Customer visit in Schaffhausen
“Pull and push solutions with system” is written on the signboard of the Schwab Verkehrstechnik AG, which we visited in Schaffhausen. The Swiss rail vehicle supplier stands for innovation in everything to do with couplings, buffers, and draw gears, and at which we wanted to take a closer look. The company’s success story began in 1912 with a semi-automatic coupling from the development department of the company Georg Fischer. It started production in 1914, that is exactly 100 years ago. There followed further types of couplings, before the product portfolio expanded to include buffers and draw gears in the 60s.
One of the latest developments from Schwab Verkehrstechnik is a novel, automatic traction coupling (ACC), which can be retrofitted in older types of vehicles regardless of their railcar body design. It connects the vehicles with each other mechanically, electrically and pneumatically, and replaces the screw coupling, which among other things leads to much shorter coupling and decoupling times. Another recently introduced innovation is an automatic buffer lubrication. It transfuses grease to the buffer plate without necessitating a manual relubrication over a period of up to one year. The regular lubrication reduces friction and prevents the formation of grooves on the contact surfaces. This increases the service life and saves costs.
A novel, automatic traction coupling from the company Schwab Verkehrstechnik. The small pictures from its interior show igubal® rod end bearings: There, the motion plastics® can fully exploit its vibration damping properties.
One who comes upon such ideas, of course, is also keen on the self-lubricating motion plastics® from igus®. Thus, rod end bearings of the igubal® series can be found in the coupling systems, where they provide a rigid and reliable connection. When a train is coupled, a latch turns down and a valve opens, through which compressed air is carried into a cylinder. Moreover, the connection is fixed. The iglidur® rod end bearing permits a manual decoupling by opening the valve and releasing the latch. In addition, in this application the vibration damping properties of high-performance plastic have a perfect effect.
Our iglidur® mobile at the gates of the company Schwab Verkehrstechnik
The time at Schwab Verkehrstechnik was an exciting excursion for us into the world of buffers and couplings. Thanks a lot for this. We will keep in touch, igus® and the “iglidur® on tour” team.
