How does a train car coupler work?
Today’s standard freight-car coupler is the Type E, a Janney “clasped-hand” device that couples automatically when one or both knuckles are open and cars are pushed together. Upon impact, the knuckle swings into the closed position and a lock drops in place, securing the coupling.
How do rail cars connect?
Couplers hold the cars together, from the first tug of the engine, as its force overcomes the inertia of each car, to the end of the train. A coupler requires extraordinary strength and flexibility to maintain its hold over hills and dips, around curves, and over rough track.
How much weight can a train coupler hold?
The heaviest trains using these couplers are on Malmbanan where they are up to 9,000 t (8,900 long tons; 9,900 short tons). Maximum force the SA3 coupler is able to carry, both tensile and compressive, is about 2.5 MN (280 STf; 250 LTf).
Who invented train coupling?
Eli Janney
1873: A U.S. patent is issued for a new automatic railroad coupler. Within 20 years it is the standard car coupler on every American railroad. Its inventor, Eli Janney of Alexandria, Virginia, was a Confederate army veteran who went in to the dry-goods business after the war.
What is a Type E coupler?
All Type E couplers are equipped with head ends of an identical “basic” design. It is this “basic” head design that is designated as Type E. To meet varied service condition arrangement needs, Type E couplers may be equipped with variant compatible shank designs and special features for fitting.
What are shelf couplers?
Top and bottom shelf couplers are a cost-effective means to inhibit couplers overriding each other which otherwise might damage the car’s end platform or possibly the tank itself. Double shelf couplers only release upon actuation of the uncoupling rod.
What is IV coupler?
The Inter vehicular coupler (ZS Coupling) is an under frame equipment which transmit the generated power in the power car at the ends of the rake is feed to each coach of the rake.
How much do railcar couplers weigh?
The total weight of the knuckle is in a range of about 75 to about 90 lbs. Further, the knuckle of the present invention is produced by investment casting to create a smoother pulling face, free of parting lines and/or draft angles.
Why is it called the Jenny Coupler?
Beard Invents the Jenny Coupler for Railroad Cars In 1897, Andrew Beard patented an improvement to railroad car couplers. His improvement came to be called the Jenny Coupler. It was one of many that aimed to improve the knuckle coupler patented by Eli Janney in 1873 (patent US138405).
What is screw coupling?
Definition of screw coupling : an internally threaded sleeve nut that usually has right-and-left threads and is used for coupling (as rods or pipes)
What is draft gear?
Each coupler normally incorporates an energy absorption unit known as a draft gear. The majority of draft gears are equipped with steel springs, or rubber, combined with friction wedges to absorb and dissipate the energy.
Why & How does coupler slack help a long train?
Loose coupling is necessary to enable the train to bend around curves and is an aid in starting heavy trains, since the application of the locomotive power to the train operates on each car in the train successively, and the power is thus utilized to start only one car at a time.