Coupler Torsion Spring Centering Device

摘要

A coupler for a railway vehicle includes a coupler anchor and a coupler centering device having a pair of arm sub-assemblies. Each arm subassembly has an upper centering arm connected to a lower centering arm via a torsion bar extending through the coupler anchor. The lower centering arms are connected by a cross link such that movement of one of the upper centering arms causes a corresponding movement of both of the lower centering arms. Each upper centering arm engages a roller that rolls along a curved surface of the centering arm when the coupler is rotated horizontally toward the upper centering arm. A centering stop element prevents the movement of the opposing upper centering arm to generate a restoring force in the torsion bars that facilitates horizontal movement of the coupler. The coupler centering device may be disengaged from an active centering position to facilitate servicing of the coupler.

主权项

1. A coupler for a railway car, comprising:
a coupler anchor; a coupler mechanism pivotal relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane; and a coupler centering device for centering the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor, the coupler centering device comprising:
a first centering arm subassembly having a first centering arm and a first centering link connected to a first torsion bar extending though the coupler anchor in a substantially vertical direction;a second centering arm subassembly having a second centering arm and a second centering link connected to a second torsion bar extending though the coupler anchor in the substantially vertical direction;a cross link connecting the first and second centering links; anda pair of first and second rollers in contact with the respective first and second centering arms.