COUPLINGS

Uses & Application in Railways

Couplings:
Rolling

stocks are not self propelled. They need a prime mover to haul. To provide interconnectivity between the different types of Rolling stocks Couplings are provided. Each Rolling stock must compulsorily have one or the other type of coupling on its two ends.

Types of Couplings
COUPLINGS

SCREW

AUTOMATIC BUFFER COUPLER ABC

CENTRE BUFFER COUPLER CBC

SCREW COUPLING
Simplest

type of coupling. Used in maximum from the day of Railways inception. Simple and easy to handle. Used extensively in all coaches and a few varieties of wagons

Screw coupling Draw hook

Straight link

Dead wt. with lever Screw rod RH/LH

Trunnion

Bent link

Screw coupling

ORDINARY SCREW COUPLING

Used only in Wagons like Tanks, FR etc. Working capacity 22.5 tonnes

ENHANCED SCREW
COUPLING
Used in all Coaching stock. Working capacity 36/75 tonnes

Identification of Enhanced Coupling

A

dumble mark is stenciled on the end body of the coach. Capacity has been enhanced from 36 tonnes to 75 tonnes in the modern coaches.

Problems in Screw coupling:

Coupling

has to be tightened fully. No slack coupling is permitted. Tightness of the thread has to be uniform on both side of the turn buckle. Slack coupling will lead to jerks on run and shock loads on the coupling leading to breakage.

SIDE BUFFERS
All

rolling stock fitted with screw couplings must have side buffers compulsorily. The buffers are provided to absorb the shocks during SHUNTING, BRAKING & WHILE NEGOTIATING THE CURVES. Screw couplings are designed to take the draft force and side buffers are provided to absorb the buffing forces.

Buffer defects:
Any

buffer can develop two major defects;

Dead buffer Low buffer height.

A buffer is said to be dead if the damping capacity is lost.

Buffer defects:
Buffer
height is the height measured from the rail table to the centre of the buffer casing.

The standard buffer height is 1105 mm and the

minimum buffer height 1030 mm.

to be maintained is

Whenever

the wheel diameter gets reduced, spring becomes weak, over loading and uneven loading will make the buffer height to get reduced.

Automatic Buffer Coupler

Used

only in metre gauge stock. Has male and female mating surfaces which gets locked with each other.

Centre buffer coupler

All

the wagons and locos are fitted with CBC. Designed to carry both the draft and buffing force. Side buffers are eliminated.

CBC Types:
CBC
TRANSITION TYPE
USED IN LOCOS CAN HANDLE BOTH SCREW OR CBC STOCK

STRAIGHT CBC
USED IN ALL THE 8 WHEELER AND CERTAIN 4 WHEELER WAGON

CBC Types:
CBC
ALLIANCE II TYPE
USED IN 4 WHEELER WAGONS LIKE CRC, TANKS ETC
WORKING CAPACITY 50 TONNES

AAR TYPE
USED IN ALL THE 8 WHEELER WAGON

ALLIANCE II TYPE CBC

ALLIANCE II TYPE CBC

ALLIANCE II TYPE CBC

Knuckle pin stopper

AAR TYPE CBC

Coupler body

Striker casting Knuckle

Toggle with Lock lift assembly

Operating rod

AAR Coupler
1 Parts. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Coupler body Knuckle Lock Knuckle thrower Lock lift lever hook Lock lift lever Toggle Operating rod Striker casting Yoke Yoke pin support plate Yoke support plate

Alliance II coupler

1. 2.

Coupler body Knuckle

3.
4.

Lock
Kicker

5.
6.

Rotary lever
Lock lifter

7.
8. 9. 11.

Operating rod
Striker casting Yoke Yoke support plate

10. Yoke pin support plate 12. Draft gear

CBC Types:
AAR CBC
NON - HT TYPE
USED IN 8 WHEELER WAGONS LIKE BOX, BCX, BOM BFR, BRH ETC VACUUM BRAKE STOCK
WORKING CAPACITY 85 TONNES

HT TYPE
USED IN ALL WAGONS FITTED WITH AIR BRAKE LIKE BCN, BOXN, BRN, BTPN ETC
WORKING CAPACITY 120 TONNES

CONSTRUCTION OF CBC

Identification of HT CBC

With CBC;
Ensure

both the couplings are fully open. To couple, give a bump with the other opened coupling. Ensure that the CBC is properly coupled by the toggle position

OTHER TYPES OF COUPLINGS

SCKAHU AAR

COUPLER used in DEMU coaches

modified used in LHB Coaches

SLACK

FREE COUPLER used in BLC Wagons

AAR MODIFIED IN LHB COACHES

TRAIN PARTING
It

is an unforeseen dividing of a train into two or more portions while the train is on run or just on the move.

Types:

INTENTIONAL ACCIDENTAL

INTENTIONAL TRAIN PARTING

The intentional Train parting is one where the train is divided into two or more portions intentionally, so as to enable the driver to clear the train from the section in case of stalling.

ACCIDENTAL TRAIN PARTING

The

Accidental train parting is one, where the train is divided into two or more portions automatically or accidentally on its run, due to the failure of the coupling components or automatic opening of the centre buffer couplers.

REASONS FOR PARTING:

Breakages of Coupling components.

Fatigue failure Defective Material Shock loads / Excessive loads on the couplers. Improper heat treatment Blow holes or air inclusions in castings. Excessive wear and tear.

REASONS FOR PARTING:

Uncoupling of couplers on run.

Improper locking of the knuckles. Ineffective anti-creep mechanism. Operating lever dropping on run. Excessive expansion of the guard arm. Vertical displacement of knuckles due to the excessive buffer drooping.

REASONS FOR PARTING:

Working out of the couplings;

Dropping of yoke pin on run.

Engineman ship