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TEST ON AUTOMATIC COUPLINGS. WORK OF THE B51 SPECIALIST COMMITTEE FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1966

This report (Report No. 5) describes the studies and tests carried out within the scope of the development of the automatic coupler from January to December 1966, during which period the activities of Specialist Committee B 51 were focused in particular on the following problems: bringing the conditions of UIC Leaflet 522 in line with the latest findings in the development of the automatic coupler; fitting automatic couplers on locomotives; examining the characteristics of buffing and draw-gear systems during buffing tests at Vitry and at Porta; in collaboration with the Joint UIC/OSJD Sub-group "Studies and tests on the automatic coupler"; fixing the disalignment of the centre of the coupler-head relative to the centre-line of the vehicle, at 15 mm; establishing the rules for the projection of the centre of the coupler-head relative to the buffer plane; extending the conditions for running on ferry boat access- ramps; discussion of all other points on the programme of work, and investigations concerning the fitting and removal of automatic traction and shock applicances, possibilities of straightforward mounting of the simple traction coupler and examination of mixed coupling systems. A considerable proportion of the work of the Specialist Committee consisted in following the compression tests on the track at Vaires in a 150 metre radius curve with adjoining tangent track. The first series of tests showed that the compression forces under which wagons with automatic couplers reached the derailment limit were of the same order as when the same wagons were equipped with screw-couplings and side- buffers. The "Safety against derailment" Group has prepared a note on the derailment of vehicles equipped with the automatic coupler. An important secondary problem in connection with the question of safety against derailment is the reduction of the longitudinal compression forces and reactions in long trains. The calculations made by the NS in this field have provided data which will be invaluable in seeding a solution to this problem. The B 51 Specialist Committee is busy, moreover, with the preparation of "100 coupler tests".

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Restrictions on the use of this document are contained in the explanatory material.
  • Corporate Authors:

    International Union of Railways

    Office of Research and Experiments
    Utrecht,   Netherlands 
  • Publication Date: 1967-11

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices;
  • Pagination: 18 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00053039
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: International Union of Railways
  • Report/Paper Numbers: B51/RP 5/E
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Nov 17 1976 12:00AM