Coupler, coupler system having a first coupler and a second coupler, and method for coupling

A coupler system comprising:

• a first coupler;
• and
• a second coupler;
• wherein each of said first coupler and second coupler comprises a coupler interface having a top, a bottom, and a center line centrally between the top and the bottom, the coupler interface comprising a protruding cone, a matching cup and at least two guiding elements, wherein a height of the coupler from the center line of the coupler interface to the top of the coupler interface Is smaller than 200 millimeters (mm);
• wherein two of the at least two guiding elements are laterally arranged to the cone and cup, wherein the lateral arrangement of one of the two guiding elements is proximal to the cone and distal to the cup, and the lateral arrangement of another one of the two guiding elements is distal to the cone and proximal to the cup, wherein one of the two guiding elements has a clamp- like design and another one of the two guiding elements has a tooth-shaped design;
• and
• wherein when the first and second couplers are coupled together;
• (a) the protruding cone of the first coupler is arranged in the matching cup of the second coupler, and the protruding cone of the second coupler is arranged in the matching cup of the first coupler and (b) the guiding element having the clamp-like design of the first coupler is adapted to embrace the guiding element having the tooth-shaped design of the second coupler, and the guiding element having the clamp-like design of the second coupler is adapted to embrace the guiding element having the tooth-shaped design of the first coupler.

A multi-car vehicle comprising:

• a first car;
• a second car;
• and
• a coupler system having a first coupler connected to the first car, and a second coupler connected to the second car;
• wherein each of said first coupler and said second coupler comprises a coupler interface having a top, a bottom, and a center line centrally between the top and the bottom, the coupler interface comprising a protruding cone, a matching cup and at least two guiding elements, wherein a height of the coupler from the center line of the coupler interface to the top of the coupler interface is smaller than 200 (mm), wherein two of the at least two guiding elements are laterally arranged to the cone and the cup, wherein the lateral arrangement of one of the two guiding elements is proximal to the cone and distal to the cup, and the lateral arrangement of another one of the two guiding elements is distal to the cone and proximal to the cup, wherein one of the two guiding elements has a clamp-like design and another one of the two guiding elements has a tooth-shaped design;
• and
• wherein, when the first car and the second car are connected together, (a) the protruding cone of the first coupler is arranged in the matching cup of the second coupler and the protruding cone of the second coupler is arranged in the matching cup of the first coupler, and (b) the guiding element having the clamp-like design of the first coupler is adapted to embrace the guiding element having the tooth-shaped design of the second coupler, and the guiding element having the clamp-like design of the second coupler is adapted to embrace the guiding element having the tooth-shaped design of the first coupler.

A method for coupling a first coupler of a coupler system to a second coupler of the coupler system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first coupler and a second coupler, the first coupler being spaced apart from the second coupler, wherein each of said first coupler and said second coupler comprises a coupler interface having a top, a bottom, and a center line centrally between the top and the bottom, the coupler interface comprising a protruding cone, a matching cup and at least two guiding elements, wherein a height of the coupler from the center line of the coupler interface to the top of the coupler interface is smaller than 200 millimeters (mm), wherein two of the at least two guiding elements are laterally arranged to the cone and the cup, wherein the lateral arrangement of one of the two guiding elements is proximal to the cone and distal to the cup and the lateral arrangement of another one of the two guiding elements is distal to the cone and proximal to the cup, wherein one of the two guiding elements has a clamp-like design and another one of the two guiding elements has a tooth-shaped design;
• one or both of moving the first coupler towards the second coupler and/or moving the second coupler towards the first coupler;
• one or more of:
• bringing the protruding cone of the first coupler into contact with the at least one guiding element of the second coupler, and/or
• bringing the protruding cone of the second coupler into contact with the at least one guiding element of the first coupler and/or
• bringing the at least one guiding element of the first coupler into contact with the at least one guiding element of the second coupler;
• one or more of further moving the first coupler towards the second coupler, and/or further moving the second coupler towards the first coupler;
• moving the protruding cone of the first coupler into the matching cup of the second coupler and the protruding cone of the second coupler into the matching cup of the first coupler.