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EP-4741248-A1 - TRACTION-BUFFER DEVICE

EP4741248A1EP 4741248 A1EP4741248 A1EP 4741248A1EP-4741248-A1

Abstract

The invention pertains to the field of transport engineering and relates to traction-buffer devices and absorbing apparatuses installed between railcars in a train set. The objective is to limit the angular movement of the support part of the support element within the guide assembly relative to the longitudinal axis. This objective is achieved by a traction-buffer device comprising a traction-bearing rod positioned along the longitudinal axis of the unit, capable of contacting the support part of the support element. The device also includes a housing with a front part, a rear part, and walls, with traction elements housed inside. The rear part of these traction elements contains a traction-support element. Additionally, a spring device is placed within the housing, situated between a rear stop element and a traction-buffer stop, which restricts movement towards the front part of the housing. Distinctive features include a stop in the rear part of the housing, which maintains movable contact with the housing walls, while the traction-buffer stop restricts movement towards the rear part of the housing. Further details of the invention's components are also described.

Inventors

  • Halavach, Aleh
  • Prakopchyk, Andrei

Assignees

  • UAB Kraftler

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241106

Claims (15)

  1. A traction-buffer device made with the possibility of its installation in a pocket (3) of a railroad coupling unit provided with a front stop (1) and a rear stop (2), and containing along the longitudinal axis (O1) of this unit a traction-bearing rod (4) made with the possibility of contact with a support part (5) of a support element (6), and also a housing (7) having a front part (8), rear part (9) and walls (10), wherein inside said housing (7) are placed traction elements (11), the rear part of which contains a support and traction-support element (12), furthermore, the housing (7) contains a spring device (13) arranged between the rear stop element (14) and a traction and buffer stop (15) made with the possibility of limiting movement towards the front part (8) of the housing (7), differing in that in the rear part (9) of the housing (7) there is located a stop (16) in movable contact with its walls (10), which is also located in contact with the rear stop (2), wherein the traction-buffer stop (15) is made with restriction of movement towards the rear part (9) of the housing (7), wherein the traction-buffer stop (15) and the housing (7) can be moved together towards the rear stop (2) and their joint movement towards the front stop (1) can be restricted, and the support-pulling element (12) can be moved together with the traction-buffer stop (15) and the housing (7) along the longitudinal axis (O1) towards the rear stop (2) to ensure compression of the spring device (13) in the buffer mode, wherein the support element (6), the traction elements (11) and their support and traction-support element (12) are combined in a guide assembly (T1) made with walls (17) and installed inside the housing (7), and the walls (17) of the guide assembly (T1) may be in contact with the walls (10) of the housing (7) with the function of moving the said guide assembly (T1) relative to the longitudinal axis (O1), and also relative thereto with the function of limiting the angular displacement of the support part (5) of the support element (6) relative to the longitudinal axis (O1).
  2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide assembly (T1) is made with contact with the inner surfaces of the walls (10) of the housing (7), with one guide catch (18-1) on the walls (17) of the guide assembly (T1) and other guide catches (18-2) on the walls (10) of the housing (7) with the function of limiting the rotation of the guide assembly (T1) in the housing (7).
  3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide assembly (T1) is made with a cavity (19) and with a retainer (20) located therein, made to allow its movement along the longitudinal axis (O1) with its location within said cavity (19) and with the possibility of contacting the support and pulling element (12).
  4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (6), the traction elements (11) and the support and traction-support element (12) of the guide assembly (T1) are combined into a single unit.
  5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the length (a) of the guide assembly (T1) is greater than the distance (b) between its opposite walls (17).
  6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a traction unit (21) is mounted along the longitudinal axis (O1), and inside the guide unit (T1) there is a cavity (19) in which the said traction unit (21) is located at one end and fixed by a nut-shaped retainer (20), wherein the cavity (19) of the guide unit (T1) has a hole (22) with a length (d) of more than 45 mm on the side of the walls (10) of the housing (7).
  7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (7) has an additional element (23) made with the function of differentiating the spring device (13) into front and rear parts (13-1 and 13-2).
  8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the walls (10) of the housing (7) are provided with limiters (24) arranged with the function of contacting the additional element (23) with the function of limiting the compression of the front part (13-1) of the spring device (13) in the traction mode.
  9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the body (7) has a traction unit (21), the rear part (21-2) of which is made with a support element (25) fixed thereon and arranged with the possibility of moving relative to the rear stop element (14) towards the front part (8) of the body (7), the support element (25) being arranged in contact with the additional element (23) with the possibility of compressing the front part (13-1) of the spring device (13) in the traction mode.
  10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that a traction unit (21) is mounted in the housing (7), wherein the rear part (21-2) of the traction unit (21) is made with a support element (25) and is fixed by a rear retainer (20-2) with the possibility of moving together with the rear stop element (14) towards the front part (8) of the housing (7), whereby the stop element (25) is arranged in contact with the additional element (23) so as to enable compression of the front part (13-1) of the spring device (13) in traction mode.
  11. The device according to any one of claims 6-10, characterized in that the housing (7) includes an additional spring device (26) arranged between the support and traction-support element (12) and the traction-buffer stop (15).
  12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that a traction unit (21) is mounted along the longitudinal axis (O1), wherein its front part (21-1) with a retainer (20) mounted thereon is arranged inside the guide assembly (T1), and its rear part (21-2) is passed through the rear stop element (14) and secured by the rear retainer (20-2), the traction unit (21) being embraced by the spring devices (13, 26).
  13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, or claim 6, or claim 12, characterized in that an internal spring device (27) is arranged at the front of the guide assembly (T1).
  14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the guide assembly (T1) is provided with a limiting lock (28), made with the function of setting a gap (c) between the stop-pull rod (4) and the support member (6).
  15. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the internal spring device (27) is made with the function of setting an additional gap (n) between the support element and the support-pulling element (6, 12).

Description

The invention pertains to the field of transport engineering, specifically to absorbing devices and traction-buffer devices installed between railcars in a train set. Various designs of traction-buffer devices are known, for example, the energy-absorbing device [1, Patent EP4342763A1, IPC B61G9/06, priority date 20.09.2022, published 27.03.2024], which is taken as the prototype. This device includes a housing consisting of two chambers, the first and second, bounded by a front and a rear plate. Elastic-deformable elements are placed in both chambers, with the chambers positioned respectively in the front and rear parts of the housing. The front plate of one chamber is connected to the rear plate of the other. The traction force compresses the first chamber, while the buffer force compresses both chambers. The prototype [1] has drawbacks, such as insufficiently reliable retention of the fork against skewing relative to the longitudinal axis and inadequate centering of the front and rear plates of the housing that contact the elastic-deformable elements of the chambers. The identified drawback of the aforementioned design option for the traction-buffer device sets the invention's objective-to restrict angular movement of the support part of the support element within the guide assembly relative to the longitudinal axis. The invention's structure is illustrated in Figures 1-15. The objectives are achieved by configuring the traction-buffer device (Figures 1, 2, 6-15) for installation in the coupling unit of a railcar equipped with a front stop (1) and a rear stop (2) within a pocket (3) and comprising a traction-bearing rod (4) arranged along the longitudinal axis (O1) and capable of contacting the support part (5) of the support element (6), as well as a housing (7) with a front part (8), a rear part (9), and walls (10). Inside this housing (7), traction elements (11) are placed, with the rear part containing a traction-support element (12). The housing (7) includes a spring device (13) positioned between a rear stop element (14) and a traction-buffer stop (15), which restricts movement towards the front part (8) of the housing (7). The traction-buffer device distinguishes itself from the prototype [1] by having a stop (16) in the rear part (9) of the housing (7), which is in movable contact with its walls (10) and also with the rear stop (2). The traction-buffer stop (15) is restricted from moving towards the rear part (9) of the housing (7), enabling joint movement of the traction-buffer stop (15) and the housing (7) towards the rear stop (2) while limiting their combined movement towards the front stop (1). The support element (6), traction elements (11), and traction-support element (12) are combined into a guide assembly (T1), which has walls (17) and is installed inside the housing (7). The walls (17) of the guide assembly (T1) can contact the walls (10) of the housing (7) to allow movement of the guide assembly (T1) along the longitudinal axis (O1) and to limit angular movement of the support part (5) of the support element (6) relative to the longitudinal axis (O1). The above distinguishing features ensure restriction of angular movement of the guide assembly (T1) relative to the longitudinal axis (O1), preventing skewing of the traction-bearing rod (4) and enhancing the reliability of centering the front and rear parts (8, 9) of the housing. Additional distinguishing features of the invention aimed at enhancing the aforementioned advantages include: the guide assembly (T1) is configured for contact with the inner surfaces of the walls (10) of the housing (7), with one set of guide catches (18-1) on the walls (17) of the guide assembly (T1) and another set of guide catches (18-2) on the walls (10) of the housing (7) to limit rotation of the guide assembly (T1) within the housing (7);the guide assembly (T1) has a cavity (19), with a retainer (20) inside it that allows movement along the longitudinal axis (O1) within the cavity (19) and can contact the traction-support element (12);the support element (6), traction elements (11), and traction-support element (12) of the guide assembly (T1) are integrated;the length (a) of the guide assembly (T1) is greater than the distance (b) between its opposite walls (17);along the longitudinal axis (O1), a traction unit (21) is installed, and within the guide assembly (T1), a cavity (19) is created, housing one end of the traction unit (21), fixed by a retainer (20) in the shape of a nut, with a hole (22) of length (d) over 45 mm on the side of the walls (10) of the housing (7);an additional element (23) in the housing (7) divides the spring device (13) into front and rear parts (13-1 and 13-2);limiters (24) are installed on the walls (10) of the housing (7) to contact the additional element (23), restricting compression of the front part (13-1) of the spring device (13) in traction mode;a traction unit (21) with a rear part (21-2) having a fixed stop element (25)