A locking device and a coupler

Abstract

This invention relates to a locking device and a coupler, comprising: a first force transmission member, a second force transmission member, a locking block, a drive shaft, and a drive mechanism. The second force transmission member is hinged to the first force transmission member and has a limiting groove thereon; the locking block is slidably disposed on the first force transmission member along its axial direction; the drive shaft is disposed on the locking block; the drive mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first force transmission member via a rotating shaft; the drive mechanism has a drive hole, and the end of the drive shaft extends into the drive hole and slides within it; when the drive mechanism rotates around the rotating shaft, it drives the locking block to move linearly between a first position and a second position. This invention employs a translational locking structure for the locking block, which reduces the operating force required for unlocking through a lever transmission with a high leverage ratio and significantly improves the stability of the locking mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of rail vehicle technology, and particularly relates to a locking device and a coupler. Background Technology

[0002] Foldable hook and buffer devices for rail vehicles are typically folded or retracted and concealed within the opening and closing mechanisms at both ends of the train. They extend and lock only when needed, such as in rescue operations, to facilitate the transmission of longitudinal force. In the prior art, folding hook and release devices typically use a rotating locking block in conjunction with a spring to achieve locking. The locking block rotates around a fixed axis to engage and disengage with the pull rod, and the spring acts directly on the locking block to provide locking force. When unlocking, the unlocking handle or other drive mechanism is manually operated to overcome the spring force and drive the locking block to rotate to release the locking limit.

[0003] Although this rotating locking structure can lock the folding hook and buffer device, the lever arm of the spring locking force is similar in length to the lever arm of the manual unlocking operation, resulting in excessive operating force required for manual unlocking. When operators manually unlock the device through the unlocking handle or other structures, they need to overcome significant resistance or even use auxiliary tools to complete the unlocking, which causes inconvenience in the field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve one of the above-mentioned technical problems by providing a locking device and a coupling.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A locking device, comprising: First force transmission component; The second force transmission component is hinged to the first force transmission component via a rotating pin and has a limiting groove on it. A locking block is slidably disposed on the first force transmission member along the axial direction of the first force transmission member; the locking block has a first position and a second position; when the locking block is in the first position, it is embedded in the limiting groove to lock the relative position of the first force transmission member and the second force transmission member; when the locking block is in the second position, it is disengaged from the limiting groove, allowing the first force transmission member and the second force transmission member to rotate relative to each other.

[0006] The drive shaft is mounted on the lock block; The drive mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first force transmission component via a rotating shaft; the drive mechanism is provided with a drive hole, and the end of the drive shaft extends into the drive hole and slides into the drive hole; when the drive mechanism rotates around the rotating shaft, the drive lock block moves linearly between the first position and the second position.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, an elastic element is further included; One end of the elastic element is connected to the drive shaft, and the other end is connected to the first force transmission element, which is used to apply an elastic force toward the first position to the locking block.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first force transmission member has an extended position and a folded position; When the first force transmission component is in the extended position and the locking block is in the first position under the action of the elastic component, the locking block is embedded in the limiting groove; When the first force transmission component rotates to the folded position, the slider slides to the first position under the action of the elastic component, and the locking block is not embedded in the limiting groove.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, an operating part is provided at the end of the drive mechanism away from the rotation axis; The distance between the axis of the drive shaft and the axis of the rotating shaft is less than the distance between the operating part and the axis of the rotating shaft.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate; The upper cover plate and the lower cover plate are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the first force transmission component, and are connected to each other by a connector; The upper and lower cover plates are respectively provided with drive holes, and the two ends of the drive shaft extend into the corresponding drive holes and slide in cooperation with the drive holes.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first anti-wear member is provided between the upper cover plate and / or the lower cover plate and the first force transmission member; A second anti-wear component is provided between the upper cover plate and / or the lower cover plate and the rotating shaft.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the limiting groove has opposing first side groove walls and second side groove walls; The length of the first side groove wall is greater than the length of the second side groove wall; when the locking block is in the second position, the first side groove wall abuts against the locking block, so that the first force transmission component can only rotate around the rotation axis on the side where the second side groove wall is located.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second force transmission member is provided with an arc-shaped surface; During the rotation of the first force transmission component around the rotation axis, the locking block remains tangent to the arc-shaped surface.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first force transmission member is provided with a sliding groove extending along its axial direction; The locking block is positioned in the sliding groove and slides along the sliding groove between the first and second positions.

[0015] Some embodiments of the present invention further provide a folding vehicle coupler, comprising: Linked institutions; The locking device is the aforementioned locking device; wherein the first force transmission member is connected to the coupling mechanism; and the second force transmission member is connected to the vehicle body.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. The present invention adopts a locking block translational locking structure. The locking block drive shaft is close to the drive mechanism rotation shaft, while the manual operation part is far away from the rotation shaft. By designing a lever transmission with a large arm ratio, the resistance arm of the locking spring force acting on the drive shaft is much smaller than the operating arm of the manual unlocking force acting on the operation part. While maintaining sufficient spring locking force to ensure the safety of longitudinal force transmission of the train, the unlocking operation force required by the operator is reduced by a factor of two. 2. The present invention changes the locking block to a translational locking method along the longitudinal direction of the folding joint. The locking block is embedded in the limiting groove in a purely axial direction, making the locking state more stable and reliable, less prone to loosening or gaps, and effectively ensuring the safety of the coupler when transmitting longitudinal force. 3. After the folding and locking mechanism of this invention is fully engaged, the locking block returns to the locked position under the action of the elastic element, and no longer continuously compresses or stretches the spring, thus avoiding the spring being in a state of compression or tension for a long time and effectively improving the service life of the spring. 4. The present invention, through the design of the asymmetrical sidewall of the limiting groove, makes the locking block abut against one side of the groove wall when it is in the unlocked position, allowing the coupler to fold to a preset single side only, preventing structural interference and component damage caused by folding in the wrong direction, and improving operational safety.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the structures pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a locking device; Figure 2 A top view showing the locking device in its extended, locked state; Figure 3 for Figure 2 AA section view; Figure 4 for Figure 2 BB section view; Figure 5A top sectional view of the locking device in its extended and locked state; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the locking device in its extended, unlocked state; Figure 7 A top view of the locking device in its unlocked state; Figure 8 A top sectional view of the locking device in its extended, unlocked state; Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the locking device in its folded state; Figure 10 A top view showing the locking device in its folded state; Figure 11 A top sectional view of the locking device in its folded state; Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the locking device in its folded, locked, and returned-to-position state. Figure 13 A top view showing the locking device in its folded, locked-back position. Figure 14 A top sectional view of the locking device in its folded, locked-back position. The attached figures are labeled as follows: 1. First force transmission component; 11. Tension spring fixing component; 12. Sliding groove; 2. Second force transmission component; 21. Limiting groove; 22. Arc-shaped surface; 3. Rotating pin; 4. Locking block; 41. Drive shaft; 5. Drive mechanism; 51. Upper cover plate; 52. Lower cover plate; 53. Drive hole; 54. Connecting component; 6. Rotating shaft; 7. Elastic component; 8. First wear-resistant component; 9. Second wear-resistant component. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application is described and illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments provided in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to limit the exemplary implementations according to this application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. Furthermore, it should be understood that the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0022] Where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0024] As attached Figure 1 - Appendix Figure 14 As shown, in an illustrative embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention, the locking device includes a first force transmission member 1, a second force transmission member 2, a locking block 4, a drive shaft 41, and a drive mechanism 5.

[0025] Among them, such as Figures 1-5 As shown, the first force transmission component 1 is a folding joint in the folding coupler that is connected to the coupling system, i.e., the front tie rod. Its front end has a connecting ring interface for connecting to the mechanical coupling system, and its rear end is hinged to the second force transmission component 2 via a rotating pin 3. The first force transmission component 1 is used in the locking device to transmit longitudinal force and provide a mounting base for the locking block 4 and the drive mechanism 5.

[0026] The second force transmission component 2 is the rear pull rod of the folding coupler, which is hinged to the first force transmission component 1 via a rotating pin 3. The front end of the second force transmission component 2 is provided with a limiting groove 21, which is used to cooperate with the locking block 4 to achieve locking.

[0027] It should be understood that the rotating pin 3 is a hinge shaft connecting the first force transmission component 1 and the second force transmission component 2, enabling the two to rotate relative to each other to achieve the folding and straightening functions.

[0028] The locking block 4 is slidably disposed on the first force transmission member 1 along the axial direction of the first force transmission member 1, and the locking and unlocking switching is achieved by inserting into and disengaging from the limiting groove 21.

[0029] Specifically, the locking block 4 has a first position and a second position during its linear motion along the axial direction of the first force transmission member 1. When the locking block 4 is in the first position, it is embedded in the limiting groove 21, locking the relative positions of the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2. When the locking block 4 is in the second position, it disengages from the limiting groove 21, allowing the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2 to rotate relative to each other.

[0030] Specifically, the locking block 4 can adopt a cuboid block structure, which cooperates with the guide structure on the first force transmission component 1 to achieve stable linear sliding.

[0031] The drive shaft 41 is a cylindrical boss set on the lock block 4, which serves as the force transmission medium between the lock block 4 and the drive mechanism 5.

[0032] The drive mechanism 5 is rotatably mounted on the first force transmission component 1 via a rotating shaft 6.

[0033] The drive mechanism 5 is provided with a drive hole 53, which can be an elongated hole with its major axis aligned with the rotation direction of the drive mechanism 5 to provide sufficient sliding stroke. The end of the drive shaft 41 extends into the drive hole 53, and its diameter is slightly smaller than the width of the drive hole 53 to ensure smooth sliding engagement. The drive hole 53, through its sliding engagement with the drive shaft, converts the rotational motion of the drive mechanism 5 around the rotating shaft 6 under manual operation into linear movement of the locking block 4. The rotating shaft 6 is the fulcrum of rotation of the drive mechanism 5 and is fixed to the first force transmission member 1. It should be understood that when the drive mechanism 5 rotates around the rotating shaft 6, the driving locking block 4 moves linearly between a first position and a second position.

[0034] Specifically, the drive mechanism 5 can adopt a plate-like structure, which facilitates the machining of the drive hole 53 and the installation of the rotating shaft 6.

[0035] In this embodiment, after the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2 are hinged by the rotating pin 3, the locking block 4 is slidably disposed on the first force transmission member 1 along its longitudinal direction. The drive shaft 41 is fixed on the locking block 4, and the drive mechanism 5 is rotatably mounted on the first force transmission member 1 through the rotating shaft 6. When locking is required, the drive mechanism 5 rotates around the rotating shaft 6, and the hole wall of the drive hole 53 pushes the drive shaft 41, causing the locking block 4 to slide along the longitudinal direction of the first force transmission member 1 to the first position and embed into the limiting groove 21 of the second force transmission member 2, thereby locking the relative positions of the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2. When unlocking is required, the drive mechanism 5 is rotated in the opposite direction, and the hole wall of the drive hole 53 pulls the drive shaft 41, causing the locking block 4 to slide along the longitudinal direction of the first force transmission member 1 to the second position and disengage from the limiting groove 21, allowing the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2 to rotate relative to each other around the rotating pin 3.

[0036] It is understandable that the locking block of the folding coupler in the prior art usually adopts a rotation locking method, that is, the locking block rotates around a certain fixed point to achieve insertion or disengagement from the limiting groove 21. This rotation method makes the lever arm relationship between the force point of the locking block and the operation force point fixed and difficult to optimize. As a result, when a large spring locking force is required to ensure the safety of longitudinal force transmission, the manual unlocking operation force also increases accordingly, making the operation difficult.

[0037] This application modifies the locking block 4 into a translational locking method that allows it to slide longitudinally along the first force transmission member 1. It also sets the drive shaft 41 to slide into the drive hole 53 on the drive mechanism 5. When the drive mechanism 5 rotates around the rotation axis 6, the wall of the drive hole 53 applies a pushing or pulling force to the drive shaft 41, driving the locking block 4 to move linearly longitudinally along the first force transmission member 1. This structure converts the rotational motion of the drive mechanism 5 into the translational motion of the locking block 4. This allows the lever arm relationship between the point of application of the spring force (drive shaft 41) and the point of application of force for manual unlocking to be flexibly adjusted through structural design. This not only improves locking accuracy and stability but also provides a structural basis for optimizing the lever arm ratio to achieve effortless unlocking, thus effectively solving the technical problems of difficult manual unlocking and laborious operation in the prior art.

[0038] In some embodiments of the present invention, an elastic element 7 is further included. The elastic element 7 may be a tension spring, compression spring, torsion spring, or elastic rubber, etc., which are components with elastic restoring force.

[0039] One end of the elastic element 7 is connected to the drive shaft 41, and the other end is connected to the first force transmission element 1. It is used to apply an elastic force toward the first position to the locking block 4, ensuring that the locking block 4 is always locked when no external force is applied. The elastic force is the restoring force generated after the elastic element 7 deforms, and its magnitude and direction ensure that the locking block 4 is stably maintained in the first position.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the locking block 4 is in the first position, the elastic element 7 is in a stretched or compressed state, generating an elastic force that pulls or pushes the locking block 4 to the first position. When unlocking is required, the drive mechanism 5 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic element 7 and drives the locking block 4 to move to the second position, and the elastic element 7 further deforms and stores energy. After the unlocking operation is completed, if the external force disappears, the restoring force of the elastic element 7 will automatically drive the locking block 4 back to the first position.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-5 As shown, the elastic element 7 is a tension spring, and the tail of the first force transmission element 1 is provided with a tension spring fixing element 11. The end of the drive shaft 41 has a round hole for fixing the spring. The two ends of the tension spring are respectively hung between the drive shaft 41 and the tension spring fixing element 11.

[0042] Specifically, in one embodiment, the elastic element 7 includes an upper tension spring and a lower tension spring. The upper tension spring and the lower tension spring are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the first force transmission element 1. The tail of the first force transmission element 1 is provided with an upper tension spring fixing member and a lower tension spring fixing member on the upper and lower sides respectively. The locking block 4 has two drive shafts 41, one upper and one lower, with circular holes for fixing the springs at the ends of the drive shafts 41. When the tension spring is above the folding joint, its two ends are respectively hung between the upper drive shaft 41 and the upper tension spring fixing member, and when it is below the folding joint, its two ends are respectively hung between the lower drive shaft 41 and the lower tension spring fixing member. Under the tension of the upper and lower tension springs, the locking block 4 is always subjected to a tension towards the first position and stably embedded in the limiting groove 21 of the second force transmission element 2.

[0043] In this embodiment, by providing an elastic element 7 between the locking block 4 and the first force transmission element 1, an elastic force is applied to the locking block 4 toward the first position, so that the locking block 4 always automatically tends to and remains in the locked position when there is no external unlocking operation, thereby ensuring the continuous stability and reliability of the locked state, avoiding unexpected unlocking caused by vibration or accidental contact, and making the unlocking operation require actively overcoming the elastic force to complete, effectively solving the technical problems of unstable locking state and easy accidental unlocking in the prior art.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the first force transmission member 1 has an extended position and a folded position.

[0045] When the first force transmission member 1 is in the extended position and the locking block 4 is in the first position under the action of the elastic member 7, the locking block 4 is embedded in the limiting groove 21.

[0046] When the first force transmission component 1 rotates to the folded position, the slider slides to the first position under the action of the elastic component 7, and the locking block 4 is not embedded in the limiting groove 21.

[0047] The "extended position" refers to the first force transmission component 1 and the second force transmission component 2 rotating to a state where their axes are parallel or in a straight, aligned position that allows for connection. The "folded position" refers to the posture where the first force transmission component 1 rotates relative to the second force transmission component 2 to a folded, concealed state.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, an operating part is provided at one end of the drive mechanism 5 away from the rotating shaft 6, for the operator to apply unlocking force, which can take the form of a handle, boss, wrench interface or extension rod, etc.

[0049] The distance between the axis of the drive shaft 41 and the axis of the rotating shaft 6 is less than the distance between the operating part and the axis of the rotating shaft 6.

[0050] The axis of drive shaft 41 is a straight line with its geometric center, which is the equivalent line of action of the drive mechanism 5 applying driving force to the lock block 4 through the drive hole 53. The axis of rotation shaft 6 is a straight line with its geometric center, which is the central axis of rotation of the drive mechanism 5. The distance is the perpendicular distance between the two axes, used to determine the lever arm length.

[0051] Understandably, by setting the distance between the axis of the drive shaft 41 and the axis of the rotating shaft 6 to be less than the distance between the operating part and the axis of the rotating shaft 6, i.e., the drive shaft 41 is closer to the rotating shaft 6 to form a short resistance arm, and the operating part is farther away from the rotating shaft 6 to form a long operating arm, when the drive mechanism 5 rotates around the rotating shaft 6, according to the torque balance principle of a rigid body rotating around a fixed axis, the operating torque is equal to the operating force multiplied by the operating arm, and the resistance torque is equal to the resistance at the drive shaft 41 multiplied by the resistance arm. Since the operating arm is greater than the resistance arm, the operating torque generated by the smaller operating force can balance the larger resistance torque, thereby achieving a significant reduction in the manual unlocking force.

[0052] Specifically, the operating part can be set as a bent handle at the end of the drive mechanism 5, which is convenient for the operator to grip and apply force; it can also be set as a boss structure for use with special tools; or it can be set as a foldable extension rod that can be folded up to save space when not in use.

[0053] The distance between the axis of drive shaft 41 and the axis of rotation shaft 6 can be achieved by designing the position of drive hole 53, that is, by opening drive hole 53 close to the axis of rotation shaft 6. The distance between the operating part and the axis of rotation shaft 6 can be achieved by extending the length of drive mechanism 5.

[0054] In this embodiment, by setting an operating part at the end of the drive mechanism 5 away from the rotating shaft 6, and setting the distance between the axis of the drive shaft 41 and the axis of the rotating shaft 6 to be less than the distance between the operating part and the axis of the rotating shaft 6, the lever principle is used to form a lever arm ratio relationship between the short resistance arm and the long operating arm. This allows the operating force acting on the operating part to be reduced by a factor of two while maintaining sufficient driving force, thereby effectively solving the core technical problem in the prior art that manual unlocking is difficult and operation is laborious due to the large locking resistance.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive mechanism 5 includes an upper cover plate 51 and a lower cover plate 52.

[0056] The upper cover plate 51 is a plate-shaped component located above the first force transmission member 1, and has a drive hole 53 for cooperating with the drive shaft 41 above the lock block 4.

[0057] The lower cover plate 52 is a plate-shaped component located below the first force transmission member 1, and has a drive hole 53 for cooperating with the drive shaft 41 below the lock block 4.

[0058] The upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 are connected to each other by a connector 54. The connector 54 is a component that fixes the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 into a rigid whole, and can be in the form of a cylinder, a connecting rod or a bolt.

[0059] Both ends of the drive shaft 41 extend into the corresponding drive holes 53 on the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 respectively and slide in cooperation with the drive holes 53 to achieve synchronous drive on both sides.

[0060] In this embodiment, the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 can be symmetrical steel plate stampings, respectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the first force transmission member 1.

[0061] The connector 54 can be a pair of cylinders. The two ends of the cylinders pass through the corresponding holes of the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52, respectively, and are fastened with bolts and nuts to keep the upper and lower cover plates 52 parallel and with a fixed spacing.

[0062] The drive shaft 41 can be configured as a through shaft that passes through the upper and lower surfaces of the lock block 4, with both ends engaging with the drive holes 53 of the upper and lower cover plates 52 respectively; or it can be configured as two independent short shafts, which are fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the lock block 4 respectively.

[0063] It is understandable that by designing the drive mechanism 5 as a split structure including an upper cover plate 51 and a lower cover plate 52, which are respectively set on the upper and lower sides of the first force transmission member 1 and connected to each other as a rigid whole by the connector 54, and by having both ends of the drive shaft 41 of the lock block 4 extend into the drive holes 53 of the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 respectively, the lock block 4 is simultaneously subjected to synchronous driving force at both the upper and lower ends. This driving force is symmetrically distributed about the sliding axis of the lock block 4, and the resultant force passes through the sliding axis without generating an overturning moment, thereby ensuring that the lock block 4 is subjected to balanced force and slides smoothly.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first anti-wear member 8 is provided between the upper cover plate 51 and the first force transmission member 1, and between the lower cover plate 52 and the first force transmission member 1. The first anti-wear member 8 is specifically a non-metallic gasket or low-friction pad layer disposed between the upper cover plate 51 and the first force transmission member 1 and between the lower cover plate 52 and the first force transmission member 1, for isolating the metal contact surfaces between the two.

[0065] A second anti-wear component 9 is provided between the upper cover plate 51 and the rotating shaft 6, and between the lower cover plate 52 and the rotating shaft 6. The second anti-wear component 9 is specifically a non-metallic sleeve or bearing disposed between the upper cover plate 51 and the rotating shaft 6 and between the lower cover plate 52 and the rotating shaft 6, used to isolate the metal contact surface between the rotating shaft 6 and the cover plate; wherein, the non-metallic material can be nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyoxymethylene or copper-based powder metallurgy, etc., which have a low coefficient of friction and good wear resistance.

[0066] In this embodiment, the first anti-wear component 8 is in the form of a nylon gasket, laid flat between the lower cover plate 52 and the lower surface of the first force transmission component 1, or between the upper cover plate 51 and the upper surface of the first force transmission component 1.

[0067] In this embodiment, the second anti-wear component 9 is in the form of a nylon flange sleeve, which is sleeved on the rotating shaft 6. The flanged part is located between the cover plate and the first force transmission component 1, which not only plays a role in radial wear reduction but also provides axial buffering.

[0068] In this embodiment, by providing a first anti-wear component 8 between the upper cover plate 51 and / or the lower cover plate 52 and the first force transmission component 1, and providing a second anti-wear component 9 between the rotating hole of the cover plate and the rotating shaft 6, the direct contact between metals is transformed into contact between metals and non-metals by utilizing the low friction coefficient and self-lubricating properties of non-metallic materials, which significantly reduces the friction coefficient and wear rate. At the same time, the non-metallic anti-wear component can absorb vibration and shock, thus playing a buffering role.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present invention, the drive mechanism 5 is machined with weight-reducing holes to reduce the overall weight while ensuring structural strength, thereby achieving a lightweight design.

[0070] In some embodiments of the present invention, the rotating shaft 6 adopts a stepped shaft design. The tail of the stepped shaft is provided with threads for screwing into the threaded hole of the first force transmission component 1 for fixation. The shaft body is provided with a stepped surface, which abuts against the upper and lower surfaces of the drive mechanism 5, or has a small gap reserved to accommodate the first anti-wear component 8.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3 and Figure 11 As shown, the limiting groove 21 has an asymmetrical structure, with a first side groove wall and a second side groove wall opposite each other in the horizontal direction.

[0072] The first side wall is the longer side wall in the limiting groove 21. When the locking block 4 is in the second position, it abuts against the locking block 4, so that the first force transmission member 1 can only rotate around the rotation axis 6 to the side where the second side wall is located. The second side wall is the shorter side wall in the limiting groove 21, and its side is the permissible folding direction.

[0073] The length refers to the dimension of the side wall in the depth direction or folding direction of the limiting groove 21. The abutment refers to the direct contact between the locking block 4 and the first side groove wall, forming a mechanical limit. Unidirectional rotation means that the first force transmission component 1 can only rotate around the rotating pin 3 towards the side where the second side groove wall is located, and cannot rotate towards the side where the first side groove wall is located.

[0074] Specifically, the length difference between the first side groove wall and the second side groove wall can be determined according to the folding angle and the size of the locking block 4. Usually, the length of the first side groove wall should ensure that the locking block 4 can completely block the movement of the locking block 4 to that side when it is in the second position. The length difference can be 3mm to 15mm, depending on the structural dimensions.

[0075] In this embodiment, by designing the limiting groove 21 to have a first side groove wall and a second side groove wall of unequal length, the locking block 4 abuts against the first side groove wall in the second position. The mechanical limiting principle restricts the folding direction of the first force transmission member 1, so that it can only rotate to the side where the second side groove wall is located. This effectively solves the technical problem in the prior art that the folding direction is not restricted and it is easy to fold in the wrong direction, resulting in structural interference and damage to parts.

[0076] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second force transmission member 2 is provided with an arc-shaped surface 22. The arc-shaped surface 22 is specifically a curved surface structure provided on the second force transmission member 2, and is usually located on one side of the limiting groove 21.

[0077] During the rotation of the first force transmission component 1 around the rotation axis 6, the locking block 4 remains tangent to the arc-shaped surface 22. This tangency means that the contact relationship between the locking block 4 and the arc-shaped surface 22 is geometrically tangent or approximately tangent, that is, the two are in line contact or contact with a very small area.

[0078] Specifically, the radius of curvature of the arc surface 22 can be calculated and determined based on the shape of the rear end face of the locking block 4, the relative position between the locking block 4 and the rotating pin 3, and the preset folding angle range, to ensure that the gap between the rear end face of the locking block 4 and the arc surface 22 is uniform or remains in contact throughout the folding process.

[0079] The arc-shaped surface 22 can be integrally cast or machined with the second force transmission component 2, or it can be formed by welding an arc-shaped plate.

[0080] It should be understood that in this embodiment, if the second force transmission member 2 adopts a right-angle step or sharp edge structure near the limiting groove 21, the rear end face of the locking block 4 will scrape and collide with the edge of the second force transmission member 2 during the process of the locking block 4 rotating and folding relative to the second force transmission member 2 after unlocking, resulting in the paint or plating peeling off, scratches and wear. This not only affects the appearance of the parts, but may also cause corrosion due to exposed metal, reducing service life. By setting an arc-shaped surface 22 on one side of the limiting groove 21 of the second force transmission member 2, and designing the curvature of the arc-shaped surface 22 to adapt to the movement trajectory of the rear end face of the locking block 4 during the folding process, the rear end face of the locking block 4 always maintains an approximately tangent state with the arc-shaped surface 22 during rotation, forming a smooth line contact or a very small area contact between the two, avoiding edge scraping, and converting sliding friction into smooth sliding along the arc surface.

[0081] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first force transmission member 1 is provided with a sliding groove 12. Specifically, the sliding groove 12 is a groove or through-slot structure extending axially along the first force transmission member 1, used to accommodate the locking block 4 and provide sliding guidance for it. Axial extension means that the long side direction of the sliding groove 12 is parallel to the axial direction of the first force transmission member 1.

[0082] The locking block 4 is disposed in the sliding groove 12. The two side walls of the sliding groove 12 play a lateral limiting and guiding role for the locking block 4, so that the locking block 4 can slide along the sliding groove 12 between the first position and the second position.

[0083] Specifically, the sliding groove 12 can be in the form of a rectangular through groove, penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the first force transmission component 1, which facilitates the installation of the locking block 4 and the extension of the drive shaft 41.

[0084] In this embodiment, a sliding groove 12 extending axially is provided on the first force transmission member 1, and the locking block 4 is placed in the sliding groove 12. The two side walls of the sliding groove 12 are used to laterally limit the locking block 4, so that the locking block 4 can only slide along the longitudinal direction of the sliding groove 12 and cannot be laterally offset or rotated. This ensures the straightness and accuracy of the sliding trajectory of the locking block 4, so that the locking block 4 can be accurately aligned and embedded in the limiting groove 21 of the second force transmission member 2.

[0085] The working process of the locking device provided in this application is described below with reference to a specific embodiment.

[0086] In this embodiment, the locking device includes a first force transmission component 1, a second force transmission component 2, a rotating pin 3, an elastic component 7, an upper tension spring fixing component 11, a lower tension spring fixing component 11, a locking block 4, an upper cover plate 51, a lower cover plate 52, a rotating shaft 6, a first anti-wear component 8, a second anti-wear component 9, and a connecting component 54.

[0087] When the locking device is in its extended locked state, the first force transmission component 1 and the second force transmission component 2 are collinear, i.e., in the extended position. The locking block 4 is in its first position under the tension of the elastic component 7, with its rear end embedded in the groove of the second force transmission component 2, thus preventing relative rotation between the first force transmission component 1 and the second force transmission component 2. At this time, the coupler is at its working length and can transmit longitudinal force.

[0088] Unlocking Process: The operator holds the rear end of the drive mechanism 5, i.e., the operating part away from the rotating shaft 6, and applies a pushing force away from the second force transmission member 2. The upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52 rotate counterclockwise around the rotating shaft 6 as a whole. Since the drive shaft 41 is located in the elongated hole of the upper cover plate 51 and the lower cover plate 52, when the cover plate rotates, the front wall of the elongated hole pushes the drive shaft 41, forcing the locking block 4 to overcome the tension of the elastic member 7 and slide towards the second force transmission member 2. When the locking block 4 slides to the second position, the locking block 4 is completely disengaged from the limiting groove 21 of the second force transmission member 2, at which point the first force transmission member 1 and the second force transmission member 2 can rotate relative to each other. Since the distance between the rotating shaft 6 and the drive shaft 41 is less than the distance from the operating part to the rotating shaft 6, according to the lever principle, the unlocking force required by the operator is much less than the locking force of the tension spring on the locking block 4, achieving a labor-saving operation. The extended unlocking state of the locking device is as follows: Figures 6-8 As shown.

[0089] Folding process: After unlocking, the operator pushes the first force transmission component 1 to rotate around the small rotating pin to the side where folding is allowed. Because the right side wall of the slot of the second force transmission component 2 is shorter and the locking block 4 is still in the extended state, the rear end face of the locking block 4 and the arc-shaped surface 22 on the right side of the second force transmission component 2 always remain approximately tangent. Therefore, the locking block 4 will not scratch the surface of the second force transmission component 2 during the folding process.

[0090] When the first force transmission component 1 rotates to the preset folding angle, the operator releases the drive mechanism 5, and the locking block 4 slides backward to the first position under the action of the elastic component 7. At this time, since the first force transmission component 1 has deviated from the straightened position, the rear end of the locking block 4 contacts the arc-shaped surface 22 of the pull rod rather than the groove, so it will not be embedded in the limiting groove 21, and the hook remains in the folded state. The folding state of the locking device is as follows: Figures 9-11 As shown.

[0091] Return-to-locking process: When the coupler needs to be used again, the operator rotates the first force transmission component 1 to the extended position. When the first force transmission component 1 and the second force transmission component 2 are approximately 180° collinear, the front end of the locking block 4 is aligned with the entrance of the slot in the second force transmission component 2. At this time, if the operator releases the drive mechanism 5 or actively releases the force, the locking block 4 automatically slides backward under the action of the tension spring, embedding itself into the slot in the second force transmission component 2, completing the automatic locking. The folded locking return state of the locking device is as follows: Figures 12-14 As shown.

[0092] Some embodiments of the present invention further provide a folding coupler, which is a coupler device in rail vehicles that can be in a folded and hidden state or in an extended and usable state, for coupling vehicles in rescue operations.

[0093] The folding coupler includes a coupling mechanism and a locking device.

[0094] Among them, the coupling mechanism is the component at the front end of the folding coupler used to achieve mechanical coupling between vehicles, such as coupling ring, automatic coupler head, etc.

[0095] The locking device, as described above, is used to lock the folding coupler in its extended state. The first force transmission component 1 is connected to the coupling mechanism. The second force transmission component 2 is connected to the vehicle body to transmit longitudinal force.

[0096] Finally, it should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0097] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the specific implementation of the present invention or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the technical solutions claimed in the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking device, characterized in that, include: First force transmission component; The second force transmission component is hinged to the first force transmission component via a rotating pin and has a limiting groove on it. A locking block is slidably disposed on the first force transmission member along the axial direction of the first force transmission member; the locking block has a first position and a second position; when the locking block is in the first position, it is embedded in the limiting groove to lock the relative positions of the first force transmission member and the second force transmission member; when the locking block is in the second position, it is disengaged from the limiting groove, allowing the first force transmission member and the second force transmission member to rotate relative to each other. The drive shaft is mounted on the lock block; A drive mechanism is rotatably mounted on the first force transmission component via a rotating shaft; the drive mechanism is provided with a drive hole, and the end of the drive shaft extends into the drive hole and slides into the drive hole; When the drive mechanism rotates around the rotation axis, it drives the locking block to move linearly between the first position and the second position.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further includes elastic elements; One end of the elastic element is connected to the drive shaft, and the other end is connected to the first force transmission element, for applying an elastic force toward the first position to the locking block.

3. The locking device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first force transmission component has an extended position and a folded position; When the first force transmission member is in the extended position and the locking block is in the first position under the action of the elastic member, the locking block is embedded in the limiting groove; When the first force transmission component rotates to the folded position, the slider slides to the first position under the action of the elastic component, and the locking block is not embedded in the limiting groove.

4. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, An operating part is provided at one end of the drive mechanism away from the rotating axis; The distance between the axis of the drive shaft and the axis of the rotating shaft is less than the distance between the operating part and the axis of the rotating shaft.

5. The locking device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate; The upper cover plate and the lower cover plate are respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the first force transmission member, and are connected to each other by a connector; The upper and lower cover plates are respectively provided with drive holes, and the two ends of the drive shaft extend into the corresponding drive holes and slide in cooperation with the drive holes.

6. The locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that, A first anti-wear component is provided between the upper cover plate and / or the lower cover plate and the first force transmission component; A second anti-wear component is provided between the upper cover plate and / or the lower cover plate and the rotating shaft.

7. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting groove has opposing first side groove walls and second side groove walls; The length of the first side groove wall is greater than the length of the second side groove wall; when the locking block is in the second position, the first side groove wall abuts against the locking block, so that the first force transmission member can only rotate around the rotation axis on the side where the second side groove wall is located.

8. The locking device according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that, The second force transmission component is provided with an arc-shaped surface; During the rotation of the first force transmission component around the rotation axis, the locking block remains tangent to the arc-shaped surface.

9. The locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first force transmission component is provided with a sliding groove extending along its axial direction; The locking block is disposed in the sliding groove and slides along the sliding groove between the first position and the second position.

10. A folding coupler, characterized in that, include: Linked institutions; A locking device, which is the locking device according to any one of claims 1-9; wherein the first force transmission member is connected to the coupling mechanism; The second force transmission component is connected to the vehicle body.

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