BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a coupler. More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic knuckle coupler for coupling railway vehicles. The coupler further includes a releasing device safely operable by a user from a location remote from the knuckle of the coupler.

A variety of different knuckle couplers and mechanisms for locking and/or unlocking the couplers are known. Many of these devices have been developed specifically for making the knuckle coupler safer to use by removing an operator away from the moving parts of the knuckle coupler. Most require spring, pneumatic and/or hydraulic mechanisms to return the knuckle of the coupler to either an open or closed position. Alternatively, some make use of sophisticated cam profiles, machined into the tail end of the knuckle, on which a cam riding member is engageable to open and/or close the knuckle.

As such, many of these previously known knuckle couplers are expensive to manufacture and, due to the high number of working parts, are not robust enough, particularly in harsh environments such as underground mining.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a knuckle coupler and release device for the coupler that addresses the drawbacks of the known prior art. 2011/000024

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a coupler including: a knuckle having a nose end and a tail end, wherein the tail end of the knuckle comprises at least an upper face, a first curved side face, a second abutment side face and a riding edge between the upper face and the first curved side face; a knuckle head for housing at least a portion of the knuckle, the knuckle being pivotally movable relative to the knuckle head between an open position and a closed position; a locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the knuckle head between: a lowered position, wherein an engaging formation of the locking lever is abutable either with the first curved face and/or the riding edge of the tail end of the knuckle thereby loosely retaining the knuckle in the open position, or with the second abutment face such that abutment between the engaging formation of the locking lever and the second abutment face lock the knuckle in the closed position; a raised position, wherein the engaging formation of the locking lever is raised clear of the tail end of the knuckle thereby unlocking the knuckle from the closed position; and an intermediate position wherein the engaging formation of the locking lever rides the riding edge of the tail end between the open and closed positions of the knuckle, the engaging end of the locking lever being movable into the lowered position by the force of gravity.

Generally, the pivotal movement of the knuckle in the fully open position is limited by abutment between the knuckle head and the knuckle. Typically, the pivotal movement is limited by abutment between the tail end of the knuckle and the knuckle head. Preferably, the riding edge is located on a first plane and the knuckle is pivotally movable on a second plane, the first and second planes being substantially parallel to one another.

The tail end of the knuckle may further comprise a lower face lying on a third plane substantially parallel to the first and second planes, and the nose end is a nose formation protruding outwardly with respect to the upper and lower faces of the tail end of the knuckle such that the knuckle is substantially T-shaped.

Also, the tail end may be movable within a mouth defined by the knuckle head, at least a portion of the second abutment side face of the tail end being, in the open position, extendible past the mouth thereby exposing the second abutment side face to a strike from a knuckle of a secondary corresponding coupler, at least partially forcing the engaging formation of the locking lever into the intermediate and subsequently lowered position.

Typically, the knuckle and the knuckle head define correspondingly aligned primary pivot bores for receiving a primary pivot member about which the knuckle is pivotal. Further, the knuckle head defines a lever mounting formation and a slot though which the locking lever is pivotally engageable with the knuckle, the locking lever and the lever mounting formation defining correspondingly aligned secondary pivot bores for receiving a secondary pivot member about which the locking lever is pivotal.

The locking lever may further comprise a releasing formation to which a releasing force, for moving the locking member between the lowered and raised positions, can be applied. Preferably, the secondary pivot bore and the releasing formation are located on a common axis and the engagement formation is located between the secondary pivot bore and the releasing formation, and spaced away from the common axis. More preferably, the engaging formation is located nearer to the secondary pivot bore than to the releasing formation. Most preferably, the locking lever is substantially T-shaped, the engagement formation being located along the lower leg of the T-shaped locking lever, and the secondary pivot bore and the releasing formation each being located near the ends of each of the cross legs of the T-shaped locking lever. Even 2011/000024

-4- more preferably, the cross leg on which the secondary pivot bore is located is shorter than the cross leg on which the releasing formation is located.

Application of the releasing force to the releasing formation of the locking lever may cause the releasing formation to pivot upwardly and toward the knuckle, while causing the engaging formation to pivot downwardly and away from the knuckle. Typically, the releasing formation is a releasing slot defined by the locking lever along which a release rod is slidably movable such that a reciprocating movement of the release rod imparts the required pivotal movement to the locking lever. Generally, the pivotal movement of the locking lever is along a fourth plane passing through front and read ends of the knuckle head, and the reciprocating movement of the release rod is along a fifth plane passing laterally between sides of the knuckle head, the fourth and fifth planes being substantially orthogonal to one another and to the first, second and third planes.

Typically, the release rod is one of many components making up a releasing device, the releasing device further including: a first member having primary slide formations, the first member being fixed relative to the knuckle head; and a second sliding member to which the release rod is attached, tl second sliding member having secondary slide formations adapted to ride along the primary slide formations of the first member such that a sliding to and fro movement of the second sliding member relative to the first member causes the release rod to move towards and away from the first member respectively, thereby providing the required reciprocating movement to the release rod which is transmissible into the pivotal movement of the locking lever via co-operation between the release rod and the releasing formation of the locking lever.

The release rod is attached to the second sliding member by at least one connecting arm. Preferably, the release rod is connected at at least one end to the second sliding member by the at least one connecting arm. More preferably, the release rod is connected at each of its ends to the second sliding member by a pair of connecting arms.

Generally, the movement of the release rod towards the first member corresponds with the movement of the locking lever towards the lowered position, and further wherein the movement of the release rod away from the first member corresponds with the movement of the locking lever towards the raised position. Typically, the sliding movement is as result of a pulling force applied to the second sliding member in a first direction and, on releasing the pulling force, gravity acting on the second sliding member causing movement of the second sliding member in an opposite second direction.

Preferably, the corresponding primary and secondary sliding formations are linearly inclined surfaces. More preferably, the inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to the first, second and/or third planes by an angle of between about 30 degrees and 75 degrees. Most preferably, the inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to the first, second and/or third planes by an angle of between about 45 degrees and 60 degrees.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first member may be triangularly shaped and upper edges thereof represent the primary sliding formations, and further wherein the second sliding member defines a correspondingly shaped and sized triangular cutout and lower edges thereof represent the secondary sliding formations.

The releasing device may further include a guarding cover for covering the first member and the second sliding member, the guarding cover defining an opening through which the release rod is enagageable with the locking lever and a slot through which at least a portion of the second sliding member is extendible during the sliding movement.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the guarding cover includes an arm extending away from the release device in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the second sliding member is slidable, the arm being adapted to support a free end of a pulling member connected at an opposite end to the second sliding member. Preferably, a handle is connected to the free end of the pulling member, and further wherein the pulling member is a chain.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the pulling member is a connecting rod connected at one end to the second sliding member and connected at an opposite end to a lever. A force imparted to the lever is transmitted through the connecting rod into the required pulling force to move the second sliding member toward the first position. Generally, the lever comprises a fulcrum located at a location spaced laterally from the first member.

Preferably, the pulling force comprises horizontal and vertical force vector components to assist the second sliding member to ride along and over the first member. This is achievable in the first embodiment as a result of the arm on which the free end of the pulling member is supported being higher than the point at which the pulling member is connected to the second sliding member. This is achievable in the second embodiment of the invention as a result of the point of connection of the connecting rod to the lever being higher than the point of connection of the connecting rod to the second sliding member.

Generally, the second sliding member of the releasing device is slidable in a sixth plane, the sixth plane being substantially parallel to the fifth plane. Preferably, the first, second and third planes are substantially horizontal planes and the fourth, fifth and sixth planes are substantially vertical planes.

The first member and second sliding member may be plate members, the first member being fixed to a mounting bracket for mounting the coupler to a railway vehicle and the sliding member being supported over the first member by one or more support brackets. Typically, the support brackets are U-shaped brackets straddling over the first member and the second sliding member, the support brackets being fixed at a non- straddling end to the mounting bracket.

According to the second embodiment, the lever is operable about the fulcrum in the sixth plane or at least in a plane parallel to the sixth plane. The fulcrum is preferably located on one or more fulcrum arms extending laterally from the U-shaped brackets. The knuckle head may be mountable to the mounting bracket by a knuckle neck extending backwardly from the knuckle head relative to the knuckle, the knuckle neck and the mounting bracket defining correspondingly aligned tertiary pivot bores for receiving a tertiary pivot member about which the knuckle head is pivotal, thereby providing a means of taking up misalignment between couplers to be coupled and/or to allow coupled railway vehicles to round sharp bends. Preferably, the knuckle neck is flanked by rubber members, the rubber members providing resistance to the pivotal movement of the knuckle head relative to the mounting bracket. More preferably, a rubber member housing, located on the mounting bracket, retains the rubber members in position relative to the knuckle neck.

Typically, the mounting bracket is substantially U-shaped.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a releasing device for a coupler including: a release rod; a first member having primary slide formations, the first member being fixed relative to a knuckle head of the coupler; and a second sliding member to which the release rod is attached, the second sliding member having secondary slide formations adapted to ride along the primary slide formations of the first member such that a sliding to and fro movement of the second sliding member relative to the first member causes the release rod to move towards and away from the first member respectively, thereby providing the release rod with a reciprocating movement.

Generally, the release rod is engageable with a locking lever of a coupler, the reciprocating movement of the release rod being transmissible via such engagement into a pivotal movement of the locking lever thereby providing a means of releasing the coupler from a locked position. Typically, the sliding movement is as result of a pulling force applied to the second sliding member in a first direction and, on releasing the pulling force, gravity acting on the second sliding member causing movement of the second sliding member in an opposite second direction.

Preferably, the corresponding primary and secondary sliding formations are linearly inclined surfaces. More preferably, the inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to a plane on which a knuckle of the knuckle coupler is pivotal by an angle of between about 30 degrees and 75 degrees. Most preferably, the inclined surfaces are inclined with respect to a plane on which a knuckle of the knuckle coupler is pivotal by an angle of between about 45 degrees and 60 degrees. Even more preferably, the first member is triangularly shaped and upper edges thereof represent the primary sliding formations, and further wherein the second sliding member defines a correspondingly shaped and sized triangular cut-out and lower edges thereof represent the secondary sliding formations.

The releasing device may further include a guarding cover for covering the first member and the second sliding member, the guarding cover defining an opening through which the release rod is enagageable with the locking lever and a slot through which at least a portion of the second sliding member is extendible during the sliding movement.

Further, and in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the guarding cover includes an arm extending away from the release device in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which second sliding member is slidable, the arm being adapted to support a free end of a pulling member connected at an opposite end to the second sliding member. Preferably, a handle is connected to the free end of the pulling member, and further wherein the pulling member is a chain.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the pulling member is a connecting rod connected at one end to the second sliding member and connected at an opposite end to a lever. A force imparted to the lever is transmitted through the connecting rod into the required pulling force to move the second sliding member toward the first position. Generally, the lever comprises a fulcrum fixed at a location spaced laterally from the first member.

Preferably, the pulling force comprises horizontal and vertical force vector components to assist the second sliding member to ride along and over the first member. This is achievable in the first embodiment by supporting the pulling member or chain by the arm extending from the guarding cover at a location above the point at which the pulling member is connected to the second sliding member. This is achievable in the second embodiment of the invention by locating the point of connection of the connecting rod to the lever above the point of connection of the connecting rod to the second sliding member.

The first member and second sliding member may also be plate members, the first member being fixed to a mounting bracket for mounting the coupler to a railway vehicle and the sliding member being supported over the first member by one or more support brackets. Typically, the support brackets are U-shaped brackets straddling over the first member and the second sliding member, the support brackets being fixed at a non- straddling end to the mounting bracket.

According to the second embodiment, the lever is operable about the fulcrum in the plane in which the second sliding member is slidable or at least in a plane parallel thereto. The fulcrum is preferably located on one or more fulcrum arms extending laterally from the U-shaped brackets.

The coupler may be pivotally mountable to the mounting bracket thereby providing a means of taking up misalignment between couplers to be coupled and/or to allow coupled railway vehicles to round sharp bends. Generally, the mounting bracket includes a rubber housing for housing rubber members being abuttable with that portion of the coupler mounted in the mounting bracket, thereby providing resistance to the pivotal movement of the coupler relative to the mounting bracket. Preferably, the mounting bracket is substantially U-shaped.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle including a coupler as herein described and illustrated. Preferably, the vehicle is a railway vehicle. More preferably, the vehicle is an underground loader, locomotive or hopper type vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a coupler according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the coupler of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a knuckle coupler, which forms part of the coupler of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a locking lever and a knuckle of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 relative to each other in a first lowered position;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the locking lever and the knuckle of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 relative to each other in a second intermediate position;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the locking lever and the knuckle of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 relative to each other in a third raised position;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the releasing device, which forms another part of the coupler of the present invention, in a first rest position;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the releasing device of figure 7 in a second raised position; Figure 9 shows a plan view of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 in a first closed position; .

Figure 10 shows a side view of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 in the first closed position;

Figure 11 shows a plan view of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 in a second open position;

Figure 12 shows a side view of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 in the second open position;

Figure 13 shows a side view of the knuckle coupler of figure 3 in a position between the first closed position and the second open position;

Figure 14 shows a plan view of a pair of knuckle couplers coming into contact during a coupling operation;

Figure 15 shows a plan view of the knuckle couplers of figure 14 after the coupling operation;

Figure 16 shows a plan view of railway vehicles coupled together by a pair of couplers according to the present invention;

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the releasing device of the coupler of figure

17;

Figure 19 shows a side view of the releasing device of figure 18 in a first rest position; and

Figure 20 shows a side view of the releasing device of figure 18 in a second raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A coupler according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designated generally with the reference numeral 10 in figure 1 and figure 2. The coupler 10 comprises a knuckle coupler 100, a releasing device 200 and a guarding cover 300.

With reference now also to figure 3, the knuckle coupler 100 comprises a knuckle 102, a knuckle head 104 and a locking lever 106. With reference now also to figures 4 to 6, the knuckle 102 comprises a nose end 108, a tail end 110 and defines a primary pivot bore 112. The tail end 110 of the knuckle 102 further comprises opposing upper and lower faces 114, 116, a first curved side face 118, a second abutment side face 120 and a riding edge 122 running between the upper face 114 and the first curved side face 118. The nose end 108 comprises of nose formation 108A,108B protruding outwardly with respect to each of the upper and lower faces 114,116 of the tail end 110, such that the knuckle 102 is substantially T-shaped.

With reference to figure 2 and figure 3, the knuckle head 104 defines a corresponding primary pivot bore (not shown) for receiving, together with the aligned primary pivot bore 112 of the knuckle 102, a primary pivot member 118 about which the knuckle 102 is pivotally movable relative to the knuckle head 104. The knuckle head 104 further defines a mouth 120, within which the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102 is pivotally movable, and a slot (not shown), through which the locking lever 106 is engagebale with the knuckle 102. It will be appreciated that the pivotal movement of the knuckle 102 relative to the knuckle head 104 is limited by abutment between the knuckle 102 and the knuckle head 104.

Proximate the slot, the knuckle head 104 comprises lever mounting formations 122 each defining secondary pivot bores (not shown) for receiving, together with the aligned secondary pivot bore 124 (see figures 4 to 6) of the locking lever 106, a secondary pivot member 126 about which the locking lever 106 is pivotally movable relative to the knuckle head 104. With specific reference to figures 4 to 6, the locking lever 106 comprises the secondary pivot bore 124, a releasing formation 128 in the form of a releasing slot and an engaging formation 130. The secondary pivot bore 124 and the releasing formation 128 are located on a common axis (not shown), with the engagement formation 130 located between the secondary pivot bore 124 and the releasing formation 128, and spaced away from the common axis. The engaging formation 130 is preferably located nearer to the secondary pivot bore 124 than to the releasing formation 128. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the locking lever 106, the locking lever 106 is substantially T-shaped, with the engagement formation 130 located along the lower leg of the T-shaped locking lever 106, and the secondary pivot bore 124 and the releasing formation 128 each being located near the ends of each of the cross legs of the T-shaped locking lever 106.

The knuckle head 104 also includes a knuckle neck 132 extending backwardly from the knuckle head 104 for the purposes of mounting the knuckle head 104 to a mounting bracket 202. The knuckle neck 132 defines a tertiary bore 134 for receiving, together with aligned tertiary pivot bores (not shown) defined in the mounting bracket 202, a tertiary pivot member (not shown) about which the knuckle neck 132, and by implication the knuckle head 104, is pivotally moveable relative to the mounting bracket 202.

The knuckle neck 132 is specifically received in a rubber member housing 204, which rubber member housing maintains a pair of rubber members 206 in contact with either side of the knuckle neck 132 for the purposes of providing resistance to the pivotal movement of the knuckle neck 132 and the knuckle head 104 relative to the mounting bracket 202. As such, the allowed pivotal movement of the knuckle neck 132 and then knuckle head 104 takes up possible misalignment between a pair of coupling couplers 10 mounted on a pair of coupling railway vehicles and further, allows coupled railway vehicles to round sharp bends.

With specific reference now to figure 2, figure 7 and figure 8, the releasing device 200 comprises a first fixed member 208, a second sliding member 210 and a release rod 212 connected, via a connecting arm 214, to the second sliding member 210. It will be appreciated that the release rod 212 may be connected to the second sliding member 210 by more than one connecting arm 214, but preferably by two connecting arms connected at each of the ends of the release rod as illustrated in respect of a second embodiment of the invention in figures 18 to 20.

The first fixed member 208 is fixed, typically by welding, to the upper face of the mounting bracket 202 such that the first fixed member 208 remains stationary relative to the knuckle head 104 when mounted in the mounting bracket 202. Further, the top edge 216 of the first fixed member 208 represents a primary slide formation on which a corresponding secondary slide formation 218 of the second sliding member 210 is slidable.

As such, a sliding to and fro movement of the second sliding member 210 relative to the first fixed member 208 causes the release rod 212 to move towards and away from the first member respectively, thereby providing the release rod 212 with a reciprocating movement. It will be appreciated that the release rod 212 is engageable with the releasing slot 128 of the locking lever 106, such that co-operation being the release rod 212 and the releasing slot 128, in which the release rod is slidable, transmits the reciprocating movement of the release rod 212 into a pivotal movement of the locking lever 106. It will be appreciated further, and particularly for the purposes of the description which follows, that the movement of the release rod 212 towards the first fixed member 208 corresponds with the movement of the locking lever 106 towards a lowered position and that the movement of the release rod 212 away from the first fixed member 208 corresponds with the movement of the locking lever 106 towards a raised position. It will be appreciated even further that the engaging formation 130 of the locking lever 106 is adapted, in an intermediate position, to ride the riding edge 122 of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102.

The second sliding member 210 is slidable by applying a pulling force thereto in a first direction, resulting in the release rod 212 moving away from the first fixed member 208. Typically, the pulling force is applied manually though a pulling member 220 such as a chain. It will be appreciated that many different pulling members may be used for imparting the required pulling force to the second sliding member.

For example, and in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in figures 17 to 20, the pulling member 420 is a connecting rod connected at one end to the second sliding member 410 and connected at an opposite end to a lever ^• 415. A force F imparted to the lever 415 is transmitted through the connecting rod 420 into the required pulling force to cause the second sliding member 410 to ride along and over the first member 408. To impart both a vertical and horizontal force component to the second sliding member 410, it is essential that the connection point 411 of the connecting rod 420 to the lever 415 is above the connection point 413 of the connecting rod 420 to the second sliding member 410. Generally, the lever comprises a fulcrum 417 fixed at a location spaced laterally from the first fixed member 408 and preferably by fulcrum arms 419 extending laterally from the brackets 422 to which the guarding cover 500.

Referring now back to the preferred embodiment, release of the pulling force causes the second sliding member 210, under the force of gravity, to slide in a second opposite direction resulting in the release rod 212 moving toward the first fixed member 208. Although the corresponding primary and secondary slide formations 216,218 have been illustrated as triangular in shape, it will be appreciated that the slide formations may take any shape. Preferably, the slide formations 216,218 are linearly inclined surfaces angled, relative to the upper face of the mounting bracket 202, by between about 30 degrees and 75 degrees, and more preferably between about 45 degrees and 60 degrees.

It will be appreciated further, and particularly for the purposes of the description which follows, that the movement of the release rod 212 towards the first fixed member 208 corresponds with the movement of the locking lever 106 towards the lowered position and that the movement of the release rod 212 away from the first fixed member 208 corresponds with the movement of the locking lever 106 towards the raised position.

Support brackets 222, in the form of U-shaped brackets, straddle the plate-like first fixed member 208 and second sliding member 210 such that the second sliding member 210 is retained in position over the first fixed member 208. The support brackets 222 are fixed at non-straddling ends, typically by welding, to the upper face of mounting bracket 202. The support brackets 222 further comprise fastening formations 224 to which the guarding cover 300, using fastening members 226 such as bolts, may be fastened so as to protect an operator from the moving parts of the releasing device 200. With specific reference to figure 1 and figure 2, the guarding cover 300 defines an opening 302 through which the release rod 212 is enagageable with the locking lever 106 and a slot 304 through which at least a portion of the second sliding member 210 is extendible during the sliding movement. Further, the guarding cover 300 includes an arm 306 adapted to support a handle end 308 of the pulling member 220. To impart both a vertical and horizontal force component to the second sliding member 310, it is essential that the pulling member 220 is supported by the arm 306 at a location above the point at which the pulling member is connected to the second sliding member.

In use and with reference to figure 4, figure 9 and figure 10, the knuckle 102 is locked in the closed position as a result of the abutment of the second abutment side face 120 of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102 with the engaging formation 130 of the locking lever 106 in the lowered position. To unlock the knuckle 102, referring now to figure 6, figure 11 and figure 12, the locking lever 106 is pivoted into the raised position such that the engaging formation 130 is clear of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102, thereby allowing the knuckle 120 to be swung into the open position.

In the fully open position, at least a portion of the tail end 110 is exposed through the mouth 120 of the knuckle head 104 and the locking lever 106 is returned to the lowered position such that the engaging formation 130 is located adjacent the first curved side face 118. During a coupling operation, and as two knuckle couplers 100 come into contact as shown in figure 14, the nose end 108 of each of the knuckle couplers 100 strike the respective exposed tail end 110 of the other knuckle coupler 100, thereby at least partially causing the respective knuckles 102 to pivot towards the closed position as shown by a pair of coupled knuckle couplers 100 in figure 15. The pivotal movement of the knuckles 102 into their respective closed positions is further aided by abutment and subsequent riding of the nose end 108 of each of the knuckle couplers 100 with the abutment face (not shown) of the other knuckle coupler 100.

Figure 5 and figure 13 show the locking lever 106 in the intermediate position relative to the knuckle 102 and during a coupling operation as described above. As the knuckle 102 pivots from the open position to the closed position, the first curved side face 118 of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102 pivotally swings into abutment with the engaging formation 130 of the locking lever 106, forcing the locking lever 106 into the intermediate position. As the knuckle 102 continues to pivot towards the closed position, the engaging formation 130 of the locking lever 106, now in the intermediate position, rides along the riding edge 122 of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102. On the knuckle 102 reaching the closed position the engaging formation 130 drops under the force of gravity from the riding edge 122 into abutting relation with the second abutment side face 120 of the tail end 110 of the knuckle 102, thereby locking the knuckle 102 in the closed position.

With reference to figure 16, it will be appreciated that a pair of couplers 10 coupled between a pair of railway vehicles 400, are releasable by the application by an operator of a pulling force to the pulling member 220. Conversely, the couplers 10 are capable of automatically coupling by forcibly driving the railway vehicles 400 into contact with each other. Although it may not be clear from the illustrations, it will be appreciated that the configuration of the couplers 10 allows coupling and uncoupling of a pair of couplers even where one of the couplers 10 is retained locked in the closed position.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, reference to substantially parallel, substantially perpendicular and/or substantially orthogonal will be understood to allow for a variation of about 25 degrees.