GB2583475A

GB2583475A - Coupler assembly for a rail vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2583475A
Application number: GB1905944.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bonsall Matthew; gardner Ian; Levitt Aden
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2019-04-29
Filing date: 2019-04-29
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-29
Also published as: GB2583475B; GB201905944D0; SE544086C2; SE2050478A1

Abstract

A coupler assembly for a rail vehicle, comprising a support 14 intended to be fixed relative to a vehicle body of the rail vehicle, a coupler 16 intended to be pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, beneath the support 14, so as to be laterally movable relative to the vehicle body away form a median position and toward the median position, and one or more linkage assemblies (28, figure 3 and 4), each comprising a retaining link (30) for laterally retaining the coupler 16 relative to the support 14 in the median position and an associated releasable attachment device (32) for releaseably attaching the retaining link (30) to the support 14 in the median position. The retaining link (30) comprises an arm mounted on the coupler 16 so as to pivot about a pivot axis (400, figure 4) fixed relative to the coupler 16 between a released position and an engaged position, wherein the link (30) has a free end, which is able to be engaged with the associated releasable attachment device (32) when the arm is in an engaged position and the coupler is in the median position.

Description

COUPLER ASSEMBLY FOR A RAIL VEHICLE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupler assembly for a rail vehicle, provided with means for laterally retaining the coupler assembly in a median position with respect to the rail vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A coupler assembly for a rail vehicle known from prior art document DE1903318 comprises a coupler pivotally mounted relative to a vehicle body of the rail vehicle, a support mounted on the vehicle body, a pair of chains each with one end attached to the automatic coupler and another end releasably engaged in a hook attached to the support, for laterally retaining the automatic coupler relative to the support in a medium position. In order to pivot the automatic coupler, an operator, usually the driver, has to descend from the train on the track to release the chains from the hooks. As soon as the first chain is released the coupler can start to move, even before the second chain is released, which complicates the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention aims to provide improved connection between the coupler and the support, to avoid hazards associated with a descent on the track.

[0004] According to the invention, there is provided a coupler assembly for a rail vehicle, comprising: a support intended to be fixed relative to a vehicle body of the rail vehicle, a coupler intended to be pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, beneath the support, so as to be laterally movable relative to the vehicle body away from a median position and toward the median position, one or more linkage assemblies, each comprising a retaining link for laterally retaining the coupler relative to the support in the median position and an associated releasable attachment device for releasably attaching the retaining link to the support in the median position, wherein the retaining link comprises an arm mounted on the coupler so as to pivot about a pivot axis fixed relative to the coupler between a released position and an engaged position, wherein the arm has a free end, which is able to be engaged with the associated releasable attachment device when the arm is in the engaged position and the coupler is in the median position.

[0005] The movement of the arm is a planar movement, parallel to a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis, and can therefore be easily controlled by the operator with a tool, e.g. pole, from a standing position on a floor of the vehicle or on the threshold of a detrainment door of the vehicle.

[0006] Preferably, each releasable attachment device is fixed to the support at a height, which is above the pivot axis when the coupler is in the median position. The linkage assembly comprising the retaining link and the associated releasable attachment device is used not only for laterally retaining the automatic coupler but also for vertically supporting it relative to the support in the median position.

[0007] Preferably, each of the one or more linkage assemblies comprises a catch for catching the arm in the released position. The released position of the arm can be chosen according to ergonomic considerations.

[0008] Advantageously, the support is an anti-climber or a structural component of the vehicle body.

[0009] Preferably, the pivot axis is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coupler.

[0010] The movement of the arm about the pivot axis can be a pure rotation.

Alternatively, the arm is mounted on the coupler so as to allow a limited translation of the arm relative pivot axis in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis, to allow a limited motion of the automatic coupler about its pivot axis or pivot point.

[0011] In one embodiment, the arm is provided with a weakened section to allow a controlled plastic deformation of the arm in case of overloading.

[0012] In one embodiment, the coupler comprises a footstep.

[0013] The releasable attachment device should preferably be easy to handle from a standing position at the level of the floor of the vehicle, with a simple tool such as a pole, e.g. a pole provided with a hook. In one embodiment, the releasable attachment device comprises a locking pin, preferably a locking pin with an axial lock, preferably a detent pin or a push-button release pin, which is able Lo engage a hole of the arm in the engaged position.

[0014] In one embodiment, the one or more linkage assemblies comprise two linkage assemblies, wherein the two arms of the two linkage assemblies extend on respective sides of a vertical median plane (P) of the coupler assembly. The vertical median plane is preferably a plane of symmetry for the two linkage assemblies.

[0015] In one embodiment, the support comprises a platform provided with at least one through hole, and the coupler assembly further comprises a steering pole for moving the coupler relative to the support, wherein the steering pole has dimensions such as to be able to extend through the through hole such that a lower end of the steering pole bears laterally against the coupler while an upper end of the steering pole protrudes from the through hole at a distance of more than 1400 mm from the through hole, the though hole having dimensions such as to form a fulcrum for the steering pole and allow a pivoting movement of the steering pole relative to the support. Preferably, the steering pole is provided with a collar for limiting an insertion stroke of the steering pole into the through hole.

[0016] Advantageously, the lower end of the steering pole is provided with a hook for actuating the releasable attachment device. Hence, the same pole can be used both for steering the automatic coupler and for handling the releasable attachment device and the arm of each linkage assembly. Preferably, the steering pole is telescopic. The effective length of the telescopic pole can be adjusted for performing each task.

[0017] In one embodiment, the platform is a door threshold for a front door of the rail vehicle.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a rail vehicle comprising a vehicle body and the coupler assembly as described hereinbefore, wherein the coupler is pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, and the support is fixed to vehicle body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention given as a non-restrictive example only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which: figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a front end of a rail vehicle equipped with an automatic coupler assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; -figure 2 is a side view of the automatic coupler assembly of figure 1; figure 3 is a front view of the automatic coupler assembly of figure 1 in a median position, with a pair of linkage assemblies, each in an engaged position; -figure 4 is a detail view of one of the linkage assemblies of the automatic coupler assembly of figure 3, in an engaged position; -figures 5 and 6 illustrate intermediate positions of the linkage assembly of figure 4, between the engaged position of figure 4 and a disengaged position illustrated in figure 7; figure 8 is a front view of the automatic coupler of figure 1, with the pair of linkage assemblies in a disengaged position, and a steering pole for steering an automatic coupler of the automatic coupler assembly.

[0020] Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] With reference to Figure 1, a front end 10 of a rail vehicle comprises a shell 12, an anti-climber 14 and an automatic coupler 16.

[0022] The shell 12 is part of the vehicle body and is provided with a windscreen 18 that gives external visibility from a driver's cab and a detrainment door 20 used periodically by staff for access and egress but also used by the general public for egress when an emergency detrainment is required and side access to the train is either restricted or not available, for example in a tunnel.

[0023] A door threshold 22 or upper step is fixed to the anti-climber 14 in front of the detrainment door 20 outside the shell 12 of the vehicle body. The anti-climber 14 is illustrated as a central anti-climber but other types of anti-climbers can be used, e.g. an outboard anti-climber with two independent anti-climber units located laterally on both sides of the detrainment door 20 and an independent door threshold 22 for the detrainment door 20.

[0024] The automatic coupler 16 is located beneath the anti-climber 14 and provided with footsteps 24. As illustrated in figure 2, the automatic coupler 16 is pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, beneath the anti-climber 14, with at least a first degree of freedom of rotation about a vertical pivot axis 100 and preferably at least a second degree of freedom of rotation 200 about a transverse horizontal axis of the rail vehicle, perpendicular to the plane of figure 2. The pivot connection 26 between the automatic coupler 16 and the vehicle body is elastically biased toward a median position illustrated in figures 2 and 3, in which a longitudinal axis 300 of the automatic coupler 16 is located in a vertical median longitudinal plane P of the rail vehicle, and preferably horizontal.

[0025] The automatic coupler 16 is linked to the anti-climber 14 by means of two linkage assemblies 28, to limit lateral motion of the automatic coupler 16 and vertically support the automatic coupler 16. Each of the two linkage assemblies 28 is located on a respective side a vertical median longitudinal plane P of the rail vehicle and comprises a retaining link 30 for laterally retaining the automatic coupler 16 relative to the anti-climber 14 in the median position and an associated releasable attachment device 32 fixed to the anti-climber 14 for releasably attaching the retaining link 30 to the anti-climber 14 in the median position.

[0026] More specifically, the retaining link 30 is an arm mounted on the automatic coupler so as to pivot about a pivot axis 400 defined by a pin 31 fixed relative to the automatic coupler 16, between an engaged position illustrated in figure 3 and 4 and a released position illustrated in figure 7 and 8. The pivot axis 400 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 300 of the automatic coupler 16. The arm 30 has a free end provided with a hole 34, in which the associated releasable attachment device 32 can be engaged when the arm 30 is in the engaged position and the automatic coupler 16 is in the median position, as illustrated in figure 4. The releasable attachment device 32 comprises two brackets 36 fixed to the anti-climber 16 and a locking pin 38 with an axial lock, preferably a detent pin, which can be slidably engaged into a pair of aligned holes 40 provided in the two brackets 36 and in the hole 34 of the arm so as to lock the arm 30. The detent pin 38 is provided with a ring 42 to operate it.

[0027] Each linkage assembly 28 further comprises a catch 44 fixed to the automatic coupler 16 for catching the arm 30 in the released position, as illustrated in figure 7 and 8. Each releasable attachment device 32 is fixed to the anti-climber 14 at a height, which is above the pivot axis 400. Once engaged, each linkage assembly 28 laterally retains and vertically supports the automatic coupler 16 relative to the anti-climber 14 in the median position. The arms 30 are preferably provided with a weakened section 46 to allow a controlled plastic deformation of the arm 30 in case of overloading.

[0028] To operate the detent pin 38 and release the arm 30 from the anti-climber 14, a member of staff can catch and pull the ring 42 from a standing or crouched position on the door threshold 22.

[0029] The door threshold 22 is provided with a set of one or more through holes 47. A steering pole 48 is used as lever to move the automatic coupler 14 relative to the support away from the standard median position, as shown in figure 8. 30 The steering pole 48 can extend through the through hole 47 so that a lower end of the steering pole bears laterally against the automatic coupler while an upper end of the steering pole 48 protrudes from the through hole at a distance D of more than 1400 mm from the through hole 47. The though hole 47 has dimensions such as to form a fulcrum for the steering pole 48 and allow a pivoting movement of the steering pole 48 relative to the door threshold 22. A member of staff standing on the door threshold 22 or inside the vehicle can pivot the steering pole 48 and laterally move the automatic coupler 16 in the desired direction. The steering pole 48 is provided with a collar 50 for limiting an insertion stroke of the steering pole 48 into the through hole 47.

[0030] The steering pole 48 can be provided with a hook to operate the detent pin 38. If necessary, the steering pole 48 can be telescopic, so that it can be used in the retracted state to operate the detent pin 38 and in its extended state to pivot the automatic coupler 16.

[0031] As a variant, the pins 31 can be received in a slot of the arms 30 so as to allow a limited translation of the arm 30 relative pivot axis 400 in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis 400.

[0032] As a variant, the releasable attachment device 32 can be fixed to the door threshold 22 instead of the anti-climber 14.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A coupler assembly for a rail vehicle, comprising: a support (14) intended to be fixed relative to a vehicle body of the rail vehicle, - a coupler (16) intended to be pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, beneath the support (14), so as to be laterally movable relative to the vehicle body away from a median position and toward the median position, -one or more linkage assemblies (28), each comprising a retaining link (30) for laterally retaining the coupler (16) relative to the support (14) in the median position and an associated releasable attachment device (32) for releasably attaching the retaining link (30) to the support (14) in the median position, characterised in that the retaining link (30) comprises an arm mounted on the coupler (16) so as to pivot about a pivot axis (400) fixed relative to the coupler (16) between a released position and an engaged position, wherein the arm (32) has a free end, which is able to be engaged with the associated releasable attachment device (32) when the arm (30) is in the engaged position and the coupler (16) is in the median position.
2. The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein each releasable attachment device (32) is fixed to the support (14) at a height, which is above the pivot axis (400) when the coupler (16) is in the median position.
3. The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more linkage assemblies (28) comprises a catch (44) for catching the arm (30) in the released position.
4. The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (14) is an anti-climber or a structural component of the vehicle body.
5. The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot axis (400) is parallel to a longitudinal axis (300) of the coupler (16).
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm (30) is mounted on the coupler (16) so as to allow a limited translation of the arm (30) relative pivot axis (400) in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis (400).
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm (30) is provided with a weakened section (46) to allow a controlled plastic deformation of the arm (30) in case of overloading.
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupler comprises a footstep (24).
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable attachment device (32) comprises a locking pin (38), preferably a locking pin with an axial lock, preferably a detent pin or a push-button release pin, which is able to engage a hole (34) of the arm (30) in the engaged position.
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more linkage assemblies (28) comprise two linkage assemblies, wherein the two arms (30) of the two linkage assemblies (28) extend on respective sides of a vertical median plane (P) of the coupler assembly.
The coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (14) comprises a platform (22) provided with at least one through hole (47), and the coupler assembly further comprises a steering pole (48) for moving the coupler (16) relative to the support (14), wherein the steering pole (48) has dimensions such as to be able to extend through the through hole such that a lower end of the steering pole (48) bears laterally against the coupler (16) while an upper end of the steering pole (48) protrudes from the through hole (47) at a distance of more than 1400 mm from the through hole (47), the though hole (47) having dimensions such as to form a fulcrum for the steering pole (48) and allow a pivoting movement of the steering pole (48) relative to the support (14). 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
12. The coupler assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering pole (48) is provided with a collar (50) for limiting an insertion stroke of the steering pole (48) into the through hole (47).
13. The coupler assembly of any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the lower end of the steering pole (48) is provided with a hook for actuating the releasable attachment device (32).
14. The coupler assembly of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the steering pole (48) is telescopic.
15. The coupler assembly of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the platform is a door threshold (22) for a front door (20) of the rail vehicle.
16. A rail vehicle comprising a vehicle body, characterised in that it further comprises the coupler assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupler (16) is pivotally mounted relative to the vehicle body, and the support (14) is fixed to vehicle body.