US1378098A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

M. L. ECKHART.

C'AR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-30.1920.

Patented May 17,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' L. ECKHART.

: CAR COUPLING.. 4 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I920.-

Patented May 17, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2. I

M. L. ECKHART.

CAR COUPLING. APPLICATION-FILED JAN. 30. 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921 4 SHEETS -SHEEI 3.

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M. L. 'ECKHART.

. CAR COUPLING."

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT T oir icE.

MARVIN L. ECKHART, QF ATTICA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CAR COUPLER 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

. Application filed January 30, 1920. Serial No. 355,062. Y

which the following is a specification, ref-.

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers, and more particularly to what might be termed radial couplers for mine cars, which latter are usually operated-upon narrow gage tracks and around very sharp curves. I

The various types of couplers in use on surface and standard gage tracks are not applicable to mine cars of relatively narrow width and operated around sharp ,curves, for reasons well known. Therefore, on mine cars, the coupling is usually accomplished by a simple hook and chain and by manual effort. They are not automatically operated.

Generally, the hook, pin or clevis, to which the chain link is attached in coupling two mine cars together, is positioned centrally of the car end, and in a pocket or recess formed by bumpers projecting from the end sill of the car. This construction affords opportunity for accidents, which not infrequently happen to the operator when coupling and uncoupling the cars. Moreover, the bumpers, which are required for obvious reasons, necessarily project from' the side margins of the car ends a considerable distance and this interferes with the operation of such cars around curves as sharp as are required in many parts of almost every mine.

It is the obj ect of my invention to produce a car coupler which will act automatically to coupletwo cars together; which may be uncoupled from a point at the side of the cars; which will provide the necessary bump-- ers upon the car ends; which will enable the coupled cars of a train to be swung around the sharpest curves without uncoupling; which will simplify and cheapen mining car construction; which will be applicable in principle to all types of mining cars, requiring slight and minor modifications in the means of attachment only for thecars of differenttypes'; which may be applied to existing types of cars by making the minimum alterations therein and which Wlll be strong, durable and eflicient in use,

reduce the cost of repairs and'upkeep to a minimum and finally, but not least, reduce the possibility of accidents to the operators to a negligible quantity.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May .1, 1921.

. These and other objects of invention i I will be more fully appreciatedas I proceed with my specification. In that form in which I have chosen to illustrate my invention in the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of a car, partially in section, to which the coupling embodying my invention, is applied.

Fig. 2 1s a top plan view of one end of the car.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, enlarged, and

partially in section, of the coupling, the

section being in the horizontal plane indicated by the dotted line 33 of Fig. 4:.

F g. dis an enlarged, vertical, transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the dotted line 4-4]: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged-view of the coupling,

in side elevation, showing a part of the car floor timbers to which it is bolted.

Fig. is anenlarged, vertical, longitudi nal sect1onal view of the housing with the;

interior parts removed, the section being taken in theplane indicated by the dotted line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view with the 7 v interior parts in position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the rem'ovable swinging plate on which the coupler arms are secured. 1

Fig. 9 1s a mg lever.

Fig. 10 is a view similarto that of Fig.

' Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken: in the plane indicated by the dotted line 12-12 of Fig. 10, showing thelunlocking perspectiveview of the unlocklever in a different position from that illuse trated in Fig. 7.

The car, designated as a whole by the let '105 tional type, comprising vertical side walls ter A, may be of any ordinary OfI' conven- 1.0, end walls 11, inclined bottom 12, and a floor 13, all supported upon axles 14 carrying track wheels 15. Beneath the lower part of the end walls 11 is a transverse beam or timber 16. i i V B indicates as a whole, the housing of my improved coupler, comprising upper and 7 lower horizontally disposed plates 17, 18,

respectively, integral with and spaced apart by a vertically disposed rear wall 19, and side walls 20, 20. Projecting outwardly from the rear and side walls 19, 20, is a horizontally disposed flange plate 21, provided with suitable bolt holes 22 through which may be passed the bolts 23 used in securing the housing B to the car floor 13. The flange plate 21 is preferably so located as to afford space for locating one or more (in this instance, two) strengthening ribs 24 beneath it.

The, top and bottom plates 17 and 18 of the housing 13, forward of-the side walls 20, 20, are rounded and are provided'with marginal downwardly projecting flange walls 25, 26, respectively. These rounded flanged portions, ofthe plates 17, 18, may properly be designated the coupler head. It will be noticed that between the topsurface of the bottom plate 18 and the lower margm of the flange 25 (see Figs. 6, 11 and 12) there is a considerable space which I have indicated by the letter C, which space affords .means for the insertion of the coupler parts presently to be described, and meansfor the operative movement of said parts when the device as a whole is in use ona car.

Projecting downwardly from the under side of the plates 17,18, are apertured bosses 27 28, respectively, one shorter than the other (see Fig. 6), the lower face "of the 7 boss 27 being in the horizontal plane of the lower margin of the flange 25. The aperture 29 extends through the boss 28 and the plate 18. The aperture 30, in vertical aline-' merit with the aperture 29, extends through the boss 27 and communicates with an en-: larged aperture 31 in the plate 17. A pivot pin 32 extends'through the apertures 29, 30, its head 33 resting in the aperture 31 and a nut 34v on its lower end serving to bear against the boss 28 and lock the pin 32 in place. It will be noticed that the vertical axis of the apertures 29 and 30 is located to of its rear portion are vertical apertures 36, 36, to afford bearings for plvot pins 37 37 In each side of the plate D is a horizontally disposed slot 38, 38, for a purpose to be.

presently stated.

E designates, as a whole, a casting which I call a coupling knuckle and of which two are required. Each knuckle comprises an irregular shaped body 39, a vertically apertured, pivoting flange 40, and a knuckle arm 41, the latter having a coupling head 42 on its end. The thickness of the body 39 is such as to permit of its insertion inthe space G of the housing, and the thickness of the flange 40 is such as to permit said flange to be inserted in the slot-. 38. The pin 37 passes through the apertured flange 40 and the depth of the said slot 38 is such that the knuckle E may be moved laterally with respect to thefulcrum plate D by swinging upon the pin 37 as a pivot. The arm 41 and the head 42 are relativelythicker than the body 39, the thickness, in the form illustrated, bein substantially equal to the dis, tance from the top of the plate 17 to the bottom of the flange 26. V i

The margin of the body 39 from which the flange 40 extends is tapered or inclined upwardly and inwardly," as shown at 43 in Figs. 3 and 10, thus conforming to the tri angular contour of the fulcrum plate D to which the two knuckles E, E, are pivotally secured. V

The plate D and the two knuckles are normally centered with respect to the housing B by the following means: A spring. 44 is coiled between its ends '45, 45, around and is mounted upon the boss 27. On each end 45 of said spring is a bushing 46 which has frictional contact against the inclined rear margin of a lug 47. on the body 39.,

Intermediate the coiled central part of the spring 44 and its two ends 45, 45, the spring is bent upwardly, as shown at 48,- to contact and bear against the face of a lug 49 which projects downwardly from theunder side of the plate 17. Thus it will be readily seen I i that whatever force or pressure is exerted upon oneof the knuckles E will be communicated tothe plate D through pivotal connections 40, 37, and similarl to the opposite knuckle, both knuckles E, and the plate D, swinging or moving together as a ing 46 carried on the other end of the spring 44, will be out of contact. Thus there will be constant tension by one end of said spring 44 to return the jaws to their normal closed position as soon as the fulcrum plate and jaws,as a unit, are free to so return.

Means are provided, however, for spread} ing the knuckles E, E, apart, and for returning them, to their normally closed osition, the latter position being shown in 1g.

gether, or in the normal position shown in I In said Fig.- 3, the heads 42 of the knuckles E, E, of two cars are shown in operative engagement, the one set of knuckles being illustrated by dotted lines.

The unlocking lever L, See Fig. 9, comprises an operating arm 51 which is preferably apertured at 56 for engagement with a link, cord, or chain (not shown) whereby the arm 51 may be actuated, and a rightangledshank 57 carrying on its upper end portion a camshapedelongated head 58 and having a flanged end 59. Located between the recess' 52 and the upper part of the inner margin 43 of the body 39 is a shallow recess 60 having a straight bottom and curved end walls as shown. When the two knuckles E, E, are in their normally closed position, these recesses 60, 60, register and together form an elongated slot with straight parallel sides and rounded ends as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The head 58 of the lever L has correspondingly straight parallel sides and rounded ends, adapted to fitin said elongated slot. It will be observed that the latter is located with its longitudinal or major axis parallel with the abutting side margins 67 of the body 39, i

and as a consequence, said margins will'be moved apart whenever the lever L is turned so that the rounded ends of the head 58 bear against the straight sides of the slot; the head 58 being longer than it is wide, said rounded ends act as cams to spread the knuckles E, E, apart against the tension of the spring 50.

To retain the lever tion, and to prevent it from falling out through an entrance opening 61 in the lower plate 18, a marginal flange or nb 62 18" formed on the body 39 for the lever end 59 to rest upon. And, to further insure proper L in its proper posiof which is adjacent to the upper surface of the lever. end 59. This rib 63, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, is formed on a radius, of a circle, having the axis of the bolt 32 as a center, and its length is'such as, to em-' brace the extreme limit of movement or oscillation of the knuckles E, E, and the fulcrum plate D bolt 32.

When two cars are to be coupledtogether,

the knuckles E, E, of the adjacent ends are normally in the positions shown in full lines in Fig- 3, in the same horizontal plane and,

theoretically, truly centered. In practice,

however, the lugs 49,49, are just sufficiently, oil the transverse center line so that the.

points 64 of the knuckle jaws 42 will" not register, that is, will not lie in the same vertical plane, the result being that as one car is pushed closer'to the other, the sides 65 of the jaws engage, the jaws on one car sliding on the jaws of the other car until the shoulders 66 of the jaws 42 interlock, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. This interlocking is automatic, on account of the tension spring 50, which stretches 01 yields -.as the jaws are sliding upon each other.f(the knuckles E, E, being spread.

apart by this sliding contact) and which promptly contracts the moment the shoul ders 66 come into alinement. The carsbe lng thus coupled together, the train maybe moved along a stralght or a curved track,

the couplers holding firmly on the shortest,

ofcurves because the. knuckles readily pivon either side ofthe pivot oting upon thebolts 32 conform to the curvature;

Touncouple the cars, the "operator actu ates the lever L on one ofthe cars by tak-- ing hold of the arm51 or. the. link connect ed thereto at 56, and thus turns the. earn head 58 in the slot 60. This action will tend w to spread the knuckles E,-,E,- apart, and disengages, we will say, the right hand arm 3 from the corresponding arm E .on the, other car. As the twocars are pulled awayfrom each other, the jaws on theleft hand side w1ll automatically shift toward the center line of the couplers into such position'as willautomatically:permitthe shoulder 66 of one arm E to slip by andfree from the .corresponding shoulder 66 of the arm on the other car. 1 The curvatures given to the arms 41 and their shoulders 66' are such that as these, arms E, E, move toward the center line, the jaws will be disengaged entirely before the two arms E, E, reach their nor mal position as shownin full lines in Fig. 3. In uncoupling, it is only necessary to turn the cam head 58 of. one coupler.

It may beobserved that the shape and arrangement or" these arms E, E, are such that when they are engaged-with the arms of the adjacent ,car,the cars may be turned upon a very short curve without uncoupling.

In practice I have demonstrated that thesecouplers will hold and not become disengaged when thescurveof the track is so short as to cause the inside corners of the. adjacent car ends to meet. I regard this as an important features of my invention.

It will be noticed that the rounded plates 17, 18, extend well forward from the car end 11 and serve as bumpers, and as such itheir rounded margins permit one to rock,

so to speak, about the other when two cars coupled together are going around a curve;

Moreover, the width ofthe coupler housing B relative to the width of the car A is such that curves so sharp as to cause the end corners a to almost contact on the curve, may be readily negotiated without any danger of the interlocked. knuckle jaws 4:2, 42, becoming unlocked. V

I would have it understood that the shape of the rear end of the housing B and of 'the attaching flange 21 may be varied to suit carsother than that of the car A herein illustrated, said car A 7 being shown merely as one type of car to which my im proved radial coupler may be applied.

Therefore, I wish it understoodthat I. do

not limit my invention to the specific details of construction herein shown and described, except as may-be indicated by the subjoined claims.

I claim as my'invention: 1. A car coupler comprising a housing, means for securing the housing tothe car,

a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms each pivotally secured at its rear end to said plate and provided at its outer end with a 7 coupling jaw projecting beyond the margin of the housing and means independent of the plate for operatively holding the ful- 'crum arms together.

2. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projecting plates spaced apart, means for securing the housing to the. car, afulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing between said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms each pivotally secured at its inner end to said ful-.

crum plate and having on its other end a coupling aw projecting outwardly through the space between the housing plates, and means upon the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding said arms normally together;

3. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projecting plates spaced apart, means for securing the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing between said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms each pivotally secured at its inner end to said fulcrum plate and having on its outer end a coupling jaw which projects outwardly through thespace between the housing plates, means on the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding their other ends them normally together. and means for spreading said arms apart.

a. A car coupler comprising a housing 5. A car coupler comprising a housing having top and bottom plates spaced apart at the front of the housing to form a' slot 'or space, said housing being adapted to be secured to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms movablyconnectedfto the ful-- crum plate and projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in the space between the two housing plates, a coupling jaw on the end; of each fulcrum arm, yielding means attached to the ful-' crumarms for'holding said arms in coupling relation and means upon the housing and in cooperative relation with the fulcrum arms for holding the fulcrum plate and said arms in operative relation.

6. A car coupler comprising a housing having top andbottom plates spaced apart at the front of the housing to form a slot or space, neans for securing the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms movably connected to the fulcrum plate and projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in the space between the two housing plates, a coupling jawon the end of each fulcrum arm, yielding means attached to the fulcrum arms for normally holding said arms in coupling relation and resilient means upon the housing and cooperatively associated. with the fulcrum arms for holding the fulcrum plate and said arms inoperative relation.

7. A carcoupler comprising a housing having top and bottom plates spaced apart at thefront of the housing to form a slot or space, means for securing the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mount ed within the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms movably connected to the fulcrum plate and projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in the space between the two housing plates, a coupling jaw on the end of each fulcrum arm, a spring for normally holding said arms in coupling relation and a sprlng colled between its ends and mounted upon a fixed portion of the housing, with oppositely extending arms the end of each of which is in yielding contact with a fulcrum arm and the portions of the spring intermediate its ends and its coiled part having contact with a fixed lug on the housing. I p v 8. A car coupler comprising a housing having top and bottom plates spaced'apart housing plates, a coiled spring yieldingly connecting the fulcrum arms to hold them normally together and a springmounted upon the pivoted fulcrum plate for holding the fulcrum plate and arms in. operative relation, said spring being adapted to contact in operative relation with said arms and a fixed part upon the housing. v

9. A car coupler comprisinga housing having top and bottom plates spaced apart at the front of the housing to form a slot or space, means for securing the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms, the inner end of each arm being pivotally connected to the fulcrum plate, the outer end of each arm projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in the space between the two housing plates,

andbeing provided with a coupling jaw, a

coiled spring-'yieldingly connecting the fulcrum arms to hold them normally together and mechanism cooperating with both fulcrum arms for spreading them apart.

10. A car coupler comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a car and with vertically spaced apart plates projecting, in use, forward of the car body end, a triangular shaped fulcrum plate provided with a bolt bearing aperture, laterally extending recesses in the side margins of the fulcrum plate, a pair of fulcrum arms, projecting apertured lugs on the fulcrum arms adapt ed to fit in the lateral recesses of the fulcrum plate, pivot pins for movably securing said arms to the fulcrum plate and a spring mounted upon the housing with its ends cooperating with the fulcrum arms for centering the fulcrum plate and arms;

11. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projecting plates spaced apart, said housing being adapted to be secured to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted and located within the space between said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms pivotally secured at one end to said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through the space between the housing their other ends icrum arms apart.

plates, a coupling jawon the outer end of each fulcrum arm, a vertically arranged pivot bolt passing through the fulcrum plate and the housing about which said plate and the parts carried thereby may pivot or swing in a horizontal plane, mechanism associated with the housing and the fulcrum armsfor centering same, comprising a boss on the inside of the housing and a spring coiled about said boss and the spring arms projecting in opposite directions, a pair of lugs on the housing, one on either side of said boss, against which-a bent part of vthe oppositely projecting spring arms contact, a lug on each fulcrum arm and apair of bushings one on the end of each spring arm in contact with one ofsaid lugs.- 1

12. A car coupler comprising a housing provided with means whereby it may be secured to a car and with horizontally spaced apart plates projecting, in use, forward of the car body end, a pivotally mounted fulsecured at one end to said fulcrum plate,

for yieldingly holding them'normal'ly together or. in couplingrelation, said means comprising a coiled spring having projecting arms, alinedrecesses in the proximate projecting outwardly through the space between the housing 1 plates, means connecting the fulcrumv arms edges of the fulcrum armsto receive said -cesses to which the spring ends are anchored, and means for spreading the ful- I 13. A car coupler. comprising .a housing provided with means whereby'it maybe secured to a car and with horizontally spaced apart plates projecting, in use, forward of the car body end, a pivotally mounted fulcrum plate, located within the space between said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms pivotally secured at one end to said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through the space between the housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding them normally to gether or in coupling relation comprising a coiled spring having projecting arms, alined recesses in the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms to receive said coiled spring and pins in the alined recesses to which the spring ends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum arms apart comprising an unlocking lever.

plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through the space between the housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding them normally together or in coupling relation comprising av coiled'spring having projecting, arms,

alined recesses in the proximate edges ofthe fulcrum arms to receive said coiled spring and pins 'in the alined' recesses to which the spring ends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum. arms apart comprising an unlocking lever, a cam surface on the lever'and cooperating recesses in the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms within which the-operating head of the lever is located. I

15. A car coupler comprising a housing provided with means whereby it may be secured to a car and with'horizontally spaced apart plates projecting,,in use, forward of the car body end, a pivotally mounted fulcrum plate, located within the, space hetweenfsa'id plates, a pair of fulcrum arms pivotally'secured at one end to said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting'out- Wardly through the space between the housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding them normally together or in coupling relation comprising a coiled spring having projecting arms, alined recesses in the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms to receive said coiled spring and pins in the alined recesses to which the spring ends are anchored,'means for spreading the fulcrum arms apart comprising an unlocking lever, means on the housing for limiting the insertion therein of the unlocking lever beyond a predetermined distance and means for retaining the Jan 1920.

lever in operative position within the hou'spivotally secured at one end to said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through the space between the housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding them normally together or in coupling relation comprising a coiled'spring having projectingarms,

.alined recessesin the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms to receive said coiled spring 1 and pins in the alined recesses to which the spring ends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum arms apart comprising an unlocking lever, a. cam surface on the lever and cooperatlng recesses 1n the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms within which the operating head of the lever is located,means on the housing for limiting the insertion therein of the unlocking lever beyonda predetermined distance and means for retaining the lever in operative position within the housing. V a r In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afiiX my si nature, in the presence of tWOYW1tDGSSGS, t is 26 day of MARVIN L; EcKHART,

Witnesses:

R. J. HARRISON, G. C. DICKEI.

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