US1472990A - Mine-car coupler - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6 1923.

1,472,990 F. L. PEART ET Al.

MINE CAR COUPLER Filed April '7, 1922 Patented ilov. d, 1923.

EREDERiCK L. PEART Arm HARRY Er. JONES, or DENVER, ooLonnno.

MINE-CAR couPLEnL' Application filed April 7, 1922. Serial m. 550,450.

To all "who 12bit may concern: 7

Be it known that we, FREDERICK L. PEART end HARRY M. J owns, citizens of the United States, residin at Denver, county of Denver, State of olorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMine- Car-Couplers; and we do hereby declare'the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enf able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to'car couplers and particularly to a coupler for use in connec tion with light railway rolling stock, such as mine cars and the like.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated which will be simple in operation and construction, cheap to manufacture owing to its size and lightness of weight, yet at the same time, one that will not accidentally become disengaged or uncoupled under working conditions.

Another object which will be apparent, is its ease of application and safety to the operator when coupling or uncoupling said device, as it requires only one hand to perform these operations, thus distinguishing from the previous types necessitating generally the use of both hands. In using one hand the operator has only the thickness of his shoulders between the cars,which thickness is less than the clearance usually allowed by bumpers on said cars, whereas with the ordinary couplers, necessitating the use of both hands. there is subjected the width of both shoulders to the liability of a squeeze between the cars.

To these ends the invention comprises a coupler bar, preferably fiat at its forward end and having a vertical opening therethrough, said bar to be attached to one car, and a cooperating coupler unit adapted to be attached by a flexible connection with an adjacent car, sa-id coupler unit preferably being made as a forging or casting substantially Z-shaped in side elevation, comprising a head section provided with a transverse eye and a substantially flat base, a vertical leg projecting downwardly from the base and a rearwardly extending horizontal leg, the several parts of the unit being so constructed and arranged that when the rearward angular extensions, comprising the legs aforesaid. are passed through the opening in the bar the coupling elements will be securely interlocked automatically, by the head unit dropping to a substantially horizontal position so that the base of the head engages the top of the bar and the upper face of the rearwardly extending leg engages the bottom of the bar-and the intermediate vertical leg is engaged in the opening ofthe bar.

tion is illustrated in drawings in which:

Fig.v 1 is a view illustrating the coupler unit suspended from one end of a car like in inoperative position.

the accompanying Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation showing Referring to the drawings vin detail the;

device, as-a whole, comprises a coupler unit The preferred embodiment of the inven-' or the I igs. 5 are end and bottomviews, respec j" 1 of substantially reverse'Z shape, a coop} crating coupling bar-2 carried by one end of a car, and a chain or similar flexible member 3 connecting the coupler unit 1 with the ad joining car by a shackle or the'like 4, secured to an appropriate member 5, of said adjacent car. p

The coupler unit 1- comprises a head section 6 preferably having a flat base, a lower horizontal leg 7 and a connecting intermediate portion 8, which lower leg portion 7 and intermediate portion 8 are adapted to be inserted in an opening 9, of the proper shape and size to receive these parts, formed. in the outer end of the coupling bar 2. The head 6 of the coupler unit 1 is provided with a transverse opening or eye 10, to receive one end of a connecting chain or the like 2. The upper leg or head 6 is also provided with a ring or the like 11 by which the coupler unit 1 and associating chain 3 can be suspended. in inoperative position at the end of the car by a. hook or the like 12.

In manipulating the device, when it is desired to couple one or more cars together. said cars are moved into proper position. so that the necessary slack can behad in the connecting chain 3 or the like. to permitthe lower leg 7 and the intermediate portion 8 of the coupling unit 1 to be inserted vertically downwardly into and through the opening 9 of the coupling bar carried by the adjacent car, to be followed by a cantand lower leg portions. 6 and. 7., respectively, will assume a horizontal position, ,whi'ch position will normally be maintained by the coupler unit owing to the fact that the upper leg 6 is larger and heavier than the lower leg portion and in addition carries the weight of the connecting chain 3'. Under working conditions, as soon asra stress is put on the coupling device this function willgbe augmented. and at the. same time. the lower leg. portion. 7-, will be. forced up against thebottom. of the coupling, bar 2iv From the above it. will be noted that the device will. not be disengaged. or uncoupled accidentally under working conditions, irrespectiye of. whether the said devicev isstressed, or a certain amount of slack occurs in theconnecting chain To. uncouple the device it. only necessary toobtain the desired slack sufficient to permit the: coupler unit. 1 to be=- moved to. a vertical position whereupon. an. upward movement thereof will withdraw said unit from the coupling.

tion provides a very simple yet practical and effective coupling arrangement in 0perationand construction, for use in connection with cars or the like of the type indicated.

What we claim is 1. A coupler for mine cars and the like comprising a bar having an opening therein, and a cooperating coupling unit including a head and downward and rearwardextension from the head adapted to engage and. interlock within: the opening of said ban 2.. A coupler for mine cars and the like comprising a bar having an openingtherein, and a cooperating coupling unit including a headhay-in'g an eye therein and a. Hat. bottom. and. downward and rearward extensions from the head adapted; to engage. and interlock within the opening of; said ban.

3.. A. coupler for mine cars. and the like comprising a bar ha ing; amopeningtherein, a cooperating coupling unit including a head and downward. and rearward extensions fromv the head: adapted. to engage and interlock. within the. opening of. said. bar,

and. a flexible draft member connected. to said head.

In. testimony whereof wev ailix our signatures.

FREDERICK L. PEART. HARRY M. JON ES;

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