US1534961A - Automatic car coupler - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1925 J. W. JONES AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Filed Oct. 1925 Z "n mo "J w J Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES rennet tries.

AUTOMATIC one. COUPLER.

Application filed October 15, 1923. Serial No. 668,728.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jenn int Jones, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clifford, in the county of -Vi illiamson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Car Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to car couplings, and has for its primary object, the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a car coupling operating through the caused by the impact of the two cars to be coupled together, to give a quick and sure coupling between the cars. v

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coupling, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, which may be set by an attendant before the cars come together, so that the said attendant may have sufficient time to get from between the cars, thus doing away with all possibility of injury to the attendant, the coupler acting through gravity, at the proper moment, to couple the two cars together.

It is well known, that many fatalities occur amongst men engaged in coupling and uncoupling cars, particularly in coupling mining cars, where the men employed to couple the cars together are obliged to ride upon the front of one of the cars and stay there until within a fraction of a second before the cars to be coupled come together. Should the coupler fail to get outfrom between the cars at the proper moment, he would be caught and possibly fatally injured. In the use of the link and pin coupling, commonly employed at the present time, the couplers life is constantly in danger, whereas in the use of my improved coupling device, the engagement of one car with the other is automatic requiring no attention on the part of the coupler other than that of setting the link in the proper position before the cars are brought together.

A still furtherobject of this invention is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, ofa means for quickly uncoupling the car, which means is operable from the outer side of the car, and is easily operated and positive in its action.

A still further object is the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a coupler which will be quick and positive in its action, strong, durable, easily manipulated and therefore requiring little attention, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows a structure embodying this invention, set in position and ready for coupling.-

Fig. 2 shows the action of the coupling member at the moment of impact between the two cars.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the parts after the connection of the coupling members when the cars have pulled apart.

Fig. at is a detail perspective of the coupling embodying this invention, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of a modification of the device.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings, there is shown in dotted position end portions of two cars 1 and 2, of the type commcmly used in coal mines, and for which this device is primarily intended although of course it may be used upon other types of cars. The sills of the cars at their ends, are indicated as having near their central parts, spaced bumpers 3.

The coupling mechanism embodying this invention comprises a draw bar 4 adapted to be secured to one of the cars between the bumpers 3, and a link supporting bar 5, to be positioned upon the sill of the opposite car between the opposite bumpers. As clearly shown in F 4-, the draw bar 1 is flat where it contacts with the surface of the sill, and has its forward end constricted and formed to provide a bearing 6 and a hook 7 which extends beyond the edge of the sill between the bumpers 3.

Pivoted at 8 upon one side face of the bill portion of the hook 7, is a curved arm 9 adapted to pass over the interior of the hook when moved on its pivot. A bearing 6 is formed on the draw bar, and rotative (ill through this bearing is a rod 12 having lateral handles 13 at the ends, the latter located beyond the sides of the ear frame, so that the rod can be actuated from outside the lines of the cars. Formed in the rod 12 substantially in line with the arm .9

upon the opposite car and comprises a flat bar having its forward end bifurcated as shown at 13and extending beyond the edge of the sill above and between the bumpers 3. Each of the furcations has its upper side out down half way between its ends as indicated at 1 1. This cut down portion extends about half way through the thickness of the furcation and is then continued forward to its free end at a slight upward inclination, the thickness of the end of each furcation being slightly greater than its central portion and less than the thickness of the original member. As also shown, each of the cut out portions is bevelled toward the inner side of the furcations thus forming a seat for the connecting link to be described further on. Secured to the sill of the car beneath the bifurcated end of the bar 5, is a U-link 16, having its looped ends 17 secured by a bolt or other appropriate means to the sill of the car. This looped link carries an intermediate link 18 which in turn carries an. oval connecting link 19 which link is divided and reinforced near its larger end by a cross member 20 which member serves to prevent the link 19from turning around the link 18.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the link 18 instead of being carried by a U-link connected to the sill of the car, is carried upon a cross pin 21which extends through the fnrcations 13 approximately midway their ends. This type of connection is intended to be used in small mines where the bumpers on the cars are very short, thus the link 1.) will not bethrown so far forward. when the bni'npers of the two cars are brought together.

The operation of this device is as follows: lVhen the cars are tobe coupled together the large end of the enlarged link 19 is seated in the cut out-portions 14: of the bifurcated plate 5, and tilted back until the upper end l Vhen the cars are drawn apart, the end of F the link slides down the lnchned surfaceof. the hook and sets up a posltive engagement therewith.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars,

the attendant takes up a position upon the outside of the car 1, lifts the handle 13, thus causing the bar 12 to revolve and lift the loop 11, drawing upward with it the link 10 and the free end of the arcuate shaped member 9. y

As may be seen when the arcuate shaped member 9 is swung upward, it will carry with it the end of the link 19 until it reaches the point where the inner edge of the memher 9 becomes flush withthe upper edge of the hook 7 whereupon the link 19 will slip over the end of the hook 7 thus allowing the coupling members to fall apart and releasethe cars. i

What I claim is a y y y 1. In a car coupling, a supporting memher having an upwardly opening seat, and adapted to be attached toa car body, a main link initially resting at the lower end in said seat and adapted tobear at the other end against the car body, a coupling link. engaging said main link and adapted to be connected to said car body, said main link adapted to be displaced by the concussion with another car and engage over a hook on said other car. f

2. In a car coupling, a. supporting mem ber adapted to be attached to a car body and having an open recess in one end and upwardly opening seats at the. sides of the recess, a main link initially resting at the lower end in said seats and adapted to be movably supported against the car body, and a holding link extending through said recess and engaging said main link and adapted to be held from movement relative to said car body.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signatin'e hereto.

JOHN WTLL JONES.

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