UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE. q

DAILY S. MOORE, OFy CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEME'NT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,067, dated August 11, 1874; application led June 27, 1874. f

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

VBe it known that I, DAILY S. MOORE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Car-Coupling; and I do hereby declare that the following -is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a side elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 an end elevation.

The invention relates to that particular class of car-couplings wherein each draw-head is provided with horn over which the link is passed.

The invention consists in novel means for automatically coupling with such a device, and also in means whereby the draw-head may be better adapted to this mode of coupling, all as hereinafter fully described.

A Arepresent two cars provided with drawbars B B, which slide between bars C C on a rod, D, and against a spring, E. F is a coupling-link that is caused to fall over the horns b b, and thus' connect together the draw-bars and their respective cars. This link rests in a cavity of draw-bar, and is provided at the other end with a chain, G, which is fastened rigidly at the upper end of a sliding bar, H, or might be attached to a car or to a hook or bracket thereon, enough length of chain being always left to allow the link to rest in the bottom of both draw-heads. When, however, a car is uncoupled and it is desired to hold up its link ready for couplin g with another, a ring, g, or equivalent, at a suitable distance from the end of chain, is fastened over the vertical arm I of a rightangled staple, J, so as to raise the link to an angle of about forty-live degrees with a horizontal plane, in order to admit there under the horn of the opposite cars draw-bar.

The means which I employ to drop the link at the proper time are as follows: I employ the slide-bar H, having its lower end preferably provided with friction-roll h, and resting upon the top of drawlbar, while it has a side loop or eye, h', that slides on the pin or staplearm I. As the draw-bars yield to the shock of a collision, their inclined top surface a runs under the slide H, moves up the loop h', and throws off the chain-ring g, the link then falling by its own gravity over the horn of the opposite draw-bar.

In order to prevent the possibility of lateral displacement of the link while being held up, and to guide it squarely down upon the opposite draw-bars horn, I make the draw-bars with high side walls a2 a2, which support the link on each side and guide it directly and accurately to its destination.

As it is very desirable that the link shall be Y caused to fall easily and quickly, I make a sharp transverse ridge, a3, passing just in rear of the horn, and steep inclines a4 a5 to its front and rear, so as to fulcrum the link on the ridge some two-thirds of its length, beingthus caused to project in front thereof. I thus give the link a constant tendency to fall at the moment when the chain-link gis removed from the staplearm I.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination, with link F, having chain G g, of 4staple I J, slideH, and sliding draw-bar, having the top incline a, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the sliding drawbar B having top incline a, o f the sliding bar H, for releasing the link and allowing it to fall into position to couple two carstogether when the draw-bars of the same are brought together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The eombination,with the link, of a transverse ridge, a3, passing just behind the horn of the draw-bar, and the inclines a4 a5 on opposite sides thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

DAILY S. MOORE. Witnesses:

N. C. GRIDLEY, R. W. PIKE.