Cross-coupling for the trucks of a railroad vehicle

Claim 2

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means mounted on said vehicle frame, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-coupling includes an elastic pressure-maintaining means in each of said connecting conduits for preventing a lowering of the pressure in said conduits below a given minimum value.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-coupling includes a pressure-limiting means in each of said connecting conduits for limiting the maximum pressure in said conduits.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-coupling includes a pressure medium replenishing means connected in common to said connecting conduits.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-coupling includes a temperature compensating means in each connecting conduit to prevent pressure differences due to temperature changes.

Claim 7

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having three trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes longitudinally of said frame, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means mounted on the middle of one of said trucks, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks.

Claim 8

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having three trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes longitudinally of said frame, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means mounted on the middle of one of said trucks, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks.

Claim 9

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein each said cylinder means includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and a piston dividing said cylinder into two chambers and wherein said conduits are connected to said chambers.

Claim 10

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein each said cylinder means includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and a piston dividing said cylinder into two chambers and wherein said conduits are connected to said chambers.

Claim 11

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein said cross-coupling further includes at least one equalizing conduit connected to said connecting conduits to equalize the pressures therein and a hydraulic control valve in said equalizing conduit for disconnecting said connecting conduits from each other via said equalizing conduit.

Claim 12

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein said cross-coupling further includes at least one equalizing conduit connected to said connecting conduits to equalize the pressures therein and a hydraulic control valve in said equalizing conduit for disconnecting said connecting conduits from each other via said equalizing conduit.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said control valve is connected to at least one said truck to disConnect said connecting conduits from each other in response to a predetermined pivoting of said one truck.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein two said equalizing conduits are connected between said connecting conduits in parallel and wherein one said hydraulic control valve is disposed in each equalizing conduit and connected to one truck.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein two said hydraulic control valves are connected in series in said equalizing line, each valve being connected to a respective one of said trucks.

Claim 16

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein said cross-coupling includes a pressurized source of hydraulic medium, a reservoir tank, and a means for selectively connecting said source to one of said connecting conduits and said tank to the other of said connecting conduits, said latter means including a control valve coupled to said trucks for responding to a deviation of one of said trucks from a symmetrical angular position relative to a transverse axis of said vehicle frame to communicate said source with one of said connecting conduits and to simultaneously communicate the other of said connecting conduits with said reservoir tank and thereby produce a correction of the deviation in a direction toward said symmetrical position.

Claim 17

In combination with a rail vehicle frame having at least two trucks pivotally mounted thereon about respective vertical axes, a cross-coupling including a pair of hydraulic cylinder means, each said means being connected to a respective truck for pivoting said respective truck about a respective one of said vertical axes relative to said rail vehicle frame, and a pair of connecting conduits hydraulically connected between said cylinder means for synchronizing said cylinder means to pivot said trucks in opposite directions in response to pivoting of at least one of said trucks, and wherein said cross-coupling includes a pressurized source of hydraulic medium, a reservoir tank, and a means for selectively connecting said source to one of said connecting conduits and said tank to the other of said connecting conduits, said latter means including a control valve coupled to said trucks for responding to a deviation of one of said trucks from a symmetrical angular position relative to a transverse axis of said vehicle frame to communicate said source with one of said connecting conduits and to simultaneously communicate the other of said connecting conduits with said reservoir tank and thereby produce a correction of the deviation in a direction toward said symmetrical position.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said control valve includes a housing connected to one truck and a piston slidably mounted in said housing and connected to the other of said trucks.

Claim 19

The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said source of hydraulic medium is a pressure storage tank having a supply of hydraulic medium therein.

Claim 20

The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cross-coupling includes a hydraulic piston pump connected to one of said trucks and said storage tank for pump of hydraulic medium into said storage tank in response to pivoting of said truck relative to said vehicle frame.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein one said hydraulic cylinder means includes a connecting rod connected to said truck for movement therewith and said pump has a piston mounted on said connecting rod for movement therewith.