Patents Assigned to Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
  • Patent number: 9096241
    Abstract: A coupling head with a device carrier for the automatic coupling of couplable vehicles is disclosed, wherein the device carrier comprises a plurality of the components necessary for realizing the automatic coupling and/or decoupling. In order to enable assembly/disassembly of these components on the coupling head which is as simple as possible, the device carrier is disconnectably mounted on the coupling head such that at least one of the components will be activated or deactivated during the coupling and/or decoupling. Also disclosed is a method for assembling a coupling head with a device carrier which comprises a plurality of components necessary for realizing the automatic coupling and/or decoupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GMBH Co. KG
    Inventor: Arthur Kontetzki
  • Patent number: 7552830
    Abstract: A central buffer coupling for rail-mounted vehicles has a coupling shaft (1) and a drawgear (2) comprising a bearing bracket (4), whereby the rear end (3) of the coupling shaft (1) is connected to the drawgear (2) and coupled to the car body of the rail vehicle via the bearing bracket (4) of the drawgear (2) so as to be horizontally pivotable. The drawgear (2) includes a shock absorber (5, 8), wherein the shock absorber (5, 8) is configured such that upon the exceeding of a definable critical impact force being transmitted through the coupling shaft (1) to the drawgear (2), the connection between the drawgear (2) and the coupling shaft (1) is disengaged and the coupling shaft (1) is at least partially removed from the power flow transmitted to the drawgear (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Radewagen
  • Patent number: 7513376
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a central buffer coupling for rail-mounted vehicles having a coupling shaft arranged to be vertically pivotable around an articulated housing of a railway vehicle and supporting a coupling head and a device for horizontal resetting to center at its free end. In order to realize a disengaging of the frictionally-locked connection between an actuating means of a center position device and a coupling shaft in the event of a crash; i.e., upon extreme impact/tractive force being transferred through the coupling shaft, a separable center position coupling in accordance with the invention is provided, which disengages the frictionally-locked connection between the actuating means and the center position guide upon a definable critical impact/tractive force being exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Sprave
  • Patent number: 7490729
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a center buffer coupling for railroad cars that has a coupling head 1 and a coupling shaft 2 that holds the coupling head 1 on its front end 3, whereby the rear end 4 of the coupling shaft 2 is attached to the frame of the railroad car so that it can swivel horizontally. In the case of a crash, i.e. during the occurrence of extreme impact energies, in order to shorten the coupled couplings in such a way that the energy absorbing elements 22 on the body side dissipate the impact energy transferred between the adjacent car bodies during the impact without additional space being needed when the coupling head 1 is taken out of the force flow, according to the invention, a section 6 of the coupling shaft is formed of a first partial piece 7 and a second partial piece 8, whereby the two partial pieces 7, 8 are connected to each other by means of an overload safety device 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Mattschull, Christian Radewagen
  • Patent number: 7458477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling, especially of the “Tlghtlock/AAR” type of construction. The coupling includes a coupling head, with a supporting unit underneath; a hydraulic and/or compressed air terminal for a hydraulic or compressed air line; and an electrical contact carrier arranged underneath the supporting unit and having electrical contact terminals; and an actuating device to longitudinally displace the electrical contact carrier via the air line. The electrical contact carrier is in an uncoupled position rearward of the coupling plane of the central buffer coupling, and is displaceable into a coupling-ready forward position in the coupling plane via the actuating device. In order to ensure that the electrical contact carrier is automatically co-coupled after the mechanical coupling operation, a release mechanism is configured to ensure a coupling mechanism is triggered to co-couple the at least one hydraulic and/or compressed air terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Antony Jones
  • Patent number: 7345639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling for a multi-membered vehicle having a coupling head and a signal transmission device for transmitting signals between a first and a second car body. The invention integrates a signal transmission device into the central buffer coupling. The invention includes a coupling element and a counter-coupling element integrated into respective contact plates of adjacent coupling heads such that the face side of the coupling element is arranged opposite the face side of the counter-coupling element. The coupling element and the counter-coupling element each have an antenna member that includes a disc monopole antenna configured to transmit data in the GHz frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Prill, Reiner Krause, Karl-Heinz Kraft
  • Publication number: 20070107623
    Abstract: A central buffer coupling for rail-mounted vehicles has a coupling shaft (1) and a drawgear (2) comprising a bearing bracket (4), whereby the rear end (3) of the coupling shaft (1) is connected to the drawgear (2) and coupled to the car body of the rail vehicle via the bearing bracket (4) of the drawgear (2) so as to be horizontally pivotable. The drawgear (2) includes a shock absorber (5, 8), wherein the shock absorber (5, 8) is configured such that upon the exceeding of a definable critical impact force being transmitted through the coupling shaft (1) to the drawgear (2), the connection between the drawgear (2) and the coupling shaft (1) is disengaged and the coupling shaft (1) is at least partially removed from the power flow transmitted to the drawgear (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Radewagen
  • Patent number: 7191909
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for a coupling head to protect a coupling head (12), particularly the moving components found therein, against environmental influences such as dirt, snow, icing and mechanical shocks. The functioning of the coupling head cover is such that an automatic coupling process between two vehicles is further guaranteed. A shroud (6) is provided, which may be pivoted from a working or uncoupled position, in which the shroud (6) is arranged in an essentially vertical position in front of the coupling head (6), into a rest or coupled position above the coupling (11). A jointed arrangement (7,B,C,D) is provided for pivoting the shroud (6), connected to both the shroud (6) and the coupling (11) or a frame (9) arranged on the coupling (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Heinisch, Christian Radewagen
  • Publication number: 20070054562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling (1, 1?) for a multi-membered vehicle, in particular a rail-borne vehicle, having a coupling head (3) and a signal transmission device (2) for transmitting electric and/or electronic signals between a first and a second car body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Prill, Reiner Krause, Karl-Heinz Kraft
  • Publication number: 20070034468
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy dissipation device with a first force-transferring element, a second force-transferring element, and a first and second energy dissipation element which are disposed in the energy dissipation device such that the force flow taking place during the transfer of the tractive and impact forces in the longitudinal direction of the energy dissipation device runs parallel through the two energy dissipation elements. By the activation behavior of the individual energy dissipation elements being chosen appropriately, the total characteristic curve of the energy dissipation device can be precisely determined in advance. In particular, the invention makes possible the construction of energy dissipation devices with force-path characteristic curves with regions of the characteristic curve, which fall off sharply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Applicant: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Kemper
  • Publication number: 20060249470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a central buffer coupling for rail-mounted vehicles having a coupling shaft arranged to be vertically pivotable around an articulated housing of a railway vehicle and supporting a coupling head and a device for horizontal resetting to center at its free end. In order to realize a disengaging of the frictionally-locked connection between an actuating means of a center position device and a coupling shaft in the event of a crash; i.e., upon extreme impact/tractive force being transferred through the coupling shaft, a separable center position coupling in accordance with the invention is provided, which disengages the frictionally-locked connection between the actuating means and the center position guide upon a definable critical impact/tractive force being exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Sprave
  • Patent number: 7055705
    Abstract: A central buffer coupling for coupling a first rail car body with a second, adjacent rail car body of a multiple-unit rail vehicle, has a coupling head pivotally connected by a coupling shaft to a linking housing of the rail car body, and a pivoting unit pivoting the coupling shaft. The pivoting unit has a guide participating in horizontal pivoting of the shaft that runs about a vertical pivot axis. Pressure surfaces symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the shaft which correspond to a respective pressure device, bring about horizontal re-centering of the shaft. The respective pressure devices are supported on the linking housing of the shaft to bias the related pressure surfaces against the guide. The guide is positionable with the action-linked coupling shaft in every position of the planned pivot region, via an activation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rainer Sprave
  • Patent number: 7038169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heater for an electric central buffer coupling in which at least one heating element (3) is placed in a recess of the coupling head (1) and is covered toward the outside. To improve the transfer of heat from the heating element (3) into the coupling head (1) and to reduce the expense of assembling and dismantling the heating element (3), the recess is precision fitted to the diameter of the heating element (3) and the recess is constructed in such a way that after completion of the recess the heating element (3), including its seal to the front side, can be introduced into the recess and is to be removably affixed to the coupling head (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Goetz Dittmar, Dirk Behrens
  • Publication number: 20050282422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic central buffer coupling, especially of the “Tlghtlock/AAR” type of construction. The coupling includes a coupling head, with a supporting unit underneath; a hydraulic and/or compressed air terminal for a hydraulic or compressed air line; and an electrical contact carrier arranged underneath the supporting unit and having electrical contact terminals; and an actuating device to longitudinally displace the electrical contact carrier via the air line. The electrical contact carrier is in an uncoupled position rearward of the coupling plane of the central buffer coupling, and is displaceable into a coupling-ready forward position in the coupling plane via the actuating device. In order to ensure that the electrical contact carrier is automatically co-coupled after the mechanical coupling operation, a release mechanism is configured to ensure a coupling mechanism is triggered to co-couple the at least one hydraulic and/or compressed air terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Antony Jones
  • Patent number: 6805251
    Abstract: A device (1) is provided for horizontal resetting to center for a central buffer coupling arranged pivotably by a coupling shaft (2) on a rail-borne vehicle. The device has a guide (3) following the pivoting movement of the coupling shaft (2) around its vertical pivot axis. The device has pressing surfaces (4) provided symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the coupling shaft (2), and has a pressing device (7), with parts supported against an articulated housing (5) for the coupling shaft and bringing about the horizontal resetting to center. The pressing device acts permanently or switches off or can be switched off depending on the pivot angle or can be actuated by a pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically operated actuating device. To facilitate especially the coupling in tight curves or to make it possible in the first place, the actuating device is designed as a remote-controllable adjusting drive (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Radewagen, Antony Jones
  • Patent number: 6685040
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing device for the end of rail vehicles is provided. In order in particular to reduce the cost of adaptation and matching between vehicle manufacturers and suppliers of the energy-absorbing device and the couplings (3) and the design and/or quality risks, the energy-absorbing device exhibits a base frame (1) which carries all the proposed elements for energy absorption in the end area and which is fastened as a compact preassembled module to the sub-frame (9) entirely in the defined interface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Heinisch, Eckart J{haeck over (a)}de, Frank Reineck