A coupling box of a rail vehicle, including a fixed portion fixedly mounted on a vehicle body and a movable portion connecting to a coupler and draft gear; the movable portion is connected to an inner end of the fixed portion by means of a constant-force connecting member, the constant-force connecting member is broken when the coupler and draft gear pushes the movable portion to move inwardly at the time of a collision, so that the movable portion and the fixed portion are able to be separated from each other.

The present invention relates to a front cover for a coupler for a rail vehicle, the front cover (1) comprising a cover body (10) for covering a front end of the coupler, wherein the cover body (10) comprises at least one deformation zone (12), said deformation zone (12) having a cover portion (16) that is configured to break or deform when subjected to a collision force for providing access through the cover body (10) at the at least one deformation zone (12) during a collision. The invention also relates to a method for mounting a front cover on a coupler, and to a method for deforming a front cover.

The present invention relates to a front cover for a coupler for a rail vehicle, the front cover (1) comprising a cover body (10) for covering a front end of the coupler, wherein the cover body (10) comprises at least one deformation zone (12), said deformation zone (12) having a cover portion (16) that is configured to break or deform when subjected to a collision force for providing access through the cover body (10) at the at least one deformation zone (12) during a collision. The invention also relates to a method for mounting a front cover on a coupler, and to a method for deforming a front cover.

A connecting structure for an articulated vehicle includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle connected via a coupler along a travelling direction of the articulated vehicle. The structure includes: a pair of anchors disposed at an end of the first vehicle so as to be on both sides of the coupler in a direction perpendicular to the travelling direction in plan view, the end facing the second vehicle; a pair of supports disposed at an end of the second vehicle so as to be on both sides of the coupler in the direction perpendicular to the travelling direction in plan view, the end facing the first vehicle; and a connecting cord having both ends connected to the anchors with an intermediate portion of the connecting cord being supported by the supports. The supports support the connecting cord in a manner allowing for movement of the connecting cord.

A traction-impact device including two force transmission elements which extend along a longitudinal axis and which are connected to each other in a force-transmitting manner and an irreversible energy absorption device that includes at least one energy absorption element which at least partially or in regions, preferably completely, includes a fiber composite material. The irreversible energy absorption device is at least partially received by a first of the two force transmission elements. This first force transmission element includes a nozzle portion. The irreversible energy absorption element is arranged in such a manner with respect to the nozzle portion and the other second force transmission element that, when an impact force which exceeds the maximum permissible impact force is introduced into the traction-impact device, the irreversible energy absorption element is pressed through the nozzle portion with at least partial, preferably complete defibration of the regions formed from fiber composite material.

A traction-impact device including two force transmission elements which extend along a longitudinal axis and which are connected to each other in a force-transmitting manner and an irreversible energy absorption device that includes at least one energy absorption element which at least partially or in regions, preferably completely, includes a fiber composite material. The irreversible energy absorption device is at least partially received by a first of the two force transmission elements. This first force transmission element includes a nozzle portion. The irreversible energy absorption element is arranged in such a manner with respect to the nozzle portion and the other second force transmission element that, when an impact force which exceeds the maximum permissible impact force is introduced into the traction-impact device, the irreversible energy absorption element is pressed through the nozzle portion with at least partial, preferably complete defibration of the regions formed from fiber composite material.

Described are a device, system, and method for monitoring a distance between a first rail car and a second rail car during coupling. The device includes a fastener configured to affix the device to the first rail car and a distance sensor configured to detect the distance between the first rail car and the second rail car in a direction away from an end of the first rail car and toward an end of the second rail car. The device also includes a power source and a data connector to communicatively connect the device to a remote processor. The device further includes a local processor programmed or configured to repeatedly receive distance data from the distance sensor of the distance between the first rail car and the second rail car and communicate the distance data to the remote processor.

A telescoping uncoupling lever assembly including a first lever, a hook connected to the first lever, a second lever, a handle connected to the second lever, and a third lever including a plurality of first lever connectors, a plurality of first glides bonded to the respective interior surfaces of the first lever connectors for engagement with the first lever, a plurality of second lever connectors, and a plurality of second glides bonded to the respective interior surfaces of the second lever connectors for engagement with the second lever.

The present invention discloses a train coupler structural health monitoring system. The system includes one or more sensors mounted to or integrated with the train coupler, a data acquisition unit for receiving signal or data from the sensors, and a processing unit for determining the train coupler's structural health based on the received signal or data. Inspections via the system can be performed in real time continuously or periodically while a train is in service. It can also be performed offline while a train is not in service. Inspection method can be either passive, where sensors collect signals without generating excitation signals to the structure, or active, where some sensors are used as actuators to actively send excitation signals to the structure and other sensors or the actuators themselves collect the structural response signals. The data acquisition unit receives signals or data from sensors. The processing unit processes sensor data acquired by the data acquisition unit and determines if there are structural changes or damages.

The present invention discloses a train coupler structural health monitoring system. The system includes one or more sensors mounted to or integrated with the train coupler, a data acquisition unit for receiving signal or data from the sensors, and a processing unit for determining the train coupler's structural health based on the received signal or data. Inspections via the system can be performed in real time continuously or periodically while a train is in service. It can also be performed offline while a train is not in service. Inspection method can be either passive, where sensors collect signals without generating excitation signals to the structure, or active, where some sensors are used as actuators to actively send excitation signals to the structure and other sensors or the actuators themselves collect the structural response signals. The data acquisition unit receives signals or data from sensors. The processing unit processes sensor data acquired by the data acquisition unit and determines if there are structural changes or damages.