Elastic Stop Element for Shunting Coupling Safety Gear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety gears for shunting couplings have significant transverse play and fixed stops, leading to uncontrolled movements and potential damage during rail vehicle operations, especially when traversing arches, and pose risks during manual operation due to inability to safely pivot from the parking to shunting position.
Innovation Solution
A safety gear with elastic and elastically mounted stop elements that reduce movement play, featuring a catching device with an end stop and side stops, allowing secure holding and automated movement of the shunting coupling between positions using spring-loaded mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed stop is used in the safety gear, then the shunting coupling can be secured in the parking position, but considerable transverse play occurs leading to uncontrolled movements and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed stop with an elastic stop element that can dynamically adapt to the shunting coupling's position. The elastic element deforms under load and returns to its original position, providing continuous contact and eliminating transverse play while maintaining the securing function. This dynamic adaptation prevents uncontrolled movements during rail vehicle operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the stop element from rigid (fixed stop) to elastic (deformable). The elastic stop element can change its shape and position within certain limits, allowing it to absorb transverse movements and maintain reliable contact with the shunting coupling, thereby eliminating the harmful transverse play while preserving the securing capability.
2Device complexity
If a fixed stop with large transverse play is used, then the safety gear structure is simple, but the shunting coupling cannot be safely pivoted from parking to shunting position
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic stop element provides dynamic support during the pivoting operation. As the shunting coupling is being lowered from the parking position, the elastic element continuously adapts to the changing position, providing smooth guidance and support. This eliminates the need for manual pushing while maintaining structural simplicity, as the elastic element's deformation characteristics enable safe pivoting throughout the entire range of motion.
3Device complexity
If manual pushing is required to lower the coupling, then the safety gear structure remains simple, but significant hazard is posed to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic stop element enables the safety gear to perform the lowering function automatically without requiring manual intervention. The elastic element's stored energy and continuous contact with the shunting coupling allow the coupling to be lowered safely under controlled conditions, eliminating the need for operators to manually push the heavy coupling and thereby removing the associated safety hazards.
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 minimizes transverse movement and mechanical stress on the safety gear, enabling safe and automated pivoting of the shunting coupling from the parking to the shunting position, enhancing operational safety and reducing manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
at least one stop element (15b) on the end stop (12) is elastic and/or elastically mounted, in particular by means of a spring (16)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a catching device (10) for a shunt coupling (2), comprising a catching body (11) with an end stop (12), a right-hand side lateral stop (13), and a left-hand side lateral stop (13) that together form a holding body, which has an inner region (B) delimited on three sides and which has one side that is open but can be closed by a lock (14), said open side being dimensioned such that a specified shunt coupling (2) can be moved into the inner region (B) through the open side, wherein the catching device (10) has at least one elastic and/or elastically mounted stop element (15a, 15b) on one of the stops (12, 13). The invention additionally relates to a rail vehicle comprising such a catching device and to a method for locking a shunt coupling.