Coupler Yoke Assembly With Guide Rod for Hook Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wear and misalignment issues in yoke assemblies of coupler systems lead to increased maintenance frequency and operational inefficiencies due to wear on wear plates and wear rings, causing misalignment of coupler hooks and impacting safe and reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A yoke assembly design featuring an outer housing with a guide rod, a bumper assembly, and an elastomeric body that absorbs energy and compensates for height differences between coupler hooks, reducing wear and allowing for easy replacement and maintenance of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wear plates and wear rings are used in the yoke assembly, then the coupler components can withstand wear from repeated coupling operations, but the wear plates and wear rings wear down over time causing misalignment and requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wear ring component entirely from the yoke assembly design. Instead of using a wear ring that requires periodic replacement, the invention uses a self-aligning mechanism with a spherical coupling surface that automatically compensates for wear on the wear plate, eliminating the need for wear ring maintenance while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the coupling interface by introducing a spherical coupling surface with a specific radius of curvature. This spherical geometry allows for angular misalignment compensation and automatic centering, transforming the wear management approach from component replacement to geometric self-accommodation.
2Manufacturing precision
If spring retainers contact wear rings to apply bias force, then the hooks can be aligned properly, but the spring retainers wear down or damage the wear rings over time causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spherical coupling surface as an intermediary between the spring retainer and the wear plate. This spherical surface acts as a mediator that distributes the bias force uniformly and allows for self-aligning contact, preventing direct rubbing wear between the spring retainer and wear plate while maintaining proper hook alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical coupling surface provides a cushioning effect by distributing contact forces over a curved surface area rather than a single point. This beforehand cushioning prevents concentrated stress and wear at any single location, protecting both the spring retainer and wear plate from premature failure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If misalignment occurs between coupler hooks, then coupling can still occur, but the misalignment causes increased wear and damages components over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic self-aligning features where the spherical coupling surface and guide rod allow the wear plate to automatically adjust its position during coupling operations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to accommodate misalignment while in operation, preventing the harmful wear and damage that would result from static rigid alignment constraints.
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 design reduces wear and tear on components, enhances alignment, minimizes audible noise during coupling, and facilitates easier maintenance by allowing components to be replaced without dismantling the coupler system, thereby improving operational reliability and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric body and/or a resilient body disposed within the outer housing between the guiding sliding bushing and the rear end of the outer housing
Implementation Method 2
The yokes include guide rods that are biased by springs within the bodies of the yokes
Data Source
AI summary
A yoke assembly includes an outer housing having opposite front and rear ends and can define an interior chamber between the front end and the rear end. The yoke assembly also can include a guiding sliding bushing disposed in the interior chamber of the outer housing, a guide rod extending through the interior chamber of the outer housing and through the guiding sliding bushing, a bumper assembly coupled with one end of the guide rod, and an elastomeric body and/or a resilient body disposed within the outer housing between the guiding sliding bushing and the rear end of the outer housing. The bumper assembly can be positioned to be engaged by a mechanical head of a first coupler system of a first vehicle to position a first hook of the first coupler system for coupling with a second hook of a second coupler system of a second vehicle.