Rail Vehicle Coupler With Nested Reversible and Non-Reversible Buffers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupler designs for rail vehicles face issues with compactness, wear of elastomeric components, and ineffective attenuation of high-frequency forces, leading to potential damage during impacts and limited space for additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A coupler with a buffer column that includes both reversible and non-reversible buffers, where the non-reversible buffer is a plastically deformable hollow tube encircling a reversible buffer, allowing for compact and effective energy absorption and reduced risk of damage from high-frequency forces, with all components positioned externally for easy inspection and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a buffer element is fixed in the coupler element to form part of it, then bi-directional energy absorption is achieved, but the coupler element length increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer element is received within a cavity in the coupler element, with the buffer column extending through the coupler element. This nesting arrangement allows the buffer to be integrated into the coupler structure without significantly increasing the overall length, as the buffer occupies internal space rather than extending externally.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the buffer in the longitudinal direction (series connection), the buffer is positioned transversely within the coupler element structure. The buffer column extends through the coupler element in a direction that utilizes the transverse dimension, allowing energy absorption functionality without increasing the longitudinal length of the coupler assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coupler accommodates track curves and undulations, then flexibility is improved, but compressive forces become mis-aligned with the longitudinal axis increasing damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer element is pre-positioned within the coupler element cavity to provide cushioning before mis-aligned forces can cause damage. The elastomeric buffer material is already in place to absorb and redistribute compressive forces that may become mis-aligned during operation on curved or undulating tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer element is made of elastomeric material that combines flexibility with shock-absorbing properties. This composite material approach allows the buffer to accommodate mis-aligned forces through elastic deformation while dissipating energy, reducing the risk of damage to rigid coupler components.
3Volume of moving object
If elastomeric elements are combined into the space between gimbals for compactness, then space efficiency is improved, but wear of elastomeric components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer element is extracted from the internal space between gimbals and repositioned within the coupler element cavity. This extraction removes the elastomeric component from the high-wear region between gimbals while maintaining compact overall dimensions, as the buffer fits within the existing coupler element volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer element serves as an intermediary between the coupler element and the buffer column. This intermediary position allows the elastomeric buffer to absorb forces before they reach critical components, protecting against wear while maintaining a compact arrangement where the buffer is integrated into the coupler structure rather than occupying space between gimbals.
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 provides a compact, effective energy absorption system that reduces the risk of damage from high-frequency impacts and minimizes space requirements within the vehicle, allowing for additional equipment and easier maintenance, while ensuring continued articulation of coupled vehicles post-impact.
Implementation Method 1
a reversible buffer that attenuates buff and draft forces acting between the free end and the mounting
Implementation Method 2
a non-reversible buffer that attenuates buff forces acting between the free end and the mounting and attaining or exceeding a predetermined energy threshold
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A coupler (10) comprises at least a first gimbal (31; 32) defining a pivot that is secured to a mounting (41) for securing to a frame member of a vehicle, the pivot also being secured to a buffer column (39) part of which protrudes on an opposite side of the pivot to the mounting (41) such that the buffer column (39) is moveable relative to the mounting (41) with at least two degrees of freedom. The buffer column (39) defines a free (42) end that is remote from the mounting (41) and that is securable to a further member. The buffer column (39) also includes both a reversible buffer that attenuates buff and draft forces acting between the free end (42) and the mounting (41) and also a non-reversible buffer that attenuates buff forces acting between the free end (42) and the mounting (41) and attaining or exceeding a predetermined energy threshold, the reversible and non-reversible buffers overlapping over at least part of their lengths in the buffer column (39) which in turn overlaps at least one of the pivots..