Rail Vehicle Coupling Head One-Piece Housing Force Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling heads for rail vehicles fail to adequately absorb high tensile and compressive forces during coupling and operation, as these forces are directed to locks and bearings within the housing, leading to inadequate force absorption.
Innovation Solution
A compact, one-piece pot-shaped housing with an abutment surface on the front and a connecting flange on the rear, integrated with a known coupling and locking mechanism, featuring a pivotable bolt and lever system for automatic coupling and decoupling, and reinforced with angled line walls and guide vanes for enhanced strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a multi-part housing with locks and bearings is used, then the coupling head can be assembled with standard components, but the housing cannot adequately absorb high tensile and compressive forces during coupling and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (housing, locks, bearings) into a single integrated one-piece cast housing structure. This consolidation allows the housing itself to directly bear and distribute the high tensile and compressive forces during coupling and operation, eliminating the weakness of force transmission through multiple bearing interfaces while maintaining manufacturability through casting processes
2Ease of operation
If forces are directed to locks and bearings in the housing, then the coupling mechanism can function, but the forces are not adequately absorbed during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specially designed one-piece housing structure as an intermediary element that mediates between the coupling mechanism and the external forces. This housing acts as a force-distributing structure that absorbs and disperses tensile and compressive forces throughout its monolithic structure, protecting the locking mechanism while maintaining operational reliability
3Strength
If a compact one-piece pot-shaped housing is used, then the coupling head can absorb high forces effectively, but the production process becomes more specialized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs casting technology to manufacture the one-piece pot-shaped housing, representing a parameter change in the manufacturing process. This casting approach enables the production of complex monolithic structures with integrated force-bearing features that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional assembly methods, while maintaining industrial manufacturability through established foundry processes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A coupling head, particularly for a rail vehicle, is provided with a housing (20) which has a contact surface (12) on its front for a flat contact surface with the contact surface of a coupling head to be coupled, and a connecting flange (11) on its rear for attachment with a drawbar or similar device. A coupling and locking mechanism (30) is also integrated into the housing (20). The housing (20) is essentially manufactured as a one-piece cup shape, with the contact surface (12) formed on the front wall (21) and the connecting flange (11) on the rear wall (22). Due to its design with this compact housing, the coupling head is optimally equipped to absorb the very high tensile and compressive forces that occur during the coupling process and in the coupled rail vehicles during operation, particularly during acceleration or braking.