Fork-type magnetic coupling for model railways
The fork-like design of the coupling head with a gap allows for automated separation of model railway components, addressing the manual separation issue and improving play and demonstration realism.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GIESE THOMAS
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Existing model railway couplings with permanent magnets do not allow for automatic separation of connected carriages and locomotives, requiring manual intervention which is unrealistic in play and demonstration operations.
The coupling head is designed in a fork-like manner with a gap to accommodate permanent magnets, enabling electromechanical separation of connected carriages and locomotives through the track bed.
Enables realistic, automated separation of model railway components, enhancing play and demonstration operations by allowing electromechanical disconnection.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
State of the art
[0001] In model railway technology, couplings with permanent magnets are increasingly used to connect model railway carriages and / or locomotives. These usually consist of a plastic housing with a receptacle for the standard coupling pocket (NEM 362) and one or more neodymium magnets.
[0002] The couplings are manufactured as a rigid molded piece, with the coupling head being designed as a cuboid body that serves to accommodate one or more permanent magnets.
[0003] One clear shortcoming is that this type of coupling offers no possibility of separating coupled model railway carriages and / or locomotives during play and demonstration operations.
[0004] Currently, the separation of model railway carriages and / or locomotives can only be done manually by the user, but not electromechanically within the model railway system. Problem solving
[0005] The invention consists in dividing the coupling head (2) in a fork-like manner into 2 guides for receiving the permanent magnets.
[0006] The resulting gap (3) enables the separation of two identical connected magnetic couplings within a model railway carriage assembly from below through the track bed by means of an electromechanical device; it also serves to center and accommodate the separation device. Advantages
[0007] Separating a train set using a standard magnetic coupling by hand seems rather unrealistic in play and demonstration operation.
[0008] This invention makes it possible to ensure a more realistic model railway operation by allowing the model railway carriage train to be separated electromechanically from below on the track bed in use. Reference symbol list Drawing 1 shows a cross-section of the fork-type coupling head. Drawing 2 shows the top view of two coupled coupling heads with the resulting gap. 1 coupling shaft 2 coupling head 3 spaces 4 permanent magnets
Claims
[1] Fork magnetic coupling for the mechanical coupling of model railway carriages and / or model railway locomotives characterized by The coupling head (2) is divided in a fork-like manner with an intermediate space (3). The resulting parts of the coupling head serve to hold the permanent magnets (4) and the intermediate space (3) serves as a guide for the decoupling tool. [2] Fork magnetic coupling according to claim 1, characterized by that it can be used with any model railway gauge. [3] Fork magnetic coupling according to claim 1, characterized by , that the coupling head (2) and the space (3) can be adapted to the model railway carriage or railcar in the manufacturing and assembly variant. [4] Fork magnetic coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more electrical connections to the coupling head (2) may also exist for the transmission of analog or digital signals in the connected coupling system (2 magnetic couplings).