Automated coupler positioning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9758182-B2
Application number	US-201414221649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A coupler for a railway car including a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane, and a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor. The coupler positioning device includes a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie relating to an angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car, and at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism. The controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coupler for a railway car, comprising:
a coupler anchor;
a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane; and
a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor, the coupler positioning device comprising:
a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie directed to a measured angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car; and
at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism,

wherein the controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie.

2. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder comprises a first pneumatic cylinder and a second pneumatic cylinder.

3. The coupler as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each pneumatic cylinder is controlled independently by the controller.

4. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first end of the at least one pneumatic cylinder is positioned on the coupler anchor and a second end of the at least one pneumatic cylinder is positioned on the coupler mechanism.

5. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cutout cock positioned on the coupler mechanism, wherein the cutout cock is configured to vent pressurized fluid from the at least one pneumatic cylinder to permit manual positioning of the coupler mechanism.

6. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical switch positioned on the coupler mechanism, wherein the mechanical switch is configured to detect when the coupler is coupled with an adjacent coupler, and wherein, upon activation of the mechanical switch, the at least one pneumatic cylinder is isolated and pressurized fluid is vented therefrom.

7. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , the controller comprising at least one magnet valve positioned in-line with at least one pressure transducer, wherein the at least one pressure transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the amount of pressure supplied to the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

8. The coupler as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising at least one linear transducer operatively connected to the controller and the at least one pneumatic cylinder, wherein the at least one linear transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the linear displacement of the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

9. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one linear transducer operatively connected to the controller and the at least one pneumatic cylinder, wherein the at least one linear transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the linear displacement of the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

10. The coupler as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measured angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car is a measured numerical value.

11. 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 pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane; and
a coupler positioning device for centering the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor, the coupler positioning device comprising:
a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie directed to a measured angular position of the bogie relative to the railway car body; and
at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism,

wherein the controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie.

12. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder comprises a first pneumatic cylinder and a second pneumatic cylinder.

13. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each pneumatic cylinder is controlled independently by the controller.

14. The railway ear coupler as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a first end of the at least one pneumatic cylinder is positioned on the coupler anchor and a second end of the at least one pneumatic cylinder is positioned on the coupler mechanism.

15. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a cutout cock positioned on the coupler mechanism, wherein the cutout cock is configured to vent pressurized fluid from the at least one pneumatic cylinder to permit manual positioning of the coupler mechanism.

16. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a mechanical switch positioned on the coupler mechanism, wherein the mechanical switch is configured to detect when the coupler is coupled with an adjacent coupler, and wherein, upon activation of the mechanical switch, the at least one pneumatic cylinder is isolated and pressurized fluid is vented therefrom.

17. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 11 , the controller comprising at least one magnet valve positioned in-line with at least one pressure transducer, wherein the at least one pressure transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the amount of pressure supplied to the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

18. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising at least one linear transducer operatively connected to the controller and the at least one pneumatic cylinder, wherein the at least one linear transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the linear displacement of the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

19. The railway car coupler as claimed in claim 11 , at least one linear transducer operatively connected to the controller and the at least one pneumatic cylinder, wherein the at least one linear transducer is configured to relay an electric signal to the controller based on the linear displacement of the at least one pneumatic cylinder.

20. A method for the automated positioning of a railway car coupler, comprising the steps of:
a) measuring an angular position of a bogie relative to a body of a railway car;
b) sending signal information relating to the angular position of the bogie to a controller; and
c) adjusting pressure provided to at least one pneumatic cylinder operatively connected to a coupler based on the signal in formation received by the controller, thereby positioning the coupler in a desired position in a substantially horizontal plane.

21. The method for the automated positioning of a railway car coupler as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder comprises a first pneumatic cylinder and a second pneumatic cylinder, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the pressure of each pneumatic cylinder independently of one another.

Assignees

• Wabtec Holding Corp

Inventors

• Peckham Jason Daniel
• Swindler William Clay
• Brown kevin scott

Classifications

• B61G5/08

  for fluid conduits · CPC title

• B61G7/12 Primary

  Adjustable coupling bars, e.g. for centralisation purposes · CPC title

• B61G3/20 Primary

  Control devices, e.g. for uncoupling · CPC title