842results about "Railway coupling accessories" patented technology

A robotic vehicle configured for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation in a rail environment is provided. The vehicle can process image data to move about the rail environment and perform one or more actions in the rail environment. The actions can include one or more actions related to decoupling and / or attaching rail vehicles, and can be implemented by performing three-dimensional image processing. The vehicle can be configured to move with any movement of a rail vehicle on which one or more actions are being performed. In an alternative embodiment, the various components configured to perform the action are implemented at a stationary location with respect to a rail line.

Knuckle coupler castings and methods for casting the knuckle coupler castings, where the knuckle coupler castings having enhanced bearing surfaces which may include a vertically flat surface.

A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion. The cope and drag mold portions have internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes positioning one or two internal cores within either the cope mold portion or the drag mold portion. The one or two internal cores are configured to define a kidney cavity, a finger cavity and a pivot pin cavity of a coupler knuckle. The method includes closing the cope and drag mold portions with the one or two internal cores therebetween and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: an optical sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by an optical sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

A robotic vehicle configured for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation in a rail environment is provided. The vehicle can process image data to move about the rail environment and perform one or more actions in the rail environment. The actions can include one or more actions related to decoupling and / or attaching rail vehicles, and can be implemented by performing three-dimensional image processing. The vehicle can be configured to move with any movement of a rail vehicle on which one or more actions are being performed. In an alternative embodiment, the various components configured to perform the action are implemented at a stationary location with respect to a rail line.

The invention relates to a shock absorber (100), in particular for use as an additional irreversible shock-absorbing stage together with a component for transferring force. In order to achieve the reliable dissipating of high impact energies, a shock absorber (100) comprising the following is indicated in accordance with the invention: a base plate (1); a force-transferring element (3) having a tensioning element (4); an energy-absorbing element in the form of a deformation tube (5) which is connected by a first end section to the base plate (1); and a connecting element (6) for the disengageable connecting of the force-transferring element (3) to a second end section of the deformation tube (5), wherein the connecting element (6) is pressed against the tensioning element (4) such that the deformation tube (5) is braced between the tensioning element (4) and the base plate (1) without play.

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by a sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The guard arm portion comprises a minimum width less than a width of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

A Type E railway freight car coupler having an expanded gathering range is achieved by attaching or forming an extension wing extending diagonally outward from an outer end of the gathering arm to thereby provide an extension to the angled gathering surface. The extension wing can either be cast as one piece directly with the coupler, or cast separately and welded onto the coupler.

The invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling having a coupling head, a coupling rod and a shock absorber including a destructively-configured force-absorbing member in the form of a deformable tube. The invention provides additional functionality of extendability and retractability to the coupling rod, the and for the central buffer coupling to include a controllable linear drive for the axial displacement of the coupling rod relative the fixing plate and for the bearing block to include a first bearing block component against which adjoins the coupling head-side end of the deformable tube, and a second bearing block component to which the vehicle-side end of the coupling rod is articulated, whereby the second bearing block component is axially displaceable relative the first bearing block component by means of the linear drive.

A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a knuckle mold cavity; positioning a first internal core within either the cope mold or the drag mold portions, the first internal core configured to define a kidney cavity and a pivot pin hub as a single void within the knuckle; positioning a second internal core within either the cope mold portion and the drag mold portion, the second internal core configured to define a finger cavity; closing the cope and drag mold portions with the two internal cores therebetween; and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the knuckle, wherein the first internal core defines the kidney cavity and the pivot pin hub of the coupler knuckle, and wherein the second internal core defines the finger cavity of the knuckle.

The invention relates to a shock absorber (100) especially for use as an additional irreversible shock absorbing element in combination with a component for transmitting force. In order to reliably absorb high impact energies, a shock absorber (100) comprises the following elements: a base plate (1); a force transmitting element (3) having a tensioning element (4); an energy absorption element in the form of a deformable tube (5) which is connected to the base plate (1) via a first end section; and a connecting element (6) for detachably connecting the force transmitting element (3) to a second end section of the deformable tube (5), the connecting element (6) pressing against the tensioning element (4) in such a manner that the deformable tube (5) is tensioned between the tensioning element (4) and the base plate (1) without play.

A system includes first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and / or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.

A knuckle for a railway coupler system is made without internal voids or cores. Instead, external pockets are formed on the front face and tail portion surface to reduce weight. The knuckle is formed by investment casting, which permits a pulling face to be provided without a draft angle or parting line typical of a cast part. As a result of these innovations, the knuckle according to the invention has an improved fatigue life.

A method for reconditioning an articulated connector while it is still mounted to the end structure of a rail car is disclosed. The connector is measured to find areas and amounts of wear on portions of the connector. The measurements are taken relative to a reference portion of the connector. Weld metal is then applied to the worn portion of the connector. The excess weld metal is manually or automatically machined away so that the connector falls within the required dimensions. A measurement of the weld area is again taken to ensure that the specified dimensions have been achieved. Apparatuses for measuring wear and specified dimensions and aiding in the method of reconditioning the connectors are also disclosed.

A highway vehicle towing system includes a light railroad track embedded in a highway and capable of transmitting electricity from a power supply plant, and a towing tractor movable along the light railroad track to tow a car. The owing tractor has multiple pairs of metal wheels movably supported on the light railroad track, a motor, electrical wires connecting the metal wheels to the motor for transmitting electricity from the light railroad track to the motor, a transmission shaft coupled to and rotatable by the motor, and a differential mechanism coupled between the transmission shaft and the metal wheels for enabling the metal wheels to be rotated along the light railroad track by the motor.

The invention discloses a coupler. A coupler head of the coupler comprises a coupler knuckle, a coupler knuckle pin, a coupler knuckle thrower, a coupler lock, a lower lockpin assembly, and a lower lockpin rotating shaft, wherein when the lower lockpin rotating shaft rotates, the lower lockpin assembly actuates to ensure that the coupler lock moves up and down along an inner cavity of the coupler head of the coupler to drive the rotation of the coupler knuckle thrower to push the coupler knuckle to rotate around the coupler knuckle pin; the middle part of the end surface of a coupler tail of the coupler has a cylindrical surface, and convex shoulders are symmetrically arranged at both sides. The invention also discloses an assorted slave plate, the middle part of a bearing surface of a bearing body of the assorted plate has a cylindrical surface, and convex shoulders are symmetrically arranged at both sides. The coupler tail and a matching part of the assorted plate have structures of the cylindrical surfaces plus the symmetrical convey shoulders, can strengthen an automatic centering function of the coupler, and improve the dynamic stability performance of locomotives or vehicles. On this basis, the invention also discloses a coupler buffer device.

A clamp for securing apparatus such as end-of-train equipment to a railroad coupler head includes a first finger member that is mounted to pivot about a pivot pin in scissors-like manner between a fixed second and third finger member affixed to a housing, a threaded rod and cooperating piston for pivoting the first finger member away from the fixed second and third finger members, a rail member for abutting against an outside surface of the coupler head, and a crank and handle for tightening the grip of the first, second and third fingers on the inner surfaces of the core hole when the crank is rotated. The pivoting of the first finger member is accomplished by driving a pin through a slotted clevis defined in a first end of the first finger member, such that the pin moves within the slot defined by the clevis when the pin is driven in one lateral direction generally toward the fixed second and third finger members, thereby urging the clevis downward about the pivot pin and urging the opposing second end of the first finger member to move upwardly away from the fixed second and third finger members. In a preferred embodiment, end-of-train signaling and monitoring equipment is connected to the clamp for the railroad coupler head.

A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a cope mold portion and a drag mold portion, the cope and drag mold portions having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a coupler knuckle mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity includes a finger section; positioning at least one internal core within either the cope mold portion or the drag mold portion, the at least one internal core configured to define a kidney cavity and a pivot pin cavity within a coupler knuckle; closing the cope and drag mold portions with the single core therebetween; and at least partially filling the mold cavity with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle, wherein the at least one core defines the kidney and pivot pin cavities, and the finger section of the mold cavity defines at least one finger cavity of the coupler knuckle.

Knuckle coupler castings and methods for casting the knuckle coupler castings, where the knuckle coupler castings having enhanced bearing surfaces which may include a vertically flat surface.

A coupler knuckle casting having an enhanced bearing surface area and which is utilized in a railway freight car coupler. The coupler knuckle casting includes a tail section, and a hub section. The hub section has a pivot pinhole formed therein. Such pivot pinhole has generally straight cylindrical sidewalls. A front face section is connected to the hub section. Such front face section includes a nose section and a pulling face portion formed inwardly from such nose section. At such least a portion of such front face portion and such nose section includes an enhanced bearing surface area which includes a substantially flat portion disposed substantially in a vertical direction and which is substantially arcuate in a horizontal direction. The substantially flat portion extends for a predetermined distance in the vertical direction and for a predetermined length along the horizontal direction. There is the a transition section joining the tail section to the hub section. Such transition section includes a top metal section and a bottom metal section extending toward each other.

A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The guard arm portion comprises a minimum height less than a height of the shank portion where the guard arm portion meets the shank portion.

A muff coupling intended for vehicle couplers includes two components formed with ring-shaped flanges, as well as a muff consisting of at least two arch parts tightenable against each other, each having an inner flute formed between two inwardly turned bulges, which flute is delimited by obliquely inclined side surfaces to, upon radial tightening of the arch parts against each other, be pressed against analogously obliquely inclined shoulder surfaces on the flanges and thereby, by wedge action, transfer axial component forces to the same, pressing the ends of the components in close contact against each other. The arch parts are formed with double sets of bulges for cooperation with double flanges on the respective component, whereby forces that are transferred between the components via the muff are distributed to a plurality of axially spaced-apart pairs of contact surfaces in an axial train of forces near the outside of the components.

An apparatus and method for indicating whether a coupler of a locomotive is in a coupled or uncoupled state is provided. The apparatus comprising: a sensor positioned on a portion of the coupler, wherein the sensor provides a real-time signal indicative of either a coupled or an uncoupled state of a coupler, wherein the signal is transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter in operable communication with the sensor. The method comprising: providing a signal indicative of the presence or proximity of a second coupler to the first coupler, the signal being provided by a sensor configured to provide the signal as the state of the coupler has changed; transmitting the signal wirelessly to a controller; processing the signal with a control algorithm resident upon the controller; and providing visually perceivable indication of the position of the coupler.

A locomotive control system may include first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and / or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.

The invention relates to an automatic train coupling method for rail transit, which comprises the following steps: a train coupling process, which is used for automatically coupling a train in a coupling mode to a coupled front train; and a train separation process which is used for carrying out automatic separation on the train mixed group in a separation area. Compared with the prior art, the method has the advantages that coupling operation does not need manual train driving for coupling and the like.

The invention discloses a lower lock pin body, which is used for being hinged between a lower lock pin and a lower lock pin hook of a coupler, and has uncoupling lever hanging holes so as to rotate around the lower lock pin hook under the action of the uncoupling lever hanging holes, wherein the end parts of both sides of the lower lock pin body are provided with the two uncoupling lever hanging holes respectively so that operating personnel can perform uncoupling operation on front and rear couplers of a connecting end between two vehicles at any side of a vehicle body. On the basis, the invention also provides a double-acting coupler with the lower lockpin body and a coupler buffer device, wherein the coupler buffer device also comprises two uncoupling levers and two uncoupling lever brackets; the uncoupling levers pass through keyhole-shaped through holes of the uncoupling lever brackets, and have limited sections at the matching positions; coupler head ends of the two uncoupling levers pass through the keyhole-shaped through holes of the two uncoupling lever brackets respectively and then are hooked with uncoupling lever hanging holes of the double-acting coupler; and clearances are reserved between the limited sections of the uncoupling levers and bar-shaped hole walls of the keyhole-shaped pylome.

A coupler for a railway car including a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane, and a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor. The coupler positioning device includes a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie relating to an angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car, and at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism. The controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie.

The invention relates to a control method for supporting dynamic coupling and decoupling of a train. The control method comprises the steps that A, at the initialization stage, stored coupling state information is obtained; B, offline configuration of a corresponding group is loaded according to the stored coupling state; C, three sets of input signals related to coupling are collected; D, according to the collected signals, whether the coupling state of the train is legal or not is judged, if the coupling state of the train is legal, the step E is executed, and if the coupling state of the train is illegal, the step F is executed; E, whether the current coupling state is consistent with the offline configuration used in the step B or not is judged, and if the current coupling state is consistent with the offline configuration used in the step B, the step H is executed, and if the current coupling state is not consistent with the offline configuration used in the step B, the step G isexecuted; F, emergency braking is applied, and error reporting alarming is conducted; and G, emergency braking is applied, after the situation that the train is stably parked is judged, coupling stateinformation with codes is repeatedly written in, and then the step A is executed for re-initialization. Compared with the prior art, the control method has the advantages of high safety, high reliability, high automation degree and the like.

The invention discloses an installing and cushioning device for a tight-lock coupler, which comprises an installation seat assembly, a supporting board, a driving rod, a driving pin, a rubber oscillating bearing, a shock absorber rubber, a connecting pin and a height adjusting nut, wherein two parallel installation boards are arranged on the installation seat assembly; the installation boards, the driving rod and the supporting board are connected through the driving pin; the driving pin and the supporting board form a revolute pair; the height adjusting nut can adjust the height of the supporting board; the driving rod is positioned between the two installation boards; the rubber oscillating bearing is arranged between the driving pin and the driving rod to form a revolute pair; and the connecting pin is also connected between the driving rod and the supporting board, and the connecting pin is sleeved with the shock absorber rubber. The installing and cushioning device for the tight-lock coupler is simple in structure, easy to manufacture, low in cost, convenient to install, reliable and flexible, and suitable for a locomotive needing to be provided with multiple sets of couplers, and meets the coupling performance requirement when a common metro shunting locomotive rescues a metro vehicle.