US1087976A - Means for uncoupling mine-cars. - Google Patents

Description

G. P. PAYNE.

MEANS FOR UNOOUPLING MINE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.11, 1912.

1 ,087,976. Patented Feb. 24,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. P. PAYNE.

MEANS FOR UNGOUPLING MINE was.

' APPLICATION FILED APB. 11 1812. 1,087,976,

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GEORGE P. PAYNE, OF LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

MEANS FOR UNCOUPLING MINE-CARS.

mamas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24,1914.

Application filed April 11, 1912. Serial No. 689,975.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. PAYNE, citizen of the United States, residing at Liberty, in the county of Randolph and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Uncoupling Mine-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and eflicient means whereby mine cars or similar vehicles may be readily separated or uncoupled while in motion, so that one car or a number of cars may be separated. from the following cars of the train and permitted to continue their travel asmay be demanded by circumstances attendant upon their use.

A secondary objectof the invention is to provide a device for the stated purpose which will be composed of few parts and may be easily set up in an operative position at a slight expense.

These stated objects and such other objects as will incidentally appear as the description of the invention proceeds are attained in a mechanism of the type illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in certain novel features which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus showing the same in posit-ion adjacent a track and showing the uncoupling members separated to permit the travel of a train of cars without dividing the same. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the uncoupling members shifted into position to divide the train passing over the track. Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the operation of the device in uncoupling two mine cars. Fig. at is an elevation of the device looking at the operating lever and its connections. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the uncoupling members and the operating rod connected therewith.

The track is composed of cross-ties l and rails 2 secured thereon in the usual manner and at a proper point of the track 1 provide the transverse sills or elongated ties 3, at the outer ends of which are secured the brackets 4 and o constituting supports for the operating shaft 6. This shaft is equipped with a handle 7 at its upper end and is j ournaled in the brackets fl: and 5, as shown most clearly in Fig. a, so as to rotate therein. The operating shaft is, of course, disposed vertically and near its lower end is provided with oppositely extending crank arms 8 to which are pivot-ally attached the outer ends of links 9 which extend from the said shaft 6 toward the track, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

One of these links is sufliciently long to ex- 7 tend under the track rails and pass beyond side of the bars 11 at the ends thereof and their intermediate portions raised above the said bars, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. These trips or cam plates 12 project beyond the opposed edges of the bars 11, so that when the said bars 11 are made to approach each other and the track, the free edges of the said trip plates will project over the track rails, as shown in Fig. 2, and consequently be projected into the line of travel of the wheels 13 of the mine cars 14.

It is thought the operation of the device will be readily understood. When it is desired to have a train of cars pass without being divided the trip plates are moved away from the track, as shown in Fig. 1, so that no obstruction will be encountered by the cars in their travel. If, however, it is desired to divide the train, the handle 7 is swung up away from the track so as to bring the crank arms 8 into a position substantially parallel with the track, as shown in 2. The links 9 will thus be caused to move in opposite directions, and the crossheads consisting of the blocks 10 and bars 11 will be moved to the track, so that the trip plates 12 will extend over the same, as shown in Fig. 2. The car to be uncoupled will now encounter and ride over the trip plates 12 which will impart, a vertical oscillation or reciprocation to the ends of the car successively. The front end of the car will, of course, be unaffected by this vertical movement, so that the cars will remain coupled. but when the rear end of the car rides up the inclined plane presented by the trip plate, the coupling at that end of the car will rise out of engagement with the coupling on the following car, so that as the car passes over the apex or highest point of the trip plate it Will move away from the succeeding car.

It will be observed that the device is entirely automatic in its operation after it has been set to the Working position, so that there is no necessity of an attendant passing between the cars or manually operating the couplings and consequently the liability of injury and loss of life or limb is overcome.

The device is simple in the construction and arrangement and number of its parts, so that it is not liable to get out of order, will operate smoothly and easily at all times, and may be installed at a slight expense.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. Mechanism for the purpose set forth comprising a pair of cross heads disposed at opposite sides of a track and having lateral extensions to project over and slidably rest upon the track support, trip plates having their central portions elevated and both their ends secured to the extremities of said lateral extensions of the cross heads, the inner longitudinal edges of said trip plates projecting beyond the inner longitudinal edges of the cross heads whereby they may project over the rails of the track and the ends of said plates merging Substantially into the horizontal planes of the treads of the rails, and means for moving said cross heads to and from the track.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of transverse sills, trip plates mounted for sliding movement on the sills and adapted to be spaced from or projected over the rails of the track, said trip plates having their central portions elevated and being inclined slightly from the elevated portions to merge into substantially flat ends, and means for moving the trip plates into and out of operative position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence 01 two Witnesses.

GEORGE P. PAYNE. [Ls] W'itnesses:

A. KIME, R. D. Pa'r'rnnson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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