US3684106A

US3684106A - Line coupling connector for railway vehicles

Info

Publication number: US3684106A
Application number: US130292A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pierre Baronnet; Ernst Katzer
Original assignee: Knorr Bremse KG
Current assignee: Knorr Bremse KG
Priority date: 1970-04-03
Filing date: 1971-04-01
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15
Also published as: NL7104465A; PL70630B1; SU372789A3; ES194285Y; ES194285U; CS161901B2; BE765192A; NO128213B; YU77871A; LU62862A1; AT313360B; YU32981B; CH527723A; HU170165B; FR2089117A5; DE2015969A1; SE358598B

Abstract

A coupling device is attached to the end of an air or steam line of a railway vehicle for coupling the line to a corresponding line on a railway vehicle equipped with either a manually operated box coupler or an automatic central buffer coupler. The device comprises a cylindrical coupler head with a tubular line connection being attached at an angle to one end thereof and the other end having a sealable opening for connection to a line opening. A pair of diametrically opposed arms project radially outwardly from the coupler head with the ends of the arms having abutment surfaces which are engageable with openings in the wall surrounding an automatic central line couplet. One arm has a stop for supporting a protection flap in its open position and the other arm has a downwardly extending extension which rests upon a edge of a wall opening to position the coupling device. The device also has radial closure guides which are spaced and shaped to correspond with the closure guides on a manual line coupler and are positionable between the guide flanges partially surrounding a line opening on an automatic coupler.

Description

United States Patent Baronnet et a].

[451 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] LINE COUPLING CONNECTOR FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES [73] Assignee: Knorr-Bremse KG, Berlin, Germany [22] Filed: April 1, 1971 [2|] Appl. No.: 130,292

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Attorney-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz ABSTRACT A coupling device is attached to the end of an air or steam line of a railway vehicle for coupling the line to a corresponding line on a railway vehicle equipped with either a manually operated box coupler or an automatic central buffer coupler. The device comprises a cylindrical coupler head with a tubular line connection being attached at an angle to one end thereof and the other end having a scalable opening for connection to a line opening. A pair of diametrically opposed arms project radially outwardly from the coupler head with the ends of the arms having abutment surfaces which are engageable with openings in the wall surrounding an automatic central line couplet. One arm has a stop for supporting a protection flap in its open position and the other arm has a downwardly extending extension which rests upon a edge of a wall opening to position the coupling device. The device also has radial closure guides which are spaced and shaped to correspond with the closure guides on a manual line coupler and are positionable between the guide flanges partially surrounding a line opening on an automatic coupler.

6 Clainm, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTE SHEEI 2 [IF 2 FIG. 2

LINE COUPLING CONNECTOR FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES The present invention relates to a coupler device for air lines on a railway vehicle, more particularly, to such a device which is adapted to connect a line to a railway vehicle equipped with either an automatic central buffer coupler or a manually operated box coupler.

During a conversion period of railway rolling stock from the presently employed manual hook coupling to the automatic central buffer coupling difficulties may be encountered in connecting the various pipe lines, such as air and steam lines, of vehicles having different couplers. Such a situation exists in Europe where the railroads have undertaken a program to standardize railway rolling stock to the automatic central buffer coupling. Railway vehicles which are provided with book draft or traction couplers are generally equipped with a manually operated sleeve air coupler. Various forms of connector devices have been proposed in order to connect a manually operated sleeve air coupler to a pipe line of a railway vehicle equipped with an automatic central buffer coupler and, accordingly, with an automatic line coupler.

In the Patent of Addition No. 89,762 the end of a pipe line of a vehicle equipped with a hook coupler is divided and the divided ends are connected by means of separate shut off valves to a sleeve air coupler. A shaped or molded element is suspended inthe head of the central buffer coupler so that it can betightly connected to the automatic line coupler therewith. This adapter arrangement is disadvantageous in that it requires at least two shut off valves, two hose lines and coupling devices in the form of a sleeve air coupler or a shaped element for each end of the vehicle and for each pipe line. Normally, only one such coupler device is necessary for the connection of the pipe line. The increased number of the coupling devices restricts the movement of railroad personnel during coupling operations and presents difficulties with respect to the arrangement of the coupler elements and in the coupling of the railway vehicles provided with several pipe lines.

The Austrian patent application A ll 334-67 discloses an arrangement for connecting the line of a railway vehicle provided with a hook coupler to a molded element that in turn is coupled to the automatic line coupler by means of a sleeve air coupler of conventional structure. According to this disclosure the railway vehicle then requires only a single shut off valve and hose line for each end of the vehicle and for each pipe line. If the vehicle is to be coupled to a vehicle having an automatic line coupler the pipe line can be connected by means of a shaped or molded element. If the vehicle to be coupled is equipped with a sleeve air coupler the line coupling is carried out after disconnecting the sleeve air coupler between the hose line and the shaped element by the connection of the sleeve air coupler of the hose line with that of the vehicle to be coupled. As result, every coupling operation may require several separate coupling steps depending upon the coupling equiptment of the vehicle being coupled. In addition, the location of the shaped element introduces difficulties where the coupling must be carried out with a vehicle equipped with a sleeve air coupler since in such a situation the shaped element is free.

In this type of line coupling connector it is pointed out that the shaped element is retained on the automatic line coupler or on parts connected thereto by means of retaining extensions where the shaped element is coupled to such a coupler. In the event the draft coupler which connects the vehicles to each other should become uncoupled, excessive tensile stresses may occur in the line coupling connector which remains coupled. Such stresses may result in the damage or destruction of the line coupling connector and possibly bring about a breaking of the hose line.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved device for coupling different types of line couplers between railway vehicles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for quickly and easily connecting an air line on a railway vehicle to an air line on another railway vehicle equipped with either an automatic line coupler or manually operated line coupler.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a coupling device which will be automatically become uncoupled upon being subjected to an excessive amount of tension force without being damaged.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a coupler of the type indicated having a small number of components which can be easily stored when not in use and handled effectively and with no additional parts being required when the device is coupled and eliminates additional coupling operations during the normal coupling procedure.

The objects of the present invention are achieved and the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated by the present invention which essentially comprises a connector for coupling lines between railway vehicles. According to the present invention there is disclosed a device for couping an air line and the like to a railway vehicle equipped with a manually operated line coupler having radial closure guides or equipped with an automatic central line coupler having a line opening partially surrounded by guide flanges and being closed by a pivotably mounted protection flap spring biased into the closed position. The automatic line coupler is mounted in an air coupling passage and the line opening is at substantially the same level as the coupler. The device comprises a substantially cylindrical coupler head having one end attached to an air line and its other end having an opening with means being disposed around said opening for sealingly connecting said opening to another line opening. The body opening is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the coupler head. First and second diametrically opposed arms project radially outwardly from the coupler head and the ends of the arms are engageable with wall openings in the coupling passage when the device is coupled thereto. The ends of the arms engage surfaces adjacent the wall openings with these surfaces facing away from the coupling device. The surfaces are at substantially Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the coupling device coupling a pipe line to an automatic line coupler according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the coupling device shown in FIG. 1.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a tubular hose connection 1 which leads from a pipe to be coupled (not illustrated in the drawings) is attached to a rear wall 3 of a cylindrical coupler head or body 2. The connection 1 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 4 of the coupler head 2. A tubular coupling mouth piece 5 is slidably mounted on the other or front end of the coupler head 2 so as to be displaceable in the axial direction and projects outwardly from the head 2. A sealing ring 6 is carried within the mouth piece 5 and is sealingly engageable with a line opening of an automatic central line coupler. The sealing ring 6 surrounds this line opening.

in the vicinity of its rear wall 3, the cylindrical coupler head 2 has mounted thereon diametrically opposed radially projecting

arms

7 and 8 which extend laterally as may be seen in FIG. 2. The arm 7 is provided with a shoulder 9 at its outer end and on the central portion of arm 7 on the side turned toward the opening there is a projecting stop 10 having an outwardly disposed lateral surface 1 l.

The arm 8 is bent obliquely in the forward direction with respect to the coupler head 2 and is provided with a shoulder at its outer end which forms an abutment surface 12 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 4 of the coupler head 2. Adjacent to the abutment surface 12 the arm 8 is provided with a rearwardly directed abutment surface 13 which extends to the extreme end of the arm and is disposed obliquely in the forward-outward direction with respect to the line opening on coupler head 2. The front face of arm 8 adjacent the outer end thereof is provided with a surface 14 which is inclined obliquely rearwardly and outwardly again with respect to the line opening on coupler head 2.

The coupler head 2 is also provided with diametrically opposed radial closure guides 15 and 16 which are positioned forwardly of the

arms

7 and 8 in a direction toward the opening of coupler head 2 and also project radially in the forward direction. The radial closure guides correspond to the radial closure guides of a manually operated coupler both with respect to their structure and their position.

An automatic central buffer coupling having an automatic central line coupler is illustrated in dot-dash lines with only those components being shown which are necessary for the description of the structure and operation of the coupling device disclosed therein. The automatic line coupler is provided with a coupling pipe 17 whose line opening is connected tightly to the tubular element 5 of coupler head 2 by the sealing ring 6. Adjacent and partially surrounding line opening of line 17 are guide flanges 18 which project outwardly beyond the line opening and are constructed and arranged in the conventional manner.

When the device is coupled in the position as shown in the drawings, the radial closure guides 15 and 16 grip between the guide flanges 18. The coupler head 2 is centered with respect to the automatic line coupler by a suitable shaping of the edge zones of the closure guides 15 and 16.

The automatic central line coupler is positioned in an air coupler duct 19 of the central buffer coupling. On one side of the duct 19 there is a wall 20 having an opening 21 through which passes a protection flap 11 which is pivotably mounted about a vertical axis at its rear portion but not shown in the drawings. The flap 22 is spring biased into the closed position to cover the line opening of pipe 17. The outer end of arm 7 extends into wall opening 2| and contacts an edge or boundary surface 23 of the opening 21. The shoulder 9 is positioned a distance s from the wall 20. The protection flap 22 is shown in its pivoted-out position which it occupies when the device is coupled to the automatic line coupler. 1n the out position the edge of the flap 22 is supported on the lateral surface 11 of abutment 10 on the arm 7. in this position, the flap 22 holds the coupler head 2 in a position which is determined by the abutment of surface 12 on the arm 8 on a lateral boundary surface 24 of an opening 25 in a side wall 26 which defines the air coupling duct or passage 19 on the other side. The outer end of arm 8 extends beyond the side wall 26 and its abutment surface 13 rests upon a surface 27 adjacent the opening 25.

To uncouple the device from the automatic line coupler the coupler head 2 is shifted laterally toward the side wall 20. The protection flap 22 will also be shifted laterally under the action of the stop 10 moving against the spring force of the flap until the shoulder 9 abuts the outer surface of the side wall 20. After this lateral shifting of the coupler head 2, the arm 8 can be disengaged from the wall opening 25 and moved outwardly past side wall 24 in a direction toward the left as viewed in FIG. 1. The entire connector line coupling device can then be removed from the automatic line coupler or from the central buffer coupling.

in the coupling operation, the coupling device is moved toward the automatic line coupler at an angle from the side of the side wall 26. The stop 10 will engage the edge of the protection flap 22 and will move this flap away to uncover the line opening of coupling pipe 17. The outer end of arm 7 is then inserted into the wall opening 21 and the arm 8 with its forward surface 14 is pressed against the side wall 26. Because of the oblique arrangement of the surface 14 the coupling device will be shifted in the direction toward side wall 20 until the outer end of arm 8 can pass beyond the boundary surface 24 and enter into the wall opening 25. After slightly shifting the coupling device toward side wall 26 under the force of the spring acting upon flap 22 the coupling device assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 1.

if an excessive traction force should be exerted on the hose connection 1 such as would occur if the draft coupling between vehicles is unintentionally uncoupled while the lines as described above remain coupled and the uncoupled vehicles move apart from each other, inclined abutment surface 13 will cause the coupler head 2 to shift laterally toward side wall 20 until the arm 8 is released from the wall opening 25. Because of the angular position between the hose connection 1 and the longitudinal axis 4 of the coupler head a torque will appear in addition to the traction force and will act on the coupler head 2. As viewed in FIG. 1, this torque will cause the coupler head 2 to pivot in the clockwise direction. The load on the arm 8 will therefore be increased and will bring about a definite disengagement of the coupler device as soon as the tension force exerted on the line connection 1 exceeds a certain predetermined value.

In order to position precisely the coupler head 2 with respect to the level of the automatic line coupler 18 the arm 8 may be provided with a vertically downwardly projecting extension 28 positioned close to and in front of the abutment surface 12. The extension 28 will rest on a lower edge 29 of the opening 25 when the coupler device is coupled to an automatic central line coupler as shown in the drawings.

When it is desired to couple the coupling device of the present invention to a railway vehicle equipped with the usual sleeve air couplers, the coupler head 2 with its sealing ring 6 is pressed on the line opening of the air coupler and subsequently pivoted so that the radial closure guides and 16 will lockingly engage the corresponding closure guides on the air coupler. Thus, the coupling operation is carried out in the same manner as in the case of two ordinary or conventional sleeve or manually operated air couplers.

Two coupler heads 2 of two connector line couplings can also be equipped together by means of the closure guides 15 and 16. The closure guides 16 of the two coupler heads function in the same manner as the closure guides of two sleeve air couplers and are mutually interconnected.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the automatic central line coupler may also be provided with structure for coupling two additional lines. This is customary for automatic central line couplers and central buffer couplings are presently employed. The coupling lines in the automatic line coupler are positioned vertically above each other. The coupler head 2 as described above is particularly suited for coupling to the line 17 which is positioned at the central level of an automatic line coupler. However, if the coupler head 2 is to be coupled to a line 31 positioned below the central line it may be necessary to modify the position of the closure guide 16. One such modification may comprise mounting the closure guide 16 rigidly to arm 8 in a position displaced with respect to the arm 8 by approximately 118 degrees and to support the closure guide 16 and arm 8 jointly on the coupler head 2 so that both elements are pivotable about the longitudinal axis 4. In the case of coupling to a automatic line coupler, the closure guide 16 can be then rotated into a position covering closure guide 15 in which it does not obstruct any coupling operation with respect to an automatic line coupler. When the positions of the two closure guides 15 and 16 are superposed, the arm 8 will project from coupler head 2 diametrically with respect to the arm '1.

If the coupler device as described above is coupled to a sleeve air coupler or to a similar coupling device the closure guide 16 will be pivoted back to its original position and the arm 8 will then be rotated about the axis 4 toward the arm 7. This has the advantage that when coupled the

arms

7 and 8 will project from coupler head 2 only in an approximately single direction so that the prescribed relationships can be readily observed because of the small requirement of space of the coupler device when it is coupled. This is particularly true with respect for the ground clearance of the vehicle which is not decreased since in this arrangement the coupling devices no longer have an arm or extension projecting vertically downwardly.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed a coupling device for connecting lines to a railway vehicle equipped with either of different line couplers. The coupler device may also be connected to a similar coupling device. The present coupler device has only a minimum number of parts which must be positioned together to complete a coupling operation. All of the components necessary for the coupling operation are carried by the coupling device and it is not necessary to store or to insert any additional elements when the coupler device is to be coupler. Further, no additional coupling operations must be performed during or prior to the actual coupling procedure. In addition, the construction of the coupling device including the angular connection of a line to the coupling device provides for an automatic uncoupling should excessive tension forces be exerted on coupled lines in the event the railway vehicles should become uncoupled. The present invention also provides for coupling two or more lines to a railway vehicle equipped with an automatic line coupler having a plurality of lines or to a conventional manually operated air coupler.

It is understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within the invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for coupling an air line and the like to a railway vehicle equipped with a manually operated line coupler having radial closure guides or equipped with an automatic central line coupler having a line opening partially surrounded by guide flanges and being closed by a pivotably mounted protection flap spring biased into the closed position, the automatic line coupler being disposed in an air coupling passage and the line opening being at substantially the coupler level, said device comprising a substantially cylindrical coupler head attached to an air line and having an opening which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the coupler head, means disposed around said opening for sealingly connecting said coupler head opening to another line opening, first and second diametrically opposed arms projecting radially outwardly from said coupler head, the ends of said arms engageable with openings in the wall of said coupling passage when said device is coupled to an automatic central line coupler and engaging surfaces adjacent said wall openings with said surfaces facing away from said coupling device, said surfaces being at substantially the same level as the axis of the coupler head, said first arm having a stop thereon projecting toward the line opening of an automatic central line coupler, said stop having a lateral surface directed away from the automatic central line coupler and supporting said protection flap in its open position, said second arm having a shoulder with an abutment surface thereon substantially parallel to the axis of the automatic central line coupler with said abutment surface engaging a side wall of the opening receiving the end of said second arm, and a pair of radial closure guides on said body and engageable with the guide flanges on an automatic central line coupler, said radial closure guides being shaped and spaced to correspond to the radial closure guides of a manually operated coupler.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second arm has a downwardly projecting extension perpendicular thereto, said extension resting upon the edge of the wall opening receiving said second arm when the device is coupled to an automatic central line coupler.

3. A device as claimed in claim I wherein said second arm has a rearwardly directed abutment surface on that portion of the arm engageable with a surface adjacent the wall opening receiving said second arm,

said abutment surface extending obliquely outwardly and forwardly with respect to said opening.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air line attached to said cylindrical coupler head is inclined with respect to the axis of the line opening on the automatic central line coupler.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said radial closure guides on said body is pivotable about the axis of the line opening in an automatic central line coupler through an angle of about 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said one radial closure guide and said second arm are pivotable about the axis of the line opening of the automatic central line coupler.

Claims

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second arm has a rearwardly directed abutment surface on that portion of the arm engageable with a surface adjacent the wall opening receiving said second arm, said abutment surface extending obliquely outwardly and forwardly with respect to said opening.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said radial closure guides on said body is pivotable about the axis of the line opening in an automatic central line coupler through an angle of about 180* .

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said one radial closure guide and said second arm are pivotable about the axis of the line opening of the automatic central line coupler.