Automatic coupling

A system for coupling a first coach of a train to a second coach of the train, the system comprising:

• a first automatic coupler, wherein;
• the first automatic coupler is mountable at an end of the first coach,
• the first automatic coupler provides for a mechanical coupling to a second automatic coupler mountable at the second coach,
• the first automatic coupler comprises a first coupling actuator and a first locking mechanism, and
• the first coupling actuator during operation of the system drives the first locking mechanism between a locked state and an unlocked state;
• a first bellows, wherein;
• the first bellows provides protection of a passenger or an object moving from the first coach to the second coach,
• the first bellows comprises a first mounting frame, a first coupling frame, and a first latching mechanism at the first coupling frame,
• wherein;
• the first mounting frame is fixable to a wall of the first coach,
• the first coupling frame is releasably couplable by the first latching mechanism to a second coupling frame of the second bellows at the second coach;
• and
• a controller, wherein;
• the controller is operatively coupled to the first coupling actuator,
• the controller is arranged to;
• receive an uncoupling instruction,
• generate an uncoupling signal upon receipt of the uncoupling instruction,
• send the uncoupling signal to the first coupling actuator,
• receive a coupling instruction,
• generate a coupling signal upon receipt of the coupling instruction, and
• send the coupling signal to the first coupling actuator;
• wherein the first coupling actuator upon receipt of the uncoupling signal drives the first locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state, and the first coupling actuator upon receipt of the coupling signal drives the first locking mechanism from the unlocked state to the locked state;
• wherein;
• the first bellows comprises a first latching actuator, wherein
• the first latching actuator during operation of the system drives the first latching mechanism between a latched state and an unlatched state;
• the controller is operatively coupled to the first latching actuator,
• the controller is arranged to;
• generate an unlatch signal upon receipt of the uncoupling instruction,
• send the unlatch signal to the first latching actuator prior to sending the uncoupling signal to the first coupling actuator,
• generate a latching signal upon receipt of the coupling instruction, and
• send the latching signal to the first latching actuator after sending the coupling signal to the first coupling actuator;
• and
• the first latching actuator upon receipt of the unlatch signal drives the first latching mechanism from the latched state to the unlatched state, and wherein the first latching actuator upon receipt of the latching signal drives the first latching mechanism from the unlatched state to the latched state.