US1751154A - Car coupling - Google Patents

Description

CAR GOUPLING Filed Feb. 24, 1927 3 sheets-sheet l (jm/ventola 1 M3118, '1930. F. w. HENRlKsoN 1,751,154

CAR COUPLING Filed Feb. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March. 1.8, 1930. F. w. HENRlKsoN CARl COUPLING Filed Feb. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICEv f FRANK W. vHIEFN'RKSONI', OF MULIBERRY, KANSAS GAR COUPLING Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial No. 170,543.

' 15 ing member of another car. When employed with such mine cars it is particularly adapted for the-automatic or semi-automatic operations of dumping and recoupling. Astring of cars having couplings according to the type of the present invention may be brought to a ramp leading to a dumping mechanism, and may be disconnected from train, one by one, as the individual car passes onto the ramp. The car may; then .pass down the ramp, be received by the dumping mechanism, dumped and returned, and then permitted tol run by a further ramp to a track on which the empties are assembled previousA to being returned to the mine for further loads. As each car approaches the last car in the string of empties, it is automatically coupled thereto, so that thereafter the entire train may be moved without further manual attention to the particular car.

This invention presents a device in which the vehicles may make turns vor curves of.

very short radiuswithout a blocking by the link in either drawhead. It may be applied to either old or new cars without anyl great change inthe constructiom The Vlink member of the link drawhead is provided with an actuating mechanism whereby it is projected into the pin drawhead upon impact ofthe two cars: and positive guides are provided for theV actuating linkage. Further a very stout construction is provided for the link drawhead so that the draft stresses are transmitted from draftbeamto draft-beam without burden upon the actuating mechanism. The link is reversible, and its drawhead isfso constructed and arranged that reversal may be accomplished without dismounting. i

Cushioningsprings are provided so 'that the shock at impact may be employed to4v operate the actuating mechanism withoutun-v due strain thereon in the `event of a blockage.

The invention has been illustrated as applied to mine cars of the four-wheel, shortbase type; since .withf such employment its qualities of i permitting the automatic. pinpresetting, and the traversing of curves of very short radius are clearly apparent.

Invthe illustrative form of the invention set forth on the accompanyingdrawing: Figure 1V is a` plan view'of a carhaving the coupling device associated therewith, and the cooperating ends of two further cars being indicated to show the draft system.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the` bumper stem and associated parts.

Fig. 3 1s a View of the other endofthe car, iv showing the link member.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a link member on Aan enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a horizonal section substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In these figures, the car is represented as having a floor 10, thesides 11 and the ends 12, 13. A truck 14 has suitablebearings to support the axles and wheels 15, 15. According to the present invention,a metal draft strip or beam 16 is fastened to the i' iioor of a car to transmit the draft strain along the line of the train. `Adjacent the end Wall 12 a casting is provided having the plate 17 which is bolted to the floor l() of the car and to the draft beam 16and carries at its outer end the link draw head 18. At the opposite end, is disposed a similar casting having a plate 19, likewise bolted tok the floor 10 of the car and tothe draw beam 16, and having at the exterior of the car the pin drawhead 20. In Fig. 1, the similar parts of the car at the left hand, i. e., a car presenting a link connection, are` indicated by the same reference numerals with the suiiix a, the corresponding link drawhead being 18a, for example. The car at the right hand, having corresponding parts, is like- Wise given the same reference numerals With the superscript b, and this car therefore has the pindrawhead 201.

The drawhead 18 .as shown in Fig. 3 has the laterally extending brace plates 18X, to stiffen and supportit at the car end beam l2". Itis preferred to form the Y:plates with reinforcingf'rlbs 'eXtending transversely of the car, vvith the vnotches or kerfs 18b therein open end.Y VBeneath' therbi'ght v22 is an actuatingbmnper 23 which is capable offmovement longitudinally With respectto the draft beam andassociated members. For this purpose, the bumper 23 has a square inwardly Y extending actuating stem 24 Aand the guide vstems 25, these stems projecting through apertures in aA depending flangeA 26 ofthe dravvhead 18, and the stern24entering a cavity'in the Vlovver portion GfthisdraW- head.VV A reduced portion 24b of th .stem 24 has a lvertical slot 27 therein, and Yits end is received in aslot 29 of a rectangular 'actuating rod 3Q vWhich extends through Vfurther Aaperture Vinthe drawhead l8and has its innermost Vend in Contact with a Vcam 3l of the actuating lever This actuating lever 32 is journaled on a pin 33 carried by the Walls of the dravvhead 18. A spring 34 isl connected to a suitable part of thev lever 32 at one end' and at its other end .is secured to a `pin35 fastened' to the dravvhe'ad 18.` At

its upper end, the lever .32 has an aperture to accommodate the laterally'eitending end 36 of the actuating link 37, which may be riveted into position, and has at its other Vend a closedv oblong or oval eye 38 With the rib 38a', to receive the link L. This link L may be prepared inV-shape and passed through the eye 38 and around Vthe bight 22, and then the ends Welded together .to close the link. This link slides freely ina channel formedinthe drawhead 18, and is of a symmetrical closed form, and lits Vin theV eye 38 and aboutthe bight 22. 'Vhen the strain is placed upon the' link L in train, it is 'drawn forward until the link L comes into 'contact with the inner face ofthe bight 22,`

and thereafter the draft strain is transmitted l'from the link to the bight 22, thence to the drawhead 18, andto the car floor lOand draft beam 16. Y s

The eye 38 closely tits the link L for movement backjand forth,'Whilepermitting a free swinging movement up `and down for .alinement.'

A pin 39 (Fig. 4) having reduced end portions'is passed through the actuating rod 30 and through the slot 27 of the stem portion Y 24, to hold these members in assembled re'- lationship. The central portion is substantially the same lengthY as the thickness of the rounded portion 28 of the rod 30.Y A

spiral 'spring 40 'is coigledjabout the `.rounded p inner end 24a of the stem 24 and presents one end over and around the portion 28-of the rod 30 andthe central portion of the piny 39 (thereby holding the pin in place) and exerts. a relative thrust between this pin 39 and the shoulders at the junction' of thel rounded and -squareportions of the stem 24, so that a resiliency is afforded against sudden impact upon the 'bumper 23 to Yprevent a breakage of the associatedl parts, andtheen- Y gagement of spring 40 `against lthe rfr:a`.me

ment ofthebumper 23. n.

A groove 42 1s formed on the inner face of 0Vives a vdefinite limit to the outward move` Y the bight 22 to receive the corresponding por.-

tion ofthe eye 38 and its guiding 'rib '38a which fills the groove 42, whereby the link is caused to act against the inner surface of theV eye `38 and the Abight 22Without injury to this eye 38,.V Which may consequently be made ofrelatively lightconstructi'onl This groove42 is continued along both the top and bottom of the cavity inthe dravvhead l`18 as the grooves 42a, 42", which receive and guide the'eye 38 of the actuating link3lfinfits movement. These grooves42a,p42bi,are Wide Y at the rear or innerend to afford sideplay and lateral .swing for the link Lfznand converge `toward' the bight 22 to lguidejthe `eyef38 into the gro0v'e`42. l l y The link L itself slides on the floor of the cavity in the linkdravv-head 18, and is'guided laterally by the cheeks ofthe drawhead 18,' andy When retracted, is returnedthereby to a central position as shown in thev figures. It Will be noted that theglink dravvhead 18 has its clieeks43-fcut away enoughtoallow link L to be turned around `the axis of the i bight 22 so that the linkv Linaylbe drawn vto its eXtreme outmost position as shown by the dotted lines` Lm yin Fig. 5, and the link may then be rotated substantially .about the center of thebight22 and slidV laterally into a position such aslshovvn by'Lg/g The link maybe slid further and even reversed' in position if so desired.

The lever arm ratio of of` the cam 3l is suchth'ata very slightmovef ment ofthe bumper 23 Will cause afull pro'- jection of thevlink L. /This permits the slots 27 and 29 to be short, and allows thespring 40 to absorb or cushion the movementl even in casethe link L be entirely blocked against movement.. The, surface of cam 3l' isisuchf Vthat this ratiois greatest ',at the first movement,

n thelever132betiveen the separation of pivot pin33 and theoffset` iis andfsuccessively cheereasestsoV that fin conjunction With increasing retardationvovv'in'g CTI to the tension of spring 34, the link L moves more and more slowly toward the end of its stroke.

At the' end of its movement, the bumper 23 seats itself in a pocket (Figs. 3 and 4) formed in the flange 26, and the final impact of the cars occurs between respective members solidly secured to the car bodies, and the cars may be pushed in train by direct engagement of the drawheads against each other. Y

The drawhead 2O in Fig. 1 carries the coupling pin parts including the retraction link 6() engaged over the free end of the uncoupling lever' 63 having the terminal laterally extending luv` 64 to prevent disengagement of the link 60 from the lever 63. The lever 63 is fixed to the actuating shaft 64', which it self is journaled in the clips 65 fastened to the end of the car. A handle 67 is provided -in this shaft for manual operation'in the usual manner while the cover plate 68 about the steinl of the retraction link serves to protect the drawhead 20 against the entry of dirt at its top.

|The method of coupling between two cars having the parts as describedl is as follows:

The car having its link coupling parts in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 5, the car Vis brought forcibly against a car having a pin Coupling whereby a downwardly extending lip on the pin drawhead encounters the actuating bumper 23 on the link drawhead. The bumper 23 is driven forcibly inward or to the left in 4, transmitting its movement to the actuating rod 30, which in turn acts upon the surface of the cam 31 of the actuating lever 32, and against the action of the spring 34 causes this lever 32 to rock clockwise about its pivot 33 whereby a thrust is delivered through the actuating link to the corresponding car link L, which is f projected forcibly from its drawhead 18. Since this link L is by construction in alinement with the mouth of the pin drawhead 20b of the other car the link L enters this mouth and encounters the coupling detent therein, so that the pin Pb is allowed to fall by gravity and enter the aperture of the coupling link L. The coupling has now been made, and when the cars are drawn apart in train, the link L will be engaged with the bight 22 on its own drawhead and with the pin Pb on the pin drawhead, whereby the draft stress is transmitted solidly from the draw beam of the one car to the draw beam of the next car, without any undue strain upon the relatively delicate actuating members. During this operation of coupling, if the pin drawhead is blocked, the spring 40 will take up the strain until the cars move away from each other, whereby a breakage of the actuating members is avoided. As soon as the cars separate from each other, the spring 34 will take up the slack in the link L and prevent looseness or rattling of this member. Further, the shock when the link L encounters the pin coupling detent and drives it to the end of its travel is likewise taken upV by the spring 40. J

The operation of uncoupling consists merely in raising the pin Pb until itdisengages the link L, which is then immediately retracted by its spring-34, and thecars are free .from oneanother.

The link L is aorded great freedom of movement about its bight 22, so that the cars maypass around curves of very short radius,

without any blocking by engagement ofthe link L with the cheek walls 43of the'link therein to receive the link when retracted and including an integral bight` passing through the link to receive thejdraftstresses,

the floor of said cavity having a groove there# l in, an actuating link embracing said vcoupling link and guldedflbyl sa1dgroove,"and means actuated upon impact` with another vehicle to operate said actiiating link to pro` ject said coupling link. 1

2. In a pin and link coupling, a link drawi head fastened to the-end of the vehicle, a coupling link, a bumper, and devicesfconnected to said bumper to project saidV link upon impact of another vehicle,said"means including a lrod and cam mechanism wherebythe rate of saidprojection progressively ,decreases with increments o f movement of 3. In a pin andlinkcoupling la "link drawhead fastened vto the end Aof l,the vehicle, a coupling link, a bumper having an inwardly extending actuating stem with a slot therein, an actuating rod in extension of said stem, a spring engaging said stem and rod to force them normally apart, said rod having an ap-v y erture therein in alinement with said slot, a

pin in said aperture to limit the movement of separation of sai-d stem and said rod and to guide said stem and said rod in their relative movements, and devices actuated by the movement of said rod to project said coupling link.

4. In a pin and link coupling, a link drawhead fastened to the end of the vehicle, a coupling link, a member on said drawhead to receive the draft stress of said coupling link, and an actuating link to project said coupling link, said member having a groove in its inward face to complement said actuating link and to receive vthe corresponding portion of the same whereby said 'actuating link is freed from the draft stress.

V5.- In a pingandlink coupling, a link drawhead, -ay coupling link in said drawhead, meansto retract said coupling link into said drawhead in the absence of draft stress thereon, and a member on said drawhead to cooperate Withsaid couplinglink to transmit the draft stress, the cheeks of said draWhead being cut awa-y inward of said member so that said coupling link may be drawn out and O Vrotated about said member to reversed position. Y Y

6. In a pin and link coupling, a link drawhead astenedto the end of the vehicle, va coupling link, a bumper having an inwardly extending actuating stem With a slot therein, an actuating rod in extension of said stem and telescoping therewith, a spring engaging said stem vatene of its ends, said rod hav- Y ing an aperture therein in alinement With said slot, a pin linsaid aperture to limit the movement of separation of said stem and'said Y rod, said spring bearingagainst the ends of v saidwpin yfor arelative reaction against said -rod,.andfdevices actuated by the movement of saidV rod to projectsaid coupling link.

In a pin and link coupling, a link drawhead Yfastened to the end of the vehicle, a coupling link,`a bumper having an inwardly p extendingactuating'stem'with a slot therein, an actuating rod-in extension of said stem Y telescoping therewith, said rod havingV an aperture therethrough in alinement With Y said slot, a pin projecting through said apertureand'slot and having eXtended end vpor-` tions and abody portion of substantially the thickness ofsaid roda spring engaging at one; end against said stem and at the other Y v end fitting over said rod and said body por.- tio-Irand reacting against the extended end 40 portionsofsaid pin, an-d devices actuated by the longitudinalv movement of said stem and rod to project said coupling link.

Inrtestimonywhereof, I aHiXgmy signature.

1 FRANK W. IIENRIKSON.

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