Railway Coupler Telescopic Apparatus Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telescopic mechanisms for railway couplers occupy large space and have complex structures due to the presence of a pressure-receiving rod, which affects their efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A coupler telescopic apparatus with a housing and drawbar design where a limiting block is fixed outside the drawbar and a rotatable locking ring is housed inside, allowing for extension and retraction locking without the need for an internal pressure-receiving rod, utilizing a linkage assembly to simplify the structure and reduce space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure-receiving rod is used in the telescopic mechanism, then the locking function is achieved, but the space occupation increases and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pressure-receiving rod from the internal structure of the housing. Instead, the limiting block is fixed on the outer side of the drawbar, and the locking ring rotates within the housing to engage with the limiting block. This extraction of the pressure-receiving rod simplifies the internal structure and reduces space occupation while maintaining the locking function through the collaboration of the limiting block and locking ring.
2Reliability
If a pressure-receiving rod is used in the telescopic mechanism, then the locking function is achieved, but the space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-receiving rod is extracted from the housing interior and replaced by a limiting block mounted on the drawbar exterior. The locking ring rotates within the housing to engage the limiting block, achieving the same locking function with reduced internal space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting block is positioned on the outer side of the drawbar rather than inside the housing, utilizing the external dimension. This spatial reconfiguration allows the locking mechanism to function without occupying valuable internal housing space, effectively moving the locking interaction from an internal to an external dimensional arrangement.
3Reliability
If multiple locking mechanisms are used for extension and retraction, then the locking reliability is improved, but the number of driving elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking control for both extension and retraction into a single locking ring that rotates to engage or disengage the limiting block. The telescopic cylinder provides a single driving action that, through the linkage between the limiting block and locking ring, simultaneously controls both the extension locking and retraction locking states, reducing the number of independent driving elements while maintaining dual-directional locking reliability.
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 solution simplifies the internal structure, reduces space occupation, and enhances the efficiency of extending and retracting couplers by using a spline-type locking mechanism for extension and a latch-type mechanism for retraction, while synchronously driving the locking pin and ring to improve control and reduce the number of driving elements.
Implementation Method 1
a telescopic cylinder is arranged in the housing, and two ends of the telescopic cylinder are connected to the housing and the drawbar, respectively, to drive the drawbar to extend or retract along the housing
Implementation Method 2
the through groove correspond to the limiting block in shape, so that the limiting block passes through the through groove when the through groove is aligned with the limiting block, and then an extension of the drawbar is locked by rotating the locking ring to block the limiting block
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a coupler telescopic apparatus and a coupler. The coupler telescopic apparatus comprises a housing and a drawbar capable of extending and retracting along the housing, the housing is sleeved outside the drawbar, a limiting block is fixed arranged on an outer side face of the drawbar, a locking ring capable of coming into contact with the limiting block is sleeved inside the housing, and the locking ring is coaxial with the housing and rotatably connected to the housing; a through groove is axially formed on an inner surface of the locking ring, and the through groove correspond to the limiting block in shape, so that the limiting block passes through the through groove when the through groove is aligned with the limiting block, and then an extension of the drawbar is locked by rotating the locking ring to block the limiting block after the extension of the drawbar is completed. The coupler comprises the abovementioned coupler telescopic apparatus. The present application can reduce space occupation and has simple structure.