Tractor train, optionally an articulated train
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A combination of two vehicles (10, 22) comprising:
- a first vehicle (10) with a first-vehicle longitudinal axis (X), a first-vehicle transverse axis (Y), and a first-vehicle vertical axis (Z);
a second vehicle (22) with a second-vehicle longitudinal axis (U), a second-vehicle transverse axis (V) and a second-vehicle vertical axis (W);
an articulated coupling means (18,
20) with a coupling axis (24) substantially parallel to one of the vertical axes (Z, W), said coupling means providing a push-and-pull connection between the two vehicles (10,
22);
a supply unit (64) operatively associated with at least one of said first and second vehicles (10,
22);
a flexible supply line (62) operatively associated with the supply unit (64);
a supply-line-coupling means (32,
54) between the two vehicles (10,
22) having a first coupling half (32) on the first vehicle (10) and a second coupling half (54) on the second vehicle (22);
said at least one flexible supply line (62) permitting, when the first and the second coupling halves (32,
54) are coupled to each other, relative pivoting movements of the vehicles (10,
22) about the coupling axis (24);
one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves being operatively rigidly disposed on one (10,
22) of the two vehicles, and the other one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves being connected by the flexible supply line (62) to the supply unit (64) of the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles;
a positioning means (30) provided on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles for positioning the other coupling half (32) on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles in a ready-for-capture position when the first and the second vehicles (10,
22) are separated, the positioning means (30) permitting the other one (32,
54) of the first and second coupling halves a freedom of movement with respect to the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles; and
a catch device (50) provided on the one (10,
22) of the two vehicles for trapping the other coupling half (32,
54), as positioned in said ready-for-capture position on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles, in a catch position in response to an approach movement between the first and the second vehicles (10,
22), whereby the other one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves is received in said catch position by the one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles and displaced from the other one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles;
wherein said catch position of the other coupling half (32,
54) corresponds to one of a coupling engagement position of said first and second coupling halves and a location on a transport path defined by the length of the catch device (50) from which the other coupling half is movable to a coupling engagement position of said first and second coupling halves (32,
54), the other coupling half (32,
54) being separated from the positioning means (30) in said coupling engagement position and being attached to the one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles in the coupling engagement position, and the first and the second coupling halves (32,
54) remaining coupled while the first and the second vehicles are in common motion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In the case of an articulated train, there is between the two partial vehicles, that is to say the tractor vehicle (10) and the trailer vehicle (22), a supply coupling (32, 54) which closes automatically when the two partial vehicles are coupled together and opens automatically when the two partial vehicles are separated from each other (FIG. 1).
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A combination of two vehicles (10, 22) comprising:
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a first vehicle (10) with a first-vehicle longitudinal axis (X), a first-vehicle transverse axis (Y), and a first-vehicle vertical axis (Z); a second vehicle (22) with a second-vehicle longitudinal axis (U), a second-vehicle transverse axis (V) and a second-vehicle vertical axis (W); an articulated coupling means (18,
20) with a coupling axis (24) substantially parallel to one of the vertical axes (Z, W), said coupling means providing a push-and-pull connection between the two vehicles (10,
22);a supply unit (64) operatively associated with at least one of said first and second vehicles (10,
22);a flexible supply line (62) operatively associated with the supply unit (64); a supply-line-coupling means (32,
54) between the two vehicles (10,
22) having a first coupling half (32) on the first vehicle (10) and a second coupling half (54) on the second vehicle (22);said at least one flexible supply line (62) permitting, when the first and the second coupling halves (32,
54) are coupled to each other, relative pivoting movements of the vehicles (10,
22) about the coupling axis (24);one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves being operatively rigidly disposed on one (10,
22) of the two vehicles, and the other one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves being connected by the flexible supply line (62) to the supply unit (64) of the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles;a positioning means (30) provided on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles for positioning the other coupling half (32) on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles in a ready-for-capture position when the first and the second vehicles (10,
22) are separated, the positioning means (30) permitting the other one (32,
54) of the first and second coupling halves a freedom of movement with respect to the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles; anda catch device (50) provided on the one (10,
22) of the two vehicles for trapping the other coupling half (32,
54), as positioned in said ready-for-capture position on the other one (10,
22) of the two vehicles, in a catch position in response to an approach movement between the first and the second vehicles (10,
22), whereby the other one (32,
54) of the first and the second coupling halves is received in said catch position by the one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles and displaced from the other one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles;wherein said catch position of the other coupling half (32,
54) corresponds to one of a coupling engagement position of said first and second coupling halves and a location on a transport path defined by the length of the catch device (50) from which the other coupling half is movable to a coupling engagement position of said first and second coupling halves (32,
54), the other coupling half (32,
54) being separated from the positioning means (30) in said coupling engagement position and being attached to the one (10,
22) of the first and the second vehicles in the coupling engagement position, and the first and the second coupling halves (32,
54) remaining coupled while the first and the second vehicles are in common motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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8. A combination of two vehicles (310, 322) comprising:
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a first vehicle (310) with a first-vehicle longitudinal axis (X), a first-vehicle transverse axis (Y), and a first-vehicle vertical axis (Z); a second vehicle (322) with a second-vehicle longitudinal axis (U), a second-vehicle transverse axis (V) and a second-vehicle vertical axis (W); an articulated coupling means (318,
320) with a coupling axis (324) substantially parallel to one of the vertical axes (Z, W), said coupling means providing a push-and-pull connection between the two vehicles (310,
322);a supply unit operatively associated with at least one of the first and the second vehicles (310,
322);a flexible supply line operatively associated with the supply unit; a supply-line-coupling means (332,
354) between the two vehicles (310,
322) having a first coupling half (332) on the first vehicle (310) and a second coupling half (354) on the second vehicle (322);said at least one flexible supply line permitting, when the first and the second coupling halves (332,
354) are coupled to each other, relative pivoting movements of the vehicles (310,
322) about the coupling axis (324);one (332,
354) of the first and the second coupling halves (332,
354) being operatively rigidly disposed on one (310,
322) of the two vehicles, and the other one (332,
354) of the first and the second coupling halves being connected by the flexible supply line to the supply unit of the other one (310,
322) of the two vehicles;a positioning means (311) provided on the other one (310,
322) of two vehicles for positioning the other coupling half on the other vehicle (310,
322) in a ready-for-capture position when the first and the second vehicles (310,
322) are separated, the positioning means (311) permitting the other coupling half (332,
354) a freedom of movement with respect to the other one (310,
322) of the two vehicles at least along the corresponding vehicle longitudinal axis of the other one (310,
322) of the two vehicles;a catch device (350) provided on the one (310,
322) of the two vehicles for trapping the other coupling half (332,
354), as positioned in said ready-for-capture position on the other one (310,
322) of the two vehicles, in a catch position in response to an approach movement between the first and the second vehicles (310,
322), whereby the other one (332,
354) of the first and the second coupling halves is received in said catch position by the one (310,
322) of the first and the second vehicles and displaced with respect to the other one (310,
322) of the first and the second vehicles;wherein said catch position of the other coupling half (332,
354) corresponds to one of a coupling engagement position and a location on a transport path defined by the length of the catch device (350) from which the other coupling half is movable to a position in which the first and the second coupling halves (332,
354) are coupled, the other coupling half (332,
354) being in said coupling engagement position attached to the one (310,
322) of the two vehicles, the first and the second coupling halves (332,
354) remaining coupled while the first and the second vehicles are in common motion;the positioning means (311) comprising an elongated carrier member pivotally mounted on the other vehicle (310,
322) at a connecting location (317) about a substantially vertical axis, said substantially vertical axis being displaced from, and parallel with, the coupling axis (324) in a direction opposite to the direction of approach of the other vehicle (310,
322) towards the one (310,
322) of the two vehicles for achieving the push-and-pull connection therewith, the other coupling half (332,
354) being movable in the longitudinal direction of said elongated carrier member and being connected when in at least one of the catch position and the coupling engagement position to said elongated carrier member. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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40. A method of coupling two vehicles (10, 22) one behind the other substantially along a common driving direction, the resulting combination comprising a first vehicle (10) with a first-vehicle longitudinal axis (X), a first-vehicle transverse axis (Y), and a first-vehicle vertical axis (Z), a second vehicle (22) with a second-vehicle longitudinal axis (U), a second vehicle transverse axis (V) and a second-vehicle vertical axis (W), an articulated mechanical coupling means (18, 20) with a coupling axis (24) substantially parallel to one of said vertical axes (Z, W), said mechanical coupling means being capable of providing a push-and-pull connection between said two vehicles (10, 22), a supply line coupling means (32, 54) between said two vehicles (10, 22) with a first coupling half (32) on said first vehicle (10) and a second coupling half (54) on said second vehicle (22), at least one (32, 54) of said first and second coupling halves (32, 54) being connected to a supply unit (64) of the respective vehicle (10, 22) by a flexible supply line (62), said flexible supply line (62) permitting, when said first and said second coupling halves (32, 54) are coupled to each other, relative pivoting movements of said two vehicles (10, 22) about said coupling axis (24), one (32, 54) of said first and said second coupling halves (32, 54) being operatively rigidly disposed on one (10, 22) of said two vehicles, the other one (32, 54) of said first and said second coupling halves being connected by said flexible supply line (62) to a supply unit (64) on the other (10, 22) of said two vehicles, said method comprising:
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moving said two vehicles (10,
22) toward each other for establishing said push-and-pull connection between said two vehicles (10,
22), respective portions of said two vehicles (10,
22) adjacent to said articulated mechanical coupling means (18,
20) being mutually height-adjusted along said corresponding vehicle vertical axes (Z, W) to accommodate the establishment of said push-and-pull connection;bringing said first and said second coupling halves (32,
54) into relative positions of substantially equal height in response to said height-adjustment;moving said other coupling half (32,
54) along an approach path substantially parallel to the corresponding vehicle longitudinal axis of said other vehicle (10,
22) toward a catch device defining a substantially horizontal transport path (50) provided on said one vehicle (10,
22), said transport path being substantially parallel to the corresponding vehicle transverse axis of said one vehicle (10,
22);transferring said other coupling half (32,
54) to said catch device for movement along said transport path (50);moving said other coupling half (32,
54) along said transport path (50) toward said one coupling half (32,
54); andcoupling said one coupling half with said other coupling half.
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41. A method of uncoupling a combination of two vehicles (10, 22) coupled one behind the other substantially along a common driving direction, said combination comprising a first vehicle (10) with a first-vehicle longitudinal axis (X), a first-vehicle transverse axis (Y) and a first-vehicle vertical axis (Z), a second vehicle (22) with a second-vehicle longitudinal axis (U), a second-vehicle transverse axis (V) and a second-vehicle vertical axis (W), an articulated mechanical coupling means (18, 20) with a coupling axis (24) substantially parallel to one of said vertical axes (Z, W), said mechanical coupling means providing a push-and-pull connection between said two vehicles (10, 22), a supply line coupling means (32, 54) between said two vehicles (10, 22) comprising a first coupling half (32) on said first vehicle (10) and a second coupling half (54) on said second vehicle (22), at least one (32) of said first and second coupling halves (32, 54) being connected to a supply unit (64) of the respective vehicle (10, 22) by a flexible supply line (62), said flexible supply line (62) permitting, when said first and said second coupling halves (32, 54) are coupled to each other, relative pivoting movements of said vehicles (10, 22) about said coupling axis (24), at least one (32, 54) of said first and said second coupling halves (32, 54) being operatively rigidly disposed on one (10, 22) of said first and said second vehicles, the other (32, 54) of said first and said second coupling halves being connected by said flexible supply line (62) to a supply unit (64) on the other (10, 22) of said two vehicles, said method of uncoupling comprising:
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separating the first and second coupling halves (32,
54) from each other;moving said other coupling half along a transport path (50) extending on said one vehicle substantially in parallel with said vehicle transverse axis of said one vehicle; stopping said movement along said transport path (50) when said other coupling half reaches a ready-to-separate position on said transport path (50); separating the second vehicle (22) from the first vehicle (10); separating said other coupling half from said transport path (50); and positioning said other coupling half at a predetermined location on said other vehicle.
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Specification