The present invention discloses a method for monitoring status of a railcar draft gear in an assembly. The assembly comprises the draft gear and a coupler. At least one accelerometer or strain sensor is installed. The at least one accelerometer is configured to measure acceleration or deceleration of the coupler. The at least one strain sensor is configured to measure strain exerted on the coupler. Data collected on the acceleration or deceleration, or the strain is analyzed by algorithms to ascertain status of the draft gear.

The present invention discloses a method for monitoring status of a railcar draft gear in an assembly. The assembly comprises the draft gear and a coupler. At least one accelerometer or strain sensor is installed. The at least one accelerometer is configured to measure acceleration or deceleration of the coupler. The at least one strain sensor is configured to measure strain exerted on the coupler. Data collected on the acceleration or deceleration, or the strain is analyzed by algorithms to ascertain status of the draft gear.

An automatic uncoupling mechanism for couplers comprises a coupler knuckle spindle and a driving unit comprising a cylinder body hinged to a coupler body and a telescopic member; and further comprises a first rotating member, a boss and a boss stopper, wherein the first rotating member comprises a crank hinged to the telescopic member and a rotating part being sheathed on the coupler knuckle spindle. The driving unit unidirectionally drives the telescopic member so that the rotating part drives the coupler knuckle spindle to unidirectionally rotate by the contact of the boss with the boss stopper, realizing coupler uncoupling; and, after the driving unit drives the telescopic member to return to its position, the rotation of the coupler knuckle spindle for achieving coupler coupling is not limited by the rotating part. The present application may reduce the lateral force of the coupler knuckle to the driving unit during the uncoupling process of the coupler, and may cause the spring to drive the coupler knuckle to rotate rapidly and lock the coupler during the coupler coupling process.

An automatic uncoupling mechanism for couplers comprises a coupler knuckle spindle and a driving unit comprising a cylinder body hinged to a coupler body and a telescopic member; and further comprises a first rotating member, a boss and a boss stopper, wherein the first rotating member comprises a crank hinged to the telescopic member and a rotating part being sheathed on the coupler knuckle spindle. The driving unit unidirectionally drives the telescopic member so that the rotating part drives the coupler knuckle spindle to unidirectionally rotate by the contact of the boss with the boss stopper, realizing coupler uncoupling; and, after the driving unit drives the telescopic member to return to its position, the rotation of the coupler knuckle spindle for achieving coupler coupling is not limited by the rotating part. The present application may reduce the lateral force of the coupler knuckle to the driving unit during the uncoupling process of the coupler, and may cause the spring to drive the coupler knuckle to rotate rapidly and lock the coupler during the coupler coupling process.

A railcar coupling aid is provided to link a sequentially aligned pair of railcars having unactuated couplers so that such couplers may become engaged on a portion of rail more conducive to their actuation or so that such couplers may be serviced at a more convenient location along the rail. It may comprise a first and second length of rugged and flexible material spaced apart by a first and second crossed portion of such material. The crossed portions define a space configured to receive both of a pair of opposing coupler draw heads therethrough. When the net is draped over the opposing draw heads, each of the first and second lengths may be secured to themselves around one each of the coupler's draw shafts. Thus, each railcar may be at least temporarily linked to one another in a manner that avoids risking injury to railworker limbs.

An improved coupler knuckle with an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission the interior having a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section of the coupler knuckle.

An improved coupler knuckle with an improved interior configuration for handling forces imparted on the knuckle and transferring said imparted forces through the knuckle and improving handling of linear force loads and their transmission the interior having a force handling structure that includes spaced apart layers and cavities, with a cavity extending between the nose section and the tail section of the coupler knuckle.

A snow protection assembly is provided for a coupling region of a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle has, on an end face, a recess which protects against snow, in which recess a coupling of the rail vehicle is arranged. A fixed housing partially extends around the recess. The housing has an opening in the direction of travel of the rail vehicle, from which opening the coupling partially protrudes to enable a process of coupling to an additional rail vehicle. The opening of the fixed housing is peripherally fixedly connected to a first sealing element. A second sealing element is rotatably connected to the coupling, and the second sealing element partially extends around the coupling. The two sealing elements partially overlap in the region of the opening. The two sealing elements are coupled to one another by pressure to protect the opening against the ingress of snow.

A snow protection assembly is provided for a coupling region of a rail vehicle. The rail vehicle has, on an end face, a recess which protects against snow, in which recess a coupling of the rail vehicle is arranged. A fixed housing partially extends around the recess. The housing has an opening in the direction of travel of the rail vehicle, from which opening the coupling partially protrudes to enable a process of coupling to an additional rail vehicle. The opening of the fixed housing is peripherally fixedly connected to a first sealing element. A second sealing element is rotatably connected to the coupling, and the second sealing element partially extends around the coupling. The two sealing elements partially overlap in the region of the opening. The two sealing elements are coupled to one another by pressure to protect the opening against the ingress of snow.

A system may include a sensor that detects positioning data indicative of a position of a first coupler of a first vehicle system and positioning data indicative of a position of a second coupler of a second vehicle system during a coupling event of the vehicle systems. A controller includes one or more processors that receive the positioning data of the first and second couplers and determines whether the first coupler is misaligned with the second coupler. The controller may initiate an action of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system to change a position of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system. Changing the position of the first coupler, the second coupler, the first vehicle system, or the second vehicle system aligns the first coupler with the second coupler.