BS EN 15566:2016

What is BS EN 15566 - Draw gear and screw coupling of rolling stock about? 

BS EN 15566 is a European standard on railway rolling stock that discusses the screw coupling system of railway vehicles. 

BS EN 15566 specifies the requirements for the draw gear and screw coupling for the end of rolling stock that has to couple with other rolling stock (freight wagons, locomotives, passenger vehicles.).  

BS EN 15566 covers the functionality, construction, interfaces and testing including pass/fail criteria for draw gear and screw coupling.  

BS EN 15566 describes three categories of classification of draw gear and screw coupling, (1 MN, 1,2 MN and 1,5 MN).  

Note: Coupling systems between permanent coupled vehicle units are not in the scope of BS EN 15566.  

Who is BS EN 15566 - Draw gear and screw coupling of rolling stock for? 

BS EN 15566 on railway rolling stock is useful for: 

• Railway engineers 
• Railway operators 
• Mechanical and electrical engineers 
• Manufacturers of railway rolling stocks 
• Designers of drawgear and screw coupling 

Why should you use BS EN 15566 - Draw gear and screw coupling of rolling stock?  

A screw coupling system is a system to connect two railway vehicles consisting of draw gear, draw hook and screw coupling. 

BS EN 15566 provides the requirements for all types of draw gear and screw coupling and classification of coupling by designation of the minimum breaking load. 

BS EN 15566 specifies interaction coupling or buffer to ensure that the train is able to negotiate curves at a 150 m radius safely. 

Interface dimensions for freight wagons are given in BS EN 15566 along with the dimensions and designations of draw gear, draw hooks, and screw coupling that can be commensurate with the service life of a vehicle. 

The requirements and the characteristics of the elastic device can be determined by BS EN 15566. 

Furthermore, BS EN 15566 assists you in designing drawgear and screw coupling for railways to handle the compression and tension forces between train wagons as well as to transmit draft forces from the engine to the last vehicle to permit smooth connection with the neighbouring drawbar hook. 

As a result, the design of railway couplings is to be standard, giving flexibility and convenience if the couplings can operate together regardless of the order in which they are received. 

What’s changed since the last update?  

BS EN 15566:2016 supersedes BS EN 15566:2009+A1:2010. BS EN 15566:2016 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 15566:2009+A1:2010. These include: 

• Checking and revision of normative references 
• Working capacity was deleted and an intermediate coupling system for permanent coupled wagons now defined as a permanent coupling system 
• Requirements for compressive loads for draw hook and draw gear rationalised and explained 
• The required value changed into mandatory and given in SI-Unit 
• Changes in Annex A with respect to the implementation of the dynamic test and modification of figures.