MXPA98004407A - Hook force meter coupl - Google Patents

Abstract

A gauge to measure the force at which the hooks of the couplers used for the coupling of passenger transport vehicles are pushed when the vehicles are coupled by means of the hooks. Including the meter an arm element having at least one guide pin disposed therein. The guide pin has a suitable size and position to settle in at least one guide pin hole disposed in a transport rail vehicle coupler. An elongated tubular housing element is mounted on the arm element. Within the elongated tubular housing member a main spiral spring is disposed. An arrow element is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the main spiral spring. A piston element extends from the front end of the arrow element and the tubular housing member, to engage with the hook portion of the coupler and a power regulation screw is engaged by means of a thread to one end of the element of elongate tubular housing, opposite the front end of the tubular housing member, for displacing the arrow element within the elongated tubular housing member and to the piston in and from the coupling hook.

Description

HOOK FORCE METER COUPLER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to couplers of the type used for passenger transport and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a device for measuring the force with which the coupling hooks are bent by the springs used to ensure the positive and reliable coupling of cars of the type used for the transport of passengers, in a safe and reliable manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The coupling, or coupling, hooks for railway vehicles for the transport of passengers, operate under a predetermined force, which is measured continuously by means of a cable loop connected to a dynamometer meter, which in turn, it is connected to another cable, which has a handle placed at a remote end of it. The cable loop is placed around the coupler hook and a direct force of between about 100 to 140 pounds is applied by one operator, while another person observes the initial movement of the hook. The dynamometer meter has a dial that is read when the movement is observed P1332 / 98 Initial X of the hook. Subsequently, the operator determines whether the torque setting is within a specified range of engagement force. The reliability and repeatability of said method of shooting the prior art, at best, is only a convention and an estimate. The reason for this is that, frequently, the operator's stays are uneven and the reaction time of the observer watching the initial movement of the hook is slow. In addition, the cable scheme is somewhat unsafe and dangerous, because the cable loop slips or the cable breaks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the aforementioned problems, through the use of an arm that has two bolts that have a suitable size and are separated from each other, so that they settle in the guide bolt holes of the plate adjustment of a coupler. An elongated tubular compartment is mounted on the arm and contains a main spiral spring, which is placed around an elongated shaft. A piston extends from the front end of the arrow and the tubular compartment, to couple the hook of the coupler, and a screw for the P1332 / 98MX power regulation is screwed into the end of the compartment opposite the front end, to transport the arrow located inside the compartment and to the piston, to and from a coupling hook. A dial indicator is placed in contact with the hook, so that when the hook moves against the force of the coupler drive spring, a worker can feel the movement of the hook, by observing the dial measurement of movement. Markings can be placed on the power regulation screws, on the tubular compartment and / or the piston, in order to determine the magnitude of the movement of the power regulation screw, or of the piston, in addition to the magnitude of the force experienced by the meter and the piston, necessary to effect the movement of the hook.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, one of the first primary objectives of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the force of the hook, which is a more reliable, accurate and safe means to perform the measurement of the force to which the coupling hooks of railway passenger vehicles are P1332 / 98MX driven or spring-loaded. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the force of the hook, which does not require the use of a pulling force on a cable fixed to a coupler hook, to measure the force at which the hooks couplers for railway passenger vehicles operated or spring-loaded. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the force of the hook, which will provide, repeatedly, reliable measurements of the force of the coupling hook, which are not compromised by involuntary jerking or pulling on the cable by a worker, or by the slow reaction of the worker regarding the observation of the initial movement of the hook. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the force of the hook, which is a compact and lightweight instrument that can be quickly applied directly to a coupler. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for measuring the force of the hook, which can be applied to a coupler while it is mounted on a passenger rail vehicle, or on a coupler that has been removed from said vehicle, no need to make special arrangements to hold the P1332 / 98MX coupler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OR FIGURES The advantages and objectives of the present invention will be better understood taking into consideration the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings or figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus of the Prior art, used to perform the measurement of the force exerted on a coupler hook of a passenger rail vehicle by means of a hook actuation spring. Figure 2A and Figure 2B show, respectively, a side view and an elevated view of a coupler hook assembly. Figure 3A is a plan view of the force measuring device of the coupling hook in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3B is a sectioned view of the measuring device, taken along the line III-III of Figure 3A. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the measuring device of the present invention, connected to the coupling hook assembly plate illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B.

P1332 / 98MX PREFERRED MODALITY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Now we will refer, more particularly, to the Figures. In Figure 1 there is shown an apparatus according to the prior art, for measuring the force at which the coupling hooks 10 of a passenger rail car are driven or spring-loaded, by means of a spring spring 12 ( Figure 2A). As seen in Figure 2A, the spring 12 is shown as a spring spring, but a coil spring can be used in place of the spring spring. Said springs 12 are used to ensure the positive and reliable coupling of the rail cars. The prior art apparatus includes a cable loop 14, which is placed around the hook 10 of said rail car, and a cable extension 16, which connects the cable loop to one side of the dynamometer meter and the dial 18. A second cable 20 is connected on the opposite side of the meter and has a handle 22, which, in relation to the meter, is connected to the remote end of said cable 20. A worker pulls on the handle 22 to exercise tensile force on the hook 10 of the carriage, while another worker observes the presentation of the initial movement of the hook, and said hook must move against the force of the spring 12. The meter 18 measures the force of P1332 / 98MX traction that is being exerted by the operator on the hook 10, while the quadrant thereof offers a visible reading of the pulling force that is being exerted. When the initial movement of the hook is observed, the quadrant is read by one or both workers. If the force presented by the reading of the dial is not within the specified range to ensure reliable coupling, the spring 12 is adjusted to supply a thrust force that falls within that range. If by placing the thrust force within the required range, the spring adjustment is not effective, the spring 12 is replaced with another spring that provides adequate strength. As stated above, the device shown in Figure 1 has certain disadvantages in relation to safety, reliability and repeatability, that is, if it happens that the clamp that is placed around the hook slides out of it, or if any If the cables are broken while a worker exerts traction on the hook, the related personnel could be injured. Furthermore, both the repeatability and the reliability of said prior art device are doubtful if the force of each pull made by the worker is not applied uniformly when the measurement is read, or if the P1332 / 98MX worker who is observing is not consistent in observing, first, the initial movement of the hook. Figures 2A and 2B of the drawings, show a hook assembly 30 for the coupling of passenger rail cars and said assembly includes a coupling hook 10. As can be seen in Figure 2A and Figure 2B, the coupler hook 10 of the assembly extends through a opening 32 present in an adjustment plate 34 arranged vertically. As noted above, the spring spring 12 described above exerts resistance against the hook in order to maintain an appropriate engagement force on the hook. The lower end of the adjustment plate 34 has two guide pins 36 projecting outwardly, to allow the seating of the two corresponding guide pin holes (not shown), which are found on the corresponding adjustment plate of the coupling assembly. of the corresponding passenger car, for coupling with the passenger carriage having the assembly 30. Similarly, the upper end of the adjustment plate 34 has two guide bolt holes 38, for receiving the two corresponding guide pins (no. shown), which are found on the adjustment plate of the corresponding coupling assembly of the car that is going to P1332 / 98 X to be coupled to the car that has the set 30. Now we will refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4, which show a relatively simple, portable and compact meter 40, which performs, repeatedly, the measurement of the force that is being exerted by the springs 12 of the coupling hooks 10. Specifically, the meter 40 comprises a flat U-shaped arm 42, which has two bolts 44 extending perpendicularly from the plane of the arm 42, and having a suitable size and spacing, to settle within the guide pin holes 38 of the adjustment plate 34. Attached to the U-shaped arm 42, and centered laterally, between the bolts 44 is an elongated cylindrical compartment, or tubular compartment 46, which contains a main spiral spring 48 which is colosed between the inner ends of the piston 50, the sual extends outwardly from the arm in shape of "U" 42 mentioned above, and a power adjusting screw 52. In addition, the spring 48 is positioned around an intermediate arrow 54 and an inner sleeve 56 secured to the inner end of the piston 50. The intermediate arrow 54 is extends between the inner end of the power adjusting screw 52 and said inner sleeve 52. The power regulation screw 52 is located P1332 / 98MX centrally positioned and threaded into and through the end cap 58, said end cap 58 being suitably secured to the end of the cylindrical compartment 46. Said power adjusting screw 52, is also centered within the compartment 46, by means of a washer 60 which is connected to the inner end of the screw, in such a way as to allow the screw to rotate while the washer remains stationary. The piston 50 is located in a central position within the compartment 46 by means of the end wall 62 of the compartment, as well as by means of a washer-like head 64 which is fastened to the inner end of the piston 50. A counterpoint spring 66 is positioned around the end of the piston 50 which is located within the compartment 46, and in axial alignment are the spring 48. The counterpoint spring 66 is held between the end wall 62 of the compartment 46, and the washer-type head. 64 of the piston 50. In addition, the counterpoint spring 66 is smaller than the spring 48, to provide a pushing force that is substantially less than that of the spring 48. The operation of the meter 40 is described in the terms present in the Figure 3 and Figure 4 of the drawings, and works in conjunction with an indicator of P1332 / 98 X quadrant 68 (Figure 2A and Figure 2B). The dial indicator is secured to the adjustment plate 34 of the coupler 30 and is brought into contact with the hook 10. The indicator can be provided with a magnetic base, so that the operator can simply place the indicator against the adjustment plate 34. , to secure the indicator to said adjustment plate 34. The separate guide pins 44 of the meter are placed inside the guide pin holes 38 of the coupler adjusting plate 34, in the manner shown in Figure 4. The positioning of the meter 40 in the aforementioned manner places the piston 50 directly on the hook 10, while the adjustment screw of the power 52 is placed on the adjustment plate to provide quick access to the worker. The arm 42 is held in its position and against the direction of movement, by means of the colossalization of the bolts 44 within the holes for guide pins 38 of the adjustment plate of the coupler 34. Subsequently, the adjusting screw of the the power 52 is rotated by a worker inside the end cap 58 which is inside the compartment 46, to compress the counterpoint spring 66 of less resistance, as well as to direct the piston 50 towards the hook 10. hook 10 has a front upper line and a surface 70, which is engaged by means of the P1332 / 98 X outer end of the piston 50, when the power adjusting screw 52 is rotated inside the end cap 58, and in relation to the washer 60, against the counterpoint spring 66. The spring 48 remains without being compressed until the piston 50 comes into contact with the front line surface 70 of the hook 10. Additional rotation of the screw 52 within the cylinder initiates compression of the spring 48, as the intermediate arrow 54 moves within the sleeve interior 56. By continuously compressing the main spring 48 by means of the power adjusting screw 52, the spring force of the hook 12 (Figure 2) is overcome by the force of the spring 48. This causes the spring 10 to move slightly. This movement is recorded by the dial indicator 68, as the movement of the hook is performed against the hook-striking arrow 69, said arrow being mounted resiliently within the quadrant indicator compartment. The operator observes the indication of movement of the hook presented by the indicator and immediately stops rotating the power adjusting screw 52. Subsequently, the operator observes the position of the power adjusting screw 52 within the compartment housing 46 or the position P1332 / 98MX of the piston 50, in relation to the final wall of the cylinder 62, to determine the force that has moved the hook 10. If this force is within a specific range that ensures reliable coupling between the trucks, the worker does not it will do nothing else, except, of course, to remove from the adjustment plate 34, the meter 40 and the indicator of suadree 68. If the force that moved the gansho 10 is too low or too high, it proceeds to perform the adjustment of the spring 12 in order to make the force of the hook is within the proper range. In Figure 4, the housing of the compartment 46 has marks 75, to provide reading of the position of the inner end of the power adjusting screw 52 or of the washer 60, within the housing of the compartment 46 and, further, the of the magnitude of the force being exerted on the coupling hook 10 by the aforementioned spring 48, to begin to move the coupling spring 10 slightly, that is to say, the meter 40 is calibrated in such a way that it offers the reading of the pushing force exerted by the spring 48, as indicated by means of the positioning of the power regulating spring 52 within the housing of the compartment 46. Marks similar to the marks 76 and 77 can be included, respectively, in the screw of power regulation 52 and piston 50.

P1332 / 98MX The edge of the washer 60 can be counted, and preferably is, with a perimetric notch 78, as illustrated by a line in Figures 3A and Figure 3B. In the present preferred embodiment of the invention, this perimetric notch 78 is painted in some bright color. Said painted perimetric notch 78 is included in order to serve as an indicator for the operator during the movement of the coupling hook 10, and to record the stress measurements. The meter 40 is removed from the adjustment plate 34 by means of the rotation of the power adjusting screw 52 in the external direction, the compression of the springs 48 and 66 and of the piston 50 on the hook 10 ceasing, in such a way that the meter 40 can be easily removed from the adjustment plate 34. Although the preferred embodiment of a meter according to the invention was previously described, to measure the force of the coupling hook of the coupling device of a passenger car, it must result It is clear that various modifications and adaptations of the meter can be made by those experienced in the vehicle coupling technique for the transport of passengers, without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the following claims.

P1332 / 98MX

Claims (17)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property: 1. A meter to measure the force at which the hooks of the couplers used for the coupling of passenger transport vehicles are pushed when the vehicles are coupled by means of the hooks, the meter comprising the following: (a) an arm element having at least one guide pin disposed therein, having the pin guides a suitable size and position to settle in at least one guide pin hole disposed in a transport rail vehicle coupler; (b) an elongate tubular housing element mounted on the arm; (c) a main spiral spring disposed within the elongate tubular housing member; (d) an arrow element arranged along the longitudinal axis of the main spiral spring; (e) a piston element extending from the front end of the arrow and the tubular housing member, to engage with the hook of the coupler; P1332 / 98MX (f) a power regulation screw coupled by means of a thread to one end of the elongate tubular housing member, opposite the front end of the tubular housing member, to move the arrow within the tubular housing member elongated and to the piston in and from the hook of the coupler. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the meter further includes a counterpoint spring which is located in the tubular housing member, and in axial alignment with the main spiral spring. The meter according to claim 2, wherein the counterpoint spring is positioned between the front end of the main spiral spring and the end wall at the front end of the elongate tubular housing member. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the main coil spring is collated between a washer attached to the power adjusting screw and a washer-type head positioned near the front end of the aforementioned elongate tubular housing member. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the arm element is substantially "U" shaped, with at least one guide pin placed in position P1332 / 98MX adjacent to at least one end of at least one of the branches of the "U" of the "U" shaped arm element. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the elongated tubular housing element has an external surface on which markings are provided to indicate the amount of movement of the power regulation screw, in addition to the pressure being exerted by the gauge on the aforementioned coupling hook. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the power regulation screw has marks to indicate the magnitude of the movement of the power regulation screw, in addition to the magnitude of the force that is being exerted by the meter on the coupling hook mentioned above. The meter according to claim 1, wherein the piston element has marks to indicate the amount of displacement of the piston element, in addition to the magnitude of the force that is being exerted by the meter on the aforementioned coupling hook. . 9. A force measuring device for measuring the force at which the hooks of the couplers used for the coupling of railway passenger transport vehicles are pushed when the passenger transport railway vehicles are coupled by P1332 / 98MX means of the hooks, the force measuring apparatus comprising the following: (a) a dial indicator that can be coupled with the coupler adjustment plate; (b) an arm element; (c) at least two guide pins disposed in the arm member, the guide pins having a suitable size and position to settle in at least two guide pin holes disposed in a coupler of railway transport vehicles; (d) an elongate tubular housing element mounted on the arm member, which contains a main spiral spring that is positioned around the arrow element, (e) a piston element extending from the front end of the arm element. arrow and the tubular housing element, to be coupled with the hook of the rail vehicle transport coupler. (f) a power regulation screw coupled by means of a thread to one end of the elongate tubular housing member, opposite the front end of the tubular housing member, to move the arrow element that is inside the housing element elongated tubular and the piston element in and from the hook of the vehicle coupler P1332 / 98MX transport rail, the piston element being effective to initiate the movement of the hook of the transport railway vehicle coupler under the force exerted by the power regulation screw, while the dial indicator registers the movement. 10. A force measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the force measuring apparatus further includes a counterpoint spring that is positioned within the tubular housing member, and in axial alignment with the main spiral spring. 11. A force measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the counterpoint spring is col- lapsed between the leading end of the main spiral spring and the end wall of the anterior end of the aforementioned elongated tubular housing member. 12. A force measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the main coil spring is positioned between a washer attached to the power adjusting screw and a washer type head positioned near the front end of the tubular housing member elongate mentioned above. 13. A force measuring device according to claim 9, wherein the arm element P1332 / 98MX substantially has a "U" shape, with at least two guide pins positioned adjacent one end of each of the branches of the "U" of the "U" shaped arm element. 14. A force measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the elongate tubular housing member has an outer surface portion on which indicia are provided to indicate the magnitude of the movement of the power regulation screw, in addition to the pressure that is being exerted by the measuring apparatus on the coupling hook of the railway vehicle of the type used for the transport of passengers. 15. A force measuring device according to claim 9, wherein the power regulation screw element has markings to indicate the magnitude of the movement of the power regulating screw element, in addition to the magnitude of the force which is being exerted by the measuring apparatus on the coupling hook of the railway vehicle of the type used for the transport of passengers. 16. A force measuring apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the piston element has marks to indicate the amount of displacement of the piston element, in addition to the magnitude of the force that P1332 / 98MX is being exercised by the measuring device on the coupling hook of the railway vehicle of the type used for the transport of passengers. 17. A method for measuring the force at which the hook portions of the couplers used for the coupling of railway passenger transport vehicles are pushed when the railway vehicles of the type used for the transport of passengers are coupled by means of the portions of the aforementioned couplers, the method comprising the following: (a) placing a dial indicator on a coupler and in contact with a hook portion of the coupler; (b) placing a meter on the coupler, which has a piston member arranged to engage with the hook portion when a meter power regulating screw displaces the piston member toward the hook portion; (c) rotating the power regulation screw element to move the piston member toward the hook portion; (d) performing an initial movement of the hook portion by means of the power regulation screw element and the piston member; P1332 / 98MX (e) using a dial indicator to determine the initial movement of the aforementioned hook portion; (f) use the meter to indicate the magnitude of the force necessary to effect the initial movement. 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