Elastic Train Coupler Shroud Reducing Retracted Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective shrouds for rail vehicle couplers occupy significant storage space in their retracted position and are not adaptable to modifications, as they are typically rigid and bulbous, limiting their flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A deformable sheet of elastic material, such as a rubber mat, is used to create a protective shroud that pivots and retracts, with a frame-mounted mechanism allowing it to occupy less space when not in use, and is driven by actuators for controlled movement between covering and non-covering positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid GRP front cowl is used to protect the coupler head, then protection against snow, water, and foreign objects is improved, but the storing space required in the retracted position increases due to the bulbous shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid GRP front cowl with a flexible membrane made of elastic material that can deform during retraction. This flexible membrane is guided by a bellows member and tensioning elements, allowing it to collapse into a compact configuration that occupies minimal storing space while maintaining protection functionality when extended.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is designed to be dynamically adjustable between an extended protective position and a retracted minimal-space position. The system uses actuators to control the membrane's extension and retraction, and employs tensioning elements with adjustable tension to maintain the membrane's structural integrity during dynamic transitions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid bulbous front cowl is used to accommodate the coupler head, then protection is maintained, but adaptability to modifications on the coupler is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane can adapt its shape to accommodate different coupler head configurations and modifications. Unlike rigid cowls that require complete redesign for modifications, the elastic membrane naturally conforms to the coupler head's geometry through its material properties and guided deformation paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter adjustments including membrane tension via adjustable tensioning elements, membrane material selection for different environmental conditions, and actuator positioning. These parameter changes enable adaptation to different coupler configurations without redesigning the entire protective system.
3Shape
If a rigid front cowl with bulbous shape is used, then the coupler head is accommodated in the covering position, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane can be manufactured as a simple flat or slightly curved sheet, eliminating the complex bulbous shaping required for rigid cowls. The protective shape is created dynamically through the membrane's elastic deformation when extended, not through complex manufacturing of the membrane itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the protective function into separate components: the simple flexible membrane for coverage, the bellows member for guided deformation, the tensioning elements for structural support, and the actuators for movement control. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simpler processes.
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 reduces storage space requirements, maintains protection against snow, water, and foreign objects, and allows for easy maintenance, while being adaptable to different coupler configurations and temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable sheet of elastic material forming a cover element which is mounted at its periphery in a frame, and together with the frame pivotally supported and controlled to be pivoted about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the train coupler
Data Source
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AI summary
A protective shroud for the coupler head (3) of a train coupler (1) in a rail vehicle is disclosed, comprising a deformable sheet of elastic material forming a cover element (6) which is mounted at its periphery in a frame (7) and together with the frame pivotally supported and controlled to be pivoted about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the train coupler between a relaxed non-covering position displaced from the coupler longitudinal axis and a stretched covering position intersecting the coupler longitudinal axis at the front of the coupler head.