GB105187A - Improvements in and relating to Automatic Train Pipe Couplings. - Google Patents

Abstract

105,187. Mathys, A. W., (White, W. C.). Aug. 14, 1916. Couplings, disconnectible. - Relates to train-pipe couplings of the kind in which two similar couplerheads carrying the train-pipes, steam-pipes, electric conductors, &c. are automatically coupled when the cars are coupled. Each coupler-head 1, Figs. 7 and 8, has a number of chambers 2, 3, 4 into which the pipes &c. 5, 6, 7 enter, and, in order to guide the heads together, each is constructed with a guide-arm 27 adapted to co-operate with a body portion of the other head and with a body portion comprising an inner inclined vertical face 11 having a number of ports 12, and an outer vertical face consisting of an inclined portion 22, a second portion 23 almost parallel to the axis of the coupling, and an offset portion 24. Fig. 12, having converging ribs 25 for guiding the tapered nose 28 of the guide-arm 27. The inner faces of the guide-arms 27 have portions 29, 31 inclined slightly more than the portions 22, 23 on the body. Wings 32 at the top and bottom of the coupler-heads and adapted to ride upon the arms and bring the heads to the same level. Each head has rearwardlyextending arms 8 with slots 9, through which pass pins on a pipe-carrier 58 slidable vertically on rods 50 connected to the car coupling 49, Fig. 1. The pipes 5, 6, 7 pass loosely through holes in the carrier 58 and are ball-jointed at 58<a> the arrangement allowing the coupler-heads a limited pivotal and sliding movement with respect to the carrier. The coupler-heads are further supported from the car coupling by braces 56 connected to shelves 55, on which the heads are adapted to rest. The necessary telescopic movement of the heads with respect to the pipes and electric conductors is provided for as shown in Fig. 7. The steam-pipe 5 passes into the chamber 4 through a steam-tight packing 34; the air-pipe 6 terminates in a piston 35 in the chamber 3 and is held against rearward movement by an abutment 36 engaging against a plate 37 on the draft-yoke 54, the air pressure in the chamber 3 thus acting to press the coupler-heads together; and the electric conductors pass through telescopic casing 48 and are coiled at 47 in the chamber 2 and connected to terminals 41 arranged in insulating-blocks 42. In addition, portions of the pipes may be arranged to telescope upon each other. The ports 12 in the coupler-heads are elongated and have seatings 14, Fig. 13, to receive the flanges 15 of correspondingly-shaped gaskets 13, which are retained in position by notched keepers 16, Fig. 14, consisting of pairs of plates with oppositely bevelled meeting edges 18.