US197851A - Improvement in car-couplings - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. A. HINSONL Gar-Coupling,

No. 197,851 Patented Dec. 4, I877.

2SheetsSheet 2'.

J, A. HINSON. Gar-Gpupling.

No. 197,851. Patented Dec. 4, 1877;

"1 l I M UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

JAMES A. ninsomor OSKALOOSA, Assienonor- ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TOA. A.'JUDSQN, or FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

"IMPROVE NT m CAR-COUPLINGS.

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,851, dated December 4, 1877; application filed r 1 May 18, 187 7. v

ful Improvements in Oar-Oouplin gs and I do hereby declare. that thefollowing is a full,

clean-and exact description thereof, which will'enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refer-.

ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 00 min Fig. 1, showing two draw-heads coupled. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lock-pin used for retaining thecoupling-hook in its place. Fig. 5 represents a modification of my invention, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lock-pin used in the modified form of my invention represented in Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in all the figures.

My invention relates to automatic car-couplings; and it consists in the construction and V combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully shown and described.

In the drawing, A is the draw-bar, having a flaring head or mouth, A, which is divided by ahorizontal diaphragm, a,into two recesses, 13 B. (l is a strong bar or plate secured vertically between two cars or projectionsfl) I), of the drawhead A, and slanting toward the rear part of this, as shown. That side of the draw-head which faces plate 0 is recessed, and within the recess is pivoted, at c c, the vertical lock-plate 1), which, therefore, faces guide-plate O, the two plates being placed at an angle to each other. (I is a rod secured in plate D, and passing through perforations in the mouth A of the drawhead, back of the plate or diaphragm a, to the opposite side, where it is hooked onto a vertical lever, E, which has its fulcrum at c. This lever terminates in a weight, E, so that the lock-plate D will be pressed or forced outward against the guide-plate O by rod 01 and weighted lever E E when the latter is in its normal or vertical position.

The coupling-hook F ishung between bear- I ings ff on that'side of the draw-head opposite to the lock-plate D and stationary guide-plate C. It is prevented from swinging out too far by a'lock-pin, G, the construction of whichis shown more clearly in Fig. 4. As will be seen by reference to that figure, this lock-pin consists. of a shank, g, having at .one end a weighted arm, h, and at the other alug or but ton, i. The shank g and lug i are inserted through a slot, 7c, in the rear part of the coup-.

li'n g-hook 1 and passed through a corresponding cut or slot, l, in the spring H, which latter is placed between the brackets ff, so as to form a'cushion between the coupling-hook F and the side of the draw-head, against which it works and to which it is secured. After the lock-pin G has been passed through the slots is and Z, to do which the arm h must be held in a horizontal position, parallel to that of the draw-bar and coupling-hook, it is allowed to drop into its vertical position, which prevents the withdrawal of the pin, and firmly locks the hook F and spring H together. It follows that the lateral play of the hook is limited or controlled by the length of the shank g of lock-pin G, by removing which and withdrawing bolt m, by'which the hook is pivoted between" its hearings or brackets ff, the hook may readily be removed from the draw-head.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have represented a modified form of my invention, which consists of a round bolt, 91, having a transverse slot, 0, in its upper arm, into which is inserted a hat steel spring, 19 p, the long end of which is bent at a right angle, as shown. Bolt a is inserted through the perforations in bracketsf f and coupling-hook F, and serves as the pivot for the latter, the bent arm 10 passing down on the outside of hook F, while the short straight arm 19 will abut against the shoulder r of the draw-head. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the tension of spring 10 p will force hook F up against the draw-head, but yet allow sufficient elasticity for lateral motion of the hook in coupling. It is obvious that when this form of pin is used, the lock-pin G is dis pensed with. In Fig. 5 I have represented bolt 12. as partly withdrawn. When in use the straight arm of spring 1) 19 should rest upon the top edge of the hook F, the bent arm p reaching down to the lower edge of the hook, so as to have the largest possible be'aring-surface. From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, the operation of my improved automatic coupling will be-readily understood. When coupling, the hook F of one of the draw-heads will enter between the guide-plate G and lock-plate D of the other draw-head, pushing the latter aside into its recess in the side of the draw-head as i passes. As soon as the hook has entered, the

lock-plate D will, impelled by the weighted lever E E and rod d, occupy its former or normal locked position, and thereby prevent the withdrawal of the hook, which efi'ects the coupling. To uncouple, the top of lever E is pushed, bysuitable rods and connections, so that it may be operated from the top or platform of the car, in the direction of the arrow, which will draw the lock-plate into its recess, flush with the side of the draw-head, thereby allowing the hook to pass it and slip out.

When used as an ordinary pin-and-link coupling, the hook F, lock-pin G, and lever E E are removed, and an ordinary link inserted into either one of the recesses 13 B in the draw-head, which is retained in place by a pin passing vertically through these recesses, in the usual manner.

recessed draw-head A, vertical slanting guideplate 0, pivoted vertical lock-plate D, rod d, and weighted lever E E, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

2. The combination of the draw-head A, having brackets or bearings ff, pivoted coupling-hook F, lock-pin G, and spring or elastic cushion H, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. HINSON.

I Witnesses:

D. G. WHITE, W. G. GLAIZE.

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