US1151780A - Car-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

*M. B. GIBERSON.

CAR GouPLlNG.

APPLICATION FXLED DEC. 10. 1912. 1,151 ,"G. Patented Aug. 31,1915.

E f un Q Y Erf M. B. GIBERSON. CARCOUPLlNG.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 10. |912.

l l 5 l Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

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iran srariis narrar armen MASON B. GIBERSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS I-I. SIMPSON, OF

' DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

` CAR-COUILING.

Application filed December 10, 1912.

To all whom t may con cern Be it known that I, MASON B. GrBnRsoN, a citizen of the Uni-ted Statesrof America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Iayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention'relates to car couplers of the Janney type, and has particular reference, first, to the means employed for locking and unlocking the knuckle; further in the means for opening the knuckle when unlocked; and further in various features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure l is an elevation of the coupler; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, showing the lock-releasing device as actuated from either the top or bottom; Fig. 3 is a similar' view showing the releasing device at the bottom; Fig. 4L is a horizontal section; and Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2, where the top-releasing device is removed.

Car couplers of the Janney type are provided with swinging knuckles or coupling hooks of a substantially bell-crank lever form, the hooks being locked in closed position by a pin or other locking detent eX- tending into the path of movement of the inner' or shank arm of the knuckle. These locking pins are usually actuated from the top of the knuckle, which necessitates the cutting away of the coupler body to form the entrance aperture, and consequently weakening the structure. Vith my improved construction, I employ a novel form of locking detent which may be introduced into the body of the coupler in operative relation to the knuckle without materially cutting away or weakening the body structure. Furthermore, the construction is such that the detent may be released either from the bottom or the top, preferably from the former.

In detail, A is the body of the coupler; B the hook or knuckle having the rearwardly-extending shank C, which is normally located in a recess in the body; and D is a detent slidably engaging a vertically-extending recess E in the coupler body and extending into the path of the arm C so as to prevent the turning thereof.

Specification of Lettersy Patent.

Patented Aug. 3ft, 31915.,

Serial No. 735,925.

In the handling of railway cars it is frequently necessary to unlock the couplers without opening the hooks, as for instance in shunting cars. I have therefore provided a retaining ledge or shoulder F in the recess E, which, when the detent is raised, will support the same and prevent rcngagement when the operating lever is released. To raise the detent vinto engagement with this shoulder it may be actuated either from the top or from the bottom, and to this end is of the following construction: G is a downwardly-extending shank, preferably integral with the detent D and suitably cut away to clear the arm C of the knuckle. H is a shank preferably formed of a separate member and having a threaded lower end engaging a correspondingly threaded socket in the detent. rlhe shank H is provided with a head I having an apertured ear J for coupling with a top operating-lever, not shown, where such an actuating device is used. The downwardlyextending shank G is operated by a bellcrank lever K, which is fulcrumed at L at one side of the body and has a verticallyextending operating arm K, which is axetuated with a straight rod, or other actuating connection, not shown.

`With the construction as thus far described in operation, the detent D may be lifted by either the bottom or top actuating device. `When the lever K is actuated, it will bear against the lower end of the shank G, forcing the same upward and carrying the detent to a point above the path of the arm C. Inasmuch, however, as it is necessary to retain the detent in this position by engaging it with the ledge F, I have provided the lever K with a cammed end portion M, which, after lifting the shank G, will force the same laterally, engaging the detent with the shoulder F. A similar lateral movement is effected when the detent is actuated by the upwardly-extending shank H, by the angular movement of the bell-crank lever or other actuating connection. Where it is desired to use only the bottom actuating device for the detent, the shank H may be disengaged from the member D, and the opening in the coupler, through which said shank passes, may be stopped by a plug N.

To completely open the knuckle into position for coupling, a lever O, is arranged within the body of the coupler, having one arm P extending over the top of the detent. Suhicient clearance is provided to permit of movement of the detent into engagement with the ledge F without actuating the arm O of the lever, but a further upward movement will press the detent against said arm and swing the lever. The opposite arm Q of the lever is so fashioned as to bear upon the swinging arm C of the knuckle, and the arrangement is such that the point of bearing on said arm Q is initially near the fulcrum of the lever O and upon a bearing on the arm C at a distance from the fulcrum, thereby giving a powerful leverage. As the lever O swings, the contact-point travels outward upon the arm Q and inward upon the arm C, so as to give a progressively increasing speed with diminishing power. This arrangement lessens the work necessary in opening the knuckle, as the greatest force is required to start the movement and comparatively little force is required to com` plete the same.

My construction is one which can be applied to any standard coupler of the Janney type without material change of construction, and the slight changes can be made at small expense.

WhatI claim as my invention is:` Y

l. In a car coupler, the combination with a locking detent having a downwardly eX- tending shank, of a lever for engaging said shank to raise said detent, a shoulder for holding the detent in lock set position, and a cam engagement between said lever and shank for forcing the detent laterally of the plane of movement of the lever into engagement with said shoulder.

2. In acar coupler, the combination with a horizontally swinging knuckle and tail or locking arm therefor, of a vertically swinging lever for opening the knuckle, said lever having an arm extending obliquely to its pivotal axis and contacting with the tail of said knuckle, the initial point of contact being adjacent to the pivot of the lever and removed from the pivot of the knuckle, said point of contact traveling, during the opening of the knuckle, toward the pivot thereof and away from the pivot of the lever, the lever being held Xed from tilting movement transversely of its pivotal axis.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MASON B. GIBERSON. Witnesses:

JAMES P. BARRY, PHYLLIs COLBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eachl by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G'.

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