Automatic train coupling

Abstract

An automatic train coupling includes: a coupling head including a coupling head housing and a coupling fastener, the coupling fastener being a rotary fastener including a coupling eyelet and a core, the core being rotatable between coupled and decoupled positions, the coupling eyelet by way of its first end being connected to the core such that the coupling eyelet is rotatable, the core including a throat; and a decoupling installation which is configured for being electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically activated and which includes a motor that, by way of a drive connection of the automatic train coupling, is at least indirectly connected to the core so as to rotate the core from the coupled position to the decoupled position, the decoupling installation being disposed either completely within the coupling head housing or completely within the coupling head housing and a coupling bar adjoining the coupling head housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic train coupling, comprising:
 a coupling head which includes a coupling head housing and a coupling fastener, the coupling fastener including a locking mechanism and being formed as a rotary fastener including a coupling eyelet and a core, the core being configured for rotating about a primary axis between a coupled position and a decoupled position, the coupling eyelet including a first end and a second end which is free, the coupling eyelet by way of the first end being connected to the core such that the coupling eyelet is configured for rotating about a coupling eyelet axis, the core including a throat which is disposed and thereby configured for receiving another second end of another coupling eyelet of a mating coupling head; and   a decoupling installation which is configured for being electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically activated and which includes a motor—which is an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, or a pneumatic motor—that, by way of a drive connection of the automatic train coupling, is at least indirectly connected to the core so as to rotate the core from the coupled position to the decoupled position, the decoupling installation being disposed either completely within the coupling head housing or completely within the coupling head housing and a coupling bar—of the automatic train coupling—adjoining the coupling head housing.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor has an output rotation axis which is disposed so as to be at least substantially radial relative to the primary axis. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 2 , wherein the automatic train coupling is configured for a freight car of a rail vehicle, the motor being an electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 2 , further comprising a miter gear in the drive connection between the motor and the core. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 4 , further comprising a face gear or a bevel gear, wherein the output rotation axis has a drive pinion or is disposed so as to be coaxial with and to drive the drive pinion, which meshes with the face gear or the bevel gear, a rotation axis of the face gear or the bevel gear being parallel to the primary axis such that the drive pinion and the face gear or the bevel gear form the miter gear. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 4 , further comprising a reduction gear, wherein the reduction gear, which is disposed so as to be coaxial with the output rotation axis, is disposed between the motor and the miter gear. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 6 , wherein the reduction gear is formed as an eccentric gear, which is a harmonic gear. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 4 , further comprising an articulated lever, the miter gear including a miter gear output, wherein the miter gear, by way of the articulated lever, is connected to the core, wherein the articulated lever includes at least two parts, which include a first lever part and a second lever part, the first lever part being connected in an articulated manner to the core so as to form a first articulated connection defining a first articulated rotational axis, the second lever part being connected in an articulated manner to the first lever part and in an articulated manner to the miter gear output so as to form respectively a second articulated connection defining a second articulated rotational axis and a third articulated connection defining a third articulated rotational axis, wherein the first articulated rotational axis, the second articulated rotational axis, and the third articulated rotational axis are parallel to the primary axis. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 8 , further comprising a rotary lever, wherein the miter gear output defines a miter gear output rotation axis, the miter gear output being formed by the rotary lever which extends radially to the miter gear output rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 4 , further comprising an articulated lever, the miter gear including a miter gear output, wherein the miter gear, by way of the articulated lever, is connected to the core, wherein the articulated lever is formed as one part or a plurality of parts, wherein the miter gear output includes a dog and a rotary lever, wherein the rotary lever is connected in an articulated manner to the articulated lever and is operatively connected to the dog so as to entrain the rotary lever for rotating the core from the coupled position to the decoupled position and for a rotation of the miter gear output in an opposite direction to release the rotary lever. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 10 , wherein the miter gear output defines a miter gear output rotation axis and is configured for rotating about the miter gear output rotation axis between a zero position and a trigger position, and a length of the articulated lever is such that the core is configured for rotating from the decoupled position to the coupled position and the miter gear output thereby remains in the zero position. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 11 , wherein the articulated lever includes a first lever part and a second lever part, the length of the articulated lever including a length of the first lever part and a length of the second lever part. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 11 , wherein the decoupling installation is configured for being activated independently of a position of the core. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 13 , wherein the miter gear output defines a miter gear output rotation axis, wherein the miter gear output is configured for rotating about the miter gear output rotation axis in the coupled position and in the decoupled position of the core to the motor. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one sensor, which is configured for detecting a position of the decoupling installation. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured for detecting a position of at least one of the miter gear output and the articulated lever. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic train coupling according to  claim 15 , further comprising a manual activation device, by way of which at least one of (a) the core is configured for being moved manually to the decoupled position, and (b) the miter gear output is configured for being moved to the zero position. 
     
     
         18 . A rail vehicle, comprising:
 an automatic train coupling, including:
 a coupling head which includes a coupling head housing and a coupling fastener, the coupling fastener including a locking mechanism and being formed as a rotary fastener including a coupling eyelet and a core, the core being configured for rotating about a primary axis between a coupled position and a decoupled position, the coupling eyelet including a first end and a second end which is free, the coupling eyelet by way of the first end being connected to the core such that the coupling eyelet is configured for rotating about a coupling eyelet axis, the core including a throat which is disposed and thereby configured for receiving another second end of another coupling eyelet of a mating coupling head; and 
 a decoupling installation which is configured for being electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically activated and which includes a motor—which is an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, or a pneumatic motor—that, by way of a drive connection of the automatic train coupling, is at least indirectly connected to the core so as to rotate the core from the coupled position to the decoupled position, the decoupling installation being disposed either completely within the coupling head housing or completely within the coupling head housing and a coupling bar—of the automatic train coupling—adjoining the coupling head housing.