Vehicle coupling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10464381-B2
Application number	US-201715411475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2017
Priority date	Jan 20, 2017
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle coupler including a coupling head and a dampening device attached thereto. A beam is provided and configured to attach to the vehicle. A housing assembly is connected to the beam and configured to receive a portion of the dampening device. A first release mechanism in the form of a shear ring is arranged within the housing assembly and is configured to provide a releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing assembly. A second release device in the form of a plurality of shear elements provides a releasable connection between the beam and the housing assembly. A preload mechanism may also be provided for applying an initial shearing force on the plurality of shear elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle coupler comprising:
a dampening device configured to attach to a coupling head;
a beam for connecting to a vehicle;
a housing connected to the beam and configured to receive a portion of the dampening device;
a first release mechanism enclosed within an interior of the housing between an end of the dampening device and an end of the housing and configured to provide a releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing, wherein the first release mechanism comprises a shear ring arranged within the housing, wherein the shear ring includes:
an outer annular section which includes an outer annular section face that engages a corresponding annular shoulder arranged in the interior of the housing;
an inner annular section which includes an inner annular section face that engages an end of the dampening device; and
an intermediate annular section between the outer annular section and the inner annular section that is configured to shear to provide the releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing; and

a second release mechanism providing a releasable connection between the beam and the housing.

2. The vehicle coupler of claim 1 , wherein the connection between the housing and the beam enables the housing to be moveable with respect to the beam between a first position and a second position, and wherein the second release mechanism maintains the housing in the first position until its release.

3. The vehicle coupler of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion configured to engage with a portion of the beam in response to an axial tension force placed on the housing after a release of the second release mechanism.

4. The vehicle coupler of claim 3 , further comprising a preload mechanism configured to apply a lateral force on the second release mechanism when the housing is in the first position.

5. The vehicle coupler of claim 4 , wherein the preload mechanism comprises a threaded member engaged with a threaded bore formed through the protrusion, and wherein a free end of the threaded member engages with a portion of the beam when the housing is in the first position.

6. The vehicle coupler of claim 1 , wherein the end of the housing comprises a removable plug nut, wherein removal of the plug nut provides access to the first release mechanism comprising the shear ring arranged within the housing.

7. The vehicle coupler of claim 1 , wherein the second release mechanism comprises a plurality of shear bolts or shear pins connecting the beam and the housing.

8. The vehicle coupler of claim 1 , wherein the first release mechanism is configured to release in response to a force of a first predetermined magnitude placed on the dampening device, and wherein the second release device is configured to release in response to a force of a second predetermined magnitude, greater than the first predetermined magnitude, placed on the housing.

9. The vehicle coupler of claim 1 , wherein in response to a release of the first release mechanism, the dampening device is displaceable a first predetermined distance within the housing, and wherein in response to a release of the second release mechanism, the housing is displaceable relative to the beam a second predetermined distance greater than the first predetermined distance.

10. A vehicle coupling assembly comprising:
a dampening device attached to a coupling head;
a beam for connecting to a vehicle;
a housing attached to the beam and configured to receive a portion of the dampening device;
a shear ring arranged within an interior of the housing between an end of the dampening device and an end of the housing and configured to provide a releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing; and
providing a first releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing;
a plurality of shear elements providing a second releasable connection between the beam and the housing; and
a preload mechanism configured to apply a lateral force on the plurality of shear elements.

11. The coupling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the shear ring comprises:
a first annular end abutting a corresponding annular shoulder arranged in an interior of the housing; and
a second annular end abutting a portion of the dampening device; and
an intermediate section arranged between the first and second annular sections,
wherein the intermediate section of the shear ring is configured to shear in response to a compressive force of a first predetermined magnitude acting on the first and second annular sections along an axial direction of the shear ring.

12. The coupling assembly of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of shear elements comprise a plurality of shear bolts arranged between the beam and the housing, the plurality of shear bolts configured to shear in response to a force of a second predetermined magnitude greater than force of the first predetermined magnitude.

13. The coupling assembly of claim 10 , wherein the preload mechanism comprises a threaded member engaged with a threaded bore formed through a portion of the housing, and wherein a free end of the threaded member engages with a portion of the beam.

14. A vehicle coupler comprising:
a dampening device configured to attach to a coupling head;
a beam for connecting to a vehicle;
a housing connected to the beam and configured to receive a portion of the dampening device;
a plurality of shear elements arranged to provide a releasable connection between the beam and the housing; and
a preload mechanism configured to apply a uniform preload force laterally to each of the plurality of shear elements.

15. The vehicle coupler of claim 14 , wherein the preload mechanism comprises:
a threaded bore formed through a portion of the housing; and
a threaded member configured to engaged with the threaded bore,
wherein a free end of the threaded member is configured to engage with a portion of the beam for applying the initial shearing force laterally on the plurality of shear elements.

16. The vehicle coupler of claim 14 , wherein the housing is moveable with respect to the beam between a first position and a second position, and wherein the plurality of shear elements maintain the housing in the first position until its release.

17. The vehicle coupler of claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a protrusion extending therefrom, the protrusion configured to engage with a portion of the beam in response to an axial tension force placed on the housing after a release of the plurality of shear elements.

18. The vehicle coupler of claim 14 , further comprising a shear ring arranged within the housing and configured to provide a releasable connection between the dampening device and the housing.

Assignees

• Dellner Couplers Ab

Inventors

• Eliasson Anders
• Heinås Stefan
• Major Jean

Classifications

• B61G9/24

  Linkages between draw-bar and framework (adjustable coupling bars B61G7/12) · CPC title

• B61G7/14

  Safety devices · CPC title

• B61G1/10

  having links or bars coupling or uncoupling by rotating around a vertical axis · CPC title

• B60D1/145 Primary

  consisting of an elongated single bar or tube · CPC title

• B61G3/00

  Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements · CPC title