COUPLING HEAD FOR A SCHARFENBERG COUPLING

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling head for an automatic coupling, in particular for a Scharfenberg coupling, wherein the coupling head has a coupling component which is mounted rotatably about a main axis of rotation and which is designed to cooperate with a coupling rod of another, in particular identical, coupling head, and wherein the coupling head has a coupling rod (3) which is pivotally connected to the coupling component and is designed to cooperate with a coupling component of the other coupling head.

[0002] A central buffer coupling, also known as a Scharfenberg coupling, is known from DE 149727 A. The Scharfenberg coupling is used to automatically couple two rail vehicles to one another. It consists of two identical coupling heads that can be automatically coupled by bringing them closer together until a stop is reached. Each of the two coupling heads contains a coupling component that is rotatably mounted about a main axis of rotation and is usually designed as a hook disc. The end of a coupling rod, in particular an eye rod, is pivotally attached to the rotatably mounted coupling component by means of a swivel joint, the swivel axis of the swivel joint being aligned parallel to the main axis of rotation of the coupling component. For example, each of the eye rods can have a so-calledEyelet cylinders, whereby each of the coupling components also has a hook mouth opposite the swivel joint with respect to the main axis of rotation for receiving the eyelet cylinder of the other eyelet rod. If the coupling component is designed as a hook disc, the hook mouth is usually located on its peripheral edge. In the coupled state, the two eyelet cylinders engage in the hook mouths, whereby the coupling components are in a locked rotational position. To release the coupled state, the rotatably mounted coupling components must each be rotated about their main axis of rotation until a release rotational position is reached, until the eyelet cylinders can be removed from the hook mouths.

[0003] An automatic train coupling is known from DE 102021133227 A1. The train coupling has a coupling head comprising a coupling head housing and a coupling lock with a locking mechanism. 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, and wherein the coupling eye is connected to the frog by a first end rotatable about a coupling eye axis. The frog has a mouth arranged to receive a second end of a coupling eye of an opposing coupling head. An electrically operated uncoupling device is provided, which comprises an electric motor that is at least indirectly connected to the frog via a drive connection in order to rotate the frog from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.The electric motor has an output rotational axis arranged at least substantially radially to the main axis. Between the electric motor and the frog, an angular gear is provided, which comprises a drive pinion and a crown gear or bevel gear meshing therewith, the axis of rotation of which is parallel to the main axis. A similar traction coupling is known from DE 10 2021 132991 A1.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a coupling head which, with a robust and compact design, enables a reliable release of a coupling state of two coupling heads.

[0005] The object is achieved by a coupling head of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the coupling head has an actuator with an electric drive motor and with a three-shaft gear connected downstream of the electric drive motor, the output of which is coupled to the coupling component in order to release the coupling component from a coupling rotational position and / or to rotate it into a release rotational position by means of a motor, if necessary, wherein the rotational axis of the rotor of the drive motor and / or the rotational axis of the three-shaft gear is / are aligned parallel or coaxially to the main rotational axis of the coupling component.

[0006] The coupling component can, in particular, be designed as a hook disc. However, it is also possible for the coupling component to be designed differently. Generally speaking, the coupling component can be a rotatably mounted component on which a coupling rod is articulated and which has a coupling element, in particular a receptacle for a counter-coupling element, for example, an eyelet cylinder, of the coupling rod of another coupling head.

[0007] In a special design, the output of the three-shaft gearbox is coupled to the coupling component via a lever arrangement. This design has the particular advantage that it can be designed to be simple and particularly robust. For example, the lever arrangement can have a transmission rod that is pivotally connected to the output of the three-shaft gearbox on the one hand and pivotally connected to the coupling component on the other. The output of the three-shaft gearbox can have an output lever, in particular an output lever that is articulated to the transmission rod. For example, if the three-shaft gearbox is designed as a stress wave gearbox, a flexspline of the stress wave gearbox can function as the output and have the output lever for coupling to the coupling component.

[0008] Alternatively, the output of the three-shaft gear unit can be coupled to the coupling component, for example, via spur gear teeth. For example, an output shaft of the three-shaft gear unit can have external teeth that mesh with external teeth of the coupling component. For example, if the three-shaft gear unit is designed as a stress wave gear unit, a circular spline or a dynamic spline of the stress wave gear unit can advantageously function as the output and have external teeth for coupling to the coupling component.

[0009] In a very special design, the output of the three-shaft gearbox carries the coupling component. This design eliminates the need for a transmission gear connected between the output of the three-shaft gearbox and the coupling component. In this case, it can be advantageously provided that a rotary bearing of the output of the three-shaft gearbox functions as a pivot bearing for the coupling component.

[0010] A three-shaft transmission is understood, in particular, to be a transmission having three shafts, each of which functions either as a drive shaft, an output shaft, or as a fixed shaft (for example, relative to a frame or a housing of the three-shaft transmission). For example, the three-shaft transmission can be designed as a stress wave transmission comprising a circular spline, a flex spline, and a shaft generator. The stress wave transmission can be operated, for example, in such a way that the shaft generator functions as the drive shaft, the flex spline as the output shaft, and the circular spline as the fixed shaft (for example, fixed to the housing or frame).For example, the three-shaft transmission can alternatively be designed as a planetary transmission, in which, for example, the sun gear functions as the input shaft and the ring gear as the output shaft, while the planet carrier functions as a fixed shaft (for example, fixed to the housing or frame). For example, a three-shaft transmission can also be operated as a summing transmission, with two of the shafts functioning as input shafts and one of the three shafts as the output shaft. For example, a three-shaft transmission can also be operated as a transfer case, with two of the shafts functioning as output shafts and one of the three shafts as the input shaft. However, operation of the three-shaft transmission as a summing transmission or as a transfer case plays no role, or at most a subordinate role, within the scope of the present invention.In contrast to a three-shaft gearbox, a two-shaft gearbox has one shaft acting as the input shaft and one as the output shaft, with no third shaft coupled to the other two shafts that acts as the input shaft, output shaft, or fixed shaft. For example, bevel gearboxes, also called angle gearboxes, are two-shaft gearboxes with a single input shaft and a single output shaft, usually offset by 90° from each other.

[0011] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the coupling head has a freewheel. The freewheel can advantageously be arranged such that it decouples the actuator from a rotation of the coupling component during a coupling process. In particular, the freewheel can be designed and arranged such that the gear is not driven back by a coupling process and / or that the rotor of the drive motor is not rotated by a coupling process. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous because the actuator is decoupled from the hook disk by means of the freewheel and the coupling component can be rotated unhindered (for example driven by a spring device or by the coupling rod of the other coupling head inserting into the coupling head) into the locking rotational position when required, in particular before or during a coupling process.This advantageously eliminates the need to drive the actuator back to move the coupling component into the coupling rotational position. This protects the actuator and simplifies the coupling process.

[0012] In particular, the output of the three-shaft gearbox can be coupled to the coupling component via the freewheel. The freewheel can be connected between the output of the three-shaft gearbox and the coupling component to decouple the drive motor and the three-shaft gearbox. Alternatively, it is also possible, for example, for the output of the three-shaft gearbox to include the freewheel.

[0013] Alternatively, the freewheel can also be arranged such that when the coupling component is transferred from the release rotational position to the coupling rotational position (for example, driven by a spring device or by the coupling rod of the other coupling head inserting into the coupling head), it decouples the electric drive motor, but not the three-shaft gearbox, from any rotational movement of the coupling component. In such a design, the coupling component rotating into the coupling rotational position only drives back the three-shaft gearbox, but not the drive motor. To achieve this decoupling of the drive motor, the freewheel can be connected between the electric drive motor and the three-shaft gearbox.

[0014] However, it is also possible to couple the actuator to the coupling component in such a way that both the drive motor and the three-shaft gearbox are driven back during a coupling process. This design is particularly simple and requires few components.

[0015] In a particularly compact design, the drive motor is arranged coaxially with the three-shaft gearbox. In particular, the drive motor can have an output shaft that is rigidly connected to a drive shaft of the three-shaft gearbox. Alternatively, for example, it can also be provided that an output shaft of the drive motor and a drive shaft of the three-shaft gearbox are manufactured together in one piece from the same piece of raw material.

[0016] In another embodiment, the drive motor is arranged axially parallel to the three-shaft transmission. In particular, a traction drive, in particular a belt drive, can be present, which transmits torque from an output component of the drive motor, for example, an output shaft, to a drive component of the three-shaft transmission. The traction drive can have a transmission ratio other than i = 1, so that the overall transmission ratio is calculated from the series connection of the transmission ratios of the three-shaft transmission and the traction drive.

[0017] The coupling head preferably has a housing that encloses at least the coupling component. In a particularly robust design, the housing also encloses the actuator at least partially, in particular completely. In this way, the actuator is particularly well protected against damage and contamination. However, it is also entirely possible to arrange the entire actuator or at least part of the actuator outside the housing. For example, the drive motor can be arranged outside the housing, while the three-shaft gear is arranged inside the housing. Such a design has the particular advantage that the drive motor is easily accessible, for example for maintenance work, and that electrical cables for supplying the drive motor with energy and / or for controlling the drive motor do not have to be laid into the housing of the coupling head.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one component of the actuator is connected to the housing in a rotationally fixed manner. In particular, it can advantageously be provided that at least one component of the actuator is fastened, in particular directly, to the housing in a rotationally fixed manner. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the torque generated by the actuator is supported via the housing.

[0019] The three-shaft gear unit can be constructed in such a way that one of the shafts of the three-shaft gear unit is rotatably mounted relative to another shaft of the three-shaft gear unit. The gear unit can, for example, be a stress wave gear unit in which a circular spline is rotatably mounted relative to a flex spline or relative to a drive shaft connected to a wave generator by means of the rolling bearing. For example, the stress wave gear unit can be designed as a ring gear unit. In this case, the circular spline can, for example, be rotatably mounted relative to a dynamic spline by means of the rolling bearing. The rolling bearing can, in particular, be an output bearing of the three-shaft gear unit.

[0020] The three-shaft gearbox can advantageously have a hollow drive shaft. This allows, for example, an output shaft of the three-shaft gearbox to run through the drive shaft, thus achieving a compact design.

[0021] The three-shaft gearbox can advantageously have an Oldham coupling. In particular, the drive motor can be coupled to the three-shaft gearbox via the Oldham coupling. The Oldham coupling can serve to compensate for an axial offset and / or to decouple the three-shaft gearbox and the drive motor from each other with regard to radial movements.

[0022] As already mentioned, the three-shaft gear can be a stress wave gear. The stress wave gear can be designed, in particular, as a pot gear or a hat gear.

[0023] Alternatively, the stress wave transmission can be designed as a ring transmission. For example, it can advantageously be provided that a circular spline or a dynamic spline of the stress wave transmission forms the output or is part of the output. Alternatively, a flex spline of the stress wave transmission can form the output or be part of the output.

[0024] Alternatively, the gear unit may advantageously be a cycloidal gear unit or a planetary gear unit, for example.

[0025] Of particular advantage is an automatic coupling, in particular a Scharfenberg coupling, which has two, in particular identical, coupling heads according to the invention that can be coupled to one another. In particular, it can advantageously be provided that a coupling state of the coupling heads can be released remotely by means of the actuator. In an advantageous embodiment, the coupling component of at least one of the coupling heads is rotated into the release rotational position to release the coupling connection. In this position, the coupling rods are released from the coupling components, so that the coupling heads can be spatially separated from one another.

[0026] Of particular advantage is a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, for example a wagon or a locomotive, which has at least one coupling head according to the invention, preferably two coupling heads according to the invention.

[0027] Of particular advantage is also a train of several vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, wherein immediately adjacent vehicles are each coupled to one another by means of an automatic coupling according to the invention.

[0028] The subject matter of the invention is illustrated schematically and by way of example in the drawing and is described below with reference to the figures, wherein identical or similarly acting elements are generally provided with the same reference numerals even in different embodiments. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of a second embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of a third embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention, and Fig. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0029] Fig. 1shows a first embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention. The coupling head has a coupling component 2 rotatably mounted about a main axis of rotation 1 (running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), which coupling component is designed to interact with a coupling rod 3 of another, in particular identical, coupling head (not shown in this figure). The coupling head also has a coupling rod 3 pivotably connected to the coupling component 2, which coupling rod is designed to interact with a coupling component 2 of the other (not shown) coupling head.

[0030] The coupling head has an actuator 4 with an electric drive motor 5 (not explicitly shown in this figure) and with a three-shaft gear 6 (not explicitly shown in this figure) connected downstream of the electric drive motor 5.

[0031] The three-shaft gear 6 has an output 7, which is designed as an output lever 8. The output lever 8 is coupled to the coupling component 2 by means of a transmission rod 9 in order to release the coupling component 2 from a coupling rotational position and / or to rotate it into a release rotational position by motor drive as needed. For this purpose, the transmission rod 9 is pivotally connected to the output lever 8 on the one hand and pivotally connected to the coupling component 2 on the other.

[0032] The rotation axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 (running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) is aligned parallel to the main rotation axis 1 of the coupling component 2.

[0033] The coupling head has a housing 12 that encloses the coupling component 2. The housing 12 also encloses the actuator 4. The actuator 4 is connected to the housing 12 in a rotationally fixed manner. The housing 12 has an insertion opening 13 for the coupling rod 3 (not shown) of another coupling head. The free end of the coupling rod 3 of the other coupling head is designed and intended to engage in a hook mouth 14 of the coupling component 2. To release a locked state, the coupling component 2 is rotated from the coupling rotational position into a release rotational position along the direction of rotation illustrated by arrow 15.

[0034] As viewed from the viewing direction, the coupling head has a freewheel 11 below the output lever 8. The freewheel 11 is arranged such that it decouples the three-shaft gear 6 and the electric drive motor 5 from rotation of the coupling component 2 in the opposite direction of rotation (opposite the direction of rotation illustrated by the arrow 15).

[0035] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of a second embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0036] The coupling head has an actuator 4 with an electric drive motor 5 and a three-shaft gear 6 connected downstream of the electric drive motor 5. The three-shaft gear 6 is designed as a strain wave gear in a pot design.

[0037] The drive motor 5 is arranged axially parallel to the three-shaft gear. This means that the rotational axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 is arranged parallel to the rotational axis 16 of the drive motor 5. The rotational axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 and the rotational axis 16 of the drive motor 5 are also aligned parallel to the main rotational axis 1 (not shown in this figure) of the coupling component 2 (not shown in this figure).

[0038] A traction drive 17 is provided, which transmits torque from an output component 18 of the drive motor 5, namely an output shaft, to a drive component 19 of the three-shaft transmission 6. The traction drive 17 has a belt 20 as a traction mechanism and a pulley 21, which is rotationally fixedly connected to the drive component 19.

[0039] The three-shaft gear 6 has an output 7, which is non-rotatably connected to an output lever 8. The output lever 8 can be coupled to the coupling component 2 (not shown) by means of a transmission rod 9 (not shown in this figure) in order to release the coupling component 2 from a coupling rotational position and / or rotate it into a release rotational position by motor drive as needed. For this purpose, the transmission rod 9 can be pivotally connected to the output lever 8 on the one hand and pivotally connected to the coupling component 2 on the other.

[0040] The three-shaft transmission 6 is designed as a stress wave transmission and has a wave generator 22. The wave generator 22 includes an elliptical deformation body 23, which is rotatably mounted within a cup-shaped flexspline 25 by means of a radially flexible wave generator bearing 24. The drive component 19 is manufactured in one piece with the deformation body 23. The cup-shaped flexspline 25 has an external toothing 26 that meshes with the internal toothing 27 of a circular spline 28 at at least two points. The output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a rolling bearing 29. In addition, the output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a further rolling bearing 30.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of a third embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0042] The coupling head has an actuator 4 with an electric drive motor 5 and a three-shaft gear 6 connected downstream of the electric drive motor 5. The three-shaft gear 6 is designed as a strain wave gear in a pot design.

[0043] The drive motor 5 is arranged coaxially with the three-shaft gear. This means that the rotational axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 is arranged coaxially with the rotational axis 16 of the drive motor 5. The rotational axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 and the rotational axis 16 of the drive motor 5 are also aligned parallel to the main rotational axis 1 (not shown in this figure) of the coupling component 2 (not shown in this figure). The output component 18 of the drive motor 5 is manufactured in one piece with the drive component 19 of the three-shaft gear 6.

[0044] The three-shaft gear 6 has an output 7, which is non-rotatably connected to an output lever 8. The output lever 8 can be coupled to the coupling component 2 (not shown) by means of a transmission rod 9 (not shown in this figure) in order to release the coupling component 2 from a coupling rotational position and / or rotate it into a release rotational position by motor drive as needed. For this purpose, the transmission rod 9 can be pivotally connected to the output lever 8 on the one hand and pivotally connected to the coupling component 2 on the other.

[0045] The three-shaft transmission 6 is designed as a stress wave transmission and has a wave generator 22. The wave generator 22 includes an elliptical deformation body 23, which is rotatably mounted within a cup-shaped flexspline 25 by means of a radially flexible wave generator bearing 24. In this exemplary embodiment, the drive component 19 is manufactured as a single piece with the deformation body 23, although a multi-part design is also possible, for example with a drive component 19 connected to the deformation body 23 by means of a screw connection or a welded connection. The cup-shaped flexspline 25 has external teeth 26 that mesh with the internal teeth 27 of a circular spline 28 at at least two points. The output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a rolling bearing 29.In addition, the output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a further rolling bearing 30.

[0046] Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0047] The coupling head has a coupling component 2 rotatably mounted about a main axis of rotation 1 (running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), which coupling component is designed to interact with a coupling rod 3 of another, in particular identical, coupling head (not shown in this figure). The coupling head also has a coupling rod 3 pivotably connected to the coupling component 2, which coupling rod is designed to interact with a coupling component 2 of the other (not shown) coupling head.

[0048] The coupling head has an actuator 4 with an electric drive motor 5 (not explicitly shown in this figure) and with a three-shaft gear 6 (not explicitly shown in this figure) connected downstream of the electric drive motor 5.

[0049] The three-shaft gear 6 has an output 7 with a first spur gear toothing 31, which meshes with a second spur gear toothing 32 of the coupling component 2.

[0050] The rotation axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 (running perpendicular to the plane of the drawing) is aligned parallel to the main rotation axis 1 of the coupling component 2.

[0051] The coupling head has a housing 12 that encloses the coupling component 2. The housing 12 also encloses the actuator 4. The actuator 4 is connected to the housing 12 in a rotationally fixed manner. The housing 12 has an insertion opening 13 for the coupling rod 3 (not shown) of another coupling head. The free end of the coupling rod 3 of the other coupling head is designed and intended to engage in a hook mouth 14 of the coupling component 2. To release a locked state, the coupling component 2 is rotated along the direction of rotation illustrated by arrow 15 from the coupling rotation position into a release rotation position. The coupling head has a freewheel 11. The freewheel 11 is arranged in such a way that it decouples the three-shaft gear 6 and the electric drive motor 5 from a rotation of the coupling component 2 in the opposite direction of rotation (opposite the direction of rotation illustrated by the arrow 15).

[0052] Figure 5shows a fifth embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0053] The coupling head has an actuator 4 with an electric drive motor 5 and a three-shaft gear 6 connected downstream of the electric drive motor 5. The three-shaft gear 6 is designed as a strain wave gear in a pot design.

[0054] The drive motor 5 is arranged coaxially with the three-shaft gear. This means that the rotation axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis 16 of the drive motor 5.

[0055] The three-shaft gearbox 6 has an output 7 which carries the coupling component 2.

[0056] The rotational axis 10 of the three-shaft gear 6 and the rotational axis 16 of the drive motor 5 are also aligned coaxially with the main rotational axis 1 of the coupling component 2. The output component 18 of the drive motor 5 is manufactured in one piece with the drive component 19 of the three-shaft gear 6.

[0057] The three-shaft transmission 6 is designed as a stress wave transmission and has a wave generator 22. The wave generator 22 includes an elliptical deformation body 23, which is rotatably mounted within a cup-shaped flexspline 25 by means of a radially flexible wave generator bearing 24. The drive component 19 is manufactured in one piece with the deformation body 23. The cup-shaped flexspline 25 has an external toothing 26 that meshes with the internal toothing 27 of a circular spline 28 at at least two points. The output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a rolling bearing 29. In addition, the output 7 is rotatably mounted relative to the circular spline 28 by means of a further rolling bearing 30. The rotational bearing of the output 7 realized by means of the rolling bearing 29 is simultaneously also the rotary bearing of the coupling component 2. List of reference symbols:

[0058] 1 Main rotation axis 2 Coupling component 3 Coupling rod 4 Actuator 5 Drive motor 6 Three-shaft gearbox 7 Output 8 Output lever 9 Transmission rod 10 Rotation axis 11 Freewheel 12 Housing 13 Insertion opening 14 Hook mouth 15 Arrow 16 Rotation axis 17 Traction drive 18 Output component 19 Drive component 20 Belt 21 Pulley 22 Shaft generator 23 Elliptical deformation body 24 Shaft generator bearing 25 Flexspline 26 External gearing 27 Internal gearing 28 Circular spline 29 Rolling bearing 30 Additional rolling bearing 31 First spur gearing 32 Second spur gearing

Claims

1. Coupling head for an automatic coupling, in particular for a Scharfenberg coupling, wherein the coupling head has a coupling component (2) which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a main rotation axis (1) and is designed to interact with a coupling bar (3) of another, in particular identical, coupling head; and wherein the coupling head has a coupling bar (3) which is pivotably connected to the coupling component (2) and is designed to interact with a coupling component (2) of the other coupling head; wherein the coupling head has an actuator (4) having an electric drive motor (5), characterized in that the actuator is provided with a triple-shaft gear (6) which in drive terms is disposed downstream of the electric drive motor (5) and the output of which is coupled to the coupling component (2) in order to, when required, release the coupling component (2) in a motorized manner from a coupling rotational position and / or to rotate the coupling component (2) in a motorized manner to a releasing rotational position, wherein the rotation axis (16) of the rotor of the drive motor (5) and / or the rotation axis (10) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is / are aligned so as to be parallel to or coaxial with the main rotation axis (1) of the coupling component (2).

2. Coupling head according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling component (2) is formed as a catch disc.

3. Coupling head according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a) the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is coupled to the coupling component (2) by way of a lever assembly; or in that b) the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is coupled to the coupling component (2) by way of a lever assembly, wherein the lever assembly has a transmission rod (9) which is on one side pivotably connected to the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6), and on the other side pivotably connected to the coupling component (2); or in that c) the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is coupled to the coupling component (2) by way of a lever assembly, wherein the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) has an output lever (8).

4. Coupling head according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a) the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is coupled to the coupling component (2) by way of a spur gear toothing; or in that b) the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) supports the coupling component (2); or in that c) a rotational mounting of the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) acts as a rotary mounting for the coupling component (2).

5. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a) the coupling head has a freewheel (11); or in that b) the coupling head has a freewheel (11) which during a coupling procedure decouples the actuator (4), or at least the electric drive motor (5), from a rotation of the coupling component (2); or in that c) the coupling head has a freewheel (11), wherein the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) is coupled to the coupling component (2) by way of the freewheel (11), or wherein the output (7) of the triple-shaft gear (6) contains the freewheel; or in that d) the coupling head has a freewheel (11) which in drive terms is disposed between the electric drive motor (5) and the triple-shaft gear (6).

6. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuator (4) is coupled to the coupling component (2) in such a manner that the former is retracted during a coupling procedure.

7. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a) the drive motor (5) is disposed so as to be coaxial with the triple-shaft gear (6); or in that b) the drive motor (5) is positioned so as to be axially parallel to the triple-shaft gear (6); or in that c) the drive motor (5) is disposed so as to be axially parallel to the triple-shaft gear (6), wherein a traction means drive (17), in particular a belt drive, transmits a torque from a motor output component of the drive motor (5) to a drive component of the triple-shaft gear (6); or in that d) the drive motor (5) is disposed so as to be axially parallel to the triple-shaft gear (6), wherein a traction means drive (17), in particular a belt drive, transmits a torque from a motor output component of the drive motor (5) to a drive component of the triple-shaft gear (6) and the traction means drive (17) has a gear ratio different from i = 1.

8. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a) the coupling head has a housing (12) which houses at least the coupling component (2); or in that b) the coupling head has a housing (12) which houses at least the coupling component (2) and the actuator (4) at least partially, in particular completely; or in that c) the coupling head has a housing (12) which houses at least the coupling component (2) and the actuator (4) at least partially, in particular completely, wherein the drive motor (5) is disposed outside the housing (12) and the triple-shaft gear (6) is disposed within the housing (12); or in that d) the coupling head has a housing (12), which houses at least the coupling component (2) at least partially, in particular completely, wherein the actuator (4) is disposed outside the housing (12); or in that e) the coupling head has a housing (12), wherein at least one component of the actuator (4) is co-rotationally connected to the housing (12) and / or at least one component of the actuator (4)is co-rotationally fastened, in particular directly, to the housing (12).

9. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a) one of the shafts of the triple-shaft gear (6) is mounted by means of a rolling bearing (29, 30) so as to be rotatable relative to another shaft of the triple-shaft gear (6); or in that b) one of the shafts of the triple-shaft gear (6) is mounted by means of a rolling bearing (29, 30) so as to be rotatable relative to another shaft of the triple-shaft gear (6), wherein the rolling bearing (29) functions as an output bearing of the triple-shaft gear (6).

10. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a) the triple-shaft gear (6) has a drive shaft configured as a hollow shaft, and / or in that b) the triple-shaft gear (6) has an Oldham coupling; and / or in that c). the drive motor (5) is in terms of drive coupled to the triple-shaft gear (6) by way of the Oldham coupling.

11. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a) the triple-shaft gear (6) is a strain wave gear; and / or in that b) the triple-shaft gear (6) is a strain wave gear which is configured as a cup-type gear or as a hat-type gear or as a ring gear; and / or in that c) the triple-shaft gear (6) is a strain wave gear, wherein a circular spline (28) or a dynamic spline of the strain wave gear forms the output (7), or is part of the output (7), or a flexspline (25) of the strain wave gear forms the output (7), or is part of the output (7).

12. Coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a) the triple-shaft gear (6) is configured as a cycloidal gear; or in that b) the triple-shaft gear (6) is configured as a planetary gear.

13. Automatic coupling, in particular Scharfenberg coupling, having two, in particular identical, mutually couplable coupling heads according to one of Claims 1 to 12, or automatic coupling, in particular Scharfenberg coupling, comprising two, in particular identical, mutually couplable coupling heads according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein a coupling state of the coupling heads is releasable by means of the actuator (4) by remote control.

14. Vehicle, in particular rail vehicle, having at least one coupling head according to one of Claims 1 to 12.

15. Train consisting of a plurality of vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, wherein directly adjacent vehicles are in each case coupled to one another by means of an automatic coupling according to Claim 13.