Vehicle Coupling Shock Absorber for Heavy-Impact Energy Dissipation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle coupling shock absorbers fail to effectively absorb the high compressive forces generated during collisions with heavier vehicles, leading to equipment destruction.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle coupling shock absorbing device with a U-shaped housing, a sliding stop plate, and a rod connected to cushioning pads via spacers, featuring an oil or oil-gas shock absorber mechanism to manage forces in both push and pull directions, and a locking shaft connecting the back plate and housing for enhanced durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If traditional cushioning parts (springs or separate cushioning elements) are divided into two parts by a housing wall or baffle, then the device structure is simplified, but the energy absorption capability deteriorates under high compressive forces during collisions with heavier vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidenergy absorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning part is divided into a first part and a second part separated by a base wall, but both parts remain connected through the rod passing through the base wall. This segmentation allows simplified structure while maintaining continuous load path for energy absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second cushioning parts are merged through the rod connection, creating a unified shock absorption system. The rod connects both parts so that during compression, both parts work together to absorb energy, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and energy absorption capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Force

If the shock absorber is compressed from the front through the stop plate, then the entire shock absorber takes the load, but when the housing is pulled via the pin, only the first part takes the load and the second part relaxes and lengthens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload distributionVSAvoidshock absorber configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The rod is pre-installed through the base wall connecting both cushioning parts before operation. This preliminary connection ensures that during pull operations, both parts are pre-positioned to work together, preventing the second part from relaxing and lengthening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rod merges the first and second cushioning parts into a single functional unit. This connection ensures that forces applied through the pin are transmitted to both parts, making them work together during both compression and tension operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Force

If heavier vehicles are coupled, then the compressive force during collision increases, but the previously known equipment is destroyed by the high compressive forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressive force handlingVSAvoidequipment durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second cushioning parts are combined through the rod connection, creating a unified shock absorption system with increased total energy absorption capacity. This allows the device to handle high compressive forces from heavier vehicles without destruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a composite structure combining the rod (structural element) with cushioning parts (energy absorption elements). This composite design provides both the strength to withstand high compressive forces and the energy absorption capability to protect against collision damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 device provides improved energy absorption and durability by managing compressive forces, preventing unwanted movements, and allowing dynamic characteristic tuning for efficient energy dissipation during vehicle coupling.

Implementation Method 1

A vehicle coupling shock absorbing device with a U-shaped housing, a sliding stop plate, and a rod connected to cushioning pads via spacers, featuring an oil or oil-gas shock absorber mechanism to manage forces in both push and pull directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4678502A1A vehicle coupling shock absorbing device for coupling vehicles
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 AXTONE SPOLKA AKCYJNA
  • EP4678502A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4678502A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4678502A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The subject of the invention is a a vehicle coupling shock absorbing device for coupling vehicles, having a rear element (3) and a U-shaped housing (1) containing a base wall (11), and side walls (12), where the base wall (11) is located at the side of the rear element (3); inside the housing (1) there is a stop plate (2) mounted slidingly, pin (10) mounted between the ends of the side walls (12) opposite the base wall (11), and a rod (4) running from the rear element (3) through an opening in the base wall (11) to the retaining plate (2), on which cushioning pads (5) are attached alternately with spacers 6, characterized in that the rear element (3) is a shock absorber.