Shock absorbing coupling device for vehicle coupling

Abstract

A shock absorbing coupling device for coupling vehicles, having a back plate (3) and a U-shaped housing (1) containing a base wall (11), and side walls (12) with guides (13), wherein the base wall (11) is located on the side of the back plate (3), a thrust plate (2) being slidably mounted in the interior of the housing (1), the thrust plate (2) being mounted via guiding elements (8) located in the guides (13) of the side walls (12), a pin (10) being fixed between the ends of the side walls (12) opposite to the base wall (11), and a rod (4) runs from the back plate (3) through an opening in the base wall (11) to the thrust plate (2), on which shock-absorbing inserts (5) are mounted alternately with spacers (6), the back plate (3) and the base wall (11) of the housing (1) are connected by at least one locking pin (9).

Description

[0001] Shock absorbing coupling device for vehicle coupling

[0002] The subject of the invention is a shock absorbing coupling device for coupling vehicles, having a back plate and a U-shaped housing containing a base wall and side walls with guides, where the base wall is positioned on the side of the back plate, a thrust plate being slidingly mounted in the interior of the housing, the thrust plate being mounted via guiding elements located in the side wall guides, a pin being fixed between the ends of the side walls opposite the base wall, and a rod runs from the back plate through an opening in the base wall to the thrust plate 2, onto which shock-absorbing inserts 5 are fitted alternately with spacers.

[0003] Shock absorbing coupler devices are commonly used to couple vehicles, such as railway carriages. They are used to absorb shocks and stresses in the draw gear caused by one vehicle pulling another, e.g. when a vehicle starts pulling a coupled carriage, and by one vehicle pushing another, e.g. when a vehicle stops and a coupled carriage comes closer, or during the coupling procedure if it is carried out with automatic draw gears. This type of device can be used, among other things, in automatic couplers, for example, in a DAC coupler (but not only), which is a particularly beneficial application of such a coupler.

[0004] From document WO2022223426A1 a draw and buffer device is known for a railway coupler comprising: a console (back plate) and housing, a polymer spring mounted on a rod, a pressure plate mounted in the housing, and a pin which transmits forces in the direction of pull via the coupling shaft of the housing.

[0005] Document CN206493957U discloses a buffer coupling device having a rear baffle, a middle baffle and a front baffle, as well as a pin (rod) having polymer springs (elastomers), a pin connecting the front baffle to the middle baffle, and a pin for coupling the head of the yoke frame so that forces are transmitted in the pull direction.

[0006] Sanrok Enterprises' 2014 publication 'Descriptive & Maintenance Manual for High Tensile Tightlock Centre Buffer Coupler AAR-H Type Head with Balanced Draft Gear for Fitment On Broad Gauge (BG)Passenger Coaches of Indian Railways' describes a shock absorbing coupling device for connecting rail carriages having a rear plate and housing. The device also has a bar on which elastomeric shock absorbing elements and spacers are placed. In addition, there is a pin connecting the coupler head to the shock absorbing device.

[0007] US8070002B2 describes the shock absorbing of train-impact loads by means of a rear plate and housing. The centred rod has flexible compression means in the form of multiple elastomeric plates. In addition, the thrust plate is protected by a guide. Document US9707981B2 discloses a coupler buffer having a yoke and a flexible element.

[0008] According to state-of-the-art solutions, the shock absorbing section (spring or separate shock absorbing elements, as in the Sanrok Enterprises publication, for example) is divided into two parts by a housing wall (as in WO'426, for example) or a baffle (as in CN'957, for example). When the shock absorber is compressed from the front (e.g. via a thrust plate), the entire shock absorber is loaded, both parts. When the housing of the unit is pulled via the pin, only the first part of the shock absorber, located between the pin and the thrust plate, works. The other part is unloaded and would tend to 'relax' i.e. lengthen. This is detrimental to the device.

[0009] The present invention solves the above problem.

[0010] The invention relates to a shock absorbing coupler device for coupling vehicles, having a back plate and a U-shaped housing comprising a base wall and side walls with guides 13. The base wall is located on the side of the backplate. Inside the housing, the thrust plate is slidingly mounted via guiding elements located in the side wall guides. A pin is fixed between the ends of the side walls opposite the base wall, while a bar runs from the back plate through a hole in the base wall to the thrust plate, on which shock-absorbing inserts are mounted, alternately with spacers. The invention is characterised by the fact that the back plate and the base wall of the housing are connected by at least one locking pin.

[0011] Advantageously, the shock absorbing inserts are elastomeric.

[0012] Advantageously, the spacers are steel.

[0013] Advantageously, the bar passes through the back plate and is secured by a nut. Advantageously, the rod is screwed into the thrust plate.

[0014] Advantageously, the rod rests against the thrust plate and the set of shock absorbing inserts and spacers is secured on the side of the thrust plate by a head or a nut, which head or nut is recessed into the thrust plate, and there is a lock washer between the thrust plate and the set of shock absorbing inserts and spacers.

[0015] Preferably, there are two locking pins, located at opposite edges of the base wall, between the side walls.

[0016] The subject of the invention is shown in the embodiments in the drawing, in which fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the device according to the invention, fig. 2 shows a top view with a partial cross-section of the device, while fig. 3 shows a cross-section in side view of the device. As can be seen in the figures, in the embodiment the shock absorbing coupling device for coupling vehicles has a back plate 3 and a U-shaped housing 1 containing a base wall 11, and side walls 12 with guides 13. Of course, the term 'side walls' is a conventional term to distinguish these walls from the base wall 11. The side walls 12 during the application of the device will generally be in a vertical arrangement, i.e. they will be a top and bottom wall, but this does not exclude an arrangement where these walls are actually a left and right wall. The base wall 11 is located on the side of the back plate 3. Inside the housing 1, a thrust plate 2 is slidably mounted by means of guiding elements 8 located in the guides 13 of the side walls 12. A pin 10 is fixed between the ends of the side walls 12 opposite the base wall 11. A rod 4 runs from the back plate 3 through a hole in the base wall 11 to the retaining plate 2, on which shockabsorbing inserts 5 are mounted alternately with spacers 6. The back plate 3 and the base wall 11 of the housing 1 are connected by at least one locking pin 9.

[0017] The housing 1 transfers forces in the pull direction from the pin 10 to the shock absorbing inserts 5, prevents unwanted horizontal and vertical movement of the device, unwanted vertical movement of the pin 10, and limits the movement of the shock absorbing part (i.e. the set of shock absorbing inserts 5) in the pull direction. In addition, the housing 1 restricts the rotation of the thrust plate 2 and also its vertical movements, by guiding it in the guides 13, and also guides the rod 5.

[0018] The housing 1 also divides the shock absorbing part (set of shock absorbing inserts 5) into two parts: the part that works in the pull direction and the part that works in the push direction. The housing 1 also serves to limit vertical movement of the coupling pin (part of the coupler head) on the pin 10.

[0019] The thrust plate 2 transmits forces in the pull direction from the shock absorbing inserts 5 to the front bracket of the vehicle (carriage) and transmits forces in the push direction from the coupler head coupling pin to the shock absorbing inserts 5.

[0020] At the same time, the thrust plate 2 provides the 'straightening effect' of the coupling pin when coupled to its flat surface.

[0021] The back plate 3 transfers forces in the push direction from the shock absorbing inserts 5 to the rear support of the vehicle (carriage) and also serves as a guide for the rod 4 (the rod 4 passes through the hole in the back plate 3). The backplate also prevents unwanted horizontal and vertical movement of the device.

[0022] The pin 10 is the connection point between the device and the coupling pin of the coupler head. The pin transmits forces in the direction of pull from the coupling pin to the body of the vehicle (carriage) via the housing 1 and the shock absorbing part.

[0023] The shock absorbing inserts 5 may be elastomeric and the spacers 6 may be steel, but it will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that there may be other materials suitable for this purpose. Both types of elements absorb energy and transmit forces in the push and pull direction. The shock absorbing part, i.e. the shock absorbing inserts 5, is divided into two stacks by the housing 1. When the shock absorbing part is compressed through the thrust plate 2, the entire shock absorbing part, both stacks, is loaded. When the housing 1 is pulled through the pin 10 only the first part of the stack, located between the side walls 12 of the housing 1, is compressed. The other part of the stack is not loaded and would tend to 'relax' i.e. elongate. This is disadvantageous for the device, so to avoid this, the present invention uses at least one locking pin 9 which has a predetermined length and, when pulled, holds the back plate 3 at a predetermined distance from the housing 1.

[0024] In one embodiment, the rod 4 may pass through the back plate 3 and is then secured behind the back plate 3 by a nut 14. In another embodiment, the rod 4 can be screwed into the thrust plate 2. In yet another embodiment, the rod 4 may be resting against the thrust plate 2 - in which case the set of shock absorbing inserts 5 and spacers 6 is secured on the side of the thrust plate 2 by a head 15 or a nut, and this head 15 or nut is recessed into the thrust plate 2. In this embodiment, a locking washer 7 is located between the thrust plate 2 and the set of shock absorbing inserts 5 and spacers 6. The lock washer 7 transfers forces in the push and pull direction and prevents the head 15 or nut from passing through the hole in the shock absorbing insert 5.

[0025] In one embodiment, the back plate 3 and the base wall 11 are connected by two locking pins 9, located at opposite edges of the base wall 11, between the side walls 12.

[0026] Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the features indicated in the claims can be combined in any combination appropriate to the particular application of the solution.

Claims

Claims1. A shock absorbing coupling device for coupling vehicles, having a back plate (3) and a U-shaped housing (1) containing a base wall (11), and side walls (12) with guides (13), wherein the base wall (11) is located on the side of the back plate (3), a thrust plate (2) being slidably mounted in the interior of the housing (1), the thrust plate (2) being mounted via guiding elements (8) located in the guides (13) of the side walls (12), a pin (10) being fixed between the ends of the side walls (12) opposite the base wall (11), and a rod (4) runs from the back plate (3) through an opening in the base wall (11) to the thrust plate (2), on which the shock-absorbing inserts (5) are mounted alternately with spacers (6), characterised in that the back plate (3) and the base wall (11) of the housing 1 are connected by at least one locking pin (9).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the shock absorbing inserts (5) are elastomeric.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the spacers (6) are steel.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rod (4) passes through the back plate (3) and is secured by a nut (14).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rod (4) is screwed into the thrust plate (2).

6. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rod (4) rests against the thrust plate (2) and the set of shock absorbing inserts (5) and spacers (6) is secured on the side of the thrust plate (2) by a head (15) or a nut, which head (15) or nut is recessed into the thrust plate (2) and there is a lock washer (7) between the thrust plate (2) and the set of shock absorbing inserts (5) and spacers (6).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that there are two locking pins (9), located at opposite edges of the base wall (11), between the side walls (12).

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