US1648894A - Draft appliance - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1927. 1,648,894

F. w. FRITCHEY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l avwemtoz NOV. 15, 7-

F. W. FRITCHEY DRAFT APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

gjwz m WMWMM Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN W. FRITCHEY, OF WALBROOK, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR '10 FRANKLIN RAIL- WAY SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DRAFT APPLIANCE.

Application filed December 5, 1924. Serial No. 754,012.

My invention relates to draft appliances useful, in particular, between locomotives and their tenders, and is especially concerned with buifcrs. I aim to reduce or obviate the a crushing action to which such buffers are subjected in service, and to render feasible the use of lighter springs than can be employed for spring buffers now in use. ow these and other advantages can be realized through my invention will appear from my description hereinafter of a selected and preferred embodiment.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a locomotive frame and a ten der frame with buffer equipment conveniently embodying my invention, certain parts being in horizontal section.

Fig. 2 shows a vertical mid-section through the structure, taken as indicated by the line am in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View looking into the tender buffer pocket shown in Figs. 1 and 2,i. e., from the right in Figs. 1 and 2,with the buffer omitted.

Fig. 4 is a rear View of the tender buffer or buffer plate,-i. e., from the left in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bufl'er equipment is of the radial ty e, comprising spherical and cylindrical surt ced buffers 10 and 11 on the locomotive and tender frames 12 and 13, respectively, and an interposed chafing block 14, fioatingly mounted on the locomotive bufier 10,--so as to be free to shift from side to side under the influence of the tender buifer 11. In practice, the buffer surfaces and the corresponding chafing block faces are concentric with the coupling pins (not shown) by which the corresponding ends of the locomotive drawbar (not shown) are secured to the locomotive and tender frames.

The locomotive bufier 10 and the chafing block 14 may be of any usual or preferred construction.

The tender buffer 11 comprises a movable member 15 suitably mounted at the forward end of the tender frame 13, as in a pocket 16. Instead, however, of having compression springs behind it acting in the direction of thrust, as is the case with spring buffers heretofore used, the buffer member 15 is yieldingly sustained by automatic wedge means movable transversely of the fore and aft line of thrust, and here shown as com- 18, 19, arranged one within the other. si

shown, each wedge 17 has a boss 21 on its end, projecting through an opening in the corresponding end 22 of the pocket 16; and

the springs 18, 19 act between an abutment disc 23 that bears on the boss 21 and an outer abutment disc 24.. The outer abutments 24C, 24 may be sustained by means of a transverse tension bolt member 25 extending through the parts 24, 23, springs 18, 19, wedges 17 and their bosses 22, and even the buffer 15. In the present instance, each of the wedges 17, 17 has a hole or bore through it for the bolt 25, while the corresponding opening between the wedge-engaging faces of the buffer 15 has the character of a rearward open groove. When locomotive and tender are uncoupled, the bufier 15 may be limited in its outward movement (and kept from coming out of the pocket 16) by a removable pin 26 extending through slots 27, 27 in the buffer and corresponding holes in the upper and lower pocket walls. The initial tension (or compression, rather) of the springs 18, 19 may be varied by adjusting the nut 28 on the bolt 25. As shown, a cotter pin 29 extends through a hole in the bolt 25 and engages in notches in the nut 28, so as to prevent the nut from unscrewing under the vibration to which it is subjected in service.

In the present instance, the buffer 15 and the wedges 17 17 are shown as hollow cored castings. The pocket structure 16 may be cast separate from the tender frame 13 and bolted in place, as shown. As the springs 18, 19, the discs or washers 23, 24,

and the bolt 25, etc., are all simple parts readily turned out in quantity by standard methods of manufacture, the cost of the buffer 11. as a whole is very moderate.

In service, the wedges 17 17 automatically hold the buffer 15 pressed against the chafing block 14, and the latter against the otherbuffer 10, thus taking up all looseness in the drawbar coupling between locomotive and tender, and obviating or minimizing shocksor less satisfactorily over a considerable ran e of variation in the effective wedge angle, it is advantageous to make this angle somewhat less than 45,-as here illustrated,because then the springs 18, 19 may be made lighter than iiithey were arranged directly behind the member 15, in the direct line of impact. The arrangement of the springs beside the buffer 15 rather than behind it allows them to be made of practically any length desired. Extreme length is not necessary, however. because there is a limiting degree of acuteness forthe wedge angle, below which the wedges 17, ',17 practically would not yield at all in service.

I claim:

1. The combination of a buffer with rear faces oppositely inclined outward and frontward, sustaining wedges for said faces, compression springs for acting on the outer ends of said wedges, and abutment means for said interconnecting them.

2. The combination of a bufier with rear I springs for urging said wedges inward to sustain said buffer; andabutments for the outer ends of said springs, with a floatsprings, with a floating tension member ing tension member interconnecting them through said openings in wedges and buffer. 3. The combination of a buffer with rear faces oppositely inclined outward'and frontward, sustaining wedges for said faces, compression springs for acting on the outer ends of said wedges, abutment means for said springs with a floating tension member interconnecting them and means for adjusting the tension of said sprin s. y

In testimony whereo I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANKLIN W. FRITCHEY.

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