Method for centering or deflecting of a coupling head of a rail vehicle, and a support device for carrying out the method

Abstract

In one method, the aim is to center or deflect preferably a coupling head (35) of a rail vehicle, in which a connecting element (22) between the draw and buffer device and the coupling head (35) rests centrally on a support surface (16) of a support device (10). This support surface (16) is adjusted from its operating center position to an approximately horizontal orientation. Consequently, the connecting element (22) can be pivoted horizontally in one direction or the other on the support surface (17) and then returned to its center-centered orientation. This support device (10) is provided with a housing (11) that can be attached to the rail vehicle and a support unit (15) projecting from its upper surface, with a support surface (16). This allows the connecting element (22) to be positioned during coupling or...Uncoupling is easily accomplished by manually pivoting the unit to the side.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for centering or deflecting a coupling head of a rail vehicle, in which a connecting link between the pulling and pushing device and the coupling head rests center-centered on a support surface of a support device; as well as a support device according to the preamble of claim 3.

[0002] When coupling or uncoupling two rail vehicles on a straight line, the center-centered connecting links can be coupled or uncoupled with the respective coupling head due to their axially aligned alignment without pivoting in the center-centered position of these connecting links. However, when coupling or uncoupling occurs, especially in exceptional cases (emergency situations) on a curve where these center-centered connecting links are at an angle to each other, coupling can only be performed if these connecting links can be deflected laterally to bring the coupling heads into a position that is approximately axially aligned with each other.

[0003] A known device according to document EP 3 792 137 A1 comprises a box-shaped spacer element as a distance bridge, which is connected at the front to a support element articulatedly supporting a drawbar and can be fastened at the rear in a vehicle recess of the rail vehicle. To hold the drawbar in a plane and return it to an initial position centered relative to the vehicle, a connecting arm is provided which is aligned parallel to the drawbar and has a guide rod and a compression spring coaxially surrounding it. The guide rod is attached at one end to a projecting part on the drawbar and at the other end is mounted axially displaceably and pivotably in a laterally projecting hub in the support element.The compression spring is supported on both sides in such a way that it acts on the support element at this hub on the one hand and on the guide rod at this part on the other, generating a supporting compressive force. This means that deflection of the pull rod is only possible with considerable force. Further support devices are known from DE 12 75 085 B, RU 174 001 U1, RU 191553 U1, and DE 20 2019 005407 U1.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a method and a support device for centering or deflecting a coupling head according to the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the connecting member can be pivoted laterally in a simple manner by manual actuation during coupling or uncoupling.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 and the features of claim 3.

[0006] With this inventive solution, which converts the support surface of the support device from the centering position set in the operating state to an approximately horizontal orientation and consequently pivots the connecting link horizontally in one direction or the other on the support surface, coupling and uncoupling of the rail vehicles can be carried out very easily and without great effort at any angle to each other when they are on a curved track, which can occur especially in exceptional cases. The support surface of the support device can then be adjusted back to the orientation that centers the connecting link after coupling or uncoupling.

[0007] It is very advantageous to have a manually operated lifting device in the support device for changing from the centering to the approximately horizontal alignment of the support surface.

[0008] The support surface in its center is designed as a centering support for the connecting link and can be changed into this approximately horizontal orientation.

[0009] The housing expediently has a base part that can be fastened to the vehicle and a pocket with the support unit that is adjustable in height relative to the base part, wherein a spring arrangement is integrated in the interior of the housing, by means of which the pocket is resiliently supported on the base part and enables a resilient support of the connecting member on the support unit.

[0010] The invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a device for holding a pulling and pushing device of a coupling with a support device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective side view of the support device according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of the support device according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 a perspective side view of a variant of a support device according to the invention for a device according to Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the support device according to Fig. 4 .

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a device 20 with a pulling and pushing device of a coupling with a coupling head 35, in particular of a rail vehicle (not shown in detail). Such a device 20 is particularly suitable for freight wagons in which vehicle recesses are provided in a vehicle body, into which the device with the pulling and pushing device can be mounted.

[0012] This device 20 consists of a housing structure 25 intended as a distance bridge, a pull rod mounted in this by an indicated support element 24, spring elements 23 arranged in a row on this, a coupling or connecting head 26 connected at the front and a wedge arrangement 27 at the rear for clamping the device 20 in a frame 21 of the vehicle body.

[0013] A connecting link 22 is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on a pin 29 of the coupling or connecting head 26, to which the coupling head 35 is attached at the front. This connecting link 22 rests centered on a support surface 16 of a support device 10. In principle, this connecting link could be equipped with an extension arm, a fastening element for a coupling, or the like instead of the coupling head 35. This connecting link could also be a pull rod.

[0014] The coupling head 35 shown is not explained in detail. Reference is made to document EP-A-1 894 808, which describes such a device in detail. It comprises a housing 36 with a front wall 37 forming an abutting surface for flatly supporting a similar abutting surface of a coupling head to be coupled on another rail vehicle. A connecting flange is arranged on the rear of the housing 36, which can be fixed to the connecting link 22, or a one-piece housing is provided, which can be fastened directly to the connecting link. A known locking and unlocking mechanism is integrated into the housing 36, which, among other things, illustrates a protruding, adjustable tie rod 38 for locking and unlocking. This tie rod projects through a flange 39 at the abutting surface and has a projection 39' of the flange 39 laterally assigned as a centering aid.In addition, a round recess 49 is provided next to this flange, which is intended to accommodate a flange of the coupling head to be coupled, from which such a pull rod 38 can be inserted into this recess 49 for locking. Furthermore, line connections 51, levers 52 for manual uncoupling, and a guide element 53 for pre-centering with the coupling head to be connected are provided.

[0015] The coupling or connecting head 26 and the housing structure 25 are formed with corresponding sliding guides 54, 55, through which the coupling or connecting head 26 and with it the pull rod are guided longitudinally in the housing structure 25.

[0016] To clamp the device 20 in the frame 21 of the vehicle body, this wedge arrangement 27 is provided on the rear of the housing structure 25. This wedge arrangement includes two wedges 46, each of which is in contact with a wedge surface on an end web 48 of the housing structure 25. The height of the wedges 46 can be adjusted, preferably by means of a screw or the like. In the assembled state, the rear sides of the wedges 46 are wedged to a corresponding wall of the frame 21 of the vehicle body. The housing structure 25 is permanently clamped between these wedges 46 and clamping jaws (not shown in detail), which engage the front ends 25' of the housing structure 25.

[0017] As well as from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 As can be seen, the support device 10 is provided with a multi-part housing 11 which can be fastened to the front of the frame 21 of the vehicle and a support unit 15 projecting from its upper side with a support surface 16. This support surface 16 is formed by partial surfaces 16' which rise outwards by a few degrees α, for example 3 to 20°, on both sides of the center 15' of the two-part support unit 15. The connecting member 22, which is round or similar in cross-section, rests on the underside against the support surface 16 and, due to gravity, always centers itself in the center of the support surface, as shown in Fig. 3 is indicated.

[0018] This multi-part housing 11 has a base part 18 that can be attached to the frame 21 of the vehicle, a pocket 19 that is height-adjustable relative to the base part 18 and contains the support unit 15, and a spring arrangement with two compression springs 28 therein. The pocket 19 surrounds the base part 18 and is optionally guided longitudinally thereon by guide cams 31, each with an air gap or slight play. Furthermore, the pocket 19 can be adjusted upwards at stops 33 on its wall 34 by stop bolts 32 on the base part 18 and downwards to a limited extent at the lower wall 11'. The base part 18 is provided with fastening wings 18' projecting on both sides and attached to the front of the frame 21. At least one fastening wing 18' is fastened to this front side 21' in such a way that there is a free space next to it for an opening 56 for the passage of at least one line guide (not shown in detail), for example a brake line.

[0019] The pocket 19 is resiliently supported on the base part 18 by these compression springs 28 arranged parallel to one another. At least one screw bolt 58, which is fastened to the pocket 19 and has a nut 59 engaging below the wall 11' of the base part 18, extends through each of the compression springs 28 for adjusting the height of the support unit 15 and thus of the connecting link 22. In the assembled state, the nut 59 is secured by a lock nut or is self-locking and secured against rotation. This height adjustment can, of course, be implemented using means other than those shown. The housing could also contain only one compression spring or only one screw bolt 58, or more than two of them.

[0020] This creates a resilient support of the connecting link 22 on the centering support unit 15. As a result, the connecting link 22, which is usually in contact with the support unit 15, is also pivoted horizontally around the vertical axis at the pin 29 when the coupled rail vehicles travel in a curve, thereby pressing the support unit 15 and with it the pocket 19 downward against the compression springs 28. When they then travel straight ahead again, the connecting link 22 returns to the centered position.

[0021] It may happen that one vehicle is fully loaded while the other vehicle coupled to it is empty. This results in the coupling 35 of the fully loaded vehicle being lower than the other, and thus its connecting link 22 being lower than the other, thus compressing the compression springs 28, while the connecting link of the empty vehicle is lifted from the support unit 15.

[0022] According to the method according to the invention, this support surface 16 of the support device 10 can be adjusted from the centering of the connecting link 22, which is set in the normal operating state, to an approximately horizontal orientation, and consequently the connecting link 22 can be pivoted horizontally in one direction or the other on the support surface 17. This formed horizontal support surface 17 can then be adjusted back to the orientation centering the connecting link 22.

[0023] This manipulation can thus be carried out in a very simple manner, in which the connecting link 22 and, with it, the coupling head 35 can be easily pivoted by hand from the center in one or the other horizontal direction, so that coupling can be carried out easily, particularly when the two coupling heads 35 to be coupled are not coaxial, but are at an angle to each other due to the position of the vehicles in a curve. Normally, the rail vehicles can be easily coupled in stations or during shunting on straight tracks, but as mentioned, in exceptional cases, the vehicles may need to be coupled or uncoupled on a curve on the line. Using the method according to the invention, this can be done with just a few simple steps and minimal effort.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, a manually height-adjustable lifting member 12 is arranged in the housing 11 in such a way that it can be lifted with its above support surface 17 into a position projecting from the support surface 16 of the support unit 15 and in the process its support surface 17 is converted, at least in the central region, from this V-shape into the approximately horizontal orientation, in which it takes over the support of the connecting member 22 during lifting and enables this pivotable deflection of the connecting member approximately in the horizontal direction.

[0025] Associated with this lifting member 12 extending through the housing 11 is an actuatable adjusting member 14 and a sliding shoe 13 arranged above the pocket 19 in a recess 13' in the center 15' of the support unit 15. The latter can be lifted into this projecting position by the adjusting member 14, which is designed, for example, as a screw with a hexagon 14' or the like. In this position, this sliding shoe 13 supports the connecting member 22 on its horizontal support surface 17, while being sunk into this recess 13' upon lowering, until the connecting member rests again on the support unit 15.

[0026] Fig. 4 und Fig. 5 show a support device 40 which is essentially the same as that according to Fig. 3is designed. Therefore, only the differences are explained below and the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the support device 10. In particular, a variant of a lifting member 42 is formed by a rotatable longitudinal element 44 running horizontally parallel above the pocket 19, having a support surface 47 and at least one adjusting member 43 actuable thereon. The longitudinal element 44 extends horizontally through a central recess 45 in the support unit 15 in such a way that, in the normal operating state shown, it forms a depression 44' on the upper side within the central recess 45.

[0027] The connecting link 22 thus lies centered on the underside of this support surface 16 and, due to gravity, is always located in the center of the support surface, which is designed in the same way as the support device 10. In this position, the adjusting elements 43, which are attached to both sides at the ends of the longitudinal element 44, are arranged outside the housing 11, hanging approximately vertically downwards. They are preferably designed as pivoting levers with handles and are positioned so that they are easily accessible for the operating personnel to manipulate. The angle of rotation of such a pivoting lever can be approximately 180° upwards, whereby after coupling and pivoting upwards, it automatically pivots back down into the illustrated position due to gravity. It is also possible to provide only one pivoting lever on one side.

[0028] According to the invention, the longitudinal element 44 can be rotated from the shown starting position by approximately 90° or up to approximately 180° by one of the adjusting members 43. In doing so, the support surface 47 of the longitudinal element 44 moves into a protruding position in the recess 45, causing the connecting member 22 to be lifted and supported on this horizontal support surface 47 of the longitudinal element 44. This enables easy manual pivoting of the connecting member 22 and, with it, the coupling head.

[0029] From this position, the longitudinal element 44 can then be rotated back downwards by actuating one of the adjusting members 43, and in the process, this flattening 44' on the longitudinal element 44 moves upwards into the recess 45 of the support unit 15, so that the connecting member 22 rests again on the support unit 15.

[0030] The invention has been adequately demonstrated by the above embodiments. However, it could be further explained by further variants. For example, the pocket and the base part of the housing could be formed as a single piece, with only the support unit being guided longitudinally at the top of the housing and held in place by at least one spring element, allowing it to be adjusted upwards or downwards.

[0031] Likewise, the support device could be designed in other variants, for example by using only a pivoting disc with a flat cutout instead of the longitudinal element.

Claims

1. Method for centring or deflecting a coupling head of a rail vehicle, wherein a connection element (22) is located mid-centred between a traction and impact device and the coupling head (35) on a contact surface (16) of a support device (10, 40), characterized in that this contact surface (16) of the support device (10, 40) is moved from the mid-centring position adopted in the operational state into an approximately horizontal alignment, and in consequence the connection element (22) on the contact surface (17, 47) is pivoted horizontally into the one or the other direction, and that this contact surface (17, 47) of the support device (10, 40) is moved back again into the alignment in which the connection element (22) is aligned as mid-centred.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact surface (17, 47) can be moved by a preferably manually actuated raising element (12, 42) in the support device (22) from the mid-centring position into the approximately horizontal alignment, and the deflection of the connection element (22) for the coupling of the coupling head (35) to a rail vehicle which is to be coupled is carried out manually, in particular if two rail vehicles to be coupled, and therefore also their coupling heads (35) are not axially matched to one another but are standing at an angle to one another.

3. Support device for carrying out the method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support device is provided with a housing (11) which can be secured to the rail vehicle, and, projecting on its upper side, a support unit (15) with a contact surface (16), wherein this contact surface (16) is intended, in its mid-position, as a centring contact surface of the connection element (22), and can be adjusted into an approximately horizontal alignment, such that a deflection of the connection element (22) lying on the contact surface (17, 47) can take place approximately into a horizontal direction.

4. Support device according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact surface (16) of the support unit (15) is formed in each case by part surfaces (16') elevated on both sides from the centre outwards away from the horizontal by some degrees of angle, such that this connection element (22), formed in cross-section as circular or similar, lies in contact with its underside with on the contact surface (16), and in this situation is always centred in the middle of the contact surface (16).

5. Support device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a preferably manually height-adjustable raising element (12) is arranged in the housing (11) in such a way that it can be raised with its upper contact surface (17) into a position which projects towards the contact surface (16) of the support unit (15), and in this situation its contact surface (17, 47) moves at least in its centre region into an approximately horizontal alignment, wherein, upon raising, it takes over the support of the connection element (22), and allows for this pivotable deflection of the connection element approximately into the horizontal direction.

6. Support device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the housing (11) comprises a base part (18) which can be secured to the vehicle, and a pocket (19) with the support unit (15), which is height adjustable in relation to the base part, wherein a spring arrangement is integrated in the interior of the housing (11), by means of which the pocket (19) is supported with springing effect on the base part (18), and allows for the spring-supported contact of the connection element (22) on the support unit (15) which is to be centred.

7. Support device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that this raising element (12) extending through the housing (11) is provided with an actuatable adjustment element (14) and a sliding shoe (13) with the contact surface (17), arranged above the pocket (19) in a middle cut-out opening (13') of the support unit (15), wherein this sliding shoe (13) can be raised by the adjustment element (14) into this projecting position, and in this situation raises and supports the connection element (22) on its horizontal contact surface (17), while, when lowering, it is guided between the support unit (15) until the connection element (22) lies back on the support unit (15).

8. Support device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the raising element (42) is formed by a rotatable longitudinal element (44) running horizontally with the contact surface (47), and at least one adjustment element (43) which can actuate the longitudinal element, wherein the longitudinal element (44) extends through a middle cut-out opening (45) of the support unit (15) in such a way that the contact surface (47) of the longitudinal element (44) moves either into the projecting position in the cut-out opening (45) and the connection element (22) is supported on this horizontal contact surface (47), or that an indentation (44') in the longitudinal element (44), by the rotation of the longitudinal element, is positioned in the cut-out opening (45) of the support unit (15), such that the connection element (22) is again in contact on the support unit (15).

9. Support device according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotatable element running horizontally of the raising element (42) is arranged above the pocket (19) of the housing (11) in the support unit (15).

10. Support device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that in each case an adjustment element (43) is joint-connected as a pivot lever, preferably on both sides and in each case at one end of the rotatable longitudinal element (44), wherein the adjustment element (43) can in each case be pivoted from a starting position pointing downwards, in which the connection element (22) lies on the support unit (15), about an angle of, for example, 90° or approximately 180°, such that the connection element lies on the horizontal contact surface (47) of the longitudinal element (44).

11. Support device according to any one of claims 3 to 10, characterized in that a height adjustment of the support unit (15), and therefore of the connection element (22), is integrated in the housing (11) which can be secured to the vehicle.

12. Support device according to claim 11, characterized in that by means of the spring arrangement comprising at least one pressure spring (28) in the interior of the housing (11), in each case at least one screw bolt (58) secured to the pocket (19) projects with a nut (59), engaging beneath the wall (11') of the base part (18), for the height adjustment of the support unit (15), and therefore of the connection element (22).

13. Support device according to any one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that at least one securing wing (18'), pointing away at the base part (18) of the housing (11) can be fixed on the front side of the vehicle body in such a way that a free space is provided next to it for at least one opening (56) for the passage of at least one line, such as, for example, a brake line.

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