EP3771611A1 - Tube buffer with marking - Google Patents

Abstract

A sleeve buffer (1) is proposed for movable or fixed support structures (2), in particular for rail vehicles, with a first and second guide part (3, 4) each in the form of a sleeve (4) and a plunger (3), the sleeve ( 4) can be fixed in place on the support structure (2), and the plunger (3) can be displaced relative to the sleeve (4) in the vehicle longitudinal direction (FR) and is guided by the sleeve (4) during its displacement movement, with a marking (6) to mark the position of the plunger (3) relative to the sleeve (4) is provided to indicate whether the sleeve buffer (1) a shock with exceeding a certain impact force (trigger force) on the sleeve buffer (1), in particular in the form of a deformation and / or has been exposed to a break, so that the position of the marking (6) has changed permanently. To improve security controls during routine checks, the marking (6) is designed as a depression and / or recess.

Description

The invention relates to a sleeve buffer for movable or fixed support structures, in particular of rail vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

From the prior art, such sleeve buffers are, for example, by EP 1 740 435 B1 known. They generally comprise a first and a second guide part in the form of a tappet and a sleeve, the tappet being partially received in the sleeve, which has a larger diameter than the tappet. The sleeve buffer allows it to be elastically compressed in the range of its normal buffer stroke. Such an impact on the sleeve buffer occurs, for example, when two rail vehicle cars are coupled together. The force is usually absorbed by a spring, the elasticity of which has the effect that when the force is removed, the plunger returns to its original position relative to the sleeve. When such a shock occurs, the plunger partially dips into the sleeve and will move out of the sleeve accordingly when the force action is canceled. If, for example, impacts with greater force occur in accident situations, such a sleeve buffer enables at least part of the energy to be absorbed by the buffer structure itself, in which individual structures are plastically deformed or break. This irreversible process means a consumption of energy. In order to determine whether a sleeve buffer has been subjected to such an impact, which has been exposed to plastic deformation or breakage, color markings, for example, are attached to the outside of the sleeve buffer.

The object of the invention is to be able to provide a case buffer which offers a higher degree of security and allows an improved security control during routine checks.

Based on a sleeve buffer of the type mentioned at the outset, the object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

The measures specified in the dependent claims make advantageous designs and developments of the invention possible.

The sleeve buffer according to the invention can in principle be used for movable or fixed support structures. Movable support structures are in particular rail vehicles, such as locomotives, freight cars or passenger wagons, on the sides of which the sleeve buffers can be used as so-called side buffers to absorb shocks that can occur primarily in or against the direction of travel and mostly through contact with other rail vehicles or fixed supporting structures. Corresponding rail vehicles typically collide with one another when the wagons are coupled. Corresponding shocks can also occur when maneuvering.

So-called buffer stops, which usually form a track closure and prevent a rail vehicle or wagon from rolling over the end of the rail and thus derailing, are typical fixed support structures. Accordingly, they can also be provided with sleeve buffers according to the invention.

In the worst case, however, such shocks can also occur in the event of unwanted collisions, i.e. when trains or wagons collide unplanned and possibly even without sufficient speed reduction. As a rule, the sleeve buffer according to the invention has a force transmission element by means of which it can be elastically and reversibly compressed in a certain area and also relax again. As a rule, the case buffer is therefore not damaged within this normal point. However, if the impact forces are too high, for example in the event of an accident, the sleeve buffer according to the invention also has the option of absorbing part of the kinetic energy that is transferred on impact, for example by means of a (plastic) deformation with regard to its structure, so that a Part of the shock is at least absorbed by the buffer. On the one hand, the sleeve buffer is damaged or destroyed as a result, but there is little or no damage to the supporting structure or to the rail vehicle.

With the impacts that occur in practice, it cannot always be assumed that they occur exactly parallel to the direction of travel. In particular, it is conceivable that transverse forces act on the sleeve buffer, be it in the event of impacts in or during cornering or in the event of a collision of different types of buffer or the like. The sleeve buffer therefore comprises at least a first and a second guide part, which are in the form of a sleeve and a tappet, the tappet being displaceable relative to the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The guide part, which moves relative to the other, is guided into one another by the mounting of the two guide parts. Depending on the embodiment, for example, the sleeve surrounds the plunger, so it has a larger diameter so that in said relative movement of the plunger can at least partially dip into the sleeve.

Even in the unloaded state, without the occurrence of an impact force, the sleeve and the plunger overlap at least partially, so that as soon as an impact occurs on the plunger, it can be guided directly by the sleeve and the movement of the plunger is at least partially predetermined. However, this overlapping area can also at least partially support the aforementioned transverse forces. This means that force components of a shock perpendicular to the direction of travel are also at least partially absorbed by this overlapping arrangement of the plunger and sleeve. The relative position between the plunger and the sleeve, as it is in the state of a new, not yet used sleeve buffer, can be recorded e.g. by means of a marking.

If a sleeve buffer was exposed to an impact that led to a deformation or even a breakage of structures of the sleeve buffer, a marking is no longer at the point where it would be with a new sleeve buffer or a sleeve buffer that does not yet have one Was exposed to a shock and the release force has not yet been exceeded. When checking a train, the state of the buffers should be checked.

In order to simplify these routine checks and to be able to improve the safety of rail vehicles or other supporting structures, according to the invention the marking is designed as a depression or recess. Accordingly, the marking is a permanent structure that cannot be impaired or removed by mechanical influences or the like. Instead it becomes a conventional marking, which is applied as a color marking, is used, it can be damaged or removed by the weather. In normal operation, however, rapid wear is also to be expected due to other influences: Such a marking is attached, for example, to the edge of the overlap area of the plunger and sleeve. In the event of impacts during the buffer stroke, which occur during normal operation when maneuvering or coupling cars, the outer surface of the plunger and the inner surfaces of the sleeve rub against one another. A color marking is thus easily rubbed off.

Furthermore, such a marking can also be dirty and covered by lubricating grease and deposits. With the constant cleaning, a conventional color marking is then worn out more and more.

However, if the marking is designed as a depression or recess in the material, then there is a permanent structure that can no longer be easily removed due to the effects of the weather, deposits or friction. Such a marking can thus also be found quickly and reliably during a routine check. Dirt residues can be removed without any problems, without the risk of the marking being damaged as a result and it is no longer possible to read whether the sleeve buffer has already been permanently damaged by reaching the release force.

During the telescopic movement, the plunger generally plunges into the sleeve buffer or the plunger and sleeve buffer slide telescopically into one another. If the sleeve buffer was deformed as a result of a collision or a structure in the sleeve buffer was broken, the position of the plunger relative to the sleeve is changed. Therefore, at this transition point in the As a rule, it is easiest to recognize whether the release force that has led to a deformation or breakage has already been reached. In the area of the normal buffer stroke, the plunger or sleeve are returned to their original position, for example due to the elastic behavior of a spring.

The marking can also include additional markings, e.g. a kind of ruler, in order to be able to read off the strength of a deformation if necessary.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sleeve or the second guide part has a larger diameter than the first guide part or the plunger. In this way, a telescopic movement of the parts relative to one another can be made possible with coaxial mounting. Furthermore, the marking is then advantageously attached to the first guide part, i.e. during the telescopic movement during which the first guide part is pushed into the second guide part, the marking is thus more and more covered by the second guide part. An overlap of the marking in the unloaded state again shows that a relative change in position between the first and second guide part has taken place, i.e. plastic deformation or a break has taken place, i.e. the release force has been reached and the sleeve buffer has to be replaced. In addition, this interlocking or overlapping of the first and second guide parts also offers the advantage of supporting transverse forces that may occur from closures.

In a particularly preferred development of the invention, it is also advantageously possible to determine how far a deformation leading to damage to the sleeve buffer (when the triggering force is exceeded) is Has adversely affected the case buffer and its properties. For this purpose, the marking can, for example, taper in the direction of travel or against the direction of travel, for example have a point or be designed as a triangle. If the release force has not yet been exceeded, the corresponding arrowhead can rest precisely at the transition between the first and second guide part without the action of force. Even small deformations result in the tip being covered and the second guide part (permanently) lying over the tip and covering it. If the tip is only just covered, a slight plastic deformation has taken place. If the marking were merely a colored line that is oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel, this line could no longer provide any information as a rule if there was an overlap as to whether a strong or only a slight deformation has taken place, since in in both cases the marking has simply disappeared. In addition, if colored lines were used, it would be unclear whether a marking is still present or whether it has already peeled off. In addition, such a development is advantageously characterized in that a flat marking with a defined shape can be better captured and is also not so easy to overlook, especially if soiling is also to be expected. This applies all the more if the marking also has a measuring scale in order to be able to determine the strength of a deformation more precisely, if necessary.

In the case of the sleeve buffer, the sleeve or the second guide part can be arranged towards the support structure as the largest part in terms of diameter and, in particular, be fixedly attached to it. So that the first guide part, in particular the plunger, can also be moved elastically, in one embodiment variant According to the invention, a force transmission member, for example a spring, can be provided which mechanically couples the plunger and support structure to one another. This is connected to a support on the largest possible mass for this system, so that the spring's inertia also compresses the spring in the event of an impact. A spring usually enables an essentially elastic behavior in a certain force range. Nevertheless, a certain part of the energy can also be lost due to inelastic effects in such collisions.

In order to provide defined measures for energy consumption in the event of a shock in which the release force is exceeded, for example the first and second guide part can have at least two sections, which are in particular arranged one behind the other or are elongated and of which at least two are connected to one another by a predetermined breaking connection are. Ideally, these predetermined breaking connections are designed in such a way that, in the event of impacts below the triggering force, the plunger is initially moved relative to the sleeve without the breaking connection breaking, with an elastic component such as a spring being compressed, which, however, can expand again when the force action is canceled . If the release force is exceeded, however, not only is the spring compressed accordingly, but the predetermined breaking connections are also made to tear. Part of the energy is consumed by breaking the break connections. However, other variants are also conceivable that could be used to consume energy when the release force is exceeded. For example, it is conceivable that the plunger can be elastically fully telescoped into the sleeve and, when the triggering force is exceeded, the sleeve hits the back of the buffer plate; in the process, the sleeve can possibly peel open outwards, so that this deformation in turn also consumes energy brings.

In principle, other measures that can cause energy consumption are also conceivable, for example using a tool that ensures deformation or machining. It is also conceivable that there is a mounting plane within the sleeve buffer or a connection to the support frame, which is also provided with predetermined breaking points. In the present case, when the release force is exceeded, the marking can mainly be used to perceive those changes which cause a relative change in position between the first and second guide part.

Embodiment

Figur 1:

einen Hülsenpuffer gemäß der Erfindung, sowie

Figur 2:

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den Hülsenpuffer gemäß Figur 1.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below with further details and advantages. Show in detail:

Figure 1:

a sleeve buffer according to the invention, as well as

Figure 2:

a schematic section through the sleeve buffer according to Figure 1 .

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 shown. The sleeve buffer 1, which is attached to a supporting structure 2, comprises a plunger 3 and a sleeve 4. The plunger 3 and sleeve 4 are mounted one inside the other and guided relative to one another, the sleeve 4 having a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the plunger 3. Both Parts, plunger 3 and sleeve 4, can thus be referred to as first and second guide parts. The sleeve buffer 1 is in turn fastened to the support structure 2 via the sleeve 4. The plunger 3 opens into one Buffer plates 5. If, for example, two rail vehicles or a rail vehicle and a fixed support structure such as a buffer block are brought into contact, the contact usually takes place initially on the buffer plates. As a rule, if, for example, two carriages are coupled to one another, the respective buffers meet at low speed and an impulse is transmitted as soon as the respective buffer plates touch. During the normal buffer stroke, the plunger 3 can slide into the sleeve 4, that is, both are telescoped into one another.

In normal operation, however, this impact occurs with a force below the triggering force, so that the plunger 3 can move out of the sleeve 4 again and reverts to its original state. According to the invention, a marking 6 is now made on the plunger 3 as a recess. The marking 6 is triangular (more precisely: it forms an isosceles triangle in which the sides of the same length partially extend along the axis of travel direction FR), with a point pointing in the direction of the sleeve 4.

The internal structure of the sleeve buffer 1 is in Figure 2 shown. The plunger 3 protrudes into the sleeve 4 and forms an overlap region 7. An extension sleeve 8 is attached to the actual plunger 3 and is loosely supported on the inner wall of the sleeve 4 with the aid of the projections 9. The actual plunger 3 and the extension sleeve 8 are connected to one another via predetermined breaking points 10. The plunger 3 is supported on the support structure 2 via the extension sleeve 8 and via a spring 11 resting on the extension sleeve 8.

If a shock acts on the buffer plate 5, the plunger 3 is in the sleeve 4 is pushed in by compressing the spring 11 as a compression spring. If the acting force is below the release force, only the spring 11 is compressed and can then expand elastically (or essentially elastically) again, ie it brings the plunger 3 into its original position relative to the sleeve 4. The marking 6 lies with its sleeve 4 facing the tip directly on the edge of the sleeve 4 in the unloaded state. When a force is applied, the plunger 3 moves in Figure 2 to the right in the plane of the drawing, so that the triangle is more and more covered by the sleeve 4. In the (essentially) elastic case, the spring expands again when the force is removed, so that the triangle 6 appears more and more under the sleeve 4 and, ideally, in the unloaded state, the tip again rests on the edge of the sleeve 4.

However, if the force effect exceeds the triggering force in the event of an impact, it can happen that the spring 11 is compressed so far that the extension sleeve (here: with the projections 9) presses against the support structure 2. If there is sufficient force, the predetermined breaking point 10 can break open in this case. The plunger 3 can then be pushed further into the sleeve 4. A certain amount of energy is necessary for breaking the predetermined breaking connections 10, which is consumed and thus consumes part of the energy of the impact.

In this case, the marking 6 again comes under the sleeve 4, ie the sleeve 4 at least partially covers the marking 6. Since it is an inelastic process in which the predetermined breaking point 10 was broken, the plunger 3 will also no longer return to its original position, unlike in an elastic case. So from the outside, there the marking 6 is at least partially covered by the sleeve 4, it can be read that the release force has been exceeded and the sleeve buffer needs to be replaced or at least repaired.

Such a result can also be obtained if, for example, the spring 11 is plastically deformed upon collision.

Since the marking away according to the invention is designed as a depression or recess in the tappet material 3, it cannot become detached over time, influenced by weathering, friction with the sleeve 4 or by dirt. Even with constant cleaning, the marking is not affected. The marking 6 in the form of a depression or recess can thus offer a significantly higher degree of security. In addition, the status of the buffer can be checked more quickly, since dirt that covers a marking can be easily and easily removed. The handling during maintenance or routine checking can thus also be simplified and improved.

In addition, further measures can also be taken in order to be able to provide energy consumption when the release force is exceeded. The plungers 3 and 4 can be arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the sleeve 4 finally comes into contact with the buffer plate 5 in the event that the triggering force is exceeded. Due to the expanding structure of the buffer plate 5 in the area facing the sleeve, the sleeve can also expand or peel open when it is pressed against the buffer plate, so that this deformation leads to energy consumption. If necessary, the sleeve 4 can expand so much that it curls up in the direction of the support structure 2 and, on contact with the sleeve buffer, further mechanical resistance is formed.

All the exemplary embodiments and developments of the invention have in common that the marking is designed as a depression and / or recess in order to offer a higher level of security and to be able to provide improved security controls during routine checks.

Reference number:

1

Sleeve buffer

2

Support structure

3

Plunger

4th

Sleeve

5

Buffer plate

6th

mark

7th

Overlap area

8th

Extension sleeve

9

Cantilevers

10

Predetermined breaking connections

11

Spring / power transmission link

FR

Direction of travel axis

Claims (8)

Sleeve buffer (1) for movable or fixed support structures (2), in particular of rail vehicles, with a first and second guide part (3, 4) each in the form of a sleeve (4) and a plunger (3), the sleeve (4) being stationary can be fastened to the support structure (2), and the plunger (3) can be displaced relative to the sleeve (4) in the vehicle longitudinal direction (FR) and is guided by the sleeve (4) during its displacement movement, a marking (6) for marking the Position of the plunger (3) opposite the sleeve (4) is provided in order to indicate whether the sleeve buffer (1) is subject to an impact with exceeding a certain impact force (trigger force) on the sleeve buffer (1), in particular in the form of a deformation and / or a Has been exposed to breakage, so that the position of the marking (6) has changed permanently, characterized in that the marking (6) is designed as a depression and / or recess. Sleeve buffer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking (6) is arranged at the transition between the first and second guide part (3, 4), in particular when the sleeve buffer (1) is unloaded and / or in the condition of the sleeve buffer, in where no impact force acting on the sleeve buffer (1) has exceeded the release force. Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first guide part (3), in particular the plunger, has a smaller diameter as the second guide part (4), in particular the sleeve, and wherein the marking (6) is attached to the first guide part (3). Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marking (6) has an arrow and / or a triangle and / or is designed as an arrow and / or triangle, so that the position to be marked by a tip of the arrow and / or a triangle is marked. Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the marking (6) has an edge and / or a point which is arranged in the longitudinal direction (FR) of the sleeve buffer (1) at the level of the second guide part (4), to mark the relative position of the first and second guide parts (3, 4) to each other, so that in particular the marking (6) is just not covered by the second guide part (4) when there is no impact force acting on the sleeve buffer (1) Has exceeded the release force. Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (4) has a fastening flange with which it can be fastened in a stationary manner to the support structure (2). Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a force transmission member (11) for flexible coupling of the plunger (3) to the support structure (2). Sleeve buffer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or second guide part (3, 4) comprises at least two sections (3, 8), which are in particular arranged one behind the other and / or are elongated, of which at least two are connected to one another by a breakaway connection (10) so that when a certain impact force (the triggering force) on the sleeve buffer (1) is exceeded, the breakaway connection (10) and / or at least one of the breakaway connections (10) tears off, so that in particular the sections (3, 8) move telescopically into one another.

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