JP5334853B2 - Vehicle mechanical coupling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mechanical connection device for a vehicle, in particular, a tram car, in which a plurality of vehicles are connected via a universal joint shaft as a lower joint connection joint.

  In particular, many railway networks in trams have hilly terrain and depressions that require a single slope of the vehicle. Low-floor vehicles cannot be used in such a railway network. On the other hand, low-floor vehicles are convenient because they are easy to get on and off.

  When a train composed of at least two vehicles travels in a hilly area or a depression, an angle called a pitch angle is generated at the connecting portion of both vehicles. It has already been proposed to halve the pitch angle by appropriate coupling of both vehicles. For this purpose, a known remnant skate type connecting device has been conventionally employed. This is rotatably supported by a portal frame rigidly connected to the lower universal joint shaft. The two connecting rods coming out of the Remnice skate-type connecting device are hinged to the respective chassis of the connected vehicles. The pitch angle is bisected by the remnant skate type coupling device, a first partial angle is generated between the first vehicle and the portal frame, and a second partial angle is generated between the portal frame and the second vehicle.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mechanical coupling device that can satisfactorily bisect the pitch angle at a low structural cost and that is lighter than a Remni skate type coupling device. An advantageous development also prevents the disturbing action of the single-slope rail.

  This problem is based on the present invention, as two separate articulated joints for each vehicle are arranged so that two turning links can turn around a vertical axis, and the right turn of the first vehicle as viewed in the traveling direction. The link is coupled to the right turn link of the second vehicle, and the left turn link of the first vehicle is connected to the left turn link of the second vehicle via a floating hinge joint so that the four turn links can be rotated. Are solved by forming mutually variable parallelograms.

  The vertical axis of the swivel link exists almost directly above the hinge point of the lower universal joint axis. This arrangement of parallelogram shapes acts so that the opening angles of the turning link pairs of both vehicles are always the same. Thus, the floating hinge joint is always present at the center between the vehicles when viewed in the traveling direction. As a result, similar to the case of the Lemnice skate type coupling device, the pitch angle between the two vehicles is bisected, and more specifically, it is bisected at the both-end hinge joints of the lower universal joint shaft in both the connected vehicles.

  Even without an expensive remnant skate-type coupling device, the advantage is obtained that the pitch angle can be divided into two by simple and inexpensive means. The expensive and heavy portal frame that is necessary in the case of a lemniskate-type coupling device can be advantageously eliminated, which allows a considerable weight reduction. By dividing the pitch angle into two, low-floor vehicles can be used in areas with hilly areas and depressions.

  The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for connecting tramway vehicles, but can also be employed in all other trains and connected buses.

  For example, both turning links of one vehicle are arranged so as to be able to turn about a common vertical axis.

  According to another embodiment, the turning links of one vehicle are arranged so as to be able to turn about their own vertical axis. The pivot link can be formed as a flat structural component, for example.

  For example, the turning link of at least one vehicle is constituted by an upper rod and a lower rod, which are arranged so as to be able to turn around a vertical axis, instead of a flat structural component. In this form, a smaller amount of material is required, which further reduces weight.

  For example, the upper and lower rods are connected to a vertical shaft via a ball joint, and the upper and lower rods are connected to each other via a hinge joint that is connected to a vertical floating hinge joint.

  This special device provides the advantage that the relative twists of the two connected vehicles are offset. Here, torsion means that, for example, a preceding vehicle is twisted around its longitudinal axis with respect to a following vehicle in a single slope region of a rail in a curve. The movement is absorbed by the ball joint and the hinge joint, so that no mechanical load is applied to the structural part, nor is the structural part bent. The relative torsion of the two connected vehicles can be advantageously offset.

  In order to damp the torsion of both vehicles, a rubber damper, a hydraulic cylinder or a mechanical spring can be attached to the ball joint.

  The device according to the invention has the advantage that a portal frame is not required, in particular, unlike the Lemnice skating coupling device. Nevertheless, the pitch angle can be halved. Further, it is possible to cancel the relative twist of the two connected vehicles.

  Cables that have to be laid from one vehicle to another can be advantageously connected using a turning link. Furthermore, a bellows or a bellows can be attached to the turning link.

  Hereinafter, a mechanical connecting device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The schematic side view of the two vehicles connected mutually. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of two vehicles connected to each other in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic plan view showing only a changed part in a modified example of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The partial schematic side view which showed only the changed part in the example of a change of the Example of FIG.

  In FIG. 1, two vehicles 1 and 2, which are only partially shown, are connected via a universal joint shaft 3 that acts as a lower joint-type coupling joint that allows the pitch and torsion of the vehicles 1 and 2 in the lower part. It is connected. The pitch is a turning motion of the vehicles 1 and 2 around a virtual horizontal axis perpendicular to the traveling direction a, and occurs when the vehicles 1 and 2 connected to each other travel on a hill or depression. Instead of an axis extending perpendicular to the plane of the paper, the turning motion of the vehicle 1 due to the pitch is indicated by a pitch angle β. Torsion is a turning motion centered on a virtual horizontal axis b directed in the traveling direction, and occurs when, for example, the vehicles 1 and 2 connected to each other sequentially reach a single-slope curved rail.

  In FIG. 2, two turning links 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are arranged in each vehicle 1 and 2 as separate upper articulated joints so as to be turnable around vertical axes 5a and 5b. In that case, the right turning links 4a and 4c and the left turning links 4b and 4d are coupled to each other via the floating hinge joints 6a and 6b, respectively, when viewed in the traveling direction a. As a result, the four swivel links 4a to 4d form a variable parallelogram. In this parallelogram, the opening angle γ of the turning links 4a and 4b of the first vehicle 1 and the opening angle γ of the turning links 4c and 4d of the second vehicle 2 are always the same, so that the vehicle 1 and the vehicle 2 Is uniformly distributed to the hinge joints at both ends of the universal joint shaft 3, so that an excessive pitch angle β is not generated in the low floor vehicle.

  In FIG. 1, the pivot links 4a and 4c and the floating hinge joint 6a are not shown to simplify the drawing.

  In FIG. 2, only one vertical shaft 5a, 5b is provided for each turning link 4a, 4b or both turning links 4c, 4d in each vehicle 1,2.

  In FIG. 3, the two turning links 4c and 4d in the second vehicle 2 are arranged so as to be able to turn on their own vertical shafts 5c and 5d.

  In FIG. 4, the turning link 4 b of the first vehicle 1 and the corresponding turning link 4 a (not shown) are also composed of an upper rod 7 and a lower rod 8, respectively. These upper and lower rods 7 and 8 are disposed so as to be pivotable about a hinge joint disposed on the vertical shaft 5a. These hinge joints are ball joints 9. The upper rod 7 and the lower rod 8 are coupled to each other via a hinge joint 10 before the vertical floating hinge joints 6a to 6b. The combination of the ball joint 9 and the hinge joint 10 cancels the torsion of the vehicles 1 and 2 in, for example, a one-sided curved rail.

  By dividing the pitch angle β into two half-angles, a special advantage is obtained that a low-floor vehicle can also run on hills and depressions without having to employ an expensive Remni skate-type coupling device. Getting on and off is easy with a low-floor vehicle. Overall ride quality is improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Vehicle 3 Universal joint shaft 4a-4d Turning link 5a, 5b Vertical shaft 6a, 6b Floating hinge joint 7 Upper rod 8 Lower rod 9 Ball joint 10 Hinge joint

Claims (6)

A plurality of vehicles (1, 2) are connected to each other via a universal joint shaft (3) as a lower joint joint, and the pitch and twist of these vehicles (1, 2) are caused by the universal joint shaft (3). In the case of a pitch, these vehicles (1, 2) can turn by a pitch angle (β) around a pitch axis perpendicular to the traveling direction (a) in a horizontal plane. ,
A mechanical coupling device in which two pivot links (4a to 4d) are arranged as separate upper joint coupling joints in each vehicle (1, 2),
The turning links (4a to 4d) form a pair of turning links for each of the vehicles (1, 2), and the right turning link (4a) of the first vehicle (1) is the second along the traveling direction (a). The left turn link (4b) of the first vehicle (1) is connected to the left turn link (4d) of the second vehicle (2) and the floating hinge joints (6a, 6b) are connected to the right turn link (4c) of the vehicle (2 ). The swivel links (4a, 4b; 4c, 4d) form an opening angle (γ) with each other in the swivel link pair, and the swivel links (4a, 4b; 4c, 4d). ) Is pivotable about axes (5a, 5b) perpendicular to the traveling direction (a) and the pitch axis, and the opening angle (γ) of the pivot link pair is always the same, JP that pitch angle generated between the two vehicles (1,2) (β) is bisected respectively by Mechanical coupling device for a vehicle (1, 2) to.   2. The swivel link (4a, 4b; 4c, 4d) of the vehicle (1, 2) is arranged so as to be turnable about a common vertical axis (5a, 5b). apparatus.   2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the turning links (4c, 4d) of the vehicle (2) are arranged so as to be able to turn about their own vertical axes (5c, 5d).   The turning link (4b) of at least one vehicle (1) is composed of an upper rod (7) and a lower rod (8) arranged so as to be turnable about a vertical axis (5a), respectively. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The upper rod (7) and the lower rod (8) are coupled to the vertical shaft (5a) via a ball joint (9), and the upper rod (7) and the lower rod (8) are connected to each other via a hinge joint (10). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hinge joint (10) is connected to a vertical floating hinge joint (6b). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the vehicle (1, 2) is formed as a tram.

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