US149172A - Improvement in car-couplings - Google Patents

Description

G. L. WESTERMAN. 81. I. BOUT.

Gar-Couplings.

Patented March 3%, 1874.

W L 4 i i 0 i M am r i W i i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD L. WESTERMAN AND ISRAEL ROOT, OF BLQOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

' IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0l14q1725 dated March 31, 1874 application filed February 17, 1874.

invented certain Improvements in Oar-Coup lings, of which the following is a specification:

Our lnvention consists in a novel construction and combination of a pivoted latch and levers, for coupling and uncoupling cars, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the draw-head of a car, showing the coupling devices in the position occupied when the cars are united. Fig. 2 is a similar view, representing the coupling released.

In constructing our coupling, we make the draw-head A with a bell-shaped mouth, as shown in the drawings, with a slot or mortise in both the upper and lower sides. In the lower slot or opening we pivot a two-armed catch, B, as shown in the drawings. In the upper slot or opening we pivot a lever, to, at tlfe front end, which lever has a projection, n, on its under side, in proper position to engage with the longer arm I) of the latch B when the latter is turned up in the position shown in Fig. 1. In the rear end of this upper slot we then pivot another lever, l, and connect it, by a chain, to the rear end of the locking-lever a, the parts being arranged as shown in the drawings, so that when the cars are coupled the lever Z is turned down, and rests upon the locking-lever a, and thus preventing the latter frgm being jarred or otherwise accidentally loosened.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged, the operation is as follows: The latch B being in the position represented in Fig. 2,

the link G of the adjoining car is shoved into the mouth of the draw-head A, and, as it enters, strikes against the arm 6, thereby turning the latch B up into the position represented in Fig. 1, the long arm I) passing up through the link 0, and striking against the inclined face of the projection a, thereby raising the lever to, so as to permit the point of the arm I) to pass by and engage against the rear face of the projection a, the weight of the levers causing the projection 12 to instantly drop down and lock the latch securely in place.

- To uncouple the car, it is only necessary to raise the lever l, which, in turn, lifts the lever a and releases the latch, which at once turns over to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the link 0.

We are aware that the latch B and a locking-lever have before been used for this purpose, and we do not, therefore, claim then; but there are special advantages in our combination not hitherto shown. It will be seen that, by adding the lever l and connecting the end of lever a thereto near the fulcrum of the former, a leverage is obtained which will enable a person to release the latch B, even when the train is in motion or the strain of the car is on the link; and, at the same time, the weight of the lever l, resting upon the locking-lever a, holds it securely in place, and prevents the accidental uncoupling of the cars. In this way we produce an automatic coupling that is secure and safe, and that can be operated with ease, and without ever getting between the cars for that purpose.

It is obvious that by connecting a chain or cord, or a rod, to the lever l, it can be operated from the top of a box-car with equal ease."

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- The combination of the latch B with the locking-lever a and the lever l, all constructed to operate as shown and described.

CONRAD L. VVES'IERMAN. ISRAEL ROOT.

Witnesses as to ISRAEL R001:

H. O. lVILLIAMs, OYRUs FRANK. Witnesses as to CONRAD L. WEsrEaMAN:

G. W. ORCUTT, WM. H. BoWERs.

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