How are train cars coupled together? anyone have a picture of the system or explain how it works?

Question

How are train cars coupled together? anyone have a picture of the system or explain how it works?

Answer 1

Hoghead has the full answer.  Here's a quick mental picture:

1. curl your fingers in halfway [each hand]

2.  Hook them together

3.  Other than the pins hoghead mentioned that's the basic premise of couplers.

Now -- imagine if those knuckles break. . .

Answer 2

They are called knuckle couplings because they appear to be shaped like your hands bent slightly at the knuckle joints. Put your fingers together and slightly bend them. then force both hands together and pull back--just like when your fingers catch each other, the coupling works like that. A pin keeps the coupler from releasing.

Answer 3

Skidderback gave a terrific answer

Here are some links to pictures:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_%2...

http://www.narhf.org/nar01/NAR01awards_c...

Answer 4

The Janney automatic coupler, aka, "knuckle" couplers.

The heavy part of the coupling system is called the "draw bar."  In the end, there is a pocket into which the knuckle fits.  It is held in place by a pin, the same as the hinges on a door, allowing the knuckle to open and close, just like a door.

When closed, the knuckle is held closed by the "pull pin."  The pull pin may be on top of the coupler, or under-slung.  The "cutting lever", the part that operates the pull pin, when used, unlocks the knuckle, and another component pushes the knuckle open if not coupled to another car.  When the pin is pulled while the cars are still coupled to each other, when pulled away by the engine, the knuckle opens.

When cars come together, if either or both of the knuckles are in the open position, they meet in the same way as if they were shaking hands.  The knuckle closes, and the pull pin drops into place, locking the knuckles closed.

That's the nut shell answer.

To expand, the coupler pocket that the draw bar fits into can be solidly attached to the car, or the car can have some kind of cushioning device.  The two most common types are the end of car cushioning device, which simply has a spring loaded affair the draw bar fits into.  The other is called "sliding sill."  Here also, spring loaded pockets are still there, but the entire "center sill" of the car is movable.

These are usually found on cars where one may expect to find more delicate loads.

Other cars have what are referred to as "shelf couplers."  Still the same operation, but the draw bar has an additional outter part that will prevent the draw bars from "jack-knifing" or, in the case of the "full shelf coupler," there is even anopther addition that will keep the draw bars from riding over the top of one another.  These are most commonly found on intermodal cars, with the double shelf found on most cars that are designed for the transportation of hazardous material and passenger equipment.

The idea is in a derailment, these coupler will help prevent another car from overiding the draw bar and puncturing the tank car ahead, or to help keep passenger cars upright or prevent "telescoping" in a derailment.

Of course you can google Janney couplers for more info, but what fun would that be?

Sorry if I accidentally mixed in jargon with the actual names of the parts.  I'm feeble now, and life is a blur...

Answer 5

I don't know the exact details but here are some videos that show it being done :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_VrHVh1CZ4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgjet2VoTgY

Answer 6

In Britain and Europe some trains use a coupling system similar to the US - see Hoghead's answer.

Also still in use is an older type of coupling known as the s***w link. This is used on older vehicles which have buffers. There is a hook on the drawbar of each carriage or wagon and hanging below this is a short chain, consisting of a link, a threaded bar with a lever on it and another link.

To couple the vehicles, one of the chains is placed over the hook of the other and the lever then rotated which in turn rotates the threaded bar. The bar then pulls the links on either side closer, which in turn pulls the two vehicles together, until the buffers touch. This helps to minimise the amount of 'slack' between the vehicles.

Another type coupler much used in Europe, and now in the UK on the newest rolling stock, is known as the Scharfenberg type. This can be seen at either end of some multiple units (sets of carriages with built-in power unit). This coupler combines drawbar, coupling, electrical and brake connections in one unit and enables MUs to be coupled together so that the entire formation can be driven as one.