Coupler device for a car shunting machine
By designing the coupler device for the empty car shunting machine, the automatic opening and closing of the coupler was realized, solving the problem of hard collisions between the couplers and improving the safety and efficiency of the tipper system.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TIANJIN SDIC JINNENG ELECTRIC POWER
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
AI Technical Summary
The existing tippler system lacks an automatic locking mechanism for the coupler of the empty car shunting machine, which causes the coupler to collide hard during the pushing process, damaging the coupler and the car body structure.
Design a coupler device for an empty shunting machine, including a vertical push mechanism, a swing bracket, a lifting chain, a hook, a torsion spring device, and a coupler, to realize the automatic opening and closing function of the coupler, and monitor the status in real time through sensors and a control center.
It enables automatic opening and closing of the coupler of empty shunting locomotives, preventing hard collisions, protecting the vehicle structure, improving operational safety and efficiency, and saving labor costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN224563753U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the technical field of tippler systems in thermal power plants, and more particularly to a coupler device for an empty shunting machine. Background Technology
[0002] As a core piece of equipment in coal unloading operations at thermal power plants, the safety, reliability, operational efficiency, and compatibility with railway freight cars are of paramount importance. This system must strictly adhere to the technical specifications of TG / CL259-2010, "Implementation Rules for Testing Railway Freight Car Tippers and Bulk Cargo Thawing Depots." In the tipper coal unloading process, the empty car shunting locomotive plays a crucial role in smoothly transferring single empty cars from the transfer platform to the empty car marshalling yard.
[0003] In the existing tippler coal unloading system, when the empty car shunting machine pushes an empty car, its coupler is always in a fully open state and does not have an automatic opening and closing function, which makes it impossible for the shunting machine coupler and the car coupler to form a stable coupling state.
[0004] During the pushing process of an empty shunting locomotive, the two couplers will experience multiple hard collisions due to the lack of an automatic locking mechanism. Since the couplers are fully open, the couplers will make direct rigid contact when the shunting locomotive starts, brakes, or changes speed, generating a large instantaneous impact force, which can easily lead to damage to the couplers and car body structure. Utility Model Content
[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a coupler device for an empty shunting machine. Through a vertical motion mechanism, a swing bracket, a lifting chain, a hook, a torsion spring device, and a coupler, it can solve the problem of multiple hard collisions caused by the lack of an automatic locking mechanism in the coupler device, resulting in damage to the coupler and car body structure.
[0006] To achieve the objectives of this application, the following technical solution is provided:
[0007] This application provides a coupler device for an empty shunting machine, characterized in that the coupler device includes: a vertical pushing mechanism, a swing bracket, a lifting chain, a hook, a torsion spring device, and a coupler;
[0008] The telescopic end of the vertical pushing mechanism is fixedly connected to one end of the swing bracket, the other end of the swing bracket is fixedly connected to one end of the lifting pin chain, the other end of the lifting pin chain is movably connected to one end of the hook, and the swing bracket is positioned above the hook.
[0009] The coupler includes a locking pin, a hook lock, a hook tongue pusher, and a hook tongue. The other end of the hook is movably connected to one end of the locking pin, and the other end of the locking pin is connected to one end of the hook lock. The hook tongue pusher is L-shaped, with one end of the hook tongue pusher in contact with the hook tongue, and the other end of the hook tongue pusher in contact with the other end of the hook lock.
[0010] One end of the torsion spring device is fixedly connected to the coupler body and is used to drive the opening and closing action of the hook tongue.
[0011] In one possible implementation, the swing bracket is rectangular and consists of two long rods and two short rods. One long rod is connected to a support, and the other long rod is telescopic. One end of the other long rod is connected to the vertical pushing mechanism, and the other end is connected to one end of the lifting pin chain.
[0012] In one possible implementation, a lifting pin positioning sensor and a lowering pin positioning sensor are also included, both of which are arranged in the same plane with their sensing surfaces facing the swing bracket, for detecting the lifting pin positioning and lowering pin positioning states of the swing bracket.
[0013] In one possible implementation, a hook-tongue opening sensor and a hook-tongue closing sensor are also included, both of which are fixed to a sector plate; the sector plate is fixedly connected to the other end of the torsion spring device, and the sensing surfaces of the hook-tongue opening sensor and the hook-tongue closing sensor face the motion trajectory plane of the hook tongue.
[0014] In one possible implementation, the lifting pin position sensor, the lowering pin position sensor, the hook tongue open sensor, and the hook tongue closed sensor are all connected to the control center; the control center is equipped with lifting pin position indicator lights, lowering pin position indicator lights, hook tongue open indicator lights, and hook tongue closed indicator lights to display the coupler status in real time.
[0015] In one possible implementation, the torsion spring device includes a torsion spring seat, a pin, and a torsion spring;
[0016] One end of the torsion spring seat is fixed to the coupler body, and the other end is connected to the pin.
[0017] The torsion spring includes a helical part, an upper working arm, and a lower working arm; the helical part is sleeved on the pin, the upper working arm contacts the bottom inclined surface of the hook lock, and the lower working arm contacts the hook tongue push iron.
[0018] In one possible implementation, the end of the lower action arm is provided with a carbide ball head, and the corresponding position of the hook tongue pusher is provided with a hemispherical groove, and the two are matched and contacted to realize force transmission.
[0019] The coupler device of the empty car shunting machine provided in this application can realize the function of automatic opening and closing of the coupler of the empty car shunting machine. The automatic lifting coupler device can prevent hard collisions with the car coupler, protect the car as a whole, and is safe and reliable. It saves labor costs, improves work efficiency, and improves the operation efficiency and safety of the empty car shunting machine. Attached Figure Description
[0020] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand this application and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this application to explain this application and do not constitute a limitation thereof.
[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the coupler device of an empty shunting machine in the correct position according to an embodiment of this application;
[0022] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the coupler device of an empty shunting locomotive in the correct position according to an embodiment of this application;
[0023] Figure 3 A top view of the coupler assembly of an empty shunting locomotive with the couplers fully extended;
[0024] Figure 4 A top view schematic diagram of the coupler locking mechanism of an empty shunting locomotive;
[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the coupler of an empty shunting locomotive;
[0026] Illustrations: 1. Vertical pushing mechanism; 2. Swinging bracket; 3. Lifting pin chain; 4. Hook; 5. Torsion spring device; 6. Car coupler; 61. Locking pin; 62. Hook lock; 63. Hook tongue pusher; 64. Hook tongue; 7. Lifting pin position sensor; 8. Lowering pin position sensor; 9. Hook tongue open sensor; 10. Hook tongue closed sensor; 11. Sector plate. Detailed Implementation
[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0028] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature; in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.
[0029] Example 1
[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the coupler device of an empty shunting locomotive in place, provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the coupler device of an empty shunting locomotive in the correct position according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A top view of the coupler assembly of an empty shunting locomotive with the couplers fully extended; Figure 4 A top view schematic diagram of the coupler locking mechanism of an empty shunting locomotive; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the coupler on an empty shunting locomotive. The following is in conjunction with... Figures 1 to 4 The following embodiments illustrate the technical solutions of this application.
[0031] like Figures 1-4 As shown in the embodiment of this application, a coupler device for an empty car shunting machine is provided. The coupler device includes: a vertical push mechanism 1, a swing bracket 2, a lifting pin chain 3, a hook 4, a torsion spring device 5, and a coupler 6. The telescopic end of the vertical push mechanism 1 is fixedly connected to one end of the swing bracket 2, and the other end of the swing bracket 2 is fixedly connected to one end of the lifting pin chain 3. The other end of the lifting pin chain 3 is movably connected to one end of the hook 4. The swing bracket 2 is disposed above the coupler 6. The coupler 6 includes a locking pin 61, a hook lock 62, a hook tongue pusher 63, and a hook tongue 64. The other end of the hook 4 is movably connected to one end of the locking pin 61, and the other end of the locking pin 61 is connected to one end of the hook lock 62. The hook tongue pusher 63 is L-shaped, and one end of the hook tongue pusher 63 contacts the hook tongue 64. The other end of the hook tongue pusher 64 contacts the other end of the hook lock 62. One end of the torsion spring device 5 is fixedly connected to the coupler 6 body.
[0032] Specifically, the vertical pushing mechanism 1 is an electro-hydraulic actuator, which contains a push rod. The push rod is fixedly connected to one end of the swing bracket 2. When the electro-hydraulic actuator is energized, it drives the push rod to extend. The push rod drives the swing bracket 2 to move. The movement of the swing bracket 2 drives the lifting pin chain 3 to move. The movement of the lifting pin chain 3 drives the hook 4 to move. The hook 4 drives the locking pin 61 to move. The locking pin 61 drives the hook lock 62 to move. The hook lock 62 pushes the hook tongue push iron 63. The hook tongue push iron 63 rotates around the fixed point. The hook tongue push iron 63 drives the hook tongue to move.
[0033] The implementation method of the coupler device of the empty car shunting machine provided in this embodiment is as follows:
[0034] Lifting pin in place: When the electro-hydraulic actuator is energized, its push rod extends, driving the swing bracket upwards. The swing bracket then drives the lifting pin chain and hook upwards, which in turn drives the locking pin and hook lock upwards. Once the swing bracket reaches the designated position, the electro-hydraulic actuator stops pushing the push rod. Simultaneously, the swing bracket, lifting pin chain, hook, locking pin, and hook stop moving, and the hook lock reaches the standard position. At this point, the coupler is unlocked. When the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler disengage, the other end of the hook lock pushes the other end of the hook tongue pusher backwards. The hook tongue pusher rotates around a fixed point, pushing one end of the hook tongue against one end of the hook tongue. Simultaneously, the torsion spring device returns to its original position, causing the hook tongue to rotate and open. The hook tongue rotating to the designated position indicates that it is fully open.
[0035] Pin in place: When the electro-hydraulic actuator is de-energized, its push rod automatically retracts. The push rod drives the swing bracket downwards, which in turn drives the lifting chain and hook downwards. The hook then drives the locking pin and hook lock downwards. Once the swing bracket reaches the designated position, the swing bracket, lifting chain, and hook simultaneously stop moving, and the hook lock reaches the standard position. When the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler are connected, the coupler tongue rotates inwards to close. The coupler tongue pushes the coupler tongue pusher back to its original position, and the coupler tongue pusher pushes the hook lock forward. The hook lock and locking pin fall down, and the coupler is locked.
[0036] In one embodiment, the swing bracket is rectangular and consists of two long rods and two short rods. One long rod is connected to a support, and the other long rod is telescopic. One end of the other long rod is connected to a vertical pushing mechanism, and the other end of the long rod is connected to one end of the lifting pin chain.
[0037] Specifically, the swing bracket is rectangular, consisting of two long rods and two short rods. One long rod is connected to a support, which is fixed to the bottom of the swing bracket, securing it to the empty car shunting machine. One end of the other long rod is connected to an electro-hydraulic actuator, and the other end is connected to a lifting pin chain. This other long rod is telescopic. When the pin is in position, the push rod of the electro-hydraulic actuator pushes the other long rod, causing it to move upwards. This, in turn, causes the lifting pin chain to move upwards, thus achieving the purpose of lifting the pin. When the pin is in position, when the electro-hydraulic actuator is de-energized, its push rod automatically retracts, causing the electro-hydraulic actuator to lower the other long rod. This, in turn, causes the lifting pin chain to lower, thus achieving the purpose of lowering the pin.
[0038] In one embodiment, the coupler device includes a lifting pin positioning sensor and a lowering pin positioning sensor, which are arranged in the same plane. The swing bracket is provided on one side of the sensing surface of the lifting pin positioning sensor and the lowering pin positioning sensor.
[0039] Specifically, when the pin is lifted into position, the swing bracket moves upward to the same horizontal plane as the pin lifting position sensor. The sensing end of the pin lifting position sensor detects that the swing bracket has reached the designated position, indicating that the pin lifting position action is completed. When the pin is lowered into position, the swing bracket falls back to the initial position, and the swing bracket and the pin lowering position sensor are on the same horizontal plane, indicating that the pin lowering position action is completed.
[0040] In one embodiment, the coupler device includes a hook tongue opening sensor and a hook tongue closing sensor, which are fixed on a sector plate. The sector plate is fixedly connected to the other end of the torsion spring device. The hook tongue opening sensor and the hook tongue closing sensor are fixed on the sector plate. The hook tongue is provided on one side of the sensing surface of the hook tongue opening sensor and the coupler closing sensor. The hook tongue opening sensor and the coupler closing sensor are arranged on the plane of the hook tongue movement circumference.
[0041] Specifically, after the pin is engaged, the coupler is unlocked. When the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler are disengaged, the coupler tongue rotates outward to fully open. At this time, the coupler tongue open sensor detects the position of the coupler tongue, indicating that the coupler is fully open. When the pin is engaged, after the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler are connected, the coupler tongue rotates inward to fully close. At this time, the coupler tongue closed sensor detects the position of the coupler tongue, indicating that the coupler is locked.
[0042] In one embodiment, the pin lifting position sensor, pin dropping position sensor, hook tongue opening sensor, and hook tongue closing sensor are connected to the control center. The control center is equipped with four indicator lights: pin lifting position indicator light, pin dropping position indicator light, hook tongue opening indicator light, and hook tongue closing indicator light.
[0043] Specifically, when the lifting pin is in place, the lifting pin placement sensor detects the position of the swing bracket. At this time, after the control center receives the signal that the lifting pin is in place, the lifting pin placement indicator light illuminates, and the lowering pin placement indicator light goes out, indicating that the lifting pin is in place and the coupler is unlocked. The empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler can begin the coupler disengagement process. When the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler are disengaged, the coupler tongue rotates fully open. At this time, the coupler tongue opening sensor detects the position of the coupler tongue. After the control center receives the signal from the coupler tongue opening sensor that the coupler tongue is fully open, the coupler tongue... When the pin is lowered into position, the pin lowering sensor detects the position of the swing bracket. At this time, after the control center receives the signal that the pin has been lowered into position, the pin lowering indicator light illuminates and the pin lifting indicator light goes out, indicating that the pin lowering action has been completed. After the lifting chain and the hook are lowered into position, when the empty car shunting locomotive and the train coupler are connected, the hook tongue rotates inward to close. The hook tongue sensor detects the position of the hook tongue. After the control center receives the signal from the hook tongue sensor that the hook tongue is closed, the hook tongue closed indicator light illuminates and the hook tongue open indicator light goes out.
[0044] In one embodiment, the torsion spring device includes a torsion spring seat, a pin, and a torsion spring. One end of the torsion spring seat is fixedly connected to the hook, and the other end of the torsion spring seat is fixedly connected to one end of the pin. The torsion spring includes a helical part, an upper working arm, and a lower working arm. The helical part is sleeved on the pin, the upper working arm contacts the bottom inclined surface of the hook lock, and the lower working arm contacts the hook tongue pusher.
[0045] Specifically, the torsion spring device includes a torsion spring, a torsion spring seat, and a torsion spring arm. The torsion spring seat is made of cast steel base with a bidirectional limiting groove. One end face of the torsion spring seat is fixedly connected to the coupler. The other end face of the torsion spring seat is provided with a hole. One end of the pin is inserted into the hole and fixedly connected to the torsion spring seat. The helical part of the torsion spring is sleeved on the pin. The inclined wedge surface at the end of the upper action arm matches and contacts the inclined surface at the bottom of the hook lock. The hard alloy ball head at the end of the lower action arm contacts the hemispherical groove of the hook tongue push iron.
[0046] Thus, when the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler disengage, the coupler lock moves upward, the coupler tongue pusher rotates, and the groove of the coupler tongue pusher causes the ball head of the lower action arm to lift upward, increasing the preload of the torsion spring. The torsion spring of the torsion spring device rebounds and resets, and the coupler tongue rotates outward to open, at which point the coupler is unlocked. After the empty shunting locomotive and the train coupler are connected, the upper action arm is pressed down by the torque of the torsion spring. The upper action arm applies a vertical component force to the coupler lock, and the coupler lock falls rapidly along the guide surface, at which point the coupler is locked.
[0047] The beneficial effects achievable by the embodiments of this application are as follows: This application realizes the automatic opening and closing function of the coupler of an empty car shunting locomotive. Simultaneously, through the control center, it can monitor operating commands and equipment operating status in real time. Once an abnormality is detected, corresponding countermeasures will be taken promptly to ensure more stable and reliable equipment operation, making the operation of the automatic coupler lifting device simpler and more convenient. The automatic coupler lifting device can prevent hard collisions with the car coupler, protecting the overall vehicle; it can automate the coupling and uncoupling of vehicles, ensuring safety and reliability, saving labor costs, improving work efficiency, and enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of the empty car shunting locomotive.
[0048] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, modules, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the module embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, or indirect coupling or communication connection between modules or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.
[0049] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. This application is not limited to the exact structures described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and it should not be considered that the specific implementation of this application is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications made without departing from the concept of this application should be considered to fall within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A coupler device for an empty car shunting machine, characterized in that, The coupler assembly includes: a vertical push mechanism, a swing bracket, a lifting chain, a hook, a torsion spring device, and a coupler; The telescopic end of the vertical pushing mechanism is fixedly connected to one end of the swing bracket, the other end of the swing bracket is fixedly connected to one end of the lifting pin chain, the other end of the lifting pin chain is movably connected to one end of the hook, and the swing bracket is positioned above the hook. The coupler includes a locking pin, a hook lock, a hook tongue pusher, and a hook tongue. The other end of the hook is movably connected to one end of the locking pin, and the other end of the locking pin is connected to one end of the hook lock. The hook tongue pusher is L-shaped, with one end of the hook tongue pusher in contact with the hook tongue, and the other end of the hook tongue pusher in contact with the other end of the hook lock. One end of the torsion spring device is fixedly connected to the coupler body and is used to drive the opening and closing action of the hook tongue.
2. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The swing bracket is rectangular and consists of two long rods and two short rods. One long rod is connected to the support, and the other long rod is telescopic. One end of the other long rod is connected to the vertical pushing mechanism, and the other end is connected to one end of the lifting pin chain.
3. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a lifting pin positioning sensor and a lowering pin positioning sensor, both of which are arranged in the same plane with their sensing surfaces facing the swing bracket, and are used to detect the lifting pin positioning and lowering pin positioning status of the swing bracket.
4. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a hook tongue opening sensor and a hook tongue closing sensor, both of which are fixed on a sector plate; the sector plate is fixedly connected to the other end of the torsion spring device, and the sensing surfaces of the hook tongue opening sensor and the hook tongue closing sensor face the plane of the hook tongue's movement trajectory.
5. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pin lifting position sensor, pin lowering position sensor, hook tongue open sensor, and hook tongue closed sensor are all connected to the control center. The control center is equipped with pin lifting position indicator lights, pin lowering position indicator lights, hook tongue open indicator lights, and hook tongue closed indicator lights to display the coupler status in real time.
6. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The torsion spring device includes a torsion spring seat, a pin, and a torsion spring; One end of the torsion spring seat is fixed to the coupler body, and the other end is connected to the pin. The torsion spring includes a helical part, an upper working arm, and a lower working arm; the helical part is sleeved on the pin, the upper working arm contacts the bottom inclined surface of the hook lock, and the lower working arm contacts the hook tongue push iron.
7. The coupler device of an empty car shunting machine according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower action arm is provided with a carbide ball head at its end, and the hook tongue pusher is provided with a hemispherical groove at the corresponding position. The two are matched and contacted to achieve force transmission.