GB2221438A

GB2221438A - Emergency release system for train de-railments

Info

Publication number: GB2221438A
Application number: GB8814579A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Anthony Manser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-06-20
Filing date: 1988-06-20
Publication date: 1990-02-07
Also published as: GB8814579D0

Abstract

The system overcomes the problem of train carriages full of people and cargo, all becoming de-railed should a de-railment happen to one part of the train. The system scans the rail with a light sensor and uses micro switches to tell the emergency system when one of the carriages has both bogies away from the line. In this event an explosive charge or hydraulic or pneumatic device forces a piston on the connector of the train carriage to extract the connection pin from the joint connector, thus leaving the carriages separated from each other, the braking system will also disconnect then leaving the fail-safe brakes to come on and stop the free-running carriages. The piston has a slotted ramp located underneath the coupling pin head, and the latter rides up the ramp when the piston is actuated, thus withdrawing the pin from the coupling hole. <IMAGE>

Description

EMERGENCY RELEASE SYTEM FOR TRAIN DE-RAILMENTS This invention relates to the emergency release of cariages from connected train in the event of the start of a de-railment, allowing seperate free braking vehicles on the same rail.

The invention consist of a new idea in the connection of a train vehicle, allowing the possibility of free braking independent cariages should a de-railment start. In the event of one cariage having both sets of its bogies wheels away from the track, explosive pins will break the cariage connections from eack other,and independent free braking can take place on each cariage. This will save the total de-railment of the train should one start, and possibly save many lives in the event of b bad accident here derailment could be fateful for the occupents of the train.

The system for the detonation of the explosive charge can be be made with the use of micro switches on the bogies, together with a light sensor that will check if it is watching the rail. If both of these say it is not on the track all tne pin explosive pistons will fire and remove the pins from the connection and thus basicaly let each cariage be independent apart from the brake connection which will have a means of seperating with the firing of the charge and allowing the brackes to come on in the seperated conaition.

With reference to the crawing, the system for the powered removal of the connector pin with the explosive charge is shown.

A section through the centre of the pin connection with normal use locking of the pin and pin removal by pulling the piston forward by hand to a point where the yin head lock cover is clear of the head of the pin, is shown.

The piston is shown and the ram body with in this case an explosive charge to tire the piston forward in emergency nowever this could be linked to a hydralic or pneumatic system should the design of the train permit.

Assuming a pinned tennon joint type of basic fixing allowing radial horizontal movement about pin.

Gne cariage for use of tis patent will be of a female type of joint connection and the other a male type.

The drawing shows the male and female ends of the cariage connectors engaged and pinned. A piston having a turned over end and special clearence slot through which the pin may go through the piston, and carriage male and female parts of the connection.is also shown in its normal position, with the piston pulled back with a return spring thus locking the pin head with the turnover part at the end of the piston.

For normal operation the piston may be pulled forward and the pin inserted or removed.

In the event of an emergency, it is required that the pin be removed under power to a point where the male part of tne connection can come free.

In this event the detonator activates the explosive charge which forces the piston forward with great pressure. The slot in the piston allows the piston to move under the pin head and inso doing the pin is extracted when it engage with the taper part of the piston. hen the piston has traveled one fall length of its slot the internal non return lock pin will spring up and stop the piston return thus keeping the connecter open and the cariages independent from mechanical connection.

Claims

a. This system will allow the emergency de-connection of railway cariages.

b. Ine system will activate if one cariage is off the railway line.

c. All de-connected cariages will find their own stop with free braking of the cariage on the same railway line.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A ram body and piston activator, where the piston has a special shape end. The piston end has a turned over end for the locking a pin by the head, a slot for clearing the pin sides in its forward movement, and a tapered section for the engaging of the pin head and by mechanical advantage forcing the pin to disengage from the connection, when activated.
2 As in 1, but also 'having a return spring on the piston, so that normal pull out of the piston to clear head of pin, will allow assembly of joint with the pin, or removal of pin.
3 As in 1, and 2, but having also a pressure release hole at the end of the piston stroke. At this point a sprung loaded pin shots behind the piston and locks it out, until reset. (This is not necessary on all types.)
4 As in 1,2,3, having independent manual or automatic means of activating the piston force, by explosive, hydraulic, or pnematic systems.
5 For use on joints either overlapped, butted, or tennoned, where a pin connects the apparatus together, and the removal of the pin allows partial or full disengagement of the joint parts.