Electric Traction Coupling Axial Contact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric train coupling designs face complexity in structural design and kinematics, along with risks of insufficient sealing against unwanted access and ingress of dust, dirt, and moisture, particularly due to the mechanisms used for protecting electrical contacts.
Innovation Solution
An electric train coupling with two halves featuring slidably mounted covers that align axially, ensuring reliable protection and simplified kinematics, where the covers engage to expose conductive contact elements during coupling, and retract to seal them within the housing during uncoupling, utilizing a centering device and elastic seals for precise alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective flap is used to cover electrical plug contacts in the uncoupled state, then protection against contact and ingress of dust, dirt and moisture is improved, but structural complexity and kinematic requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from a complex pivoting flap mechanism and implements it through simple axial displacement of the coupling halves. The contact elements themselves are retracted axially within their housings when uncoupled, eliminating the need for separate protective flaps and their associated kinematic mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling halves serve multiple functions: they provide mechanical connection, enable electrical contact through their contact elements, and simultaneously protect the contacts through axial retraction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective mechanisms.
2Reliability
If conventional protective flaps are used, then protection against unwanted contact is achieved, but sealing against dust, dirt and moisture becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements are nested within the coupling half housings when uncoupled, with each contact element retractable into its respective housing. This nesting provides both contact protection and effective sealing against environmental contaminants through the housing structures.
3Reliability
If complex kinematic mechanisms are used for protective flaps, then protection function is achieved, but device simplicity and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling halves automatically protect their own contact elements through axial displacement. When uncoupled, the contact elements retract into the housings; when coupled, they extend outward to make contact. This self-service mechanism eliminates complex protective kinematics.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric traction coupling having two electric coupling halves which can be coupled to one another and which together and/or individually have a multiplicity of electrically conductive contact elements which each extend in an axial direction; wherein each electric traction coupling half comprises an electrically insulating housing which encompasses the electrically conductive contact element or elements and has an electrically insulating cover for covering the end face of the electrically conductive contact element or elements. The electric traction coupling according to the invention is characterized in that the cover of each of the two electric traction coupling halves has one or more plugging openings which are aligned with the electrically conductive contact element or elements in the axial direction and can be moved in the axial direction between an uncoupling position, in which the electrically conductive contact element or elements is/are positioned behind the plugging openings within the housing in the axial direction, and a coupling position, in which the electrically conductive contact element or elements is/are positioned so as to project out of the housing through the cover while passing through the plugging openings in the axial direction.