JP3497427B2 - Coupler - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for railway vehicles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional coupler, FIG.
The ones shown in are known. This is a main body 1 that is swingably supported on the body of a railway vehicle on a horizontal plane and has a guard arm 1a on one side of the tip portion, and a knuckle pin 2a that swings to the other side of the tip portion of the body 1. It has a knuckle 2 that is movably supported, and a lock 3 that fixes the swing of the knuckle 2 when connected. Reference numeral 3a is a lock for actuating the lock 3. In this example, the lock 3 is lifted by the lock 3a and rocked around the knuckle pin 2a like the knuckle 2 shown on the right side in FIG. The knuckle 2 can be opened. In practice, the coupler has a base end 1b of the main body 1 swingably supported by a vehicle body of a railway vehicle via a joint (not shown), is swingable right and left on a horizontal plane, and swings vertically. You are free.

With such a coupler mounted on a railway vehicle, a pair of vehicles is coupled by the coupler. As shown in FIG. 5, when the pair of couplers are connected with their central axes substantially aligned, the right knuckle 2 in the open state and the closed knuckle 2 of the other coupler are connected to each other. The pair of vehicles is connected by entering between the arm 1a and closing the knuckle 2 on the right side as shown in FIG. This connected state of the vehicle is maintained by fixing the closed knuckle 2 on the right side with the lock 3.

However, in such a conventional coupler, when the central axes of the pair of couplers are not aligned with each other, for example, when the couplers are coupled with each other at a relatively large angle, they are properly coupled. There is a technical problem that it is easy to occur in the case where it does not go into a closed state. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the central axes of the pair of couplers are coupled to each other with a crossing angle α + β, the right knuckle 2 in the open state hits the knuckle 2 in the left side in the closed state, and the arrow N indicates As shown in the figure, the right knuckle 2 swings around the knuckle pin 2a and is closed, and the right knuckle 2 is close to the left knuckle 2 and the arm 1.
It cannot enter into the space between a and causes a state in which connection is impossible.

Further, when the right side knuckle 2 in the open state is formed by the inner surface of the opponent arm 1a when the right side knuckle 2 is connected in a state where the crossing angle α of the right side coupler is larger in FIG. The knuckle 2 on the right side likewise swings around the knuckle pin 2a and closes, strongly hitting the surface 1c, thereby causing a non-connectable state. Such a problem tends to become apparent when one knuckle 2 is closely received between the other knuckle 2 and the guard arm 1a to suppress backlash.

[0006]

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional technical problems, and has the following configuration. According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the base end portion 1
b is supported by the vehicle body in a swingable manner in the horizontal direction, and one end of the body 1 forms a guard arm 1a; a knuckle 2 swingably supported on the other end of the body 1; A projecting engagement portion 10 provided on the body 1 at one side position of the arm 1a and the knuckle 2 and a receiving space portion provided on the body 1 at the other side position of the guard arm 1a and the knuckle 2. When the pair of couplers are coupled to each other in a state in which their central axes do not coincide with each other in plan view, the protruding engagement portion 10 of one of the couplers engages with the other of the couplers of the other. Inner side surface 2 that enters the receiving space portion 21 of the engaging portion 20 and partitions the receiving space portion 21
3 and at least one of the outer side surfaces 24 and the protruding engagement portion 10
By engaging with each other, crossing angles α1, α between the base line O connecting the base end portions 1b of the pair of couplers and the central axis of each coupler.
After the main body 1 swings so that the number 2 decreases, the knuckle 2 and the guard arm 1a cooperate to receive the knuckle 2 of the mating connector. The configuration of the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the engaged portion 20 is formed with a guide surface 25 for slidingly guiding the protruding engaging portion 10 toward the receiving space portion 21 after contacting the protruding engaging portion 10. The connector of claim 1.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described by giving the same reference numerals to the same functional portions as in the conventional example. 1 to 3, reference numeral 10 is a protruding engaging portion, and 20 is an engaged portion. The protruding engagement portion 10 has a rod shape, and has a base end portion fixed to the body 1 at a lateral position of the knuckle 2 in a plan view, and extends forward in the extending direction of the body 1. Actually, the base end portion of the protruding engagement portion 10 is fixed to the main body 1 via the support member 11. The tip end portion of the protruding engagement portion 10 is appropriately chamfered and finished to be slightly sharpened. Of course, the support member 11 is provided at a position where it does not interfere with the guard arm 1a of the mating connector.

The engaged portion 20 is provided on the main body 1 at the lateral position of the guard arm 1a and forms a receiving space portion 21. That is, the engaged portion 20 is fixed to the side of the arm 1a by the bolt 29 shown in FIG. 2 via the support member 28 to form an opening 22 that opens toward the front. It has an inner side surface 23 and an outer side surface 24 that partition the receiving space portion 21. The receiving space portion 21 is formed without a bottom and has a function of receiving the protruding engagement portion 10. A guide surface 25 is formed outside the outer surface 24. The guide surface 25 has a function of guiding the projecting engagement section 10 to the receiving space 21 while sliding the projecting engagement section 10 when the tip end of the projecting engagement section 10 comes into contact with the guide surface 25. There is.

The projecting engaging portion 10 and the engaged portion 2 as described above.
0 is the knuckle 2 shown in FIG. 1 so that the projecting engagement portion 10 of one coupler enters the receiving space portion 21 of the other coupler before the opposing knuckles 2 and 2 hit each other during the coupling work. The relationship lengths L1 and L2 are set. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the protruding engagement portion 10 is
The opening 22 that is positioned ahead of the tip of the knuckle 2 in the open state by the length L1 and serves as the inlet of the receiving space 21 of the engaged portion 20 is more than the tip of the knuckle 2 in the closed state. Although it is located ahead by the length L2, the length L1 is larger than the length L2. Therefore, before the knuckles 2 and 2 hit each other, the protruding engagement portion 10 of one coupler is connected to the other. Enter the receiving space 21 of the container.

Next, the operation of the above-described first embodiment will be described. The operation of connecting the two rail vehicles provided with the above-described coupler is as follows. Now, two vehicles are located on a curved track, the central axes of the respective couplers are inclined at relatively large angles α1, α2 as shown in FIG. 1, and the base end portions 1b, 1b of the pair of couplers are formed. It is assumed that the base lines O connecting the two and the central axes of the respective couplers are connected at a crossing angle of α1 and α2. If the coupler on the right side in FIG. 1 advances in the X direction with the knuckle 2 opened, the knuckles 2 and 2
Before the two hit each other, the protruding engagement portion 10 of the left coupler enters the receiving space 21 through the opening 22 of the right coupler. The protruding engagement portion 10 that has entered the receiving space portion 21 first comes into contact with one of the inner side surface 23 and the outer side surface 24, and as the protruding engagement portion 10 enters, as schematically shown in FIG. Thus, the protruding engagement portion 10 comes into contact with both the inner side surface 23 and the outer side surface 24. At this time, in the pair of couplers, the main bodies 1 and 1 swing on the horizontal plane about the base end portions 1b and 1b thereof.

Since the pair of couplers are aligned with each other in a state where the protruding engaging portion 10 that has entered the receiving space portion 21 is in contact with both the inner side surface 23 and the outer side surface 24 in this way, the right side The open knuckle 2 of the connector of No. 2 enters between the closed knuckle 2 of the left connector and the guard arm 1a,
After that, the knuckle 2 of the right side connector properly hits the contour surface 1c of the left side connector, and the open knuckle 2 gradually swings and closes around the knuckle pin 2a, so that the knuckle 2 and the guard arm 1a work together. Then, the knuckle 2 of the mating coupler is properly received and coupled. In the state in which the pair of couplers are coupled, not only the protruding engagement portion 10 of the left-sided coupler has entered the receiving space portion 21 of the right-sided coupler, but also the left-sided protrusion as shown in the upper part of FIG. The projecting engagement portion 10 of the right-hand side coupler has entered the receiving space portion 21 of the coupler.

Next, the intersection angle α of the central axes of the right couplers
When 1 is larger than the intersection angle α2 of the central axis of the left coupler, the projecting engagement portion 10 of the left coupler guides the right coupler when connecting two rail cars. Hit surface 25. At that time, the projecting engagement portion 10 is guided toward the opening 22 while sliding on the guide surface 25, and enters the receiving space portion 21 after being disengaged from the guide surface 25.

After the protruding engagement portion 10 of one of the couplers has entered the receiving space portion 21 of the other coupler, the pair of knuckles 2 and 2 collide with each other or the knuckle in which one coupler is open. Since it is prevented that 2 hits the contour surface 1c of the mating connector strongly and the open knuckle 2 is closed before the coupling, as described above, the knuckle 2 of the left coupling is Jointly with the arm 1a, the knuckle 2 of the right connector is properly received. In addition, when the crossing angles α1 and α2 between the base line O connecting the base end portions 1b of the pair of couplers and the central axes of the left and right couplers are formed in different directions with respect to the base line O, the same guide is performed. The function of the surface 25 makes it possible to obtain a proper connection state.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the projecting engagement portion 10 is provided on the main body 1 at the lateral position of the knuckle 2,
Although the engaged portion 20 is provided on the main body 1 at the lateral position of the guard arm 1a, the protruding engaging portion 10 is provided on the main body 1 at the lateral position of the guard arm 1a, and the engaged portion 20 is provided on the knuckle 2 side. Even if it is provided in the main body 1 in the one side position, it is possible to obtain the same operation as that of the above-mentioned embodiment with respect to the correction of the central axis of the pair of couplers immediately before the coupling within a predetermined range. Further, the base line O connecting the base end portions 1b of the pair of couplers is the end of the joint when the end portion of the joint connected to the base end portion 1b of the main body 1 can swing left and right on a horizontal plane. It becomes a line connecting the parts.

[0015]

As can be understood from the above description,
According to the connector of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, when connecting the pair of couplers in a state where the central axes do not match in plan view, after the protruding engagement portion of one coupler engages with the engaged portion of the other coupler, the pair of couplers After the main body swings so that the crossing angle between the base line connecting the base end portions of and the central axis of each coupler decreases, the protruding engagement portion enters the receiving space portion of the engaged portion, and then the knuckle Since the arm guard cooperates with receiving the knuckle of the other side coupler, the central axis of the pair of couplers just before the connection is corrected within the predetermined range, and the connection on the curved track becomes normal. The problem of not being solved is resolved.

In addition, since it is constructed by providing the projecting engagement portion and the engaged portion on each of the pair of couplers, only a slight structural change is made to the conventional coupler.
Can respond. Further, since the central axis immediately before the connection of the pair of couplers can be corrected within a predetermined range,
It is possible to omit the centering device for returning the central axis of the coupler to the center, and obtain an appropriate connected state not only on the curved track but also on the straight track.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a pair of couplers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the coupler.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a connected state of the pair of couplers.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the protruding engaging portion and the engaged portion.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a pair of conventional connectors.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a connected state of the pair of couplers.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the connecting operation of the pair of couplers.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: body, 1a: arm, 1b: base end part, 2: knuckle,
10: protruding engagement portion, 20: engaged portion, 21: receiving space portion, 23: inner side surface, 24: outer side surface, 25: guide surface, α
1, α2: crossing angle.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Teruyuki Inventor 1-6-1, Funakoshi Minami, Aki-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-50-100705 (JP, A) Kaihei 7-205810 (JP, A) Actual opening Flat 6-35072 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho 51-102106 (JP, U) Special public Sho 32-10756 (JP, B1) Special public Sho 41-2321 ( JP, B1) JP-B 31-1060 (JP, B1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B61G 3/00-3/30 B61G 7/06-7/12

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A body (1) whose base end (1b) is swingably supported in a horizontal direction on a vehicle body, and one side of the tip part forms a guard arm (1a), and a tip part of the body (1). A knuckle (2) swingably supported on the other side, and a protruding engagement portion (10) provided on the body (1) at one side position of the arm (1a) and the knuckle (2). And provided on the body (1) at the other lateral position of the arm (1a) and the knuckle (2),
When the pair of couplers are connected to each other with the engaged portion (20) forming the receiving space portion (21) and the central axes thereof do not match in plan view, the protruding engaging portion of one of the couplers ( 10) enters into the receiving space portion (21) of the engaged portion (20) of the other coupler, and the inner side surface (23) that defines the receiving space portion (21)
By engaging at least one of the outer surface (24) and the protruding engagement portion (10), the base line (O) connecting the base end portions (1b) of the pair of couplers and the central axis of each coupler. After the main body (1) swings so that the crossing angle (α1, α2) with and decreases, the knuckle (2) and the guard arm (1a) work together to remove the knuckle (2) of the mating connector. A coupler characterized by receiving. 2. A guide surface (25) is formed on the engaged portion (20) for slidingly guiding the protruding engaging portion (10) to the receiving space portion (21). The connector according to claim 1, wherein