Coupler support mechanism
AssigneeWabtec Holding Corp.
InventorJason D. Peckham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupler for transit cars includes a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism supported to the coupler anchor by a deformation tube and draft gear element, and a coupler support mechanism. The coupler support mechanism includes two support arms pivotally mounted to a lower part of a coupling connector. A tension rod is provided for each support arm to control the pivotal displacement of each support arm. Each support arm further includes a torsion spring which is loaded as the support arm is pivotally displaced in an upward direction and unloaded as the support arm is pivotally displaced in a downward direction. The position of each support arm may be adjusted independently, thereby allowing adjustment of the coupler along longitudinal and lateral planes of the transit car.
Claims20
A coupler for a railway car, comprising:
- a coupler anchor;
- a coupler mechanism connected to the coupler anchor;
- and
- a coupler support mechanism supporting the coupler mechanism vertically, the coupler support mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of support arms connected to the coupler anchor for supporting a railway car coupler;
- and
- a plurality of torsion springs corresponding to the plurality of support arms,
- wherein the plurality of torsion springs is operatively connected to the plurality of support arms such that pivotal movement of any of the plurality of support arms in a vertical direction causes a rotational movement of the corresponding torsion springs.
A coupler for a railway car, comprising:
- a coupler anchor;
- a coupler mechanism connected to the coupler anchor;
- and
- a coupler support mechanism supporting the coupler mechanism, the coupler support mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of support arms connected to the coupler anchor for supporting a railway car coupler;
- a plurality of torsion springs corresponding to the plurality of support arms;
- and
- a plurality of tension rods corresponding to the plurality of support arms;
- wherein the plurality of torsion springs is operatively connected to the plurality of support arms such that pivotal movement of any of the plurality of support arms causes a rotational movement of the corresponding torsion springs,
- wherein the plurality of tension rods is operatively connected to the support arms to control the pivotal movement of the support arms, and
- wherein the length of each of the plurality of tension rods is adjustable such that each of the corresponding torsion springs is loaded when the tension rod is shortened and unloaded when the tension rod is lengthened.
A railway car coupler for coupling railway cars, the railway car coupler comprising:
- a coupler anchor connected to a railway car body;
- a coupler mechanism connected to the coupler anchor by a deformation tube;
- and
- a coupler support mechanism supporting the coupler mechanism vertically, comprising:
- a plurality of support arms connected to the coupler anchor for supporting a railway car coupler;
- and
- a plurality of torsion springs corresponding to the plurality of support arms,
- wherein the plurality of torsion springs is operatively connected to the plurality of support arms such that pivotal movement of any of the plurality of support arms in a vertical direction causes a rotational movement of the corresponding torsion springs.
A railway car coupler for coupling railway cars, the railway car coupler comprising:
- a coupler anchor connected to a railway car body;
- a coupler mechanism connected to the coupler anchor by a deformation tube;
- and
- a coupler support mechanism supporting the coupler mechanism, comprising:
- a plurality of support arms connected to the coupler anchor for supporting a railway car coupler;
- a plurality of torsion springs corresponding to the plurality of support arms;
- and
- a plurality of tension rods corresponding to the plurality of support arms,
- wherein the plurality of torsion springs is operatively connected to the plurality of support arms such that pivotal movement of any of the plurality of support arms causes a rotational movement of the corresponding torsion springs,
- wherein the plurality of tension rods is operatively connected to the support arms to control the pivotal movement of the support arms, and
- wherein the length of each of the plurality of tension rods is adjustable such that each of the corresponding torsion springs is loaded when the tension rod is shortened and unloaded when the tension rod is lengthened.
A coupler support mechanism for a railway car coupler comprising a coupler anchor and a coupler mechanism connected to the coupler anchor, the coupler support mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of support arms connected to the coupler anchor for supporting a railway car coupler;
- and
- a plurality of torsion springs corresponding to the plurality of support arms,
- wherein the plurality of torsion springs is operatively connected to the plurality of support arms such that pivotal movement of any of the plurality of support arms in a vertical direction causes a rotational movement of the corresponding torsion springs, and
- wherein the coupler support mechanism is positioned to support the coupler mechanism vertically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.