Damper arrangement comprising a damper and a plurality of elastomeric elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a damper arrangement for a railway coupler, comprisinga shell (2) with a mounting bracketa draw bracket (3),a damper (4) having a damper body (41) connected to the shell (2) and a piston (42) mounted on a damper head (43), the piston (42) being axially received in the damper body (41) and biased to extend in a forward direction, anda plurality of elastomeric elements (5) arranged around the damper body (4) between a first disc (53) and a second disc (52), wherein the second disc (52) is slidable to a first axial stop (32) on the draw bracket (3) at a rear part of the damper body (41), and wherein the first disc (53) is slidable to a second axial stop (44) on a forward part of the damper body (41).

1 . Damper arrangement for a railway coupler, the damper arrangement ( 1 ) comprising
 a shell ( 2 ) with a mounting bracket ( 21 ) for mounting on a rear part of a coupler,   a draw bracket ( 3 ) for mounting in connection with a pivot pin of a forward part of a coupler,   a damper ( 4 ) having a damper body ( 41 ) connected to the shell ( 2 ) and a piston ( 42 ) mounted on a damper head ( 43 ), the piston ( 42 ) being axially received in the damper body ( 41 ) and biased to extend in a forward direction (FD), and   a plurality of elastomeric elements ( 5 ) arranged around the damper body ( 41 ) between a first disc ( 53 ) and a second disc ( 52 ),   wherein the second disc ( 52 ) is slidable to a first axial stop ( 32 ) that is arranged on or connected to the draw bracket ( 3 ) at a rear part of the damper body ( 41 ), and   the first disc ( 53 ) is slidable to a second axial stop ( 44 ) arranged on or connected to a forward part of the damper body ( 41 ), such that a movement of the draw bracket ( 3 ) in the forward direction (FD) in relation to the shell ( 2 ) causes a compression of the elastomeric elements ( 5 ) against the first disc ( 53 ).   
     
     
         2 . The damper arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the damper head ( 43 ) is arranged with a clearance in relation to the first disc ( 53 ) such that the damper head ( 43 ) is able to move a first stroke length (S 1 ) in the rear direction (RD) towards the first disc ( 53 ) without contacting the first disc ( 53 ). 
     
     
         3 . The damper arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the first stroke length (S 1 ) is at least 20 mm, preferably at least 55 mm, more preferably at least 90 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The damper of  claim 2 or 3 , wherein the first stroke length (S 1 ) is selected such that the damper ( 4 ) is configured to absorb at least 100 kJ, preferably at least 120 kJ and more preferably at least 140 kJ, during the first stroke length (S 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . The damper arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the damper head ( 43 ) is configured to move a second stroke length (S 2 ) together with the first disc ( 53 ) after the first stroke length (S 1 ) by pushing against the first disc ( 53 ) for compressing the elastomeric elements ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 50 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is selected such that an end force on the damper ( 4 ) and the elastomeric elements combined is at least 1500 kN, preferably at least 2000 kN. 
     
     
         8 . The damper arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the clearance of the damper head ( 43 ) in relation to the first disc ( 53 ) is adjustable by selecting a length of a contact portion ( 45 ) of the damper head ( 43 ) to be shorter than a distance from the damper head ( 43 ) to the second axial stop ( 44 ) by the first stroke length (S 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The damper arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the damper ( 4 ) is pre-tensioned in the forward direction (FD). 
     
     
         10 . Coupler for a railway vehicle, the coupler comprising at least one damper arrangement according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . Coupler according to  claim 10 , wherein the coupler comprises a coupler shank ( 120 ) mounted on a pivot pin ( 110 ), and the coupler shank ( 120 ) further comprises a side contact portion ( 121 ) for pushing the damper head ( 43 ) of the damper arrangement ( 1 ) in a rear direction (RD) when the coupler shank ( 120 ) is in a pivoted position. 
     
     
         12 . The damper of  claim 3 , wherein the first stroke length (S 1 ) is selected such that the damper ( 4 ) is configured to absorb at least 100 kJ, preferably at least 120 kJ and more preferably at least 140 kJ, during the first stroke length (S 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . The damper arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the damper head ( 43 ) is configured to move a second stroke length (S 2 ) together with the first disc ( 53 ) after the first stroke length (S 1 ) by pushing against the first disc ( 53 ) for compressing the elastomeric elements ( 5 ). 
     
     
         14 . The damper arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the damper head ( 43 ) is configured to move a second stroke length (S 2 ) together with the first disc ( 53 ) after the first stroke length (S 1 ) by pushing against the first disc ( 53 ) for compressing the elastomeric elements ( 5 ). 
     
     
         15 . The damper arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the damper head ( 43 ) is configured to move a second stroke length (S 2 ) together with the first disc ( 53 ) after the first stroke length (S 1 ) by pushing against the first disc ( 53 ) for compressing the elastomeric elements ( 5 ). 
     
     
         16 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 15 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 50 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 14 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 50 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is at least 10 mm, preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 50 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is selected such that an end force on the damper ( 4 ) and the elastomeric elements combined is at least 1500 kN, preferably at least 2000 kN. 
     
     
         20 . The damper arrangement according to  claim 18 , wherein the second stroke length (S 2 ) is selected such that an end force on the damper ( 4 ) and the elastomeric elements combined is at least 1500 kN, preferably at least 2000 kN.