Rotating Air Hose Hanger for Rail Car Couplers
Solution Overview
Problem
Cushioned couplers on autorack train cars face challenges in maintaining the specified distance for air hose support, leading to air hose separation issues due to varying rail car geometries and the need for adaptable brake hose supports that move in tandem with the couplers.
Innovation Solution
An air hose hanger with a two-piece design, featuring a bolt-on head and interchangeable arm extensions, utilizes lightener holes and a third mounting point for secure attachment to couplers, allowing 360° rotation to accommodate hose slack and prevent separation, suitable for different coupler types and geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed hanger bracket is used to maintain the air hose at a specified distance from the ground, then the AAR standard distance is maintained, but the hose separation occurs when the coupler moves in and out or when cars move through curves
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger bracket is designed with a rotating joint that allows it to pivot and follow the movement of the coupler head. This dynamic adjustment maintains the vertical distance from the ground while accommodating horizontal movements during coupling operations and curve traversal, preventing hose separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger bracket's orientation parameter is made variable through the rotating joint, allowing it to change angle dynamically. This enables the bracket to maintain the critical vertical distance parameter while adapting to changing horizontal positions of the coupler, resolving the contradiction between fixed distance requirements and movement accommodation.
2Device complexity
If a universal hanger design is used for all rail car geometries, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to maintain specified distances varies across different car types
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger bracket is designed as a universal component that can be applied to various coupler types and rail car geometries. The rotating joint provides the adaptability needed to maintain the specified vertical distance across different applications without requiring multiple specialized designs, thus achieving universality without sacrificing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotating capability of the hanger bracket allows a single universal design to adapt to different geometries and positions. This eliminates the need for multiple fixed designs for different car types while maintaining the required distance precision through automatic angular adjustment.
3Strength
If the hanger bracket is rigidly fixed to the coupler head, then structural strength is improved, but the hose cannot accommodate coupler movement and separation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger bracket incorporates a rotating joint that provides mechanical strength through a robust pivot mechanism while enabling the necessary movement. This dynamic connection maintains structural integrity during coupling operations and curve traversal while preventing hose separation, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger bracket is divided into segments: a rigid mounting portion attached to the coupler head and a rotating connection portion that interfaces with the hose. This segmentation allows the rigid portion to provide strength while the rotating portion accommodates movement, preventing hose separation.
Data Source
AI summary
An air hose hanger for supporting flexible air hoses of a trainline braking system of a rail car includes a head including a mounting plate for mounting the hanger to a coupler of a rail car, the mounting plate including first and second apertures for receiving first and second bolts for attaching the mounting plate to the coupler, and an arm removably attached to the head. The arm includes a first arm removably attached to the head extending in a substantially vertical direction away from the head, and a second arm integral with the first arm and extending in a horizontal direction substantially parallel to an axis of the coupler. The head is attached to the coupler at three preformed holes formed in the coupler, the three preformed holes including two lightener holes preformed in the coupler, and an aperture preformed in a tab on an underside of the coupler.