Coupler for a rail vehicle and a rail vehicle with a coupler

Abstract

A coupler for coupling a railway vehicle to another railway vehicle, comprising a mounting arm for mounting the coupler to a railway vehicle, a coupling arm, and a joint, wherein the mounting arm and the coupling arm are connected to each other via the joint in such a way that the mounting arm and the coupling arm are movable relative to each other and the coupling arm can be brought into a pivoted position. The coupler further comprises a coupler deflecting device to deflect the coupler in a pivoted position when it comes into contact with another coupler.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A coupler for coupling a railway vehicle to another railway vehicle, comprising:
 a mounting arm for mounting the coupler to a railway vehicle;   a coupling arm; and   a joint;   wherein the mounting arm and the coupling arm are connected to each other via the joint in such a way that the mounting arm and the coupling arm are movable relative to each other and the coupling arm can be brought into a pivoted position; and   wherein the coupler further comprises a coupler deflecting device arranged to deflect the coupler in a pivoted position when it comes into contact with another coupler.   
     
     
         14 . The coupler of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a front portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion;   a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis (A) from the rear end to the forward end;   a pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, the pivot anchor being configured to be attached to a car of a rail vehicle;   a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint being configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about a pivot axis (B) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the pivot axis (B) so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion;   and wherein:   a deflector plate is arranged on a deflector plate holder at the forward end of the rear portion, said deflector plate having a front surface that is substantially vertical and inclined at an acute angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the rear portion.   
     
     
         15 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate is curved such that the inclination angle (α) increases in a direction away from the longitudinal axis (A) of the rear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate comprises a top portion that is located above a rear joint portion. 
     
     
         17 . The coupler according to  claim 16 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate comprises a side portion that is located aside the rear joint portion, 
     
     
         18 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate comprises a bottom portion that is located below a rear joint portion. 
     
     
         19 . The coupler according to  claim 18 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate comprises a side portion that is located aside the rear joint portion. 
     
     
         20 . The coupler according to  claim 17 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate comprises a bottom portion that is located below the rear joint portion. 
     
     
         21 . The coupler according to  claim 20 , wherein the front surface of the deflector plate is smooth. 
     
     
         22 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflector plate holder is mounted on the rear portion. 
     
     
         23 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflector plate holder is mounted on the joint at a rear joint portion that is non-pivotably arranged on the rear portion. 
     
     
         24 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflector plate is fixed to the rear portion. 
     
     
         25 . The coupler according to  claim 14 , wherein the deflector plate is removably attached to the rear portion. 
     
     
         26 . A rail vehicle comprising:
 a coupler that couples the railway vehicle to another railway vehicle, comprising:
 a mounting arm for mounting the coupler to the railway vehicle; 
 a coupling arm; and 
 a joint; 
 wherein the mounting arm and the coupling arm are connected to each other via the joint in such a way that the mounting arm and the coupling arm are movable relative to each other and the coupling arm can be brought into a pivoted position; and 
 wherein the coupler further comprises a coupler deflecting device which is arranged to deflect the coupler in a pivoted position when it comes into contact with another coupler. 
   
     
     
         27 . The rail vehicle of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 the coupler having:
 a front portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a coupler head arranged on the forward end of the front portion; 
 a rear portion having a forward end and a rear end and extending along a longitudinal axis (A) from the rear end to the forward end; 
 a pivot anchor arranged on a rear end of the rear portion, 
   the pivot anchor being configured to be attached to a car of the rail vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The rail vehicle of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 the coupler having:
 a joint for connecting a rear end of the front portion to the forward end of the rear portion, the joint being configured to allow the front portion to pivot in relation to the rear portion about an pivot axis (B) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) from an operational position in which the forward portion and the rear portion are aligned so that the forward portion extends in a forward direction from the rear portion, to a pivoted position in which the forward portion is pivoted about the pivot axis (B) so that the forward portion extends at an angle from the rear portion; 
   and wherein:
 a deflector plate is arranged on a deflector plate holder at the forward end of the rear portion, said deflector plate having a front surface that is substantially vertical and inclined at an acute angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the rear portion.