Articulated coupling and a method of absorbing energy between two rail vehicles

An articulated coupling between two vehicles A and B, the coupling resting on a shared bogey between said two vehicles and comprising:

• a first part connected to one of said two vehicles and defining at least one cylindrical surface, and including a cylindrical bore in its center;
• a support part connected to the other of said two vehicles and defining at least one cylindrical surface facing said at least one cylindrical surface of said first part, said support part further including a soleplate situated at a level below the level of said first part;
• a cylindrical pivot fixed on said soleplate and engaged in said cylindrical bore;
• a coupling element fixed on said soleplate and providing articulated coupling between said soleplate and said first part;
• energy absorption means disposed between said cylindrical surface of said first part and said at least one cylindrical surface of said support part;
• and
• shear means holding said support part to longitudinal translation means fixed to a support arm connected to said other vehicle.

An articulated coupling between two vehicles A and B supported on a common bogey between said two vehicles, said coupling comprising:

• a toroidal part connected to one of the vehicles;
• a support part connected to the other of said vehicles, a cylindrical pivot fixed on a soleplate of said support part and engaged in a cylindrical bore in a center of said toroidal part;
• a toroidal coupling element fixed on said soleplate and providing articulated coupling between the soleplate and the toroidal part;
• energy absorption means disposed between one of first and second cylindrical outside surfaces of said toroidal part and a facing cylindrical surface of said support part;
• and
• shear means holding said support part secure to a longitudinal translation system fixed to a support arm connected to said other vehicle, whereby said toroidal coupling element absorbs the energy induced by forces caused by normal traction or braking of the vehicles;
• the toroidal coupling element and said energy absorption means absorb the energy induced by forces due to minor shock caused by said vehicles being coupled together at speeds slightly in excess of an authorized speed;
• and
• whereby the toroidal coupling element and the energy absorption means absorb the energy induced by forces due to violent shocks caused by minor collisions or by said vehicles being coupled together at unauthorized speeds without damaging the toroidal coupling element due to failure of said shear means cooperating with the longitudinal translation system.

A method of absorbing energy between two vehicles which are coupled by an articulated coupling, with the coupling resting on a shared bogey between the two vehicles, with the coupling comprising:

• a toroidal part connected to one of the vehicles;
• a support part connected to the other of the vehicles;
• a cylindrical pivot fixed on a soleplate of the support part and engaged in a cylindrical bore of the toroidal part;
• a toroidal coupling element fixed on the soleplate and providing articulated coupling between the soleplate and the toroidal part;
• an energy absorption system disposed between one of first and second cylindrical outside surfaces of the toroidal part and a facing surface of the support part;
• and
• a shear means holding said support part secured to a longitudinal translation means fixed to a support arm connected to said other vehicle, said method comprising:
• absorbing energy induced by forces caused by normal traction or braking of the vehicles by said toroidal coupling element;
• absorbing the energy induced by forces due to minor shocks caused by the vehicles being coupled together at speeds slightly in excess of an authorized speed by said toroidal coupling element and said energy absorption means;
• and
• absorbing the energy induced by forces due to violent shocks caused by minor collision or by said vehicles being coupled together at unauthorized speeds without damaging the toroidal coupling element by shearing said shear means holding said support part to said longitudinal translation means fixed to said support arm connected to said other vehicle.