GB2336822A

GB2336822A - Automatic coupler

Info

Publication number: GB2336822A
Application number: GB9808833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Fowle
Original assignee: William Cook Cast Products Ltd
Current assignee: William Cook Cast Products Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-27
Filing date: 1998-04-27
Publication date: 1999-11-03
Also published as: GB9808833D0

Abstract

An automatic coupler (20) for a vehicle comprises a draw bar portion (21), a draw hook (24) and an automatic coupling portion (23). The draw hook (24) projects from the side of the draw bar (21). The automatic coupling portion (23) is moveable about a vertical axis between a first position in which the draw hook (24) is exposed for use and a second position in which the draw hook (24) is shielded.

Description

1 COUPLERS 2336822 The present invention relates to couplers, in

particular to couplers for railway vehicles and especially to automatic 5 couplers.

Various types of automatic coupling devices for railway vehicles are known, which are used to join together adjacent vehicles of a train, of which the buckeye"type is one of the most well known. Often, automatic couplers are the sole means of Joining one vehicle to the next, but it is also known to provide automatic couplers which also include a conventional draw hook. The hook is used where the adjacent vehicle also has a hook rather than an automatic coupler and the hooks of the two vehicles are then joined by means of a connecting shackle. The hook may also find use in the event that the automatic coupler fails. A conventional design of automatic coupler including a draw hook is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a known automatic coupler and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the coupler of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the conventional automatic coupler 1 includes a draw bar 2 and an automatic coupler portion 3. In the illustrated automatic coupler, the coupler portion is a buckeye type coupler. This type of coupler is well known in the art and will not be described in detail. The buckeye coupler includes knuckles 4 which engage corresponding knuckles of a second coupler when the two couplers are urged together. A latching mechanism retains the couplers in the engaged position. At a first end of the draw bar 2 is a vertical through bore 5 and the automatic coupler is attached to the vehicle by means of a pin, shaft or the like which passes through the bore 5.

This arrangement allows the automatic coupler 1 at least some movement in a horizontal plane about the axis of the bore 5, for example, to accommodate relative movement of the coupled vehicles.

1 2 At the second end of the draw bar 2, a hook 6 is provided, which may also be used for coupling vehicles by means of a conventional coupling shackle. In the normal use position of the automatic coupler, the automatic coupler portion 3 at least partially surrounds the hook 6 so that the hook cannot be used.

In order to allow use of the hook 6, f or example when an adjacent vehicle does not have an automatic coupler, or when the automatic coupler fails, the automatic coupler portion 3 is mounted on the draw bar 2 by means of a hinge arrangement. This allows the automatic coupler portion 3 to swing through an arc of about 900 (anticlockwise in Figure 2) about the horizontal axis of the hinge, so that the hook 6 is revealed and the automatic coupler portion 3 hangs below the hook 6. In the coupler illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the hinge is provided by means of a bore 7 in the draw bar 2 through which passes a pin 8. The automatic coupler portion includes forks 9 which are mounted on the pin 8, allowing the automatic coupler portion 3 to rotate about the pin 8. A removable pin 10 passes through the forks 9 and rests in the hook 6 in order to retain the automatic coupler portion 3 in its raised position.

Although automatic couplers of the type described are effective in coupling railway vehicles, they have some disadvantages. In particular, the automatic coupler portion may have a weight of the order of 90kg and it is therefore difficult for one person to raise the automatic coupler portion from its lowered position, hold it in its raised position and at the same time to insert the retaining pin to retain the automatic coupler in its raised position. It is believed that injuries to personnel have been attributed to the strain of lifting and holding such automatic coupling portions.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an automatic coupler which is effective in use, simple and 3 reliable in construction and which overcomes the above described problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic coupler for a vehicle comprising: a drawbar portion engageable with the vehicle and operatively moveable about a substantially vertical axis; an automatic coupler portion attached to the draw bar portion; and a draw hook, wherein the automatic coupler portion is moveable in a substantially horizontal plane between a first position in which the draw hook is exposed for use and a second position in which the draw hook is shielded by the automatic coupler portion.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the automatic coupler portion may operatively move about a vertical axis between the first and second positions. Preferably, a locking device such as detent or latching means are provided to retain the automatic coupler portion in its respective first and second positions.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the draw hook projects from one side of the draw bar of an angle with respect to the major axis of the draw bar and substantially in the same horizontal plane as the draw bar. Preferably, the draw hook projects at an angle of less than 40', more especially less than 30', and most preferably less than 200, for example 100:

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a railway vehicle including a coupler according to the first aspect of the invention.

By means of the present invention, when it is desired to use the draw hook to couple adjacent vehicles, the automatic coupler portion may simply be moved through a horizontal plane to expose the draw hook and, similarly, when the use of the automatic coupler is required, the automatic coupler portion is simply moved in the reverse 4 direction, through the horizontal plane. It is not necessary for an operator to lift the heavy automatic coupler portion, nor to hold its weight while retaining means such as a pin are placed in position.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will be made, by way of example only, to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional automatic coupler; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the automatic coupler of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of an automatic coupler according to the invention; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the coupler of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing adjacent vehicles joined by means of automatic coupler portions of automatic couplers according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing adjacent vehicles joined by means of draw hooks, one of the vehicles including an automatic coupler according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6, the automatic coupler 20 according to the invention comprises a draw bar 21 which is attachable to a vehicle at its f irst end by means of a through bore 22. A pin or shaft (not illustrated) passes through the bore 22 to attach the draw bar 21 to the vehicle. The draw bar 21 (and hence the coupler 20) is able to move about the axis of the bore 22 in a substantially horizontal plane. The draw bar may be attached to the vehicle by other suitable means provided that it may move about a substantially vertical axis.

A -1 At a second end of the draw bar 21 is provided an automatic coupling portion 23. The automatic coupling portion 23 may be of any known type and in the embodiment illustrated is of the buckeye type. The coupler 20 further includes a draw hook 24 which is disposed at one side of the draw bar 21, projecting at an angle 0 with respect to the draw bar 21. The angle 0 need only be sufficient to allow a coupling shackle 60 (see Figure 6) to pass over the hook without interference from the draw bar 21. The angle 0 is preferably less than 4T, especially less than 300, most preferably less than 2T, for example 10.

The automatic coupler portion 23 is mounted on the draw bar 21 so that it may move in a horizontal plane, that is, about a vertical axis in the embodiment illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment the second end of the draw bar 21 includes forks 25 and a pin (not shown). The automatic coupler portion 21 includes an end region having a substantially vertical through bore. The end region sits in the forks 25 of the draw bar 21 and the pin of the draw bar 21 passes through the bore of the automatic coupler portion 23. Thus, the automatic coupler portion 23 is able to swing about the pin of the draw bar 21 (Figures 5 and 6). Clearly, any other suitable linkage which allows the automatic coupler portion 21 to move in a horizontal plane, in particular, about a vertical axis, may be used.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the automatic coupler 20 is in its configuration for coupling adjacent vehicles by means of the automatic coupler portion 23. Thus J. the automatic coupler portion 23 is in its second position in which the automatic coupler is substantially aligned with the major axis 26 of the draw bar (and generally with the vehicle). In this second position, the automatic coupler portion 23 shields the draw hook invention it Is not necessary that portion covers or partially covers hook (although it may do so).it 24. In the present the automatic coupler or surrounds the draw is necessary only the 6 automatic coupler portion in its second position impedes access to the draw hook for attachment of the shackle 60. That is, the automatic coupler portion 23 prevents the draw hook 24 from being used in conjunction with a shackle 60 to couple adjacent vehicles since the automatic coupler portion 23 stands in the path which the shackle 60 would adopt in use.

Thus, when it is desired to use the draw hook 24 to couple 10 adjacent vehicles, the automatic coupler portion 23 is moved about vertical axis 27 (Fig 3) to its first position to expose the draw hook 24, as is illustrated in Figure 6. A shackle 60 may then be placed over the draw hook 24 and over the draw hook 61 of the adjacent vehicle. Because the draw bar 21 may move about the axis of the bore 22, the draw bar 21 may move so that the draw hooks 24, 61 are in alignment.

It is particularly preferred that locking means such as 20 latching means or detent means are provided in order to retain the automatic coupler portion 23 in its respective first and second positions. In one preferred arrangement, the second end of the draw bar 21 includes a first bore 28 and a second bore (not illustrated) corresponding to the respective first and second positions of the automatic coupler portion 23. The automatic coupler portion includes a detent pin 29 which is biased by suitable means, such as a coil spring, to enter the respective first and second bores to retain the automatic coupler portion 23 in its respective first and second positions. The pin 29 includes engagement surfaces, such as annular ribs or washers, which may be acted on by a lever 30 to raise the pin out of the first and second bores to allow movement of the automatic coupler portion 23.

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Claims

2.

An automatic coupler for a vehicle comprising a draw bar portion engageable with the vehicle and operatively moveable about a substantially vertical axis, an automatic coupler portion attached to the draw bar portion, and a draw hook, wherein the automatic coupler portion is moveable in a substantially horizontal plane between a first position in which the draw hook is exposed for use and a second position in which the draw hook is shielded by the automatic coupler portion.

An automatic coupler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automatic coupler portion is moveable between the first and second positions about a substantially vertical axis.
3. An automatic coupler as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising locking means for retaining the automatic coupler portion in its respective first and second positions.
4.

An automatic coupler as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the draw hook projects from the draw bar portion at an angle with respect to the major axis of the draw bar portion and substantially in the same horizontal plane as the draw bar portion.
An automatic coupler as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angle is less than 301.
6. An automatic coupler as claimed in claim 4 wherein the angle is less than 200.
7. An automatic coupler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 3 to 6.

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8. A railway vehicle including an automatic coupler as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7.