US1205000A - Automatic air-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

R. A. McCURRY. AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1a, 1916.

1,205,000. Patehted Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lNI/ENTDR A'TTORIVE Y8 R. A. McCURRY.

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLING. APPLICATION man MAR. 18; I916.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Q INVENTOR R 0y .51 JIIQ 02:, 77:

wlnvssEs ATTORNEYS a. WASHING mu. p. 1..

ROY A. MCCURRY, OF PENSACOLA, NORTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC AIR-COUPLING.

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Application filed March 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ROY A. MoCURRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pensacola, in the county of Yancey and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Air-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to train pipe couplings which are automatic in action both in coupling and uncoupling without requiring any attention on the part of a brakeman or other train attendant or necessitating such attendant going between the cars to couple or to loosen the coupling.

This invention provides an air pipe cou pling which operates automatically when the.

cars are run together to couple and which parts automatically when the cars of a train separate, thereby simplifying the work of making up trains and lessening the hazard to those engaged in such work.

The invention provides a coupling of the character hereinbefore indicated which will maintain an air tight oint, which will conform to the various movements of the cars without having its efliciency impaired, and which will be certain in action when the cars are run together.

lVhile the drawings show the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be unrelation of the parts when connected, Fig.

2 is a detail perspective View of the angle cock and Y connection, Fig. 3' is a detail perspective view of an end portion of the handle by means of which the movable part of the angle cock is operated, Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a portion of the angle cock, Fig. 5 isa top plan view of one of the members of the air coupler, the Y connection and one of the air pipes being in section, and showing the extension pipe of the other member in normal engagement with the pipe having the funnel. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the outer ends of cooperat ing members showing the air pipe of one member partly received in the guide of'th'e Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Serial No. 85,165.

. and thimble, and Fig. is a perspective viewv of the thimble.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The train or air pipe coupling comprises similar or like members which are disposed so as to coact and couple the connection between the adjacent ends of two cars when the latter are run together. Inasmuch as the two members are of similar or like formation a detailed description of one will suliice for a clear understanding of the couplmg.

The numeral 1 designates the end sills of two cars which are provided with an air pipe coupling embodying the invention. The train pipe or air line is indicated at 2 and is provided in its length with an angle cock 8, which may be of any usual construction and adapted to be operated from either side of the car without requiring the brake- 7 man or other attendant to pass between the cars for such purpose. A handle 4 or like operating part is fitted to the projecting stem of the movable part of the angle cock and the outer end of such handle is connected with laterally extending rods 5, which project to the sides of the car in convenient position to be operated for opening or closing the angle cock as'may be required without the necessity of the brakeman or other attendant passing between the cars for such purpose.

A Y connection 6 is fitted to the outer'end of the train pipe 2 and air pipes 7 and 8 are connected to the branch openings thereof. The air pipes 7 and 8 are disposed side by side in longitudinal and parallel relation and may be of any size or material. The outer end of the pipe 8 is provided with a funnel '9, which constitutes a mouth or guide to give direction to the complemental part of the coupling when connecting the train pipes of adjacent cars.- The funnel 9 faces outward and it is of such ample dimensions at its receiving end as to insure'the reception of the complemental part of the coupler 7 the receiving end of the" tunnel or guide 9 of the pipe 8. A portion of the pipe 7 extends along a side of the funnel 9 as indicated at? and a portion projects beyond the funnel 9 parallel with the prolongation of tl e pipe 8 as indicatedat 7 As indicated most clearly in Fig. the members comprisingthc air coupling are disposed out of longitudinal' alinement to admit of the projecting portion 7- of one member alining with the pipe 8 of the complemental member. This arrangement brings the projectingportion 7 of one coupling member in longitudinal alinement with the center of the tunnel or guide 9* of the complement-a1 member with the result that the projecting members 7 readily enter the guides 9 of the complemental members when such members are brought together in the act of coupling the cars. A. suitable connection 10 is provided for seciiiring the pipe 7 to the outer end ofthe funnel or flared" guide 9.

A projecting portion 7 of the pipe 7 is flexible and preferably consists of a length of hose pipe which may be of any manufacture and the said hose has an internal spring,

as shown, for stiffening the same and holding' it normally in extended position. The outerend of the pipe 7 is provided with a inetal tip which comprises a rounded end 11, a flange 12, and a threaded shank 13.

The rounded end 11 is formed in. its sides with a plurality of openings 14 hr the passage of the air. A thimble 15 is fitted into the" outer end of the part 7 and is secured to such part in any substantial way. The tiphasits' shank I3 threaded into the thimble 15 and a gasket 16 is interposed between the" flange"12 andthe outer end of the thimble 15 to insure the formation of a tight joint and such gasket projects beyond the edges oi? the flange 12 and a flange formed at the outer end of the thimble 15 so as to provide a flexiblelip to engage the inner wall of the funnel or guide 9 so as to insure'the forma tion of an air tight joint. The gasket 16 may be of rubber, leather, or like material generally employed as packing to insure the formation of a tight joint whenever required.

In the installation of the invention it is to be understood that each car so equipped is provided at opposite ends with coupling members, the same being so arranged as to insure the cooperation of the parts when the cars are run together. The funnels or flared guides 9 are designed to receive the tips at the extremities of the projecting portions 7 of the pipes 7 so as to direct such tips into the constricted ends of the funnels so as to insure the formation" of tight joints as inclicated mest clea ly inFi-g. 7. The parts are er pensive si -c ispness that when the cars are run together the complemental portions of the coupling members are subjected to a degree of pressure to hold the extremities of the parts 7" within the inner ends of the tunnels 9. Provision is had in a measme for such result by having the projecting portions 7 made flexible. The rounded ends 11 of the tips also assist materially in giving proper'direction'to the parts when the members of the coupling are run together. -inasmuch as the coupling is free from positive engaging parts it is obvious that the coupling will readily and automatically separate when the cars of a. train are uncoupled; The provisionof the Y-connection 6 and the two air pipes 7 and 8 insures a connection between thet 'ain pipes of cars when coupled. This is essential to theproper working of the airbrakes and other working parts of the cars depending upon pressure derived from the train pipe or air line. The tipped end 11' of the extension 7 of the pipe 7 of one member is adapted to slip into the pipe 8, as indicated in Fig. 5, thereby maintaining a close joint and providing for play between the parts 8 and 7*. The inner walls of the pipes 8 will be finished in a manner to admit of the tip 11 readily entering and having tree play in the pipe 8.

1. A train pipe coupling for railway cars, comprising similar members, each of said membersembodying two of the pipes having connection with the train pipe and projeeting outwardly therefrom to unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air pipe, atip at the outer end ofthe long air pipe, and provided in its sides with openings and a flexible hp at the base of the tip projecting outwardly therefrom to insure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperating tunnel.

2'. A coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the same comprising two air pipes connected with the train pipe and projectlng therefrom to unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air pipe, a tip at the outer end of the longer a-ir pipe formed with a rounded end having openings in its sides, and a gasket confined between a portion ofthe tip and air plpe and projecting beyond the sides of such tip to insure the formation ot a close joint between the tip and cooperating funnel when the members of the coupling are connected.

3. A coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the same comprising two pipes haying connection with the train pipe and pro ecting therefrom to unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air prpe, the projecting portion of the longer air pipe being flexible and a tip at the outer end of the flexible portion of the longer air pipe, such tip being rounded and having. openings in its sides and constructed to insurethe-formation of a tight joint with the funnel of the coacting member.

4. An air coupling for the train pipe of railway cars, the same comprising similar or like coniplemental members, each consisting of a Y-connection attached to the train pipe, two air pipes fitted to the Y-connection and projecting therefrom to unequal distances, the projecting portion of the longer pipe being flexible, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter air pipe, a tip fitted to the outer end of the longer air pipe and comprising a rounded end in the sides of which are formed openings, and a gasket secured to the projecting part of the longer air pipe by means of the tip and adapted to cooperate with the tunnel to insure the formation of a tight joint.

5. A train pipe coupling for railroad cars, comprising similar members each having a connection with the train pipe and consisting of two air pipes projecting from the train pipe to unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter pipe and a tip at the outer end of the longer pipe, said tip having a flexible lip extending outwardly therefrom to insure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperative funnel.

(LA train pipe coupling for railroad cars, comprising similar members each having a connection with the train pipe and consisting of two air pipes projecting from the train pipe to unequal distances, a funnel at the outer end of the shorter pipe and a tip at the outer end of the longer pipe, said tip having a flexible lip extending outwardly therefrom to insure close contact with the inner wall of the cooperative funnel said longer pine being flexible over a portion of its length for the purpose specified.

ROY A. McGURR-Y. lVitnesses FRED Pnorrrrrr, C. T, ALDRICH.

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

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