Coupling head of an automatic train coupling

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling head of an automatic train coupling with an automatically actuatable, mechanical rotary closure which can be rotated about a main axis between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; with a main air valve with which the flow cross-section of a main air line can be selectively blocked in a closed position and unblocked in an open position, with switching of the main air valve being mechanically coupled to a rotation of the rotary closure. The coupling head according to the invention is characterised in that the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotation of the rotary closure is disconnected or is optionally disconnectable when the rotary closure is rotated from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

Description

[0001] Coupling head of an automatic train coupling

[0002] The present invention relates to a coupling head of an automatic train coupling with an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock and a main air valve according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0003] DE 10 2020 121 079 A1 and DE 10 2019 121 649 A1 disclose automatic air couplings for a rail vehicle. The air couplings have a valve body in a main air line, wherein the valve body is movable between an open position and a closed position in order to release or close the flow cross-section of the main air line. A valve drive engages the valve body to actuate it. The valve drive comprises a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, which is designed for rotationally fixed connection to a rail vehicle coupling lock or is formed by a rail vehicle coupling lock and is provided with at least one cam that at least indirectly engages the valve body to actuate it. The actuation of the main air valve is thus rigidly coupled to the rotation of the coupling lock, which is designed as a rotary lock.

[0004] DE 10 2020 103 375 A1 discloses an automatic air coupling for a rail vehicle with a pinch tube as the valve body and a valve drive comprising a cam and / or eccentric shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, which actuates at least one clamping piece to displace it against the pinch tube or pinch hose. The cam and / or eccentric shaft is designed for a rotationally fixed connection to a rail vehicle coupling lock or is formed by a rail vehicle coupling lock, wherein the coupling lock is in turn designed as a rotary lock. Thus, a positive coupling between the rotary lock and the main air valve is also provided here. DE 10 2020 121 087 A1 discloses another positive coupling between the main air valve and the rotary lock of the coupling head.

[0005] The forced coupling between the rotary lock and the main air valve is now considered a disadvantage. Greater flexibility in controlling the main air valve and the rotary lock is desirable to ensure individual and optimal control of the main air valve in various situations, such as shunting on level ground, where the separated section of the train needs to be braked and the remaining section needs to continue moving without requiring a new pressure increase in the main air line; shunting on a hump, where the separated section of the train should not be braked; driving; or in the event of a coupling failure, where the main air line and main air valve must remain continuously open in every situation.However, a simple decoupling solution by providing two completely independently controlled and operated devices—a rotary lock and a main air valve—results in undesirable, significant construction effort and additional costs, as well as creating additional safety risks that must be addressed. In particular, this prevents the main air valves from opening automatically during automatic coupling.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to decouple the operation of the main air valve and the automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock in a coupling head on the one hand, but at the same time to meet safety requirements reliably and cost-effectively.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by a coupling head having the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims describe advantageous and particularly useful embodiments of the invention.

[0008] The coupling head of an automatic train coupling comprising an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock which can be rotated about a main axis between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; a main air valve with which the flow cross-section of a main air line can be selectively blocked in a closed position and released in an open position, wherein a circuit of the main air valve is mechanically coupled to a rotation of the rotary lock; is characterized in that the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotation of the rotary lock can be interrupted or interrupted and selectively established, in particular the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotation of the rotary lock can be interrupted or selectively established upon rotation of the rotary lock from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

[0009] The solution according to the invention offers a particularly safe switching behavior of the main air valve in a coupling head of a train coupling, taking into account various safety requirements and at the same time avoids the effort of having to provide two completely separate controls and drives for the main air valve and the rotary closure in the coupling head.

[0010] In particular, it can be advantageously ruled out that in a train whose rail vehicles are coupled to one another with coupling heads according to the invention, both mechanically and with their main air lines, the main air valve in a coupling head, for example behind the railcar, is accidentally closed while the train is moving, thereby blocking the transmission of a brake signal or the air supply to the braking devices. Such a brake signal or a braking request is relayed within the rail vehicle assembly by a pressure drop in the main air line being passed from vehicle to vehicle. An accidentally closed main air valve at any point on the main air line, with the exception of the coupling head at the free end of the vehicle assembly, which must be closed, would impede or prevent the spread of the pressure drop or the air supply to the braking devices.

[0011] At the same time, the coupling head according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to selectively brake only one part of the train during shunting operations, preferably without requiring a reduction in pressure in the main air line of the entire train, as well as to shunt wagons without braking or stalling, for example on a hump.

[0012] According to a first solution according to the invention, the coupling head of a towing coupling or for a towing coupling has an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock that can be rotated about a main axis between a coupled position and an uncoupled position. The coupling head further has a main air valve with which the flow cross-section of a main air line in the coupling head can be selectively blocked in a closed position and released in an open position. Intermediate positions between a fully closed position and a fully open position could also be set.

[0013] According to this embodiment of the invention, a circuit of the main air valve is mechanically coupled to a rotation of the rotary closure.

[0014] According to the invention, the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotation of the rotary closure is interrupted or can be interrupted optionally when the rotary closure is rotated from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

[0015] This design makes it possible to open the rotary lock, i.e., to rotate it from the coupled position to the uncoupled position, without closing the main air valve in the coupling head, for example, against a spring force. The desired decoupling between the rotary lock and the main air valve is achieved. Preferably, when the rotary lock is rotated from the uncoupled position to the coupled position, the main air valve is either held in the open position or, if it was in the closed position, switched to the open position. This prevents the main air line from being closed when the coupling head is connected.

[0016] Preferably, the rotary lock has a core that can be rotated about the main axis, with a hinged coupling eyelet and a jaw for receiving a coupling eyelet of a counter-identical coupling head. This allows the mechanical rotary lock of a Scharfenberg coupling to be achieved.

[0017] The main air valve preferably has a valve body that can be alternately displaced in a translational manner to block and release the flow cross-section of the main air line. This allows for particularly easy coupling of the main air valve to the rotary closure to the desired extent.

[0018] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a driver rotatable about the main axis is provided, which, in a mechanical operative connection, engages at least indirectly with the main air valve, in particular its valve body, in order to move it from the open position to the closed position. Furthermore, an actuator is provided to selectively establish or release the mechanical operative connection in a controlled manner. "Controlled" here means by active actuation of the actuator.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the actuator is configured to establish and / or interrupt a rotationally fixed connection between the driver and the rotary closure, in particular a main pin rotatable about the main axis, to which the core is connected in a rotationally fixed manner, in a controlled manner, in particular against a spring force. This allows the optional interruption of the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotary closure to be achieved particularly reliably and compactly.

[0020] For example, the driver is mounted on the rotary closure, in particular the main bolt, and the actuator comprises a plug-in bolt which can be moved with the actuator into a position which establishes the rotationally fixed connection between the driver and the rotary closure, in particular the main bolt.

[0021] According to an alternative embodiment, a push rod is connected to the driver or to the main air valve, in particular the valve body, which push rod can be brought into a mechanical operative connection with the actuator with the other component - main air valve or driver - depending on whether it is connected to the driver or the main air valve.

[0022] For example, the push rod is connected in an articulated manner to the main air valve, in particular to the valve body, and comprises a claw which can be hooked onto the actuator, in particular counter to the spring force, via the driver in order to establish the mechanical coupling of the main air valve to the rotation of the rotary closure.

[0023] Preferably, the actuator is automatically operable and, in particular, can also be manually operated. The rotationally fixed connection between the driver and the rotary closure can also be manually established and / or interrupted.

[0024] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the coupling head of an automatic train coupling or for an automatic train coupling comprises an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock that can be rotated about a main axis between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, as well as a main air valve with which the flow cross-section of a main air line can be selectively blocked in a closed position and released in an open position. Depending on requirements, the switching of the main air valve in the coupled position of the rotary lock can either a) be independent of rotation of the rotary lock, b) occur only in conjunction with switching of the rotary lock, or c) alternatively, completely prevent actuation of the main air valve in the "close" switching direction.

[0025] The main air valve's switching from the closed position to the open position when the rotary lock is disengaged is mechanically blocked. This means that the mechanical blockage can be removed in a targeted or controlled manner.

[0026] By analogy, a switching of the main air valve from the open position to the closed position is releasably mechanically blocked in the coupled position of the rotary lock.

[0027] In this embodiment of the invention, a selective decoupling between the switching of the main air valve and the actuation of the rotary closure is also possible.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rotary lock preferably also has a core piece rotatable about the main axis, with a hinged coupling eyelet and a jaw for receiving a coupling eyelet of a matching coupling head. This allows the mechanical rotary lock of a Scharfenberg coupling to be achieved.

[0029] The main air valve preferably has a valve body that can be alternately translated to block and release the flow cross-section of the main air line. This allows particularly easy coupling of the main air valve to the rotary closure to the desired extent. Preferably, a driver that can be rotated about the main axis is provided, as well as a spring-loaded blocking body that can be moved, in particular translated, between a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position, the blocking body blocks the switching of the main air valve (depending on the design, from the open position to the closed position or vice versa), in particular the switching of the main air valve by translational displacement of the valve body. In the release position, however, the blocking body releases this switching or the translational displacement of the valve body.

[0030] The driver engages at least indirectly with the locking body to move it from the locked position to the released position when the twist lock is turned from the uncoupled position to the coupled position. This allows the main air valve to open automatically when the twist lock is locked, thus preventing the main air valve from accidentally closing when the towing coupling is engaged.

[0031] Preferably, the locking body can be actuated automatically by remote control and / or manually against the spring force to move it from the locking position to the release position when the rotary lock is in the uncoupled position. This allows the main air valve of the coupling head to be opened or closed by an additional actuation even when the rotary lock is in the uncoupled position.

[0032] The main air valve can preferably be switched remotely, for example from the driver's cab.

[0033] In particular, a control device is provided, as well as a drive which is connected to the control device and the main air valve for switching the main air valve, wherein the control device is connected to a manually operable input device, for example in the driver's cab, for remote control of the main air valve and the opening of the main air valve is blocked by switching conditions stored in the control device until the main air line is sealed from the environment.

[0034] For example, it is monitored whether the main air valve at the free end of the train is closed before the main air valve in the controlled coupling head is opened, so that an undesirable loss of compressed air beyond the free end of the train is avoided.

[0035] Particularly preferably, the main air valve according to the present invention comprises a spring-loaded actuator that applies a spring force to switch the main air valve from the closed position to the open position, wherein the main air valve can only be switched to the closed position against the spring force. This provides additional security against the inadvertent closure of the main air valve.

[0036] The invention will be described below using exemplary embodiments and the figures.

[0037] They show:

[0038] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention;

[0039] Figure 2a shows a second embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention with an interrupted mechanical coupling between the main air valve and the rotary closure;

[0040] Figure 2b shows the coupling head from Figure 2a in the coupled state with mechanical coupling between the main air valve and the rotary closure; Figure 2c shows the coupling head from Figure 2a in the uncoupled state with mechanical coupling of the main air valve and the rotary closure;

[0041] Figure 3a shows a further embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention in the coupled state;

[0042] Figure 3b shows the coupling head from Figure 3a in the uncoupled state; after the HL valve has been closed and locked in the closed position.

[0043] Figure 4a shows a coupling head with a twist lock in the coupled state;

[0044] Figure 4b shows the coupling head from Figure 4a in the uncoupled state.

[0045] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention with a rotary closure 1 and a main air valve 2, based on a section thereof. The rotary closure 1 has a main pin 11 that can be rotated about a main axis 10. The rotation can be controlled remotely via a drive (not shown in detail).

[0046] The rotary fastener 1 has, in particular, a pivot 4 rotatable about the main axis 10, with a mouth 6 and a hinged coupling eye 5. The pivot 4 and the coupling eye are only indicated schematically in dashed lines in Figure 1. An exemplary embodiment of such a rotary fastener 1 is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. Figures 4a and 4b show two interlocking coupling heads, designed as Scharfenberg couplings, each with a pivot 4 to which a coupling eye 5 is hingedly connected. Each pivot 4 further has a mouth 6 to receive the free end of the coupling eye 5 of the other coupling head. Figure 4a shows the coupled state of the two coupling heads, in which the frog pieces 4 have received the free ends of the coupling eyes 5 and have been rotated in such a way that the two coupling heads are locked together in a tensile manner via the frog pieces 4 and the coupling eyes 5.Figure 4b shows the uncoupled position, which can also be referred to as the ready-to-couple position. In this position, the coupling eyes 5 can be removed from the mouths 6 of the frogs 4.

[0047] The coupled position and the uncoupled position thus differ from each other by the rotational position of the frog pieces 4.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a driver 8, which is rotatable about the main axis 10, is mounted on the main pin 11. The driver 8 can be selectively switched into a rotationally fixed connection with the main pin 11 via an actuator 9. The actuator 9 is designed as a socket pin 12. In the position shown in Figure 1, the socket pin 12 passes through the annular section of the driver 8, with which it encloses the main pin 11, and engages the main pin 11. This creates the rotationally fixed connection between the driver 8 and the main pin 11.

[0049] The locking pin 12 is spring-loaded, meaning it is pulled out of the bore in the main pin 11. Therefore, when the actuator 9 is not activated, it releases the rotationally fixed connection between the driver 8 and the main pin 11, allowing the driver 8 to rotate relative to the main pin 11 about the main axis 10. If the main pin 11 is rotated about the main axis 10 in this state, the driver 8 remains in its position and is not driven by the main pin 11.

[0050] If, on the other hand, the plug pin 12 establishes the rotationally fixed connection between the main pin 11 and the driver 8, then turning the main pin 11 from the coupled position of the rotary closure 1 shown in Figure 1 into the uncoupled position, which in the exemplary embodiment is offset clockwise relative to the coupled position, but not necessarily, causes the driver 8 to be turned together with the main pin 11 and in the process moves the valve body 7 of the main air valve 2 from the open position shown into the closed position of the main air valve 2, counter to the force of the spring accumulator 16, which is designed here as a compression spring.

[0051] In the open position of the main air valve 2, it releases a flow cross-section in the main air line 3. In the closed position of the main air valve 2, the main air valve 2 closes the flow cross-section of the main air line 3 through the valve body 7, which then rests against a corresponding valve seat 20.

[0052] If, with an existing rotationally fixed connection between the driver 8 and the main pin 11, the main pin is rotated back from the uncoupled position into the coupled position, it takes the driver 8 with it counterclockwise so that the driver 8 releases the valve body 7 again and the valve body 7 is displaced by the force of the spring accumulator 16 in order to switch the main air valve 2 into the open position.

[0053] With the embodiment shown in Figure 1, it is thus possible to uncouple the rotary closure 1 without closing the main air valve 2. At the same time, it is not possible to hold the main air valve 2 in the closed position solely by rotating the main pin 11 when coupling the rotary closure 1, provided that a set rotationally fixed connection between the driver 8 and the main pin 11 is maintained via the plug pin 9. Rather, it is switched to the open position due to the spring force of the spring accumulator 16. The plug pin 9 can be held in its position against the spring pressure during uncoupling, for example via a slotted guide or a releasable locking mechanism, until the connection is made again.Preferably, a separate drive can be provided for the main air valve 2, with which it can be actively switched to the closed position, even if it is not actuated via the driver 8. This separate drive can be connected to a corresponding control device. A corresponding embodiment will be explained later with reference to Figures 3a and 3b.

[0054] Figures 2a to 2c show a further embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention, with corresponding components being designated by the same reference numerals. Therefore, a repetition of the description of identical components is omitted. The possible design of the twist lock 1 is also not shown in detail. This can again be designed as shown in Figures 4a and 4b and previously described.

[0055] In the embodiment according to Figures 2a to 2c, the mechanical operative connection between the driver 8, which is always arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the main pin 11, and the valve body 7 is established via a push rod 13, which is articulated to the main air valve 2, here an extension of the valve body 7, and has a claw 14 at the other end, which can be actively pushed onto the driver 8 against a spring force. For this purpose, a schematically illustrated actuator 9 is provided, which pushes the push rod 13 with the claw 14 onto the driver 8 against the spring force.

[0056] Figure 2a shows the twist lock 1 in both the coupled and uncoupled positions. The uncoupled position is again rotated clockwise relative to the coupled position, although this is not mandatory. The twist lock 1 can again be designed with a center piece 4, coupling eyelet 5, and jaw 6, as shown in Figures 4a and 4b.

[0057] In the state shown in Figure 2a, the push rod 13 has been lifted from the driver 8 by spring force when the actuator 9 is not actuated. The rotary closure 1 can be rotated about the main axis 10 to establish and release the mechanical coupling between two coupling heads. The actuation of the rotary closure 1 has no effect on the switching position of the main air valve 2. The valve body 7 is held lifted from the valve seat 20 by the force of the spring-loaded actuator 16.

[0058] In the state shown in Figures 2b and 2c, the push rod 13 with the actuator 9 is pushed over the driver 8 by the claw 14 against the spring force. In Figure 2b, the rotary closure 1 is in the coupled position, so that the main air valve 2 is switched to the open position. In Figure 2c, the rotary closure 1 is in the uncoupled position, in which the main air valve 2 has been closed against the force of the spring actuator 16, namely by rotating the rotary closure 1 from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

[0059] In this embodiment, too, unless a separate drive is provided, the main air valve 2 is switched to the open position or held in the open position upon mechanical coupling of the rotary closure 1. Here, too, as explained, a separate drive can be provided to close the main air valve 2 even when the rotary closure 1 is in the uncoupled position.

[0060] In the embodiment according to Figures 3a and 3b, the main air valve 2 can be switched into the open position and the closed position in the coupled position of the rotary closure 1, which is shown in Figure 3a, independently of the rotary closure 1 or any rotation of the rotary closure 1. The driver 8 on the main pin 11 holds a locking body 15 in a release position against a spring force.

[0061] The valve body 7 can be switched from the open position to the closed position by a drive 18 against the force of the spring-loaded actuator 16. A control device 17 is provided to control the drive 18, which is connected, for example, to an input device 19 arranged in a driver's cab (not shown in detail), so that a vehicle driver can open and close the main air valve 2 via the input device 19. Such a drive 18 with a control device 17 and input device 19 can also be provided in the exemplary embodiments according to Figures 1 and 2a to 2c.

[0062] The rotary closure 1 is, for example, again designed as shown in Figures 4a, 4b and can preferably also be remotely controlled by the vehicle driver, as in the other embodiments.

[0063] Figure 3b shows the main air valve 2 in the closed position. Furthermore, since the rotary closure 1 is in the uncoupled position, the driver 8 on the main pin 11 no longer engages the locking body 15, so that the locking body 15—after the main air valve 2 has been moved into a closed position, for example, by means of the drive 18—is displaced by the spring force into its locking position, in which it blocks the valve body 7 of the main air valve 2 such that the valve body cannot be switched from the closed position shown to the open position.

[0064] Only if, as is preferably provided, the locking body 15 can additionally be actuated manually or automatically by means of an actuator, which is shown in Figure 3b by way of example in dashed line, in order to move the locking body 15 in the uncoupled position of the rotary closure 1 from the locking position into the release position, the main air valve 2 can also be opened in the uncoupled position of the rotary closure 1.

[0065] For the exemplary figures Fig. 1 - Fig. 3a the following applies:

[0066] A change in the position of the rotary closure 1 from the coupled to the uncoupled position only leads to a closing of the main air valve 2 if, in addition, a functional connection has been established between the rotary closure 1 and the valve body 7, for example via an actuator 9.

[0067] A change in the position of the rotary lock 1 from uncoupled to

[0068] REVISED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP coupled position leads to an opening of the main air valve 2, unless it is prevented by additional functions as shown in Figure 3a (the valve body 7 can be held in a closed position by an actuator 18 against the force of the spring accumulator 16).

[0069] The system can be designed in such a way that closing of the main air valve 2 in the coupled position of the rotary closure 1 by forced guidance is not possible at all (for example by appropriate design of a claw 14 with displaced return arm as shown in Fig. 2a) or only occurs under further conditions that must be met (for example by required control of a drive 18 as shown by way of example in Fig. 3a).

[0070] List of reference symbols

[0071] 1 screw cap

[0072] 2 main air valve

[0073] 3 Main air line

[0074] 4 Heart

[0075] 5 coupling eyelet

[0076] 6 mouths

[0077] 7 Valve body

[0078] 8 drivers

[0079] 9 Actuator

[0080] 10 Main axis

[0081] 11 main bolts

[0082] 12 socket pins

[0083] 13 Push rod

[0084] 14 claws

[0085] 15 locking bodies

[0086] 16 spring accumulators

[0087] 17 Control device

[0088] 18 Drive

[0089] 19 Input device

[0090] 20 valve seat

Claims

Patent claims 1. Coupling head of an automatic train coupling with an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock (1) which can be rotated about a main axis (10) between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; with a main air valve (2) with which the flow cross-section of a main air line (3) can be selectively blocked in a closed position and released in an open position, wherein a circuit of the main air valve (2) is mechanically coupled to a rotation of the rotary lock (1); characterized in that the mechanical coupling of the main air valve (2) to the rotation of the rotary lock (1) can be interrupted or interrupted and selectively established, in particular the mechanical coupling of the main air valve (2) to the rotation of the rotary lock (1) can be interrupted or selectively established upon a rotation of the rotary lock (1) from the coupled position to the uncoupled position.

2. Coupling head according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary closure (1) has a core (4) rotatable about the main axis (10) with an articulated coupling eyelet (5) and a mouth (6) for receiving a coupling eyelet (5) of an oppositely identical coupling head.

3. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the main air valve (2) has a valve body (7) which is alternately translationally displaceable for blocking and releasing the flow cross-section of the main air line (3).

4. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a driver rotatable about the main axis (10) (8) is provided, which acts at least indirectly on the main air valve (2), in particular its valve body (7), in a mechanical operative connection in order to move it from the open position into the closed position, wherein an actuator (9) is provided in order to establish or cancel the mechanical operative connection in a controlled manner.

5. Coupling head according to claim 4, characterized in that the actuator (9) is designed to establish and / or interrupt a rotationally fixed connection between the driver (8) and the rotary closure (1), in particular a main bolt (11) rotatable about the main axis (10), to which the core (4) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner, in a controlled manner, in particular against a spring force.

6. Coupling head according to claim 5, characterized in that the driver (8) is mounted on the rotary closure (1), in particular the main bolt (11), and the actuator (9) comprises a plug-in bolt (12) which can be moved with the actuator (9) into a position to be established in a rotationally fixed connection between the driver (8) and the rotary closure (1), in particular the main bolt (11).

7. Coupling head according to claim 5, characterized in that a push rod (13) is connected to the driver (8) or the main air valve (2), in particular the valve body (7), which push rod can be brought into a mechanical operative connection with the actuator (9) with the other component - main air valve (2) or driver (8).

8. Coupling head according to claim 7, characterized in that the push rod (13) is connected in an articulated manner to the main valve (2), in particular to the valve body (7), and comprises a claw (14) which can be hooked onto the actuator (9), in particular against the spring force, via the driver (8).

9. Coupling head according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the actuator (9) can be actuated automatically.

10. Coupling head according to claim 9, characterized in that the actuator (9) can additionally be operated manually, or the rotationally fixed connection between the driver (8) and the rotary closure (1) can additionally be established and / or interrupted manually.

11. Coupling head of a train coupling with an automatically actuated, mechanical rotary lock (1) which can be rotated about a main axis (10) between a coupled position and an uncoupled position; with a main air valve (2) with which the flow cross-section of a main air line (3) can be selectively blocked in a closed position and released in an open position, wherein a switching of the main air valve (2) in the coupled position of the rotary lock (1) is independent of a rotation of the rotary lock (1); characterized in that a switching of the main air valve (2) from the open position to the closed position is releasably mechanically blocked in the coupled position of the rotary lock.

12. Coupling head according to claim 11, characterized in that a switching of the main air valve (2) from the closed position to the open position is releasably mechanically blocked in the uncoupled position of the rotary closure (1).

13. Coupling head according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a driver (8) rotatable about the main axis (10) is provided, as well as a spring-loaded locking body (15) which is movable, in particular translationally displaceable, between a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking body in the locking position the switching of the main air valve (2) from the closed position to the open position, in particular by translational displacement of a valve body (7), is blocked and released in the release position, and the driver (8) acts at least indirectly on the blocking body (15) in order to move it from the blocking position to the release position when the rotary closure (1) is rotated from the uncoupled position to the coupled position.

14. Coupling head according to claim 13, characterized in that the locking body (15) can be actuated automatically by remote control and / or manually against the spring force in order to move it from the locking position into the release position in the uncoupled position of the rotary closure (1).

15. Coupling head according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the main air valve (2) can be switched remotely.

16. Coupling head according to claim 15, characterized in that a control device (17) and a drive (18) are provided which is connected to the control device (17) and the main air valve (2) for switching the main air valve (2), wherein the control device (17) is connected to a manually operable input device (19) for remotely controlling the main air valve (2), and the opening of the main air valve (2) is blocked by switching conditions stored in the control device (17) until the main air line (3) is sealed off from the environment.

17. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the main air valve (2) comprises a spring accumulator (16) which applies a spring force for switching the main air valve (2) from the closed position to the open position, wherein the main air valve (2) can only be switched to the closed position against the spring force.

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