US1169459A - Train-service coupling. - Google Patents

Description

A. J. CAMPBELL.

TRAIN SERVICE COUPLING.

APPLICATIONIILED IAN-25,1915.

1,169A59. Patented Jan; 25, 1916.

UNTTE ALBERT J. GAMFBELL, OF MARION, IOTR A.

TRAIN-SERVICE COUPLING.

Application filed January 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Service Couplings; 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.

This invention relates to the air-brake service of railway trains; and the object of the invention is to utilize such service for electrical communication from end to end of the train, the air-hose serving as a carrier for the electrical conductor, and the coupling-heads being adapted to automatically close the electrical circuit from car to car as the air-hose is coupled.

More specifically, the invention relates to improved means for effecting the electrical contacts at the coupling heads, whereby such contacts may be made without the use of springs or other breakable or complicated apparatus; to so construct the apparatus that it may be applied, at slight cost, to the coupling-heads in general use, and to provide for the use of a single conducting wire, instead of plural wires, tae earth being used for a part of the circuit.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the application of the invention to a pair of coupling-heads in locked position. Fig. 2 is a side view showing one of the heads separated from the other, and with the conductor disposed inside instead of outside the air-tube. Fig. 3 is a view of the other coupling head, as seen from below Fig. l, the sectional part of the figure being in the plane of the line a b, and showing the conducting wire embedded in the airtube wall. Fig. at is an end view or" the head shown in Fig. 3, the sectional part of the figure being in the planes of 0 d and e f.

Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes the air-hose used in connection with the ordinary air-brake on railway trains. To this hose, at each end, is connected a couplinghead 2, having a central gasket 3 and clutch members 4: and 5 adapted for mutually interlocking action as shown, and in a manner so familiar as to require no explanation.

On or in the tube as a carrier is mounted an electrical conducting wire 6. This is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1915.

Serial No. 4,182.

shown mounted in various ways. In Fig. 1 it is coiled spirally about the tube, insulated wire being of course used in such a case. In Fig. 2 the wire is trained inside the tube, which if of ubber or the like good insulator, might serve to insulate bare wire, so far, at least, as it extends inside the tube. Or, as shown in Fig. 3, the bare wire might be embedded in the tube-wall, and so insulated. However, where the wire comes outside the tube, as would be most convenient in connccting with the coupling-heads, it should be insulated.

At the end of each conductor is a terminal of some non-rusting material, preferably copper. One or these is attached to the inside of the clutch-member 4: and another to the inner side of the clutch-member 5. The double terminal connects electrically by a short branch-wire 7, which may be held in place by a. clip 8. The terminals are in practice comparatively thin and broad plates of copper, and for convenience of attachment to the clutch-members, are provided with one or more studs. Thus, for example, the terminal 9 has a single stud 1O fastened by riveting in a hole drilled in the clutch-member. To the studs is suitably connected, as by soldering, or the like, the end of the main conductor 6. The other terminal 11 may have two similar, studs 12, riveted in the same way to the clutch-member 5, and similarly connecting with the branch conductor 7. When the heads are coupled these oppositely disposed terminals are respectively brought face to face, and the same pressure which serves to hold the gaskets in air-tight connections serves also to hold the terminals in close electrical contact. It is to be noted also that the motion by which the heads are coupled, a turning motion concentric to the gaskets, necessarily causes the opposing terminals to slide on each other, and this rubbing action will always keep them bright enough for good electrical contact.

In devising this apparatus the inventor has sought to avoid conditions which would bar the adoption by railroad companies of a labor-saving and convenient device of this nature. He has considered it to be reasonably certain that an air-brake coupling almost universally in use would not be thrown away to make room for another designed especially for air and electrical connection. He has also regarded it as, im-

probable that the present type of coupling would be used for this added purpose if its use involved a considerable reconstruction, or expensive fitting or changing of any sort. He has also aimed to eliminate springs, or other parts likely to break or get out of order. The device herein described is believed to embody, in a simple and durable form, what will avoid the objections noted. To apply the parts shown in Fig. 2, the only machine work involved is the drilling of three small holes and the riveting of three studs. If wired as shown in Fig. 1 the operation is very simple and easily performed, with the drilling and tapping of an additional hole for the clip. The clip is desirable, but not indispensible.

With a train fully equipped in this manner the conductor is in instant and direct communication with the engineer, and is thus able to transmit orders without loss of time and without danger.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a signaling device of the character specified, an air-brake hose in several sections, each section having at each end. a coupling-head with complemental clutch members, an electrical conductor in each section extending from one coupling-head to the other and branched at each end, an electrical terminal for each branch, one terminal secured to theinner face of one clutch member and the other terminal at the same end secured to the outer face of the other clutch member, the terminals on coacting clutch members being located to contact when companion heads are interlocked.

2. In a signaling device of the character specified, an air-brake hose in several sections, each section having at each end a coupling-head with complemental clutch members, an electrical conductor in each section extending from one coupling-head to the other and branched at each end, an electrical terminal for each branch, one terminal secured to the inner face of one clutch member and the other terminal at the same end secured to the outer face of the other clutch member, the terminals 'on coacting clutch members being located to contact when com panion heads are interlocked, and clips adapted to hold said electrical conductors in position on said heads.

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

ALBERT J. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

FRANK FILIP, J. D. BAGLEY.

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

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