US1021913A - Uncoupling device for car-couplings. - Google Patents

Description

H.G.BUHOUP. UNGOUPLING DEVICE FOR GAB COUPLINGS. APPLICATION- rILnn 21:11.25, 1911.

1 ,02 ,9 1 3 Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. u. c.

H ARRY G. BUH-OUP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

' unoocrLrncrnvron FOR CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1911.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912. Serial No. 610,841.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HARRY C. BUHo P a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Devices for Car-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of uncoupling devices for manipulating the lock of a car coupler, and has for its object the provision of uncoupling devices which may be either rocked or rotated to actuate the lock for uncoupling, as circumstances may dictate or require.

Heretofore, the common construction of uncoupling devices for actuating coupler locks has been one of two general forms,

viz., the flat lever having a vertical pivotal or rocking movement, and which could be actuated either by the foot or hand as necessity required, or a journaled rod having a rotary movement on its axis, and which could only be conveniently operated by the hand and from the ground. Each of these forms of uncoupling devices has its own peculiar advantages both mechanically and operatively, and the combined advantagesof both forms I seek to obtain by my improved construction. e

In carrying out my invention I combine with an uncoupling lever, a bearing member mounted on and movable with the uncoupling lever to permit said lever to rotate on its longitudinal axis and also to rotate on an independent axis disposed at an angle to its longitudinal axis, and such a construction embodies the main feature of my invention.

A second feature of my invention em-' braces the combination with a car coupler,

of a lever, one end of which is bent at an angle to the main portionof said lever so as to project into the plane of the lock of the coupler, and a bearing for said lever comprised of a rotatable block with which the lever is connected so as to have a rock.-

ing movement, whereby said lever may be either rocked or rotated as desired.

There are other, minor, features of invention residing in particular combinations and certain elemental constructions, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention, the scope where- 7 of 1s pointed out in the claims, .Figure'lis a plan viewof uncoupling devices embodying my invention shown in connection with the end of a car, and with a coupler; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the uncoupling devices shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the bearing for the uncoupling lever showing the connection of the bearing with the car and with the uncoupling lever; Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the bearing taken in the plane of the line 4.4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of bearing for the uncoupling lever,

ing being in section and the bearing block in elevation.

Likesymbols refer to like they occur.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

parts wherever In the drawings, A'indicates the end of a able locking pin D, the latter provided with an eye, or a clevis d for connection with the uncoupling lever.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to use a flat lever 1,and pivot the same to rock vertically in a block secured to the car, which block is journaled to rotate in a suitablebe'aringsecured to the car. This lever 1 is bent upward and outward asat 2 so as to bring its inner portion 3 in substantially the plane of the lockof the coupler, and its extreme inner end is bent to hook form as at 4, to loosely engage the eye or clevis in the lock in such manner as to insure :an operative connection between the lever and look without restricting the normal movements of either when the coupler is in service.. The outer end of the lever 1 is fur nished with a flattened projection or foot pivoted knuckle O, and the vertically moy- V rest 5 which will accommodate the foot of a person on the car when it is desired to use the lever as a pedal for lifting the lock D, and this same member 5 may also be utilized when the hand is employed to rock the lever 1 and raise the lock. Pendant t'rom lever 1 below foot rest 5, is a hand-hold 6 or crank arm which will be used when the operator desires to actuate the lock D by the rotation of lever 1.

The numeral 7 indicates the bearing block for lever 1, said bearing block as shown in the principal figures of the drawing comprising a substantially circular disk or block having a slot 7 in which the lever 1 is secured to rock on a. suitable pivot 7 The circular block 7 is journaled in a U-shaped bearing strap or yoke 8, secured to the car A, preferably to the underside of the car sill. To maintain the block 7 in strap or yoke 8, the block may be provided with a yoke seat or groove 7 and in order to limit the rotation of the block 7 one end of the pivot pin 7* may project into a slot 8 in the yoke or strap 8. It will be noted that by reason of the foregoing construction of the bearing for the lever 1, said lever can be given either a rocking or a rotary movement to actuate the coupler lock.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the same movements of lever 1 are obtained by means of a pivot pin 9 to which the lever 1 is rigidly attached, the pivot pin 9 having a rocking movement in a circumscribed bearing 10 at one side of a yoke 10, and at the other side of the yoke a free bearing in an elongated slot 10 so that the pivot pin 9 may rise vertically at one side and the lever may rock vertically in the yoke 10, or if desired may be rotated on the substantially stepped bearing 10 In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawing still another form of the lever bearing is shown, that is to say, one in which the lever 1 is rigidly secured in a rectangular slot in the hemispherical block 11, said block having its bearing in a cup or shell 12 secured to the car A, and said cup or shell 12 having a substantially circular slot for the passage of the lever 1, the diameter of such slot exceeding the width of the lever and the whole constituting a species of universal joint which permits any required movement of lever 1.

In the leverbearing shown in the principal figures of the drawing it will be noted that lever l rocks on its pivot, while in the modifications shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 it will be noted that the pivot rocks with the lever, and said modifications are here introduced to emphasize the fact that while some par- Conies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

ticular construction of the lever hearing may have its own structural advantages in the combination, yet the particular form of the bearing is not in itself material, provided it is mounted on and movable with the uncoupling lever and permits the uncoupling lever to rotate not only on its longitudinal axis but also on an independent axis disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the lever, either of which movements can be utilized. to actuate thecoupler lock, as circumstances require.

The operation of my uncoupling devices, briefly stated, may be that of either of the forms of uncoupling devices in common use, according as circumstances may require; that is to say if the lock D is to be raised by a rocking movement of lever 1 the lever may be "rocked in its bearing by depressing the member 5 either with the foot from the car or by the hand from the ground, and if from the ground then either by rocking lever 1 as before noted, or by rotating the lever by means of the crank arm 6. By either method of operation the inner end 8 of the uncoupling lever will be raised and carry with it the lock D.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In an uncoupling device for car couplers, the combination of an uncoupling lever, a pivot about which the lever rotates and on which it is mounted, and a pivot block for said pivot of the uncoupling lever, said pivot block being journaled on the car and constrained to turn on an axis extending in the direction of length of the rotatable uncoupling lever and transversely of the car. I

2. In an uncoupling device for car couplers, the combination of an uncoupling lever having one end bent or offset and pro vided with a hook to engage a coupler lock, and having its other end provided with a foot rest for rotating the lever on one axis and with a pendant arm for rotating the lever on another axis, a pivot on which the lever is mounted, a pivot block for the uncoupling lever, and a yoke which is secured to the car and in which the pivot block is journaled to rotate on an axis extending in the direction of length of the uncoupling lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY C. BUHOUP. VVit-nesses D. B. MAsoN, I-I. WV. STANNARD.

Washington, D. O.

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