End plate for rail vehicle connection head and rail vehicle connection head

Abstract

The invention relates to an end plate (10) for a rail vehicle connection head, the end plate having a coupling element, the coupling element comprising a coupling protrusion (1) and a coupling opening (6), the coupling protrusion protruding from the end plate (10) in the front direction, the coupling opening being used to accommodate a coupling protrusion of a mirror-symmetrical coupling element of an adapted end plate, wherein the end plate (10) has a contact surface (7) on the end side for absorbing the extrusion force when the adapted end plate is connected. The invention is characterized in that the contact surface (7) on the end side is provided with at least one recess (3) which is positioned outside the coupling element and is at least partially open at the edge.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with the application date of November 12, 2018, application number 201880074240.2 (international application number PCT / EP2018 / 080859), and invention name “End plate for rail vehicle connector and rail vehicle connector”. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to an end plate for a rail vehicle connection head and a rail vehicle connection head having the end plate. Background Art

[0003] For winter operation of rail vehicles, it is necessary that their connections are kept as free of ice and snow as possible, since accumulations of ice and snow adhering to the connections, in particular to the end plates of the connections, would prevent the rail vehicle connections from coupling properly. For example, the end plates of the rail vehicle connections have vertical, end-side contact surfaces that surround the coupling elements and that transmit the compressive forces between the end plates of the rail vehicle connections that are coupled to one another. If accumulations of ice and snow adhere to the contact surfaces, the end plates and thus the connections cannot be displaced toward one another sufficiently to couple the coupling elements of the two rail vehicle connections to one another.

[0004] Therefore, conventionally, the corresponding ice and snow accumulations have to be removed manually from the end plates. In the passenger area of ​​rail vehicles or in power locomotives, electric heating of the end plates can also be provided in order to melt the ice and snow. However, in freight connectors, such as the freight connectors to which the present invention relates, for example, it is not possible to provide electrical energy for the corresponding electric heating devices, so that in practice the ice and snow accumulations have to be removed manually as described above.

[0005] Documents EP 1 805 073 B1, EP 1 632 414 B1 and EP 1 293 409 A1 disclose rail vehicle connection heads having electrically heatable end plates.

[0006] Document WO 2015 / 036482 A1 discloses a connecting head of an intermediate buffer connector, which has a connecting head housing and an end plate that closes the connecting head housing from the end side and is loosely connected to the connecting head housing, wherein the connecting head housing has a first joint area for coupling to the end plate and a second joint area for establishing a connection with a coupling rod, and the connecting head housing is constructed as a one-piece forging, wherein the first joint area is formed on the connecting head housing by at least two contact surfaces arranged separately from each other for at least indirectly supporting on a partial surface of the end plate, and the connecting head housing is connected to the end plate in the first joint area by a force-fit connection. Summary of the invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an end plate for a rail vehicle connection head, wherein even if no electric heater is provided, the need for manual removal of ice and snow deposits is at least largely avoided.

[0008] The technical problem according to the invention is solved by an end plate for a rail vehicle connection head. Particularly advantageous and expedient embodiments of the invention and a rail vehicle connection head with a corresponding end plate are also presented in the present application.

[0009] According to the end plate for a rail vehicle connector of the present invention, the end plate has a coupling element, the coupling element includes a coupling protrusion and a coupling opening, the coupling protrusion protrudes from the end plate in the front direction, and the coupling opening is used to accommodate the coupling protrusion of the mirror-symmetrical coupling element of the adapted end plate. Accordingly, the front direction based on the front of the end plate refers to the direction followed by the end plate to move relative to the corresponding connector in order to couple two rail vehicle connectors to each other.

[0010] The coupling projection can, for example, include or be formed by a so-called coupling cone, which is also referred to as a standard coupling cone. The coupling opening is, in particular, circular and cylindrically funnel-shaped in cross section in order to be able to accommodate a corresponding coupling cone in reverse.

[0011] The end plate has a contact surface at the end side, or a contact surface facing the front direction, so as to be able to withstand the extrusion force when the adapter end plate of another rail vehicle connection head is plugged in. During this connection, the contact surfaces of the end sides of the two end plates are against each other.

[0012] According to the invention, the end-side contact surface of the end plate is provided with at least one recess which is positioned outside the coupling element and is at least partially open at the edges. That is, a single continuous recess which is at least partially open at the edges can be provided, or two or more separate recesses which are at least partially open at the edges can be provided.

[0013] The effect of the open-edged recess according to the invention is that during the coupling process, when the two end plates of the mutually coupled rail vehicle connector move towards each other, the snow that is enclosed between the end plates and that has fallen off or been squeezed during the coupling process can be deflected into the at least one recess and through its open-edged section and thus discharged from the engagement area of ​​the two end plates or coupling elements. Due to the relatively simple design of the end plates, the remaining components, such as the coupling elements, can remain unchanged, which at the same time also makes it possible to arrange the invention in a variety of different connector types and connector variants, regardless of whether the rail vehicle connector is, for example, provided with a detachable end plate, a compressed air connector and / or a so-called clamp. In fact, the recess according to the invention can be used in any of the connectors or connector variants mentioned above.

[0014] The end-side contact surface can, for example, include or be formed by a plurality of contact surface segments which are positioned dispersedly on the front side of the end plate and are raised, i.e. protruding, relative to adjacent regions. Each contact surface segment has an in particular flat contact surface which is oriented in such a way that it can rest against the end plate of a counterconnector or of a rail vehicle connection head to be coupled.

[0015] In particular, the contact surface sections are positioned and oriented in such a way that they provide force introduction regions that are arranged spatially separated from one another for absorbing the contact forces during the connecting process.

[0016] The number and size of the contact surface segments can be selected such that the contact surface segments are reduced to the minimum value required to reliably transmit the contact forces occurring during operation. For example, the contact surface segments can overall withstand a contact force of at least 2000 kN (kilonewtons) or more. In the case of such relatively small contact surface segments, the risk of ice and snow deposits adhering to the contact surface segments is minimized.

[0017] The arrangement of the contact surface sections and the geometric design of the contact surface sections are here primarily dependent on the basic geometry of the end surface and the arrangement of the coupling element. The contact surface sections are arranged at a distance from the coupling element so that at least a partial region of a recess that is at least partially open at the edges is formed. The recess extends in the region of the outer periphery of the end plate, preferably directly to the outer periphery of the end plate.

[0018] Preferably, the end plate is characterized by a substantially rectangular base surface. In addition, the end plate can also be extended with a surface area for arranging a clamp or other sliding-in surfaces for the coupling process. The coupling element is arranged in the center. In this case, the arrangement of the contact surface sections is then preferably completed in the four corner areas outside the coupling element, wherein the contact surface sections either end flush with the outer circumference of the end plate or are arranged on the end plate in the outer edge area or in the area of ​​the outer circumference. In the latter case, the contact surface sections form an auxiliary sliding surface for ice and snow etc. with the surface area facing in the direction of the outer circumference of the end plate.

[0019] Preferably, the end plate according to the invention has a plurality of open-edged recesses located outside the coupling element. Particularly preferably, the individual open-edged recesses or sections of open-edged recesses extend around the coupling element and between the contact surface sections to the outer circumference of the end plate. Preferably, the recesses end flush with the outer circumference.

[0020] In order to optimize the output of ice and snow during the coupling process, at least one open-edged recess comprises at least one slope arranged in the edge region of the recess, the surface of the slope facing in the direction of the edge. In other words, the end plate has a chamfer in the region of the slope, i.e. a surface on the front side that continuously recedes towards the edge. As a result, the space available for the output of ice and snow increases towards the periphery of the end plate. As an alternative or in addition, the recess can also be provided with a slope, which points in the direction of the center, i.e. in particular along the periphery between the two contact surface sections starting from the two contact surface sections, respectively in the direction of the center.

[0021] That is, the slope of the recess can be oriented so as to extend relative to the contact surface and / or the base surface of the recess, particularly in the edge region, i.e. in the peripheral region, as viewed in the direction from the coupling element to the edge region (in the height direction in the installed position) and / or laterally thereto (in the width direction in the installed position).

[0022] The chamfer or bevel can vary here depending on the production method.

[0023] The ramp preferably has an angle of at least 10° relative to the contact surface and / or the base surface of the recess.

[0024] Furthermore, it is alternatively or additionally provided that a circumferential surface area of ​​a defining recess of a contact surface segment is arranged to extend perpendicularly or at an angle relative to a base surface of the recess to the actual contact surface, and the contour of the recess is constructed to extend in a prescribed direction toward the periphery, so that each open-edge recess is characterized along its circumferential surface toward the periphery of the end plate by having the same span or a constant cross-sectional shape between two adjacent contact surface segments as observed along a plane parallel to the contact surface; or that each open-edge recess is preferably constructed with a changed cross-sectional shape, in particular an expansion portion toward the periphery of the end plate.

[0025] At least one at least partially open-edged recess can vary in terms of its geometric dimensions in all directions along its extension on the end face of the end plate. The recess can then be designed with the same height / depth or with a varying height / depth when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the end plate, and the design of the recess can also vary in the circumferential direction of the end plate.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one open-edged recess has at least one at least partially open-edged, in particular only partially open-edged circumferential groove which partially or completely surrounds the coupling projection on its outer circumference.

[0027] When a plurality of contact surface sections are provided, the surface or front side of the contact surface section is preferably smaller than the surface or front side of at least one partially open-edged recess. The front side of at least one open-edged recess is also referred to as the base surface.

[0028] For example, the end-side contact surface comprises at least three or four raised contact surface sections distributed along the periphery of the contact surface. If the contact surface section has an at least substantially quadrangular or rectangular shape, for example, a raised contact surface section can be provided at each corner.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the end plate has a clamp protruding from the end plate in the front direction, and the clamp is at least partially or completely surrounded by a recess with at least partially open edges on its periphery, wherein, depending on the embodiment, an opening or a through hole can also be provided, through which the squeezed ice and snow can be deflected. For example, the recess with an open edge around the clamp is formed by a flat surface that is retracted parallel to or at an angle to the contact surface. In other words, the clamp extends from the surface. The clamp can, for example, be formed by or include a bowed or bent rod, which in particular protrudes from the surface.

[0030] At least one open-edged recess preferably has a base surface which is set back by at least 2.5 mm or at least 5 mm relative to the contact surface. The base surface can extend partially or completely parallel to the contact surface, but in particular has one or more slopes at least in one or several sections.

[0031] The significant setback of the base surface compared to the contact surface creates sufficient space during the coupling process and in the coupled state into which ice and snow can be squeezed without adversely affecting the coupling process or the coupled state.

[0032] In particular, the end plate according to the invention has no electrical heating device. However, the invention can also be used in conjunction with an electrically heated end plate.

[0033] The rail vehicle connection head according to the invention comprises a connection head housing and an end plate according to the invention which is detachably or non-detachably connected to the connection head housing. The rail vehicle connection head can be designed, for example, as a freight connection head or as a component of a freight connection head.

[0034] The invention can be used in particular in a central buffer connector. The application can be realized in the field of passenger transport or freight transport. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention will be described exemplarily below with reference to embodiments and drawings.

[0036] In the attached picture:

[0037] Figure 1 A perspective top view of an end plate according to the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 2 Show cutaway Figure 1 A side cross-sectional view of the end plate shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 1 shows an end plate 10 which can either be formed integrally with a connection head housing 11 or can be releasably connected to such a connection head housing. Figure 2 The corresponding connection head housing 11 is schematically shown in dashed lines. The end plate 10 and the connection head housing 11 together form a rail vehicle connection head 13 or at least a component of the rail vehicle connection head.

[0040] exist Figure 1 1 shows an exemplary coordinate system arranged on the end plate 10. According to the installation position on the rail vehicle connection head 13, the X direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the rail vehicle. The Y direction describes the width direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The Z direction describes the height direction.

[0041] The end plate 10 has an end face 14 pointing away from the connection head housing 11 and is used to cooperate with a corresponding rail vehicle connection head (not shown). On the back side pointing away from the end face 14, the end plate 10 is either constructed integrally with the connection head housing or constructed and connected to the connection head housing in a cooperative manner, depending on the different connection methods on the connection head housing 11.

[0042] The end plate 10 has an end-side contact surface 7, which is used to cooperate with the contact surface of the corresponding rail vehicle connector, in particular to accommodate the extrusion force when the adapter end plate of the corresponding rail vehicle connector is connected. In addition, the end surface 14 also has a corresponding coupling element, which is used to couple with the corresponding rail vehicle connector. For this purpose, in the case shown, a coupling protrusion 1 protrudes from the end plate 10 in the front direction, and the coupling protrusion is implemented as a coupling cone there. A coupling opening 6 is positioned adjacent to it laterally, and the coupling opening can accommodate the corresponding coupling protrusion of the corresponding rail vehicle connector. According to the present invention, the end-side contact surface 7 is provided with at least one recess 3 positioned outside the coupling element and at least partially open at the edge. The recess divides the contact surface 7 into a plurality of contact surface sections 5 arranged separately from each other in space, and the contact surface sections constitute a force introduction area in particular for the introduction of extrusion force. In the case described, the contact surface 7 is formed by the contact surface sections 5 dispersedly arranged along the circumference of the end plate 10. For example, four contact surface sections 5 are provided, and in the case of an end plate 10 having a substantially rectangular base surface, each contact surface section is provided in the region of each corner of the end plate, on which a coupling element is provided and in the corner region, between two contact surface sections 5 arranged in the width direction, further contact surface sections are provided. The design of the recesses with partially open edges in the edge region of the end plate 10 or in the region of the periphery can be varied depending on the manufacturing process. When the end plate 10 has a particularly long extension between the corners, additional contact surface sections 5 can be provided, in particular between the corners, for example in the axial center, such as Figure 1 Here, the contact surface section 5 has an annular shape.

[0043] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment described, a clamp 8 is provided which projects from the end plate 10 in the front direction and which interacts with a corresponding clamp of the mating coupler in order to center the two end plates or rail vehicle coupling heads relative to one another during the coupling process.

[0044] According to the invention, the end-side contact surface 7 is arranged outside the coupling element having a partially open-edge recess 3 formed by the coupling projection 1, the coupling opening 6 and the clamp 8. The open-edge recess 3 can be regarded as a single continuous open-edge recess or as a plurality of adjacently arranged at least partially open-edge, preferably completely open-edge recesses 3.

[0045] The contact surface 7 is divided into a plurality of separate contact surface sections 5 by the open-edged recesses 3. Interspaces are thus formed between the contact surface sections 5, into which ice and snow can penetrate during coupling.

[0046] At least one at least partially open-edged recess 3 located outside the coupling element extends at least in each case from the region of the periphery, preferably directly from the basic geometry describing the periphery 15 of the end plate 10, in the direction of the coupling element, in particular to a certain distance from the coupling element. If the recess is approximately rectangular, it extends in the corresponding corner regions to the periphery 15, wherein the recess divides the contact surface 7 into segments which are arranged spatially separated from one another and form local force introduction regions.

[0047] In order to allow ice and snow to escape from the recess, ramps 4 are provided in the edge region, i.e. in the region of the periphery 15 of the end plate 10 or in the region of the open-edged recess 3. In the illustrated embodiment, two ramps 4 are provided at the upper end of the end plate 10, and another ramp is provided at the open-edged recess 3 or at a portion of the open-edged recess from which the gripper 8 protrudes.

[0048] When the rail vehicle connection head is coupled to the matching rail vehicle connection head, the funnel-shaped connection sleeve is inserted onto the coupling projection 1. As a result, ice and snow adhering to the coupling projection 1 can be pressed into the area of ​​the end plate 10 surrounding the coupling projection 1 in the front direction. In order to allow the ice and snow to be deflected, the coupling projection 1 is surrounded by a circumferential groove 2, which is also open at the edges, here in the area of ​​the ramp 4 and in the vertical direction between the contact surface sections 5 on the edges laterally outside the rail vehicle connection head 13. The circumferential groove 2 is also formed by Figure 2 The view shown.

[0049] In order to realize the screw connection of the end plate 10 and the connection head housing 11, in particular, a threaded hole 12 is provided, which is arranged in the contact surface section 5. In order to prevent ice and snow from being locked in the threaded hole 12, the threaded hole can also be designed to be open at the edge.

[0050] In the embodiment shown, the open-edged recess 3 around the holder 8 is formed by a surface 9 which is set back relative to the other open-edged recesses 3 or relative to other regions of the open-edged recess 3. The set-back surface 9 can be oriented at an angle, for example, relative to the contact surface 7 or the remaining region of the open-edged recess 3. However, a parallel orientation is also conceivable. Finally, the set-back surface 9 can be arranged in a common plane with other regions of the open-edged recess 3 in order to form a common base surface of the open-edged recess 3. In addition, additional through-holes can be realized in the region of the holder. The squeezed ice and snow can also pass through here and fall downwards.

[0051] Reference numerals list

[0052] 1 coupling protrusion; cone

[0053] 2 Circumferential grooves

[0054] 3 Open-edged recess

[0055] 4 Slope

[0056] 5 Contact surface section

[0057] 6 Coupling opening

[0058] 7 Contact surface

[0059] 8 Clamp

[0060] 9 Retracted Surface

[0061] 10 End plate

[0062] 11 Connector housing

[0063] 12 threaded holes

[0064] 13 Rail vehicle connector

[0065] 14 End side

[0066] 15 Periphery

Claims

1. An end plate (10) for a rail vehicle connection head, the end plate having a coupling element, the coupling element comprising a coupling protrusion (1) and a coupling opening (6), the coupling protrusion protruding from the end plate (10) in the front direction, the coupling opening being used to accommodate the coupling protrusion of the mirror-symmetrical coupling element of the adapted end plate, wherein: The end plate (10) has a contact surface (7) on the end side for bearing the extrusion force when connecting the matching end plate; it is characterized in that the contact surface (7) on the end side is provided with at least one recess (3) positioned outside the coupling element and at least partially open at the edge, wherein at least one recess (3) with an open edge has a base surface, which is set back by at least 2.5 mm relative to the contact surface (7).

2. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base surface is set back by at least 5 mm relative to the contact surface (7).

3. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end-side contact surface (7) comprises a plurality of open-edged recesses (3) located outside the coupling element.

4. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one open-edge recess (3) has at least one ramp (4) arranged in the edge region of the recess (3), the surface of the ramp facing in the direction of the edge and / or in the direction of the center.

5. The end plate (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The ramp (4) has an angle of at least 10° relative to the contact surface (7).

6. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one open-edge recess (3) has at least one at least partially open-edge circumferential groove (2) which partially or completely surrounds the coupling projection (1) on its outer circumference.

7. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end-side contact surface (7) comprises at least three raised contact surface sections (5) which are distributed along the circumference of the contact surface (7).

8. The end plate (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The end-side contact surface (7) comprises at least four raised contact surface sections (5) which are distributed along the circumference of the contact surface (7).

9. The end plate (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that: The contact surface (7) has a substantially quadrangular shape and a raised contact surface section (5) is located in each corner region.

10. The end plate (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that The contact surface (7) has a substantially rectangular shape.

11. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coupling element comprises a holder (8) which projects from the end plate (10) in the front direction and is at least partially surrounded on its outer circumference by a recess (3) which is at least partially open at the edges.

12. The end plate (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that The recess (3) which is open around the edge of the holder (8) is formed by a flat surface (9) which is set back parallel to or at an angle to the contact surface (7).

13. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The base surface is at least partially parallel to the contact surface (7).

14. The end plate (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that The recess (3) which is open around the edge of the holder (8) has a through hole.

15. The end plate (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coupling protrusion (1) comprises a coupling cone or is composed of a coupling cone.

16. A rail vehicle connection head comprising a connection head housing (11) and an end plate (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 which is detachably or non-detachably connected to the connection head housing (11).

Images