US1199866A - Automatic electric train-line coupling. - Google Patents

Description

I l. R. BROWN.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 3|. I914.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

HIIIII WITH/E8858 [MENTOR T. R. BROWN.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR- 31, IBM.

Patented 0m, 3,1916.

4 SHEETS SHEET Z- WITNESSES I A/IVVE/VOR I T. R. B ROWN. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE COUPLING.

APPLICATICN FILED MAR. 31, 1914.

Patented Oct. 3,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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APPLICATION H LED MAR- 3], I914.

Patented (101. 3, 1916.

4 SHEET$$HEET 4 III/- WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OF C THOMAS 3. BROWN, or SPARKILL, NEW Yonxfnssrqnon 'ro THE WESTI1\TGH,0USE AIR- 1 BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPQRATION OF PENN- SYLVAN IA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. Brown, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Spa'rkilLin the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Automatic Electric Train-Line Couplings, of which improvement the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to mechanism for automatically coupling the electric train line circuits'between the cars or other vehicles of a train, and more particularly to that nected to the respective'train line circuits,

type of electric coupler in which each counterpart coupling head is provided with a a plurality of fixed'contacts. or fingers conand amovable contact carrier, one of said carriers being 'adapted to be projected from one coupler head to the other and electrically connect the corresponding-contact fingers of the two* couplers when the same come together.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide an improved coupling device of this type, and in which theoperation of the moving parts is determined by the action of springs and other mechanical con- 1 nections operating automatically upon the coming together of the counter-part couplers of. adjacent cars to project one of said carriers.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism for automatically opening and closing the doors or shutters controlling the opening. at the front end of the couplercasing, through which the contact carriers'or slides are projected; and still another object is to provide improved fluid pressure means for releasing-the couplers andrestoring the parts to normal position.

' In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a coupler head,

embodying my iinprovement; Fig. 2 a long1- tudinal vertical section taken on the line .2 I taken on thelline 3-..3of Fig; 1; .Fig. '4, a

*transverse section near the front end of the coupler and showing the doors-or shuttersin elevation; Fig. 5, a detail View showing one r of the rings'and arms for operating the shutters; Fig. "6, a detaiLview of the end of,

' the plunger and the surrounding bushing on I which the rings are nounted; and Fig. 7, a

diagrammatic view, partly in planand Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed March 31, 1914. Serial No. 828,466.

v coupling device comprises a casing, 41',

which may be suspended. beneath the draw a 'a construction is set forth in the ig; 1; Fig. 3', a transverse section AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TRAIN-11411115 COUPLING.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

partly in section, showing a pair of couplers connected together, andillus'trating-a modil I fication. I

As'shown in the drawings, the electric bar, carcoupler or other support at the end of the car in such position'as'to engage a counterpart couplingdevice on an adjacent car, and is particularly adapted for use 1n connection with a cart coupler of the socalled. rigid lock type, such as indicated in Fig. 7 for instance, in which .each counter part coupler head,- 12, is provided with a hook shaped projection, 14, having a vertical plane surface inclined at an angle to the line of draft,,-and adaptedto engage and interlock-with a corresponding surface on the projection of a counterpart coupler by relative lateral movement when said couplers come. together in the act of coupling. Each coupler head is also provided with .a ivoted lock, 16, adapted to bear against a ocking surface, 17, on the outer side ofthe projec-. tion, 14, of the counterpart coupler, and hold I the couplers securely clamped together'when in coupled position. 4 For the purpose of releasing the lock of theco'upler, fluid pressure means are provided, comprising a cylindrical chamber formed in the coupler head and containing a piston, 18, which is connected by a rod, 19,

with an arm of the pivoted lock, 16, a spring,

20, acting on the back of the piston. to

normally hold the lock in its locking position. .Fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, may beadmitted to the cylin der foractuating the piston, 18, to compress the spring and turn the pivoted lock, 16, to its releasing position when it uncouple, and separatethe couplers. Such rior application of- James SL Doyle an Frank 'Hedley, filed March. 24, Y 1913, 'S,erial No. 756,469. a

The casing, 41, containing the electric contact devices may be supported beneath the coupler head in any convenient manner, asby means of bolts, 69, at or" near the outer end, and link, 65, and spring, 67, at the mid- 5 (He of the rear portion, in such position that the adjacent ends of the twocasings of the counterpart couplers meet together when is desired to the outer'end of the casing, and each connected with a corresponding wire of the nor a,

train line circuits. fingers, 45, may be employed for closing cer- Other sets of contact tain local circuits upon each car when in uncoupled position. In order to' establish electrical connection between the respective contact fingers of the counterpart couplers, there is a sliding contact carrier, 46, mount- .ed in the casing and having a plurality of sets of contact bars, 47 and 48, properly connected and adapted vto engage the sets of contact fingers, 43, of the adjacent counterpart couplers when coupled together withone of the slides extended into the casing of the other coupler, whereby the contacts of the movable carrier bridge over the space between the said sets of contact fingers, as indicated in Fig. 7, and establish the desired electrical connection. The contact bars, 47 and 48, at one side of the center line are preferably cross connected with the corresponding contact bars on the opposite side of the center line.

According to one feature of my improvement, the contact carriers orslides are operated automatically by mechanical means when the couplings are brought together, and for this purpose each coupling is provided with a spring pressed plunger or tappet, 38, slidably mounted within the fixed bushing, 40, located in the middle portion of the casing, the plunger bein tubular at its rear portion, and containing the spring, 35, which acts to normally extend the end of the plunger beyond the front face of the casing, and in position to be. engaged by the corresponding plunger of a counterpart coupling of an adjacent car. A mechanical trip mechanism isflemployed be tween the yielding plunger and the slide for z actuating the same, and a own in Figs. 1, 2, and 3-, this mechan comprises a horizontal sector gear, 27, pivoted upon the pin, 28, within the casing, and carrying a pivot pin, 34, on which is pivoted a toggle arm, 29, provided with a T'head, 30, hearing against the follower, 31, of the spring, 35,.thepivot,of the toggle arm, 29, being axis"=5f the spring, 35, and when the parts are set in position for coupling. The sector gear, 27 meshes with the small pinion, 44, carried by the larger pinion, 49, which engagesthe rack, 50, on

rier, 46, which is mounted uponthe rollers 01'' balls, 58; supported on the flanges, 42, of the casing. The projections at opposite sides of the head, 30,01? the toggle arm, 29, extend into the respective slots, 31 and 32, in the tubular plunger, 38, and one of said pro ections is adaptedto be engaged by the lly in line with the pin, 28, and the plunger, '38,.

messes plunger at the end of the slot when the plunger is forced inwardly to a certain point.

When the two counterpart couplings are brought together in the act of coupling, the outer ends of the two plungers abut against each other, and both are forced inwardly compressing the springs, 35. As the springs and the friction of the parts is never exactly the same in any .two couplers, it follows that one of the plungers will be forced inwardly a suflicient distance to engage the head of its toggle lever and trip the same slightly before the other plunger, and as 'the compression of the spring is exerted in line with the toggle arm and pivot pins, 34

and 28,'there'is no movement of the gears until the toggle lever is tilted by contact with the plunger at the end of slot, 32. This operates to throw the pivot, 34, inward and out of line with the pivot, 28, whereupon the spring acts with increasing leverage to turn the sector gear, 27, upon'its pivot, and through the connecting gears, 44,

49 and 50, project the slide, 46, through the with a quick positive movement to the coupled up portion in which the contact fingers, 43, in one casing, engage the contacts, 47, on

the slide, and the contact fingers in the other casln engage the contacts, 48, on the slide, there y establishing through connections for the respective train line circuits. or the. purpose of cushioning this move- 'ent of the slides, a piston or plunger, 52,

inay be mounted on the slide, 46, and opcrate in a cylinder, 53, formed within the casing, and having a small port, 54, at its inner end. As the piston moves toward the end of the cylinder it compresses the air therein, thus exerting a yielding resistance to the movement of the slide at the end of its stroke.

In order to release the coupling and withdraw the slide, I provide a piston, 24, having a stem, 26, adapted to, bear against the 'sector gear, 27, and turn the same back. to the normal release position shown in Fig. 1, the-flange, 51, of the slide or contact carthe couplers are separated, and this is 111- sured by having the piston, 24, control the port, 23, lead ng to the cylinderof the-unlocking piston, 18, of the coupler in such a manner that whemfiuid, such as compressed air, is admitted to the connection, 21, and,

passage, 22, the. piston, 24, moves out to actuate the sector gear, .28, and reset the 'same in its normal position, and thereby withdraw the projected slide within its re spective casing. At the end of its movement, the piston uncovers the port or passage, 23, thereby admitting fluid therethrough to the unlocking piston,'-18, to release the coupler and perrmt the separation of the cars. In order that the devices for withdrawing the slide and releasing the couplers may be operated from either car,

the passage, 22, may communicate with the corresponding passage in the other coupler v by means of connecting ports, 39, formed in the heads of theabutting plungers, 38.

Various forms of mechanical connections between the plungers and the contact carriers'may be employed.- According to the.

modification shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7, the toggle arm, 29, is pivoted tolong lever, 27*, mounted at one end on fiked fulcrum, 28 and connected at its opposite "end to the contact carrier, or slide, 46, by means of a link, 27 In this construction, the piston, 24*, has a hollow rod. 24 cooperating with the push bar, 26*, connected to the lever, 27*, for withdrawing the slide, Ex- 'cept for the lever and link connection in lieu of the sector gear, pinion and rack con nection, thisrmodification is similar in con struction and operation to that of Figs. 1, 2, i and 3, already described, and will be readily understood.

Another feature of my improvement re lates to the doors or shutters for covering the opening at the front of the casing, when the slide is Withdrawn within the casing,

for the purpose of excluding dust, dirt, andmoisture.

As shown in the drawings, I provide vertically sliding doors, 59 and 60, adapted to meet together upon a horizontal line at about the middle of said opening when in closed position, and to slide vertically in opposite directions when moving to the open position; For'the'purpose of-- operating saiddoors automatically at the times of the coming together and of separatlon of the' counterpart couplers, various.

forms of mechanism controlled by the re-' ciprocating movement of the plungers may be employed, but a preferred construction comprises a pair of rings or yokes, Gland.

62, mounted to oscillate on the bushing, .40, and having the oppositely extending arms, 61 and 6l?,'and 62 and 62 ,vi'espectively, connected at their outer ends withthe respective doors, 59and 60, the shorter arms,

61 and 62*, being connected to the upper door, 59, by pin andislot connections, and the longer arms, '61 and 62", being connected by the respective links or hangers,

A63 and 63,,-with the lower door, 60. The

yokes or rings, 61and'62, are provided with the respective pins or projections, 61 and 62, extending through the vertical slots, 61? and 62, in the bushing, 40,-.and into'the' diagonal slots, 61 and .62", respectively,"

formed in'the plunger,-38. As theslots, 61 and 62 are formed in planes at rightangles to the axisof the "plunger, while theslots, 61 and 62", are diagonal or inclined, as

. shown particularly in Figzfi', it'will be seen that the reciprocating movements of the "plunger withinthe bushing, will cause the yokes t oscillate uponthe bushing in such a manner as toslide the doors vertically to and from each other in closing'and opening.

By means of this construction, the operation of the doors is entirely automatic, since, when the couplers are brought together. and both plungers are forced inwardly compressing both springs, this-movement,- operatesthrough the slots and yokes to ra1se the upper door and lower the bottom door thus opening the"apertures in both casings for the projection of the slide, 46, to connect up the. electric train line circuits asbefore described. Then'whenthe'couplers are released and pulled apart, the springs, 35, return the plungers'to the normal outer position' therebyv again oscillating the'yokes, and moving the doors to closed position. If

desired, an additional-tension spring, 55,

attached to the arms, 61 and 62*, may be employed for assisting in the closing actlon. A shield or plate, 56, may be supported v I p 100. within the casing ,beneath'the gears, to

the combination of a I circuits, a. movable carrier having corre- -sponding contact bars, a mechanical trip electrically connect the corresponding contacts of counterpart couplings, and means operating automaticallyby the coming tomechanism'for projecting said carrier to gether of said couplings to actuate said trip mechanism. V

2. In a coupling, the combination ofa casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected toitrain line circuits, a movable carrier having correspond- 7 ing contadt bars, a mechanical trip mechanism for projecting said carrier to electrically connect the corresponding contacts of counterpart couplings, and a yielding plunger adapted to engage a corresponding plunger of a 'count erpart coupling, for aca p 'tuating said, trip mechanism.

3. In a coupling, the combination of a casing containinga plurality of fixed contact's adapted to be connected to train line circuits, a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, a spring-actuated plunger adapted to engage a corresponding plunger of a counterpart coupling, and a mechanical connection operated by said plunger for projecting said carrier to eleccuits, a movable carrier having'correspondingcontact bars, a yielding plunger, a spring acting on'said plunger, a toggle arm'also acted upon by said spring, means operated by the movement of the plunger for tripipin'g said toggle arm, and mechanism actue ated thereby for projecting said carrier to electrically connect the corresponding confluid pressure devicev for Withdrawing said tacts of the counterpart couplings.

5. In a coupling, the combination of a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits, a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, a yielding plunger, a s ring acting on said plunger, a toggle arm a so acted upon by said spring, means 'operatedby the movement of the plunger'for tripping said toggle arm, and gearing actu-z ated by said toggle arm for projecting said carrier.

6; In a coupling, the combination of a cas-. ing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits, a movable carrier having correspond ing contact bars, a mechanical trip mecha- IllSIIl for projecting said carrier to electri cally connect the corresponding contacts'of counterpart couplings, and means for resetting said trip mechanism and withdrawing said carrier. a v

7 In a coupling, the combination of a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits, a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, a mechanical trip mechanism for projecting said carrier to electri cally connect the corresponding contacts of counterpart couplings, a yielding plunger for actuating said trip mechanism, and a carrier.

8. In a coupling, thecombinat'ion of a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits, a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, a mechanical trip mechanlsm for projecting said carrier to electriv movement of said casing having counterpart -couplings,-an d a operated piston for Withdrawing said carrier and resetting said tri'pmechanism.

pler head,"a movable lock, it fiuid' -pressure l I 9. In a coupling, the combination of 213C011? devicefor releasing said lock, electrical con- I tacts adapted to be connected tofltrain line circuits, a movable carrier-having; corre sponding contact bars, means for'projecting" said carrier to electrically"connect'fcorresponding contacts of counterpart couplers, a

fluid pressure operated piston for with-drmv I ing said carrier, Panda port controlled Thy said piston for supplying fluid to the unlocking device of the coupler.

10c In a coupling,-the combination of a casing having an opening and containing electrical contacts connected to train line circuits, a movable carrierhaving corresponding contact bars, mechanism for. projecting said carrier through said opening to ,electrlcally connect corresponding contacts of counterpart couplers, a yielding plunger i 01 actuating said mechanism, a door for said opening, and means .operated by the movement ofsaid plunger for actuating said door.

11. In a coupling, the comb nation of a casing having an opening and containing electrical contacts adapted to be connected to "train line circuits, a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, mechanism for projecting said {carrier through said opening to electrically connect corresponding contacts of counterpart couplers, a yielding plunger for actuating said mechanism, a door for said 'openmg, a yoke for operating said door, and means operated by the plunger for oscillating v said yoke.

12. In a coupling, the combination of a an opening and containlng electrical contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits,'a movable carrier having corresponding contact bars, mechanism for projecting said carrier through sa d opening to electrically connect corresponding contacts of counterpart couplers, a yielding-plunger for actuating said mechan1sm, a pair of vertically movable doors for said opening, apair of yokes mounted .to osc1llate and connected to said doors, and means operated by the movement of said plunger for oscillating said yokes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 3

THOMAS It. BROWN. Witnessesz' E. A. WRIon'r, A. S; FOWLER.

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