An anti-climbing protection apparatus for a rail vehicle includes at least one buffer supported by an energy absorption element connected to a rail vehicle frame. In order to permit such a protection apparatus to be produced economically, to reliably prevent overriding and to be comparatively easy to retrofit, a bearing element is fastened to an end of the energy absorption element facing away from the vehicle frame. The bearing element supports an anti-climbing protection device at an end thereof protruding in a vertical direction from the buffer. In the event of a crash, a horizontally oriented stop, in cooperation with the front of the rail vehicle, permits an anti-climbing protection element of the anti-climbing protection device to be brought from the stop into an anti-climbing protection position extending outward over the buffer.

An energy dissipating device includes a guide defining a guide surface having a curved cross-section. A deformer is slideably supported by the guide surface of the guide in a compression stroke direction of the device. A stopper is fixedly attached to the device and arranged at a distance from the deformer in the compression stroke direction. An energy dissipating member is arranged between the stopper and the deformer in the compression stroke direction, and includes a first end configured to engage with the stopper and a second end configured to engage with the deformer in response to a force thereon in the compression stroke direction.

An energy dissipating device includes a guide defining a guide surface having a curved cross-section. A deformer is slideably supported by the guide surface of the guide in a compression stroke direction of the device. A stopper is fixedly attached to the device and arranged at a distance from the deformer in the compression stroke direction. An energy dissipating member is arranged between the stopper and the deformer in the compression stroke direction, and includes a first end configured to engage with the stopper and a second end configured to engage with the deformer in response to a force thereon in the compression stroke direction.

An anti-climbing protection apparatus for a rail vehicle includes at least one buffer supported by an energy absorption element connected to a rail vehicle frame. In order to permit such a protection apparatus to be produced economically, to reliably prevent overriding and to be comparatively easy to retrofit, a bearing element is fastened to an end of the energy absorption element facing away from the vehicle frame. The bearing element supports an anti-climbing protection device at an end thereof protruding in a vertical direction from the buffer. In the event of a crash, a horizontally oriented stop, in cooperation with the front of the rail vehicle, permits an anti-climbing protection element of the anti-climbing protection device to be brought from the stop into an anti-climbing protection position extending outward over the buffer.

An anti-climbing protection apparatus for a rail vehicle includes at least one buffer supported by an energy absorption element connected to a rail vehicle frame. In order to permit such a protection apparatus to be produced economically, to reliably prevent overriding and to be comparatively easy to retrofit, a bearing element is fastened to an end of the energy absorption element facing away from the vehicle frame. The bearing element supports an anti-climbing protection device at an end thereof protruding in a vertical direction from the buffer. In the event of a crash, a horizontally oriented stop, in cooperation with the front of the rail vehicle, permits an anti-climbing protection element of the anti-climbing protection device to be brought from the stop into an anti-climbing protection position extending outward over the buffer.

The invention is directed to a draft and buffer apparatus for a track-guided vehicle. The apparatus includes a coupling rod and a draft yoke for connecting the coupling rod to the vehicle body. An energy-dissipating device is arranged between the vehicle and the coupling rod for receiving draft and buffer forces. The energy-dissipating device includes a reversible energy-dissipating unit and is configured so as to cause the force flow of the buffer loads transmitted thereto from the coupling rod and of the draft loads transmitted via the draft yoke thereto to be conducted through the energy-dissipating device and to be transmitted to the vehicle body. The energy-dissipating device further includes an irreversible energy-dissipating unit providing irreversible energy dissipation. The energy-dissipation device is mounted within the axial extent of the draft yoke when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The invention is directed to a draft and buffer apparatus for a track-guided vehicle. The apparatus includes a coupling rod and a draft yoke for connecting the coupling rod to the vehicle body. An energy-dissipating device is arranged between the vehicle and the coupling rod for receiving draft and buffer forces. The energy-dissipating device includes a reversible energy-dissipating unit and is configured so as to cause the force flow of the buffer loads transmitted thereto from the coupling rod and of the draft loads transmitted via the draft yoke thereto to be conducted through the energy-dissipating device and to be transmitted to the vehicle body. The energy-dissipating device further includes an irreversible energy-dissipating unit providing irreversible energy dissipation. The energy-dissipation device is mounted within the axial extent of the draft yoke when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

A buffer comprising a first, elongate buffer element that is moveably received within the interior of a second, elongate, hollow buffer element such that the first and second buffer elements overlap over part of their length, such that the buffer elements define a hollow interior of the buffer and such that at an end of the buffer at least the second buffer element is exposed for engagement with a respective, further member, the first and second buffer elements being moveable between a first, extended or intermediate configuration of the buffer and a second, compressed configuration, compression of the buffer more energetically than a threshold energy level causing the first buffer element to energize a non-recoverable energy absorbing member, forming part of the buffer or capsule, to cause deformation of one or more plastically deformable parts of the buffer, characterized in that the non-recoverable energy absorbing member lies between the ends of the buffer at least in the region energized by the first buffer element.