GB2133361A - Coupling for vehicle cars - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling especially for connecting together man-riding cars used in underground mines comprises a box 24 mounted on a pivotal vertical axis by trunnion pins 40, 41 on a car and containing a buffer spring 32 engaged by pistons 33, 34 one at each end, the pistons being carried by a rod 36 which is connected by a vertical pivot bolt 45 to the next car. The rod 36 carries abutments (e.g. nut/washer 37, 38) respectively engaged with extensions of pistons 33, 34 so that both draught and buffing forces are absorbed by the spring 32. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Couplings for vehicle cars This invention relates to couplings for vehicle cars especially for coupling together man-riding cars for use in mines. Such cars run on rails which commonly have a somewhat tortuous shape verring to left and right which sometimes results in derailing.

According to the present invention a coupling for vehicle cars comprise a container, a buffer spring located in the container, a rod passing through the spring and out of each end wall of the container, two pistons carried on the rod and engaging opposite ends of the spring, said pistons having extensions projecting out of the opposite end walls of the container, abutment means carried by the rod and engaging said extensions, trunnion pins carried by the box transversely of the rod, and means for attaching the rod to the next car.

On assembly, the car is provided with upper and lower plates between which said container is located with the trunnion pins pivoting in said plates whereby the car can swivel right and left and at the same time the load is buffered in both directions.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mine car provided with a coupling made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof with a top wooden seat removed; Figure 3 is an end view in the direction of the arrow 3 on Figure 1.

The rail car has wheels 10 running on rails 11 and has a chassis 12 and support girders such as - 13, 1 4. Attached to the girder 1 3 and otherwise suitably mounted is a fixed steel plate 18.

Mounted on the plate 18 are two columns 20, 21 which support a steel plate 22 above and spaced from the plate 18.

Between the two plates 1 8, 22 there is located a part of the coupling comprising a parallelepipedic steel box in the form of a steel tube 24 of rectangular section having end plates 25, 26 clamped to it by means of rods 28, 29 and nuts 30 screwed on to the ends of the rods.

Within the box is a helical buffer spring 32 the end of which are engaged by pistons 33, 34 which have tubular ends that project out of the box through the end plates 25, 26. A rod 36 passes through the pistons and spring. One end of the rod carries a washer 37 which is held against the piston 33 by a nut 38. The other end of the rod 36 is flattened and enlarged lateraily at 36A to provide a shoulder 36B which engages the piston 34.

Welded to the tube 24 are two trunnion pins 40, 41 on a common axis transverse to the axis of the rod 36 and spring 32. These trunnion pins are pivoted in the plates 1 8, 22.

Two plates 43, 44 are welded to the flat part 36A of the rod 36 and project out of the car between the girders 1 3, 14 and are attached to the next car by a cross-bolt 45 and link plate 46.

Thus the car can readily swing about the axis of the trunnion pins 40, 41 and about the bolt 45, and at the same time the car is buffered by the spring 32 in both directions.

A removable wooden seat 50 is provided at the upper part of the car.

Claims (Filed on 18th November 1983) 1. A coupling for vehicle cars comprise a container, a buffer spring located in the container, a rod passing through the spring and out of each end wall of the container, two pistons carried on the rod and engaging opposite ends of the spring, said pistons having extensions projecting out of the opposite end walls of the container, abutment means carried by the rod and engaging said extensions, trunnion pins carried by the box transversely of the rod, and means for attaching the rod to the next car.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the container consists of a rectangular section box and two end plates clamped one against each end of the box, and the trunnion pins are welded to the upper and lower walls of the box midway between its ends.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for attaching the rod to the next car includes upper and lower plates and a cross-bolt which passes through these plates and through a link plate to be attached to the next car.

4. A mine man-riding car provided with a framework, two plates located horizontally and spaced apart form each other and mounted on the framework, a coupling as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 located between the plates with said trunnion pins pivotally engaged in said plates.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Couplings for vehicle cars This invention relates to couplings for vehicle cars especially for coupling together man-riding cars for use in mines. Such cars run on rails which commonly have a somewhat tortuous shape verring to left and right which sometimes results in derailing. According to the present invention a coupling for vehicle cars comprise a container, a buffer spring located in the container, a rod passing through the spring and out of each end wall of the container, two pistons carried on the rod and engaging opposite ends of the spring, said pistons having extensions projecting out of the opposite end walls of the container, abutment means carried by the rod and engaging said extensions, trunnion pins carried by the box transversely of the rod, and means for attaching the rod to the next car. On assembly, the car is provided with upper and lower plates between which said container is located with the trunnion pins pivoting in said plates whereby the car can swivel right and left and at the same time the load is buffered in both directions. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mine car provided with a coupling made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof with a top wooden seat removed; Figure 3 is an end view in the direction of the arrow 3 on Figure 1. The rail car has wheels 10 running on rails 11 and has a chassis 12 and support girders such as - 13, 1 4. Attached to the girder 1 3 and otherwise suitably mounted is a fixed steel plate 18. Mounted on the plate 18 are two columns 20, 21 which support a steel plate 22 above and spaced from the plate 18. Between the two plates 1 8, 22 there is located a part of the coupling comprising a parallelepipedic steel box in the form of a steel tube 24 of rectangular section having end plates 25, 26 clamped to it by means of rods 28, 29 and nuts 30 screwed on to the ends of the rods. Within the box is a helical buffer spring 32 the end of which are engaged by pistons 33, 34 which have tubular ends that project out of the box through the end plates 25, 26. A rod 36 passes through the pistons and spring. One end of the rod carries a washer 37 which is held against the piston 33 by a nut 38. The other end of the rod 36 is flattened and enlarged lateraily at 36A to provide a shoulder 36B which engages the piston 34. Welded to the tube 24 are two trunnion pins 40, 41 on a common axis transverse to the axis of the rod 36 and spring 32. These trunnion pins are pivoted in the plates 1 8, 22. Two plates 43, 44 are welded to the flat part 36A of the rod 36 and project out of the car between the girders 1 3, 14 and are attached to the next car by a cross-bolt 45 and link plate 46. Thus the car can readily swing about the axis of the trunnion pins 40, 41 and about the bolt 45, and at the same time the car is buffered by the spring 32 in both directions. A removable wooden seat 50 is provided at the upper part of the car. Claims (Filed on 18th November 1983)

1. A coupling for vehicle cars comprise a container, a buffer spring located in the container, a rod passing through the spring and out of each end wall of the container, two pistons carried on the rod and engaging opposite ends of the spring, said pistons having extensions projecting out of the opposite end walls of the container, abutment means carried by the rod and engaging said extensions, trunnion pins carried by the box transversely of the rod, and means for attaching the rod to the next car.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the container consists of a rectangular section box and two end plates clamped one against each end of the box, and the trunnion pins are welded to the upper and lower walls of the box midway between its ends.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for attaching the rod to the next car includes upper and lower plates and a cross-bolt which passes through these plates and through a link plate to be attached to the next car.

4. A mine man-riding car provided with a framework, two plates located horizontally and spaced apart form each other and mounted on the framework, a coupling as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 located between the plates with said trunnion pins pivotally engaged in said plates.