US1488367A

US1488367A - Curtain holding and releasing device

Info

Publication number: US1488367A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Tippett; Jerry T Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1923-12-22
Filing date: 1923-12-22
Publication date: 1924-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1941-03-25

Description

March 25, 1924. I n 1,488,367

W. E. TIPPETT ET AL CURTAIN HOLDING AND RELEASING DEVICE 2 W. 'EfF-i putt, mmvr ms J. with,

y I v ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

tries.

WILLIAIII E. TIPPETI, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND JERRY '1.

SMITH, OF IBE'IHESDA, MARYLAND.

CURTAIN HOLDING AND RELEASING DEVICE.

Application filed December 22, 1923. Serial No. 682,226;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, VVILLIAM E. TIPPETT and JERRY T. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, and Bethesda, in the county of Montgomery and State of Maryland, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain Holding and Releasing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a curtain holding and releasing device foruse in connection with the curtains employed between a pair of opposed vestibules of a pair of coupled railway cars, and is designed primarily as an improvement upon'the construction of ourtain holding and releasing device forming the subject. matter of Letters Patent 1,101,476, granted to us June 23, 1914, and not only embodying the objects and advantages as set forth in the Letters Patent aforesaid, but further has for its object to provide a device for such purpose, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with means to provide for the automatic releasing of the curtains from a vestibule when the pair of cars is uncoupled and one is being shifted away from the other, under such conditions preventing any damage whatsoever to the curtains, and the invention has for its further object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, the device with manually operated means for quickly releasing a curtain when occasion so requires.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a curtain holding and releasing device for the purpose referred to, including a curtain attaching member and a spring controlled coupling element for the attaching member andwith the coupling element set up and so coupled with the attaching member whereby the latter is released automatically by a pull against the coupling element whenever tension on the coupling element exceeds a predetermined point. p p

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a curtain holding and releasing device including a spring controlled coupling element for a curtain attaching member and with means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the controlling spring for the coupling element.

rable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readily installed with respect to the vestibule of a car, and comparatively inexpenslve to set up.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construct-ion, combination and arrangementof ;parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is tobe understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view, broken away, of a curtain holding and releasing devlce, in accordance with this invention, showing the adaption thereof in connection with the vestibule of a car.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2+2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the coupling element with the cover plate thereof removed, and further illustrating in dotted lines the coupling element in inoperative positlon.

Figure 4 is a section on line H, Figure 3.

The curtain holding and releasing device is illustrated as applied to the vestibule of the present type of steel car construction,

and which includes a hollow column or jamb' l, forming one of the duplex walls 2 of the vestibule. The jamb 1 is utilized for'receiving and supporting the curtain holding and releasing device and which includes a spring controlled coupling element, a curtain attaching member, means for manually releasing thecoupling element, and meansfor in.-

creasing or decreasing the tension of the controlling spring of the coupling element.

The coupling element consists of a casting 3, which is arranged to extend within and to project outwardly from the jamb 1, and said casting 3 is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed laterally extending flanges 4, secured to the jamb 1, by the hold-fast devices 5. The casting 3 is cut away to provide a chamber 6, a pair of guide grooves 7, 8, ex-

tending outwardly from the chamber 6, a

' respect to its shank that it will project laterally from one sidethereof, as indicated at 14. The inner side of the head 13 is formed with a curved pocket 15, whereby that portion of the head 13 which projects laterally.

from one side of the shank of the head is somewhat inthe form of a hook.

The shank of the head 13 includes a pair of oppositely spaced arms 16, 17 and with the arm 17 of slightly greater width than the arm 16. The width of-the arm 17 is such as to snugly fit the walls of the groove 8, and the width of the arm 16 is such as to snugly fit the walls of thegroo-ve 7. i

The head 13 is of a thickness materially greater than the thickness of the arms 16 and 17, but of such thickness as to be flush with the bottom face of the casting 3 and the upper face of the plate 11. The head 13 is arranged exteriorly of the front of the casting 3 and abuts thereagainst when the head is in operative position. The head 13 extends above andprojects below the arms 16 and 17. The arms 16 and 17 are flush with the top of the casting 3, and said arm 17 is r 18- will be flush with the rear end of. the casting 3. The forward end offthe extension 18,

formed with a rearwardly extending offset bifurcated extension, 18, which is of a width to snugly lit the walls of the guide groove 10, and said extension, 18 further rides against one wall of the chamber 6. The extension 18 is of a length whereby when the coupling he-ad13 abuts against the front of the casting 3, the rear end of the extension when the head 13 abuts against thecasting 3, isspaced from the forward wall of the chamber 6, see Figure 3, and said forward wall acts as astop to. limit the outward movement of the head 13 by the engagement of the forward end of the extension with the said forward wall of the chamber 6.

The inward movement of the shank of the head is arrested: by the engagement of the arm16 against the stop 9.

Arranged within the chamber 6, to one side of the extension 18, is the hub 19 of a crank arm 20, 'which extends: between the furcations of the extension 18 and is pivotally connected with the latter by a vertically disposed pin 21. The crank arm 20 is employed for shifting the head 13 away from the casting 3 or for moving the head 13 to V abutting engagement with respect to the outer end of the casting 3. V.

The plate 11, as well as the casting 3, is provided with. a curved pocket-22 of'the same contour as the pocket 15, and which registers with thepocket 15 pockets 1'5 and 22 when registering provide an opening in the coupling element for the reception of an attaching member to be presently referred to.

Mounted upon the plate 11 is a vertically disposed tube 23 of substantial length and which is shiftable upon a vertical axis. The tube 23 extends to a plate 24, which projects into the jamb 1 and is arranged in alignment with the platell. has a depending flange 25 at its outer end, which is positioned against the outer face of the jamb 1 and is furthermore fixedly.

secured to the jamb 1 by the hold-fast devices 26. The tube 23 is connected to a resilient spindle element capable of having its tension increased or diminished and the said spindle element comprises a cylindrical member 27, formed with a depending polygonal extension 28, and a cylindrical lug 29.. The member 27 is arranged within the lower endof the tube 23 and is fixedly secured therewith as at 30, so that when the tube 23.

is shifted, the spindle element will be can ried therewith. The polygonal extension 28 extends down through an opening 31, formed in the plate 11 andalso projects into the hub 19 of the arm 20, whereby the lat-i ter is carried withthe spindle element when secured with the member 27 as at 34. The.

rod 33 is of a length to project above the tube 23 and it passes upwardly through the plate 24 and projects a substantial distance thereabove, as at 34-. Mounted onthe upper when the head. 13 abuts ZI HIDSt the 03811110 3 and the said The plate 245 end. 34 of the rod 33, is a ratchet disk 35,

capable of being revolved for the purpose of twisting the rod to increase the tension thereof when the disk is shifted in a clockwise direction. The disk 35 is seated on the upper face of the plate 24. To provide for the retaining of the disk 35 in its adjusted position, a holding pin 36 is employed, which is positioned between a pair of teeth of the disk 35 and removably engage in the plate 24.

Secured to the tube 23, at a point in proximity to but below the plate 24, is a collar 37 formed with a pair ofspaced laterally extending lugs 38, between which is arranged the reduced upper end 39 of a handle 40. The reduced end 39 is bevelled and pivotally connected to the lugs 38, as at 41.

The handle 40 is employed for shifting the tube 23 against the action of the spring rod 33, for the purpose of projecting the head 13 outwardly to release the curtain attaching member. Under normal conditions the handle 40 is in the position shown in Figure 1.

The tension of the rod 33 is such that when the handle 40 is released, the head 13 will be automatically shifted inwardly against the outer end of the casting 3.

hen the tube 23 is shifted through the medium of the handle 40, the crank arm 20 acting on the extension 18 of the arm 17 will shift the arms 16 and 17 outwardly, carrying the head 13 in the same direction so that the parts will assume the position shown in dotted lines, Figure 3. The shifting outwardly of the head 13 is had against the action of the rod 33, and as before stated, when the handle 40 is released, the rod 33 will restore the parts to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. V

The tension of the rod 33, under normal conditions, is sufficient to withstand ordinary strain or pull on the attaching member when it is coupled up, but when the tension on the attaching member exceeds a predetermined amount, the coupling head 13 will be shifted outwardly whereby the attaching member will be disconnected from the coupling element and this automatic release for the attaching member provides for the disconnection of the curtain when the two cars are uncoupled and one is being shifted from the other, and as the curtain would be automatica-lly disconnected, it prevents any damage thereto which would be the case if such automatic release could not be attained.

The curtain attaching member consists of a vertically disposed split tube 42, into which extends one side of the curtain 43. Surrounding the upper, as well as the lower end of the tube 42, is a split clamping collar and which are indicated at 44 and 45. Each of the collars is formed with a pair of opposed outwardly projecting apertured lugs 46, and between each pair extends the curtain 43. Extending through each pair of lugs 46, as well as through the curtain 43 is a hold-fast device 47 which not only connects the curtain to the lugs 46, but also provides means for tightly clamping the

collars

44, 45 around the tube 42.

Formed integral with the collar 44 is an arm 48, and formed integral with the collar .45 is an arm 49. The arms 48, 49 extend in a direction opposite with respect to the di-.

rection of the lugs 46, and the free ends of the arms 48, 49 are connected together by a vertically disposed cylindrical bar 50. The

collars

44, 45, flanges 47 arms 48, 49 and bar 50 provide the curtain attaching member element when said member is automatically released, when the tension of the rod 33 is overcome. -The roller 51 also acts as means to prevent the wear on the bar 50 which would be present, due to the up and down movements of the cars during the travel thereof, as ordinarily such action will be had directly on the bar 50 and not upon the roller 51. The flange 52 prevents the lowering of the roller 51 relative to the coupling element during the down movement of the bar 50.

The registering pockets 15 and 22 provide what maybe termed a pear-shaped opening extending in a direction towards one side of the casting 3, and such shaped opening facilitates the release of the attaching member when the pull thereon exceeds the tension of the spring rod 33.

lVhen the curtain 43 is coupled to the vestibule, the roller 51 extends down through the opening formed by the registering pockets 15 and 22 in the 1 anner as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and with the flange 52 seated on the coupling head 13 and plate 11.

Under normal conditions the elements of the device are as illustrated in full lines in Figure 3, and when the coupling element is shifted to released position against the action of the spring rod 33, either manually through the medium of the handle 40 or automatically when the tension of the rod 33 is overcome, the parts will assume the position as shown in dotted lines, Figure 3.

When the handle 40 is dropped, the rod 33.

will cause the parts to automatically assume the position shown in full lines, Figure 3, and when the attaching member is automatically disconnected from the coupling element, the rod 33 will also restore the parts to the. full line position in Figure 3.

It is thought that the many advantages of a curtain holding and releasing device set up in manner as described and illustrated can be readily understood, and although the preferredembodiment of the invention is as,

1. A curtain holding and releasing device v comprising a coupling element adapted to connect a curtain attaching member with the vestibule of a car, said element including a shiftable coupling head, acrank arm for shifting said head to open and closed position, and spring controlled means connected with said arm for normally maintaining it in retracted position, thereby retaining said coupling head in closed position.

2. A curtain holdingv and releasing device comprising a coupling element adapted to connect a curtain attaphing member with the vestibule of a car, said element includinga shiftable coupling head, a crank arm for shifting said head to open and closed position, spring controlled means connected with said arm for normally maintaining it in.

retracted position, thereby retaining said coupling head inclosed position, and means for. adjusting the tension of said spring controlled means.

3; A curtain holding and releasing device comprising a coupling element adapted to connect a curtain attachingmember with the vestibule of a car, said element including a shiftable coupling head, a crank arm for shifting said head to open and closed position, spring controlled means connected with said arm'for normally maintaining it in retracted position, thereby retaining said coupling head in closed position, means for adjusting the tension of said spring controlled means, and means for maintaining said spring, controlled means in adjusted position. 7

. i. A curtain holding and releasing device for the purposesct forth, comprising a cur-- tam attaching member consisting of a pair of opposed arms connected together at one end by a vertically disposed bar, and a roller of substantial length mounted on said bar and having one of its ends flanged.

5. A curtain. holding and releasing device comprising a coupling element consisting of a fixed portion and a movable portion, said movable portion including an extension, and

a spring actuated crank arm pivotally connected to said extension and adapted to hold the movable portion closed against the fixed portion.

6. A curtain holding and releasing device comprising a coup-ling element consisting of a fixed portion and a movable portion, saidwith the vestibule of a car, said element comprising a chambered casting, a head arranged exteriorly thereof and normally abutting against the outer end of the casting for detachably connecting the curtain at taching member therewith, a shank carried by the head and 'shiftably mounted within the chamber of the casting, said shank having a bifurcated extension at the inner endthereof, a crank arm extended between and pivotally connected-to the furcations of said extension, and spring controlled means connected with said shank for normally holding said head in abutting contact with the outer end of the casting.

' 8. A curtain holding and releasing device comprising a coupling element for detachably coupling a curtain attaching member with the vestibule of a car, said element comprising' a chambered casting, a head arranged exteriorly thereof and normally abutting against the outer end of the casting for detachably connecting the curtain 'attaching member therewith, a. shank carried by the head and shiftably mounted within the chamber of the casting, said shank having a bifurcated extension at the inner end thereof, a crank arm extended between and pivotally connected to the furcations of said extension, spring controlled means connected with said shank for normally holding said head in abutting contact with the outer end of the casting, and means for increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring controlled element of said means.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signa- WILLIAM E. TIPPETT. JERRY T. SMITH.

tures hereto.