In a preferred embodiment the protruding guiding element is arranged closer to the cup than to the cone. In a preferred embodiment the socket (or clamp-like) guiding element is arranged closer to the cone than to the cup.

In a preferred embodiment, the socket can be further delimited by a side plate, whereby in a preferred embodiment, the side plate passes over into the front surface of a front piece of the coupler interface. In a preferred embodiment, the socket is open towards the side.

In a preferred embodiment, the side panel that provides the side limitation to the socket that passes over into the front surface of the front piece of the coupler interface is a flat surface or has a flat surface that runs at an angle to the front surface of the front plate. Preferably, the surface runs backwards from the front surface into a direction towards the rear end.

In a preferred embodiment, the protruding guiding element has a cone shape or has a truncated cone shape or has the shape of a pyramid or at least for three sides of its geometric shape form together a part of the shape of a pyramid.

In a seventh aspect of the invention, that may be combined with the first aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the second aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the third aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the fourth aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the fifth aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the sixth aspect of the invention the coupler interface has at least one guiding element, which comprises at least one guide surface that spans a plane.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one guiding element, that comprises at least one guide surface that spans a plane, is a protruding guiding element that has two flat guide surfaces that run at an angle relative to each other. Preferably the two flat guide surfaces of the protruding guiding element run at an angle towards a horizontal plane, preferably run at the same, but inverse angle to the horizontal plane, preferably run at the same angle to a horizontal plane that contains the mid of the cone and/or the mid of the cup. Preferably the two flat guide surfaces of the protruding guiding element meet in said horizontal plane forming a front edge that has an edge line that runs along the plane, preferably at least partially is a linear edge line. In an alternative an intermediate guide surface is arranged between the respective one of the two flat guide surface a front edge. In a preferred embodiment the intermediate guide surface is a flat surface. In a preferred embodiment the intermediate guide surface has a triangular shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the protruding guiding element has a third guide surface that is arranged symmetrically about a horizontal plane and is arranged in a vertical plane. Preferably the vertical plane is arranged at an angle to the linear axis of the coupler. In a preferred embodiment, the third guide surface has edges that connect the third guide surface with the other two guide surfaces. In an alternative an intermediate guide surface is arranged between the third guide surface and the one of the other two guide surfaces. In a preferred embodiment the intermediate guide surface is a flat surface. In a preferred embodiment the intermediate guide surface has a rectangular shape. In a preferred embodiment the third guide surface has a triangular shape.

In a preferred embodiment, the protruding guiding element has a fourth guide surface that is arranged symmetrically about a horizontal plane and is arranged in a vertical plane. Preferably the vertical plane is arranged parallel to the linear axis of the coupler. In an alternative embodiment the vertical plane may be arranged at an angle to the linear axis of the coupler and preferably at an angle to the vertical plane in which the third guide surface is arranged in. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth guide surface has edges that connect the fourth guide surface with the other two guide surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth guide surface has an edge that connect the fourth guide surface with the third guide surfaces. In a preferred embodiment the edge that connect the fourth guide surface with the third guide surfaces is a crest. In a preferred embodiment the fourth guide surface is arranged closer to the front surface of a front piece of the coupler than the third guide surface. In a preferred embodiment the fourth guide surface joins the front surface at an interface line. In a preferred embodiment the interface line at least partially is a linear line. In a preferred embodiment the fourth guide surface has a shape of a trapezium.

In an eighth aspect of the invention, that may be combined with the first aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the second aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the third aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the fourth aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the fifth aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the sixth aspect of the invention and/or may be combined with the seventh aspect of the invention, the coupler interface has at least one guiding element which has a clamp-like design. Such a clamp-like design can be provided by the guiding element having the shape of a socket.

In a preferred embodiment, a damper and/or a deformation tube are provided as part of the rear end of the coupler or attached to the rear end of the coupler.

In a preferred embodiment parts of the coupler, especially parts of the coupler interface, especially several or preferably all of the elements consisting of the group of front piece, protruding cone, guiding element or guiding elements, if several guiding elements are provided, are produced from the same material. In a preferred embodiment this material is cast metal, preferably cast steel, preferably cast iron.

In a preferred embodiment a guide horn is arranged at a lower side corner of the coupler interface and forms part of the one guiding element. In a preferred embodiment the guide horn protrudes along a horn axis, whereby the horn axis is arranged in a vertical plane, but at an angle to the horizontal plane. Preferably the angle to the horizontal plane is larger than 10°, preferably larger than 15°, preferably larger than 20°. Preferably the angle to the horizontal plane is smaller than 85°, preferably smaller than 75°, preferably smaller than 60°.

In a preferred embodiment, the horn has a side surface that is arranged in a vertical plane.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide horn has a tip. In a preferred embodiment, the horn has a side surface that is arranged in a vertical plane, whereby the tip is arranged in the same vertical plane.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide horn protrudes from the front surface of the front piece. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the guide horn decreases with distance from the front surface. In a preferred embodiment the guide horn has a triangular top surface. One side of the triangular top surface can also be designed to be bow-shaped or curved.

In a preferred embodiment all elements of the guide horn are arranged on one side of a vertical plane, whereby the cup is arranged on the other side of the vertical plane and the vertical plane contains the cone axis. In a preferred embodiment all elements of the guide horn are arranged on one side of a vertical plane, whereby the cup and the cone are arranged on the other side of the vertical plane. In a preferred embodiment, no guide horn is arranged between a first vertical plane that dissects the cone and a second vertical plane that dissects the cup. In a preferred embodiment, no guide horn is arranged between a first vertical plane that dissects the mid of the cone and a second vertical plane that dissects the mid of the cup.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide horn forms the lower part of the guiding element that has a clamp-like design, especially the shape of a socket.

In a preferred embodiment an additional guiding element is provided below the front surface and next to the electrical connector.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide horn being a part of the guiding element is a part of a unitary coupler interface and preferably is produced by way of casting together with the other elements of the coupler interface.

In a preferred embodiment the cup at its interaction with the front surface has a generally circular shape, the circular shape being supplemented by pocket shaped recesses into the front surface. The pocket shape recesses may be pointed pockets that start at a starting point and expand from the starting point towards the circular shape of the cup, the pointed pockets preferably having their largest width at the intersection with the circular shape of the cup. In a preferred embodiment a radial line to the circular shape of the cup that also intersects the starting point of the pointed pockets is arranged at an angle of 30° to 60°, preferably at 40° to 50° to the horizontal plane that runs through the center of the circular shape of the cup. The pockets can accommodate the tip of the cone of the further coupler that the coupler is to be coupled with in scenarios where said tip of the cone is guided diagonally from the top or the bottom towards the cup.

Embodiments and aspects of the invention also pertain to a coupler system with a first coupler according to the invention and a second coupler according to the invention, whereby the protruding cone of the first coupler is arranged in the cup of the second coupler and the protruding cone of the second coupler is arranged in the cup of the first coupler.

In a preferred embodiment the first coupler has a protruding cone that has a hook that protrudes sideways out of the cone and into a sideways opening of the cup of the second coupler into a space behind the cone of the second coupler.

In a preferred embodiment the second coupler has a protruding cone that has a hook that protrudes sideways out of the cone and into a sideways opening of the cup of the first coupler into a space behind the cone of the first coupler.

Embodiments and aspects of the invention also pertain to a multicar vehicle with a first car and a second car and a coupler system according to the invention, where by the first coupler is attached to the first car, preferably to the underframe of the car and the second coupler is attached to the second car, preferably to the underframe of the car.

Embodiments and aspects of the invention also pertain to a method for coupling the first coupler of a coupler system according to the invention with a second coupler of the coupler system according to the invention. The method containing the steps of

- providing the first coupler and the second coupler, whereby the first coupler is spaced apart from the second coupler,
- moving the first coupler towards the second coupler and/or moving the second coupler towards the first coupler,
- bringing
  - a. the protruding cone of the first coupler into contact with a guiding element of the second coupler and/or
  - b. the protruding cone of the second coupler into contact with a guiding element of the first coupler and/or
  - c. bringing a guiding element of the first coupler into contact with a guiding element of the second coupler,
- further moving the first coupler towards the second coupler and/or further moving the second coupler towards the first coupler,
- moving the protruding cone of the first coupler into the matching cup of the second coupler and the protruding cone of the second coupler into the matching cup of the first coupler.

In a preferred embodiment the method contains the further method step of moving a hook on a cone of the first coupler into a position where the hook protrudes sideways out of the protruding cone and into a sideways opening of the cup of the second coupler into a space behind the cone of the second coupler.

In a preferred embodiment, the first coupler and the second coupler each have two guiding elements which are designed to complement each other, namely a first guiding element and a second guiding element, especially a protruding guiding element and a socket, and in this preferred embodiment, the method step of bringing a guiding element of the first coupler into contact with a guiding element of the second coupler, is performed by bringing the first guiding element of the first coupler into contact with the second guiding element of the second coupler, especially preferred is performed by bringing a protruding guiding element of the first coupler into contact with a socket-type guiding element of the second coupler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to Figures that only show exemplary embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a coupler having a coupler interface according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a coupler having a coupler interface according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a front view onto a coupler according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view onto the coupler of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view onto the coupler of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a side view onto the coupler of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows a side view onto the coupler of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective onto the coupler of FIG. 3 from a first perspective;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective onto the coupler of FIG. 3 from a second perspective;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective onto the coupler of FIG. 3 from a third perspective;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective onto the coupler of FIG. 3 from a fourth perspective;

FIG. 12 shows a side view onto a coupler system according to the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler in a misaligned position during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 13 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler in a misaligned position that is different to the position shown in FIG. 12 during performance of the method according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 shows a top view onto a further coupler having a coupler interface according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 shows a front view onto the coupler according to FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows a perspective view onto the coupler according to FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 shows a further perspective view onto the coupler according to FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 19 shows a side view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 20 shows a rear view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 21 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 22 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 23 shows a rear view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 24 shows a rear view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 25 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 26 shows a rear view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention;

FIG. 27 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 in misalignment during performance of the method according to the invention; and

FIG. 28 shows a top view onto a coupler system according to an embodiment of the invention with a first coupler and a second coupler of the type shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 being in the coupled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a coupler 7 having a front surface 5. The front surface 5 comprises a cone 3 and a funnel 4 or cup. A guiding horn 1 is arranged below the cone 3 and the funnel 4.

FIG. 2 shows a coupler 7 having a front surface 5. The front surface 5 comprises a cone 3 and a funnel 4 or cup. An axis M connects the mid points of cone 3 and funnel 4. Lateral to the cone 3 and the funnel 4, for example in the direction of axis M, two guiding elements 8a, and 8b are provided on the front surface 5.

The two guiding elements 8a, 8b are provided with the front face 5 in one piece. In the embodiment shown the front surface and the guiding elements 8a, 8b are casted as one piece.

The height of the coupler 7 shown in FIG. 2 in the direction perpendicular to the axis M, for example axis H, is smaller than 200 mm from center line M to top of coupling interface. Thus, the height of the coupler interface is, i.e. the front surface 5, substantially 2H.

Further, an electrical connector 9 is shown in FIG. 2 which is positioned below the cone 3 and funnel 4, for example below the axis M.

The two guiding elements 8a, 8b are laterally arranged to the cone 3 and the funnel 4. Each of the guiding elements 8a, 8b is symmetric to the axis M. The two guiding elements 8a, 8b are designed to be complement to each other, wherein the guiding element 8a has a clamp-like design (a socket design) and can embrace the guiding element 8b which has a tooth-shaped design (design of a pyramid). The guiding element 8b comprises at least one, especially two, more especially three, even more especially four, sliding surfaces 6 or guide surfaces 6, each of which can span a plane. The guiding element 8a comprises at least one, especially two, sliding surfaces 6 or guide surfaces 6.

The clamp-like guiding element 8a is arranged on the side of the cone 3 (near to the cone 3), whereas the other guiding element 8b, which has a tooth-shaped design, is arranged on the side of the funnel 4 (near to the funnel 4).

The coupler 7 has a front piece 20. The front piece 20 is the forward wall of a basic piece 21 of the coupler 7. The basic piece 21 further contains the rear end 22 and the intermediate part 23. The front surface 5 is the front surface of the front piece. The basic piece 21 is produced as one piece, namely by way of casting.

The front surface 5 is made up of a group of flat surface sections 24, 25, 26, 27, whereby the flat surface sections 24, 26, 27 are arranged in a first plane and the flat surface sections 25, 27 are arranged in a second plane that is arranged parallel to the first plane, but further away from the rear end 22 than the first plane.

The first plane and the second plane are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the coupler.

The front piece 20 has a rectangular shape. Through holes are be provided in the front piece 20.

The protruding cone 3 extends along a cone axis C. The cone 3 has a circular cross section at the place where it joins the front piece 20, the cone axis is the center axis of this circular cross section. The cup 4 has a cup axis D, which is parallel to the cone axis C. The cup 4 has a circular shape at its starting point on the front surface 5, the cup axis is the center line of this circle. The coupler has a longitudinal axis A that extends from the rear end to the coupler interface 5. The cone axis C and the cup axis C are parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

The coupler 7 has at least the guiding elements 8a, 8b, which each are designed to be symmetric to an axis M connecting the mid of the cone 3 and the mid of the cup 4, namely a horizontal axis M that connects the mid of the cone 3 and the mid of the cup 4; and symmetric relative to a horizontal plane B that contains the mid of the cone 3 and contains the mid of the cup 4.

The protruding cone 3 has the shape of a truncated cone; the truncated cone has a plane face surface 124.

The cone 3 has a circular cross section at the place where it starts to protrude from the front surface 5; the mid of the cone 3 is the center of this circle. The cup 4 has a circular shape at its starting point on the front surface 5, the mid of the cup 4 is the center of this circle.

The protruding cone has a moveable hook 125 (only shown in FIG. 1 and left out in FIG. 2 for reasons of a clearer picture) that can be moved sideways out of the cone 3 towards the cup 4 in a rotational manner.

The cup 4 has the inverted shape of the cone 3. The cup 4 has a sideways opening 126, which is designed to take up the hook 125 that protrudes sideways from the protruding cone 3 of the further coupler 7 and is intended to interlock with the respective coupler 7 by way of being moved sideways out of the protruding cone 3 of the further coupler 7 and into the sideways opening 126 that is provided for it in the cup 4 of the respective coupler 7. The sideways opening 126 is arranged at that side of the cup 4 that is closest to the cone 3. The sideways opening 126 opens towards a space behind the cone 3.

The socket-type guiding element 8a is further delimited by a side plate 127, that passes over into the front surface 5. The socket is open towards the side.

The protruding guiding element 8b has two flat guide surfaces 6 that run at an angle relative to each other. The two flat guide surfaces 6 run at an angle towards a horizontal plane B, namely run at the same, but inverse angle to the horizontal plane B. The two flat guide surfaces 6 meet in said horizontal plane B forming a front edge 28 that has an edge line that runs along the plane B.

The protruding guiding element 8b has a third guide surface 6 that is arranged symmetrically about the horizontal plane B and is arranged in a vertical plane. The vertical plane is arranged at an angle to the linear axis A of the coupler 7. The third guide surface has edges 29 that connect the third guide surface 6 with the other two guide surfaces 6. The third guide surface 6 has a triangular shape.

The protruding guiding element 8b has a fourth guide surface 6 that is arranged symmetrically about the horizontal plane B and is arranged in a vertical plane. The vertical plane is arranged parallel to the linear axis A of the coupler. The fourth guide surface 6 has edges 30 that connect the fourth guide surface 6 with the other two guide surfaces 6. The fourth guide surface 6 has an edge 31 that connect the fourth guide surface 6 with the third guide surfaces 6. This edge 31 is a crest. The fourth guide surface 6 is arranged closer to the front surface 5 than the third guide surface 6. The fourth guide surface 6 joins the front surface at an interface line 32. The interface line 32 at least partially is a linear line. The fourth guide surface 6 has a shape of a trapezium.

FIGS. 14 to 28 show a further embodiment of a coupler 7 according to the invention. Like parts have been assigned with the same reference signs as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13. The further embodiment (FIGS. 14 to 28) especially differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 in the following design aspects:

- the protruding guiding element 8b has been with intermediate guide surface 6* in addition to the existing guide surface 6;
- the socket-type guiding element 8a has a guide horn 33 arranged at a lower side corner of the coupler interface 5 that forms part of the one guiding element 8a;
- the cup 4 has been provided with pockets 34 that facilitate the entry of a misaligned cone 3 into the cup 4. The socket-type guiding element 8a is further delimited by a side plate 27, that passes over into the front surface 5. The socket is open towards the side.

The guide horn protrudes along a horn axis E, whereby the horn axis E is arranged in a vertical plane, but at an angle ALPHA to the horizontal plane. The angle ALPHA is about 25°.

The guide horn 33 has a side surface 35 that is arranged in a vertical plane. The guide horn 33 has a tip 36. The tip 36 is arranged in the same vertical plane as the side surface 35. The guide horn 33 protrudes from the front surface 5 of the front piece 20. The width of the guide horn 33 decreases with distance from the front surface 5. The guide horn 33 has a triangular top surface 37. On side of the triangular top surface 37 is designed to be bow-shaped or curved which facilitates the guiding of the movement of the respective piece that the guide horn