Push and pull device for a central buffer coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a shock and pull device for a central buffer coupling, comprising a spring assembly (4) arranged in a vehicle-mountable frame or housing (1) between a movable front pressure element (2) and a stationary rear pressure element (3), wherein the movable front pressure element (2) has opposing lateral guide surfaces for longitudinal guidance relative to the housing (1) as a result of a deflection caused by a shock load, wherein the front pressure element (2) has a front plate section (5) as a stop in the event of a shock load, wherein the lateral guide surfaces are arranged on rearwardly formed flank sections (6) which cooperate with guide surfaces (7) arranged inside the housing (1) for longitudinal guidance.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling-related impact and pulling device comprising a spring assembly arranged in a vehicle-mountable frame or housing between a movable front pressure element and a stationary rear pressure element, wherein the movable front pressure element has opposing lateral guide surfaces for longitudinal guidance relative to the housing as a result of deflection caused by an impact load. The invention also relates to a central buffer coupling for rail vehicles with such an impact and pulling device.

[0002] The invention's field of application extends primarily to railway vehicle technology. The buffer and traction devices of interest here are typically used on train couplings to cushion loads occurring primarily in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, depending on the application, also to dampen them. These loads occur as impacts in the direction of the wagons, for example, when coupled wagons move towards each other, or as traction loads when two coupled wagons move away from each other. The buffer and traction device of the type of interest here is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a center buffer coupling, especially an automatic center buffer coupling for coupling freight wagons to form a freight train. State of the art

[0003] From DE 10 2022 109 045 A1 a generic shock and pull device for a central buffer coupling emerges, which comprises a spring assembly arranged in a vehicle-mountable frame made up of several plates with a damper connected in series for this purpose.

[0004] When the shock and tension device is subjected to an impact, the coupling shaft articulated to it presses a plate-shaped, movable front pressure element, via the spring mechanism and the damper, against a stationary rear pressure element, which comes into contact with the vehicle frame. The movable front pressure element is guided along the flanks of the impact direction by two opposing, longitudinally projecting inner surfaces of the frame-like housing.

[0005] Under tensile stress, the coupling shaft, via a coupling bolt, pulls the frame-like housing against the compressive force of the spring mechanism and the front pressure element against a front end stop, thus dampening the tensile force. Simultaneously, the tensile force is transmitted via the damper and the rear pressure element to the vehicle-mounted frame-like housing.

[0006] The front pressure element, which is longitudinally movable due to impact and tensile loads, requires reliable longitudinal guidance that ensures sufficient tilt protection for the pressure element in both horizontal and vertical directions. According to the UIC standard, tilt angles of up to 1.25 degrees are permissible at this point, which, with external guide plates projecting from a frame-shaped housing, can only be achieved with a sufficiently rigid design.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to further improve a push and pull device of the generic type in such a way that reliable longitudinal guidance of the movable front pressure element over the entire stroke is achieved in a compact design. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The problem is solved starting from a bumper and puller according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The following dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention. Claim 10 relates to a central buffer coupler for rail vehicles, comprising a bumper and puller according to the invention.

[0009] The invention includes the technical teaching that the movable front pressure element of a push and pull device has a front plate section which forms a stop under impact load, wherein on the front plate section opposite lateral guide surfaces are arranged on flank sections formed behind the plate section which correspond to guide surfaces arranged inside the housing for longitudinal guidance.

[0010] The advantage of a tilt-proof and reliable longitudinal guidance system in the solution according to the invention results from relocating the guidance function to the interior of the housing of the push-pull device. This leads to greater rigidity of the longitudinal guidance system in conjunction with the larger guide surfaces that can be achieved. The solution according to the invention thus ensures stable guidance of the movable front pressure element with minimal tilting, which also significantly increases the stabilizing effect of the coupled carriage and prevents derailments in critical situations, such as individual carriages or the entire train. Furthermore, the solution according to the invention provides the basis for designing the individual components modularly in order to implement different types and / or sizes of springs and / or dampers.In other words, the solution according to the invention includes an improved geometry of the movable front pressure element and the guide surfaces on the side walls of the housing.

[0011] According to a further improvement of the invention, it is proposed that the guide surfaces of the longitudinal guide for the movable front pressure element, arranged within the housing, at least partially enclose the area of ​​the spring assembly. This means that the housing-side guide surfaces are implemented laterally next to the spring assembly, resulting in a particularly compact design because the guide surfaces do not require any additional space in the longitudinal direction of the shock and tension device. It should be noted here that, in a combination of a spring assembly with a damper connected in series within the housing, the guide surfaces can alternatively also be arranged in the area of ​​the damper or in the area of ​​both the spring assembly and the damper.

[0012] Preferably, the pressure element, consisting of the front plate section and the flank section, has a U-shaped longitudinal section. This basic geometry enables a particularly compact design in conjunction with the adjacent components of the impact and tensioning device. The length of the flank sections of the U-shaped longitudinal section can be adapted to the guiding characteristics required for the stroke.

[0013] According to another measure that further improves the invention, it is proposed that the integrated spring mechanism be connected to a spring-loaded pull bar, which is adjustable relative to the housing in a bidirectional longitudinal direction A. This adjustment is made at the proximal end of the pull bar. The distal end of the pull bar is designed to receive a connecting bolt for attaching a coupling shaft. The pull bar, which establishes the connection between the spring mechanism and the coupling shaft, thus runs partly inside and partly outside the housing of the push and pull device, allowing for a space-saving coupling.

[0014] Preferably, the spring assembly comprises a first spring assembly bearing against the front pressure element and a second spring assembly bearing against the rear pressure element, with a connecting plate forming the proximal end of the drawbar arranged between them. The connecting plate can be a rear component of the drawbar. The connecting plate, which serves as the coupling point for the drawbar, can also support the end region of the flank sections of the front pressure element to increase the guide's rigidity. This functional integration allows the requirement to be met that the maximum internal deflection of the flank sections does not exceed the 3 mm specified in the UIC standard. The first and / or second spring assembly can be formed from metallic disc springs or elastomeric spring elements in a manner known per se.

[0015] Preferably, the corresponding guide surfaces are dimensioned such that longitudinal guidance is ensured over at least the entire reversible spring stroke of the spring assembly. If the spring assembly is arranged in series with a damper, it is proposed that the corresponding guide surfaces be dimensioned such that longitudinal guidance is ensured over at least six times the reversible spring stroke of the spring assembly. Conventional hydraulic or gas-hydraulic units are suitable as dampers.

[0016] To further increase the rigidity of the housing of the push-pull device according to the invention, it is proposed that the pull bar run through a gap formed between the front pressure element and a crossbeam of the housing. The crossbeam is arranged at the level of the front plate section of the front pressure element as part of the housing. The upper and lower crossbeams ensure limited deflection of the pull bar by, in conjunction with the front pressure plate, guaranteeing low guide tolerances of preferably a maximum of 3 mm. The pull bar can be guided and supported against vertical rotation both internally and externally. Detailed description based on drawing

[0017] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the single figure.

[0018] The figure shows a schematic, perspectively partially cutaway representation of a push and pull device for a central buffer coupling with integrated spring mechanism, but without dampers.

[0019] According to the figure, a push and pull device for a central buffer coupling comprises a box-shaped housing 1 that can be mounted on the associated wagon of a rail vehicle not shown further, which houses a spring mechanism 4 between a movable front pressure element 2 and a stationary rear pressure element 3.

[0020] The movable front pressure element 2 consists of a front plate section 5, which serves as a front stop under impact loading of the impact and tension device, to which rear flank sections 6 (the opposite flank section is concealed) are integrally formed. The guide surfaces of the opposing flank sections 6 correspond with guide surfaces 7 (the opposite guide surface is also concealed) to form the longitudinal guide of the front pressure element 2 relative to the housing 1.

[0021] The guide surfaces 7, arranged opposite each other within the housing 1, are located laterally next to the area of ​​the spring mechanism 4.

[0022] The spring assembly 4 consists of a first spring assembly 4a that bears against the front pressure element 2 and a spring assembly 4b that bears against the rear, housing-fixed pressure element 3. A connecting plate 8, which is part of a pull bar 9, is arranged between the two spring assemblies 4a and 4b.

[0023] The drawbar 9 is adjustable in a bidirectional longitudinal direction A by this arrangement and has a connecting bolt 10 on the distal end for linking a coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling.

[0024] The housing 1 has, at the level of the front pressure plate 2, an additional upper and lower crossbar 11 (of which the lower crossbar is concealed), which in conjunction with the front pressure element 2 form a gap through which the pull bar 9 passes and is guided.

[0025] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, variations thereof are also conceivable, which are also covered by the scope of protection of the following claims. For example, it is also possible to combine the spring assembly 4 with a damper connected in series with it, for which a damper installation space 12 is provided in the figure. Reference symbol list

[0026] 1 Housing 2 Front, movable pressure element 3 Rear, stationary pressure element 4 Spring mechanism 5 Front plate section 6 Rear flank section 7 Guide surface 8 Connecting plate 9 Pull handle 10 Connecting bolt 11 Crossbeam 12 Damper mounting space

Claims

1. Impact and pulling device for a central buffer coupling, comprising a spring assembly (4) arranged in a vehicle-mountable frame or housing (1) between a movable front pressure element (2) and a stationary rear pressure element (3), wherein the movable front pressure element (2) has opposing lateral guide surfaces for longitudinal guidance relative to the housing (1) as a result of a deflection caused by an impact load, characterized by the fact that the front pressure element (2) has a front plate section (5) as a stop in case of impact loading, wherein the lateral guide surfaces are arranged on flank sections (6) formed on the rear of this, which cooperate with guide surfaces (7) arranged inside the housing (1) for longitudinal guidance.

2. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe guide surfaces (7) arranged within the housing (1) at least partially enclose the area of ​​the spring mechanism (4).

3. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the front pressure element (2) consisting of the front plate section (5) and the flank sections (6) has a U-shaped longitudinal section.

4. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the spring mechanism (4) is connected to a spring-loaded pull bar (9) which is adjustable in a bidirectional longitudinal direction (A) relative to the housing (1), and at the distal end of which a connecting bolt (10) is arranged for the articulation of a coupling shaft.

5. Push and pull device according to claim 4, characterized by the fact thatthe spring assembly (4) comprises a first spring assembly (4a) that comes into contact with the front pressure element (2) and a second spring assembly (4b) that comes into contact with the rear pressure element (3), with a connecting plate (8) forming the proximal end of the drawbar (9) arranged between them.

6. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the corresponding guide surfaces (6, 7) are dimensioned such that longitudinal guidance is ensured over at least the reversible spring stroke of the spring mechanism (4).

7. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the spring assembly (4) is arranged in series with a damper, wherein the corresponding guide surfaces (6, 7) are dimensioned such that longitudinal guidance is ensured over at least six times the reversible spring stroke of the spring assembly (4).

8. Push and pull device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe housing (1) comprises opposing crossbeams (11) which enclose the front pressure element (2).

9. Push and pull device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the pull bar (9) passes through a gap between the front pressure element (2) and the gap formed by the opposing crossbeams (11) of the housing (1).

10. Central buffer coupling for rail vehicles with a bumper and coupling device according to one of the preceding claims.

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