US1181481A - Automatic interlocking coupling. - Google Patents

Description

J. V. ROBINSON. AUTOMATIC INTERLOCKING COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED OCT-7.1909. RENEWED MAY 16, 1911.

Patented May 2, 1916. 3 SHEETS-SHEET! J. v. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC INTERLOCKING COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1909. RENEWED MAY 16,1911.

1 l 8 1 A8 1 Patented May 2, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- aw W entree sa 1 oration.

JOSEPH vmcnnrnoninson, or enema, onneou.

AUTOMATIC inrnntocninecourtine.

Application filed October 7, 1909, Serial No. 521,445. Renewed May 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH VINCENT Roe- INSON, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Salem, in the county of Marion number of specific details of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated in. the accompanying, drawings,

\ in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the coupling heads in the position which it occupies when carried by a railway car; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of one of the coupling heads, parts being in section; Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the bracket connected to the draw bar and showing the upper parts of a support to which one of the heads is connected; Fig. 6 is a plan view of said bracket detached and showingthe movable extension of said bracket swung about so as to expose the face plate of the coupling head carried thereby for the purpose of repair; Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional detail on the line 77 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the locking pawl employed in connection with the adjusting means, and

Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional detail on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Throughout the following description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Referring particularly to the first figures of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a coupling head adapted to cooperate with a similar coupling head carried by the next car, said coupling heads being substantially alike and adaptedto cooperate with each other automatically and simultaneously with the operation of the usual automatic train couplers. Said coupling heads 10, as is usual in this class of inventions, carry pipe sections for the purpose of coupling the sig- Specification of Letters Patent.

raeeneea May a, rare. 1911. Serial no. steam.

nal air, brake air, and steam pipe connections. Each coupling head 10'comprises a face plate 11, of any suitable general configuration, but maintained normally in substantially vertical position. Any suitable means may be employed to carry the head as a whole in a substantially horizontalposition in order to maintain the face plate in the position stated. The form of the face plate indicated is substantially elliptical so as to provide openings for the three pipe connections in a substantially vertical line, although it is to be understood that any other form of face plate and disposition of pipe openings might be resorted to' as mlght be found expedient. Extending forwardly from each of said face plates 11 are a plurality of guide members 12. Said members are preferablytwo in number for each head and extend from diagonally opposite portions of the face plate forwardly at a right angle thereto for a certain distance and thence are curved outwardly so that the extreme distance between the outer points 12 of said members is considerably greater than the width of the face plate. These guide members are commonly employed in this art for the purpose of causing the coupling heads carried by twocars that are being coupled to properly aline with each other, even though one of the heads may be normally carried out of alinement with the other. The guide members at those portions where they are connected with the face plate extend substantially half way around the same so that when the two heads. are coupled the abutting face plates will be practically surrounded by said members.

From the nature of this invention it will be appreciated that since the coupler is designed to be automatic in its operations it is necessary to insure that by no possibility the coupler may be disturbed by any lateral force when it is supposed to be coupled. It is customary for the coupling heads to be spring cushioned so as to insure a proper degree of tension the one against the other for the purpose of insuring tight joints, and when the cars are passing around curves or when the coupler is subjected to a severe lateral blow from any source there is a tendency for one side of the coupler to separate or buckle, tending to cause a leakage,. in devices of this character heretofore proposed.

- respect to the .other, and so far as I am One of theobjects'of this invention'is to provide the coupling heads of such peculiar form and construction as tomake it an impossibility for any-such separation to take place; To this end those portions of the face plate 11 between the guide members 12 are provided. with rearwardly extending flanges 13, which are coextensive with the right angled portions 12 of the guide members and with which they cooperate when the coupler'is coupled. This construction insures a broad interlocking bearing contact between the two cou ling heads, said bearing surfaces being para gel to the axis of the system. I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide guide members on coupling heads which are right angled for a short distance with respect to the face plates, but such construction has heretofore been employed only for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of one head with aware I am the first to construct a coupling head with a flange or set of flanges extending rearwardly from the face plates for the purposes above set forth.

Additional interlocking means of any suitable character may be employed in connection with the means above described. To this end I provide each coupling head with one or more lugs which cooperate with corresponding sockets in the other head. Said lugs and sockets may be of any suitable form and may be located at any desired place or places. As shown however a lug 14 is formed integral with one of the guide members 12 near its lower edge and on its inner face, said lug being located adjacent to the straight portion 12 of said member, but is slightly shorter than said straight portion in order to insure that the approachin coupling heads may be properly alined y the guide members before the lug is caused to enter the socket 15 adapted to receive it.

The outer end 14 rounded to prevent striking the walls of the socket. The lugs and complemental sockets'are arranged 1ongitudinally of or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coupler. Each lug is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length, but as appears in side view is tapered outwardly from its base toward said rounded end. Again, each of the lugs is provided with oppositely arranged shoulders 14 which interlock with the dovetailed or under-cut walls of the complemental socket into which it is received in the other head, the socket being of the same form as the lug. Each guide member 12 is provided with another lug 16 adapted to cooperate with a socket 17 of the opposing head. The lugs 16 are, tapered and of the same general characteristics as the above described lugs 14, but

may be smaller in size.

of said lug is slightly der to prevent the steam from any possibility of its.

other suitable compressible material each of which is introduced from the outside of the face plate 11. The gasket employed in connection with the steam heat connection, however, must be of peculiar construction in ordamaging the same by immediate contact. To this end there is employed a thimble 21 having threaded connection at .21 with the face.

I plate, the same being operated by the application of a spanner to the inwardly projecting lugs 21% The gasket proper 22 surrounds the thimble and is connected thereto by a rib 21 extending outwardly from the outer. face of the thimble and into a groove 22 in the gasket. When the thimble is separated from the face platethe gasket 22 may be applied thereto, being sufiiciently flexible for the purpose of passing over the rib and when the thimble-is screwed into place the gasket willbe carried thereby fitting into a socket or rabbet 23. The outer edge of the gasket should project sufliciently far beyond the face of the face plate to make a proper steam connection, but the outer edge of the thimble may be substantially flush with that portion of the face plate which surrounds the said socket or rabbet 23. In order to insure the coupling heads from rocking laterally one upon the other it is important that there should be provided a shallow flange or rim 24 extending substantially around the edge of each face plate, and said rim 24 may also be extended. around the steam heat seat. It will be seen by this construction of the -steam heat connection that when the two coupling heads are connected the gaskets 22 will be compressed substantially within the space between the thimbles and the face plates, andthereby they will be protected by the thimbles from steam contact.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5 the means for supporting the coupling heads consists of a bracket 25 adapted to be rigidly and permanently connected to the lower side'of the draw bar 26 by means of bolts or screws 27. The bracket is provided along its lower portion with upwardly extending hook shaped flanges 25 which are adapted to 'cooperate with the upper ends of a pair of jaws constituting a rigid support or abutment 28. The two members of the support are adapted to be gripped to the bracket 25 by means of a pair of bolts 29- under ordinary operative conditions. Said support car ries the head 10 at its lower end, said head being mounted therein for universal movement by means of a ball and socket connection 30. Said head is maintained normally in a horizontal position by means of a spring 31 positively connected at oneend to the support and at the other end to the rear faced the head face plate.

In devices of this character it is essential for practical purposes that there be means provided whereby the trainman may readjust one or the other of the coupling heads intermediate the ends of atrain without disturbing the engineer or uncoupling the cars.

The occasion for such adjustment may arise from leakage due to insufiicient compression or tension of the spring 31 or it may arise from the fact that one or more of the packing gaskets may be defective by reason of long usage or otherwise. It is important therefore that the trainman upon discovering a leak may tighten the coupling or if necessary to disconnect the same in order to gain access to the packing rings to replace or renew the same. I have therefore devised a means for moving the support 28 longitudinally ofthe bracket 25, such means being illustrated as including a rack 25 provided along the lower edge of the bracket 25, and cooperating with said rack is a pinion 32 journaled transversely in said support 28. The pinion 32 is provided on one side with a short trunnion 33 journaled in one of the jaws of the support and on the other side with a trunnion 3% extending through the other jaw of the support, the extreme end of the latter trunnion being formedpolygonal at 34. for the application of a cranked wrench orother implement whereby the pinion may be operated powerfully. The end 34 of said trunnion may conveniently be formed of the same size and configuration as the nuts of the bolts 29 so that the same wrench may be applied to either successively. A pawl 35 is carried by one of thejaws of the support 28 and is seated therein in a "socket 35' for a limited amount of pivotal movement, the hub of the pawl preferably being in contact with the circular wall of said socket. The point of the pawl cooperates with a ratchet 36 formed upon or adjacent to the trunnion 31. If it is found necessary to adjust the coupling head or tighten the connection the trainman will apply his wrench to loosen the bolts 29 and then apply his wrench to the trunnion and turn the same in the direction of the arrowa, Fig. 5, causing the support 28 to be moved as far as necessary toward the left and thereby increasing the tension of the spring 31. If, however, it is found necessary to operator will apply his wrench to the trunnion 3 1 and after lifting the pawl 35 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel he will move the support and head bodily rearwardly along the bracket suliiciently far to gain access to the face plate. This operation may be carried out in various ways, but as shown herein 1 provide an extension 37 repack the joints theand pivot the same to the main portion of the bracket by means of a bolt or pin 38 passed downwardly through a lug 38 and a pair of ears 4:0 and 4:0, said ears being integral with the extension 37 and the latter of which may be screw threaded to receive the. threaded lower end of said pin 38. The lower portion of the extension 37 should conform to the similar portion of the main portion of the bracket 25 so that the support 28 may pass from one to the other. Upon movement of the support 28 from the rigid portion of the bracket 25 rearwardly upon the extension 37 the support and head carried thereby may be swung around upon the pivot pin 38 as a center so as to bring the face plate 11 into easy position for operation, or in other words in a position in which the longitudinal axis of the support and head carried thereby is substantially transverse to the axis of the car. It will be understood that the length of the extension 37 and its relation to the rigid portion of the bracket will be'such that the guide members 12 of the heads will permit such pivotal movement. After repairing or repacking the gaskets the extension 37 will be restored to its normal position in alinement with the rigid portion of the bracket 25 and the support 28 will be moved along the same, either by hand or the wrench until resistance is encountered by the springs.

Upon the application of force through the at any desired degree of tension, the pawl maintaining such tension temporarily until the bolts 29 are again tightened. It is to be noted also that the position and form of the support 28 with respect to the head are such as to cause the compression on the head to tend to tilt the support upon the bracket thereby increasing the connection between the support and the bracket by a gripping effect.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new is:

1. In an automatic coupler for railway train pipes, the combination of a pair of heads, each of said heads comprising guide members for cooperation with the guide members of the other head, said guide members being provided with lugs, and each head being further provided between its guide members with sockets to receive the lugs of the other head, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic coupler for railway train pipes, the combination of a pair of heads, each of said heads comprising guide members for cooperation with the guide members of the other head, lugs connected to said guide members on their inner faces, andeach head being provided along it edges between the guide members with sockets to receive the said of the a other head.

4. In an automatic coupler for railway train plpes, the combination of a pair of heads, eachhead comprising a face plate, a

plurality of guide members extending for-- wardly from the face plate at a right angle thereto and thence curving outwardly, and a plurality of flanges extending rearwardly from the portions of the face plate between the guide members for cooperation with the right angled portions of the guide members of the other head, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic coupler for railway train pipes, the combination of a pair of heads, each head comprising a face plate, a

plurality of guide members extending forwardly from the face plate at a right angle thereto and thence curving outwardly, a plurality of fianges'extending rearwardly from the portions of the face plate between the guide members for cooperation with the right angled portions of the guide members of the other head, and each of said heads being further provided with tapered lugs and sockets arranged parallel to the axis of the coupler to receive and interlock with complemental parts of the other head, substanway tially as set forth.

,6. Inan automatic pipe coupler for railcars, the combination of a coupling head, a bracket, a support for the head-connected to said bracket, means for sliding the supportlo'ngitudinally on the bracket, and means for causing the support to grip the bracket' 7. In an automatic pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a fixed bracket, an extension member pivoted to said lfixed bracket so as to aline therewith, a support mounted upon said fixed bracket and movable therefrom upon said pivoted extension, a coupling head carried by the support, and

means to positively adjust the support andhead along the fixed bracket and extension,

8. In an automatic coupler of the character set forth, the combination of a fixed bracket, an extension connected thereto on. a: vertical pivot so as to aline with the fixed bracket or to assume a position at an angle thereto, a support carried by the fixed bracket and movable therefrom upon the pivoted extension when the latter is in alinement with the fixed bracket, a coupling head carried bythe support, and power means for for railway adjusting the support and head along the fixed bracket and its extension.

9. In an automatic train pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a coupler head, a support therefor, adapted to be adjusted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the car and means for moving the head longitudinally of the support. 10. In an automatic train pipe coupler cars, the combination of a coupler head, a support therefor, means for adjusting the coupler head relative to said support and means'for shifting said support and coupler head transversely to the longitudinal axis of the car. I

11. In an automatic train pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a support, a coupler head adjustably mounted on said support, and means for shifting said support transversely to the longitudinal axis of the car.

12. In an automatic train pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a support, a coupler head yieldingly carried onsaid support, and means for shifting said support transversely to the longitudinal axis of the car.

- 13. In an automatic train pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a coupler head, a support therefor, resilient means cooperating with said support and head for yieldingly maintaining the latter in position, means for adjusting the head longitudinally of the support and means for shifting saidsupport transversely to the longitudinal axis of the car.

14. In an automatic train pipe coupler for railway cars, the combination of a head,

a spring for extending the head, an abut ment forthe spring, and means for shifting the longitudinal axis of the abutment. to a position approximately transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car.

15. In an automatic pipe coupler, the combination of a fixed bracket having longitudinal ribs, an extension pivoted to said fixed bracket and having ribs adapted to aline with the aforesaid ribs, a support comprising clamp members embracing said ribs of the fixed bracket and slidable therefrom upon the ribs of the extension, a coupling head carried by said support, means to positively move the support and head longi- Y tudinally of the fixed bracket and extension,

andrmeans to clamp said support to the fixed bracket.

16. In an automatic pipe coupler, the combination of a fixed bracket, an extension pivoted to thefixed bracket, 'said bracket and extension being provided with rack teeth, a clamping support movable along the bracket and extension, a coupling head carried by the support, and a power pinion journaled in the support in cooperation with said rack teeth for positively moving the support and head extension.

17. In an automatic pipe coupler, the comalong said bracket and bination of a fixed bracket, an extension pivoted to the fixed bracket, said bracket and extension being provided with rack teeth, a clamping support movable along the bracket and extension, a coupling head carried by the support, a power pinion journaled in the support in cooperation with said rack teeth for positively moving the support and head along said bracket and extension, means to control the reverse rotation of the pinion, and means to clamp the 15 support to the fixed bracket.

JOSEPH VINCENT ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. BEELER, ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

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