US-12623699-B2 - Coupler for a rail vehicle and rail vehicle with a coupler

US12623699B2US 12623699 B2US12623699 B2US 12623699B2US-12623699-B2

Abstract

A coupler for a rail vehicle comprising: a front portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion; a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis from the rear end to the forward end, and a pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, the pivot anchor configured to be attached to a car of a rail vehicle, a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about an pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the pivot axis so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion, wherein the coupler further comprises a crash plate attached to the forward end of the rear portion by way of a crash plate joint, the crash plate joint configured to allow the crash plate to pivot in relation to the rear portion about an pivot axis from an operational position in which the crash plate is arranged in front of the rear portion to a pivoted position in which the crash plate is pivoted about the pivot axis to a side position.

Inventors

Tomasz Czerwiński
Abdelkader Ahmed Chawki SAFFIH

Assignees

DELLNER COUPLERS AB

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221207
Priority Date: 20211208

Claims (16)

1 . A coupler for a rail vehicle comprising: a front portion having a forward end and a rear end; a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion; a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis (A) from the rear end to the forward end; a pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, the pivot anchor configured to be attached to a car of a rail vehicle; a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about a first pivot axis (B) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the first pivot axis (B) so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion; wherein the coupler further comprises a crash plate attached to the forward end of the rear portion by way of a crash plate joint, the crash plate joint configured to allow the crash plate to pivot in relation to the rear portion about a second pivot axis (C) from an operational position in which the crash plate is arranged in front of the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the crash plate is pivoted about the second pivot axis (C) to a side position.
2 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the rear portion is non-pivotably attached to the pivot anchor.
3 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the second pivot axis (C) of the crash plate joint is parallel to the first pivot axis (B) of the joint.
4 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot movement of the crash plate about the second pivot axis (C) is synchronized to the pivot movement of the front portion about the first pivot axis (B).
5 . The coupler according to claim 4 , wherein the crash plate joint has a pin with an endsurface, which endsurface is arranged perpendicular to the second pivot axis (C) and the joint has a pin with an endsurface, which joint pin endsurface is arranged perpendicular to the first pivot axis (B) and wherein a bar is provided, wherein one end of the bar is attached to the endsurface of the pin of the crash plate joint, wherein the attachment is off centre on the crash plate joint pin endsurface and rotatable; and a further end of the bar is attached to the endsurface of the pin of said joint, wherein the attachment is off center on the joint pin endsurface and rotatable.
6 . The coupler according to claim 1 , further comprising a tube provided on a back of the crash plate, wherein an end of the tube rests against the forward end of the rear portion when the crash plate is in the operational position.
7 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the crash plate has an anti-climbing surface.
8 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the crash plate comprises a horizontal alignment device for preventing movement in a horizontal direction of a mating coupler.
9 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than 90°.
10 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than 45°.
11 . The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the rear portion and/or the pivot anchor comprises an energy dissipating element that will be destructed when a force of a certain force level is applied to the energy dissipating element.
12 . A rail vehicle with a coupler comprising: a car body; a coupler connected to the car body; wherein the coupler comprises a front portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion; a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis (A) from the rear end to the forward end; and a pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, the pivot anchor configured to be attached to a car of a rail vehicle; a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about a first pivot axis (B) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the first pivot axis (B) so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion; wherein the coupler further comprises a crash plate attached to the forward end of the rear portion by way of a crash plate joint, the crash plate joint configured to allow the crash plate to pivot in relation to the rear portion about a second pivot axis (C) from an operational position in which the crash plate is arranged in front of the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the crash plate is pivoted about the second pivot axis (C) to a side position.
13 . The rail vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the coupler is connected to an underframe of the car body.
14 . The rail vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the coupler comprises a frame plate that connects to the underframe.
15 . The rail vehicle of claim 14 , wherein a guiderail forms part of said underframe.
16 . The rail vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a guide wheel that is supported by the guiderail when the front portion is in the pivoted position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to a coupler for a rail vehicle. The invention also pertains to a rail vehicle with a coupler. SUMMARY Such coupler comprises: a front portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion;a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis from the rear end to the forward end, anda pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, the pivot anchor being configured to be attached to a car of a rail vehicle,a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint being configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about an pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the pivot axis so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion. If the coupler is not in use, it is advantageous that the front portion does not protrude from the front of a rail vehicle to save space and to avoid collision with other parts. In order to retract the coupler and to place it in close proximity to the underframe of the rail vehicle, the front portion is pivotable in relation to the rear portion. However, when the coupler is in the retracted position, a damage of the coupler due to accidental collision with mating couplers might occur. If at least one of the mating couplers is not in a position ready for coupling while the coupling process is running, severe damage might occur to the couplers. For example, the forward portion of one coupler rams the joint of the other coupler and damages or destroys it. A reason for the circumstance that a coupler is not in a position ready for coupling while coupling is carried out might be a malfunction of the coupler not allowing a pivoting of the forward portion in relation to the rear portion. Another reason might be that activating such pivoting has been forgotten by the operator. Therefore, the problem to be solved is to provide a coupler with a pivotable front portion that is better protected for crash scenarios. This problem is solved by the coupler and rail vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The basic idea of the invention is to provide a protective device which is arranged and designed to prevent or reduce damage to the mounting arm (front portion) and/or the coupling arm (rear portion) and/or the joint caused by impact forces. Such a protective device can be a crash plate attached to the forward end of the rear portion by way of a crash plate joint, the crash plate joint being configured to allow the crash plate to pivot in relation to the rear portion about an pivot axis from an operational position in which the crash plate is arranged in front of the rear portion to a pivoted position in which the crash plate is pivoted about the pivot axis to a side position. The crash plate protects the coupler—in particular the front portion, rear portion and the joint—from being damaged by a crash caused by a collision with a mating coupler, when the coupler is not in a position ready for coupling. In a preferred embodiment, the crash plate has a substantially vertical front surface. In particular, the surface is preferably even. It is advantageous that the surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rear portion. The term “substantially perpendicular” also comprise a deviation from 90° of at most 5°, 10° or 20°. Alternatively, the surface might have a different shape, for example a curved one. Also, anti-climbing features may be arranged on the front surface of the crash plate. The crash plate is arranged in front of the front portion (also designated as forward portion), the rear portion and the joint when the front portion is in the pivoted position. In particular, the crash plate is the part of the coupler protruding at most from the rail vehicle, when the front portion is in the pivoted position. Therewith, the crash plate can act as a protective shield avoiding damage to the front portion, rear portion and the joint. In a preferred embodiment the rear portion is non-pivotably attached to the pivot anchor. In a preferred embodiment the attachment of the rear portion allows for a first attachment condition, in which the rear portion is non-pivotably attached to the pivot anchor and a second attachment condition, in which the rear portion is pivotably attached to the pivot anchor. This can be provided by a joint and a pin, the joint allowing for the pivotable arrangement and the pin, when inserted into appropriate holes in the parts that would otherwise pivot allowing for a non-pivotable attachment. In a preferred embodiment the crash plate can be