GB252576A - Improvements in railway car couplers - Google Patents

Abstract

252,576. Haddan, R., (McConway & Torley Co.). Aug. 10, 1925. Couplings, automatic; couplings, automatic convertible to non-automatic.-In an automatic coupling of the pivoted-knuckle type, the lock lifter 6, Fig. 1, is provided with a projection 17 adapted to engage under a shoulder 18 on the coupler head to prevent creeping of the lock, and the lifter and lock are operatively connected by trunnions 8 and slots 9 respectively for relative sliding and pivoted movements so that the lock is capable of being moved to unlocked position either from above or below the coupler head by the lifter and to swing over and be supported in the lock-set position, Fig. 4, by the knuckle 2 while the latter is in closed position. The lock 5 is provided on one side with a lug or projection 14, the lower end of which forms a lock-set leg adapted to rest, when the lock is raised, on a lock-set ledge 15, Fig. 2, on the knuckle tail, the ledge 15 tapering and extending only part of the way on the upper edge of the tail. The upper part of the projection 14 is flanged to overlap the tail of the knuckle to prevent the lock tilting forwardly until after the knuckle locking portion has been raised sufficiently to permit the knuckle to open. When the lock lifter 6 is raised it moves vertically upwards until the lower edge of the flat 20 enters the slot 9, the trunnions 8 then slide along the slot and withdraw the projection 17 from under the shoulder 18, the lock is then raised clear of the knuckle tail and is guided by the lug 14 in a groove 16 in the coupler head. When the lock 5 is clear of the knuckle it tilts, due to the fact that the trunnions 8 are at the end of the slots 9 so that the centre of gravity of the lock is to the rear of the trunnions and that the lock is bevelled at the part 11. The tilting of the lock enables the leg 14 to swing over and rest on the ledge 15 on the knuckle in the lock-set position of the coupling. Further upward movement of the lock lifter would cause a projection 25 on the lock to strike the short arm of the knuckle thrower 23 to open the coupling. If, when the lock is in lock-set position, the lifter 6 is released and the knuckle opened, the lug 14 slides off the ledge 15 and the lock falls so that its underside rests on the knuckle tail. A spring 27 may be used to prevent accidental closing of the knuckle, the ends of the spring engaging lugs 28, 29 on the knuckle and coupling head respectively. The knucklethrower 23 is mounted on a pivot 24, which may be cast with the head, and is prevented from sliding off the pin by a retaining wall 26 in the coupler head. The shoulder 18 may be a bar inserted in holes in the coupling head and be secured by a rivet or wedge. The slot 10 in the lock may be closed at the top and a hook or bollard may be made at the top of the coupler head for non-automatic coupling purposes.