An intelligent coupler

Abstract

An intelligent coupler of the present invention realizes the automatic coupling and uncoupling of the coupler and the automatic connection and disconnection of the connector through the air duct connector, electrical connector, cylinder, solenoid valve, positioning pin and hook tongue position sensor integrated on the coupler. When the couplers are coupled, the hook tongues of the two couplers are roughly aligned in the horizontal direction, the sub-button and the mother buckle are roughly positioned twice, and then the upper positioning pins / holes of the two couplers are accurately positioned so that the air duct connector is accurately connected, and the electrical connector is accurately connected at the same time, thereby completing the automatic coupling between the two couplers and the automatic connection of the connector. When the couplers are uncoupled, the solenoid valve controller receives the uncoupling command, the solenoid valve is energized to make the cylinder work, and the hook tongue is in the uncoupling state through the uncoupling mechanism, the locomotive operation separates the electrical connector, the air duct connector, the sub-button and the mother buckle, and finally the entire hook tongue is separated, thereby completing the automatic uncoupling between the two couplers and the automatic disconnection of the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of couplers, and in particular to an intelligent coupler. Background Art

[0002] At present, the uncoupling operation of domestic railway freight car couplers needs to be completed manually, and the connection and disconnection of air duct joints, the connection and disconnection of ECP brake power lines, and the opening and closing of corner plugs all need to be completed manually. The number of operators required is large, the operation efficiency is low, and the safety is low, which does not meet the requirements of future intelligent development. High-speed railways, EMUs, maglev trains and subways have realized automatic coupling and automatic uncoupling functions, but this function has not yet been realized in the field of freight cars; automatic couplers such as high-speed railways and subways are not suitable for freight car applications due to their high cost and low traction. In response to this problem, it is necessary to develop an intelligent coupler to realize the automatic connection and automatic uncoupling of railway freight car couplers, the automatic connection and disconnection functions of connectors such as air duct joints, ECP brake power lines and corner plugs, and at the same time improve the vehicle marshaling efficiency and transportation safety, and finally improve the transportation efficiency of freight cars through this intelligent coupler.

[0003] In addition, there are many problems with truck couplers at present, such as large coupling gap, large impact force, large wear; when the vehicle passes through a small curve radius road condition or goes up and downhill, the stress state of the coupler is poor and easy to be damaged, and the safety of vehicle operation is low. In view of the above problems, the present invention improves the traditional coupler structure, which can reduce the coupling gap, reduce longitudinal impact, and reduce wear, so as to improve the stress performance of the coupler and the safety performance of the entire vehicle, thereby extending the service life of the coupler. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on the technical problems existing in the background technology, the present invention designs an intelligent coupler, which can realize the automatic connection and disconnection functions of the coupler, the air duct connector and the electrical connector.

[0005] An intelligent coupler includes a coupler, wherein the coupler body is installed on a truck body through a joint and a hook tail frame, the coupler and the joint are connected by a horizontal connecting pin, the joint and the hook tail frame are connected by a vertical pin, a front follower plate and a buffer are installed in the hook tail frame and are installed on the truck body through a support and limit device, an air duct connector, an electrical connector, a cylinder, a solenoid valve, a solenoid valve controller, an upper locating pin, an upper locating pin hole, and a hook tongue position sensor are integrated on the coupler, and automatic coupling and uncoupling of the coupler, and automatic connection and disconnection of the air duct connector and the electrical connector are realized through a control system and a multiple positioning device.

[0006] The air duct connector is located on both sides above the end surface of the coupler, and a device for fixing the air duct connector is installed on the end surface of the coupler; the electrical connector is located at the opening at the center position below the coupler; the cylinder is fixed to the coupler through a cylinder fixing plate, the cylinder push rod connection is connected to the connecting rod through a pin, and the cylinder air inlet is connected to the corresponding interface of the solenoid valve; the solenoid valve is connected to the controller; the solenoid valve controller is connected to the electrical connector; the upper positioning pin and the upper positioning pin hole are set on one side of the fixing device of the air duct connector; the hook tongue position sensor is fixed to the pull rod outside the cylinder with a fixing device. A control system is set at the locomotive end, and a remote control system is set at the remote control end.

[0007] When the couplers are connected, the operating locomotive first sends a connection command, the solenoid valve controller receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve, the solenoid valve is energized and the air inlet is opened, the cylinder works and acts on the connecting rod through the cylinder push rod, the connecting rod acts on the hook opening mechanism, so that the hook tongue of one of the couplers is in a fully open state; the hook tongue of the other coupler can be in any state, the locomotive is adjusted to make the hook tongues of the two couplers perform a rough alignment in the horizontal direction, the sub-buckle and the mother buckle of the coupler perform a secondary rough positioning, after the secondary rough positioning is completed, the upper locating pins and upper locating pin holes of the two couplers are accurately positioned respectively, so that the air duct connector is accurately connected, and then the electrical connector located in the middle of the lower part of the coupler is accurately positioned and connected, thereby completing the automatic connection of the two couplers, the automatic connection of the air duct connector and the electrical connector. When the coupler is unhooked, the operating locomotive first sends an unhooking command, the solenoid valve controller receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve, the solenoid valve is energized and opens the air inlet, so that the cylinder works and acts on the connecting rod through the cylinder push rod, the connecting rod acts on the unhooking mechanism, so that the hook tongue is in an unhooked state, the locomotive is adjusted to automatically separate the electrical connector, the air duct connector, the sub-buckle and the mother buckle, and finally the entire hook tongue is automatically separated, thereby completing the automatic unhooking between the two couplers and the automatic disconnection of the air duct connector and the electrical connector.

[0008] Furthermore, an upper positioning pin hole and an upper positioning pin are provided on one side of the air duct connector fixing device. After the coupler is roughly positioned, the upper positioning pin and the upper positioning pin hole can be accurately positioned so that the air duct connector can be accurately connected; the electrical connector is located in the center position below the coupler to ensure that the electrical connectors of the two couplers can be accurately connected when the couplers are connected.

[0009] Furthermore, a hook tongue position sensor is fixed on the pull rod outside the cylinder. The hook tongue position sensor detects the state of the coupler and feeds back to the locomotive end, and the locomotive end then feeds back the signal to the remote control end. When the coupler is connected, the coupler tongue is in a fully open state. The coupler tongue position sensor detects that the coupler tongue is in a fully open state and feeds back to the operating locomotive. At this time, the locomotive operation is adjusted to automatically connect the coupler, and the air duct connector and the electrical connector are automatically connected, completing the automatic connection of the coupler and the automatic connection of the connector. When the coupler is uncoupled, the coupler tongue is in an uncoupled state. The coupler tongue position sensor detects that the coupler tongue is in an uncoupled state and feeds back to the operating locomotive. The locomotive operation is adjusted to automatically separate the coupler, the air duct connector, and the electrical connector, completing the automatic uncoupling of the coupler and the automatic disconnection of the connector.

[0010] Furthermore, the remote control system is installed at the remote control end, including an open / close hook control system, a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The operating locomotive is also provided with an open / close hook control system, a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The remote control end sends an open / close hook command through the signal transmitter, the operating locomotive receives the signal through the signal receiver, and sends the open / close hook command to the solenoid valve controller through the signal transmitter to energize the solenoid valve; at the same time, the operating locomotive can feed back the signal of the hook tongue position status to the remote control end through the signal transmitter. The remote control end can receive the signal sent by the operating locomotive through the signal receiver.

[0011] Furthermore, a slot is opened at the center position of the rear end face of the female buckle of the coupler, and the front end structure of the sub-buckle can be embedded in the slot for accurate positioning, making the connection between the female buckle and the sub-buckle tighter, reducing the connection gap between the female buckle and the up and down movement between the two couplers, and improving the connection stability of the coupler, air duct connector and electrical connector.

[0012] Furthermore, a joint structure is added to the rear of the coupler, and the joint is provided with a horizontal pin hole and a vertical pin hole. The joint and the coupler tail are connected by a horizontal connecting pin, and the horizontal pin hole can increase the pitch angle in the vertical direction; the vertical pin hole can ensure that the joint and the traditional coupler tail frame are connected, and increase the swing angle of the coupler in the horizontal direction. The joint structure can effectively reduce the relative displacement when there is a height difference between the center lines of the couplers of the two connected vehicles, make the connection between the two couplers tighter, and improve the force performance of the couplers.

[0013] Furthermore, by changing the profile of the traditional hook tongue, the original minimum connection gap of 9.5 mm can be reduced to less than 4.5 mm, reducing the longitudinal impact of the vehicle and effectively improving the connection stability of the coupler and the connection stability and reliability of the connector.

[0014] The advantages of an intelligent coupler provided by the present invention are: 1. The present invention meets the development requirements of future intelligent transportation of trucks, and can realize the automatic connection and automatic disconnection functions of couplers, duct connectors and electrical connectors, and finally realize unmanned, intelligent and automated operation of the entire freight transportation; 2. The present invention can realize the precise positioning connection of couplers and connectors, and realize the precise positioning function by adding positioning pin / hole devices, improving the sub-and-sub buckle structure, etc. In addition, multiple positioning improves the safety performance of the connection; 3. The present invention changes the contour of the hook tongue and adds a joint structure, which can effectively reduce the connection gap and wear of the coupler, improve the stress state and safety performance of the coupler, and extend the service life of the coupler; 4. It improves the marshaling efficiency and transportation efficiency of trucks, improves the safety of freight transportation, and meets the needs of future railway intelligent freight transportation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A stereogram of an intelligent coupler assembly proposed by the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 A front view of an intelligent coupler proposed by the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 A top view of an intelligent coupler proposed by the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a diagram of an intelligent coupler sensing system and remote control system proposed by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following Figure 1 , Attachment Figure 2 , Attachment Figure 3 and attached Figure 4 And working principle, the present invention is further described in detail.

[0020] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The intelligent coupler, the coupler 1 body is installed on the truck body through the joint 15 and the hook tail frame, the coupler 1 and the joint 15 are connected by a horizontal connecting pin 16, the joint and the hook tail frame are connected by a vertical pin, the hook tail frame is installed with a front follower plate and a buffer and is installed on the truck body through a support and limit device, the air duct connector 2, the electrical connector 3, the cylinder 4, the solenoid valve 6, the solenoid valve controller 7, the upper positioning pin 8, the upper positioning pin hole 9, and the hook tongue position sensor 18 are integrated on the coupler 1, and the automatic connection and uncoupling of the coupler 1, and the automatic connection and disconnection of the air duct connector 2 and the electrical connector 3 are realized through the control system and the multiple positioning devices.

[0021] See also Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the air duct connector 2 is located on both sides above the end surface of the coupler, and a device for fixing the air duct connector is installed on the end surface of the coupler; the electrical connector 3 is located at the opening at the center position below the coupler. The cylinder 4 is fixed to the coupler 1 through the cylinder fixing plate 13, and the connection of the cylinder push rod 17 is connected to the connecting rod 5 through the pin 12, and the air inlet of the cylinder 4 is connected to the corresponding interface of the solenoid valve 6; the solenoid valve 6 is connected to the controller 7; the solenoid valve controller 7 is connected to the electrical connector 3; the upper positioning pin 8 and the upper positioning pin hole 9 are set on one side of the fixing device of the air duct connector; the hook tongue position sensor 18 is fixed to the pull rod outside the cylinder 4 with a fixing device. A control system is set at the locomotive end, and a remote control system is set at the remote control end.

[0022] See also Figure 4 When the coupler is connected, the operating locomotive first sends a connection command, the solenoid valve controller 7 receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve 6, the solenoid valve 6 is energized and opens the air inlet, the air inlet of the solenoid valve 6 is connected to the air duct connector 2, the air inlet of the cylinder 4 is connected to the solenoid valve 6 to make the cylinder 4 work and act on the connecting rod 5 through the cylinder push rod 17, the connecting rod 5 acts on the hook opening mechanism, the lower lock pin rotating shaft in the hook opening mechanism drives the lower lock pin and the lower lock pin shaft to rotate, the lower lock pin acts on the hook tongue push iron, the hook tongue push iron pushes the hook tongue out to make the hook tongue 14 rotate around the hook tongue pin, so that one of the couplers 1 The hook tongue 14 is in a fully open state; the hook tongue 14 of the other coupler 1 can be in any state. The locomotive is adjusted to make the hook tongues 14 of the two couplers perform a rough alignment in the horizontal direction, and the sub-buckle 10 and the female buckle 11 of the coupler perform a secondary rough positioning. After the secondary rough positioning is completed, the upper positioning pins 8 and the upper positioning pin holes 9 of the two couplers are respectively accurately positioned, so that the air duct connector 2 is accurately connected, and at the same time, the electrical connector 3 located in the middle of the lower part of the coupler is accurately positioned and connected, thereby completing the automatic connection of the two couplers 1 and the automatic connection of the air duct connector 2 and the electrical connector 3. When the coupler 1 is unhooked, the operating locomotive first sends an unhooking command, the solenoid valve controller 7 receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve 6, the solenoid valve 6 is energized and opens the air inlet, the air inlet of the solenoid valve 6 is connected to the air duct connector 2, the air inlet of the cylinder 4 is connected to the solenoid valve 6 to make the cylinder 4 work and act on the connecting rod 5 through the cylinder push rod 17, the connecting rod 5 acts on the unhooking mechanism, the lower lock pin rotating shaft in the unhooking mechanism drives the lower lock pin and the lower lock pin shaft to rotate, the lower lock pin acts on the hook tongue push iron, the hook tongue push iron pushes the hook tongue out to make the hook tongue 14 rotate around the hook tongue pin, so that the hook tongue 14 is in an unhooked state, the locomotive is adjusted to make the electrical connector 3 automatically separate, the air duct connector 2 automatically separate, the sub-buckle 10 and the female buckle 11 automatically separate, and finally the entire hook tongue 14 automatically separates, thereby completing the automatic unhooking of the coupler 1 and other couplers, and the automatic disconnection of the air duct connector 2 and the electrical connector 3.

[0023] The above description is only a preferred specific implementation manner of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can make equivalent replacements or changes according to the technical scheme and inventive concept of the present invention within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, which should be covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent coupler, characterized in that: The main body of the coupler (1) is installed on the truck body through a joint (15) and a coupler tail frame. The coupler (1) and the joint (15) are connected by a horizontal connecting pin (16). The air duct connector (2), the electrical connector (3), the cylinder (4), the solenoid valve (6), the solenoid valve controller (7), the upper positioning pin (8), the upper positioning pin hole (9), and the coupler tongue position sensor (18) are integrated on the coupler (1). The automatic coupling and uncoupling of the coupler (1) and the automatic coupling and disconnection of the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3) are realized through a control system and a multiple positioning device.

2. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air duct connector (2) is located at both sides above the end surface of the coupler, and a device for fixing the air duct connector is installed on the end surface of the coupler; the electrical connector (3) is located at the opening at the center position below the coupler; the cylinder (4) is fixed to the coupler (1) through a cylinder fixing plate (13), the connection of the cylinder push rod (17) is connected to the connecting rod (5) through a pin (12), and the air inlet of the cylinder (4) is connected to the corresponding interface of the solenoid valve (6); the solenoid valve (6) is connected to the solenoid valve controller (7); the solenoid valve controller (7) is connected to the electrical connector (3); the upper positioning pin (8) and the upper positioning pin hole (9) are arranged on one side of the fixing device of the air duct connector; the hook tongue position sensor (18) is fixed to the pull rod outside the cylinder by a fixing device, a control system is arranged at the locomotive end, and a remote control system is arranged at the remote control end.

3. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the couplers (1) are coupled, first, the operating locomotive sends a coupling command, the solenoid valve controller (7) receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve (6), the solenoid valve (6) is energized and opens the air inlet, so that the cylinder (4) works and acts on the connecting rod (5) through the cylinder push rod (17), and the connecting rod (5) acts on the hook opening mechanism, so that the hook tongue (14) of one of the couplers (1) is in a fully open state; the hook tongue (14) of the other coupler (1) can be in any state, the locomotive is adjusted to make the hook tongues (14) of the two couplers perform a rough alignment in the horizontal direction, the sub-buckle (10) and the female buckle (11) of the coupler perform a secondary rough positioning, after the secondary rough positioning is completed, the upper positioning pins (8) and the upper positioning pin holes (9) of the two couplers are respectively accurately positioned, so that the air duct connector (2) is accurately connected, and then the electrical connector (3) located in the middle of the lower part of the coupler is engaged. The coupling (1) and the coupling (2) are connected to each other by precise positioning and connection, thereby completing the automatic coupling of the coupling (1) and other couplings, and the automatic connection of the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3); when the coupling (1) is unhooked, first the operating locomotive sends an unhooking command, the solenoid valve controller (7) receives the command and transmits it to the solenoid valve (6), the solenoid valve (6) is energized and opens the air inlet, so that the cylinder (4) works and acts on the connecting rod (5) through the cylinder push rod (17), the connecting rod (5) acts on the unhooking mechanism, so that the coupling tongue (14) is in an unhooked state, the locomotive is maneuvered, the electrical connector (3) is automatically separated, the air duct connector (2) is automatically separated, the sub-buckle (10) and the female buckle (11) are automatically separated, and finally the entire coupling tongue (14) is automatically separated, thereby completing the automatic unhooking of the coupling (1) and other couplings, and the automatic disconnection of the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3).

4. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: An upper positioning pin (8) and an upper positioning pin hole (9) are provided on one side of the air duct connector (2). After the coupler (1) is roughly positioned, the upper positioning pin (8) and the upper positioning pin hole (9) can be accurately positioned so that the air duct connector (2) is accurately connected. The electrical connector (3) is located in the middle position below the coupler (1) to ensure that when the coupler (1) is connected to another coupler, the electrical connectors (3) of the two couplers are accurately connected.

5. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: A hook tongue position sensor (18) is fixed on the pull rod outside the cylinder. The hook tongue position sensor (18) detects the state of the coupler and feeds back the signal to the locomotive end. The locomotive end then feeds back the signal to the remote control end. When the coupler is connected, the coupler tongue (14) is in a fully open state. The coupler tongue position sensor (18) detects that the coupler tongue is in a fully open state and feeds back the signal to the operating locomotive. The locomotive operation is adjusted to automatically connect the coupler (1) with other couplers, and the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3) are automatically connected, thereby completing the automatic connection of the coupler and the automatic connection of the connector. When the coupler is uncoupled, the coupler tongue (14) is in an uncoupled state. The coupler tongue position sensor (18) detects that the coupler tongue is in an uncoupled state and feeds back the signal to the operating locomotive. The locomotive operation is adjusted to automatically uncouple the coupler (1) from other couplers, and the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3) are automatically separated, thereby completing the automatic uncoupling of the coupler and the automatic disconnection of the connector.

6. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: The remote control system is installed at the remote control end, and includes an opening / closing hook control system, a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The operating locomotive is also provided with an opening / closing hook control system, a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The remote control end sends an opening / closing hook command through the signal transmitter, and the operating locomotive receives the signal through the signal receiver, and sends the opening / closing hook command to the solenoid valve controller (7) through the signal transmitter, so that the solenoid valve (6) is energized and works; at the same time, the operating locomotive can feed back the signal of the hook tongue position state to the remote control end through the signal transmitter, and the remote control end can receive the signal sent by the operating locomotive through the signal receiver.

7. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: A notch is formed at the center of the rear end face of the female buckle (11) of the coupler, and the front end structure of the sub-buckle (10) can be inserted into the notch for accurate positioning, thereby making the sub-buckle connection tighter, reducing the connection gap between the sub-buckle and the up and down movement between the two couplers, and improving the connection stability of the coupler (1), the air duct connector (2) and the electrical connector (3).

8. The intelligent coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that: A joint (15) structure is added to the rear of the coupler (1); the joint (15) is provided with a horizontal pin hole and a vertical pin hole, the joint (15) and the coupler tail are connected via a horizontal connecting pin (16), the horizontal pin hole can increase the pitch angle in the vertical direction; the vertical pin hole can ensure that the joint (15) and the traditional coupler tail frame are connected and increase the swing angle of the coupler in the horizontal direction, the joint (15) structure can effectively reduce the relative displacement when there is a height difference between the center lines of the couplers of two coupled vehicles, and improve the force bearing performance of the coupler.

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