Abstract: The invention relates to a point machine for a rail switch, comprising at least one switching mechanism, designed to transmit at least one switching force onto at least one switch point and at least one switching element, designed to transmit at least one switching force onto the switching mechanism. According to the invention, the at least one switching element is designed to convert a load which is moved by the switching element substantially in a longitudinal direction (L) relative to the switching element to a torque. The invention also relates to a switch point, a point device having said switch point, a rail switch comprising said point device, and a center buffer coupling and to a rail vehicle having said center buffer coupling and to a rail traffic system comprising the rail vehicle and the rail switch.

Abstract: A coupler pivot. A coupler (10) comprises at least a first gimbal (31; 32) defining a pivot that is secured to a mounting (41) for securing to a frame member of a vehicle, the pivot also being secured to a buffer column (39) part of which protrudes on an opposite side of the pivot to the mounting (41) such that the buffer column (39) is moveable relative to the mounting (41) with at least two degrees of freedom. The buffer column (39) defines a free (42) end that is remote from the mounting (41) and that is securable to a further member.

Abstract: A method of assembling a spring inside of a tube includes providing a coil spring and a tube having a first retaining structure at a first end of the tube. The method includes positioning a rod in the tube. The spring is positioned in the tube, and a second retaining structure is attached to the rod with the spring positioned between the first and second retaining structures. A force is applied to the spring, and the second retaining structure is fixed at a position wherein the spring provides a desired preload.

Abstract: A central buffer coupling having a coupling head, a coupling shaft and a bearing block attachable to the front face of a car body. The coupling shaft includes a front shaft component supporting the coupling head and a rear shaft component coupled to the bearing block so as to be horizontally pivotable which are pivotable in the horizontal plane relative one another about a rotational axis defined by a connecting pin, and the central buffer coupling further includes a pivoting mechanism to pivot the front shaft component relative the rear shaft component. The pivoting mechanism includes a slotted gate fixedly attached to one of the two shaft components and having a sliding guide, a cam disc rotatably mounted about the rotational axis defined by the connecting pin and having a cam disc guide, and a bolt connecting the one to the other of the two shaft components.

Abstract: A railroad car coupler centering device including in one embodiment a spreader beam mountable to the striker at one end of a railroad car, a right side centering spring rotatably connected to the spreader beam by a hinge, and a left side centering spring rotatably connected to the spreader beam by a hinge. The first or right side centering spring is moveable to and between a coupler engaged position and a coupler disengaged position. In the coupler engaged position, the right side centering spring is positioned to engage the right side of the coupler and to bias the coupler to a central position. In the coupler disengaged position, the right side centering spring allows the coupler to move from the center position to the right. Similarly, the left side centering spring is moveable to and between a coupler engaged position and a coupler disengaged position.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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).

Abstract: A non-metallic wear plate assembly for railroad car couplers comprises a wear plate of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having an upper surface with side edges and a middle portion therebetween, the upper surface of the wear plate sloping downwardly from the side edges to the middle portion, and a number of counter-bored holes in the wear plate with a larger diameter and a smaller diameter with the larger diameter of the counter-bored holes facing up, the wear plate being mounted on a steel filler plate by weld washers which are positioned in the holes and are welded to the filler plate, with optional weld washer plugs being positioned in the holes above the weld washers and flush with the upper surface of the wear plate. A method of using the non-metallic wear plate for railroad car couplers to center a coupler and protect it against wear.

Abstract: A device adapted to assist in the alignment of a railroad car drawheads for coupling, said device having connecting means by which the handle thereof may be rigidly connected to, and serve as an extension of, the drawhead for the purpose of increasing leverage when rotating said drawhead on its pivot.

Abstract: An alignment device for railroad car couplers including a central flexible portion with a pair of swivelable end portions connectable between couplers of adjacent cars. Each of the end portions includes a protruding stud adapted to engage an opening preformed in the knuckle body. The device end portions and their studs are inserted between misaligned adjacent couplers. One steady pull of the engine aligns the couplers so that two cars may then be quickly joined together without requiring the trainman to stand between the cars during the coupling operation.

Abstract: A detent apparatus for maintaining a draw bar in a centered position includes an indentation formed in a cylindrical surface of the pivotable taileye of the draw bar structure. A roller is arranged to ride along the surface and into the indentation, the roller being urged into the indentation by symmetrically arranged levers, pivoted as first class levers, with the inner, shorter arm of each lever urging the roller and the outer arm being urged by compression coil springs which are seated on the anchorage structure attached to a railroad car.

Abstract: A backstop assembly for use with a cushioning device in the sill of a railway car. The cushioning device has a body, or cylinder, slidable endwise in the sill and carrying a car coupler at its outer end. The cylinder has a piston centered on the sill axis and a piston rod projecting from its inner end terminating in an enlarged end collar of circular cross section which is received in a backstop. The backstop is of rectangular box shape secured in the sill and having an inner end wall, outer end wall, top wall and parallel side walls, the end walls being axially spaced to form a chamber for loose, axially captive accommodation of the collar. The outer end wall has an arch-shaped clearance opening for loose accommodation of the piston rod.

Abstract: An arrangement for horizontal central arresting and releasing of an intermediate buffer coupling has a horizontally swingable coupling rod, a guide member at a rear end of the coupling rod and following the swinging of the latter, two rocking levers pivotally mounted on a vehicle and having abutment faces, a roller supported on the guide member and located between the rocking arms so as to abut against their abutment faces, and an actuating device connected with the rocking levers and operative for opening of the latter in the sense of allowing free movement of the intermediate buffer coupling.

Abstract: A coupler arrangement for rapid transit passenger cars includes a self-centering coupler shank having limited horizontal and vertical swinging movement about a spherical bearing structure. The arrangement includes first and second shock absorbing mechanisms sequentially effective. A pin type coupler includes a locking arrangement on the coupler structure engageable with the coupler pin.

Abstract: A device for controlling the return of the coupling head for central couplings to their central position, especially for use in connection with rail vehicles, in which the coupling head is by means of a coupling rod linked to a housing arranged on a vehicle. A cam operatively connected to the coupling rod extends between two abutments which in the horizontal path of the cam are displaceable hydraulically, electrically or pneumatically. In one end position of the abutments, the full horizontal lateral deviation of the coupling rod is available, whereas in the other end position, the cam is clamped in between the two abutments.