US1517785A - Lock for automatic train-pipe connecters - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1924- 1,517,785

c A. KOTHE LOCK FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTERS Filed March 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I JA/I/ZNTUR,

Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,785

C.A.KOTHE LOCK FOR.AUTOMATIG TRAIN RIPE CONNECTERS 'Filed March 15, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

"CHARLES A. KO TI-IE, OF EAST CLEVELAND. OI-IIG, ASSIGNOR TO Th-IE AMERICAN id-(U'TU- MA'IIC CONNECTOR COMPANY, OF W'YOMING, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOOK FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN-FIFE 'CONNECTERS.

Application fil'ed March 13, 1922. Serial No. 543,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CrrAnLns A. Kori-in, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Fast Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Look for Automatic Train-Pipe Connectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descri'ption, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe connectors and is particularly concerned with the provision of means for loci:-

' ing together a pair of connected heads, whereby partial separation is prevented by abnormal pressure in one of the fluid carrying pipes. I

. The oartial separation or gappmg of connected leads is due primarily to excess of pressure in the steam line. Ordinarily, a

steam pressure of about 4:5 pounds 15 carried in the steam line, but sometimes the lines are filled with steam under boiler pressure at about 200 pounds. In cases where the orifices for the air signal pipe, air brake pipe and steam pipe are disposed in a vertical plane with a steam pipe at the bottom, the excessive pressure tends to spread the connected heads at the bottom thus allowing air to escape.

One of the objects of my invention therefore, is the provision of means for preventing the partial gap or separation of connected heads even though the pressure in the steam line is raised above normal operation pressure, To this end, I provide a lock Which is automatically operable for locking connecter heads together as soon as a sufficient pressure of steam is admitted into the steam conduit.

Furthermore, my invention contemplates the provision of a lock which is adapted. to be released automatically whenever the steam is turned off, whereby the heads may be dis onnected while in substantially horizontal position.

Other features include the provision of a lock which may be readily attached to existing train pipe connectors without necessitating extensive changes in the construction thereof. These features will become apparent in the following description.

which pertains to the drawings. and in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair of automatic connectors showing one of them in section and having a lock embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the connecter heads shown in Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the connecter while Fig. i is a horizontal section taken on lines 44 in Fig. 1 through the connecter head just abovc thc loch.

My invention is adapted for use in various forms of connectors but in the drawings. 1 have illustrated a form of automatic con necter wherein a spring pressed connecter head 10 is supported by a bracket 11, from a draw bar 12 of the train coupler, and is provided on one side with a projection 13, and on. the other side with a recess 14-. with orifices l5, l6 and .17 disposed in a vertical plane therebetween. These orifices are adapted to be connected with usual train pipes for the air and steam. In this form of connecter, the head is shown as having a shank 18 which has a sliding and universally movable connection with the bracket 11 and as having a strong compression spring 19 which surrounds the shank and presses the head forwardly of the bracket; the length of the spring being such that when the heads are in coupled position, the springs are normally compressed.

My invention is shown in connection with the connecter heads above described and broadly comprises a lock which is normally held in unlocked position, but is adapted. to be controlled by fluid in one of the train pipes for locking the connecter heads together. This lock in its preferred form is adapted to be attached to existing connecter heads, and to be so constructed that coacting projections and recesses may readily be brought together, and released while the heads are in substantially horizontal position. Such a lock may be embodied in a casing 20 which is externally threaded at one end to engage a projection 13, and at the other to receive a cap 21. Both the casing and cap are hollow and are separated by a diaphragm 22 one side of which may be in communication through the conduit 23 with the steam line 17, and the other side of which engages a latch 24. This latch extends through the casing 20 and is normally held in engagement with the diaphragm by a spring 25,- in which position the nose 26 of the latch is within the casing.

Under normal conditions, that is, when the heads are disconnected, the spring holds the latch within the casing. This same condition prevails, however, even when the heads are connected, if the pressure in the fluid line 23 is not suflieient to overcome the. force of the spring 25. In this way, the lock may be set to operate at a predetermined pressure merely by aryin; the strength of the spring.

The preferred means for providing an engagement between the coacting projections and recesses is to provide a shoulder 30 in the recess justbelow the latch. Then when the pressure in the conduit 23 exceeds that exerted by the spring 2-5, the latch is forced downwardly and in such position that any tendency of the heads to separate is overcome by an engagement between the nose 26 and shoulder 30. As the fluid pressure increases the deflection of the diaphragm is limited by reason of the fact that the latch is so designed, that a shoulder 31 engages the casing, thereby liniiiting' further downward movement of the latch.

Since the lock is designed to be operated primarily by steam, provision is made for returning condensation to the steam line, thus preventing the lock from freezing and subsequently bursting the diaphragm. This is satisfactorily obtained by placing the fluid chamber above the train pipe orifice 17 and leading the conduit 23 from the top of the steam connection 32.

My invention is shown on a connecter head which is normally urged forward of the bracket 11 by the spring 19; the forward movement being limited by a block 38 which is adapted to engage the rear of the supporting bracket. To hold the head in normal coupling position, I have shown in F ig. 1, a chain 35, one end of which may be anchored as at 36 to the bracket 11, and the other end of which may be adjustably secured as at 37 to the shank of the coupler head. The length of the chain may be adjusted by nuts 39 which are in threaded engagement with the eye-bolts 37.

Assuming that a lock embodying my invention is attached to the connecter heads and that two railway cars so equipped are being coupled; then the latches 2-5 are held within the casing 20 by reason of the springs 25. After the heads are automatically coupled and steam is caused to flow through the usual train pipes therefore. the pressure within the chamber above the diaphragm is increased until the force is greater than that exerted by the spring on the other side of the diaphragm. \Vhen this occurs, the nose 26 of the latch is forced downwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 3. Then as the pressure is increased in the steam pipe, any tendency for the heads to spread apart prevented by the engagement between the latch and shoulder 30. \Vhen the steam is turned off, the spring 25 automatically forces the plunger upwardly thereby freeing the latch from the shoulder 30 and permitting the heads to be discngaged while held in substantially horizontal position.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a lock which is automatically operable for retaining the connecter heads in engagement with each other, and for permitting the normal disengagement while the hcads are held in substantially horizontal position. This lock is well adapted for preventing the connected heads from gripping, due to excessive pressure in the steam line, and is so constructed that it may be readily attached to existing connecters. Further advantages include positivencss of operation independently of weather conditions. whereby an eilicient lock is secured which is capable of universal application.

l'laving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an automatic train pipe connecterthe combination with a pair of connector heads, each having a nrojection and a recess, the recess of one head having a shoulder and the projection of the cooperating head having a latch carried thereby and arranged to cooperate with said shoulder, said latch being disposed on the inner side of said projection, a fluid pressure conduit associated with said head, said latch being controlled by the fluid pressure in said conduit.

2. In an automatic train pipe connccter, the combination with a pair of connector heads, each having a projection and a recess, each recess having a shoulder and each projection having a latch cooperating with said shoulder for locking said heads together, said latch and shoulder extending in a direction at right angle to the direction of movement of the head during the coupling and uncoupling operation, each head having a flu d carrying conduit. and means whereby fluid from said conduit is caused to actuate said latch for locking purposes.

3. In combination a pair of coacting connecter heads, each havins: a projection on one side and a recess on the other side, each recess having a shoulder disposed in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the connecters during the normal coupling and uncoupling operation thereof, a casing carried by each head within the associated projection, a latch member slidably mounted in each casing and adapted to engage the shoulder in the cooperating head, a fluid chamber Within said casing above the latch member, a diaphragm providing a bottom Wall for said chamber and adapted to engage said plunger, a steam conduit carried by each head beneath the chamber of the associated casing, whereby condensation may flow from the chamber into the steam pipe, and yieldable means associated with each latch for normally holding; it out of engagement with the coact-ing shoulder.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my si gn ature;

CHARLES A. KOTHE.

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