A folding car hook

Abstract

This invention relates to a folding coupler, belonging to the field of rail transit technology. The coupler-end guide assembly includes a support seat and a guide member mounted on the support seat, with the support seat installed on the coupler head. The coupler-end guide assembly includes a first plate segment and a second plate segment. Along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the height of the guide segment increases; the height of the disengagement segment decreases; a limiting groove is formed between the second plate segment and the first plate segment; the guide member can conform to the movement of the guide segment until the support seat is located within the limiting groove, and one support surface of the support seat contacts the surface of the second plate segment, bearing the weight of the coupler when folded in place. The coupler-end guide assembly can provide stable support for the coupler-end guide assembly and the coupler head, directly sharing and bearing most of the weight of the coupler head itself, offsetting the downward pull caused by the weight of the coupler head, and effectively guiding the coupler folding process when the coupler height decreases significantly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of rail transit technology, and in particular to a folding coupler. Background Technology

[0002] Folding couplers are used in trams to enable automatic mechanical connection and disassembly of trains, and to transmit traction and impact forces. When the vehicles are not coupled together, the folding coupler is folded by the joint mechanism and locked by the guide components at the end of the vehicle, hiding inside the vehicle, saving space at the front of the train and meeting aesthetic requirements.

[0003] The weight of the fully automatic coupler at the front of the train is relatively large, resulting in greater resistance during the folding process; changes in the coupler's center of gravity and the aging of the coupler's vertical support over the years have caused a significant decrease in the height of the coupler's front end; in addition, the small operating space of some types of vehicles makes the coupler folding and locking operation difficult, which has a significant impact on the operation of multiple-unit trains. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the above problems, this application aims to provide a folding coupler to solve the problem of difficult folding operation caused by the large weight of the coupler and the significant drop in the height of the coupling end during the folding process of the existing folding coupler.

[0005] A folding vehicle hook, characterized in that it comprises: Hook head; Coupler end guide assembly: includes a support base and a guide member mounted on the support base, wherein the support base is mounted on the coupler head; Vehicle-end guide assembly: The vehicle body is installed on the folding side of the folding coupler, and the vehicle-end guide assembly includes a first plate segment and a second plate segment; Wherein, along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the first plate segment includes a guide segment; along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the plate surface height of the guide segment increases; a limiting groove is formed between the second plate segment and the first plate segment; The guide member can move along the first direction of the first plate segment to the second direction to fit the guide segment until the bearing seat is located in the limiting groove and one of the support surfaces of the bearing seat contacts the surface of the second plate segment.

[0006] This application takes into account that when the folding coupler rotates and folds, the coupler's own weight causes the hook head to droop. The first plate section first moves along the guide section with gradually increasing height, following the lifting trend of the coupler rotation, with a smooth transition without jamming. By adding a vehicle-end guide component adapted to the hook head folding trajectory, the guide component slides in contact with the surface of the vehicle-end guide component throughout the folding operation. The vehicle-end guide component can provide stable support for the coupler-end guide component and the hook head, directly sharing and bearing most of the hook head's own weight, greatly offsetting the downward pull caused by the hook head's own weight, eliminating the need for operators to manually lift the hook head throughout the entire process.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the first plate segment includes a guide segment and a release segment; along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the plate surface height of the guide segment increases; the plate surface height of the release segment decreases. A limiting groove is formed between the second plate segment and the detachment segment; The reduction in the height of the detachment section is configured such that when the support is located within the limiting groove and one of the support surfaces is in contact with the surface of the second plate segment, the guide disengages from the detachment section.

[0008] The folding coupler provided in this application relies on the cooperation of the rollers and the first plate segment to complete the motion guidance and force support during the overall folding process. After the coupler is folded to the designated position, the rollers travel along the track to the end and enter the disengagement section where the height gradually decreases. It naturally sinks down with the help of the height difference to complete the alignment, and finally achieves precise fitting and stable support between the bearing seat and the second plate segment.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the plate surface of the guide segment includes a planar plate surface segment and an arc-shaped plate surface segment, and the arc-shaped plate surface segment as a whole has an upwardly convex arc-shaped structure.

[0010] This application designs the guide section structure of the first plate segment so that the plate end initially in contact with the guide component is a flat segment, enabling the coupler head to be lifted quickly and efficiently to complete the initial position lifting action. When the guide component slides to the upwardly protruding arc-shaped plate segment, the lifting rhythm tends to be gentle. Relying on the upwardly protruding arc surface, a slow lifting transition is achieved, which can adapt to the arc-shaped movement trajectory of the coupler folding and rotating, so that the rotation posture of the hook head changes smoothly. This not only ensures the overall efficiency of the folding action, but also allows for precise fine-tuning of the hook head's movement posture, making the guide component's travel trajectory highly consistent with the coupler's rotation path.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the second plate segment is disposed on the side of the vehicle end guide assembly facing the coupler, and the side of the vehicle end guide assembly facing the coupler is a concave arc-shaped surface.

[0012] In this embodiment, since the folding motion trajectory of the coupler is arc-shaped, during the entire process of the guide member sliding along the end guide assembly until the bearing seat is embedded in the limiting groove, the concave arc-shaped surface can adapt and fit with the outer contour of the guide member and the bearing seat to form an arc-fitting guide constraint, which laterally limits the coupler end guide assembly and effectively avoids left and right deviation and lateral jamming during the sliding of the guide member; the arc-shaped transition structure can eliminate the interference of sharp corners, reduce the frictional resistance when the guide member slides, make the sliding motion of the guide member smoother, and further improve the smoothness of the hook folding action.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the support includes a guide portion that is movable into the limiting groove, and the side of the guide portion is in contact with the side of the limiting groove.

[0014] In this embodiment, by designing a guide portion and ensuring that the side of the guide portion fits against the side of the limiting groove, the limiting groove can better limit the guide assembly at the coupler end. Compared to point contact or partial line contact limiting structures, this significantly improves the limiting constraint effect of the limiting groove on the guide assembly at the coupler end and the coupler head as a whole; it effectively suppresses the left-right movement and up-down swaying of the coupler head after folding, prevents the coupler head from loosening or shifting due to vibration and impact during vehicle operation, and ensures the fixed stability of the coupler in the folded state.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the surface of the bearing seat that is installed in conjunction with the coupler is provided with a positioning boss, and the surface of the coupler that is installed in conjunction with the bearing seat is provided with a positioning groove; the positioning boss is located in the positioning groove.

[0016] In this embodiment of the application, the positioning boss and the positioning groove are fitted together to achieve quick alignment and pre-positioning during the assembly of the bearing seat and the hook head, which facilitates the fixed installation between the two.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, a limiting step is provided on the side of the bearing seat facing the hook head, and the limiting step can be engaged with the edge of the positioning groove.

[0018] In this embodiment of the application, the snap-fit ​​structure of the limiting step and the positioning groove enables rapid alignment and pre-positioning during the assembly of the bearing seat and the hook, thereby limiting the circumferential deflection, lateral sliding, and installation misalignment of the bearing seat relative to the hook.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the folding hook further includes a second locking member installed on the vehicle body on the folding side of the folding hook; a first locking member is provided on the hook head; The positions of the first locking member and the second locking member are configured as follows: When the support seat moves to the limiting groove, the first locking member can cooperate with the second locking member to lock.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first locking member and the second locking member are interlocked and engaged to achieve linkage locking, and the locking action is triggered by the movement of the bearing seat into the groove. The locking member and the limiting groove form a mechanically linked double locking structure: firstly, the limiting groove provides radial and lateral limiting to the bearing seat and guide part, constraining the displacement of the coupler end guide assembly and achieving initial locking after folding; secondly, the two sets of locking members achieve overall locking between the coupler head and the vehicle body, improving the reliability of the coupler's fixed position after folding.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, the first locking member includes a mounting base and a locking pin; the mounting base forms a cavity, and the locking pin passes through a first end of the cavity; a spring is provided in the cavity, and the spring is limited between the locking pin and a second end of the cavity; a pull rope is inserted into the second end of the cavity, and the pull rope is connected to the locking pin; The second locking member includes a locking engagement part, which is a locking hole or a locking groove; When the first locking member and the second locking member are engaged and locked, the locking pin can be inserted into the locking engagement part.

[0022] In this embodiment, a mating structure for the first and second locking components is further proposed. The elastic telescopic locking structure enables automatic springback locking when folded into place, eliminating the need for manual pressing of the locking pin and facilitating one-click folding and locking of the coupler. Pulling the rope overcomes the spring force, causing the locking pin to retract and disengage from the locking mating part, quickly releasing the lock and allowing workers to quickly unfold and reset the coupler. The unlocking operation is convenient and labor-saving. The spring provides pre-tensioning thrust throughout the process, ensuring the locking pin is not easily retracted or dislodged.

[0023] In some embodiments of this application, the second locking member is provided with a detection member, which is used to detect the locking state of the first locking member and the second locking member.

[0024] In this embodiment, the detection component collects the insertion and engagement signals of the locking pin and the locking mating part in real time, accurately determines the working status of the two sets of locking components, avoids the problem of misjudging the locking status due to human judgment errors, and can promptly provide feedback on whether the coupler folding lock is in place.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, the folding hook further includes a fixing member, which is installed on the vehicle body on the folding side of the folding hook, and the vehicle end guide assembly and the second locking member are both installed on the fixing member.

[0026] In this embodiment, a fixed component integrated assembly structure is adopted, in which the vehicle end guide component and the second locking component are uniformly assembled on the fixed component, and then the fixed component is used to assemble the whole to the side of the vehicle body. Compared with the separate and independent installation of the vehicle end guide component and the second locking component, this realizes the modular integrated installation of functional components.

[0027] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1a This is a schematic diagram of the cooperative structure of the vehicle end guide assembly, the first locking member, and the fixing plate according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 1b This is a schematic diagram of the cooperative structure of the vehicle end guide assembly, the first locking member, and the fixing plate according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2a This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the coupler end guide assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2b This is a second-view structural schematic diagram of the coupler end guide assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2c This is a third-view structural schematic diagram of the coupler end guide assembly according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3a This is a schematic diagram of the coupler end guide assembly and coupler installation structure according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3b This is a cross-sectional view of the coupler end guide assembly and coupler installation structure according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first locking member according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the first locking member according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6a This is a structural schematic diagram of the coupler in a folded state according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6b This is a schematic diagram of the coupler folding state two according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 6c This is a schematic diagram of the three-structure configuration of the coupler in the folded state according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 6d This is a first-view structural diagram of the coupler in the folded state according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 6e This is a second-view structural diagram of the coupler folding state according to the embodiments of this application; Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the guide roller disengaged according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] 1. Hook head; 101. Positioning groove; 2. Coupler end guide assembly, 201, bearing seat, 2011, support platform, 2012, support surface, 2013, guide platform, 2014, guide surface, 2015, positioning boss, 2016, through hole, 2017, limiting step; 202, guide roller; 3. Vehicle end guide assembly, 301, guide section, 302, second plate section, 303, disengagement section, 3a, large ramp roller guide surface, 3b, limiting groove, 3c, roller disengagement surface, 3d, support plate surface, 3e, roller guide surface start end, 3f, guide section end end / roller disengagement section start end, 3g, roller disengagement surface end end; 4. First locking component, 401. Mounting base, 402. Locking pin, 403. Spring, 404. Pull cord, 405. Handle; 5. Second locking component, 501, locking hole, 502, detection component mounting hole, 503, guide surface; 6. Inspection items; 7. Fixing plate; 701. Vehicle body mounting hole; 702. Vertical plate; 703. Horizontal plate; 704. Rib plate; 8. Anti-loosening board. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0031] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0033] The present invention will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0034] This application discloses a folding coupler, mainly applied to various vehicle equipment that requires coupler folding and storage. Traditional folding couplers are mostly two-section hinged structures, with the hook head 1 having a large self-weight, requiring manual assistance to lift during folding and storage. At the same time, due to the large weight of the coupler itself, the hook head 1 is prone to falling or swinging off course during folding due to the downward force of its own weight. This not only makes it difficult to control the folding trajectory and easily causes collisions and interference with surrounding parts of the vehicle body, but also makes it difficult to fold and align, making it difficult to accurately stop at the preset storage position.

[0035] The weight of the fully automatic coupler at the front of the train is relatively large, resulting in greater resistance during the folding process; changes in the coupler's center of gravity and the aging of the coupler's vertical support over the years have caused a significant decrease in the height of the coupler's front end; especially for 100% low-floor trams, the limited operating space at the front end makes the coupler folding and locking operation difficult, which has a significant impact on the operation of multiple-unit trains.

[0036] Existing technologies include solutions that add guide and locking structures to folding couplers to address motion guidance during folding and locking after folding. However, these folding couplers still cannot solve problems such as excessive sag of the hook head 1 due to gravity, irregular folding / unfolding trajectories, and susceptibility to jamming and deviation. Furthermore, vertical height differences often exist between the coupler and the vehicle body fixing position, making docking difficult.

[0037] This application aims to provide a folding coupler to solve the technical problems in the prior art where, due to the large weight of the coupler itself, the operator needs to continuously lift and drag the hook head 1 to complete the folding action, which is laborious and difficult for a single person to complete the work. Furthermore, the hook head 1 is prone to shaking and displacement during the folding process, resulting in poor positioning accuracy. After folding, there is no reliable limit fixation, leading to insufficient storage stability.

[0038] A folding coupler includes a coupler head 1, a coupler end guide assembly 2, and a vehicle end guide assembly 3. The vehicle end guide assembly structure is shown in the reference diagram. Figure 1a and Figure 1b Reference structure of coupler end guide assembly Figure 2a and Figure 2b .

[0039] The rear end of the hook head 1 is the hook body, which is divided into two parts: the front hook body and the rear hook body. The front and rear hook bodies are connected by a hinge mechanism, allowing them to be folded. The folding coupler is also equipped with a locking structure, which can be installed between the front and rear hook bodies as needed. This part is prior art and will not be described in detail.

[0040] The coupler end guide assembly 2 is installed on the coupler head 1, and the car end guide assembly 3 is installed on the car body in the coupler folding direction. Through the cooperation of the coupler end guide assembly 2 and the car end guide assembly 3, the motion trajectory constraint, smooth guidance and attitude correction during the coupler folding process are achieved. This ensures that the folding rotation angle is precise and controllable, and also provides continuous support for the coupler body, shares the weight of the car body, reduces the rotational load of the hinge part, and makes the coupler folding action smooth and fluid.

[0041] The coupler end guide assembly 2 includes a support seat 201 and a guide member installed on the support seat 201. The support seat 201 is installed on the hook head 1, and the guide member is installed on the upper part of the support seat 201. It can roll and slide against the plate surface of the coupler end guide assembly 3, thereby completing the trajectory guidance and rolling support when the coupler is folded.

[0042] For example, the guide component can be a guide roller 202, which is rotatably mounted on the upper part of the support seat 201. A rotating shaft passes through the center of the roller, resulting in a simple and stable assembly structure that is convenient for disassembly and maintenance. When the coupler is folded, the hook head 1 rotates together with the front hook body, causing the support seat 201 and the upper guide roller 202 to move synchronously. The guide roller 202 rolls smoothly against the surface of the end guide component 3, relying on rolling friction instead of sliding friction to effectively reduce the motion resistance during the folding process, making the coupler folding and rotating easier and smoother.

[0043] The end guide assembly 3 is used in conjunction with the guide member to provide support and guidance during the coupler folding process. The end guide assembly 3 includes a first plate segment and a second plate segment 302, with a limiting groove 3b formed between the second plate segment 302 and the first plate segment. Along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the first plate segment includes a guide segment 301, and the plate surface height of the guide segment 301 is increased.

[0044] The guide member can move along the first direction of the first plate segment to the second direction to fit the guide segment 301, until the bearing seat 201 is located in the limiting groove, and one support surface 2012 of the bearing seat 201 contacts the surface of the second plate segment 302.

[0045] In some embodiments of this application, along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the first plate segment includes a guide segment 301 and a disengagement segment 303, which are connected to each other; the disengagement segment 303 is located at the second end of the guide segment 301, and along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the plate surface height of the guide segment 301 increases; the plate surface height of the disengagement segment 303 decreases. A limiting groove 3b is located between the second plate segment 302 and the disengagement segment 303.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the reduction in plate height of the disengagement section 303 is configured such that when the support seat is located within the limiting groove 3b and one support surface of the support seat 201 contacts the surface of the second plate segment, the guide member disengages from the disengagement section 303.

[0047] The function of guide section 301 is to support guide roller 202, raise hook head 1, and guide coupler end guide assembly 2 to move towards the limiting groove. During coupler folding, the front hook body rotates and bends relative to the rear hook body through the hinge mechanism, simultaneously driving hook head 1 and the entire coupler end guide assembly 2 to move synchronously. When the coupler is close to being folded in place, guide roller 202 installed on the support seat 201 first contacts the first end of the end guide assembly 3, and contacts guide section 301 from the starting end 3e of the roller guide surface. Guide roller 202 fits against the plate surface of end guide assembly 3 and rolls from the first end of end guide assembly 3 to the second end of end guide assembly 3, first moving along the large slope roller guide surface 3a, and the vertical height is raised accordingly. It rolls smoothly along the inclined plate surface (large slope roller guide surface 3a) of the first plate section from low to high. During this process, end guide assembly 3 supports coupler and reduces the impact of coupler weight on folding action. The folding trajectory is precisely limited by the inclined plate surface, avoiding swaying, deviation and collision interference when the coupler is folded.

[0048] When the guide roller 202 moves to the position of the end point of the guide section / the beginning point of the roller disengagement section 3f, the guide roller 202 begins to move to the roller disengagement surface 3c of the disengagement section 303. The function of the disengagement section 303 is to disengage the guide roller 202 from the first plate section. During this process, the coupler end guide assembly gradually moves to form a limiting groove 3b between the second plate section 302 and the first plate section. The support surface 3d of the second plate section 302 cooperates with the support surface 2012 of the support platform 2011 to complete the support function. During the aforementioned lifting process, the influence of the weight of the hook head 1 on the folding process is overcome. On the one hand, after the hook head 1 is lifted, it will affect the limiting function between the limiting groove and the coupler end guide assembly 2. On the other hand, during the folding process, the supporting function of the guide roller 202 takes priority. After the coupler is folded, it is necessary to use the bearing seat 201 and the second plate section 302 to achieve a stable supporting function. The guide roller 202 disengages from the disengagement section 303, so that the guide roller 202 and the mounting shaft are no longer under force, which is more conducive to the protection of the guide roller 202 mounting shaft. To ensure that the supporting surface 2012 of the support seat 201 can contact the surface of the second plate segment 302, the guide roller 202 is disengaged from the end guide assembly 3 at the disengagement section 303. The coupler head 1 moves slightly downward. When the coupler completes its fully folded action, the support seat 201 slides into the limiting groove formed by the first plate segment and the second plate segment 302, forming a supporting engagement with the second plate segment 302. The limiting groove provides lateral and vertical bidirectional locking constraints to the coupler end guide assembly 2, providing reliable support for the coupler in the folded state, sharing the vertical load borne by the hinge mechanism, and reducing stress and wear on the hinge area. At this point, the guide component disengages from the disengagement section 303, and the first plate segment of the end guide assembly no longer supports the guide roller 202.

[0049] Furthermore, after the coupler is folded into place, a locking mechanism can be used to lock the coupler and the car body. The support of the guide roller 202 on the car end guide assembly 3 changes the height of the coupler head 1, affecting the engagement of the locking mechanism. When the coupler is folded into place, the support of the car end guide assembly 3 on the guide roller 202 needs to be released in order to enable the locking mechanism to lock in place.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the surface of the guide segment 301 includes a flat plate segment and an arc-shaped plate segment, the arc-shaped plate segment having an overall upwardly convex arc-shaped structure. The detachment segment 303 is a flat plate surface.

[0051] The guide section 301 has a relatively long overall extension and gradually increases in height. During the folding and movement of the coupler, the guide roller 202 rolls smoothly in contact with the surface of the guide section 301 throughout the entire process. It relies on the gentle slope to guide the large-scale folding trajectory. During this stage, the vehicle end guide component 3 continuously provides stable surface support for the guide roller 202, distributing the weight of the coupler and reducing the rotational load of the articulated structure. When the guide roller 202 moves to the end of the guide section 301 and enters the area of ​​the release section 303, the release section 303 has a shorter stroke, a steeper slope, and a greater height difference, allowing the guide roller 202 to quickly sink down along the steep slope and smoothly slide into the limiting groove formed by the first plate section and the second plate section 302 to complete the positioning and locking. After that, the guide roller and the release section are separated, and the bearing seat 201 and the second plate section 302 provide support.

[0052] During the rolling motion of the roller, it smoothly transitions and rises along the flat plate surface and the convex arc plate surface of the guide section 301, and then sinks smoothly along the plate surface of the release section 303 until the guide roller 202 and the release section 303 disengage. The roller is in contact with the plate surface throughout the entire process to complete the position change, until it finally rolls to the corresponding position of the limit groove, and completes the folding and storage positioning of the coupler in conjunction with the overall structure. When the coupler unfolds and resets, the guide roller 202 rolls back along the plate surface in the opposite direction, smoothly driving the hook head 1 back to the working position. The movement process is smooth and stable, and it is not easy to jam, wear or deviation.

[0053] For example, this structure can also be used for the load-bearing fit between the support seat 201 and the second plate segment 302. Specifically, the main body of the support seat 201 forms a support platform 2011. When the guide roller 202 disengages from the first plate segment, the support surface 2012 can just fall on the surface of the second plate segment 302, supporting the coupler through the fit between the support seat 201 and the second plate segment 302.

[0054] It should be understood that the position of the support surface 2012 of the bearing seat 201 needs to be designed according to the position of the folding coupler locking structure so that the locking function of the locking structure is not affected after the bearing seat 201 and the second plate segment 302 are engaged.

[0055] In some embodiments of this application, the second plate segment 302 is disposed on the side of the vehicle end guide assembly 3 facing the coupler, and the side of the vehicle end guide assembly 3 facing the coupler is a concave arc surface.

[0056] It should be understood that the second plate segment 302 is installed on the edge of the first plate segment, and the concave arc-shaped surface refers to the arc-shaped structure formed on the side away from the second plate segment 302. Since the folding motion trajectory of the coupler is arc-shaped, during the entire process of the guide member rolling along the end guide assembly 3 until the bearing seat 201 is embedded in the limiting groove, the concave arc-shaped surface can adapt and fit with the outer contour of the guide member and the bearing seat 201 to form an arc-fitting guide constraint, avoiding interference with the motion trajectory during the folding process of the coupler.

[0057] In order to better achieve the cooperation between the support seat 201 and the second plate, in some embodiments of this application, the support seat 201 includes a guide portion, which can move into the limiting groove, and the side of the guide portion is in contact with the side of the limiting groove.

[0058] For example, the main body of the carrier 201 also forms a guide platform 2013, which is located below the support platform 2011. The width of the guide platform 2013 is smaller than the width of the support platform 2011, and the width difference between the two forms a support surface 2012. The guide platform 2013 has a similar square structure with flat sides, and the side of the limiting groove is also flat. When the coupler is folded into place, the carrier 201 moves to the limiting groove, and the flat sidewall of the guide platform 2013 fits against the flat sidewall of the limiting groove, relying on surface contact to limit and correct the alignment angle of the carrier 201.

[0059] To address the issue of installing the support seat 201 on the coupler, further improvements to the structure of both the support seat 201 and the coupler are needed. In some embodiments of this application, a positioning boss 2015 is provided on the surface of the support seat 201 that mates with the coupler, and a positioning groove 101 is provided on the surface of the coupler that mates with the support seat 201; the positioning boss 2015 is located within the positioning groove 101. Through the convex-concave fitting structure of the positioning boss 2015 and the positioning groove 101, rapid alignment and pre-positioning can be achieved during the assembly of the support seat 201 and the hook head 1, facilitating their fixed installation.

[0060] Furthermore, a through hole 2016 in the height direction can be provided at the location of the positioning boss 2015, and an installation hole can be provided at the location of the positioning groove 101. The fixing bolt passes through the through hole 2016 and the installation hole, and an anti-loosening plate 8 is used to prevent loosening, allowing the support seat 201 to be installed on the hook head 1. In conjunction with the aforementioned structure of the support seat 201, in this embodiment, the positioning boss 2015 is located at the bottom of the guide platform 2013 and is cylindrical. The through hole 2016 connects the support platform and the guide platform 2013. The installation structure between the support platform and the hook head 1 is simple, facilitating subsequent inspection and maintenance.

[0061] In order to further improve the positioning effect between the support seat 201 and the hook head 1, in some embodiments of this application, the support seat 201 is provided with a limiting step 2017 on the side facing the hook head 1, and the limiting step 2017 can be engaged with the edge of the positioning groove 101.

[0062] Specifically, the limiting step 2017 is a stepped structure provided along the bottom surface of the guide platform 2013 towards one side of the hook head 1. The distance between the through hole 2016 and the limiting step 2017 is configured to be equal to the distance from the edge of the positioning groove 101 on the side where the mounting hole and the limiting step 2017 are located. When the through hole 2016 is aligned with the mounting hole, the limiting step 2017 is engaged with the edge of the positioning groove 101, preventing relative rotation between the support 201 and the hook head 1.

[0063] To solve the locking problem in the folded state of the coupler, a locking mechanism between the coupler head 1 and the car body was further designed.

[0064] In some embodiments of this application, the folding coupler further includes a second locking member 5 installed on the vehicle body on the folding side of the folding coupler; a first locking member 4 is provided on the hook head 1; The positions of the first locking element 4 and the second locking element 5 are configured as follows: When the support seat 201 moves to the limiting groove, the first locking member 4 can cooperate with the second locking member 5 to lock.

[0065] The cooperative structure of the first locking member 4 and the second locking member 5 can lock and fix the hook in the folded state, effectively preventing the hook from unfolding on its own due to vibration and inertia during vehicle operation, and further improving the overall stability and safety of use in the folded storage state.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, the first locking member 4 includes a mounting base 401 and a locking pin 402; the mounting base 401 forms a cavity, and the locking pin 402 passes through a first end of the cavity; a spring 403 is provided in the cavity, and the spring 403 is limited between the locking pin 402 and a second end of the cavity; a pull rope 404 is inserted into the second end of the cavity, and the pull rope 404 is connected to the locking pin 402. The second locking component 5 includes a locking engagement part, which is a locking hole 501 or a locking groove; when the coupler is folded into place, the locking pin 402 can be aligned with the locking hole 501 or the locking groove.

[0067] When the first locking member 4 and the second locking member 5 are engaged and locked, the locking pin 402 can be inserted into the locking engagement part.

[0068] refer to Figure 1bIn some embodiments, the surface of the main body of the second locking member 5 that mates with the locking pin 402 can be designed as a guide surface 503. The guide surface 503 is preferably designed as an arc-shaped surface or an inclined surface. During the folding process of the coupler, the locking pin 402 moves with the coupler. When the locking pin 402 contacts the guide surface 503 and moves towards the locking hole 501, it is compressed into the cavity until it reaches the position of the locking hole 501. At this point, the guide surface 503 releases its restriction on the locking pin 402. During this process, there is no need for manual operation of the locking pin 402; it can automatically insert into the locking hole 501. Preferably, the end of the locking pin 402 can be arc-shaped, which, combined with the arc-shaped or inclined structure of the guide surface 503, reduces the movement resistance when the locking pin 402 automatically engages with the second locking member 5, making the process of the locking pin 402 automatically entering the locking hole 501 smoother.

[0069] For ease of operation, the pull rope 404 is connected to the handle 405, and a protective tube is provided on the outer part of the mounting base 401, with the pull rope 404 housed within the protective tube. When the coupler needs to be extended, the locking pin 402 and the locking engagement part need to be unlocked. Pulling the handle 405 pulls the pull rope 404 outward, causing the pull rope 404 to retract the locking pin 402 into the cavity, simultaneously compressing the spring 403 inside the cavity, causing the locking pin 402 to be housed within the cavity, disengaging from the locking structure of the locking hole 501 or locking groove. Rotating the coupler causes the bearing seat 201 to disengage from the limiting groove, and the coupler returns to its extended state.

[0070] Furthermore, in order to retrieve the locking status of the coupler, a detection element 6 is provided on the second locking member 5. The detection element 6 is used to detect the locking status of the first locking member 4 and the second locking member 5.

[0071] To install the detection element 6, a mounting hole 502 for the detection element 6 can be made on the second locking element 5 near the locking hole 501. The mounting hole 502 for the detection element 6 communicates with the locking hole 501. The detection element 6 is installed in the mounting hole, with one side of the detection head inserted into the mounting hole 502, facing inward. When the locking pin 402 is inserted into the mounting hole, the detection element 6 sends a detection signal.

[0072] In practical applications, the detection element 6 can be selected from various adaptable structures, such as proximity sensors, limit switches, photoelectric induction switches, pressure sensing contacts, and magnetoelectric induction elements. When the locking pin 402 is fully inserted into the locking mating part to complete the locking, the detection element 6 can sense the position signal in real time to determine that the coupler is in a reliable locked state. If the locking pin 402 is not fully inserted or is in the unlocked / disengaged state, the detection element 6 will output an unlocked signal, which can promptly provide feedback on the locking status, making it easier for the control system to identify the coupler's working status and avoid safety hazards caused by incomplete locking.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the folding coupler further includes a fixing member, which is installed on the vehicle body on the folding side of the folding coupler. The vehicle end guide assembly 3 and the second locking member 5 are both installed on the fixing member.

[0074] For example, the fastener is a fixing plate 7. The fixing plate 7 includes a vertical plate 702 and a horizontal plate 703. The vertical plate 702 is provided with a vehicle body mounting hole 701 for fixing the fixing plate 7 to the vehicle body by means of the fastener. The horizontal plate 703 is mounted on the surface of the vertical plate 702. A stiffening plate 704 is provided between the horizontal plate 703 and the vertical plate 702 to strengthen the connection strength of the plates and improve the overall structural rigidity. The vehicle end guide assembly 3 is connected to the horizontal plate 703.

[0075] The integration of the fixing plate 7, the first plate segment, the second plate segment 302, and the second locking component 5 into an integrated assembly structure of the vehicle end guide assembly can not only unify the positioning and installation benchmark and ensure the relative position accuracy of each component, but also simplify the on-site assembly process, reduce individual fixing procedures, and facilitate the overall disassembly and maintenance in the later stage, making the layout of the guide support structure and the locking structure more regular and compact.

[0076] The working process of the vehicle-mounted folding locking system is as follows: Figures 6a to 6e As shown, during the coupler folding process, the state before the guide roller 202 contacts the car end guide assembly 3 is as follows: Figure 6a After the guide roller 202 contacts the vehicle end guide assembly 3, the guide roller 202 rolls upward along the guide surface 503 of the large ramp roller on the guide section 301 of the vehicle end guide assembly 3, as... Figure 6b Rolling friction greatly reduces operating resistance, and the steep slope roller guide surface 503 can adapt to the working conditions where the front end of the coupler is low; the locking pin 402 slides along the locking pin 402 guide surface 503 of the car end guide assembly 3, and the locking pin 402 is compressed back (the inclined structure of the locking pin 402 guide surface 503 gradually compresses the locking pin 402, and the inclined guide surface of the locking pin 402 and the arc surface at the front end of the locking pin 402 cooperate to reduce frictional resistance), and the guide roller 202 continues to roll upward along the steep slope roller guide surface 503 of the car end guide assembly 3, such as Figure 6c The locking pin 402 enters the locking hole 501 of the second locking member 5, the locking pin 402 extends to lock, and triggers the detection switch of the detection member 6. The guide roller 202 reaches the final position, that is, the coupler is folded. Figure 6d At this time, the support surface 2012 of the bearing seat 201 of the guide roller 202 and the support surface 2012 of the second plate section 302 of the vehicle end guide assembly 3 are in contact, supporting the coupler. The guide roller 202 is suspended in the air and no longer bears any force, and is located above the roller disengagement surface (disengagement section 303) of the vehicle end guide assembly 3. Figure 7 The mounting base 401 of the guide roller 202 and the guide platform 2013 enter the limiting groove of the vehicle end guide assembly 3 to achieve limiting.

[0077] To unlock, pull the cord 404, the locking pin 402 retracts and exits from the locking hole 501, and the unlocking is complete.

[0078] This invention proposes a car-end folding and locking system. The rolling friction, locking pin 402 and guide surface 503 cooperate with the contour to make the operation force during the folding process of the coupler smaller. The car-end guide component 3 with a large slope structure can adapt to the working condition of the low height of the front end of the coupler. The locking and unlocking operation is convenient and solves the pain point problem of train operation. It has a detection switch that can detect the status of the coupler in real time.

[0079] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A folding car coupler, characterized in that, It includes: Hook head; Coupler end guide assembly: includes a support base and a guide member mounted on the support base, wherein the support base is mounted on the coupler head; Vehicle-end guide assembly: The vehicle body is installed on the folding side of the folding coupler, and the vehicle-end guide assembly includes a first plate segment and a second plate segment; Wherein, along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the first plate segment includes a guide segment; along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the plate surface height of the guide segment increases; a limiting groove is formed between the second plate segment and the first plate segment; The guide member can move along the first direction of the first plate segment to the second direction to fit the guide segment until the bearing seat is located in the limiting groove and one of the support surfaces of the bearing seat contacts the surface of the second plate segment.

2. The folding coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the first plate segment includes a guide segment and a release segment; along the direction from the first end to the second end of the first plate segment, the plate surface height of the guide segment increases; the plate surface height of the release segment decreases. A limiting groove is formed between the second plate segment and the detachment segment; The reduction in the height of the detachment section is configured such that when the support is located within the limiting groove and one of the support surfaces is in contact with the surface of the second plate segment, the guide disengages from the detachment section.

3. The folding coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the direction from the first end of the first plate segment to its second end, the surface of the guide segment includes a flat plate segment and an arc-shaped plate segment, and the arc-shaped plate segment as a whole has an upwardly convex arc-shaped structure.

4. The folding coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the vehicle end guide assembly facing the coupler is a concave arc-shaped surface.

5. The folding coupler according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that, The support includes a guide portion that can move into the limiting groove, and the side of the guide portion is in contact with the side of the limiting groove.

6. The folding coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of the bearing seat that mates with the coupler is provided with a positioning boss, and the surface of the coupler that mates with the bearing seat is provided with a positioning groove; the positioning boss is located in the positioning groove.

7. The folding coupler according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support seat is provided with a limiting step on the side facing the hook head, and the limiting step can be engaged with the edge of the positioning groove.

8. The folding coupler according to claim 1, characterized in that, The folding coupler also includes a second locking component installed on the vehicle body on the folding side of the folding coupler; a first locking component is provided on the coupler head; The positions of the first locking member and the second locking member are configured as follows: When the support seat moves to the limiting groove, the first locking member can cooperate with the second locking member to lock.

9. The folding coupler according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first locking element includes a mounting base and a locking pin; the mounting base forms a cavity, and the locking pin protrudes through a first end of the cavity; a spring is provided in the cavity, and the spring is limited between the locking pin and a second end of the cavity; a pull rope is inserted into the second end of the cavity, and the pull rope is connected to the locking pin. The second locking member includes a locking engagement part, which is a locking hole or a locking groove; When the first locking member and the second locking member are engaged and locked, the locking pin can be inserted into the locking engagement part.

10. The folding coupler according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The second locking member is provided with a detection element, which is used to detect the locking state of the first locking member and the second locking member.

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