Coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle

The coupler system with an automatically driven rotator and transmission mechanism addresses the high force and safety issues of existing couplers by enabling low-effort, safe, and continuous uncoupling of rail vehicle couplers.

EP4656489A1Pending Publication Date: 2025-12-03DELLNER COUPLERS AB
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2024179286
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-05-31
Publication Date
2025-12-03

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing couplers in rail vehicles, particularly Scharfenberg-type couplings, require high manual force for uncoupling and may pose safety risks due to bulky manual uncoupling devices that protrude from the car, making them dangerous during movement.

Method used

A coupler system with an automatically driven rotator, such as an electric screwdriver, connected via a plug-and-socket mechanism to a rotatable connector on the coupler, allows for low-force uncoupling by rotating the coupler heads to an uncoupled state, using a transmission to reduce manual effort and incorporating a torque limiter to limit input torque.

Benefits of technology

Enables safe and efficient uncoupling with minimal operator effort, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring quick, continuous uncoupling processes even in power failures or moving vehicles.

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Abstract

A method of uncoupling cars of a multi-car rail vehicle which are coupled together by means of two couplers comprises the steps of: connecting an automatically driven rotator (20) to a rotatable connector (19) of one of the two couplers, activating the automatically driven rotator so as to rotate the rotatable connector until the two couplers are in an uncoupled state, and removing the automatically driven rotator. The automatically driven rotator may be a handheld device, such as an electrically driven screwdriver, and may be driven by energy stored therein.
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