Push and pull device with pretensioning means

Abstract

The invention relates to a push and pull device (1) for a train coupling, in particular a central buffer coupling, comprising a spring mechanism (6) for absorbing compressive forces, which start at a front coupling unit (7) that is designed to produce an articulated attachment to a coupling shaft (3), and via the spring mechanism (6) act on a housing box (8) in order to transmit a compressive force to a vehicle structure (2), wherein the housing box (8) can be secured to the vehicle structure (2) via mounting elements (10a; 10b) provided on a lower mounting face (9), and the rear end face (11) of the housing box is equipped with a pretensioning wedge (12) for applying a clamping force to the housing box (8), the clamping force acting relative to the vehicle structure (2); and the at least one pretensioning wedge (12) forms an acute clamping angle (a), the pretensioning wedge tapering towards the mounting side (9) and having at least one lower engagement surface (13) for releasing the wedge connection by means of a push-out or knock-out process.

Description

[0001] 2024PF00452 January 29, 2025

[0002] 1

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] Tensioning and buffering device with pretensioning means

[0005] The present invention relates to a pulling and bumping device for a towing coupling, in particular a center buffer coupling, comprising a spring assembly for receiving compressive forces which, starting from a front coupling unit for the articulated attachment of a coupling shaft, act via the spring assembly on a housing box for transmitting the compressive force to a vehicle structure, wherein the housing box can be attached to the vehicle structure by means of mounting elements arranged on a lower mounting side, and wherein a preload wedge is provided on a rear end face of the housing box for applying a clamping force to the housing box acting against the vehicle structure.

[0006] The invention's field of application extends to railway vehicle technology, and in particular to couplings on freight trains. The central buffer couplings of primary interest here are arranged centrally on the longitudinal axis of a wagon and transmit the tensile and compressive forces occurring during rail traffic between coupled wagons. The coupling and buffer system requires a spring mechanism to absorb compressive forces and prevent damage to the wagon's structure from high pressure impulses during operation.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] WO 2019 / 240660 A1 specifies a conventional draw and buffer device that can be mounted within a standardized mounting pocket of a freight wagon. This draw and buffer device requires no additional tools to compress the spring mechanism for installation in the standardized mounting pocket. Instead, this draw and buffer device incorporates integrated wedge clamping elements to generate a clamping force against the mounting pocket. These integrated wedge clamping elements, when two clamping screws accessible from the lower mounting side are tightened simultaneously, ensure a secure clamping force against the mounting pocket.

[0009] 2

[0010] Inclined planes of various wedge elements are used to extend the tension and impact device, enabling it to fit into the standardized mounting pocket. These wedge clamping elements can be arranged at different positions along the force flow of the tension and impact device. In the first alternative, it is proposed to arrange the wedge clamping elements between a front retaining assembly and an anchor. According to a second alternative, the wedge clamping elements can be integrated between the anchor and a spring assembly. A third alternative discloses integration between the spring assembly and a rear retaining assembly. In all cases, the integration occurs between longitudinally adjacent components of the tension and impact device.

[0011] When disassembling the drawbar and buffer assembly from its mounting pocket, particularly after prolonged operation under corrosive environmental conditions, the problem often arises that the wedge clamping devices become stuck on the ramps and are difficult to loosen. This requires applying force to previously loosened clamping screws, which in extreme cases can lead to thread damage. Consequently, disassembled wedge clamping devices must be replaced.

[0012] EP 4 339 065 A1 discloses a generic towing and throttling device in which a spring mechanism is housed within a housing box consisting of struts. A front coupling unit serves for the articulated attachment of a coupling shaft and is guided longitudinally within the housing box. The housing box is detachably attached to the vehicle structure within a standardized mounting pocket via a lower mounting side by means of mounting elements arranged thereon. To apply a clamping force acting on the housing box, an arrangement of two mutually parallel preload wedges is provided on the rear end face of the housing box, which act on the housing box on one side and on the vehicle structure on the other.

[0013] However, the installation position of these previously known preload wedges is chosen in such a way that removal from the lower mounting side using common tools is impossible. This is because the preload wedges have no means of engagement for a pulling tool or 2024PF00452

[0014] 3

[0015] Likewise. Due to their installation position within the mounting pocket, it is also impossible to knock out the wedges. Therefore, with this state of the art, it is necessary to use elaborate disassembly tools to compress the spring mechanism in order to remove it from the mounting pocket.

[0016] The object of the present invention is to further improve a generic pulling and pushing device in such a way that simplified disassembly from a standardized mounting pocket is possible using simple technical means.

[0017] Disclosure of the invention

[0018] The problem is solved starting from a draw and buffer device according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. Dependent claim 9 relates to a freight wagon with a built-in draw and buffer device according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0019] The invention includes the technical teaching that, within the framework of the pretensioning means of a generic tension and push device, at least one pretensioning wedge with an acute clamping angle a is used, which tapers towards the mounting surface and has at least one lower attack surface for striking or pressing to release the wedge connection.

[0020] The advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the design and arrangement of the preload wedge, which is easy to disassemble, allows for simple removal, for example by knocking or pushing it out from the accessible lower mounting side of the tensioning and pushing device. For this purpose, the preload wedge does not taper to a point, but is provided with a functional end face that offers sufficient surface contact for, for example, the application of a blunt chisel or the like. The contact surface is not occupied by a threaded bore for a clamping screw or the like and is dimensioned so that loosening does not cause any significant plastic deformation of the material. 2024PF00452

[0021] 4

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the pretensioning means are designed such that the rear end face of the housing box of the tensioning and buffing device runs at the tensioning angle α in the sense of an alternating angle with respect to a transverse plane Q directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L, against which the pretensioning wedge abuts, the rear of which runs parallel to the transverse plane Q and is designed for direct contact with the vehicle structure. In this way, the chamfered rear end face of the housing box becomes part of the pretensioning means in the sense of functional integration.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the prestressing wedge is H-shaped and composed of two wedge leg sections connected to each other via a transverse section. The prestressing wedge can be manufactured in one piece as a cast component.

[0024] Preferably, a clamping screw is arranged between the cross member of the preload wedge and the housing box. When tightened, this screw causes the corresponding inclined planes of the preload wedge and the rear end face of the housing box to slide together, creating a distance that exerts a clamping force on the spring assembly relative to the vehicle structure. Positioning the clamping screw in the area of ​​the central cross member of the preferably H-shaped preload wedge allows the contact surface on the preload wedge to remain free for releasing the wedge connection.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the pulling and pushing device according to the invention, the coupling unit has a bolt joint for the horizontally pivotable attachment of a coupling shaft.

[0026] Preferably, the spring assembly of the tension and impact device according to the invention comprises at least one compression spring designed as a polymer spring, which surrounds a hydraulic or hydrostatic damper unit connected in parallel. It is also conceivable to use a tension and impact device without such a damper unit, depending on the dynamics of the system. 2024PF00452

[0027] 5

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling unit is guided longitudinally within the housing. For this purpose, the housing has inner guide surfaces which correspond to outer guide surfaces on the coupling unit while maintaining a sufficient clearance fit. These guide surfaces are preferably formed in the edge region of the two corresponding components.

[0029] The spring mechanism preferably works in conjunction with a coaxially arranged pull rod, which is attached to the housing box to form an end stop for the extended spring mechanism.

[0030] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the figures. The figures show:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a draw and buffer device for a central buffer coupler on the vehicle structure of a freight wagon.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a draw and push device, and

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the pretensioning means of the tensioning and buffing device according to Fig. 2.

[0034] According to Fig. 1, a draw and buffer device 1 of a center buffer coupler is mounted on a vehicle structure 2 of a freight wagon (not shown) of a rail vehicle. A coupling shaft 3 of a center buffer coupler is pivotally mounted horizontally to the draw and buffer device 1. A coupling head 4 is arranged at the distal end of the coupling shaft 3 for preferably automatic coupling with a corresponding center buffer coupler of an opposing wagon. The draw and buffer device 1 is located within 2024PF00452

[0035] 6

[0036] The component is housed in a box-shaped mounting pocket 5 of the vehicle structure 2. Installation is carried out from the underside of the vehicle structure 2. The mounting pocket 5 is designed according to the UIC 530 standard. The component connection between the draw and buffer gear 1 and the vehicle structure 2 is made via a detachable screw connection.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the coupling and throttling device 1, depicted here in detail as a single unit, comprises an internal spring assembly 6 for absorbing compressive forces. These forces originate from a front coupling unit 7 for the articulated mounting of the coupling shaft and are transmitted via the spring assembly 6 to the housing 8 for the transmission of the compressive force to the vehicle structure (not shown). The housing 8 is bolted to the vehicle structure by means of mounting elements 10a and 10b arranged on a lower mounting side 9. A preload wedge 12 is provided on a rear end face 11 of the coupling and throttling device 1 for applying a clamping force to the housing 8 against the vehicle structure.

[0038] In this embodiment, the preload wedge 12 is H-shaped and consists of two wedge leg sections 15a and 15b connected to each other via a cross-section 14. The preload wedge 12 has an acute angle and tapers towards the mounting side 9, without ending in a point, but instead having a lower contact surface 13 for releasing the wedge connection by pushing or knocking it out. Two clamping screws 16a and 16b, spaced apart from each other between the preload wedge 12 and the housing box 8, act on the transverse section 14. When tightened, this causes the housing box 8 to extend its distance, generating a clamping force on the housing box 8 relative to the vehicle structure 2 (not shown here).

[0039] The coupling unit 7, located on the opposite end face, is guided longitudinally within the housing 8. The coupling unit 7 includes a pivot pin 17 for the horizontally pivotable attachment of a coupling shaft (not shown). The spring assembly 6 comprises a compression spring designed as a polymer spring and interacts with a pull rod 18, which is connected to the 2024PF00452

[0040] 7

[0041] The coupling unit 7 and the housing box 8 form an end stop for the extended spring mechanism 6.

[0042] According to Fig. 3, the rear end face 11 of the housing box 8 runs at an acute angle a with respect to a transverse plane Q perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The H-shaped preload wedge 12 rests against this, its rear side running parallel to the transverse plane Q and serving for direct contact with the vehicle structure (not shown here).

[0043] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above. Rather, variations thereof are also conceivable, which are also covered by the scope of protection of the following claims. For example, it is also possible to design the preload wedge as a solid component or to design it separately as several functionally interacting individual parts. 2024PF00452

[0044] 8

[0045] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0046] 1. Traction and buffer device 2. Vehicle structure

[0047] 3 coupling shaft

[0048] 4 Coupling head

[0049] 5 built-in pockets

[0050] 6 spring mechanism

[0051] 7 coupling unit

[0052] 8 Housing boxes

[0053] 9 Assembly side

[0054] 10 Mounting element

[0055] 11 rear end face 12 preload wedge

[0056] 13 lower attack surface 14 transverse section

[0057] 15 Wedge leg section 16 Tensioning screw

[0058] 17 bolt joint

[0059] 18 pull rod

[0060] a clamping angle

[0061] L Longitudinal axis

[0062] Q Cross plane

Claims

2024PF00452 9 PATENT CLAIMS 1. A draw and buffing device (1) for a draw coupling, in particular a center buffer coupling, comprising a spring assembly (6) for absorbing compressive forces which, originating from a front coupling unit (7) for the articulated attachment of a coupling shaft (3), act via the spring assembly (6) on a housing box (8) for transmitting the compressive force to a vehicle structure (2), wherein the housing box (8) can be attached to the vehicle structure (2) by means of mounting elements (10a; 10b) arranged on a lower mounting side (9), and a preload wedge (12) is provided on a rear end face (11) for applying a clamping force to the housing box (8) acting against the vehicle structure (2), characterized in that the at least one preload wedge (12) forms an acute clamping angle (a) which tapers towards the mounting side (9) and has at least one lower contact surface (13) for releasing the wedge connection by pushing out or knocking out.

2. Pulling and bumping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear end face (11) of the housing box (8) runs under the acute clamping angle (a) with respect to a transverse plane (Q) directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L), against which the at least one pretensioning wedge (12) comes to rest, the rear of which is designed to run parallel to the transverse plane (Q) for direct contact with the vehicle structure (2).

3. Pulling and throttling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the prestressing wedge (12) is H-shaped and consists of two wedge leg sections (15a, 15b) connected to each other via a transverse section (14) parallel to each other. 2024PF00452 10 4. Pulling and bumping device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one clamping screw (16a, 16b) acting between the preload wedge (12) and the housing box (8) is provided on the transverse section (14) in order to create a distance extension when screwing in to generate a clamping force on the housing box (8) relative to the vehicle structure (2).

5. Pulling and bumping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling unit (7) has a bolt joint (17) for the horizontally pivotable attachment of a coupling shaft (3).

6. Pulling and pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring assembly (6) comprises at least one compression spring designed as a polymer spring, which surrounds a hydraulic or hydrostatic damper unit connected in parallel thereto.

7. Pulling and pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling unit (7) is guided longitudinally displaceable in the housing box (8).

8. Pulling and pushing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pull rod (18) arranged coaxially to the spring assembly (6) in conjunction with the coupling unit (7) and the housing box (8) forms an end stop for the extended spring assembly (6).

9. Freight wagon comprising a standardized mounting pocket (5) of a vehicle structure (2) and a draw and buffer device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, which is articulatedly connected to a coupling rod (3) of a central buffer coupling.

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