Central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle, method for checking the functional state of an elastomer spring device in a housing of a coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle with a coupling shaft comprising a central section extending longitudinally along the central buffer coupling and a housing that receives an axial end of the central section via an interposed elastomeric spring assembly. The central buffer coupling according to the invention is characterized by a measuring device that can be mounted on or is mounted on the coupling shaft. This measuring device includes an actuator with which the central section can be moved relative to the housing against a spring force of the elastomeric spring assembly, and further includes a sensor configured to detect the spring force and / or the spring deflection of the elastomeric spring assembly during this movement.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a central buffer coupling for rail vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention further relates to a method for testing the functional state of an elastomer spring device in a housing of a coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling according to claim 12 and a measuring device for carrying out the method according to claim 16.

[0002] Types of center buffer couplers are disclosed, for example, in EP 1 719 784 B1 and DE 20 2013 005 377 U1. These have a coupler shank comprising a central section extending longitudinally along the center buffer coupler and a housing. The central section is received in the housing at one axial end, i.e., at the rear end facing the corresponding rail vehicle on which the center buffer coupler is mounted, via an interposed elastomer spring assembly, and projects axially out of the housing at the other axial end, on which a coupling is arranged. The elastomer spring assembly dampens shocks and vibrations occurring during coupling, travel, and braking of the rail vehicle.

[0003] Regular servicing is mandatory for such center buffer couplings, and this servicing has so far been carried out based on service intervals defined in a manual. The manual also defines replacement parts, meaning specified time intervals within which certain parts of the center buffer coupling must be replaced with new parts. The elastomer spring assembly is also one such replacement part, as it can lose at least some of its elasticity over time and is subject to wear.

[0004] The problem with these fixed replacement intervals is that the center buffer coupling is replaced regardless of its actual condition. Such a replacement involves considerable material and time expenditure, as the center section with the elastomer spring assembly must be removed from the housing and at least the elastomer spring assembly must be replaced, followed by reassembly of the center buffer coupling.

[0005] The present invention aims to improve a center buffer coupling for a rail vehicle of the generic type in such a way that unnecessary replacement of the elastomer spring assembly and the associated material and time expenditure can be avoided. Instead, the elastomer spring assembly should only need to be disassembled and replaced when its condition actually necessitates it. In particular, the elastomer spring assembly should not result in a comparatively short service interval for the entire center buffer coupling.

[0006] The problem according to the invention is solved by a central buffer coupling with the features of claim 1, a method with the features of claim 12, and a measuring device with the features of claim 16. The dependent claims describe advantageous and particularly expedient embodiments of the invention.

[0007] The center buffer coupler for rail vehicles according to the invention comprises a coupler shaft having a central section extending longitudinally along the center buffer coupler and a housing that receives an axial end of the central section via an interposed elastomer spring assembly. As explained above, this is the rear end of the central section, i.e., in a state mounted on the rail vehicle, the axial end of the central section facing the rail vehicle. A train coupler, in particular an automatic train coupler, for example a Scharfenberg coupler, can be mounted at the other, i.e., opposite, axial end.

[0008] According to the invention, a measuring device that can be mounted on or is mounted on the coupling shaft is provided, comprising an actuator and a sensor. The actuator allows the central piece to be moved relative to the housing against a spring force of the elastomer spring assembly, and the sensor is configured to detect the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring assembly during this movement of the central piece caused by the actuator.

[0009] If the measuring device is permanently mounted on the coupling shaft, i.e., even during operation of the center buffer coupling for coupling two rail vehicles, a dynamic service interval can be provided for the elastomer spring assembly. This interval specifies servicing, and in particular replacement, of the elastomer spring assembly only when its actual condition necessitates it. However, even with the measuring device not permanently mounted on the coupling shaft, checking the condition of the elastomer spring assembly can be carried out much faster than before. This is because only the measuring device needs to be mounted on the coupling shaft to move the center piece relative to the housing against the spring force of the elastomer spring assembly. The sensor then records the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring assembly during this movement of the center piece.The current state, i.e., the functional state of the elastomer spring assembly, can then be determined from the measured spring force and / or spring travel. If, for example, the spring force and / or spring travel is less than or greater than a predefined limit, particularly if it lies outside a predefined range, an insufficient functional state of the elastomer spring assembly can be inferred, and in particular, a necessary replacement can be indicated. It is not necessary to remove the center piece and the elastomer spring assembly from the housing.

[0010] Preferably, the central piece with the actuator is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling. This allows central buffer couplings with elastomer spring devices to be tested for their functional condition, particularly the elasticity of the elastomer spring device, which comprises at least one elastomer spring ring that surrounds the central piece circumferentially and with which the central piece is mounted in the housing. Preferably, such a central buffer coupling comprises a plurality of elastomer spring rings arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling, particularly spaced apart from each other, which surround the central piece circumferentially and with which the central piece is mounted in the housing. Exemplary embodiments of such elastomer spring devices are disclosed in EP 1 719 684 B1 and DE 20 2013 005 377 U1.

[0011] Preferably, the central buffer coupler includes a bearing block in which the coupler shaft is mounted so as to be horizontally pivotable by means of the housing. The bearing block is then an integral part of the rail vehicle or mounted on a car body of the rail vehicle.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the actuator comprises an automatic drive, for example a pneumatic, electropneumatic, hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or electric drive. Such a drive can actuate the actuator accordingly, for example in a rotary and / or a sliding movement, in order to move the central piece relative to the housing against the spring force of the elastomer spring assembly, in particular to move or rotate it.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment, which can also be combined with the aforementioned embodiment, the actuator comprises a manually operated or hand-tool-operated drive. With a manually operated drive, the actuator can be actuated by hand alone, causing it to move the central piece relative to the housing against the spring force of the elastomer spring assembly. With a hand-tool-operated drive, a tool, such as a wrench, other lever, or rotary drive, is required. For example, the actuator includes an adjusting screw or an adjusting joint that can be actuated by hand or with a hand tool.

[0014] In the case of the automatic drive, a switch may be provided in the area of ​​the central buffer coupling and / or at another location on the rail vehicle, for example in the driver's cab, to start the automatic drive.

[0015] According to a reliable and mechanically simple embodiment of the invention, the actuator comprises an adjusting wedge that is adjustable perpendicular or at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the center buffer coupling relative to the housing and / or the center piece in order to displace the center piece relative to the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The adjusting wedge can, for example, be inserted into an opening in the center piece at an axial interface between the center piece and the housing, at least indirectly bearing against the housing, in order to displace the center piece along the longitudinal direction of the center buffer coupling relative to the housing.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuator can be actuated with a predetermined adjusting force, and the sensor is configured to detect an adjustment path of the actuator and / or an adjustment path of the center piece. Thus, the manipulated variable is a force, which also includes pressure, and the measured variable is a displacement.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment, which can also be combined with the aforementioned embodiment, the actuator can be actuated over a predetermined adjustment path and / or the central piece can be moved with the actuator over a predetermined adjustment path, and the sensor is configured to detect an adjustment force of the actuator, whereby adjustment force is also to be understood as an adjustment pressure. Accordingly, the manipulated variable is a displacement and the measured variable is a force.

[0018] The sensor can include a display that shows the measured value and / or a derived quantity and / or the need to replace the elastomer spring assembly. This can be an analog or digital display. However, a mechanical display, such as a scale, is also conceivable.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the measuring sensor comprises a strain gauge to detect an adjustment path.

[0020] A method according to the invention for testing the functional state of an elastomer spring device in a housing of a coupling shaft of a center buffer coupling, wherein the coupling shaft comprises a central piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the center buffer coupling, the axial end of which is received in the housing with the elastomer spring device interposed, comprises the following steps: Moving the center piece against a spring force of the elastomer spring device relative to the housing with an actuator of a measuring device mounted on the coupling shaft, and detecting the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring device during this movement with a sensor of the measuring device.

[0021] From the spring force and / or the spring travel, the current state, i.e. the functional state of the elastomer spring device, can then be determined, as explained above.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the measuring device is mounted on the coupling shaft for each test of the functional state of the elastomer spring assembly and removed from the coupling shaft after the test. The measuring device is therefore not permanently mounted on the coupling shaft.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment, however, the measuring device is permanently mounted on the coupling shaft, so that the functional status of the elastomer spring device can always be checked without having to visit a workshop.

[0024] The other features previously disclosed with reference to the central buffer coupling can accordingly be used as process steps in the present process.

[0025] A measuring device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises an actuator for moving a central part of a coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling against a spring force of an elastomer spring device of the coupling shaft relative to a housing of the coupling shaft and a measuring sensor which is configured to detect the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring device during this movement.

[0026] Accordingly, the measuring device preferably includes mounting connections for mounting it on the coupling shaft of a central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle.

[0027] The invention will be described below by way of example with reference to embodiments and the figures. They show:

[0028] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a central buffer coupling according to the invention with an adjusting wedge; Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a central buffer coupling according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a flowchart with an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0029] In the Figure 1Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a central buffer coupling according to the invention, comprising a coupling shaft 1 with a central section 2, the axial end of which is received and mounted in a housing 3. The mounting includes an elastomer spring assembly 4, which comprises a plurality of elastomer spring rings 8 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling, which coincides with the longitudinal direction of the coupling shaft 1 in its undisplaced state. The central section 2 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the housing 3 against the spring force of these elastomer spring rings 8, which act parallel to each other.

[0030] The coupling shaft 1, with its housing 3, is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 9 of the rail vehicle. For example, the housing 3 has pivot pins 11 by which it is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis in the bearing block 9.

[0031] According to the invention, a measuring device 5 is provided with an actuator 6 and a sensor 7. The actuator 6 allows the central piece 2 to be displaced relative to the housing 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis against the force of the elastomer spring assembly 4, here against the force of the elastomer spring rings 8. The sensor 7 detects either the force with which the actuator 6 is actuated or the distance by which the central piece 2 is displaced relative to the housing 3 by the actuator 6.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, but not necessarily, the actuator 6 comprises an adjusting wedge 10 which is displaceable at an axial interface between the housing 3 and the center piece 2, here at the axial end of the housing 3 from which the center piece 2 protrudes, into an opening in the center piece 2 such that this displacement of the adjusting wedge 10, due to the sliding surfaces of the adjusting wedge 10 which run obliquely to the longitudinal axis and the adjusting wedge receptacle supported on the housing 3, moves the center piece 2 in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] The actuator 6 can be moved manually, for example via a slider, screw, or joint, particularly with a reduction gear. Additionally or alternatively, automatic adjustment with a suitable automatic drive is also possible.

[0034] In the Figure 2A further embodiment of the invention is shown schematically. Again, the central section 2 of the coupling shaft 1 is mounted in the housing 3 via an elastomer spring assembly 4 with elastomer spring rings 8. The illustration of a bearing block and a rotatable mounting of the housing 3 in the bearing block 9 is not shown. In this regard, reference is made, for example, to the Figure 1 Reference was made. Other configurations are also possible.

[0035] Again, a measuring device 5 is provided, comprising an actuator 6 and a sensor 7. The actuator 6 is fixedly connected to the housing 3 and engages the center piece 2 via a tension element 12. This allows the actuator 6 to pull the center piece 2 into the housing 3 against the force of the elastomer spring assembly 4. Of course, the actuator 6 could also be fixedly arranged on the center piece 2 and connected to the housing 3 via the tension element 12.

[0036] The sensor 7 in turn records the measured quantity - force or adjustment travel - so that the condition of the elastomer spring device 4 can be determined.

[0037] The two figures show only exemplary actuators. Other embodiments are possible.

[0038] In both embodiments shown, and in other possible embodiments, it is possible to permanently mount the measuring device 5 on the coupling shaft 1 and transport it with the center buffer coupling. According to an alternative embodiment, the measuring device 5 is always transported with the center buffer coupling, but is not permanently mounted to it. According to a further embodiment, a service workshop is equipped with such a measuring device 5 to check the condition of the elastomer spring assembly 4 upon arrival of a center buffer coupling, without the need to disassemble the center piece 2 and the elastomer spring assembly 4 from the housing 3.

[0039] In the Figure 3 A flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown.

[0040] According to optional step S1, the measuring device is mounted on a coupling shaft. Alternatively, the measuring device can be permanently mounted on the coupling shaft.

[0041] According to step S2-1, the center piece is moved relative to the coupling shaft housing against the spring force of the elastomer spring assembly. This is done with an actuator that exerts a corresponding force on the center piece.

[0042] According to step S2-2, the spring force and / or spring travel of the elastomer spring assembly is measured using a sensor. This occurs during the movement of the center piece with the actuator. "During movement" means either over the entire range of motion or only over a portion of it. For example, it may be sufficient to measure the spring force only at the end of the movement.

[0043] According to step S3, the functional state of the elastomer spring device is determined from the measured spring force and / or the measured spring travel.

[0044] According to optional step S4, the measuring device is removed from the coupling shaft if it is not to be permanently mounted on the coupling shaft. Reference symbol list

[0045] 1 Coupling shaft 2 Center piece 3 Housing 4 Elastomer spring assembly 5 Measuring device 6 Actuator 7 Sensor 8 Elastomer spring ring 9 Bearing block 10 Adjusting wedge 11 Pivot pin 12 Pulling element

Claims

1. Central buffer coupling for a rail vehicle with a coupling shaft (1) which has a central piece (2) extending in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling and a housing (3) which receives an axial end of the central piece (2) with an intermediate elastomer spring device (4); characterized by a measuring device (5) that can be mounted on or is mounted on the coupling shaft (1), comprising an actuator (6) with which the central piece (2) can be moved relative to the housing (3) against a spring force of the elastomer spring device (4), and which further comprises a measuring sensor (7) that is configured to detect the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring device (4) during this movement.

2. Central buffer coupling according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the center piece (2) with the actuator (6) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the center buffer coupling.

3. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe elastomer spring device (4) comprises at least one elastomer spring ring (8) which surrounds the central piece (2) in the circumferential direction and with which the central piece (2) is mounted in the housing (3).

4. Central buffer coupling according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that The elastomer spring assembly (4) comprises a plurality of elastomer spring rings (8) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the central buffer coupling, which enclose the central piece (2) in the circumferential direction and with which the central piece (2) is mounted in the housing (3).

5. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 4 with a bearing block (9) in which the coupling shaft (1) is mounted so as to pivot horizontally with the housing (3).

6. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact thatthe actuator (6) comprises an automatic drive, in particular a pneumatic, electropneumatic, hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or electric drive.

7. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that the actuator (6) has a manually operated or hand-tool operated drive.

8. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the actuator (6) comprises an adjusting wedge (10) which is adjustable perpendicular or angular to the longitudinal axis of the center buffer coupling relative to the housing (3) and / or center piece (2) in order to displace the center piece (2) relative to the housing (3) in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

9. Central buffer coupling according to claim 8, characterized by the fact thatThe adjusting wedge (10) can be inserted into an opening in the center piece (2) at an axial interface between the center piece (2) and the housing (3), at least indirectly supporting itself on the housing (3), to displace the center piece relative to the housing (3).

10. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the actuator (6) can be actuated with a predetermined adjusting force and the measuring sensor (7) is set up to detect an adjustment travel of the actuator (6) and / or the center piece (2).

11. Central buffer coupling according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that the actuator (6) can be actuated over a predetermined adjustment path and / or the center piece (2) can be moved with the actuator (6) over a predetermined adjustment path and the measuring sensor (7) is set up to detect an adjustment force of the actuator (6).

12. Method for testing the functional state of an elastomer spring assembly (4) in a housing (3) of a coupling shaft (1) of a center buffer coupling, wherein the coupling shaft (1) comprises a central section (2) extending longitudinally in the center buffer coupling, the axial end of which is received in the housing (3) with the elastomer spring assembly (4) interposed, comprising the following steps: - moving the central section (2) against a spring force of the elastomer spring assembly (4) relative to the housing (3) with an actuator (6) of a measuring device (5) mounted on the coupling shaft (1), and - detecting the spring force and / or the spring deflection of the elastomer spring assembly (4) during this movement with a sensor (7) of the measuring device (5).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact thatthe measuring device (5) is mounted on the coupling shaft (1) for each test of the functional state of the elastomer spring device (4) and is removed from the coupling shaft (1) after the test.

14. Method according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the measuring device (5) is permanently mounted on the coupling shaft (1).

15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized by the fact that the center piece (2) with the actuator (6) is moved in the longitudinal direction of the center buffer coupling.

16. Measuring device (5) for carrying out a method according to one of claims 12 to 15 with an actuator (6) for moving a central part (2) of a coupling shaft (1) of a central buffer coupling against a spring force of an elastomer spring device (4) of the coupling shaft (1) relative to a housing (3) of the coupling shaft (1) and with a measuring sensor (7) which is configured to detect the spring force and / or the spring travel of the elastomer spring device (4) during this movement.

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