Rail Vehicle Coupling Deflection Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern rail vehicles with central buffer couplings face challenges in dissipating kinetic energy during collisions, especially when there is insufficient axial free space, leading to potential parallel load paths and increased forces on the vehicle structure and passengers.
Innovation Solution
An arrangement featuring a coupling plate with a recess and a shear plate connected to the coupling holder, allowing the separated coupling to deflect downwards, avoiding parallel load paths and ensuring optimal operation of crash elements, even in cramped spaces, by using a shear plate that becomes freely movable and is oriented at an angle to cover underframe components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the coupling is separated from the car body at a predetermined shearing point, then the kinetic energy can be dissipated effectively, but sufficient axial free space is required which is not available in many vehicle designs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the movement direction of the separated coupling from purely axial (longitudinal) to a three-dimensional path by introducing a shear plate with a recess that guides the coupling downwards and outwards. This dimensional change allows the coupling to clear the axial space constraint while maintaining effective separation for energy dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shear plate is designed to become freely movable after the connecting elements fail, allowing the plate itself to deflect and guide the coupling in a dynamic manner. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt to the available space while ensuring proper separation trajectory.
2Reliability
If the coupling is separated axially, then the overload safety device functions correctly, but parallel load paths are created when axial free space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
By guiding the separated coupling through a three-dimensional path involving downward and outward movement rather than purely axial separation, the invention prevents the creation of parallel load paths through the vehicle structure while maintaining reliable overload protection function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If crash elements are used to dissipate remaining kinetic energy, then passenger safety is improved, but forces on the vehicle structure increase if parallel load paths exist
Solution Approach 1:
The three-dimensional separation path ensures that the coupling moves away from the vehicle structure in a direction that avoids creating parallel load paths, thereby allowing crash elements to dissipate energy without imposing excessive forces on the vehicle structure.
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
This solution enables effective separation of the coupling in cramped conditions, preventing collisions with underframe components and ensuring that crash elements can function optimally by deflecting the coupling downwards, thereby reducing forces on passengers and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the shear plate and the coupling holder being connected to the coupling plate by means of connecting elements, with a predetermined breaking point, in particular in the area of contact surfaces, of the connecting elements
Implementation Method 2
the direction of movement of the separated coupling is deflected, in particular downwards (in the direction of the track bed)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement for deflecting a central buffer coupling (4) of a rail vehicle (1), which coupling has become unhitched in the course of a collision due to the failure of an overload safety device (9), comprising a coupling plate (2) and a coupling support (3) fixed to said coupling plate (2), wherein an aperture (12) is provided in the coupling plate (2), through which aperture a coupling (4) passes after the failure of an overload safety device (9). A shear plate (5) is provided behind said aperture (12) and is connected to the coupling support (3) and the coupling plate (2) by means of connecting elements (6), wherein the coupling (4) penetrating through the aperture (12) severs the connecting elements (6), whereby the shear plate (5) and the coupling support (3) become freely movable.