Adapter component for adapting a coupling head, coupling head having an adapter component and a method for adapting a coupling head

Abstract

An adapter component for adapting a coupling head of a first construction type with a coupling head of a second construction type. The adapter component is constructed, in place of the articulated jaw of the coupling head of the first construction type which is intended to be adapted, to be releasably connected to the coupling head of the first construction type and in particular to the coupling head body of the coupling head of the first construction type.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coupling head of a track-bound vehicle, comprising:
 a coupling head body with a first contour and a coupling mouth;   a closure mechanism; and   an adapter component being at least partially complementary to the coupling mouth, the adapter component being at least partially received in the coupling mouth and detachably fixed therein by the closure mechanism, the adapter component including an interface region which faces away from the coupling mouth, the interface region being configured to either detachably connect to a coupling head of a counter-coupling,   wherein the interface region is at least partially complementary to the coupling head of the counter-coupling or removably retains a transition portion being at least partially complementary to the coupling head of the counter-coupling in such a manner that the transition portion is detachably connected to the coupling head of the counter-coupling.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling head according to  claim 1 , further including a pin connected to the coupling head body, wherein the adapter component includes a perpendicular through-hole for receiving the pin. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter component further includes a first region being adapted to the coupling mouth. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling head according to  claim 3 , wherein the adapter component further includes a second region configured for cooperating with the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling head according to  claim 4 , further including an articulated jaw, wherein the second region of the adapter component has a contour which corresponds to a contour of a region of the articulated jaw which cooperates with the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling head according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first region and the second region of the adapter component is configured to form a detachable connection of the adapter component, which is substantially free of play, for detachably connecting the adapter component to the coupling head body. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface region has a tooth arrangement which is constructed for receiving a corresponding counter-tooth arrangement of the transition portion in a positive-locking manner. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling head according to  claim 1 , wherein the first contour of the coupling head body is a Janney contour. 
     
     
         9 . An adapter component for adapting a coupling head of a first construction type with a coupling head of a second construction type, the coupling head of the first construction type including a coupling head body, a pin, an articulated jaw configured for rotating horizontally about the pin relative to the coupling head body between a ready position for coupling and a closed position, and a closure mechanism for locking or unlocking the articulated jaw in the closed position,
 wherein the adapter component is constructed in place of the articulated j aw of the coupling head of the first construction type, the adapter component being configured for detachably connecting to the coupling head body of the coupling head of the first construction type.   
     
     
         10 . The adapter component according to  claim 9 , wherein the coupling head body of the coupling head of the first construction type includes a coupling mouth which is constructed, in a state when the coupling head of the first construction type is coupled to a complementary counter-coupling head of the first construction type, for receiving at least in regions an articulated jaw of the counter-coupling head, wherein the adapter component includes a first region which at least partially faces the coupling head of the first construction type which is intended to be adapted and which has at least in regions a contour which is adapted to the coupling mouth of the coupling head of the first construction type which is intended to be adapted. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter component according to  claim 10 , wherein the adapter component includes a second region which at least partially faces the coupling head of the first construction type which is intended to be adapted, and the second region is constructed such that the second region is configured for cooperating with the closure mechanism of the coupling head of the first construction type which is intended to be adapted in such a manner that the adapter component in a state of being at least partially received in the coupling mouth of the coupling head of the first construction type is fixed to the coupling head body by the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter component according to  claim 11 , wherein the second region of the adapter component has at least in regions a contour which corresponds to a contour of a region of the articulated jaw which cooperates with the closure mechanism of the coupling head of the first construction type. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter component according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first region and the second region of the adapter component is configured to form a detachable connection of the adapter component, which is substantially free of play, for detachably connecting the adapter component to the coupling head body. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter component according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter component includes a perpendicular through-hole for receiving the pin of the coupling head of the first construction type. 
     
     
         15 . The adapter component according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter component includes a third region which faces away from the coupling head of the first construction type, the third region is configured for being at least partially complementary to the coupling head of the second construction type, and the third region is constructed such that the third region is configured for forming a releasable connection to the coupling head of the second construction type. 
     
     
         16 . The adapter component according to  claim 9 , wherein the adapter component has a third region which faces away from the coupling head of the first construction type, the third region is configured as an interface region and is constructed to removably retain a transition portion which is configured for being at least partially complementary to the coupling head of the second construction type in such a manner that the transition portion is releasably connected to the coupling head of the second construction type. 
     
     
         17 . The adapter component according to  claim 16 , wherein the interface region has a tooth arrangement which is constructed to receive a correspondingly complementary counter-tooth arrangement of the transition portion in a positive-locking manner. 
     
     
         18 . The adapter component according to  claim 9 , wherein the coupling head body of the coupling head of the first construction type has a Janney contour. 
     
     
         19 . A method for adapting a coupling head of a first construction type to a coupling head of a second construction type, the coupling head of the first construction type including a coupling head body having a coupling mouth, an articulated jaw configured for being horizontally rotated about a pin relative to the coupling head body between a ready position for coupling and a closed position, and a closure mechanism for locking or unlocking the articulated jaw in the closed position, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an adapter component configured for adapting the coupling head of the first construction type with the coupling head of the second construction type, the adapter component including a first region which at least partially faces the coupling head of the first construction type, the first region being adapted to the coupling mouth; and   replacing the articulated jaw with the adapter component.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the adapter component includes a second region which at least partially faces the coupling head of the first construction type, the second region is configured for cooperating with the closure mechanism of the coupling head of the first construction type in such a manner that the adapter component in a state of being at least partially received in the coupling mouth of the coupling head of the first construction type is fixed to the coupling head body by the closure mechanism.