the fluid medium via a corresponding fluid connection, which is integrated in the wall of the power transmission body. Since a fluid which is not or only slightly compressible fluid is preferably used as the fluid medium, it can be achieved that after the fluid medium has been introduced into the cavity, the tensile and impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod can be transmitted almost without play.

Preferably, it is contemplated that after the energy absorbing element has been addressed and the head portion of the drawbar has pushed further into the cavity of the power transmission body in accordance with the amount of longitudinal displacement, the maximum volume of the cavity, i. the volume which the hollow body has, when the coupling rod is in its uncut state, is filled with the fluid medium. This can be done, for example, by the first and second power transmission elements of the coupling rod are set in their respective starting position, each corresponding to the positions in which the power transmission elements lie when the energy absorbing element has not responded. In this initial position, the cavity in the power transmission body has its maximum volume. It would be conceivable here, for example, that when the coupling rod is used in a rail vehicle network, the train is pulled apart so far apart from a towing vehicle after an accident that the coupling rod is again as possible in its initial position.

Since, in accordance with the invention, a fluid-tight hollow body is formed in the power transmission body, which can be filled with the corresponding fluid medium via a fluid connection, the present invention is also suitable for a case integrated in the coupling rod and not yet addressed To protect the energy absorbing element against a response. For this purpose, only the fluid medium must be filled in the cavity, which cooperates with the head portion of the tie rod that taking place in the transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod power flow not only on the power transmission body and the energy absorbing element, but also in the hollow body of the Power transmission body filled fluid medium and the pull rod flows.

By a suitable choice of the compression modulus of the fluid medium filled in the cavity, in the last-mentioned case it can further be determined which portion of the total force flow occurring in the transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod should flow via the fluid medium filled in the cavity and the drawbar , And which portion is passed over the energy absorbing element. Namely, if a fluid medium with a relatively low compression modulus is used, so a fluid medium in which a change in volume is caused even at relatively low pressures, the proportion of the total occurring in the transmission of impact forces on the coupling rod power flow, by the fluid medium and the pull rod flows and is thus conducted past the energy dissipation element, correspondingly lower.

Advantageous developments of the coupling rod according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Thus, in a particularly preferred realization of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that the cavity in the power transmission body cooperates with the head face of the drawbar in such a way that the force flow occurring in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod when the energy absorbing element responds completely passes through the force flow in the hollow body Fluid medium and the pull rod flows. This is therefore a situation in which the energy dissipation element has already addressed, and this can not be used for a backlash-free power transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod. As a result of the fact that the energy dissipation element has already responded, they have moved the first and second force transmission elements relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod, the amount of movement being predetermined by the exhausted longitudinal stroke of the energy dissipation element. As already indicated, with the solution according to the invention by filling the fluid medium in the cavity a play-free transmission of impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod can be made possible.

In order to achieve that the cavity formed in the power transmission body is particularly suitable for a liquid fluid medium, it is preferably provided that appropriate sealing elements are provided at suitable positions, which are designed, a Fluidmediumaustritt from the cavity formed in the power transmission body, in particular at the Head section of the pull rod to prevent. For this purpose, depending on the configuration of the drawbar or the head portion of the drawbar different O- or ring-sealing elements that are inserted in a known manner to the corresponding components of the coupling rod and to fix it there. However, other sealing elements are also conceivable, which are well known from the prior art and will not be described further here.

In order to ensure that the hollow space formed in the power transmission body can be filled with the fluid medium via the fluid connection as far as possible, it is provided that the fluid connection has a corresponding check valve, and that, alternatively or additionally, the fluid connection has a correspondingly complementary thereto, external firing element is detachably engageable, so as to allow filling of the cavity with the fluid medium.

In a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention, it is also conceivable that a closable venting element is provided in the power transmission body, which is designed to vent the cavity during filling of the fluid medium. As a result, a particularly rapid filling of the cavity with the fluid medium can be achieved.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid port for filling the fluid medium into the cavity is formed as a pressure port, via which the fluid medium can be filled under high pressure. It would be conceivable to increase the pressure of the fluid medium during filling so that the fluid medium filled in the cavity pushes back the head portion of the pull rod, which has pushed into the cavity due to the response of the energy dissipation element in its original position, as a result, the first and second power transmission element again assume their original position. In this case, the cavity and the head portion of the drawbar or the drawbar itself serves as a kind of hydraulic cylinder, which is driven by the fluid medium filled under high pressure.

By the term "high pressure" as used herein is meant a pressure sufficient to achieve the aforementioned hydraulic effect. This is dependent on the hydraulic fluid (fluid medium) and the diameter of the cavity or the diameter of the head portion of the drawbar, which serve as the active surface of the hydraulic cylinder.

The fluid medium is preferably an oil, such as a hydraulic oil, etc., water or else flowable solids, for example, fine sand in question. However, the invention is not limited to these fluid media.

Hereinafter, a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte Kupplungsstange mit einem integrierten Energieverzehrelement im Ausgangszustand, d.h. vor dem Ansprechen des Energieverzehrelements;

Fig. 2

die in Fig. 1 gezeigte Kupplungsstange nach Ansprechen des Energieverzehrelements;

Fig. 3

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Kupplungsstange mit integriertem Energieverzehrelement im Ausgangszustand;

Fig. 4

die in Fig. 3 gezeigte Kupplungsstange nach Ansprechen des Energieverzehrelements; und

Fig. 5

die in Fig. 4 gezeigte Kupplungsstange mit eingefülltem Fluidmedium zum Wiederherstellen eines spielfreien Zustands der Kupplungsstange.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a known from the prior art coupling rod with an integrated energy dissipation element in the initial state, ie before the response of the energy-absorbing element;

Fig. 2

in the Fig. 1 shown coupling rod after the response of the energy-absorbing element;

Fig. 3

a preferred embodiment of the coupling rod according to the invention with integrated energy dissipation element in the initial state;

Fig. 4

in the Fig. 3 shown coupling rod after the response of the energy-absorbing element; and

Fig. 5

in the Fig. 4 shown coupling rod with filled fluid medium for restoring a play-free state of the coupling rod.

In Fig. 1 is a longitudinally sectional view of a known from the prior art coupling rod in the normal operating state shown, in which the energy transmitted via the coupling rod by tensile and impact forces energy lower than that for the response of the integrated in the first power transmission element 100 energy dissipation element 110 (deformation tube) characteristic amount of energy is. It is recognizable, that the two power transmission elements 100 and 200 are substantially rigid relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod, so that the coupling rod in the illustrated normal operating condition for a play-free transmission of tensile or impact forces between, for example, two adjacent car bodies of a multi-unit vehicle is suitable.

In Fig. 2 is the in Fig. 1 shown and known from the prior art coupling rod after the response of the energy dissipation element (deformation tube) 110 shown. In this state, the head portion of the power transmission body 210 of the second power transmission member 200 abuts against the end plate 160 of the first power transmission member 100. However, the in Fig. 2 shown coupling rod in a state in which the coupling rod basically has a certain amount of play, which can sometimes lead to uncontrolled relative movements of two adjacent car bodies when, for example, via the coupling rod of the coupling rod associated car body is towed.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of the solution according to the invention in the normal operating state, ie in a state in which the integrated in the coupling rod energy dissipation element has not responded.

In detail, the in Fig. 3 shown coupling rod 1 of a first power transmission element 10, in which an energy-absorbing element 11 is integrated in the form of a deformation tube. Furthermore, the coupling rod 1 on a second power transmission element 20, which consists essentially of a power transmission body 21 and a first power transmission element 10 facing the head portion 23. It is provided that the second power transmission element 20 and the power transmission body 21 with a provided on the head portion 23 conical ring 24 by cooperation with a belonging to the first power transmission element 10 pull rod 12 and with a second power transmission element 20 facing head portion 13 of the tie rod 12, on which a Locknut 17 is arranged is pressed with a bias against the energy dissipation element 11, so that the coupling rod 1 in normal operation (see. Fig. 3 ) represents a backlash-free power transmission device.

In the power transmission body 21 of the second power transmission element 20, a cavity 22 is further provided, in which the second power transmission element 20th facing head portion 13 of the tie rod 12 at least partially protrudes. The cavity 22 is thereby formed by the inner wall of the power transmission body 21 on the one hand and by the head surface 14 of the head portion 13 of the tie rod 12 and by an end face 15 of the hollow body 22 facing away from the first force transmission element 10.

In the wall of the power transmission body 21 further comprises a fluid port 31 is provided with a check valve, said fluid port serves that if necessary formed in the power transmission body 21 cavity 22 with a fluid medium, in particular with an oil such as hydraulic oil, water or can also be filled with a fine-grained solid, such as fine sand. For this purpose, the cavity 22 is correspondingly formed fluid-tight. Depending on the fluid medium which is introduced into the cavity 22, sealing elements 32 are provided at suitable positions. In the in Fig. 3 illustrated preferred embodiment, this is a ring seals, which are designed to seal the cavity 22 relative to the pull rod 12 and the head portion 13 of the tie rod 12.

In order in particular to allow rapid filling of the cavity 22 with the fluid medium, a closable vent in the form of a venting element 33 is also provided in the wall of the power transmission body 21. The (closeable) venting element 33 and the fluid connection 31 are preferably arranged on the head section 25 of the power transmission body 21, which lies on the side of the second power transmission element 20 remote from the first power transmission element 10.

In Fig. 4 is the preferred embodiment of the coupling rod 1 according to the invention Fig. 3 in a state after the response of the energy absorbing element 11 is shown. As already stated above, the energy dissipation element 11 is designed such that the force flow occurring during the transmission of impact forces from the first force transmission element 10 to the second force transmission element 20 (and vice versa) passes completely through the energy dissipation element 11 formed as a deformation tube. The energy dissipation element 11 itself is designed such that upon exceeding an amount of energy transmitted through the force flow through the deformation tube plastic deformation of the element 11 takes place, consequently at least a portion of the transmitted energy amount absorbed by the energy absorbing element 11 and the force transmission elements 10 and 20 relative to each other in the longitudinal direction the coupling rod 1 are moved.

Furthermore, the Fig. 4 can be seen that 10 and 20 of the head portion 13 of the tie rod 12 is further pressed in accordance with the amount of this longitudinal displacement in the cavity 22 of the power transmission body 21 by the displacement of the power transmission elements. On the other hand, the head portion 23 of the power transmission body 21 abuts with the conical ring 24 against the end plate 16 of the first power transmission element 10th

In the in Fig. 4 shown state, the coupling rod 1 in the longitudinal direction of a game, which is caused by the longitudinal stroke of the plastically deformed energy dissipation element 11 substantially. In other words, this means that in the coupling rod 1 in the in Fig. 4 shown state, the second power transmission element 20 relative to the first power transmission element 10 on the tie rod 12 is displaced by the exhausted by the response of the energy absorbing element 11 longitudinal stroke.

However, if the coupling rod 1 in the in Fig. 4 shown state is again used as a power transmission member, which is required for example when towing accident trains, consists of the possible relative movement between the first and second power transmission element 10, 20 in the coupling rod 1 the risk that high acceleration peaks occur with correspondingly high forces, the one unwanted separation of the connection formed with the tie rod 1 may result due to failure of the coupling rod.

In order to prevent this, according to the present invention, the hollow space 22 provided in the power transmission body 21 is utilized to charge, preferably under pressure, a flowable filling medium (eg water, oil or fine sand), thus preventing the force transmission elements 10 and 20 relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod 1 can move.

In Fig. 5 a state is shown in which the cavity 22 in the power transmission body 21 is completely filled with a corresponding fluid medium 30. In the state shown, the fluid medium 30 has been introduced under pressure into the cavity 22, so that the cavity 22 has reached its maximum volume, which is substantially identical to the volume of the cavity 22 in the normal operating state (see. Fig. 3 ).

In order to fill the cavity 22 in the power transmission body 21 with the fluid medium 30 completely, it would be conceivable that, in a case when the coupling rod 1 is used as a connecting member for transmitting power between two adjacent car bodies of a train, the train after an accident, etc. of a corresponding towing vehicle is pulled apart so far that the coupling rod 1 as possible again in its starting position according to Fig. 3 is located and the maximum volume in the cavity 22 of the power transmission body 21 is restored.

Finally, for example, the fluid medium 30 can be supplied under pressure from an external, preferably portable device or from a system permanently installed on the vehicle via the fluid connection 31. The closable vent 33 initially allows the escape of air from the cavity 22 and is closed as soon as the filling process is completed or the air originally present in the cavity 22 is completely escaped.

After filling the cavity 22 with the fluid medium 30, a backlash-free state of the coupling rod 1 is restored to a good approximation and the train can be safely towed without the risk of train separation by a failing coupling rod. In detail, this is made possible by the fact that the cavity 22 in the power transmission body 21 cooperates with the head face 14 of the head section 13 of the pull rod 12 in such a way that the force flow occurring in the longitudinal direction of the coupling rod 1 during the transmission of impact forces is completely transmitted via the fluid medium 30 filled in the cavity 22 and the pull rod 12 flows. On the other hand, there is a transmission of the tensile forces acting on the coupling rod 1 substantially over the power transmission body 21, the head portion 13 and the tie rod 12 instead.

However, depending on the embodiment, it is also conceivable that in a case when when filling the fluid medium 30 in the cavity 22 this does not have its maximum possible volume, the pressure of the fluid medium 30 is increased accordingly, so that the pressure on the head surface 14 of the head portion 13 of the tie rod 12 acts, the head portion 13 and the tie rod 12 in accordance with their initial position Fig. 3 as a result, also the first and second force transmission element 10, 20 in the coupling rod 10 assume their respective starting positions. In this case, the individual components of the coupling rod, and in particular of the drawbar 12 with the head portion 13, the function of a hydraulic cylinder to.

In summary, it should be noted that the solution according to the invention makes it possible in a simple manner to restore a play-free state of the coupling rod and the original coupling rod length after a response of the energy dissipation element provided in the force transmission element.

It should then be noted that the embodiment of the invention does not relate to the in Fig. 3 to 5 described embodiment is limited, but also in a variety of variants is possible. In particular, it is also conceivable that several energy-absorbing elements are integrated in the coupling rod. Likewise, it can not be ruled out that at least one energy dissipation element is designed as a regenerative energy dissipation element, and that a corresponding energy dissipation device is also provided in the second force transmission element. The solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for any coupling rods via which tensile and impact forces are transmitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

coupling rod

10

first power transmission element

11

Energy-absorbing element

12

pull bar

13

Head section of the drawbar

14

Top surface of the drawbar

16

End plate of the first power transmission element

17

locknut

20

second power transmission element

21

Power transmission body

22

cavity

23

Head section of the power transmission body

24

cone ring

25

Head section of the power transmission body

30

fluid medium

31

fluid port

32

sealing element

33

A vent

100

first power transmission element (prior art)

110

Energy Consumption Element (Prior Art)

120

Drawbar (prior art)

130

Head section of the drawbar (prior art)

160

End plate of the first power transmission element (prior art)

170

Locknut (prior art)

200

second power transmission element (prior art)

210

Power transmission body (prior art)

220

Cavity (prior art)

230

Head section of the power transmission body (prior art)

240

Cone ring (prior art)

Claims (7)

1. A coupling bar (1) for transmitting tractive and impact forces between adjacent vehicle bodies of a multi-member vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, having a first force transmission element (10) and a second force transmission element (20) through which the force flow occurring during the transmission of tractive and impact forces runs in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1),
   wherein the first force transmission element (10) comprises a destructively-designed energy-absorbing element (11) through which the force flow occurring during the transmission of impact forces in normal vehicle operation runs in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1), and a drawbar (12) through which the force flow occurring during the transmission of tractive forces runs in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1), and
   wherein the second force transmission element (20) comprises a force-transmitting body (21) having a cavity (22) configured in its interior into which the head section (13) of the drawbar (12) facing said second force transmission element (20) extends at least partially, and a head section (23) facing the first force transmission element (10) via which preliminary tension is exerted on the energy-absorbing element (11) in normal vehicle operation,
   wherein the energy-absorbing element (11) is configured such that the force transmission elements (10, 20) are substantially rigid relative one another in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1) up to a definable amount of energy transferred through said energy-absorbing element (11) by the force flow, and that upon exceeding the definable amount of energy transferred through said energy-absorbing element (11) by the force flow, the force transmission elements (10, 20) are displaced relative one another in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1), wherein at least a portion of the amount of transmitted energy is absorbed and dissipated by said energy-absorbing element (11) and the head section (13) of the drawbar (12) is pressed further into the cavity (22) of the force-transmitting body (21) commensurate with the amount of longitudinal displacement,
   characterized in that
   the cavity (22) is formed by the wall of the force-transmitting body (21) on the one hand and by the head face (14) of the head section (13) of drawbar (12) and a side face (15) of the hollow body (22) facing away from the first force transmission element (10) on the other hand such that the hollow body (22) can be completely filled with a preferably incompressible or only slightly compressible liquid medium (30) through at least one corresponding fluid connection (31), wherein the liquid medium (30) filled into the cavity (22) interacts with the head section (13) of drawbar (12) such that independent of the state of the energy-absorbing element (11), the force flow occurring in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1) upon the transmission of impact forces runs at least partly runs through the liquid medium (30) completely filling the cavity (22) and the drawbar (12).
2. The coupling bar (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (22) in the force-transmitting body (21) interacts with the head face (14) of head section (13) of drawbar (12) such that after the responding of energy-absorbing element (11), the force flow occurring in the longitudinal direction of the coupling bar (1) during transmission of impact forces runs wholly through the liquid medium (30) filling the cavity (22) and the drawbar (12).
3. The coupling bar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising sealing elements (32) designed to prevent a leakage of liquid medium from the cavity (22) configured in force-transmitting body (21), in particular at the head section (13) of drawbar (12).
4. The coupling bar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fluid connection (31) for filling the liquid medium (30) into the cavity (22) configured in force-transmitting body (21) comprises a check valve and is designed to be releasably engageable with an external connection element configured commensurately complementary thereto in order to enable the liquid medium (30) to be filled into the cavity (22).
5. The coupling bar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a closeable venting element (33) is further provided in force-transmitting body (21) which is designed so as to aerate the cavity (22) when filling the liquid medium (30) into the cavity (22) configured in force-transmitting body (21).
6. The coupling bar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fluid connection (31) is configured as a pressure connection through which the liquid medium (30) can be filled under high pressure.
7. The coupling bar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid medium (30) is an oil, water or fine sand.

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