GB2091661A

GB2091661A - Centre buffer coupling

Info

Publication number: GB2091661A
Application number: GB8201565A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-01-22
Filing date: 1982-01-20
Publication date: 1982-08-04
Also published as: FI62258C; FR2498145B1; DE3103409A1; CH654534A5; SE454767B; SE8102127L; FR2498145A1; GB2091661B; FI62258B

Abstract

A centre buffer coupling for locomotives or corresponding machines has a shaft 4 going through the buffer plate 1 and articulated in it, the outer end of the shaft having a coupling head 3. The shaft 4 is supported by a rotatable roller 14 in the opening 2 of the buffer plate 1 between the drawing and pushing springs 9,9' so that the support allows longitudinal movement of the shaft 4 and, in addition to this, the necessary movement of the coupling head 3 in the vertical and horizontal directions. The shaft is prevented from substantial rotation around its axis. The roller 14 avoids the sliding of the shaft 4 on the buffer plate 1, thereby avoiding the corresponding wear. As an alternative to the roller 14, the shaft 4 can be supported by a bar mounted on the buffer plate 1 by an articulated joint. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Center buffer coupling The present invention is concerned with a centre buffer coupling equipment for locomotives or corresponding machines, and the manner of their resilient mounting on the frame of the locomotive.

Up till now these resilient mountings on locomotives and wagons have usually been made so that the spring suspension has been only behind the frame plate. The centre buffer coupling has to swing during travel round curves to both sides by more than 100 and in addition to this it has to be resilient with regard to movement both forward and backward and the coupling head has to be vertically adjustable. This has led to very complicated cradle constructions with in-mounted springs and separate coupling pieces which are vertically adjustable.

One solution (Finnish patent application No.

800341) has already been proposed in order to bring about a simpler construction. In it a shaft goes through the buffer plate and the resilient longitudinal movement of the shaft is provided for by springs on both sides of the buffer plate.

This construction has, however, the disadvantage that there is friction between the shaft and the opening in the buffer plate through which it passes and this may cause trouble, especially after a long period of use when substantial wear has occurred in the opening.

The present invention provides a construction for a centre buffer coupling which may be used in locomotives or corresponding machines. In it the shaft is supported by a bearing where it passes through the buffer plate so that there is no sliding to create wear.

An embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view in section of a centre buffer coupling embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a section along A-A of Figure 1.

A centre buffer coupling is mounted on the locomotive buffer plate 1 so that its shaft 4 goes through the opening 2 in the buffer plate 1. There is a coupling head 3 at the outer end of the shaft 4, and a chain 8 at the inner end of the shaft 4 for adjustment of the height of the coupling head. The chain 8 is attached by its lower end to an adjusting screw 7, which is engaged in the opening of a resiliently mounted part 7' and which can be turned by a hand lever 6.

The opening 2 of the buffer plate is rectangular.

The cross-sectional profile of the shaft 4 is also rectangular, at least at the opening. The arrangement is such that the shaft 4 cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis to any great extent. The opening 2 is fairly wide so that the shaft 4 is able to move as much as required to both sides (Figure 2).

Longitudinal movement of the shaft 4 is allowed by spring suspensions 9 or 9' mounted on both sides of the shaft 4; these can be similar or different at both sides, being different in the construction presented in the present example.

The pushing forces on the coupling head 3 are received by the spring 9' in front of the buffer plate by means of a spring flange 10, and the traction forces by the spring 9 by means of flanges 11 and 1 t. The tightness of the puliing spring suspension is adjusted by a nut 1 2 which is locked by a bolt key 13.

The shaft 4 of the centre buffer coupling presses downwards at the buffer plate with great force at the same time as it moves back and forth.

Wearing of the shaft 4 and the buffer plate 1 caused thereby has been avoided by means of a roller 14 provided with bearings as shown in the enclosed drawing.

The axle 1 5 of the roller is mounted on the buffer plate 1 by means of an attachment plate 1 6. The axle is held between the two plates. The shaft 4 lies on the roller which serves as a bearing for the back-and-forth motion of the shaft.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown in the drawings) the shaft 4 is supported by a bar in the opening 2 of the buffer plate 1. The supporting bar is at its upper end mounted on the buffer plate by means of an articulated joint. The lower end carries the shaft 4. The support and the articulation are made so that they receive the vertical forces which arise at the buffer plate.

Lateral translational movement of the shaft 4 is prevented, but the attachment allows lateral and vertical turning of the shaft 4 in the opening 2 of the buffer plate 1 to allow the coupling head 3 to move up and down and from side to side.

Correspondingly the shaft 4 can be borne by a supporting bar under it, the bar being mounted to the buffer plate at its lower end underneath the opening 2 and supporting the shaft 4 by means of its upper end.

The above mountings of the shaft 4, using a supporting bar, can easily be made so that the shaft 4 is not allowed to rotate around its longitudinal axis irrespective of the cross-sectional shapes of the buffer plate opening 2 and the shaft 4.

The centre buffer coupling illustrated is durable and reliable in use. The coupling can be designed to permit easy repiacement of parts at the bearing.

1. A centre buffer coupling having a shaft carrying a coupling head, mounted for relative movement on a buffer plate and extending through a hole in the buffer plate, the shaft being movable relative to the plate axially of the shaft but resiliently restrained therefrom and being rotatable about two axes normal to each other and both in the plane of the buffer plate, but being prevented from any substantial rotation about its longitudinal axis, the shaft being mounted on the buffer plate by means of a bearing which accommodates the said axial movement of the shaft without the shaft sliding on a surface of the bearing.

2. A coupling according to claim 1 in which the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Center buffer coupling The present invention is concerned with a centre buffer coupling equipment for locomotives or corresponding machines, and the manner of their resilient mounting on the frame of the locomotive. Up till now these resilient mountings on locomotives and wagons have usually been made so that the spring suspension has been only behind the frame plate. The centre buffer coupling has to swing during travel round curves to both sides by more than 100 and in addition to this it has to be resilient with regard to movement both forward and backward and the coupling head has to be vertically adjustable. This has led to very complicated cradle constructions with in-mounted springs and separate coupling pieces which are vertically adjustable. One solution (Finnish patent application No. 800341) has already been proposed in order to bring about a simpler construction. In it a shaft goes through the buffer plate and the resilient longitudinal movement of the shaft is provided for by springs on both sides of the buffer plate. This construction has, however, the disadvantage that there is friction between the shaft and the opening in the buffer plate through which it passes and this may cause trouble, especially after a long period of use when substantial wear has occurred in the opening. The present invention provides a construction for a centre buffer coupling which may be used in locomotives or corresponding machines. In it the shaft is supported by a bearing where it passes through the buffer plate so that there is no sliding to create wear. An embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view in section of a centre buffer coupling embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a section along A-A of Figure 1. A centre buffer coupling is mounted on the locomotive buffer plate 1 so that its shaft 4 goes through the opening 2 in the buffer plate 1. There is a coupling head 3 at the outer end of the shaft 4, and a chain 8 at the inner end of the shaft 4 for adjustment of the height of the coupling head. The chain 8 is attached by its lower end to an adjusting screw 7, which is engaged in the opening of a resiliently mounted part 7' and which can be turned by a hand lever 6. The opening 2 of the buffer plate is rectangular. The cross-sectional profile of the shaft 4 is also rectangular, at least at the opening. The arrangement is such that the shaft 4 cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis to any great extent. The opening 2 is fairly wide so that the shaft 4 is able to move as much as required to both sides (Figure 2). Longitudinal movement of the shaft 4 is allowed by spring suspensions 9 or 9' mounted on both sides of the shaft 4; these can be similar or different at both sides, being different in the construction presented in the present example. The pushing forces on the coupling head 3 are received by the spring 9' in front of the buffer plate by means of a spring flange 10, and the traction forces by the spring 9 by means of flanges 11 and 1 t. The tightness of the puliing spring suspension is adjusted by a nut 1 2 which is locked by a bolt key 13. The shaft 4 of the centre buffer coupling presses downwards at the buffer plate with great force at the same time as it moves back and forth. Wearing of the shaft 4 and the buffer plate 1 caused thereby has been avoided by means of a roller 14 provided with bearings as shown in the enclosed drawing. The axle 1 5 of the roller is mounted on the buffer plate 1 by means of an attachment plate 1 6. The axle is held between the two plates. The shaft 4 lies on the roller which serves as a bearing for the back-and-forth motion of the shaft. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown in the drawings) the shaft 4 is supported by a bar in the opening 2 of the buffer plate 1. The supporting bar is at its upper end mounted on the buffer plate by means of an articulated joint. The lower end carries the shaft 4. The support and the articulation are made so that they receive the vertical forces which arise at the buffer plate. Lateral translational movement of the shaft 4 is prevented, but the attachment allows lateral and vertical turning of the shaft 4 in the opening 2 of the buffer plate 1 to allow the coupling head 3 to move up and down and from side to side. Correspondingly the shaft 4 can be borne by a supporting bar under it, the bar being mounted to the buffer plate at its lower end underneath the opening 2 and supporting the shaft 4 by means of its upper end. The above mountings of the shaft 4, using a supporting bar, can easily be made so that the shaft 4 is not allowed to rotate around its longitudinal axis irrespective of the cross-sectional shapes of the buffer plate opening 2 and the shaft 4. The centre buffer coupling illustrated is durable and reliable in use. The coupling can be designed to permit easy repiacement of parts at the bearing. CLAIMS

2. A coupling according to claim 1 in which the bearing comprises a roller on whose surface the shaft bears.

3. A coupling according to claim 2 in which the axle of the roller is held between the buffer plate and an additional plate attached to the buffer plate.

4. A coupling according to claim 1 in which the bearing comprises a bar joined at one end to the shaft and articulated to the buffer plate at the other end.

5, A coupling according to claim 4 in which the bar is above the shaft in use.

6. A coupling according to claim 4 in which the bar is below the shaft in use.

7. A coupling substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. A locomotive having a coupling according to any one of the preceding claims.