Coupling head for a coupling of a rail vehicle

Abstract

A coupling head (10) for a coupling of a rail vehicle is provided with a coupling housing (15) forming a contact surface (11) at its front, at least one air coupling (20) with an air line (25) leading from the contact surface (11) to the rear (15') of the coupling housing (15), and a valve element (30) opening and closing the latter. This valve element (30) is located at the rear of the coupling housing (15). It has a plunger (31) and a movable adjusting element that opens or closes the air line (25). The air line (25), which extends transversely to the contact surface (11) on the coupling housing (15), is formed without right-angle bends up to the rear (15') of the coupling housing (15), with at least one approximately straight line section (27) and slightly curved line sections (26, 28). With this training or arrangement of the air duct orWith the air coupling, less pressure drop is achieved in the couplings connected in series on the rail vehicles of trains at a given operating pressure of the main air line.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling head for a coupling of a rail vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the document EP 4 180 299 A, a coupling head is provided with a housing forming an abutting surface on the front, an air coupling and at least one air line which serves in particular as the main air line for the braking system and / or as the main reservoir air line. This air coupling is provided with a flow opening leading to the abutting surface, a valve member which opens and closes the air line therein and has a tappet and an adjusting means which can be moved by the latter. When closing, the tappet can be pressed against a stop by the adjusting means, but when opening it can be moved back and the air line leading transversely into the flow opening is thus opened. With this design of the air line, a sufficient breakthrough speed of the air flow can be achieved when closing or closing.Opening the valve can be achieved, but the right-angled deflection of the air line at the valve organ results in a certain pressure loss in each coupling head of a train composition.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of improving a generic coupling head in such a way that, with minimal design effort, a lower flow resistance during the flow of compressed air at a given operating pressure in the coupled state of the coupling is achieved in the air line of the air coupling. This should advantageously also be ensured with larger inner diameters of the air line of more than 30 mm. Furthermore, the safety of the air coupling should be improved in the event of a defect in components in the coupling head, and contamination in the air line should be largely prevented.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, the air line leading away transversely to the abutting surface on or in the coupling housing is formed to the rear of the coupling housing without kinks and without right-angled curvature with at least one approximately straight line section and / or slightly curved line sections.

[0006] Very advantageously, the air line runs in the x- and y-direction with at least one approximately straight and / or curved line section, while in the z-direction it is guided approximately in one plane until it leads away from the coupling housing at the rear.

[0007] With this inventive design and arrangement of the air line or air coupling, fewer pressure drops are achieved for a given operating pressure of the main air line, especially in the sum of a number of couplings connected in series in the rail vehicles of trains. This enables faster braking action even on the rear vehicles, which are supplied with compressed air last.

[0008] The air coupling preferably comprises a plunger extending into the air line and an adjusting means designed as an eccentric. The invention provides that the air line is arranged on the side facing away from this eccentric, running past the eccentric's axis of rotation at a short distance. This allows the air line to be shaped with few bends from the contact surface to the rear flange, resulting in extremely low pressure loss from the front to the rearmost cars of a train.

[0009] The air coupling is advantageously provided with a locking device which, in the event of a defect in one of the coupling heads, in which their contact surfaces separate from each other while the train is moving, prevents the air line from being closed and thus the brakes from being blocked.

[0010] A torque-limiting coupling is advantageously arranged between the eccentric and the rotational axis connected to it. In the event of a defect, this torque-limiting coupling can be disengaged if a certain torque acting on the rotational axis is exceeded. This prevents the eccentric from rotating, even if it is blocked by the locking device.

[0011] As a further advantage, a cover is integrated into a front section of the air line. This cover closes its inlet opening when the coupling head is uncoupled. A pivoting unit allows it to be rotated from the closed to the open position and vice versa. This cover can thus be automatically pivoted into one or the other position when coupling and uncoupling the coupling head.

[0012] For this purpose, the front line section is mounted on the coupling housing so that it can be moved perpendicular to the abutting surface. When uncoupled, it protrudes toward the abutting surface by means of a spring. Upon coupling, it is retracted from the other coupling head until its sealing element, with its inlet opening, is flush with the abutting surface and in tight contact with the front sealing element of the other coupling head. This retraction automatically rotates the cover into the open position of the air line by the swivel unit. Conversely, upon uncoupling, the line section is moved forward, and the cover is moved into the closed position.

[0013] The invention and further advantages thereof are explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 a top view of a coupling head with a partially sectioned air coupling with the air line according to the invention; Fig. 2 a side view of the coupling head and the air coupling according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a partial section of the air coupling with the front line section with the cover in the closed position and the associated swivel unit according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 the partial section of the air coupling according to Fig. 3 with the cover in the open position; Fig. 5 a partially enlarged side view of a locking device with a locking element and an eccentric of the air coupling according to Fig. 1 in perspective view; and Fig. 6 a schematic plan view of a coupling head with an air coupling shown in section with the air line according to the invention.

[0014] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2show a coupling head 10 of a coupling for a rail vehicle, which may be a freight or passenger car, a locomotive, or other vehicle. Not all details of the coupling head 10 are explained below. It has a coupling housing 15 with a butt surface 11 on the front for flat support of a similar butt surface of a coupling head to be coupled on another rail vehicle, which is not shown. Such a coupling head is identical to the coupling head 10 shown, but is pivoted horizontally by 180° and is attached laterally inverted to a coupling device of the vehicle to be coupled, which can be coupled in alignment with one another. Preferably, a known guide element 18 is arranged protruding from the butt surface 11 for pre-centering with the coupling head to be connected.A connecting pipe 16 is arranged on the rear side of the coupling housing 15, which can be connected to a vehicle body, for example. Instead of a connecting pipe 16, a connecting flange, a screw thread, or a permanent, fixed connection with a coupling element, for example, in a freight car, could also be provided.

[0015] The coupling housing 15 can be manufactured in one piece or in multiple parts, and it tapers backwards from the abutting surface 11 or has a different shape. It incorporates a locking and unlocking mechanism, of which only a flange 12 projecting toward the abutting surface 11, with a projection 13 as a centering aid during coupling, and a latch 14 are partially illustrated. Furthermore, next to this flange 12, a recess (not shown) is provided, which is intended to accommodate a flange of the coupling head to be coupled, a flange of which, together with the latch, can be inserted into this recess for locking. Furthermore, a lever 17 is arranged below the coupling housing 15 for manually unlocking the locking and unlocking mechanism.

[0016] An air coupling 20 is provided with a housing 21, an air line 25 leading from the abutment surface 11 to the rear of the coupling housing 15, and a valve member 30 that opens and closes this line. This air coupling 20 is preferably mounted on the top side of the coupling housing 15, as shown. However, it could also be arranged on the side or on the underside thereof and, if necessary, be integrated into the coupling housing.

[0017] Connected to the air line 25 is a line 19, which can be attached to a flange 19' and leads away from the rear of the clutch housing. This line is intended, for example, for connection to the main reservoir air line. This line is either a main air line or a main reservoir air line. The valve element 30 is also located at the rear of the clutch housing 15. It has a plunger 31 and a movable adjustment element, which closes or opens the air line 25.

[0018] According to the invention, the air line 25 leading transversely to the abutting surface 11 on the coupling housing 15 to the rear side 15' of the coupling housing 15 is formed without a right-angled curvature with a slightly curved line section 26, 28 at the beginning and end and an approximately straight line section 27 in between.

[0019] This results in lower pressure drops in the compressed air flowing through the coupled couplings in the main air line or the main reservoir air line, allowing for faster and more effective braking maneuvers. Furthermore, the required breakthrough velocity of the compressed air of 250 m / s can be ensured. It is advantageous to dimension the air line, both at the air coupling in the line sections and the rest of the line 19, with an inner diameter greater than 30 mm, for example, 32 mm.

[0020] The adjusting means moving the tappet 31 of the valve member 30 is designed as an eccentric 33 with a rotational axis 35 with a pivoting range from the closed to the open position of the tappet 31. The rotational axis 35 extends into the interior of the clutch housing 15 and can be rotated by an electric or hydraulic drive of the adjusting means (not shown in detail therein). However, this could also be achieved by a manually operable lever, as described in the aforementioned document EP 4 180 299 A. In principle, the lever 17 could also be designed for this purpose.

[0021] The air coupling 30 is located approximately in the center above the coupling housing 15, and the adjusting means and the tappet 31 are arranged one behind the other within it, with the eccentric 33 extending approximately parallel to the abutment surface 11 when the valve member 30 is open. The air line 25 runs from the abutment surface 11 with an inlet opening 22 adjacent to the rotational axis 35 at a short distance from it on the opposite side of the eccentric 33 and thus adjacent to the tappet 31 to an outlet 29 at the rear.

[0022] At the rear, the air line 25 is formed by a valve chamber 28' of the valve member 30, through which the plunger 31 protrudes in the closed state, in which it can be pressed against a stop 34 enclosing the air line 25 at the flange 19' at the end of the valve chamber 28'. However, when opened, this plunger 31 can be moved out of the valve chamber, thus opening the air line leading transversely into the valve chamber 28' and away in the adjustment direction L of the plunger 31. The plunger 31 is pushed back by a spring member 32 until the air line 25 in the valve chamber 28' is fully open without any cross-sectional constriction. The eccentric 33 is in contact with the rear end face 31' of the plunger 31 and can be rotated by a certain angular amount, for example 60° to 75°, whereby the spring member 32 always presses the plunger 31 against the eccentric in every position.

[0023] The adjustment direction L of the tappet 31 and the outlet 29 of the air line 25 running coaxially to it are V-shaped to the longitudinal extent of the end line section 28 at the mouth into the valve chamber.

[0024] Thus, the air line 25 is curved from the inlet opening 22, which runs at right angles or transversely to the abutting surface 11 on the clutch housing 15, through the slightly curved line section 26 and is guided almost straight next to the axis of rotation 35 through this line section 27 and consequently again slightly curved at the rear line section 28 through the valve chamber 28` to the outlet 29.

[0025] The front line section 26 of the air line 25 is provided with a sealing element 26' located at the abutting surface 11 with the inlet opening 22, wherein in the coupled state this sealing element 26' is pressed tightly against one of the coupled coupling head.

[0026] According to the invention, the line section 26 is preferably mounted in the air coupling 20 in a limited, adjustable manner, perpendicular to the abutting surface 11. It is expediently guided at the front in the front wall 11' of the coupling housing 15, which forms the abutting surface 11, and at the rear at the connection point 24 with the line section 27, so as to be adjustable. At the connection point 24, the line section 26 is sealingly inserted into the subsequent line section 27 and can be moved axially therein. Conversely, however, the rear line section could also be inserted into the front line section. In the uncoupled state, the line section 26 is pressed forward toward the abutting surface 11 by a spring means, while it is pushed back upon coupling, with its sealing element 26' with the inlet opening 22 flush with the abutting surface and in tight contact with the corresponding front sealing element of the other coupling head.

[0027] As from Fig. 3 and Fig. 4As can be seen, a cover 40 is integrated into this front line section 26, which closes the inlet opening 22 in the uncoupled state of the coupling head 15 and can be rotated by a pivoting unit 36 ​​from the closed to an open position 40' and vice versa. Fig. 4 The cover 40 is mounted by the pivoting unit 36 ​​about an axis 44 such that it can be pivoted in the line section 26 from the closed position in the inlet opening 22 into a line section 23 branching off from the air line 25 into the open position 40', in which it is positioned outside the air line 25 without constricting it. This line section 23, which is closed at its end, is provided with a rounded bend branching off from the line section 26, so that the cover 40 is guided therein with almost no play all the way to the open position 40'.

[0028] The invention is further characterized in that the line section 26, which can be displaced inwards or outwards, automatically opens the cover 40 upon coupling and closes it upon uncoupling, by triggering actuation of the pivoting unit 36 ​​and thus rotation of the cover 40 upon adjustment. The pivoting unit 36 ​​is composed of a bearing element 37 fixedly arranged on the coupling housing 15, a guide sleeve 39 mounted on the latter and associated with the line section 26, a lifting rod 41, and an articulated lever 42 pivotably mounted on the latter and in the line section 26, with the cover 40 being fastened or articulated to the two-armed articulated lever 42. Furthermore, a spring means 38 is slipped onto the bearing element 37, which exerts a compressive force on the lifting rod 41 or on the line section 26 in the closing direction.

[0029] In the closed position according to Fig. 3this articulated lever 42 and the cover 40 are transverse to the longitudinally adjustable lifting rod 41, but in the open position 40' according to Fig. 4 The articulated lever 42 and the cover 40 are aligned approximately parallel to the lifting rod 41. The lifting rod 41 is connected at one end to the fixed bearing element 37 and at the other end via the axis 43 to the articulated lever 42, the latter being pivotally mounted by a separate axis 44 in the line section 26.

[0030] When the cover 40 is opened, the line section 26 is pushed inward in the coupling housing 15 by the coupling head to be coupled, while the lifting rod 41 is pressed against the abutment surface 11 by the spring means 38. As a result, the cover 40 and the articulated lever 42 holding it are pivoted about the axis 43 on the lifting rod 41 and rotated into the open position. Conversely, when the other coupling head is uncoupled, the line section 26 is released and pushed outward by the spring means in the coupling housing. Accordingly, the cover 40, together with the articulated lever 42 holding it, is pivoted back about the fixed axis 43 on the immovable lifting rod 41, and the cover is rotated into the closed position.

[0031] The cover 40 can be provided with an adjustable closing element that can open outward like a check valve (not shown in detail). This can be realized with a bendable sealing lip in the cover provided with a passage opening. This sealing lip essentially closes this passage opening, but is designed to be resiliently flexible outward, thus allowing air to be released from the air line.

[0032] According to Fig. 5 the air coupling 20 is also advantageously provided with a locking device 50 which is designed in such a way that in the event of a defect in one of the coupled coupling heads 10 in the coupled state, in which their abutting surfaces separate from one another, it prevents the air coupling 30 from being closed and thus the brakes from being blocked.

[0033] This locking device 50 has a locking element 45 which is mounted in the air coupling 20 so as to be movable back and forth and which, in the uncoupled state of the coupling head 10, projects outwards with one end towards the abutting surface 11 and with the other end is operatively connected by at least one locking member 47 to the adjusting means of the tappet 31 of the valve member 30 and can thereby cause this adjusting means to be locked or unlocked.

[0034] The locking element 45, which is mounted so as to be movable back and forth along its longitudinal axis, is pressed outwardly toward the abutting surface 11 by means of a spring member 46. In this position, the locking member 47 rests against a stop surface 49 on the eccentric 33 as the adjusting means. However, in the coupled position, in which the locking element 45 is pushed back into the interior of the front wall 11' of the coupling housing forming the abutting surface 11, the eccentric 33 is pivotable and can close the valve member 30. The locking element 45 extends above the eccentric 33 as the adjusting means, tangential to it, and has a rounded transverse groove 48, which is guided in a corresponding circular guide rail 51 on the upper side of the eccentric 33. In the event of a defect when the air coupling 30 is open, the guide rail 51 of the eccentric 33 lies outside this transverse groove 48, as shown.The locking element 45 with its locking member 47 strikes the stop surface 49 formed on the front side of the guide rail 51 at the eccentric.

[0035] During normal operation, the adjustment mechanism is controlled such that it pivots before the abutting surfaces 11 of the coupling heads 10 separate from each other. This prevents compressed air from escaping from the inlet opening 22 during this separation.

[0036] Furthermore, a torque-limiting coupling (not shown in detail) can be integrated between the eccentric 33 and the rotational axis 35 connected thereto, by which this rotational connection of the eccentric 33 and the rotational axis 35 can be uncoupled if a certain torque acting on the rotational axis 35 is exceeded. This can serve as a safety measure in the event of a defective coupling head, preventing the eccentric from rotating if an excessive torque acts on the rotational axis 35.

[0037] The air coupling 30 with the line sections 26, 27, 28 of the air line 25 is designed as a unit that can be assembled or disassembled independently of the coupling housing 15 of the coupling head 10, wherein it is preferably fastened to the coupling housing by non-detachable fastening means, such as rivets, split pins or the like, but not by unsecured screw connections, so that they do not come loose due to vibrations and impacts.

[0038] Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an air coupling according to the invention on a coupling housing 15 of a coupling head, of which only the differences compared to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 explained and the same reference numerals are used for the same components.

[0039] The air coupling 20 is provided with this air line 55 leading from the abutting surface 11 to the rear side 15' of the coupling housing 15 and a valve member 30 opening and closing this air line.

[0040] According to the invention, the air line 55 leading transversely to the abutting surface 11 on the coupling housing 15 to the rear of the coupling housing 15 is formed without a right-angled curvature, with a slightly curved line section 56, 58 at each end and an approximately straight line section 27 in between. The radii R1, R2 of the slightly curved line sections 56, 58 on their inner sides are advantageously a multiple of the outer radius of the air line 55, for example, three to five times.

[0041] The air line 55 runs from the abutment surface 11 with the inlet opening 22 next to the rotation axis 35 at a short distance a from it on the opposite side of the eccentric 33 and consequently next to the tappet 31 to the rear of an outlet 29. This distance a can be several millimeters. The adjustment direction L of the tappet 31 and the outlet 29 of the air line 55, which runs coaxially to it, are V-shaped to match the longitudinal extension of the end line section 58 at the mouth into the valve chamber.

[0042] These line sections 56, 57 are also mounted in the air coupling 20, adjustable to a limited extent perpendicular to the abutting surface 11. At the front, it is guided in the front wall of the coupling housing 15 forming the abutting surface 11, and at the rear, it is adjustable in the line section 58 at the connection point 54. At the connection point 54, the line section 57 is sealingly inserted into the subsequent line section 58 and can be moved axially therein. In the uncoupled state, the line sections 26, 27 are arranged to protrude toward the abutting surface 11 by a spring means 59, while they are pushed back upon coupling.

[0043] The pivoting unit for the cover 40 is not illustrated in detail, but a lifting rod can be held at one end by the fixed bearing element 37 and connected at the other end via an axis to the articulated lever 42, the latter being pivotally mounted by a separate axis in the line section 56. The articulated lever 42 and thus the cover 40 could also be pivoted solely by this indicated spring element upon displacement of the line section 56.

[0044] A locking device is provided with a locking element 65 which is mounted in the air coupling 20 so as to be movable back and forth, which, in the uncoupled state of the coupling head, projects outwards with one end towards the abutting surface 11 and with the other end is operatively connected by at least one locking member 67 to the adjusting means of the tappet 31 of the valve member 30 and can thereby cause this adjusting means to be locked or unlocked.

[0045] The locking element 65, which is mounted so as to be movable back and forth along its longitudinal axis, is pressed outward toward the abutment surface 11 by means of a spring member 66. In this position, the locking member 67 connected to the locking element 65 is locked in a corresponding recess in the eccentric 33. The locking element 45 extends tangentially to the eccentric 33 as an adjustment means. In the coupled position, however, in which the locking element 65 is pushed back into the interior of the front wall of the clutch housing forming the abutment surface 11, the eccentric 33 is released and can close the valve member 30.

[0046] Furthermore, a torque limiting coupling 61 (shown in the drawing) is integrated between the eccentric 33 and the rotational axis 35, which is rotationally connected thereto. This rotational connection between the eccentric 33 and the rotational axis 35 can be uncoupled if a certain torque acting on the rotational axis 35 is exceeded, causing the locking device to lock the eccentric 33.

[0047] The invention has been adequately illustrated by the above embodiments. However, it could be further explained by further variants. For example, the air clutch could be structurally equipped with other means and, as mentioned, be arranged on the underside or to the side of the clutch housing, or integrated into it.

[0048] In the document EP 4 180 299 A mentioned at the beginning, the air line is diverted into the flow opening practically at a right angle and there is thus almost no bend and no radius of the line, in comparison to the air line according to the invention, in which this air line is formed from large bending radii.

[0049] The line 19 leading away from the rear of the clutch housing is indeed bent at a right angle, but the bending radius is chosen so large that the flow resistance of the compressed air flowing through it is only slight.

[0050] In principle, the front line section 26 could also be designed without this adjustability transverse to the abutting surface and this connection point 24. The locking device or cover could also be omitted in a simple design. Accordingly, this pivoting unit and this line section could be omitted.

[0051] The cable sections could also be straight and / or slightly curved in the z-direction.

Claims

1. Coupling head for a coupling of a rail vehicle, which is provided with a coupling housing (15) forming a butt surface (11) on the front side, at least one air coupling (20) with an air line (25, 55) leading from the butt surface (11) to the rear side (15') of the coupling housing (15) and a valve member (30) opening or closing the latter, said valve member (30) being arranged at the rear of the coupling housing (15) and having a tappet (31) and a movable adjusting means which closes or opens the air line (25), characterized in that the air line (25, 55) leading away transversely to the abutting surface (11) on or in the coupling housing (15) to the rear side (15') of the coupling housing (15) is formed without a right-angled curvature with at least one straight or approximately straight line section (27, 57) and / or slightly curved line sections (26, 28, 56, 58).

2. Coupling head according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe adjusting means moving the tappet (31) is designed as an eccentric (33) with a rotational axis (35) with a pivoting range from the closed to the open position of the tappet (31), wherein the air line (25) is arranged on the side facing away from this eccentric (33) next to the rotational axis (35) at a small distance (a) from it.

3. Coupling head according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air line (25, 55) is formed in the x- and y-direction with at least one approximately straight and / or curved line section (26, 27, 28, 56, 57, 58), while in the z-direction these line sections run approximately in one plane until they lead away from the coupling housing (15) at the rear.

4. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe adjustment direction (L) of the tappet (31) and the outlet (29) of the air line (25, 55) running coaxially to it are V-shaped to the longitudinal extent of the line section (28, 58).

5. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the air line (25, 55) is formed at the rear by a valve chamber (28') of the valve member (30), in which the tappet (31) for opening and closing the air line (25, 55) is movable, which can be pressed against a stop (34) surrounding the air line (25, 55) at the end of the valve chamber (28'), while when this tappet (31) is opened it can be moved back in the valve chamber (28') and thus the air line (25, 55) opening transversely into the valve chamber (28') and leading away in the adjustment direction (L) of the tappet (31) is opened without constriction.

6. Coupling head in particular according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe air coupling (20) is provided with a locking device (50) which is designed in such a way that in the event of a defect in one of the coupled coupling heads (10) in which their abutting surfaces (11) separate from one another, it prevents the air coupling (30) from being closed and thus the brakes from being blocked.

7. Coupling head according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking device (50) has a locking element (45, 65) which is mounted in the air coupling (20) so as to be movable back and forth and which, in the uncoupled state of the coupling head (10), projects outwards with one end towards the abutting surface (11) and is operatively connected with the other end by at least one locking member (47, 67) to the adjusting means of the tappet (31) of the valve member (30) and thereby causes this adjusting means to be locked or unlocked.

8. Coupling head according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe locking element (45, 65), which is mounted so as to be displaceable back and forth along its longitudinal axis, is pressed outwards towards the abutting surface (11) by means of a spring member (46, 66), wherein in this position the locking member (47, 67) bears against a stop surface (49) on the eccentric (33) as an adjusting means, whereas in the position when the locking element (45, 65) is pushed back into the interior of the front wall (11') of the coupling housing (15) forming the abutting surface (11), the adjusting means is pivotable and can close the valve member (30), wherein the adjusting means is controlled during uncoupling in normal operation such that it is pivoted before the abutting surfaces (11) of the coupling heads separate from one another.

9. Coupling head according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in thatthe locking element (45) above the eccentric (33) runs tangentially to the latter as an adjusting means and has a rounded transverse groove (48) which is guided in a corresponding circular guide rail (51) on the upper side of the eccentric (33) and, when the air coupling (20) is open, the guide rail (51) lies outside of this transverse groove (48) and the locking element (45) with its locking member (47) strikes the stop surface (49) formed on the end face of the guide rail (51) on the eccentric (33) in a locking manner.

10. Coupling head in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a torque limiting coupling is arranged between the eccentric (33) and the rotary axis (35) rotatably connected thereto, by means of which this rotary connection can be uncoupled when a certain torque acting on the rotary axis (35) is exceeded.

11. Coupling head in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in thatthe air line (25, 55) has a front line section (26, 56) with a sealing element (26') located at the abutting surface (11) with an inlet opening (22) which, in the coupled state, is pressed tightly against a sealing element of the coupled coupling head, wherein this line section (26, 56) is mounted on the coupling housing (15) so as to be displaceable at right angles to the abutting surface (11) and, in the uncoupled state, projects towards the abutting surface (11) by means of a spring means (59), while it is pushed back during coupling until its sealing element (26') with the inlet opening (22) is flush with the abutting surface (11) and in tight contact with the front sealing element of the other coupling head.

12. Coupling head according to claim 11, characterized in thatin this front line section (26) a cover (40) is integrated which closes the inlet opening (22) in the uncoupled state of the coupling head (10), which cover can be rotated from the closed to an open position and vice versa by a pivoting unit (36).

13. Coupling head according to claim 12, characterized in that the cover (40) is mounted on the pivoting unit (36) in such a way that it can be pivoted in the line section (26) from the closed position into a line section (23) branching off from the air line (25, 55) into the open position, in which it is positioned outside the air line without constricting it.

14. Coupling head according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the air coupling (20) with the line sections of the air line (25, 55) is designed as a unit that can be assembled or disassembled independently of the housing of the coupling head.

15. Coupling head according to claim 14, characterized in thatthe air coupling (20) is fastened to the air line (25, 55) on the coupling housing (15) by fastening means which do not come loose due to vibrations and impacts, such as rivets, split pins or the like.