US1666073A - Releasable vestibule-curtain handle - Google Patents

Description

April 11. 192s. 1.666.073

J. B. SMOUSE RELEASABLE VESTIBULE CURTAIN HANDLE Filed March 14, 1927 2'Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY@ v April 17, 1928.

J. B. SMOUSE RELEASABLE VESTIBULE CURTAIN HANDLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1927 IN/l/NTOR. Jr; 5f/muse patented pr, .17, `1928 JOHN B. sMoUsnor CHICAGO, iLLinois, Assieiionmoilron'rjoniaanuraornninoff jooivirnnr, A ooiaronarioii or iti-liners;

` .BIJEASABLE.vEsTiBULnLoUBLTAiN HANnLii. y

Abpiication mea March 14,1921! "serial 'Noiigoea Considerable difliculties' have been` niet l with in using vestibule curtains between the Vvest'ibules ofconnected railway coachea in `that-the liand-leis Very oftenpulled v.voi ot i the curtainor both the handle andouitfain .are pulled off of the curtainmounting; due lto the failure of' the bi'akenian or other car Y attendant to unholok the curtain'liandlelroin 7 vestibule gcurtain on Whichithe 1handle'l its engagement with .its retaining liooli be# fore 'a p alir ofcoaches are'separated'.` Y lL'lhis invention hasbeen vperfected 'for the purpose. ,of-f' obviating.` .the ab'oyeinentioned conditions by providingan improved vestibule,curtain-handle; mechanism embodying a pivoted handle bar, the free endofvlwhich is suitably recessedlor notched to permitthe handle 'bar When in its lowered position for `useto frictionally engage a spring'v latching member having; a' latching powersuilicient to hold lSaid handle bai in^ closedpositioii under. normal operating. conditions but per- Y. mitting automatic release of said handlel bar, Y vWhen Vthe same is 'subjected towajbnornival strains as,V for example., When/two' cars. are H separated andan attendant has neglected Vto release the vestibule curtainfhandle-iroiii engagemeiitfwithV a hook on an adjacentffcar. Y i de an' improved vreleasab'le handle for a'rai vconstructed that: under .normal operating conditi-ons it` will remain latched Wliileiiii-v Y der abnormal conditionsorstrains,thelia'nf' f die 'bar is adapted to4 be; automatically fre-1 f leasedlfrom a spring latohingpolsitionj be- F ore' ,permitting injury 'theretafor to, :the

' mounted. r

van improved handle mechanismhavingla "f'opeiating' conditionsfis su It is a :further of provide a railwaycarl vestibule 'curtain with .handle bar wit-hone end :pivotally'supportedv enla-spring supportwhile theotherend is notched to permit .the sain gage Aa .latch -springwhi iii;

under `normal handle. bar, in a lclosed positionbut permitting releaseof i saidv=haiidle b ar,4 when the V- same has abnormalstrai-ns applied thereto.y y

VAnother object of thisginvention is gto prof videan improved handlelme'clianisin adapted i lor yuse 'on 'vestibule curtainsfandthelike, said Vhandle mechanism embodyinga l sup f. Figure. 2

to; lockingly-ene ent to :holdtlie' yin connectiiicf t) port having recessedarmsiu lone of WhichVv a springY support is mounted for pivotally otherbf said recessed arms is equipped vii/ith a spring latch adapted for holding the han 1 die barili a'closed position'under ordinary strains j but pe'ifinitting automatic release of Vsaid handle `bar .toeobviate damage 'tothe' ,handlejmechanisim 4when afhandle bar ,is 'subj ected "to abnormal strains.

or 4secured on a vestibule curtain Oron vany vother selected device tofpei'initjtlie handle mechanism to be engaged'onajvestibule ourhoolr tovhold,"thegvestibule curtain A stretched between tvvoeralilway coaches undei'nrdinary conditions,said handle mecha.-4

nisni having the-handle bar thereof engaged on a resilient support vandi'latche'd by a spring mechanism rhaving,v .a '-.strnqtli sifitncient to r4hold the lian-dlebar'closed und-er ordinary ltds an important object oftliis invention to provide `a handle mechanism of' anfim- .65 proved ,simplified ytype adapted to be clamped `.conditions Vbut' permitting"automatic `release Of .the handle ba-r` and disengagement from 1 lsai-d.l'ioolrivlie'n thejliandle bar., i'ssiibljected l so i to str aiiisgreater than tli'e holding pivfyeriof this invention. will apparentfi'onil'the di'sl Aclosures in; the 'drawings `and lspeci.ticatioiijV Vllustrated in the' drawings. and liereina more fully described. i Onll'dfanngs l i, I r'e-'li a 'rontplanviewfof arel'eas.-

ablecurtain 'liandlemechanism in fopenfpo# Y sitionf embodying' Q tli e principlejol this inhandle zme'chani-sni in rclosed positie j llgui'fe j 3. is;` aflongit'idinal lsect un .handle niechanisin in open posit' l ."Fiaedgurel llaan end'vi supporting fa notchedy handle bar/.while the .I

mechanism takenoi'ijlinefl-l of ligure'fg, l

f l:Afsrslioivi'-i on Athe drawings:

releasablehandle ,e mechanism ofthis 'invention is,primarily'adaptable 'or'use Yonlthe vestibule cui-tainot a railway Vcan andy comprises ya support or base ,section- 'enibrac-- loi-ined onfone end y there "having" integrally .fa Spllz'lalniils YSleevf 12` having aperta? .dldalilpls flanges i Tf' 3 integrally formed on the split ends thereoh Also integrally formed on the clamping sleeve 2 is avhollow arm 4 having a passaged sleeve 5 forming a part t-hereof. The arm 4 is provided with a pocket or recess 6 open at its outer side and at the top. The sleeve 5 is provided with a transverse slot in which the lower end of a fiat latch spring -7 is engaged. A rivet 8 or other ysuitable retaining member engaged in the sleevek 5 for rigidly holding the lower end of the latch spring in position. The upper end of the latch spring 7 is bent at an angle to form fa. latch nose 9 while thevupper end of said spring is bent downwardly to form a looped latch head 10.

,-Integrally formed on the opposite end of the connecting bar 1 is a second split clampy ing sleeve 11, the split ends of which terminate in integraljapertured clamping flanges 12.1 Integrally lformed on t-he clamping sleeve 11 opposite and parallel to the arm 4 is a hollow arm 13 provided with a cham-V. ber or recess 14 ,said chamber opening through the inner side of said arm and .i through the top thereof. Integi'ally formed within the hollow arm '13 is a boss or block 15 suitably passaged to receive a rivet or retaining member 16 which is provided for the purpose of holding the lower end ofa resil- `ient mounting strap or plate spring 17 secured against 'the bossl. The lower end of the mounting strap 17 seats in a notch18 provided in one wall of the clamping sleeve 11 .as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The upper end of the resilient mounting strap17 is curved or rolled to aiford an integral bearing sleeve 19 inwhich a pivot pin oi' shank 20 is rotatably engaged. Secured on one projecting end of the pivot pin 20`is the flattened end 21 of an arc shaped or Vcurved handle bar 22. The free end ofthe handle y bar 22 is tapered to form atip 23 with one Y 'en' face/plate 'of an adjacent railway car.l

operating` conditions.

inclined face thereof provided with a latch vnotch at 24. L e e The improved handle mechanism, as hereinbefore stated, is adapted to be mounted on the free end of a railway car vestibule cur# tain to permit the curtain to Vbe pulled orY extendedfroin one car across a vestibule passage so that thehandlebar maybe engaged on a retaining hook mounted on a. vestibule Under ordinary conditions the handle bar 22 is swung downwardly about its pivot 'pinZO into the closed position shown in Figure 2 with thetapered end of the handle bar frict-ionally engaging the latch nose 9formed on the upper end of the Vlatch .spring 7. The

latch'nose 9 is adapted to resilieiitly seatl in the notch 24 in the end of the handle bar thereby holding the handle bar locked ina closed position ready for use under ordinary When the handle bar 22 is swung downwardly into the closed positioii shown in Figure 2, the spring support 17 adapted to be slightly sprung upwardly as the tapered end of the handle bai' `is forced downwardly past the latch nose 9 until said latch nose is sprung into locking en gagement in the notch 24.

In case the handle bar 22 is subjected to l l an abnormal tensional strain as, for example,

when two railway cars are separated Aand an attendant. has failed to unhooli'the curtain handle from its retaininghook, then said pivoted curtain. handle bar 22 which has a sumciciit strength to stand an additional strain permits the tapered latching end 23 of said handle barV to be pulled out of engagement with the resilient latch nose 9 of the latchy ing spring 7 which is'sprung outwardly by the abnormal pull on the handle bar 22. to permit automatic release of said handle bar and disengagement of said handle bar from the retaininghool mountedl oii'one 'of the railway cars. Whenv thehandle bai' is released by aii abnormal strain both the resilient supporting spring 17 and the latch spring 7 are adaptedvto'be sprungl to permit release of the handle bar. The automatic releasing of the improved handle mechanism prevents the destructionthereof and obviates damage to the vestibule curtain on which the handle is mounted when the handlemecha'- nism is'subjected to excessive pulls or strains. The releasing feature vof the handle mechanism thereby obviates thefreplacement of said handle mechanism, saving the expense of supplying a new .handle which would be necessary if one of the old rigid type handle mechanisms were mounted on the, vestibule curtain.

f The improved handle mechanism of this linvention having a resilieiitly supported.

handle bar adapted to be held in a releasable latched position by a spring latching mehr ber is adapted primarily foruse von ,a rail-v way. ear vestibule curtain. It will, however, be understood that the improved handle Vmechanism may also be usedfin combination with many otherdevices 'and' iiivarious locations iii which a releasablehandle bar'V of the type describedA will function to Aprevent damage .to the handle mechanism and to the 1. The combination with ai car"vestibule.

curtain and a car vestibule curtain hook, of a handle base section secured to said curtain,

a resilient support in said handle base seclll) nee-6,0m

' tion, a handle bar pivotedjon saidfresilient support, and a' spring' latch in4 said: handle base section adapted to be fri'ctiona-lly Veirgaged on oneend' of said handle bar to 'liold said handle bar is subjected to abnormal .ten c sional strains. Y

l0 v comprising a base section, means forming a Vpart thereof for supporting the base section 2. A vestibule curtain handle mechanism on' a curtain, hollow arms formed on said base section, a resilient support in one z of said arms, a handle bar pivotally mounted on said resilient support, and a springlatch in the other of saidhollow arms adapted lto frictionally engage said handle barato hold c c one of said springs, and aflatch headintef` the samelatched in closed position. p Y 3. A handle mechanism comprising a `convnecting bar, split clamping sleeves integral'- i Vly formed on the ends thereof, a chambered arm integrally formed on one of said clamp- Y Jing sleeves, afresilient support inountediii said arm, a handle bar` pivotally mounted on said ,resilient support with-ione end of 'said handle bar tapered and providediwitha latch notch, a chambered. arm formed on the other vof said clamping sleeves; and av spring latch mounted therein adapted to lockingly seat in the latch notch of said handle barto hold saidliandle bar in a` closed position'for use Vunder normal-operatling conditions and permitting automaticiV release of said liandlebar whe-n thevsame is subjected to abnormal strains.

1 4. A handle mechanism comprising a base section, hollow arms integrally formed thereon, a resilient support in one of said arms, 'av notchedhandle bar pivotally mounted lon said resilient-support, and a springl latch in the other ofsaid hollowarms adapted 5to hold said handle barjlatched inclose'd position under normal strains and permitting said handle bar to swing outwardlyV into open position againstthe action of said spring .latch when the handle barfis subjected toA strains greater than the resistance of said spring latch.

y 5.V A curtain handle of the class described 'comprising' a base, supporting members formed on said base, a hollow arm `formed on l one end of said base, a `boss formed'in said hollow arm, a springv support in said hollow arm secured lto said boss, a bearing sleeve formed on said spring support, Vay pin ]ournalled in said y.sleeve.;a"han,dle bar se# cured onvone end of'said 1pin"said handle bar lia-ving theV other-end thereof 'tapered and notched, Vasecond hollow -arm formedl non s aidbase, a slotted sleeve formed in said second arm, a` latch springfin said' second l 'arm having one end thereof secured in .said slotted sleeve, 'and a latch head integrally,

formed on the other eiid Vof said latch spring adapted tof-1V engage the notched ta# dinary strains and peimitt'iiiggreleaseof said handle" bar when tliesaine is `s-ubgec'ted *tol abnormal stra-ins.

,6. VA handle mechanism compris-ing a-'base section, hollow` arms `integrally formed. thereon, spring members supported in said hollow farms, andv a handle bar pivotally inounted'on one .of said spring members and adapted to releasably engage the` other of saidspring members when in closed position.

arms, `a handle bar pivotally mounted on gi'ally'formed on the other ofsaid springs adaptedv to lockingly engage fthe other e end of said latch bar when in closed positionk permitting lsaid latch bar to be released when subjected toa strain greater than the resisting power of said springs.

8. A handle mechanismcomprising a pair 7. A handle mechanism comprising a ,base-,5 meansfor mounting 'the same, hollow arms v on. said base,.1plate springsin vsaid hollowy of hollow arms, a spring mounted. in one of;v

said arms, a handlebaifhaving Vone end Y thereof pivotally supported on'said-spring, and a latch spring injthepother lof said arms adapted V'to releasably engage the other'end of saidhandle bai-.to hold the same` locked in closed position and permitting release of"v said hand-le bar when an applied thereto. t

in' said second arm `adapt-ed ltojrelea'sably locked Vin position under normal conditions and permitting release of' the handleA bar 'when an abnormal pull is applied thereto. '10. A! handle mechanisml comprisinga` base, a spi'ing'support mounted thereon, af. latch spring alsormountedon. said base op'-Y positesaid spring support, and a handle barg having one endfthereof pivotally mounted' on said spring support, andthe other' endf' tapered'and notched to .permit the saineto abnormal pull is' ioo move the latch spring outwardly when .fthejl i Vhandle bar is niovedinto closed position to be held insaid position b v said' latch'` spring.'

ll.`A liaiidle mecliaiiis in coiinprisingV 'a' ibase, "a pair of hollow 'arinsfintegrally formed thereon, a springsupport` 'in `one of i said hollow arms,v alatchV springin the other of saidk hollow arms, a latch nose formedl on said latchfspriiig, a handle bar, and a pin inountedinone end of said handle bar and rotatably engaged iii` said :spring support,`1 said handle-bar havingvthe oppositege'ndf.l

thereof tapered lwith Yone of thejtapered;V surfaces thereof khaving a locking notchtherein Supported on Said mounting eprin(T 'adapted to he moved into and out of .latching enggement with said latch Spring. e Y 10 In testimony whereotI I have hereunto suhscribed my name.

'Jona e. erfreuen.

Images