JPS5823271B2 - coupler centering device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a coupler centering device for automatically centering a vehicle coupler.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the conventional centering device for a vehicle coupler includes compression springs 4 on both sides of the body 30 of the coupler, in a part of the side support device 2 of the coupler 1. , push rod 5 are attached, and even if the vehicle is separated on a curve, the coupler 1 is constantly brought to the center of the vehicle via the push rod 5 by the restoring force of the compression spring 4, and thereby,
This makes it easy to connect vehicles.

However, in vehicles equipped with such a centering device,
Because the coupler is always located at the center of the vehicle due to the action of the centering spring, there is a concern that the vehicles may not be able to be coupled when the vehicles are coupled on a curve, but when the radius of the curve is large, The connector has a structure that absorbs slight misalignment, so it can be connected without any problems.

However, there is a possibility that vehicles cannot be connected on a curve with a small radius of curvature.

Note that some vehicles do not have a centering device, and in this case, when connecting the vehicles, it is necessary for a person to move the coupler and move the coupler to the center of the vehicle to make the connection. be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a coupler centering device that can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional centering devices.

Hereinafter, FIGS. 3 to 3 of the attached drawings show one embodiment of the present invention.
This will be explained based on FIG.

As shown in the figure, in the device of the present invention, a pair of concentric spring supports 11 are fixedly provided on both sides of the coupler 10 and on the upper surface of the side support device 10 that supports the shell 3. A pair of push rods 12 and 13 are movably arranged in opposition to each other in the centering spring receiver 11, and a centering spring 14 is installed between these push rods 12 and 13. In this way, the inner end of the pushing barrel 12 constantly presses against the barrel 3 of the coupler 1 under the action of the centering spring 14.

On the other hand, the outer end of the push rod 13 is placed on the lower surface of the side support device 10.
The upper end of a link 17 rotatably connected in the center by a pin 16 near the outer end of each pair of support arms 15 fixed at one end so as to face diagonally outward near both ends. The centering spring 14 is used to continuously press the centering part.

Note that an elongated hole 17' is provided near the lower end of the arm 17.

Further, a bracket 18 is suspended and fixed to the center of the lower surface of the membrane receiver 10, and a cylinder 19 is attached to the lower end of the bracket 18 in parallel with the membrane receiver 10 and on the axis of the concentric spring receiver 11. Each outer end of a piston rod 21 extending on both sides from a piston 20 fixed in the direction of the center and movably housed therein is connected to the lower end of the link 17 through an elongated hole 17'. They are rotatably connected by a pin 22.

The cylinder 19 is divided by a piston 20 into independent piston chambers 23 and 24, each of which is provided with a pressure fluid inlet 23' and 24'.

The device of the present invention is configured as described above, but next,
The effect will be explained.

First, while the vehicle is running, the pressure fluid inlet 23 of the cylinder 19
If pressure fluid of the same pressure is applied to -ti- of ' and 24'', the piston 20 and piston rod 21
maintains the neutral position as shown in FIG. 4, so the left and right links 1γ are fixed.

Thereby, the push rod 12 presses the barrel 3 of the coupler 1 from both sides via the push rod 13 only by the force of the centering spring 14.

Therefore, the vehicle is separated on the curve and the coupler 1
No matter if it swings (moves) to the left or right
, the force of the centering spring 14 causes the coupler 1 to return to the central position.

That is, for example, if the coupler 1 is now swung leftward from the neutral position shown in FIG. 4, the piston rod 21 remains as it is, so the left link 17 also does not move.

Therefore, the left-hand pushing eye 13 also does not move, so that the left-hand restoring spring 14 is compressed via the left-hand pushing rod 12.

On the other hand, since the right centering spring 14 is not compressed, when the swinging force of the coupler 1 is removed, the coupler 1 is returned to the center by the force of the left centering spring 14.

In addition, in the case of swinging the head to the right, the movement is opposite to the above-mentioned case to the left.

Additionally, when connecting vehicles on a curve, if the radius of the curve is greater than or equal to the allowable connection swing angle of the coupler, the vehicles will not connect on this curve. Since this is not possible, the coupler must be forcibly swung to a position where it can be connected.

In such cases, with conventional spring-type centering devices, the coupler must be forcibly swung manually against the force of the centering spring and held in that position until it is connected. However, for those without a centering device, the coupler had to be manually swung in the same way.

In contrast, in the device of the present invention, in such a case, the pressure fluid in the piston chamber 23 or 241 of the cylinder 19 on the opposite side to the direction in which the coupler is desired to be moved can be discharged.

That is, in FIG. 4, if you want to move the coupler 1 to the left, first move the piston chamber 2 on the right side of the cylinder 19.
The pressure fluid filled in 4 is transferred to the pressure fluid inlet 24.
If the pressure fluid is discharged through the left piston chamber 23 through the pressure fluid inlet 23' (although it does not necessarily have to flow in), the piston rod 21 It moves in the direction of increasing the volume of the piston chamber 23, and the right link 1T rotates counterclockwise about the pin 16, so the right push rods 12 and 13 and the right centering spring 14 are pressed. This will move the coupler 1 to the left.

If the coupler 1 does not move at this time for some reason, continue to supply pressure fluid into the cylinder chamber 23 of the cylinder 19 through the pressure fluid inlet 23' until the coupler 1 moves. Good.

In this case, the left link 17 is connected to the piston rod 2.
1 moves toward the right link 17 (to the right), it rotates counterclockwise around the left pin 16 and pushes the left side; the rods 12 and 13 and the left centering spring 14 are connected. Vessel 1
does not provide resistance to the movement of

In this way, once the coupler 1 is moved to a position where it can be connected to the other coupler, the vehicle can be brought closer to connect the coupler.

When the connection is completed, the piston rod 21 returns to the center position by filling the piston chamber (piston chamber 24 in the above example) with pressure fluid again. try to

However, the coupler 1 is connected at a position closer to the left; this creates resistance and prevents the piston rod 21 from returning to its original central position.

However, when the vehicle is running under this condition and the vehicle is on a straight line, the coupler 1 returns to the center, and accordingly, the piston rod 21 automatically returns to the original center position, and at the same time,
Left and right links 17, push rods 12 and 13, restoring spring 1
The 4th place returns to the position shown in Figure 4.

In addition, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation system using pressure fluid of the cylinder 19, and the center position of the switching valve A shown in the figure shows the state when the vehicle is running, and the left switching position is used when it is desired to swing the coupler 1 to the right, and the right switching position is taken when it is desired to swing the coupler 1 to the left.

As described above, the device of the present invention has a cylinder provided at the lower center of the lower surface of the side support device.

It is possible to connect the coupler on a curve without the need for manual operation as in the past, and yet the amount of travel of the coupler can be adjusted simply by increasing or decreasing the pressure in both piston chambers. Therefore, the amount of movement of the coupler can be easily adjusted, and even if the coupler has moved too much, the correction operation can be easily performed.

In addition, if the pressure fluid that has flowed into both piston chambers of the cylinder is discharged, the link can be easily operated manually. Therefore, if necessary, the oscillation of the coupler can be adjusted manually. can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a plan view and a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of FIG. 1, respectively, showing a conventional centering device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of a coupler centering device according to the present invention. Figure 4 is the third
5 is a side view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a system diagram of operating pressure fluid. 1... Coupler; 10... Side receiver device; 1
1... Centering spring holder; 12, 13... Push rod; 14... Centering spring; 15... Support arm; 17... ...Ring; 18... Bracket; 19... Cylinder; 21...
piston rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a centering device for a vehicle coupler of a vehicle having a side support device that allows the coupler to slide and rotate, a pair of support arms arranged on the bottom surface of the side support device each have a pivot that can swing. A pair of push rods that abut on both sides of the link and the connector body are sandwiched between one end of the supported link, and the inner portion where the push rod abuts the connector body, the outer portion where the push rod abuts the link, and the space between the two. A piston of a cylinder, which is composed of a self-centering spring held by a pair of links, has independent piston chambers on both sides of the piston at the lower end of a pair of links, and is held by a bracket that hangs from the lower surface of a side support device. A coupler centering device characterized by connecting rods.