GB1483658A - Knuckle structure for railway vehicle coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

1483658 Railway vehicle couplers AMSTED INDUSTRIES Inc 23 Dec 1974 [26 Dec 1973] 55508/74 Heading B7T A railway vehicle coupler 10, Fig. 1, is characterized by the form of a knuckle gathering surface 22, Fig. 2, of the coupler knuckle 12, which is adapted to be engaged, when the knuckle 12 is in an open position, by the closed knuckle 12a of a coupler 11 during a coupling operation, to effect alignment of the couplers 10, 11 while preventing premature closing of the knuckle 12 which would prevent coupling of the couplers. The gathering surface 22 of the knuckle 12 is convexly curved such that, at any point thereon, a resultant, force R between the open knuckle 12 and the closed knuckle 12a, which is the resultant of a force N normal to the surface 22 and a friction force fN tangential to the surface 22 passes at approximately the same predetermined distance from the pivot axis C of the knuckle 12 and the resultant force R is incapable of causing the knuckle 12 to pivot about the pivot axis C. In a preferred embodiment, the gathering surface forms part of a spiral curve. A circular arc struck with radius Z about a centre Y is said to form a satisfactory approximation to said part of the spiral curve.