Energy dissipating device and connection device comprising such an energy dissipating device

An energy dissipating device, comprising:

• a guide defining a guide surface having a curved cross-section;
• a deformer slideably supported by the guide surface of the guide in a compression stroke direction of the device;
• a stopper fixedly attached to the device and arranged at a distance from the deformer in the compression stroke direction;
• and
• an energy dissipating member arranged between the stopper and the deformer in the compression stroke direction, the energy dissipating member comprising a first end configured to engage with the stopper and a second end configured to engage with the deformer in response to a force thereon in the compression stroke direction,
• wherein the deformer deforms the energy dissipating member by compressing the energy dissipating member radially inwards when moving towards the stopper to the extent that the energy dissipating member is partially received within the deformer;
• and
• wherein the stopper comprises a ring-shaped body attached to an open end of the guide.

An energy dissipating device suitable to be used as part of a connection device that connects a first car of a multi-car vehicle with a second car of the multi-car vehicle, comprising:

• an energy dissipating member that dissipates energy when it is deformed, the energy dissipating member having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being spaced apart from each other in a compression stroke direction;
• a stopper defining a stopping surface, wherein when the first end of the energy dissipating member is in contact with the stopping surface, the stopping surface preventing motion of the first end in the compression stroke direction;
• a deformer for contacting the second end of the energy dissipating member and held apart from the stopper by the energy dissipating member, wherein the deformer can be moved towards the stopper by an application of a linear force pointing in the compression stroke direction that is larger than a predetermined threshold value and wherein the deformer deforms the energy dissipating member by radially compressing the energy dissipating member inwards when moving towards the stopper;
• and
• a guide supporting the deformer so as to guide the deformer to move in the compression stroke direction, the guide comprising a three-dimensional guide surface supporting a surface of the deformer, wherein the guide surface extends in a direction parallel to the compression stroke direction and that the cross-section of the guide surface in a plane that is normal to the compression stroke direction has the form of an arc or the form of a ring.

A connection device for connecting a first car of a multi-car vehicle with a second car of the multi-car vehicle, comprising:

• a first part, comprising one of a connection rod, a coupler rod, or an articulated joint;
• and
• a second part, integrated into the first part, comprising an energy dissipating device, the energy dissipating device comprising:
• an energy dissipating member comprising a first end and a second end spaced apart from one another in a compression stroke direction;
• a stopper defining a stopping surface configured to engage the first end of the energy dissipating member for preventing movement of the energy dissipating member in the compression stroke direction;
• a deformer arranged adjacent the second end of the energy dissipating member;
• and
• a guide defining a guide surface slideably supporting the deformer in the compression stroke direction, wherein the guide surface extends in a direction of the compression stroke and comprises a curved cross-section in a plane normal to the compression stroke direction, and wherein a portion of the guide surface extending in the compression stroke direction is configured for surface to surface contact with an outer surface of the deformer;
• wherein the stopper comprises a ring-shaped body attached to an open end of the guide;
• and
• wherein the energy dissipating member is configured to deform radially inward when the deformer is urged towards the stopper by an application of a linear force acting in the compression stroke direction.