MOUNTING INTERFACE AND BUFFER SYSTEM FOR A RAIL VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mounting interface for attaching load-bearing components to a buffer of a rail vehicle, in particular access steps, steps, handles, and / or stands, preferably in the front area. In particular, the invention comprises a buffer system, e.g., a buffering device consisting of a crash element and a buffer, with such a mounting interface, e.g., a variable additional flange for further attachments or for attaching a step to a crash element, in particular with a tear-off function.

[0002] For various applications, it is necessary to install additional attachments in the front area of ​​rail vehicles in addition to the mandatory interoperability components. For example, options should be created that allow access to a vehicle's external equipment, such as windshields and wipers, as well as changing sides of the vehicle or providing safe standing, such as steps, handles, or stands.

[0003] Typically, the relevant interfaces for mounting the nose assembly are located on the front panel of the rail vehicle's undercarriage. For example, previously, forward-projecting bracket structures were attached to the front panel, which, however, have the disadvantage of requiring a great deal of space. With regard to stands, access steps, handles, or steps, their attachments must also be dimensioned such that they do not deform plastically during use and only exhibit minimal elastic deformation.

[0004] Stands, access steps, handles, or steps are usually attached to one side of the vehicle body, e.g., to the driver's cab or front panel. Depending on the required step width or depth, the attachments must be dimensioned accordingly to ensure minimal elastic deformation. A massive, overhanging attachment leads to increased weight and, due to poor accessibility, potentially increased assembly effort, which is a disadvantage. Depending on the vehicle concept, additional assembly effort may be required for adjustments to compensate for manufacturing tolerances between the various mounting points.

[0005] In the front or nose area of ​​rail vehicles, components for irreversible energy absorption are often installed between the car body and the buffers. Energy absorption is usually achieved by converting the impact energy into deformation energy using the aforementioned crash elements (also referred to as "deformation elements" or "irreversible energy absorption elements"). Unlike buffers, this conversion occurs through irreversible deformation of the crash elements, which, for example, fold axially.

[0006] Even if holders, e.g. for coupler handles, which are welded to the crash element in the area of ​​the buffer connection are sometimes known in the state of the art, such an attachment can be disadvantageous, since for the optimal function of these crash elements a free and undisturbed deformation movement is required, which must not be impaired by handles, steps or steps and their fastenings.

[0007] From the document DE 81 27 634 U1 a shunting step on a railway carriage is known in which the shunting step is attached to a buffer by a special mounting interface.

[0008] Document DE 29 31 909 A1 discloses a shunting step on railway carriages with a step holder and step grate, wherein a hanger of the step holder fastened to the carriage is provided at the lower end with a sliding sole, which is equipped with a stop bar for the front limitation of a pivot pin of an extendable step grate holder which can be moved on the sliding sole transversely to the longitudinal axis and has a rear limitation by the hanger, a cover plate is arranged on the stop bar and on the hanger and wherein the step grate support consists of two side cheeks which surround the sliding sole and the cover plate respectively from the outside and the side cheeks are firmly connected on the lower side by means of a stop piece.

[0009] EP 1 914 145 A1 describes a railway surveying arrangement consisting of surveying means and a support therefor, which can be releasably attached to the buffers of a rail vehicle.

[0010] GB 17,054 A discloses means for coupling rail vehicles comprising a footplate in combination with a protective frame or body protection.

[0011] Publication DE 10 2018 103844 A1 deals with a deformation device with anti-climbing protection for rail vehicles for absorbing forces in the event of a collision with a collision object. This deformation device comprises a shock-damping device with two buffer elements for absorbing compressive forces during a collision, which are connected one behind the other in the direction of travel. Furthermore, an anti-climbing device attached to the damping device is provided, which is designed to make it more difficult for the rail vehicle and / or the collision object to be lifted and / or for the rail vehicle to be pushed over the collision object or vice versa during a collision.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative, more convenient mounting interface for attaching elements in the nose area of ​​a rail vehicle, which avoids the disadvantages described above.

[0013] This object is achieved by a buffer system according to patent claim 1, as well as a rail vehicle according to patent claim 11.

[0014] For a better understanding of the following, it should be noted that with regard to a buffer, "rear" refers to the side that is intended to face a rail vehicle, and "front" refers to the side of the buffer head. Therefore, if something is attached to the "front" of the buffer flange, this means that it is attached to the side of the buffer flange facing the buffer head.

[0015] Buffer system comprising a buffer with a buffer flange, a crash element which is attached to the buffer flange by means of screws, and a mounting interface for attaching load-bearing components to a buffer of a rail vehicle, which mounting interface is attached to the front of the buffer flange by screws beyond the crash element, said mounting interface comprising a mounting body with a component fastening region and a different mounting region, characterized in that the mounting body of the mounting interface has at least one weakening of the mounting body between the component fastening region and the mounting region, which weakening is designed such that when a predetermined force acts on the weakening, the component fastening region separates from the mounting region,wherein the component mounting area is provided with mounting elements and / or holes for mounting the components, and the mounting area is shaped such that it can be fixed with a screw to at least one mounting point on a front side of the buffer flange.

[0016] A bracket interface for attaching load-bearing components to a buffer of a rail vehicle comprises a bracket body with a component attachment area and a different attachment area.

[0017] The mounting body of the mounting interface, which essentially also represents the mounting interface itself, comprises two distinct areas, one of which serves to secure the load-bearing components and the other for attaching the mounting interface to the buffer. The term "load-bearing components" refers to components that are intended to be attached to one end of a rail vehicle and can support a load, in particular access steps, steps, handles, stands, or brackets.

[0018] The component mounting area is equipped with fasteners and / or holes for attaching the relevant load-bearing components for the rail vehicle. Fasteners are preferably bolts or screws that are already firmly attached to the bracket body. Holes are preferably already threaded, so that a component can be simply screwed onto the bracket body without necessarily using a nut (although one can, of course, be used additionally for securing). However, other fasteners are also possible, e.g., rivet nuts or weld-on nuts.

[0019] The mounting area is shaped so that it can be attached to at least one attachment point, in particular at least two attachment points, on the front of a buffer flange using screws, preferably buffer screws (usually commercially available screws). For example, it has the same shape as the buffer flange and has holes at the corresponding locations like the buffer flange, so that it can be attached together with the buffer flange using the buffer screws.

[0020] Optionally, the mounting area may have a recess in the center so that it can encompass a buffer housing (i.e., a buffer sleeve or a buffer tappet) on the buffer flange. It is preferred that the mounting area encompasses only a portion of the surface of the buffer flange and has the aforementioned recess where the buffer housing is located on or at the buffer flange.

[0021] A buffer flange is the plate used to securely attach a buffer to a rail vehicle or crash element. The buffer flange is attached to the front plate of a rail vehicle or to a crash element by screwing the components together using so-called "buffer screws." These buffer screws are well-known; they generally use standard screws and are used to securely connect a buffer to a rail vehicle (or crash element).

[0022] A distinction is generally made between end flange buffers and center flange buffers. End flanges are attached to the end of a buffer sleeve, while center flanges are pushed onto a buffer housing, particularly its buffer sleeve, and are attached particularly in the center area. The invention allows the existing interface between the crash element or front plate and the buffer to be used to create additional interfaces for additional attachments, but also to extend the buffer forward.

[0023] A buffer system according to the invention comprises a buffer, preferably a center-flange buffer, with a buffer flange and an aforementioned mounting interface attached to this buffer flange with screws, preferably with buffer screws. Furthermore, the buffer system additionally comprises a crash element, which is attached to the buffer flange by means of buffer screws. The mounting interface is attached to the front of the buffer flange (beyond the crash element).

[0024] The buffer system can also be referred to as an "energy absorption system", especially if it includes a crash element, since it often has damping properties and always converts at least part of the kinetic energy into deformation and heat.

[0025] A rail vehicle according to the invention comprises a buffer system according to the invention. The rail vehicle is preferably a locomotive, in particular a shunting locomotive or a mainline locomotive for passenger or freight transport, or a wagon.

[0026] The invention has the particular advantage of providing an interface for attaching components or attachments to a rail vehicle that extend far forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle or are intended to be positioned there. A corresponding design of the fastening elements also provides a certain degree of variability, allowing the rail vehicle to be modified.

[0027] By changing the state-of-the-art fastening concept from fastening exclusively to the car body and, if applicable, to the front end, to a fastening according to the invention to a buffer flange or to the buffer-side of a crash element, accessibility to the fastening points and thus assembly effort can be reduced. Furthermore, due to better support, an element fastened in this way can be made less massive, thus reducing weight. The element in question can, of course, also be additionally fastened to the car body.

[0028] In addition, a more favorable tolerance chain can further reduce the adjustment effort and thus the assembly effort due to a reduced number of tolerance-affected components within the tolerance chain.

[0029] Further advantages of the design are that no additional brackets are required (except for the existing mounting options on the car body, if applicable), and therefore no additional space is required. The load-bearing components are connected to existing components, the buffer, and, if applicable, the crash element. The design of the mounting interface can be kept very simple yet extremely flexible.

[0030] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description, wherein the claims of one claim category can also be developed analogously to the claims and description parts to form another claim category and, in particular, individual features of different embodiments or variants can be combined to form new embodiments or variants.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting interface, the attachment area has the same shape as a predetermined buffer flange or at least a portion of this buffer flange and can be fastened together with the buffer flange using predetermined buffer screws. This has the advantage of enabling simple assembly and disassembly (e.g., for replacement with a different mounting interface). A detachable fastening of the mounting interface, e.g., using the buffer screws, is very advantageous for this purpose.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting interface, the attachment area has a recess so that it can encompass a buffer housing (i.e., buffer sleeve or buffer tappet) of a predetermined buffer. This enables simple attachment of the mounting interface to the buffer on the buffer plate side. The attachment area preferably corresponds to only part of the surface of a buffer flange of a predetermined buffer and comprises at least one bore, in particular at least two bores, for the (buffer) screws. It preferably has a recess where a buffer housing is located on or at the buffer flange.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting interface, the attachment area is angled relative to the component attachment area, preferably at a right angle. This serves for attaching a step, e.g., a horizontal standing surface, e.g., a stand.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the mounting interface, a fastening element is a bolt or screw and is firmly attached to the mounting body in the component mounting area. Alternatively or additionally, a fastening element is a bore in the component mounting area, which is in particular provided with a thread. However, rivet nuts or weld nuts are also preferred.

[0035] A preferred embodiment of the mounting interface comprises fastening elements or holes in the component fastening area designed for attaching additional attachments. These additional attachments are preferably a ladder, a step, a handle, or a stand, in particular a coupler handle, a shunting step, a shunting stand, a maintenance stand, a railing, and / or a grab bar.

[0036] According to a mounting interface according to the invention, the mounting body is shaped such that it has at least one (structural) weakening of the mounting body between the component fastening area and the attachment area. This weakening is designed such that when a predetermined force acts on the weakening, the component fastening area separates from the attachment area. The weakening is preferably a predetermined breaking point, in particular in the form of a perforation or a shearing element. This has the advantage that components can be specifically separated from one another in the event of an accident. For example, an undisturbed deformation movement of a crash element should always be ensured. For this purpose, the attachment of load-bearing components, e.g., handles or steps, to the buffer-side of the crash element should fail in the event of an accident. This is achieved by said weakening, which, for example,a targeted weakening of the load-bearing cross-sectional area of ​​the support body.

[0037] The mounting interface thus enables the user to connect additional attachments in the bow area in a variable, space-saving manner while still providing sufficient strength.

[0038] The buffer system according to the invention comprises a crash element, which is attached to the buffer flange by means of buffer screws. The mounting interface is attached to the buffer flange beyond the crash element (i.e., on the buffer plate side).

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment of the buffer system, the buffer is a center flange buffer.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the buffer system, the mounting area of ​​the mounting interface has the same shape as the buffer flange (at least the contour, or possibly a recess in the interior) and has holes at the corresponding locations, like the buffer flange. Preferably, the mounting interface is attached to the buffer flange by means of the buffer screws.

[0041] According to a preferred embodiment of the buffer system, the mounting interface is mounted on the buffer plate side of the buffer flange and the mounting area of ​​the mounting interface has a recess so that a buffer housing (ie .Buffer sleeve or buffer tappet). The attachment area preferably corresponds only to a part of the surface of the buffer flange, and the mounting interface is fastened to the buffer flange with at least one buffer screw, preferably with at least two buffer screws.

[0042] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments. In the various figures, identical components are provided with identical reference numerals. The figures are generally not to scale. They show: Figure 1 a buffer system according to the prior art, comprising a buffer and a crash element, Figure 2 an attachment of load-bearing components in the area of ​​a buffer of a rail vehicle according to the state of the art, Figure 3 Figure 2 from a different perspective, Figure 4an embodiment of a buffer system according to the invention with a preferred mounting interface, Figure 5 the front of a rail vehicle to which a step is attached by means of a preferred mounting interface, Figure 6 Figure 5 from a different perspective.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a buffer 10 according to the prior art. The buffer has a buffer flange 11, which serves to attach the buffer 10 to a front plate of a rail vehicle 4 or, as shown here, to a crash element 3. The buffer flange 11 is attached using buffer screws 12, only one of which is shown here to also show the holes provided for this purpose in the buffer flange 11 and the crash element 3.

[0044] Welded to the buffer flange 11 is the buffer sleeve 13, into which the buffer tappet 14 extends. An elastic buffer element (not visible here) is inserted between these two elements. This element can reversibly absorb and release pressures acting on the buffer plate 15. It can also preferably convert some of the energy into heat, thus acting as a shock absorber. In an accident involving much higher forces than normal, the crash element 3 serves to absorb these forces. It deforms in the process and irreversibly absorbs the crash energy.

[0045] Figures 2 and 3show an attachment of load-bearing components 2 to a buffer 10 of a rail vehicle 4 according to the prior art. The arrows point to those areas of the rail vehicle 4 to which the load-bearing components 2 are attached. An example of a load-bearing component 2 is a step 2. However, it could also be a handle or a shunter's platform. The step 2 shown here is attached to the front area of ​​the rail vehicle 4. The step 2 is attached to the driver's cab or front end of the rail vehicle and to its car body side, as indicated more precisely by the arrows. Due to the relatively large step width, the attachments to the driver's cab or front end are comparatively solidly dimensioned in order to ensure low elastic deformation.

[0046] Figure 4shows a preferred buffer system 9 with an embodiment of a mounting interface 1 according to the invention, to which a step 2 can be attached as a supporting component 2. The buffer system 9 comprises a buffer 10 with a buffer flange 11, which is mounted on a crash element 3 as shown, for example, in Figure 1 In contrast to Figure 1 comprises the mounting interface 1 according to the invention on the front side of the buffer flange 11 (i.e. on the side facing the buffer plate 15), wherein the components are connected to one another by means of buffer screws 12.

[0047] The mounting interface 1 here has a mounting body 1 (and in this example, essentially consists of this mounting body). This mounting body 1 has a component fastening area 1a, which is angled at a right angle relative to the attachment area 1b so that a step 2 (not shown here, see subsequent figures) can be placed on it and fastened with screws 7 in the holes of the component fastening area 1a.

[0048] Below this component fastening area 1a is the attachment area 1b, which here corresponds to a part of the surface of the buffer flange 11, namely its upper area, and is attached to the buffer flange 11 with two buffer screws 12. Since the buffer sleeve 13 is welded to the buffer flange 11, or is passed through in the case of a center-flange buffer, a recess is present in the attachment area 1b, which partially encloses the buffer sleeve 13.

[0049] The component fastening area 1a is provided with holes 5 (of which, for clarity, only two are provided with a reference symbol). Instead of the holes 5, other fastening elements, such as screws, could also be present in the component fastening area 1a. The attachment area 1b can be fastened to the buffer flange 11 with two buffer screws 12, so that these buffer screws 12 connect the crash element 3, buffer flange 11, and the overlying mounting interface 1 to form the buffer system 9. As an alternative to fastening using the buffer screws 12, fastening to additional fastening points on the buffer flange would also be possible.

[0050] Figure 5 shows the front of a rail vehicle 4, in which a step 2 is attached by means of a preferred mounting interface 1. The step 2 is fastened by means of screws 7 in holes 5 (see e.g. Figure 5) is attached to the bracket interface 1 and the bracket interface 1 is attached to the buffer 10 of the rail vehicle 4 with two buffer screws 12.

[0051] In order to maintain an optimal function of the crash element 3, namely its optimal deformability in the event of an accident, the mounting interface 1 has weakenings 6 in the form of a perforation, so that at precisely this point the component fastening area 1a tears off from the attachment area 1b.

[0052] Figure 6 shows Figure 5 from a different angle. The two right-hand arrows indicate the attachment points on the buffer and the mounting interface 1, respectively; the left arrow indicates an additional attachment option on the side of the rail vehicle (as used in the prior art). Particularly in the case where attachment is made there, the weakened portion 6 in the mounting interface 1 is preferred.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted once again that the embodiments described in detail above are merely exemplary embodiments that can be modified in a variety of ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the respective features may be present in multiple instances. Likewise, terms such as "unit" do not exclude the possibility that the respective components consist of several interacting subcomponents, which may also be spatially distributed.

Claims

1. Buffer system (9) comprising a buffer (10) having a buffer flange (11), a crash element (3) which by means of screws (12) is attached to the buffer flange (11), and a mounting interface (1) for attaching structural components (2) to a buffer (10) of a rail vehicle (4), which beyond the crash element (3) is attached to the front side of the buffer flange (11) with screws (12) and which comprises a mounting body (1) having a component fastening region (1a) and an attachment region (1b) differing therefrom, characterized in that the mounting body (1) of the mounting interface (1) between the component fastening region (1a) and the attachment region (1b) has at least one weakening (6) of the mounting body (1) which weakening is designed in such a way that, when a predetermined force acts on the weakening (6), the component fastening region (1a) separates from the attachment region (1b), wherein the component fastening region (1a) is equipped with fastening elements and / or bores (5) for attaching the components (2), and the attachment region (1b) is shaped such that the latter can be fastened to a front side of the buffer flange (11) with a screw (12) at at least one fastening point.

2. Buffer system according to Claim 1, wherein the attachment region (1b) of the mounting interface (1) has the same shape as the buffer flange (11) or at least a part of this buffer flange (11).

3. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment region (1b) of the mounting interface (1) has a recess so that said attachment region can encompass a buffer housing (13, 14) of the buffer (10), wherein the attachment region (1b) preferably corresponds to only a part of the area of the buffer flange (11) of the buffer (10) with at least one bore for one of the buffer screws (12), and has a recess where a buffer housing (13, 14) is situated on the buffer flange (11).

4. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment region (1b) of the mounting interface (1) is angled, preferably orthogonally, relative to the component fastening region (1a).

5. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a fastening element is a bolt or a screw, and in the component fastening region (1a) is fixedly attached to the mounting body (1), and / or wherein a bore (5) in the component fastening region (1a) is provided with a thread.

6. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising in the component fastening region (1a) of the mounting interface (1) fastening elements or bores (5) for attaching further attachment parts, in particular conceived for attaching a step, footplate, handle or platform, preferably for attaching a coupler handle, a switchman's footplate, a switchman's platform, a maintenance platform, a railing and / or a handlebar.

7. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the weakening (6) is a predetermined breaking point, in particular in the form of a perforation or a shear-off element.

8. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer (10) is a centre flange buffer.

9. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment region (1b) of the mounting interface (1) has at least in part the same shape as the buffer flange (11), and at the corresponding locations has bores like the buffer flange (11), and in that the mounting interface (1) is fastened to the buffer flange (11) by means of the screws (12).

10. Buffer system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment region (1b) of the mounting interface (1) has a recess such that a buffer housing (13, 14) is at least partially encompassed, wherein the attachment region (1b) preferably corresponds to only a part of the area of the buffer flange (11), and the mounting interface (1) is fastened to the buffer flange (11) with at least one screw (12).

11. Rail vehicle comprising a buffer system (9) according to one of Claims 1 to 10.