The Willison-Profile - proved in America and Russia

There was no doubt - only the robust and proved Willison-profile came in question for the hard goods wagon service. The Willison-profile fix the coupler connection in a horizontal plan, but movement in the vertical direction remains possible, to compensate differences in height between two wagons. Additional to the original Willison-profile other elements were necessary to fix the coupler in vertical plane too, to make an automatic line connector possible (so called 'rigid centre coupler'). As a consequence: A flexible centring device became necessary, to make inclinations of couplers possible for compensation of the called height differences.

During sliding in of the couplers vertical and horizontal sliding-in elements guarantee catching of couplers even in difficult situations. These conditions alone resulted comprehensive test work and only step by step improvements. In this time, no computers were available, to simulate coupling.

If the couplers come in closer contact, the 'locks' are pressed in the body. If the couplers are complete together, the 'locks' fall down and the connection is locked. The fall-down of the locks is mostly by force of gravity - the use of springs is too unreliable.

To disconnect the coupler a lever is available at the side of the wagon - by this lever manually a 'lock' is lifted and disconnection becomes possible.