Railway Coupling Lateral Adjustment Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for moving railway vehicle couplings laterally require significant tractive force, making the operation difficult and potentially unsafe, and often involve complex constructions like worm screws.
Innovation Solution
A manually operable tool with an actuation mechanism that includes a support fixed on the chassis, an actuation rod connecting the hitch and support, and an operating member that allows for rotation to drive the actuation mechanism, enabling lateral movement with moderate effort and without direct traction on the hitch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple rod with fork is used to move the coupling, then the device complexity is low, but the operator must apply significant tractive force making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an actuating mechanism as an intermediary between the operator and the coupling. This mechanism includes an actuating rod connected to both the coupling and the chassis, allowing the operator to apply force indirectly through the mechanism rather than directly to the coupling, thereby reducing the effort required.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating mechanism provides a mechanical advantage system that counteracts the significant tractive force normally required to move the coupling. By using the chassis as a fixed reference point and the actuating rod as a lever arm, the system reduces the operator's input force requirement.
2Reliability
If direct traction is applied to the hitch by the operator, then the device complexity is low, but the operator safety is compromised due to the need to be on the track
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating mechanism serves as a mediator that allows the operator to move the coupling from a safe position on the platform rather than from the track. The mechanism transmits the operator's force through the actuating rod to the coupling, eliminating the safety hazard of standing on the track.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is segmented into distinct components: a support fixed to the chassis, an actuating rod connecting the support to the coupling, and an operating member. This segmentation allows the force application point to be separated from the coupling movement point, enabling safe operation from the platform.
3Ease of operation
If a worm screw mechanism is used to achieve lateral movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of mechanical advantage from the complex worm screw mechanism and implements it through a simpler actuating rod system. By removing the unnecessary complexity of the worm screw while retaining the force multiplication effect, the solution achieves ease of operation with reduced device complexity.
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
Facilitates easy and safe lateral movement of the hitch with substantial traction force applied via the actuation mechanism, reducing operator effort and improving safety by allowing movement without needing to be on the track.
Implementation Method 1
the actuating mechanism (18) configured to be arranged between the coupling (12) and the support (20) fixed on the chassis of the railway vehicle (4) so as to apply a significant tractive force to the coupling (12) to move it laterally
Implementation Method 2
an operating member (24) mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation, the rotation of the operating member (24) making it possible to manually drive the actuating mechanism (18)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The tool (6) is manually operable to move a coupling (12) of a railway vehicle (4) laterally relative to a chassis of the railway vehicle (4), the tool (6) comprising: - a support (20) configured to be fixed on the chassis of the railway vehicle (4); - an actuating mechanism (18) configured to be disposed between the coupling (12) and the support (20) fixed on the chassis of the railway vehicle (4) so as to act on the coupling (12) and the support (20) to bring them closer together or further apart; and - a actuating member (24) mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation, the rotation of the actuating member (24) allowing the actuating mechanism (18) to be manually driven to bring the coupling (12) and the support (20) closer together or further apart.