US1633226A - Automatic train-pipe connecter - Google Patents

Description

1927. June 21 .Ji ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIIE CONNECTER 2 Sheets-Sheet` 1 Original Filed Apri;- 9. 1921 ATTORNEY *June` 21, 192.7.

1,633,226 J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 94. 1921 z5 :o la

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mvewro will @mi Yum/4m Patented June 21, 17927.

unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` JOSEPH ROBINSON, F NEW YORK, vN. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTER.

Application filed April 9, 1921, Serial No. 459,926. .Renewed November 10,1926.

My invention relates to automa-tic train pipe connecters and has among its objects to provide a simple and eliicient means for replacing defective gaskets between the faces of mated connecter heads while the cars equipped therewith remain coupled. Another object is to provide means to permit the connecter head and buffer spring to be removed from the bracket of the automatic connecter while the cars remain coupled and without disassembling the spring with respect to the head.

With t-hese and other objects inl view,

which will appear as the description pro-V ceeds, my invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and constructions hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying' drawings in which: l

Figure 1 is a sidey elevation of an automatic connecter provided with my improvement.

Figure 2 isa plan view thereof with'the coupling head B omitted, and showing some of the parts in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of my improved connecter. In this view the coupling head B is omitted and the forward end of the pipeA, and the upper portion of the bracket D, are broken away.

Figure t is a rear view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with the coupling head omitted and the upper part of the bracket broken away, and

Figure 5 is a rear view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.' In this view the coupling` head is omitted and the top of the bracket is broken away. f

Referring now to the drawings: My improvement comprises a pipe or body A suit-l ably connected to any desired form of coupling head B. I preferably form the body with a laterally diverging` nipple' or conduit 6 at its forward end, the nipple being threaded at 7 to receive the head and at 8 to receive the usual train pipe hose 9, Figure 2, as by a unionk 10. Extending rearwardly from, and preferably formed integral with, the nipple 6 I provide the body A with a pair of horizontally extending straps or members 11 and 12 spaced apart as shown. At their rear end the straps are suitably attached to or terminate in a vertically extending flange or projection 13 perforated at 14, and having an annular seat 15 for a spring-see Figure 3. Attached to theusual lug` 16 of the car coupler C, as by bolts 17, I provide a bracket D the lower end of which terminates in a vertically extending cylindrically shaped projection or anchor device 18 which projects from above into the opening 19 between the straps 11and 12, and in frontof the flange 13, and normally rests thereat midway between the straps. j The bracket D- is provided with a web or rib which projects to either side of the anchor device 18 'forming projections 20 and l2l which overhang the straps 11 and 12, as appears especially in Figure 5. The projections lie directly above the point about which the connecter fulcrums on the bracket D and preferably in the vertical plane of the fulcrum point-see Figure 1. These projections co-operate with the straps 11 and 12 to prevent excessive rotation of the body A and the coupling head B about the longitudinal axis of the body.

Formed on the projection 18, preferably midway the width of the straps 11 and 12, I provide a curved or flaring` seat or` bearing 22 having overhanging portions 23 and k241, and extending from the rear of the flange 13, through the perforation 14 therein, I provide a t-ie rodvor pivot device 25 having at its forward end a perforated head 26, formed Vwith a flaring or curved inner face adapted tovrestvand pivotally movein the seat 22 between the overhanging portions 23 and 24. A sleeve or tubular member 27, having an annular seat 28, is slipped over the tie rod 25 and passes through the perforation 14 in the flange 13, and vupon it the flange is adapted' to slide. At its forward end the sleeve is provided with a plurality of aligned openings 29 and 30 adapted to align with an elongated opening or recess 31 formed in the tie rod 25. y Between the annular seats 15 and 28 ofthe flange 13 and the sleeve 27 respectively, and seated thereon, I provide a suitably formed buffer spring E, and upon the threaded rear end 32 ofthe tie rod I threadingly mount a nut 33, having an elongated hollow internally threaded shank 34 lying within the enlarged cylindrically formed rear end of the sleeve 27, as shown. The nut forms an adjustable abutment for tue sleeve and the spring E, and is provided with wings 35 adapted to be struck with a hammer or similar instrument to adjust the nut along the tie rod 25 to vary the tact of the pin 39 with the lange i3.v

compression ot the spring or to entirely relieve such compression, as desired. The spring serves to project the coupling head B and maintain it at the limit of its forward movement with the flange 13 normally engaging the rear face 86 of the bracket D, and the rear tace ot' the anchor device 18, as shown particularly in Figure l. In this manner the coupling head is yieldingly sustained in the normal coupling position and is placed, with its gasket 37, under the ds' 'ed pressure when mating connecters coupled up in service.

ln operation the wings 38 of the coupling head B serve to align the opposing heads and bring` their respective gaskets 37 into register. Further movement ot the coupling heads will compress the spring E, shitting the body il rearwardly along the slee-ve 27. and the tie rod 25 and carrying the flange 13 away from the rear tace ot the bracket. This movement releases the universal Joint iormed vbetween the head 2G ot the tie rod and the projection or anchor device i8 of the bracket D, whereuponthe mated connecters may move universally with respect to their brackets, the universal joint mentioned oliering almost no resistance to such movement thereby insuring that the connecters will operate` practically as one continuous member with absolutely no relative motion between the faces of their mated heads B. Vifhen it is desired to remove. a detective gasket 37 from mated coupling reads without first uncoupling the ca s, a pin, or other suitable device, such as an ordinary spik-e nail, 39 is passed downwardly through the aligned holes 29 and "3() nearest the flange l, the pin passing, oi' course, through the opening 3l, in the tie rod 25. rEhe nut, or abutment is then backed oii' by striking the wings 35 thereoil or applying a wrench thereto, until the retractive action orP the spring E is arrested by con- The nut is then backed oli the tie rod 25 a turther extent sul'hcient to permit the tie rod t-o be shoved forward in the sleeve 27 until its perforated head 26 occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, whereupon the entire connecter may be .dropped from the bracket D, the detective gasket replaced, and the connecter' reappli'ed by retracing the operations described. rrhe construction comprehends means by which the spring E is anchored to the pipe on body A, and by which the tie rod 25, the sleeve 27, and the nut 33 are retained in assembled relation during the removal of the connecter from the bracket D and its replacement thereon.

n event the pin 39 becomes lost, and a suitable substitute therefore is not available, the removal of a defective gasket is accomplished by relieving the spring E, on the mated connecters, or' its compression by backing the nut rearwardly on the threaded portion ot' the tie rod 25. ln this manner' the tie rod is relieved of tension and may be shifted forward, as above described, and its head 26 disconnected from the projection 18. The reverse ot this operation will re-assemble the parts, Y

t willL be noted, especially :rom Figure 5, that the sleeve 27 and the tie rodV are rectangular in cross section ior a substantial distance to the rear of the flange l5 and that the lit between the sleeve and the iiange i3. and between the body A and the head 26 ol the tie rod 25, is such aste prevent excessive independent rotation oi" these parts and to insure proper relative alignment thereof-see Figures 2` and 5. The opening in the head 26 of the tie rod 25 is, ot course, sutlieiently large to permit the tie rod to be readily assembled on the projection 1S, the overhanging portion 23 ot the projection cooperating with the tie rod to support the connecter on the bracket l).y with the member A free to slide along the sleeve 27 against the resistance o't' the Yspring E, by which resistance the tie rod is maintained in its seat 22.

What I claim is: y

l. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination with a car coupler, oi a coupling head and a support for suspending the head from said coupler, said support comprising a bracket and a spring, which said spring is adapted to be constrained when said coupling head is in the coupled position with a mating head, and means te permit said coupling head to be disconnected from a mating head while said ca r couplers remain coupled, said means comprising a device to maintain said spring constrained while effecting such disconnection.

2 In an automatic train pipe connecter,

the combination with a car coupler, ol a coupling head and a support 'for suspending the head from said coupler, said support comprising a bracket and a spring, which said spring is adapted to be constrained when said coupling head is in the coupled position with a mating head, and' means to permit said couplinghead to be disconnectedl from a mating head and removed from said bracket while said' couplers remain coupled.. said means comprising a device to bfi lille 4. In an automatic `train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket and a compression spring, and means to permit said head to be disconnected from a mating head and removed from said bracket while the cars remain coupled, said means comprising a shiftable pivot device anda member to maintain said spring constrained whileeffecting such disconnection and removal.

5. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a sup* port therefor comprising a bracket and a compression spring, and means to permit said head to be disconnected from a mating head while the cars remain coupled, said means comprising a member engaging one end of said spring and extending towards the other end, a pivot device shiftable relative to said member, and means co-operating with the member to maintain said spring under compression while effecting such disconnection. Y

6. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket, a spring, a device for anchoring said spring to said bracket, and means to permit said head to be removed from said brack-et andreassembled thereon without disassembling said` spring and said device with respect to said head.

7. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at its lower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotal connection therewith, a member extending rearlwardly from said head past. said bracket and having an opening through which said device extends, a spring co-operating with this member to project said head, and means to permit said device to be disconnected from said projection withoutv disassembling said spring with ,respect to said member.

8. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having at its lower end a bearing, a device seated on said bearing for rocking movement thereon, a member extending rearwardly from said head past .said bracket and having an opening through which said .device extends, a compression spring co-ope'rating with said member to project said head, and means to permit said device to be removed from said bearing without relieving said spring of its retractive action.

9. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at its lower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotal connection therewith, a member extending rearrear end of said device, a spring wardly Afrom said head past said bracketand having an opening through which said device extends, said member being provided alsoL with a projection adapted to engage said bracket to limit the forward movement of said head, an abutment adjustably mounted upon the rear end of said device, a spring between said abutment and one end of said member and acting tofproject said member and head, a sleeve extending from one end of said spring to the other and relative to which spring said device is shiftable, and means co-operating with said sleeve to permit said device to be disconnected from the projection on said bracket while said spring remains under compression.

10. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at its lower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotal connection therewith, a member extending rearwardlyfrom said head past said bracket and having an opening through which said device extends and being provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket to limit the forward movement of said head, an abutment adjustably mounted upon the rear end of said device, a compression spring between said abutment and one end of said member and acting Vto project said member and head, a sleeve extending from one end of said spring to the other and relative to which said device is shiftable, means cooperating with said sleeve to permit said device to be disconnected from the projection on said bracket without relieving said spring of its compression, and means to prevent excessive rotation of said sleeve during such disconnection.`

1l.v In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at its lower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotal connection therewith, a member extending rearwardly from said head past said bracket and having an opening through which said device extends and being provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket to limit the forward movement of saidhead, an abutment adjustably mounted u on the etween said abutment and one end of said member andacting to project said member and head, a part extending from one end of said spring to the other and relative to which said device and said member are shiftable, and means for locking said member against shifting along said part, for the purpose described.

12. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a bearing at its lower end, a device seated in said bearing for pivotal movement therelll) on, a member' extending rearwardly from said headfpast said bracket and having an opening through which said device extends and being provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket to limit the liorward movement O said head, an abutment mounted upon the rear end of said device, a spring between said abutment and one end .ot said member and acting to project the member, and a sleeve slipped over said device and extending through said spring and relative to which said device and said member are shiftable, said sleeve being provided with an opening aligning the slot vin said device, and means extending through said opening and said slot to lock said member against forward movement along said sleeve. f

. 3. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head,a brack et, adevice for supporting said head on said bracket, said device being supported for universal movement on said bracket, a spring associated with said device for yieldingly holding said head in normal coupling position, an abutment t'or said spring anchored to said device, and meanstor arresting the retractive action ot' said spring to permit the removal otsaid device from said bracket.

let. In an automatic train pipe connecter,

the combination of a coupling` head, a member extending rearwardly therefrom, supporting means for said head and member comprising a bracket and a spring, the spring being seated on said member, and means 'for locking said spring to said member under compression, said meansA comprising a device anchored at one end to said spring and at the other end to said member.

l5. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination with a car coupler, of a coupling head and a support for suspending the head from said coupler, said support comprising a bracket and a spring, and

spring undercompression whileeffecting such disconnection.

1G. in an automatic tram pipe connecter for cars, the combination of a coupling head,Y

a support therefor comprising a bracket and Ymeans to permit said coup-ling head to be a spring, and means to permit said head to be disconnected from a mating Ihead while the Iars remain coupled, said means comprising a device 1for maintainingY said spring under compression while effecting such disconnection. A d Y j l?. In an vautomatic train pipe connecter *for cars, the combination oitl a coupling head, a support therefor comprising` a bracket and a spring, and means to permit saidrhead to be disconnected ,from a mating. head while the cars equipped therewith remain coupled, said means comprising mechanism pivotally supported by said bracket and serving to arrest the retractive action of saidy spring whereby said bracket is freed from the pressure oi' said spring during such disconneci tion.- Y f 18. in an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling` head, a supe port therefor comprising a bracket and a spring, and means to permit said head to be disconnected from a mating head while the cars equipped therewith remain coupled, said means comprising a member extending from said'head past said bracket into' en; gagement with saidvspring, and means pivotally support-ed on said bracket 'for arresting the retractive action of said spring to ree the bracket of the pressure ont the spring during such disconnection. Y

n testimony whereof hereunto afiix my signature. n Y

JGSEPH: ROBINSQN.

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