Automatic coupling

The automatic train coupling addresses unintended re-coupling and uncoupling device wear by using a damping device to resist rotation from the uncoupled to coupled position, ensuring secure uncoupling and reducing mechanical stress.

DE102024138196A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-06-18VOITH PATENT GMBH
View PDF 5 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
VOITH PATENT GMBH
Filing Date
2024-12-17
Publication Date
2026-06-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing automatic train couplings face issues with unintended re-coupling during shunting operations, leading to impact forces that can damage the uncoupling mechanism, and the uncoupling device cannot be held in arbitrary rotational positions due to the action of spring accumulators, resulting in slow reverse rotation and increased wear.

Method used

An automatic train coupling with a damping device that opposes rotation from the uncoupled position to the coupled position with a higher resistance torque than the reverse direction, incorporating a locking mechanism and a damping spring accumulator to secure the frog in the uncoupled position and prevent transmission of shock forces to the uncoupling device.

Benefits of technology

The damping device effectively prevents transmission of shock forces to the uncoupling mechanism, ensuring secure holding of the frog in the uncoupled position and reducing wear, while allowing easy rotation in the uncoupling direction without additional mechanical stress.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
    Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic train coupling with a coupling head comprising a coupling lock, wherein the coupling lock is designed as a rotary lock with a coupling eye and a frog, wherein the frog is rotatable about a main axis between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the coupling eye is rotatably connected to the frog at a first end about a coupling eye axis and has a second free end, and the frog has a jaw that is arranged to receive a second end of a coupling eye of a counter-coupling head; with a decoupling device comprising a motor connected to the frog via a drive link to rotate the frog from the coupled position to the uncoupled position; with a damping device that dampens a rotation of the core by means of a resistance torque. The coupling according to the invention is characterized in that the damping device is arranged to dampen the rotation of the frog from the uncoupled position to the coupled position with a greater resistance torque than the rotation of the frog from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Automatic railway coupling and method for uncoupling an automatic railway coupling

    WO2022129021A1

  • Automatic coupling

    DE102019102455A1

  • Automatic train coupling and method for uncoupling an automatic train coupling

    DE102021132991A1

  • Automatic train coupling

    WO2022129159A2

  • Automatic train coupling

    WO2024061686A1