Coupler head for a coupler assembly of a multi-car rail vehicle, coupler assembly, and method of retrofitting a coupler head with a safety device

A method of retrofitting a coupler head of a coupler assembly of a multi-car rail vehicle with a safety device, wherein the coupler head comprises:

• a coupler head body, a knuckle configured for cooperating with a corresponding knuckle of another coupler head, and a knuckle pin having a knuckle pin axis, wherein the knuckle pin is mounted to the coupler head body and the knuckle is mounted to the knuckle pin so that the knuckle is rotatable about the knuckle pin axis relative to the coupler head body between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, and
• a first lock which is configured to be moved, when the knuckle is in the coupled position, into a locking position in which it prevents rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the uncoupled position,
• the method comprising:
• providing the safety device in the form of a second lock, and
• mounting the second lock on the coupler head in such a manner that, when the knuckle is in the uncoupled position, the second lock is able to:
• (a) prevent rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position, and
• (b) unlock, when a predetermined force, which acts on the knuckle so as to rotate the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position, is exceeded, so that the second lock no longer hinders rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position.

A coupler assembly for a car of a multi-car rail vehicle, comprising:

• a coupler head, comprising:
• a coupler head body, a knuckle configured for cooperating with a corresponding knuckle of another coupler head, and a knuckle pin having a knuckle pin axis, wherein the knuckle pin is mounted to the coupler head body and the knuckle is mounted to the knuckle pin so that the knuckle is rotatable about the knuckle pin axis relative to the coupler head body between a coupled position and an uncoupled position,
• a first lock which is configured to be moved, when the knuckle is in the coupled position, into a locking position in which it prevents rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis (A) toward the uncoupled position, and
• a second lock which is configured to prevent, when the knuckle is in the uncoupled position, rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position, wherein the second lock is further configured to unlock when a predetermined force, which acts on the knuckle so as to rotate the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position, is exceeded, so that the second lock no longer hinders rotation of the knuckle about the knuckle pin axis toward the coupled position;
• and
• energy absorption means configured to absorb energy when the coupler head collides with a corresponding coupler head of another car of the multi-car vehicle.