MODEL RAILWAY COUPLER SYSTEMS ADAPTED FOR EITHER MECHANICAL OR MAGNETIC UNCOUPLING

摘要

1413646 Model railway coupler systems C K EDWARDS and L D EDWARDS 14 March 1974 [2 April 1973] 11522/74 Heading A6S Model railway cars are coupled by a device comprising two complementary interlocking C- shaped knuckles 14, 16, each being normally held by gravity in a horizontal position but being free to rock upwards so as to clear the other during coupling or uncoupling. Attached to each knuckle is a permanent magnet 36 having elongate upper and lower poles whereby it may be rocked upwards through magnetic repulsion when exposed to an electromagnetic field at an uncoupling station 18 comprising a coil 22 round on electromagnet with elongate poles 24. The uncoupler 18 is set beneath the rails with one pole 24 lying alongside one of the rails 25 so that the permanent magnet on one of the knuckles is repelled when the car passes over the uncoupler, and the other is effectively uninfluenced thereby. This method of uncoupling may be in addition to the standard uncoupling device whereby the up ward rocking of the knuckle is brought about by co-operation of a downwardly extending finger 40 with a lifting ramp 42. The tail 68 of the coupling knuckle which is triangular in section is contained within a rectangular cavity 60 in the truck 48 by a clip 78. The limit of vertical upward rocking of the knuckle is thus brought about by abutment of the face 84 of the tail 68 upon the face of the retaining clip 78.