GB887726A - Improvements in or relating to automatic railway vehicle couplers having lock-set mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

887,726. Railway vehicles automatic couplers and lock setting mechanisms. NATIONAL MALLEABLE & STEEL CASTINGS CO. Nov. 11, 1958 [Nov. 18, 1957], No. 36217/58. Class 103(5). An automatic coupling having fixed jaws 7, 8, a buffing wall 9, and a horn guide 11, has a lock setting mechanism for a lock 15, which lock comprises a stem 16 extending through a guide opening 13 of a lug 20 and providing legs 17, 18 with an opening 19 therebetween. The lock is urged forwardly by a spring 21 confined between the lug 20 and a shoulder formed on the lock at the juncture of the legs, and is forwardly supported and guided in forward motion by a lug 24 on the jaw 8 which may enter a groove 25 in the lock and may also act as a lock limit stop. The lug 24 also acts as a stop for limiting the rotation of a lock operating lever 26 which in turn limits the forward movement of the lock. The lever 26 which is pivotally supported by a pin 27 in the head, comprises a handle 28, an extension 31 extending through the opening 19 in the lock and having a surface 31B engaging the lug 24, and an extension 30 cooperating with a pawl 32 slotted on the pin 27. The lever 26 may move and be moved by the lock 15. In setting the lock so that it will not operate when buffing, the lever 26 is rotated anticlockwise to push back the spring 21 and carry the extension 30 rearwardly into engagement with a cam surface 43 on the pawl 32. The pawl is lifted as the extension 30 engages the cam surface 43 and travels about the pin 27 as centre, and when the extension passes to the rear of the surface 43 the pawl drops under gravity in front of the extension which then engages a surface 44 on the pawl. Fig. 5. If the force on the lever 26 and spring 21 is discontinued the pawl will swing forwardly if not held back by the surface of the jaw 8 of the mating coupler, Fig. 6. In the original Fig. 5 position, however, the surfaces 35 and 47 co-operate to hold the lock setting position. When the jaw 8 of the mating coupler moves away as after buffing, the pawl follows and is cammed upwardly by the surface 35, Fig. 6, thereby causing the extension 30 to move downwardly relative to the surface 44 until it may round the corner 49 and pass into the notch 52, thus permitting the pawl to drop back and the lock 15 to move forwardly into the Fig. 7 position. To move from the lock set position, Fig. 5, to the coupling locked position, it is only necessary to raise the pawl by a handle 50 so that the lock is thrust forwardly by the spring 21 to its locking position and the lock setting mechanism released to snap into the position of Fig. 7. In a modification the pawl is provided with a downwardly projecting cam surface which takes the place of the cam ridge 39, and operates in an opening in the head having cam and stop surfaces.