26,483. Janney, E. H. Nov. 15. Couplings, automatic. - Comprises improvements in the Janney automatic coupling, embodying details of construction in the drawhead, coupling-hook, locking-pin, and pin-lifting gear. Fig. 1 is a general view of the coupling. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sectional views showing the locking-pin in various positions. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view. Figs. 8 and 11 are views of the coupling-hook. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the locking-pin. Figs. 14 and 15 are views of the lifting-gear. With the locking-pin 7 in its lowermost position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the coupling-hook 4 is locked in its closed position. When it is desired to set the locking-pin in the lock-set position, an upward movement of the pin causes the incline 12 to engage the incline 17 on the tail of the coupling-hook, and these faces are shaped so as to throw the lower end of the pin forward to engage the seating-pin 15. If it is desired to throw the coupling-hook to its open position, ready for coupling, a further lift of the pin causes the incline 12 to engage the incline 17 and rotate the hook to its open position. The inclines 17, 12 are extended to ensure engagement. The faces 23, 24 also help the movement. In the act of coupling, the surfaces 16, 25 successively engage the surface 9 and lift the pin to permit the passage of the coupling-hook tail. This is facilitated by the co-operating faces 20, 21. The shape of the surfaces 16, 25 is designed to prevent undue jumping of the pin when the vehicles meet. The dropping of the pin to its lowermost position is further prevented when the hook is free by the shape of the recess 28 in the draw-head, which merges into the inclines 29, 30 and cooperates with the surface 31 to throw the pin forward. When the locking-pin is in the lockset position and the coupling-hook moves to its open position, the face 10 co-operates with the tail of the coupling-hook to raise the pin from its lowest position and force the lower end to the right, and the surfaces 28, 29, 30, 31 then cause the pin to be supported on the cotter 15 as before. The hub of the coupling-hook is cored out, as shown in Fig. 11, thus overcoming the tendency to bend the pin 3 at its centre. The bearing of the coupling-hook is further recessed at 33, the recess being engaged by a fillet 34 in the draw-head, Fig. 5, thus limiting the movement of the coupling-hook. The fillet lies in a position to take the draft strain, thereby relieving the pivot 3. The draw-head has an incline bevelled at its front end, whereby the coupling-hook is checked by the bevelled portion in its open position and its closing movement is facilitated. The movement of the pin 7 is limited by a stop 44, inserted through the aperture 46. The pin-lifting mechanism, in its preferred form, consists in a substantially flat slotted plate 6' raised on distance-pieces, forming on its underside guides for pintles 14', Fig. 14, on the extremity of the lifting-bar 11<1>. The front downwardly turned end has also two pintles 17', which engage the end of the pin as shown in Fig. 15. The pintles and their support have freedom to turn about a longitudinal axis so as to give an initial sideways tilt to the pin 7 to help it to disengage from its lowermost position. In this tilting the underface of the lifting-bar follows the inclination of the lever 18<1> on which it rests. In a modification, an ordinary pivot joint is fitted at the upper end of the locking-pin and a sliding pin joint at the rear end of the lifting-bar.