US151244A - Improvement in car-couplings - Google Patents

Description

'w. n. RINEHART.

ar-Go'uplings.

` Patemedmay 26,1874.-

- WIVJEEEEE l 'I OFFICE.

XVILLIAM D. RINEIIART, OF ALLEGHENY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

EMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLlNGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. lli, dated May 26, 1874; application filed March 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLrAM D. BINE- IIART, of Allcghenyllity, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draw-Head and Coupling, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speeiiication, in which- Figure l is a side view of my improved drawhead, as attached to the timbers. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device for operating and locking the coupling-hook, and Fig. 3 is a view of the lock.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention consists of an improved construction of the draw head, and in an improved eoupling specially adapted to my drawhead.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and mode of operation.

I make the head a of the usual form, having a bell-mouth, b, a pocket, c, containing the bllower-plates d., and draftspring c. EX- tending longitudinally through the head a is a bar, f, which I term the draft-bar. 'Ihe rear end of the har is iittcd with a collar, g, between which and the end of the head is a spring, h. The front end ofthe bar j is iitted with the coupling device. In order to adapt the bar to this device, which is automatic or self-coupling, I pivot the forward end at j". The front side of the hook t' is beveled or inclined, as at 1,so that when struck by the link k it shall throw up and allow it to pass. ln order to uncouple the cars without going between them to direct the link at any angle in coupling cars of different heights, and to lock the hook 4i either down or up, I make a lifter, m, having handles or cranks m1 at both sides of the ear, and a center arm, m2, projecting through the slot i2 in the handle'of the hook t'. At one side of the car there is a stop, a, for locking the lever m to hold the hook either up or down. I

The operation is as follows: The relative position of the head and coupling-hook is such that the former must be pressed back before the cars can be coupled. This position is the result of the pressure of the spring h throwing the head forward. The head is then always in position to prevent or take up any slack between the opposite heads. rIhe greater the strain or draft the more certainly will the slack be prevented, because the entire d att is on the bar f, and it presses on the spring l1. The jar of the cars in coming together is suiiicient to force back the heads and couple them. For uncoupling or directing the link the hook is operated from the outside by the handles m. To lock the hook i either up or down, the rod or lifter m is pushed or drawn out laterally until the handle m1 will swing free of the stop a. This lateral movement is permitted by the slot 2. The handle m2 is then turned forward if it is desired to raise the hook, or back it it is desired to lock it down, and then pushed inward until it locks on the stop, as shown in Fig. 3. The latter position prevents the h-ook from springing up and uncoupling.

The advantages accruing from the use of my invention are very great. The racking and jarring of the cars during the braking, stopping, and starting of the train are almost entirely obviated. On trains in which the airbrake is used it is customary to insert a wooden plug or pin into the link between the heads to take up the slack and prevent jarring, which has been found to be injurious to the brake-attachments. This expense is Vunnecessary where my improvement is used.

I am aware that rubber buffers have been placed on the rigid bar which runs back through the cross-timber of the ear, so to bear against the timber on both sides, but such rubber sprin'gsor buffers do not and cannot operate to throw forward the head for the purpose of taking up the slack.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A draw-bar, f, having the link-connection at its forward end, in combination with a spring mounted upon it and bearing against the head, for the purpose of drawing the head forward to take up the slack, as described.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM D. RINEIIART, have hereunto set my hand.

WM. D. RINEHART.

. Witnesses:

J AMns I. KAY, HUGH Quiere.

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