Crash energy management systems for car coupling systems of rail cars
AssigneeAmsted Rail Company, Inc.
InventorScott A. Keener
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crash energy management system is configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle. The crash energy management system includes a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs. A rear sub-assembly is coupled to the front sub-assembly, and includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate.
Claims24
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate,
- wherein the guide legs are configured to move over portions of the front central plate and the rear central plate as the front central tube deforms.
A method of forming a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the method comprising:
- extending a coupler outwardly from a first end of a draft sill;
- disposing a first stop within the draft sill;
- disposing a draft gear having a yoke within the draft sill;
- connecting the coupler to the draft gear;
- disposing a second stop within the draft sill;
- and
- disposing a crash energy management system within the draft sill between the draft gear and the second stop, wherein the crash energy management system comprises:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate.
A car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the car coupling system comprising:
- a draft sill;
- a coupler extending outwardly from a first end of the draft sill;
- a first stop within the draft sill;
- a draft gear having a yoke within the draft sill, wherein the coupler connects to the draft gear;
- a second stop within the draft sill;
- and
- a crash energy management system disposed between the draft gear and the second stop within the draft sill, wherein the crash energy management system comprises:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate.
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate,
- wherein one or more of the stop walls comprises a recess pocket that exposes one or more weld lines of the front central plate and the rear central plate.
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate,
- wherein the stop walls are welded to the front central plate and the rear central plate.
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate,
- wherein each of the front central plate and the rear central plate is half the thickness of each of the front end plate and the rear end plate.
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs, wherein one or both of the front end plate or the front central plate comprises a front central bore that allows for welding to an inner diameter of the front central tube;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate, wherein one or both of the rear end plate or the rear central plate comprises a rear central bore that allows for welding to an inner diameter of the rear central tube.
A crash energy management system configured to be disposed within a draft sill of a car coupling system for a rail vehicle, the crash energy management system comprising:
- a front sub-assembly including a front end plate, guide legs extending between the front end plate and a front central plate, a front central tube extending between the front end plate and the front central plate, and stop walls coupled to the guide legs;
- and
- a rear sub-assembly coupled to the front sub-assembly, wherein the rear sub-assembly includes a rear end plate, a rear central plate, and a rear central tube extending between the rear end plate and the rear central plate,
- wherein each of the front central tube and the rear central tube has a length, an outer diameter, and a wall thickness, wherein a ratio of the length to the outer diameter is 2:1, and wherein a ratio of the outer diameter to the wall thickness is 8:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.