Bullseye coupler is projected pneumatically from one railroad car at the second car's point of connection. System depends on assumption that inaccuracies in relative position of cars do not exceed certain limits. System is usefull to oil drilling, marine rescue and salvage, nuclear work and chemical plant operations

Fuchs, C. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Mav 1971	 Brief 71-10101 
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF	 II 
Space Nuclear Si'stems Office 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Remote Coupling of Air Lines 
The problem: 
Design a remotely operated coupling to connect 
the brake compressed-air lines between railroad cars 
remotely coupled mechanically.
How it's done: 
After mechanical coupling of the cars, the pneu-
matic coupler is activated by supplying air to the 
pneumatic cylinder mounted on car I (see fig.). 
Air Line 
Seal Holder''
Ball Joint: 
Two-Axis Freedom 
(Pitch and Yaw)
Pneumatic Cylinder 
Railroad Car No 
Alignment Spring 
Railroad Car No. 2 
The solution: 
A flexible "bullseye" pneumatic coupler that is 
projected pneumatically from one car at the second 
car's point of connection. The system depends on 
the assumption that inaccuracies in the relative posi-
tions of the cars do not exceed certain limits.
Actuating Shaft: 
Three-Axis Freedom 
(Translation) 
The actuating shaft then 1drives the coupler against 
a vertical flat plate mounted on car 2, and holds 
it there regardless of relative changes in the cars' 
positions. With the coupler forced against the plate, 
compressed air flows between the cars; its escape 
is prevented by the circular seal surrounding the 
point of connection. 
AWL	 (continued o edeal) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710000100 2020-03-17T02:23:37+00:00Z
The pneumatic coupler's flexibility is primarily 
assured by "suspension" of the coupling assembly 
from the actuating shaft which is mounted on a 
diaphragm within the cylinder. The shaft is free, 
within limits, to move backward, forward, sideways, 
and up and down. Flexibility is further assured by 
the fact that the ball joint for the seal holder 
allows for twisting in two planes. 
Notes: 
1. This type of remote connection may find uses 
in oil drilling, deep-sea rescue, marine salvage 
and repair, nuclear work, hazardous chemical 
processing, and gas-plant operations.
2. Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Systems Office 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference: TSP71-10101 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by AEC or NASA. 
Source: C. E. Fuchs of

Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory

under contract to

AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Systems Office

(NUC- 10225) 
Brief 71-10101	 Category 07


Remote coupling of air lines

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