Railway Coupling Guide Frame for Stable Connecting Head Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling systems for rail vehicles lack stability in mounting, particularly due to angular adjustments of pressing means perpendicular to the axial direction, leading to instability and inefficient energy absorption.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a connecting head with a joint head and guide frame, featuring sliding guides, enhances stability by allowing longitudinal guidance and increased guide length, along with a pressure element forming a contact surface with a pivoted connecting link, ensuring proper alignment and energy absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pressing means is mounted displaceably in a guide for pressing against a rear end face of the connecting member, then the connecting head can accommodate angular adjustments, but the mounting stability deteriorates due to angular adjustments of the abutment surface perpendicular to the axial direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmounting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting head is divided into a joint head and a guide frame that can move relative to each other along the axial direction. This segmentation allows the guide frame to accommodate angular adjustments through axial movement while the joint head maintains stable mounting in the housing structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and mounting stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide frame acts as an intermediary element between the joint head and the pressing means. It absorbs the angular adjustments through its ability to move axially relative to the joint head, preventing these adjustments from affecting the mounting stability of the joint head in the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the guide length of the connecting head in the housing structure is increased, then the mounting stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidguide structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding function is segmented between the housing structure (providing external guidance) and the guide frame (providing internal guidance). This segmentation achieves extended effective guide length and improved mounting stability without requiring a single complex guide structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the pressure element is fastened to the guide frame, then the guidance stability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mounting components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide frame combines multiple functions: it provides guidance for the joint head, serves as a mounting base for the pressure element, and accommodates axial movement. By merging these functions into a single component, the design achieves improved guidance stability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration provides improved guidance and stability, allowing for efficient energy absorption and reduced angular adjustments, enhancing the overall performance of the coupling system.

Implementation Method 1

corresponding sliding guides, in which the joint head is guided longitudinally in the axial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSliding contact: Friction

Implementation Method 2

spring elements arranged in a row on the pull rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4588751A1Device with a traction and buffing device of a coupling system for a railway vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 FAIVELEY TRANSPORT SCHWAB AG
  • EP4588751A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4588751A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4588751A1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

A device (10) with a pulling and pushing device of a coupling system for a rail vehicle is provided with a housing structure (13), at least one support element (17) arranged in this housing structure, a drawbar (14) mounted displaceably in the axial direction (A) by the support element, and a connecting head (20) adjacent to this drawbar. The connecting head (20) has a joint head (22) and at least one guide frame (30) mounted in the housing structure (13) with corresponding sliding guides (31, 32), wherein the joint head (22) is guided longitudinally in the axial direction (A) in the guide frame (30). Very advantageously, the connecting head (20) is assigned a pressing means (40) which forms an abutment surface (41) on the front side and which can be brought into contact with an end face (38) of a connecting member (29) which can be pivoted on the connecting head (20), at least when the latter is pivoted.This provides improved guidance and a more stable mounting of the connecting head within the overall housing structure. Furthermore, this guide frame increases the guide length of the connecting head within the housing structure, which has a very beneficial effect on the intended stability of the device.