Rail Vehicle Coupling Support Pivot Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupling support for central buffer couplings in rail vehicles experiences high friction between the transverse bar and vertical stops, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs due to material wear, especially during travel over humps or dips.
Innovation Solution
The coupling support incorporates pivot levers and articulated connections that allow the transverse bar to move resiliently with reduced friction, replacing high-friction horizontal movement with frictionless rotational movement, and includes adjustable pretensioning springs to maintain the transverse bar's position and adapt to different heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the transverse bar is fixed with guide grooves for positive-locking engagement, then lateral guidance is improved, but friction increases during resilient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding friction-based guide groove mechanism with a pivot lever system that uses rotational movement. The pivot levers rotate about pivot locations on the base plate, converting the high-friction horizontal sliding motion into low-friction rotational motion, thereby eliminating the harmful friction effect while maintaining lateral guidance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the movement parameter from linear sliding to rotational motion. By introducing pivot levers that rotate about fixed pivot points, the system transforms the motion type to reduce friction during the resilient movement of the transverse bar, while the pivot locations ensure proper lateral guidance is maintained.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vertical stops are used to adjust transverse bar height, then height adjustment is enabled, but relative movement and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vertical stop mechanism with an articulated connection system using pivot levers. The articulated connections between the pivot levers and transverse bar enable height adjustment through rotational movement rather than sliding contact, eliminating the friction associated with vertical stops while maintaining adaptability for height adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic articulated connections that allow the transverse bar to move resiliently in the vertical direction. The pivot levers can rotate to accommodate height adjustments, providing adaptability while minimizing friction through rotational rather than sliding motion.
3Ease of operation
If the transverse bar is allowed to move resiliently, then coupling head height adjustment is improved, but material wear increases due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the high-friction sliding and stopping mechanisms with a pivot lever system that uses rotational movement. This replacement dramatically reduces material wear while enabling the resilient movement of the transverse bar for coupling head height adjustment, as rotational joints experience significantly less wear than sliding contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the motion parameter from sliding to rotation, the patent reduces material wear during resilient movement. The pivot levers rotate about fixed points, creating minimal contact and friction, thereby extending component service life while maintaining the ability to adjust coupling head height.
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
This design significantly reduces friction and material wear, extending the service life of components, minimizing maintenance and repair costs, and enhancing the operational reliability of the central buffer coupling.
Implementation Method 1
resilient elements (131), in particular springs, arranged between the base plate and the transverse bar
Implementation Method 2
resilient elements (131), in particular springs, arranged between the base plate and the transverse bar
Implementation Method 3
high friction between the transverse bar and vertical stops, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs due to material wear
Implementation Method 4
replaced by a substantially or completely frictionless rotational movement of the pivot levers
Implementation Method 5
These connections are configured in such a manner that a movement of the transverse bar away from the base plate is limited as a result of the articulated connections and a movement of the transverse bar toward the base plate is possible
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling support for a central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle includes first and second holding plates to be secured to the body of the rail vehicle. The coupling support has a base plate and a transverse bar disposed between the holding plates. The transverse bar is resiliently coupled to the base plate and is disposed above the base plate. First and second pivot levers are disposed on the base plate such that the pivot location of each pivot lever is disposed below the transverse bar, and the pivot locations are connected to the base plate. Each upper portion of the pivot levers is connected to the transverse bar by an articulated connection such that a movement of the transverse bar away from the base plate is restricted by the articulated connections and a movement of the transverse bar towards the base is allowed by the articulated connections.