Railway Coupler Mounting Assembly Friction Self-Locking Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rail vehicle coupler mounting structures fail to withstand large impact compressive loads during rescue operations, leading to shear fracture of mounting bolts and potential irreversible damage.

Innovation Solution

A coupler mounting assembly with a stop seat and position-limiting block system that restricts coupler movement and distributes compressive loads through friction self-locking inclined surfaces, preventing bolt shear and enhancing structural reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a screw coupler mounting structure with threaded blind holes and mounting bolts is used, then the coupler can be securely mounted to bear compressive loads through bolt shearing, but the mounting bolts will shear off under large impact compressive loads (300KN) during rescue operations, causing coupler failure and potential damage to the coupler box and vehicle body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressive load bearing capacityVSAvoidmounting bolt reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure is segmented into multiple functional components: a mounting seat for bolt attachment, a stop seat for positioning, a support plate for load distribution, and a position-limiting block with stop block for movement restriction. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific functions, with the support plate handling compressive load distribution and the stop block preventing excessive movement, thereby protecting the mounting bolts from shear failure under impact loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support plate acts as an intermediary element between the coupler and the mounting structure. It distributes the compressive load from the coupler across a larger area of the mounting seat, preventing concentrated stresses that would cause bolt shear. The position-limiting block with its movable stop block serves as another intermediary that restricts coupler movement while allowing controlled adjustment, further protecting the mounting bolts from dynamic shear forces during rescue operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If the coupler is allowed to move freely to absorb impact energy, then the mounting structure can withstand large compressive loads, but the coupler may move excessively causing misalignment and potential damage to other parts of the vehicle body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoidcoupler position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The position-limiting block incorporates a stop block that can move along the length direction of the coupler box body within a certain range. This dynamic element allows the system to adapt to impact forces by permitting controlled movement, absorbing impact energy, while still maintaining position stability through the constraints imposed by the position-limiting block's geometry and the stop block's travel limits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The assembly effectively limits coupler movement and distributes compressive loads, preventing bolt shear and improving the reliability of the rail vehicle structure under impact conditions, allowing it to withstand larger compressive loads during rescue operations.

Implementation Method 1

distributes compressive loads through friction self-locking inclined surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction self-locking: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3750773B1Railway car and railway coupling mounting assembly thereof
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 ZHUZHOU ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE CO LTD
  • EP3750773B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3750773B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3750773B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A railway coupling mounting assembly applied to a railway car comprises a railway coupling body and a mounting seat (10), and further comprises a stopping seat (10) fixed at two sides of the railway coupling body and extending in a lengthwise direction thereof, the stopping seat (10) being located at a front end of the mounting seat; a railway coupling body support plate (5) provided on the mounting seat (11) and abutting the stopping seat (10), so as to restrict movement in a forward direction of the railway car; a position-limiting block (1) fixed at two sides of the railway coupling body and extending in the lengthwise direction thereof, the position-limiting block (1) being located at a rear end of the mounting seat (11); and a stopping block (2) slidably connected to the position-limiting block (1) and abutting the railway coupling body support plate, wherein the stopping block (2) is movable relative to the position-limiting block (1) within a certain range in the lengthwise direction of the railway coupling body, and the stopping block (2) and the stopping seat (11) are respectively located at the rear end and the front end of the railway coupling body support plate (5). A railway car comprising the railway coupling mounting assembly is also provided. The railway coupling mounting assembly effectively avoids the failure of a railway coupling caused by stripping of a mounting bolt.