GB1310459A - Arrangement for the automatic control of a shut-off cock in an automatic coupling head of a railway vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

1310459 Controlling air shut-off cocks on railway vehicle couplings COMPAGNIA ITALIANA WESTINGHOUSE FRENI E SEGNALISpA 19 April 1971 [26 Jan 1970] 20019/71 Heading B7T [Also in Division F2] An arrangement for the automatic control of a shut-off cock R in a compressed air supply conduit C.G. associated with an automatic coupling head of a railway vehicle comprises a distributer D having a spool 4, a control cylinder C, a control member A and an isolating device B, the arrangement, when the coupling head is coupled to a similarly equipped head, opening the cock R as follows: the spool 4 is moved to the right, by contact with the spool on the other head, against the centring action of springs 5, 6 thereby causing air from conduit 1 to be supplied via conduits 3 and 9 and space 10 to chamber 8 of cylinder C. The piston 15 is moved to the right against spring 17 and the cock is opened by way of lost motion pin and slot connection 18, 19. As piston 15 passes over orifice 21 air is supplied to the left hand side of piston 22 thereby causing the piston-rod to cut the path of chamber 8 to atmosphere via conduit 12 and port 14. Air is then admitted from conduit 3 via space 10 to conduit 26 and to the right hand side of piston 15 causing it to be recentred but with the cock remaining open and pin 18 to the right of slot 19 to allow for manual closure of the cock. If the vehicle is connected direct to a locomotive the air reaches conduit 3 via conduit 29 and not conduit 1. To uncouple two vehicles a lever 31 is moved to the right supplying air via conduit 34 to space 35 of distributer D. Spool piston 37 moves to the left causing conduit 9 to be vented via ports 11 and 41. The chamber 7 of cylinder C is therefore evacuated and the air pressure in chamber 8 causes piston 15 to move to the left whereby cock R is closed. The spool of the other head is moved by the pressure in space 35 via spool 4 to its extreme outer position and likewise the conduit 9 and chamber 7 thereof is vented causing the cock of the other vehicle to close. After uncoupling lever 31 is released and the arrangement returns to its Fig. 1 condition. In the event of accidental uncoupling of the two vehicles the distributer spools adopt the Fig. 1 condition and air is discharged from the open ends of conduits C.G. The cocks R remain open since both chambers 7 and 8 of the cylinders C are vented to atmosphere. In a modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), the distributer spool is moved during a coupling operation by a sheathed cable connected between the coupling head and the distributer housing.