EP2334534B1 - Middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a central buffer coupling for rail vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.

A middle buffer coupling of the aforementioned type is used in particular to couple individual railway cars, which do not have their own drive, with each other. In this function, such a central buffer coupling is also referred to as intermediate or close coupling. In contrast to automatic railway couplings mechanical intermediate or short couplings are coupled together via a suitable connecting element by hand.

Between the coupled cars and electrical currents and signals are transmitted. Commonly used for this purpose are connection cables, also referred to as jumper cables, which are to be manually inserted into connections which are attached to the carriages. Since comparatively many connection cables are often required for power and signal transmission, manual insertion and removal of the connection cables is tedious and time-consuming. In an emergency, for example in an accident, the connecting cables are often forcibly cut and destroyed by the rescue personnel, since a manual release would take too much time. A further disadvantage is that the known from the prior art connection cable must be accommodated in relatively expensive protective tubes to protect them from harsh environmental conditions.

An alternative solution is to provide a separate electrical coupling for power and signal transmission in addition to the mechanical central buffer coupling. Such a solution is eg in the DE 29 22 439 A1 described. There, a mechanical central buffer coupling is provided, the two coupling halves are connected by a shell sleeve. Below the mechanical middle buffer coupling is a carrier, on which a cable coupling is guided. This known clutch system is relatively complicated, since it contains two separate clutches, namely an electrical and a mechanical clutch.

From the DE 1 810 595 is a central buffer coupling is known, which contains air lines or electrical lines, which are led out of the respective coupling rod shortly behind a shell sleeve with which the coupling heads of the two coupling halves are connected together.

A central buffer coupling according to the preamble of claim 1 is characterized by the FR-A-2217995 known.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanical, manually operated central buffer coupling according to the preamble of claim 1 so on that allows in a technically low-cost manner, the secure transmission of electrical currents and signals between the vehicle parts to be coupled together.

The invention solves this problem by the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the central buffer coupling according to the invention, therefore, a mechanical clutch and an electric clutch are integrated. The coupling rods, which are part of the mechanical coupling, according to the invention also serve to accommodate the electrical lines that conduct the electrical currents, for example, for signal and power transmission from the contact elements in the respective vehicle part.

Since the electrical wires are laid inside the coupling rods, they are not exposed to harsh environmental conditions unlike the connecting cables used in the prior art. On expensive protective hoses in which the cables are routed, can be dispensed with. In addition, the laid in the coupling rods lines are not exposed to mechanical stress. It must therefore not be taken to ensure that the lines are designed to be particularly flexible. Rather, the lines within the coupling rods can be rigid and therefore more cost-effective than laid in the prior art.

In particular, the lines that are already present in the vehicle parts to be coupled, can be easily introduced by the coupling rods to the contact elements. Expensive special solutions, as required in the prior art, are no longer necessary. The measures required in terms of electromagnetic compatibility, in short EMC, can be made with less technical effort within the coupling rod, which is an externally protected system, than is the case with the flexible connecting leads used in the prior art is. Thus, for example, partitions or shields for cable bundles can be provided within the coupling rod to meet EMC requirements.

Another significant advantage of the invention is that only a single coupling operation is required by the integration of the mechanical and electrical coupling. This considerably facilitates the operation of the clutch.

Also, the integration of the mechanical and electrical coupling according to the invention has advantages in terms of weight and the required space. Since virtually no wear occurs on the guided inside the coupling rods electrical lines, finally, the maintenance of the clutch is associated with less effort.

In an advantageous development, each coupling head has on its side facing the other coupling head end face a contact carrier, in which the contact elements are arranged. In this case, the contact carrier of one of the two coupling heads is preferably designed as a plug part and the contact carrier of the other coupling head preferably as a socket part for receiving the plug part. The contact carrier could be so easily plugged together in the coupling direction to produce a secure electrical contact between the contact elements.

In an advantageous embodiment, the contact elements of one of the two coupling heads are axially resiliently mounted in the contact carrier and biased in the coupling direction, while the contact elements of the other coupling head are fixedly mounted in the contact carrier. If the coupling heads are connected to one another, then the fixedly mounted contact elements press the axially resiliently mounted contact elements counter to the pretension acting in the coupling direction into the contact carrier. The bias ensures a secure electrical contact between the contact elements.

In a further preferred embodiment, the contact carrier of a coupling head comprises a first plate having a plurality of axial first bores and a second plate attached to the first plate having a plurality of aligned to the first holes axial second bores. The diameter of the respective second bore is smaller than the diameter of the first bore, to which this second bore is aligned. In each case one of the contact elements and a biasing element is arranged in the first bores. The respective contact element has an annular stop and a subsequent to the stop contact head, which is guided by the associated second bore. The biasing member presses the stop in the coupling direction to the second Plate. In this embodiment, the respective axially spring-mounted contact element is located with its annular stop on the second plate when this contact element is not acted upon, ie the contact member of the other coupling head forming the associated mating contact does not press on this contact element. If the coupling heads are connected to one another, then the mating contact presses the spring-mounted contact element counter to the biasing force exerted by the biasing element into the first bore.

Preferably, each coupling head has a ring flange attached to the free end of the coupling rod. The connecting element is formed in this case, for example, as a shell sleeve which surrounds the adjacent annular flanges for connecting the two coupling heads. The shell sleeve consists for example of two similar, interconnectable, e.g. screwed shell parts.

In a further embodiment, at least a part of the contact elements of each contact head is formed on the outer surface of the annular flange, while the shell sleeve has bridge contacts on its inner surface, which come into contact with the formed on the outer surfaces of the annular flanges contact elements when connecting the two coupling heads. The shell sleeve is part of the electrical coupling in this embodiment by electrically connecting with each other via their bridge contacts the pairwise associated contact elements of the coupling heads. By using the outer surfaces of the annular flanges to accommodate electrical contact elements, even relatively small coupling heads can be equipped with a large number of contact elements. This contributes to a compact construction of the central buffer coupling.

The arranged on the outer surface of the annular flange contact elements and / or arranged on the inner surface of the shell sleeve Bridge contacts are preferably designed as contact springs. The contact springs ensure a particularly reliable electrical contact.

Advantageously, the electrical wires are crimped to the contact elements. As a result, the contact resistance between the lines and the contact elements are kept low.

A part of the contact elements of each coupling head may be intended for power transmission and another part for signal transmission. If the contact elements are arranged both on the outer surface of the annular flange and on the end face of the respective coupling head, it may be advantageous to arrange the one contact elements only on the outer surface of the annular flange and the other contact elements only on the end face. Thus, the contact elements arranged on the end face come directly into contact with the contact elements arranged on the other coupling head, while the contact elements arranged on the outer surface of the annular flange come into contact with the contact elements arranged on the other coupling head via the bridge contacts arranged on the inner surface of the shell sleeve. If power losses are to be feared, for example, due to the interposition of the bridge contacts, then it is better to arrange the contact elements intended for power transmission on the end face of the respective coupling head. Conversely, it is also conceivable to transmit particularly sensitive or functionally important signals directly over the end faces of the coupling heads.

In a further advantageous embodiment, each coupling half comprises a hinged to the respective vehicle part housing part in which the associated coupling rod is resiliently received. In this embodiment, the lines are preferably guided by the coupling rod and the housing part in the vehicle part. The electrical cables are then completely protected from external influences by the coupling rod and the housing part.

Preferably, a buffer device is arranged in each coupling rod and / or in each housing part. Examples of such a device are pull / compression springs, gas springs, hydraulic springs, pneumatic shock absorbers and friction shock absorbers as well as combinations of the aforementioned devices.

In an advantageous development of each coupling head has at its end face at least one protruding in the coupling direction ring part whose measured ring height in the coupling direction in the circumferential direction varies so that the ring member fits only in exactly one rotational position of the coupling heads to each other on the ring member of the other coupling head. The ring parts thus form an anti-rotation, d. H. They ensure that the coupling heads can only be connected to each other in the correct position.

Also, centering of the coupling heads is possible with the ring parts. Alternatively or additionally, a centering can also be realized via a conical, axial projection, which is preferably arranged in the middle of the end face of the one coupling head, and a corresponding conical, axial recess, which is located on the end face of the other coupling head and the projection Dome adapts fittingly.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Mittelpufferkupplung;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht, die zwei Kupplungsköpfe und eine Schalenmuffe zeigt;

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf einen der in Figur 2 gezeigten Kupplungskopf;

Figur 4

einen Schnitt längs der in Figur 3 gezeigten Linie A-A;

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht, die zwei Kupplungsköpfe und eine Schalenmuffe in einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform zeigt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. Show:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a central buffer coupling according to the invention;

FIG. 2

a perspective view showing two coupling heads and a shell sleeve;

FIG. 3

a plan view of one of in FIG. 2 shown coupling head;

FIG. 4

a section along the in FIG. 3 shown line AA;

FIG. 5

a perspective view showing two coupling heads and a shell sleeve in a modified embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a manually operable central buffer coupling, also referred to as intermediate or close coupling. It is FIG. 1 a simplified, schematic representation, which serves to explain functionally important features of the central buffer coupling according to the invention.

The central buffer coupling after FIG. 1 comprises two substantially identical coupling halves 2 and 2 ', which are mounted on a carriage A and B and to be coupled together. The coupling halves 2 and 2 'each include a flange 4 and 4', a housing part 6 and 6 'and a coupling rod 8 and 8'. The respective housing part 6, 6 'is pivotally mounted on the flange 4, 4' via a bearing not shown in detail. The housing part 6, 6 'is pivotable horizontally and vertically via the articulated attachment to the flange 4, 4'.

In each housing part 6, 6 'is a buffer device 10 or 10', which serves to absorb tensile and / or impact forces acting on the coupling half 2, 2'. The buffer device 10 may be formed, for example, as a tension / compression spring, gas spring, hydraulic spring, pneumatic shock absorbers or friction shock absorbers. At the in FIG. 1 In the embodiment shown, the buffer device 10, 10 'is located in the housing part 6, 6'. However, it can also be arranged at a suitable location in the coupling rod 8, 8 '.

Each coupling rod 8, 8 'has a coupling head 12 or 12' at its free end, ie the end facing the other coupling rod 8, 8 '. In the present embodiment, an annular flange 14 or 14 'is formed on each coupling head 12, 12'. In order to couple the two coupling halves 2, 2 'together, the coupling heads 12, 12' are brought into contact with their end faces and then fastened together with a two-part shell sleeve 16. The faces of the coupling heads 12 are then in one FIG. 1 with E designated coupling plane.

When the coupling halves 12, 12 'are being coupled, electrical contact elements come into contact with each other in pairs, which are arranged on the end faces of the coupling heads 12, 12' and in FIG. 1 are not shown in detail. Each contact element of the one coupling head 12 is associated with a contact element of the other coupling head 12 '. The contact elements serve to electrically connect the two coupling halves 2, 2 'with each other.

The coupling rods 8, 8 'are hollow, so that electrical lines 18, which lead from the carriage A and the carriage B to the electrical contact elements of the associated coupling half 2, 2', within the respective coupling rod 8, 8 'can be laid , In the respective car A, B, the lines 18, 18 'to electrical equipment, such as batteries, drive units, signal processing equipment, etc. are connected. In FIG. 1 For the sake of simplicity, only three lines 18, 18 'are shown. In fact, the number of leads 18 and 18 'is equal to the number of contacts provided on the respective coupling head. This number is usually much larger than three (see eg FIG. 2 ).

In the present embodiment, the lines 18 are completely within the respective coupling rod 8, 8 'and also completely within the respective housing part 6, 6'.

In the FIGS. 2 to 4 a special embodiment of the central buffer coupling according to the invention is shown.

FIG. 2 shows the coupling heads 12, 12 ', as well as the designated for connecting the coupling heads 12, 12' shell sleeve 16. The shell sleeve 16 consists in this embodiment of two substantially similar shell parts 22 and 24, from above and below on the annular flanges 14, 14 'put on and then connected to each other. The shell parts 22 and 24 are shaped according to the annular flanges 14, 14 '. This means that the shell parts 22 and 24 in the assembled state with its inner surfaces flush on the outer surfaces of the annular flanges 14, 14 'abut and so the two coupling heads 12, 12' substantially non-positively and positively connect with each other. In order to connect the two shell parts 22 and 24 with each other, through holes 26 are formed in the one shell part, are guided by the screws, not shown, which are screwed into threads 28 which are formed on the other shell part 24.

In the present embodiment are located at the mutually facing end faces of the coupling heads 12, 12 'contact carrier, of which in FIG. 2 only the attached to the coupling head 12, designated 30 contact carrier is shown. On the contact carrier 30 electrical contact elements 32 and 34 are arranged. The contact elements 32 are used for signal transmission, while the contact elements 34 are intended for power transmission. At the not-shown contact carrier, which is attached to the other coupling head 12 ', there are corresponding contact elements, each with one of the contact elements 32, 34 come into contact when the two coupling heads 12, 12 'are connected to each other by means of the shell sleeve 16.

At the mutually facing end faces of the coupling heads 12, 12 'are each more, for example, two ring parts, of which in FIG. 2 only the designated with 36 and 38 ring parts of the coupling head 12 are shown.

The ring members 36, 38 of the coupling head 12 and the corresponding, not shown ring parts of the other coupling head 12 'serve to bring the coupling heads 12, 12' in the correct position, against rotation and centered in contact with each other. For this purpose, the ring parts 36, 38 each have a ring height measured in the coupling direction, which changes in the circumferential direction. The varying ring heights of the ring parts 36, 38 of the one coupling head 12 and the varying ring heights of the ring parts of the other coupling head 12 ', not shown, are coordinated so that the ring parts fit each other flush in just one rotational position of the coupling heads 12, 12'. Only in this rotational position, the contact elements 32, 34 of the coupling head 12 functionally correct in contact with the not shown contact elements of the coupling head 12 '.

In FIG. 3 the contact carrier 30 of the coupling head 12 is shown in plan view. As in FIG. 3 shown, the power transmission specific contact elements 34 have a greater distance from each other than the signal transmission certain contact elements 32. Further, the contact elements 32 and 34 (and also arranged on the other coupling head 12 'contact elements) form a rotationally unbalanced contact arrangement. This contact arrangement ensures that the contact elements 32, 34 of the one coupling head 12 and that of the other coupling head 12 'can only function properly in relation to one another in exactly one rotational position.

FIG. 4 shows the coupling head 12 in a section along the in FIG. 3 represented line AA.

As in FIG. 4 shown, the contact carrier 30 consists of a first plate 40 and a second plate 42. The plates 40 and 42 are secured by screws 44 to the coupling head 12.

The first plate has first axial bores 46 and 48, in each of which one of the contact elements 32 or one of the contact elements 34 and a spring 50 or 52 are arranged. As FIG. 4 it can be seen, each contact element 32, 34 has an annular stop 54 and 56, which is pressed by the spring 50 and 52 on the second plate 42.

The second plate 42 has second axial bores 60, 62 which are respectively aligned with one of the first bores 46, 48. The diameters of the second bores 60, 62 are dimensioned such that only the contact heads designated by 64 or 66 of the contact elements 32 and 34, but not the annular stops 54, 56, can pass through the second bores 60, 62. The second plate 42 thus forms a counter plate which holds the contact elements 32, 34 in the first plate 40.

Between the inner surface of the annular flange 14 and the contact carrier formed from the two plates 40 and 42 is a seal 66th

In the in FIG. 4 illustrated embodiment, the contact elements 32, 34 of a coupling head 12 are resiliently mounted and biased towards the second plate 42 out. In contrast, the contact elements, not shown, of the other coupling head 12 'are designed as fixed mating contacts. If the two coupling heads 12 and 12 'are connected to one another, the springs 50, 52 press the contact elements 32 and 34 of the coupling head 12 onto the stationary contact elements of the coupling head 12 Coupling head 12 '. Thus, a reliable electrical contact between the contact elements is ensured.

In FIG. 5 is a variation of the in FIG. 2 shown embodiment shown. In this modification, additional contact elements 70, 72 are provided on the outer surfaces of the annular flanges 14, 14 '. In addition, 22 and 24 bridge contacts 74 are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the shell parts. The additional contact elements 70, 72 and the bridge contacts 74 are arranged such that each bridge contact 74 establishes an electrical connection between one of the contact elements 70 and one of the contact elements 72 when the coupling heads 12, 12 'are connected together by the shell parts 22 and 24. In this case, the contact elements 70, 72 are preferably designed as spring contacts, which ensure a reliable electrical contact with the bridge contacts 74.

Claims (13)

1. A middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles, comprising two coupling halves (2, 2') to be attached to vehicle parts (A, B) and to be coupled together, each of said coupling halves (2, 2') comprising a coupling rod (8, 8') with a coupling head (12, 12'), and comprising a connecting element (16) for manually connecting the two coupling heads (12, 12'), wherein
   electrical contact elements (32, 34) are formed at each coupling head (12, 12'), which contact the contact elements of the respective other coupling head (12, 12') when the two coupling halves (2, 2') are coupled, and
   each coupling rod (8, 8') is formed to be hollow and within each coupling rod (8, 8') electrical lines (18, 18') are routed, such that they are positioned completely within the respective coupling rod (8, 8') and
   are leadable from the contact elements (32, 34) of the associated coupling head (12, 12') to the vehicle part (A, B) to which the coupling half (2, 2') comprising said coupling rod (8, 8') is to be attached, characterized in that
   each coupling head (12, 12') has an annular flange (14, 14') attached to the free end of the coupling rod (8, 8') and the connecting element (16) is formed as shell-type sleeve, which surrounds the annular flanges (14, 14') lying adjacent to each other to connect the two coupling heads (12, 12'), and
   at least a part of the contact elements (70, 72) of each coupling head (12, 12') is formed at the outer surface of the annular flange (14, 14') and the shell-type sleeve (16) includes bridge contacts (74) at the inner surface thereof, which bridge contacts (74) contact the contact elements (70, 72) formed at the outer surface of the annular flanges (14, 14') when the two coupling heads (12, 12') are connected.
2. The middle buffer coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that each coupling head (12, 12') has a contact carrier (30) at the face side thereof facing the respective other coupling head (12, 12'), in which contact carrier (30) the contact elements (32, 34) are arranged.
3. The middle buffer coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact carrier of one of the two coupling heads (12, 12') is formed as male connector and the contact carrier of the other coupling head (12, 12') is formed as female connector for receiving the male connector.
4. The middle buffer coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact elements (32, 34) of one of the two coupling heads (12) are mounted in an axially resilient manner in the contact carrier (30) and are biased in the coupling direction and the contact elements of the other coupling head (12') are rigidly mounted in the contact carrier.
5. The middle buffer coupling according to claim 4, characterized in that the contact carrier (30) of said one coupling head (12) comprises a first plate (40) having a plurality of axial first bores (46, 48) and a second plate (42) attached to the first plate (40) having a plurality of axial second bores (60, 62) aligned to the first bores (46, 48), the diameter of the second bores (60, 62) being respectively smaller than the diameter of the associated first bore (46, 48),
   in the first bores (46, 48) respectively one of the contact elements (32, 34) and a biasing element (50, 52) are arranged,
   the respective contact element (32, 34) has an annular abutment (54, 56) and a contact head (64, 66) adjacent to the abutment (54, 56), which is led through the associated second bore (60, 62), and
   the biasing element (50, 52) pushes the abutment (54, 56) onto the second plate (42) in the coupling direction.
6. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell-type sleeve (16) is formed from two uniform shell portions (22, 24) being connectable together.
7. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact elements (70, 72) arranged at the outer surface of the annular flange (14, 14') and/or the bridge contacts (74) arranged at the inner surface of the shell-type sleeve (16) are formed as contact springs.
8. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lines (18, 18') are crimped onto the contact elements (32, 34).
9. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a part of the contact elements (32, 34) of each coupling head (12, 12') is intended for power transmission and another part for signal transmission.
10. The middle buffer coupling according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact elements (34) intended for power transmission or the contact elements (32) intended for signal transmission are arranged at the face surface of the coupling head (12, 12'), while the respective other contact elements are arranged at the outer surface of the annular flange (14, 14').
11. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each coupling half (2, 2') comprises a housing part (6, 6') mounted in an articulated manner to the respective vehicle part (A, B), in which the associated coupling rod (8, 8') is resiliently received and that the lines (18, 18') are led through the coupling rod (8, 8') and the housing part (6, 6') into the vehicle part (A, B).
12. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each coupling rod (8, 8') and/or in each housing part (6, 6') a buffer device (10, 10') is arranged.
13. The middle buffer coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each coupling head (12, 12') has at least one annular portion (36, 38) at the face surface thereof extending in the coupling direction, the annular height of which measured in the coupling direction varies in the circumferential direction, such that the annular portion (36, 38) fits on the annular portion of the respective other coupling head only in precisely one rotation position of the coupling heads (12, 12') with respect to each other.

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