COUPLER ARRANGEMENT FOR RAIL VEHICLE

Abstract

A coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle comprises a coupler head and an uncoupling device having at least one handle which is manually swivelable about an axis of rotation (A) in a swivel direction (S) from a first position, in which the coupler head is in a state in which it is coupled to or ready to couple with the coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a second position, in which the coupler head is in an uncoupled state. In one embodiment the handle comprises a handle arm which is oriented horizontally when the handle is either in the first or in the second position. In another embodiment the handle is mechanically lockable by moving, preferably shifting or tilting, at least a portion of the handle in a locking direction from the second position into a third position, wherein the locking direction differs from the swivel direction (S). In an even further embodiment, two of those handles are provided, preferably on opposite sides relative to the coupler head, wherein preferably swivelling of one of the two handles causes a corresponding swivelling of the respective other handle.

Claims

1. A coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle, comprising: a coupler head; and an uncoupling device comprising at least one handle which is manually swivelable about an axis of rotation in a swivel direction from a first position, in which the coupler head is in a state in which it is coupled to or ready to couple with a coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a second position, in which the coupler head is in an uncoupled state.

2. The coupler arrangement of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is horizontal and wherein one end of the at least one handle forms a handle arm which extends in a vertical swivel plane and which has a free end that can be gripped by a person so that the at least one handle arm provides a leverage for the person; wherein the handle arm is oriented horizontally when the at least one handle is either in the first or in the second position.

3. The coupler arrangement of claim 2, wherein an angle of rotation of the at least one handle about the axis of rotation between the first position and second position of the at least one handle is less than 45?.

4. The coupler arrangement of claim 2, wherein the at least one handle is mounted on a front side, lateral side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle and said axis of rotation extends perpendicular relative to said side of the wagon or car so that swivel of the at least one handle about the axis of rotation results in a movement of the at least one handle in a plane that is parallel to the respective front, lateral or rear side of the wagon or car.

5. The coupler arrangement of claim 2, wherein the at least one handle is mounted in front of a front side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle with the free end of the at least one handle pointing towards a lateral side of the wagon so as to be manually accessible and movable from the first into the second position by a person standing laterally relative to the wagon.

6. The coupler arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one handle is mechanically lockable by moving at least a portion of the at least one handle in a locking direction from the second position into a third position; wherein the locking direction differs from the swivel direction.

7. The coupler arrangement of claim 6, wherein in the third position the at least one handle abuts against a holder to thereby prevent rotation of the at least one handle about the axis of rotation towards the first position. 8. The coupler arrangement of claim 6, further comprising a joint which permits, when the at least one handle is in said second position, sideways tilting of the at least one handle about a tilting axis which is perpendicular relative to said axis of rotation, wherein the tilting axis is perpendicular relative to the axis of rotation.

9. The coupler arrangement of claim 1, further comprising one of said at least one handle as a first handle and another one of said at least one handle as a second handle, wherein both the first handle and the second handle are manually swivelable about a respective axis of rotation in a corresponding swivel direction from a respective first position, in which the coupler head is in the state in which it is coupled to or couplable with a coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a respective second position, in which the coupler head is in the uncoupled state.

10. The coupler arrangement of claim 9, wherein the coupler arrangement is configured such that swivelling of one of the first and second handles from its respective first to its respective second position causes swivelling of the respective other one of the first and second handles from said other one's respective first to said other one's respective second position.

11. The coupler arrangement of claim 10, wherein the first and second handles are interconnected by a rod which is configured to translate swivelling of one of the first and second handles about its respective axis of rotation to a swivelling of the respective other one of the first and second handles about the respective other one's axis of rotation.

12. The coupler arrangement of claim 10, wherein, in a case where each of the first and second handles is configured such that each is mechanically lockable by moving at least a portion thereof in a respective locking direction from its respective second position into a respective third position, with the handles' locking directions differing from their respective swivel direction, movement of one of the first and second handles in its respective locking direction causes movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles.

13. The coupler arrangement of claim 12, wherein said movement of one of the first and second handles in its respective locking direction and said movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles includes both a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the first handle and a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the second handle.

14. The coupler arrangement of claim 12, wherein said movement of one of the first and second handles in its respective locking direction and said movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles includes both a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the first handle and a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the second handle.

15. The coupler arrangement of claim 9, further comprising a key-and-lock arrangement acting directly on the rod and having a key-and-lock mechanism at both ends of the rod, the key-and-lock arrangement being configured to prevent the rod from rotating about said axis of rotation when one of the key-and-lock mechanisms is in its locked condition.

16. The coupler arrangement of claim 15, wherein the key-and-lock mechanism at one end of the rod cooperates with the key-and-lock mechanism at the other end of the rod through a hollow interior of the rod so that unlocking the key-and-lock mechanism at the one end of the rod causes unlocking of the respective other key-and-lock mechanism at the other end of the rod.

17. The coupler arrangement of claim 16, wherein the key-and-lock arrangement comprises a pulley system that interconnects the two key-and-lock mechanisms.

18. The coupler arrangement of claim 2, wherein swivel of the at least one handle between the first position and second position includes a starting position, intermediate position or end position in which the free end of the at least one handle and the axis of rotation are on a same vertical level.

19. The coupler arrangement of claim 6, wherein movement of the at least one handle in the locking direction includes a sideways shifting or sideways tilting of at least the portion of the at least one handle.

20. The coupler arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first and second handles are arranged on opposite sides relative to the coupler head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, reference is made to the drawings. The scope of the disclosure is not limited, however, to the specific embodiments disclosed in the drawings. In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coupler arrangement attached to the undercarriage of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1;

[0039] FIGS. 3A and 3B show the handle of the coupler arrangement of FIG. 1 in a side view and top view, respectively, in a first (coupled) position;

[0040] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the handle of the coupler arrangement of FIG. 1 in a side view and top view, respectively, in a third (buff) position;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a key-and-lock mechanism for attaching the handle of the coupler arrangement of FIG. 1;

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a first principle (shifting) for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles;

[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates an aspect of the first principle of FIG. 6 in further detail;

[0044] FIG. 8 illustrates a second principle (tilting) for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles;

[0045] FIG. 9 illustrates an advancement of the second principle (tilting) shown in FIG. 8;

[0046] FIG. 10 illustrates an aspect of the advanced second principle of FIG. 8 in further detail;

[0047] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a coupler arrangement with two handles in a coupled or ready-to-couple state, attached to the undercarriage of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle;

[0048] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the coupler arrangement of FIG. 10 in a buff state; and

[0049] FIG. 13 illustrates a locking mechanism for preventing actuation of the uncoupling device of a coupler arrangement having two handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coupler arrangement attached to the undercarriage of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle. The coupler arrangement comprises a coupler head 1 for coupling with a second coupler head of identical shape, a coupler rod 2 for connecting the coupler head 1 to the undercarriage, and further components which are either not visible in this view or not of importance for the following description. The skilled person will recognize that the coupler head 1 is of the Scharfenberg type, more specifically a Scharfenberg Type 10 coupler head, and fulfils all requirements of a DAC-Type 4. The coupler arrangement further comprises an uncoupling device for bringing the coupler head 1 from a first state in which it is either coupled to a second coupler head or ready to couple to a second coupler head into a second, uncoupled state. The uncoupling device includes a handle 3 which is manually swivelable about an axis of rotation A in a swivel direction S from a first position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the coupler arrangement, more specifically the coupler head 1, is in the coupled or ready-to-couple state, into a second position (not shown) in which the coupler head 1 is in an uncoupled state. The handle 3 is connected to a release mechanism 4 via a cable 5. As described above, actuation of the release mechanism is against the force of a tensile spring or tensile springs inside the coupler head 1 (not shown), which holds/hold the coupler head 1 in its coupled or ready-to-coupled state. Spring 4A is an additional spring which has the sole purpose of providing an additional tensile force on the handle 3 to force the handle 3 towards the coupler head 1, but this additional spring 4A is optional. Thus, when the handle 3 is pushed or pulled downwards so as to swivel about the axis of rotation A in the swivel direction S, it pulls on the cable 5, which is guided (as a Bowden cable) 5 through a mounting plate 6 on the front/rear side of the undercarriage to the release mechanism 4, thereby actuating the release mechanism 4 accordingly. In the position of the handle 3 as shown in FIG. 1, the tension force of the tensile spring(s) inside the coupler head 1 (and of theoptionalspring 4A of the release mechanism 4) acting on the cable 5 urges the handle 3 against a stopper 7, which may be made of a rubber or any other material which provides a damping effect. Optionally, a further spring (not shown) may be connected to the handle 3 directly or indirectly in order to further support the horizontal position of the handle 3 in the coupled or ready-to-couple state of the coupler head 1.

[0051] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the axis of rotation A is horizontal. More specifically, it runs parallel to the front/rear side of the undercarriage. Furthermore, the handle 3 has a handle arm 3A which extends away from the axis of rotation A, i.e. it extends in a vertical swivel plane. More specifically, the swivel plane is parallel relative to a lateral side of the undercarriage. The free end 3B can be gripped by a worker so that the handle 3 provides a leverage for the worker. In this position, which is also referred to as the first position within the present disclosure, the handle arm is oriented horizontally. In an alternative embodiment, which is not explicitly shown here, the handle arm 3A may be oriented horizontally in a respective second position, which is the position of the handle in which the coupler head 1 is in its decoupled state. The horizontal position of the handle 3 gives a clear indication to the worker about the current state of the coupler head 1.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows the release mechanism 4 in greater detail. Accordingly, the cable 5 is attached to an eccentric plate or cam plate 4B and runs along a circumference thereof so that pulling of the cable 5 causes the eccentric plate 4B to rotate against the tensile force of the tensioning spring(s) inside the coupler head 1 and against the tensile force of theoptionalspring 4A, thereby releasing (not shown) the coupler head 1 into its uncoupled state.

[0053] FIG. 3A and 3B show only the mounting of the handle 3 of the coupler arrangement of FIG. 1 in a side view and top view, respectively, namely in said first coupled position, in which the coupler head 1 is either coupled or ready to couple to a second coupler head. The cable 5 is not shown, except for its Bowden cable mounting 5 fitting 8. There are provided two stops 9 and 10, the first stop 9 holding the handle 3 in position against the pulling force of the cable 5, and the second stop 10 limiting the swivel motion of the handle 3 in the swivel direction S about the axis of rotation A. Thus, the second stop 10 defines the second position or buff position of the handle 3.

[0054] FIG. 4A and 4B show the handle 3 of the coupler arrangement in a side view and top view, respectively, in a third position, also referred to as the buff position. As can be seen, the handle 3 has been tilted from the intermediate second position (not shown) to the buff position by tilting the handle 3 sideways. The fixed end 3C of the handle is mounted to a bearing 11, which allows both the handle's rotation about the axis of rotation A between the first and second positions and the handle's tilting about a tilting axis T between the second and third positions, wherein the tilting axis T is perpendicular to the axis of rotation A.

[0055] As can be seen from FIG. 4B, in its buff position the handle 3 abuts against a holder 12. The holder 12 and the second stop 10 are integrally formed as a hook 13. The holder 12 has the form of an undercut under which the handle 3 can slide when it is moved from the second to the third position and from which the handle 3 can easily be shifted backwards towards its second position in order to release the handle 3 from the holder 12.

[0056] As can be seen from FIG. 4A, in the buff position the free end 3B of the handle 3 is positioned below the level of the axis of rotation A, whereas in its first position it is above the level of the axis of rotation A (FIG. 3A). The angle of rotation a of the handle 3 between the stops 9 and 10 is only about 30?, and the maximum leverage provided by the handle 3 is at an intermediate position between the handle's first and second positions, which is the position in which the free end 3b of the handle 3 is on the same level as the axis of rotation A. This way, the worker pushing or pulling or even hanging onto the handle 3 has an optimum leverage over the whole swivel range.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the arrangement of the handle 3 is on a lateral side of the undercarriage. However, in an embodiment not specifically illustrated, the handle arrangement as shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B may be mounted on a front side or rear side of the undercarriage, for instance attached to the mounting plate 6, provided that the Berne rectangle is not compromised.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, the handle 3 is removable. The connecting interface provides a key-and-lock assembly, i.e. the connecting interface has non-standard mating structures in order to prevent unauthorized use.

[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a first principle for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles, namely a first handle 3 and a second handle 3, instead of only the one handle 3. The handles 3, 3 each extend through the mounting plate 6 towards a front of the mounting plate 6 where they are fixedly connected to a rod 14. The rod 14 is rotatably mounted in two bearings 15 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, which is the axis of rotation A of the handles 3, 3. Accordingly, when pushing or pulling the first handle 3 downwards, as indicated by the vertical arrow in FIG. 6, the second handle 3 automatically moves in the same direction, as indicated by the other vertical arrow in FIG. 6. Thus, since the two handles 3, 3 are arranged in parallel to each other, they always have a common orientation.

[0060] However, the rod 14 is not only rotatable about the axis of rotation A but can also be shifted in the bearings 15 along the axis of rotation A. As a result, when the first handle 3 is pulled away from the undercarriage so as to shift it under a holder (not shown) into a buff position, similar to the holder 12 in FIG. 4B, then the second handle 3 is simultaneously shifts the same direction so that, when a second holding element is appropriately arranged, also the second handle 3 will move into its respective buff position. The shifting motion is indicated by the two horizontal arrows on the handles 3, 3 and the two-headed arrow on the rod 14 in FIG. 6.

[0061] A cable 5, not shown in FIG. 6 but shown in the detailed view in FIG. 7, is fixed to the rod 14 in such a manner that it winds up onto the rod 14 as one of the handles 3, 3 is moved downwards. As a result, due to the tensile force acting on the cable 5 or due to any other spring force urging the handles 3, 3 towards their first (horizontal) position, when one of the handles 3, 3 is shifted sideways from its buff position towards its second position (both positions not shown in FIG. 6) in order to release it from its buff position, the respective handle as well as the other handle are automatically urged upwards into their first positions shown in FIG. 6, which is the ready-to-couple or coupled position. Of course, the coupler arrangement may alternatively be configured such that the two handles 3, 3 are to be moved upwards, instead of downwards, between their first and second positions, and the same is possible for the previously described single handle 3.

[0062] FIG. 8 illustrates a second principle for use in a coupler arrangement having two handles. Again, the arrangement comprises the rod 14 and the first and second handles 3, 3 which are attached to the rod 14 such that upward or downward movement of one of the handles results in a rotation of the rod about the axis of rotation A and, conclusively, a corresponding upward or downward movement of the other handle 3, in the same way as described in relation to FIG. 6. However, the difference to the arrangement in FIG. 6 is that the handles 3 and 3 are not fixedly attached to the rod 14, but they are attached in such a way that they can be tilted about a tilting axis T which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation A. Limitators 16 prevent the rod 14 from moving axially in a direction of the axis of rotation A. A second rod 14A connects the ends of the handles 3, 3 which extend beyond the rod 14. This way, when one of the handles 3, 3 is tilted about the tilting axis T, e.g. in order to move the handle back and forth between the afore-described second position and buff position, the second rod 14A translates such tilting into a corresponding tilting of the respective other handle in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 8. The advantage of this arrangement over the arrangement of FIG. 6 is that a worker has the same levering effect when tilting the handles 3, 3 between the second position and buff position, which he has when he swivels the handles 3, 3 about the axis of rotation A between the first and second positions.

[0063] Instead of connecting the ends of the handles 3, 3 which extend beyond the rod 14, the second rod 14A may alternatively connect the lever arms of the handles 3, 3 at connecting points somewhere between the rod 14 and the free ends of the handles 3, 3. The distance between these connecting points and the rod 14 need only be little in order to achieve the desired sideways movement of the handles.

[0064] A disadvantage of the coupler arrangements with two handles 3, 3, as described above, lies in the fact that the handles 3, 3 move in the same direction when they are shifted or tilted between their second position and buff position, meaning that the worker has to push one handle towards the wagon into its buff position on one side of a wagon, whereas he has to pull the other handle into its respective buff position on the other side of the wagon. FIG. 9 shows an advancement of the second principle of FIG. 8, in which the tilting movement of the one handle 3 in one direction results in a corresponding tilting movement of the other handle 3 in an opposite direction, and vice versa. The difference to the principle shown in FIG. 8 is that the second rod 14A comprises two separate rod sections 14A and 14A, each having one end attached to one of the handles 3, 3 and the other end attached to a return mechanism 17. The return mechanism 17 comprises a rotatable element 18 which is rotatable about a rotational axis Z which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the rod sections 14A, 14A. The rod sections 14A, 14A are connected with their respective other ends to this rotatable element 18 on opposite sides of its rotational axis Z at an equal distance therefrom, and the rotatable element 18 itself is fixedly mounted to the rod 14 by a connector 19. As a result, movement of the first rod section 14A in one direction is translated by the rotatable element 18 into a movement of the second rod section 14A in an opposite direction, which has the effect that the handles 3, 3, when they are tilted about the tilting axis T, move in opposite directions.

[0065] FIG. 10 shows in more detail how the rod 14, rod sections 14A and 14A, rotatable element 18 and connector 19 may be configured and arranged relative to each other. In particular, the connector 19 may have the form of a cam plate or eccentric plate and the cable 5 may wind up on a circumferential surface thereof when the handles 3, 3 are moved from their first to their second positions.

[0066] The advanced second principle described above in relation to FIG. 9 can likewise be realized with a handle 3 as disclosed above in relation to FIGS. 3A to 4B. A respective embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, wherein FIG. 11 shows the two handles 3, 3 in their first position, corresponding to the coupled or ready-to-couple state of the coupler head 1, and FIG. 12 shows the handles 3, 3 in their third position, which corresponds to the buff state of the coupler head 1. Here, an extension of the handle 3 in the form of a connector rod 20 translates the swivel movement of the handle 3 about the axis of rotation A into a corresponding rotation of the rod 14 about an axis of rotation A that is parallel to the axis of rotation A, on the one hand, and translates the tilting movement of the handles 3, 3 about the tilting axis T (see FIG. 4B) into a corresponding tilting movement of a ledge 21, to which the first rod section 14A is attached with one of its ends, on the other hand. The second handle 3 is connected to the rod 14 and second rod section 14 in the same manner. As a result, swivel movement about the axis of rotation A and/or tilting movement about the tilting axis T of the first handle 3 will result in a corresponding swivel and/or tilting movement of the other handle 3, and vice versa.

[0067] In order to prevent that the uncoupling mechanism of a coupler arrangement having two handles 3, 3 is used without authorization, there is provided a locking mechanism by which rotation of the rod 14 can be blocked. The locking mechanism may comprise a locking pin 22 mounted on a shaft 23 which is rotatably mounted on the rod 14 such that the locking pin 22 can be moved into and out of a static component, such as the mounting plate 6 of the undercarriage. Such locking mechanism is provided at both ends of the rod 14, and a wire 24 is wound around the respective two shafts 23 and connects them so as to form a pulley system, i.e. rotation of one shaft 23 is translated by the wire 24 into a rotation of the respective other shaft 23. By arranging the wire 24 so that it crosses itself, e.g., in the middle of its returning path, the locking pins 22 move in opposite directions when one of the two shafts 23 rotates, as is shown in FIG. 13. Conveniently, the wire 24 and even the entire pulley system can be arranged and, thus, protected inside the rod 14, provided the rod 14 is hollow.

[0068] Preferably, the locking mechanism is a key-and-lock mechanism similar to what is disclosed above in relation to FIG. 5. That is, one end of each of the shafts 23 may be accessible from the outside and may have a specific structure, e.g. as shown in FIG. 5, so that it can be rotated only by using a tool having a corresponding mating structure.

[0069] Preferred aspects of the present disclosure are specified in the following paragraphs (paras) below: [0070] 1. A coupler arrangement for a rail vehicle, comprising a coupler head 1 and an uncoupling device having at least one handle 3 which is manually swivelable about an axis of rotation A in a swivel direction S from a first position, in which the coupler head is in a state in which it is coupled to or ready to couple with a coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a second position, in which the coupler head 1 is in an uncoupled state.

Horizontal Handle

[0071] 2. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 1, wherein the axis of rotation A is horizontal and wherein one end of the at least one handle 3 forms a handle arm 3A which extends in a vertical swivel plane and which has a free end 3B that can be gripped by a person so that the at least one handle arm 3A provides a leverage for the person, wherein the handle arm 3A is oriented horizontally when the at least one handle 3 is either in the first or in the second position. [0072] 3. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 2, wherein swivel of the at least one handle 3 between the first position and second position includes a starting position, intermediate position or end position in which the free end 3B of the at least one handle 3 and the axis of rotation A are on a same vertical level. [0073] 4. A coupler arrangement of paragraphs 2 or 3, wherein an angle of rotation a of the at least one handle 3 about the axis of rotation A between the first position and second position of the at least one handle 3 is less than 45?. [0074] 5. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 2 to 4, wherein the at least one handle 3 is mounted on a front side, lateral side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle and said axis of rotation A extends perpendicular relative to said side of the wagon or car so that swivel of the at least one handle 3 about the axis of rotation A results in a movement of the at least one handle 3 in a plane that is parallel to the respective front, lateral or rear side of the wagon or car. [0075] 6. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 2 to 5, wherein the at least one handle 3 is mounted in front of a front side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle with the free end 3B of the at least one handle 3 pointing towards a lateral side of the wagon so as to be manually accessible and movable from the first into the second position by a person standing laterally relative to the wagon.

Buff Position

[0076] 7. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 1 or any one of paragraphs 2 to 6, wherein the at least one handle 3 is mechanically lockable by moving at least a portion of the at least one handle 3 in a locking direction from the second position into a third position, wherein the locking direction differs from the swivel direction S. [0077] 8. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 7, wherein movement of the at least one handle 3 in the locking direction includes a sideways shifting or sideways tilting of at least the portion of the at least one handle 3, wherein the sideways shifting or sideways tilting of said portion of the at least one handle 3 is in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation A. [0078] 9. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 7 or 8, wherein in the third position the at least one handle 3 abuts against a holder 12 such that rotation of the at least one handle 3 about the axis of rotation A towards the first position is prevented. [0079] 10. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 7 to 9, comprising a joint which permits, when the at least one handle 3 is in said second position, sideways tilting of the at least one handle about a tilting axis T which is perpendicular relative to said axis of rotation A.

Two Handles

[0080] 11. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 1 or any one of paragraphs 2 to 10, comprising one of said at least one handle 3 as a first handle 3 and another one of said at least one handle 3 as a second handle 3, wherein both the first handle 3 and the second handle 3 are manually swivelable about a respective axis of rotation A in a corresponding swivel direction S from a respective first position, in which the coupler head 1 is in the state in which it is coupled to or couplable with a coupler head of another coupler arrangement, into a respective second position, in which the coupler head 1 is in the uncoupled state. [0081] 12. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 11, wherein the coupler arrangement is configured such that swiveling of one of the first and second handles 3, 3 from its respective first to its respective second position causes swiveling of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 from said other one's respective first to said other one's respective second position [0082] 13. A coupler arrangement of paragraphs 11 or 12, wherein the first and second handles 3, 3 are arranged on opposite sides relative to the coupler head 1. [0083] 14. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 13, wherein the first and second handles 3, 3 are interconnected by a rod 14 which is configured to translate swiveling of one of the first and second handles 3, 3 about its respective axis of rotation A to a swiveling of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 about the respective other one's axis of rotation A. [0084] 15. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 14, comprising a cable 5 connected to the rod 14, wherein swiveling of either one of the first and second handles 3, 3 from its respective first position towards its respective second position causes a pulling movement on the cable 5 and, thereby, causes the coupler head 1 to uncouple. [0085] 16. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 15, wherein a direction of orientation of the first handle 3 in the first handle's first and second positions is identical to a direction of orientation of the second handle 3 in the second handle's respective first and second positions. [0086] 17. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 16, wherein the first handle 3 or an extension of the first handle 3 is arranged to extend through a first mounting plate 6 and the second handle 3 or an extension of the second handle 3 is arranged to extend through a second mounting plate 6, which first and second mounting plates 6, respectively, extend laterally from a front side or rear side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle, so that the first and second handles 3, 3 extend along a respective lateral side of said wagon or car. [0087] 18. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 17, wherein, in a case where each of the first and second handles 3, 3 is configured such that it is mechanically lockable by moving at least a portion thereof in a respective locking direction from its respective second position into a respective third position, with the handles' locking directions differing from their respective swivel direction, movement of one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in its respective locking direction causes movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3. [0088] 19. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 18, wherein said movement of one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in its respective locking direction and said movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 includes both a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the first handle 3 and a sideways shifting of at least the portion of the second handle 3. [0089] 20. A coupler arrangement according to paragraph 19, including paragraph 14, wherein the first and second handles 3, 3 are each attached to the rod 14 in such a manner that pushing or respectively pulling one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in a direction towards the other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 causes the rod 14 to be pushed or respectively pulled in that direction, thereby transferring the pushing and pulling movement from the one of the first and second handles 3, 3 to the other one of the first and second handles 3, 3. [0090] 21. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 18, wherein said movement of one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in its respective locking direction and said movement of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 in the locking direction of the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3 includes both a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the first handle 3 and a sideways tilting of at least the portion of the second handle 3. [0091] 22. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 21, including paragraph 14, wherein the first and second handles 3, 3 are each mounted on the rod 14 in such a manner that swiveling of either one of the first and second handles 3, 3 about the axis of rotation causes the rod 14 to rotate accordingly, but the sideways tilting of any one of the first and second handles 3, 3 has no effect on the position of the rod 14. [0092] 23. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 22, wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod 14 coincides with the axes of rotation A of the first and second handles 3, 3 and wherein the first and second handles 3, 3 are each mounted on the rod 14 in an associated bearing in which they can journal about a tilting axis T which is perpendicular to said axis of rotation A. [0093] 24. A coupler arrangement according to paragraph 23, comprising a further rod 14A which interconnects the first and second handles 3, 3 at a distance from said axis of rotation A so as to transfer tilting movement from either one of the first and second handles 3, 3 to the respective other one of the first and second handles 3, 3. [0094] 25. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 24, wherein the locking direction of the first handle 3 is opposite to the locking direction of the second handle 3. [0095] 26. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 24, wherein the further rod 14A comprises two separate rod sections 14A, 14A, each having one end thereof attached to a respective one of the first and second handles 3, 3 at a distance from said axis of rotation A and an opposing end thereof attached to a return mechanism 17 which is configured to translate a movement of one of the two rod sections 14A, 14A in one direction into a movement of the respective other one of the two rod sections 14A, 14A in a direction opposite to said one direction. [0096] 27. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 26, wherein the return mechanism 17 comprises a rotatable element 18 which is rotatable about a rotational axis that is perpendicular to the directions of movement of the two rod sections 14A, 14A, and the two rod sections 14A, 14A are each attached to the rotatable element 18 on opposite sides relative to its rotational axis. [0097] 28. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 11 to 27, comprising a key-and-lock arrangement acting directly on the rod 14 and having a key-and-lock mechanism 22-24 at both ends of the rod 14, the key-and-lock arrangement 22-24 being configured to prevent the rod 14 from rotating about said axis of rotation A when one of the key-and-lock mechanisms 22-24 is in its locked condition. [0098] 29. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 28, wherein the key-and-lock mechanism 22-24 at one end of the rod 14 cooperates with the key-and-lock mechanism 22-24 at the other end of the rod 14 through a hollow interior of the rod 14 so that unlocking the key-and-lock mechanism 22-24 at the one end of the rod 14 causes unlocking of the respective other key-and-lock mechanism 22-24 at the other end of the rod 14. [0099] 30. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 29, wherein the key-and-lock arrangement comprises a pulley system 23, 24 that interconnects the two key-and-lock mechanisms 22-24.

General Aspects

[0100] 31. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 1 to 30, wherein the at least one handle 3 is arranged in front of a lateral side of a wagon or car of a rail vehicle. [0101] 32. A coupler arrangement of any one of paragraphs 7 to 30, wherein the axis of rotation A is a horizontal axis of rotation and wherein rotation of the at least one handle 3 from the first position into the second position includes rotation of the at least one handle 3 about the horizontal axis of rotation A. [0102] 33. A coupler arrangement of any one of the previous paragraphs, wherein the at least one handle 3 is a removable handle with a connecting interface for a worker to attach the handle 3 via the connecting interface to the coupler arrangement. [0103] 34. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 33, wherein the connecting interface of the handle 3 comprises one part of a key-and-lock assembly. [0104] 35. A coupler arrangement of any one of the previous paragraphs, comprising a cable 5, wherein the at least one handle 3 is arranged to cooperate with the cable 5 so that, upon swiveling of the at least one handle 3 from the first position towards the second position, the cable 5 is being pulled, wherein the coupler arrangement is configured such that pulling of the cable 5 causes the coupler head 1 to uncouple. [0105] 36. A coupler arrangement of paragraph 35, wherein the cable 5 comprises a Bowden cable. [0106] 37. A coupler arrangement of any one of the previous paragraphs, comprising a biasing element configured to permanently bias the at least one handle 3 towards the first position. [0107] 38. A coupler arrangement of any one of the previous paragraphs, wherein the coupler arrangement comprises a Scharfenberg-type coupler head 1.

[0108] It is understood that this patent application is presented in good faith to establish the Applicant's right to seek patent protection for the inventions described herein. Nothing in this application shall be construed as a disavowal or relinquishment of any rights under applicable patent laws, and the Applicant expressly reserves the right to make amendments, divisions, continuations, or continuations in part, and to pursue all available legal remedies to protect its intellectual property interests. The present application is submitted without prejudice to any other pending or future applications, whether filed in the United States or in any foreign jurisdiction, which may encompass related subject matter. The inventions herein are intended to be limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents.