EP3059137A1 - A damping device, for a coupling device of a railway vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The shock absorbing device (16) comprises a support member (30) for attachment to a structural part (12) of the car (10), at least one guide bar extending in one direction longitudinal axis (X) between a first end fixed to the support member (30) and a second end, a first support plate (34) intended to cooperate with the coupling device (14), movable along the the guide bar, a second support plate (36), arranged at a distance from the first support plate (34) in the longitudinal direction (X), fusible fixing means (38), fusibly securing the second end of each guide bar with the second support plate (36), and deformation impact energy absorbing means (46), separate from the guide bars, extending in the longitudinal direction (X) between the first support plate (34) and the second support plate (36).

Description

The present invention relates to a shock energy absorbing device for a rail vehicle coupling device.

A coupling device provides the connection between two cars of a rail vehicle, transmitting a pulling force or thrust from one car to another. However, in the event of an impact, the coupling must be removed in order to allow the engagement of the anti-overlap devices and / or to absorb all or part of the collision energy.

For this purpose, it is already known in the state of the art, a shock absorbing device fitted to such a coupling device.

• un organe de support, destiné à être fixé sur une partie structurelle d'une voiture du véhicule ferroviaire,
• au moins une barre de guidage, s'étendant dans une direction longitudinale entre une première extrémité fixée à l'organe de support et une seconde extrémité, et
• un plateau d'appui, destiné à coopérer avec l'attelage, déplaçable le long de la barre de guidage, entraîné par l'attelage se déplaçant sous l'effet d'un choc.

Such a shock absorbing device usually comprises:

• a support member, intended to be fixed on a structural part of a car of the railway vehicle,
• at least one guide bar extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end secured to the support member and a second end, and
• a support plate, intended to cooperate with the hitch, movable along the guide bar, driven by the hitch moving under the effect of a shock.

The guide bar has a variable section, between a small section and a large section, and the support plate has a passage orifice diameter corresponding to the small section of the bar. Thus, when the support plate moves along the bar under the effect of a shock, the contour of the passage opening circumferentially circumferentially the bar passing over its area of large section, thus absorbing the energy shock while guiding the erasure of the hitch.

Thus, each bar provides both a guide function of the support plate, and a shock absorption function of the energy. For proper operation, such a bar usually has a relatively high mass, because it must support the machining forces and provide guidance.

The invention particularly aims to reduce the weight of a shock absorbing device, without impairing its effectiveness.

• un organe de support, destiné à être fixé sur une partie structurelle de la voiture,
• au moins une barre de guidage, s'étendant dans une direction longitudinale entre une première extrémité fixée à l'organe de support et une seconde extrémité,
• un premier plateau d'appui, destiné à coopérer avec le dispositif d'attelage, déplaçable le long de la barre de guidage,

caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte :

• un second plateau d'appui, agencé à distance du premier plateau d'appui dans la direction longitudinale,
• des moyens de fixation fusibles, fixant de manière fusible la seconde extrémité de chaque barre de guidage avec le second plateau d'appui, et
• des moyens d'absorption de l'énergie d'un choc par déformation, distincts des barres de guidage, s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale entre le premier plateau d'appui et le second plateau d'appui.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is in particular a shock absorption device for a coupling device of a rail vehicle car, comprising:

• a support member, intended to be fixed on a structural part of the car,
• at least one guide bar extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end attached to the support member and a second end,
• a first support plate, intended to cooperate with the coupling device, movable along the guide bar,

characterized in that it comprises:

• a second support plate, arranged at a distance from the first support plate in the longitudinal direction,
• fusible securing means fusibly securing the second end of each guide bar to the second support plate, and
• means for absorbing the energy of a shock by deformation, distinct from the guide bars, extending in the longitudinal direction between the first support plate and the second support plate.

In this new system, the absorption is no longer ensured by machining the guide bars, but by crushing deformable blocks (made of metallic or composite material) threaded onto the guide bars and inserted between the plates.

To crush these blocks without soliciting the guide bars, it is necessary to ensure the contact between the rear of the system and the bottom of the housing located in the frame at the end of the vehicle.

Given the manufacturing tolerances of the various assemblies involved in this assembly, there is a gap between the rear of the system and the bottom of the housing that must be filled by separating the rear plate of the guide bars.

Therefore, in case of impact, the fusible fixing means break, so that the second support plate is no longer maintained by the guide bars, but comes for example in contact with a structural surface of support provided for the railway vehicle. Thus, the guide bars do not participate in the recovery of the shock forces, these being taken up by the structural bearing surface.

In other words, each guide bar only performs a guiding function.

Thus, it is not necessary that this guide bar has a large mass, unlike a guide bar of the state of the art. The mass of each guide bar can therefore be reduced, which therefore reduces the overall weight of the absorption device according to the invention.

• Le dispositif d'absorption comporte deux barres de guidage, parallèles entre elles, s'étendant chacune dans la direction longitudinale entre une première extrémité fixée à l'organe de support et une seconde extrémité fixée de manière fusible avec le second plateau d'appui.
• Les moyens d'absorption d'énergie comportent un passage pour chaque barre de guidage, chaque barre de guidage étant logée dans le passage respectif, maintenant transversalement les moyens d'absorption d'énergie par rapport à l'organe de support.
• Les moyens d'absorption d'énergie comportent une structure à nids d'abeilles, ou au moins deux structures à nids d'abeilles empilées dans la direction longitudinale.
• Les moyens de fixation fusibles comportent : une partie filetée ménagée à la seconde extrémité de chaque barre de guidage, et, pour chaque barre de guidage, un écrou fusible vissé sur la partie filetée correspondante.
• Chaque écrou fusible est réalisé en matière plastique.
• Chaque écrou fusible comporte au moins deux parties de moindre résistance.
• Le second plateau d'appui comporte un réseau de nervures s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale.
• Les moyens de fixation fusibles se brisent lorsqu'ils subissent un effort longitudinal de l'ordre de 50 à 100 kN.

An absorption device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination.

• The absorption device comprises two parallel guide bars, each extending in the longitudinal direction between a first end attached to the support member and a second end fusibly attached to the second support plate.
• The energy absorption means comprise a passage for each guide bar, each guide bar being housed in the respective passage, maintaining transversely the energy absorbing means with respect to the support member.
• The energy absorbing means comprise a honeycomb structure, or at least two honeycomb structures stacked in the longitudinal direction.
• The fusible fixing means comprise: a threaded portion formed at the second end of each guide bar, and, for each guide bar, a fuse nut screwed onto the corresponding threaded portion.
• Each fuse nut is made of plastic.
• Each fuse nut has at least two parts of least resistance.
• The second support plate comprises an array of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction.
• The fusible fixing means break when they undergo a longitudinal force of the order of 50 to 100 kN.

The invention also relates to a rail vehicle car comprising a coupling device extending in a longitudinal direction, characterized in that it comprises an absorption device as defined above, and a housing for the absorption device. said housing comprising a bottom structural wall arranged opposite the second support plate in the longitudinal direction.

In case of shock, the coupling device is sinking into said housing, damping shock by deformation of the energy absorbing means.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une voiture de véhicule ferroviaire selon l'invention, coupée longitudinalement ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective, d'un dispositif d'absorption de choc selon un exemple de mode de réalisation de l'invention;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, représentant partiellement le dispositif d'absorption de choc de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective représentant l'arrière du dispositif d'absorption de choc de la figure 2.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail vehicle car according to the invention, cut longitudinally;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of a shock absorbing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 2 , partially representing the shock absorbing device of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view representing the rear of the shock absorbing device of the figure 2 .

On the figure 1 , a car 10 of a railway vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Car 10 has a body 12 of conventional type, shown cut along a longitudinal direction X.

The structural body 12 is intended to carry a coupling device 14 (shown in FIG. figure 2 ), as well as a shock absorption device 16 connected to this coupling device 14.

For this purpose, the structural box 12 comprises a housing 18, for example formed in a central portion of this structural box 12, for housing the shock absorbing device 16. The housing 18 extends in the longitudinal direction X between a mouth 20 and a bottom structural wall 22, and has side walls 24, extending between the mouth 20 and the bottom structural wall 22, laterally closing the housing 18.

The structural box 12 further comprises buffers 26, 28 of conventional types, arranged on either side of the housing 18 in a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

The coupling device 14 is of conventional type, and therefore will not be described in detail. This coupling device 14 extends in the longitudinal direction X, in front of the structural box 12 when it is attached to this structural box 12.

The shock absorbing device 16 also extends in the longitudinal direction X, in the extension of the coupling device 14, when it is attached to the structural box 12.

The shock absorption device 16 comprises a support member 30, intended to be fixed on a structural part of the car 10, and more particularly on the structural box 12, at the mouth 20 of the housing 18. This body support 30 is firmly fixed on this structural part, by conventional means (for example by screwing or welding), so that it remains fixed in case of impact.

The shock absorbing device 16 further comprises at least one guide bar 32 (visible on the figure 3 ), extending in the longitudinal direction between a first end 32A attached to the support member 30, and a second end 32B.

In the example described, the absorption device 16 comprises two guide bars 32 parallel to each other. These two guide bars 32 are spaced from each other by a transverse spacing greater than a transverse dimension of a portion of the coupling device 14 may be inserted into the housing 18 in case of impact. Thus, this coupling device portion 14 can move between the guide bars 32, without being impeded by these guide bars 32.

In the example described, each guide bar 32 has a circular cross section, but could alternatively have any other cross-sectional shape, for example rectangular.

The absorption device 16 also comprises a first support plate 34 intended to cooperate with the coupling device 14, movable along the guide bars 32. For example, the first support plate 34 comprises, for each guide bar 32, a passage opening of this guide bar 32, slidable along this guide bar 32. Thus, the dimensions and shape of the passage opening are complementary to those of the bar of corresponding guidance 32.

The coupling device 14 usually comprises an end plate (not shown) for attachment to the first support plate 34. Thus, the coupling device 14 moves with this first support plate 34. More specifically, the first support plate 34 is driven along the guide bars 32 by the coupling device 14, when the latter retransmits the energy of a shock. Of course, the end plate has a transverse dimension less than the transverse spacing between the guide bars 32, to move between them.

The absorption device 16 comprises a second support plate 36, arranged at a distance from the first support plate 34 in the longitudinal direction X. The second end 32B of each guide bar 32 is fusibly fastened with this second plate support 36, by fusible fixing means 38.

These fusible fixing means 38 are able to break, thus releasing the second end 32B of each guide bar 32, when they receive the energy of a shock. For example, these fusible fixing means 38 break when they undergo a longitudinal force of the order of 50 to 100 kN.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the second support plate 36 is arranged facing the bottom structural wall 22 when the absorption device 16 is housed in the housing 18. This structural bottom wall 22 is then spaced from the second support plate 36 with a longitudinal spacing of about fifteen millimeters because of the construction tolerances of the various subassemblies involved in this assembly. Thus, when the fusible fixing means 38 break, the second support plate 36 comes into contact with the bottom structural wall 22.

As shown on the figure 4 , the second support plate 36 advantageously comprises ribs 40 extending in the longitudinal direction X, thus in the direction of the structural bottom wall 22, intended to come into contact with this bottom structural wall 22 when the fastening means fuses 38 break.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fusible fixing means 38 comprise a threaded portion 42 formed at the second end 32B of each guide bar 32 and, for each guide bar 32, a fuse nut 44 screwed onto the threaded portion 42 corresponding. The second support plate 36 then has, for each guide bar 32, a complementary passage opening, said threaded portion 42 extending beyond this passage opening, as shown in FIG. figure 4 .

Each fuse nut 44 has at least a portion of least resistance, to ensure its rupture in case of impact. Advantageously, each fuse nut 44 comprises at least two parts of lesser resistance, for example four. Thus, it is ensured that the fuse nut 44 breaks into several pieces, and that it therefore disengages from the corresponding threaded portion 42.

Advantageously, each fuse nut 44 is made of plastic to obtain a low breaking force, despite the large diameter of the nut, while assuring the assembly of the rear part of the system under normal operating conditions.

The absorption device 16 finally comprises means 46 for absorbing the energy of a shock by deformation, distinct from the guide bars 32, extending in the longitudinal direction X between the first support plate 34 and the second support plate 36. These absorption means 46 are on the one hand bearing against the first support plate 34, and on the other hand bearing against the second support plate 36, so that they deformed, in particular by crushing, when the first support plate 34 moves, along the guide bars 32, towards the second support plate 36.

The energy absorbing means 46 are at least partially hollow, so that they comprise a passage for each guide bar 32, each guide bar 32 being housed in the respective passage. The energy absorbing means 46 are thus maintained transversely with respect to the support member 30 by the guide bars 32. Because the guide bars 32 are arranged in the energy absorption means 46, these energy absorbing means 46 are not represented on the figure 3 to allow to visualize these guide bars 32. They are however visible on the figure 2 and the figure 4 .

In the example described, the energy absorption means 46 comprise a plurality of honeycomb structures 47 stacked in the longitudinal direction X. In a variant, they could comprise only a honeycomb structure, or any other type of conventional damping box.

The operation of the shock absorbing device 16 will now be described.

As indicated above, the shock absorbing device 16 is housed in the housing 18, its support member 30 being fixed at the mouth 20, and its second support plate 36 being arranged facing the structural wall background 22.

In the event of shock retransmitted by the coupling device 14, it applies a thrust force to the first support plate 34, which is transferred to the second support plate 36 by the absorption means 46.

It will be recalled here that the second support plate 36 is retained by the guide bars 32, by the fusible fixing means 38. However, the resistance of the fusible fixing means 38 is small, and more particularly is significantly lower than the resistance to deformation of the absorption means 46.

Thus, in a first step, the fusible fixing means 38 break under the effect of this thrust force, releasing the fastening between the guide bars 32 and the second support plate 36.

The second support plate 36 is then free to move in the longitudinal direction X under the effect of the thrust force, so that it moves until it comes into contact with the bottom structural surface 22. This second support plate 36 in contact with the structural bottom surface 22 is then firmly immobilized in the longitudinal direction X.

The first support plate 34 for its part always undergoes the thrust force of the coupling device 14, and therefore moves in the longitudinal direction X, guided by the guide bars 32.

By moving, the first support plate 34 compresses the absorption means 46 against the second immobilized support plate 36, thus causing the deformation of these absorption means 46. The impact energy is then used to deform these absorption means 46.

The hitching device 14 thus sinks into the housing 18, by deforming the absorption means 46, until all the energy of the shock is absorbed or, more frequently, until the pads 26, 28 come into contact with complementary pads carried by another car which is connected to it by the coupling device 14.

It clearly appears that, since the fusible fastening means 38 break at the beginning of the impact, the guide bars 32 do not take up any forces due to impact. These guide bars 32 thus have only a function of guiding the first support plate 34 in the longitudinal direction X, ensuring the good deformation of the absorption means 46. The mass of the guide bars 32 can therefore to be reduced, especially its transverse dimensions. For example, each guide bar may have a cross section of diameter less than 65 mm.

Thus, the overall mass of the shock absorbing device 16 is reduced. More particularly, this overall mass can reach about 200 kg for a shock absorbing device 16 according to the invention, whereas that of an absorption device of the state of the art is generally about 280 kg.

Note that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but could have various variants.

Claims (10)

A shock absorbing device (16) for a coupling device (14) of a rail vehicle car (10), comprising: a support member (30) intended to be fixed on a structural part (12) of the car (10), at least one guide rod (32) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) between a first end (32A) fixed to the support member (30) and a second end (32B), - a first support plate (34) intended to cooperate with the coupling device (14), movable along the guide bar (32), characterized in that it comprises: a second support plate (36) arranged at a distance from the first support plate (34) in the longitudinal direction (X), fusible fastening means (38), fusibly attaching the second end (32B) of each guide bar (32) to the second support plate (36), and means (46) for absorbing the energy of a shock by deformation, distinct from the guide bars (32), extending in the longitudinal direction (X) between the first support plate (34) and the second support plate (36). Absorption device (16) according to claim 1, comprising two parallel guide bars (32) each extending in the longitudinal direction (X) between a first end (32A) fixed to the support member (30) and a second end (32B) fusibly attached to the second support plate (36). Absorption device (16) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the energy absorbing means (46) comprises a passage for each guide bar (32), each guide bar (32) being housed in the respective passage, now transversely the energy absorbing means (46) relative to the support member (30). An absorption device (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy absorbing means (46) comprises a honeycomb structure, or at least two honeycomb structures (47) stacked in the longitudinal direction (X). Absorption device (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fusible fixing means (38) comprise: a threaded portion (42) formed at the second end (32B) of each guide bar (32), - For each guide bar (32), a fuse nut (44) screwed on the corresponding threaded portion (42). An absorption device (16) according to claim 5, wherein each fuse nut (44) is made of plastics material. Absorption device (16) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each fuse nut (44) has at least two parts of least resistance. Absorption device (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second support plate (36) comprises an array of ribs (40) extending in the longitudinal direction. Absorption device (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fusible fixing means (38) break when subjected to a longitudinal force of the order of 50 to 100 kN. Rail vehicle car (10) having a coupling device (14) extending in a longitudinal direction (X), characterized in that it comprises an absorption device (16) according to any one of the preceding claims and a housing (18) for the absorption device (16), said housing comprising a bottom structural wall (22) arranged opposite the second support plate (36) in the longitudinal direction (X).

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