Abstract: A coupler for a railway car including a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism pivotable relative to the coupler anchor from an on-center position to an off-center position in a substantially horizontal plane, and a coupler positioning device for pivoting the coupler mechanism relative to the coupler anchor. The coupler positioning device includes a controller adapted for receiving signal information from a bogie relating to an angular position of the bogie relative to a body of the railway car, and at least one pneumatic cylinder for pivoting the coupler mechanism. The controller controls the operation of the at least one pneumatic cylinder in response to the signal information received from the bogie.

Abstract: A train car with mirror image electrical couplings having mirror image halves at each end for connecting train lines in each car to corresponding train lines in adjacent cars, regardless of the end-to-end orientation of the car, has selected pairs of train lines connected to corresponding pairs of switches for each end of the car for switching the halves of each selected pair of train lines between one or the other halves of the mirror image electrical couplings, depending on the orientation of the car.

Abstract: To couple the initiation and the chronological sequence of a coupling or uncoupling process of a mechanical middle buffer coupling and an electrical cable coupling with a common rotary drive with the smallest amount of control effort possible in a reliable manner, a coupling and uncoupling device has a shaft, which can be driven at right angles to the coupling axis and is fastened non-rotatably on an actuating arm that extends into a guide rail of the cable coupling and is consequently designed as a direct drive member of the cable coupling, wherein an uncoupling lever for the mechanical middle buffer coupling and the actuating arm are positively coupled via the shaft. A switching device for the coupling and uncoupling device with switches and initiating members or control cams controls the initiation and the chronological sequences of the coupling and uncoupling process of the mechanical middle buffer coupling and the electrical cable coupling.

Abstract: Coupler control system for railway vehicles that provides isolation of the electric and pneumatic lines of a rail vehicle from its corresponding electric and/or pneumatic intervehicle interface when that end of the vehicle is in an uncoupled condition. A combination proximity sensor and switch is positioned within the mechanical hook coupling housing so as to sense the actual engagement of the mechanical hooks of a pair of vehicles. The switch then closes and becomes operative to initiate a coupling cycle during which the onboard electric and pneumatic lines are coupled to the associated electric and pneumatic interfaces to provide continuity with the vehicle to which it is coupled. Included in the circuitry for the sensor switch is a diode circuit arranged to permit looping of the sensor switch output across the electric interface onto the adjacent car and back through the interface through the use of only two interface connector pins per interface.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic control system for effecting coupling and uncoupling action of automatic rapid transit type car couplers in a manner which assures that fluid pressure lines are cut off and that electrical contacts are disconnected before actual physical disengagement of the couplers themselves can occur.