US1795147A - Car coupling - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcl-l ET AL CAR COUPLIANG vFiled DBC. 27, 1926 21 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcH En' AL 1,795,147

CAR COUPLING Filed Dec. 27. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W M, 1 .M um. w J. mu y w. WM. .w M. m. QN v E: Wi H., mi ma A wl M.. m.

March 3, 1931. N. scHLElcl-l E'r A1.

awww

@f w. MM

1N 4m Nmv/ m N.

Swanton March'3, 1931..

N. s'cHLEl'cH ET VAL CAR COUPLING Filed Dec. '27. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 4 M n W NLC/' jah@ ci.

zeide. r 7 l, akomnquf l Patented Mar. 3, l 1931 j 'it-iron scHLEronANn cLARnNcn J. ALDRIDGE, or GREAT' rALLs,` MONTANA, AssIeNoRs oFoNn-THrnnTo `.ii/icona.. GonRGnN, oF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA CAR coUPLLNG Application filed December 27, 1926. Seral'No. 157,256.

The invention relatesto devices for coupling cars andcontemplates means for simul- .taneously connectingthe several pipes, such as the air line, the steam line, the signal line ,and the electrical conductors, thereby obviat- .ing separateand independent operation to couple or uncouple suchparts. The invention Lprovides novel coupling means and unique releasing means, the cou- -plingmeansbeing projected into operative position by gravitative action, thereby obvij ating the use of springs which is objection- Y able, mainly because of theirsusceptibility to derangement and impairment. Y .The invention furthermore relates to a peculiar arrangement of passages for the fluid medium and controlling means `forsuch passages'automatic in `actionrfor `establishing communication betweenthe several lines when -the carsaie run together and for breaking the communicationand closing the passages when the -cars; are uncoupled `oi' separated.

Vhile the drawings illustrate apreferred lnbodiment of `the invention, it is tobe under- `stood'that in adapting the means to meet Aspecific needs and requirements, the desicrn mayfbe varied andsuch other changes in t e minor details of construction may be resorted to:within the scope `"of the invention as thereof. Y i

For afull understanding. of the invention f and the merits thereof, reference is to be had `hereto attached, in which,-. o j

-Figure 1 is a to plan view cfa car cou- .plingembodying t e invention, showing the .cooperating members in engagement and just 1 jprior to the couplingthereofin the final step.`

lookingfin thedrection of the arrows.l

:Figure ,4 iswa vertical'transverse, sectionalview on the line L.1 lof Figure r1, looking in the direction of thearrows.

claimed, withoutjdeparting from the `spirit` to the following description and-the drawings;

sectional yie'w on. the lineB--S` of Figure 2, i

Figure 5 is ahorizontal sectional *view showing oneA of the passages and the controlling .means therefor, the parts being on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a `detail ,perspective view of oIle of the llocks,andthe operating means for withdrawing the same into releasing position.

Corresponding and like partsare referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The coupling contemplates cooperating companion members of like formation, but reversely `disposed to admit of their meeting to coupleadjacent cars `when run together. Because of the like formation of the inembers,a detailed description of one will suti'ice for a clear understanding of both.

Each of the coupling members comprises a head 1 and spaced complementaljaws 2 and 3. 'A lug 4; projecting form the rear end of the head 1 enters a recess formed in the head 5 of a draw bar 6 to which the coupling member is. pivoted by meansA of `a king-bolt 7.

Emergency bolts 8 pass through slots 9 formed in vthe lug 4 and are mounted in the Atop and bottom wallsl of the head 5. In the event of the king-bolt 7 giving way the emor- :gency bolts 8 carry theload and prevent the separation of the coupling from the draw bar. Thejaw Shas a plurality of passages 'p10 formedtherein which extend through the outer or forward end of thejaw and each of which communicates `at its inner or rear end with a transverse passage 11 to which a hose pipe 12 is coupled in any determinate way, and which is connected to the proper train line for the flow `of oil, steam orother fluid medium. `The outer` end ofl each of the passages is enlarged and receives a packing v lwhich is held iii place by means of a retainer 1 4 whichconsists of a ringlthreaded intogthe forward enlarged end of the pack- .ing. Alongitudinal chamber 15-is formed in the head 1 oppositethe space formed between the jaws 2 and `.3 andreceives a piston i `valve 16. The transverse passage 11 is inj-tersected by the valve chamber 15 andthe piston valve 16 is formed `with a transverse openinglS and a longitudinal opening 19.

:Whenthe pistonvalvel,occupies a position 10,*a tight joint being'assuredby means of at the limitof its rearward movement-when pressed into'the valve chamber' 15, the Yopentherpiston valve V161-forwardly. A projec' valve 15 enters an opening 22 formed in the e Vingv thereof registersl with the passage 11,

thus establishing' communication between Vthe passages of the couplingmem'bers and between the train lines of adjacent cars. An open helical 'spring' 2 0, within the Vrear portion of the valve chamber 15, normally urges tion 21 at the inner or rear end of the piston 1 head 1 and these parts are Vof noncircular out- ;5 ing 18 with the passage 1'1 when the piston lineA to preserve the relative position Yof the piston valve to insure registering ofthe open# valve isV moved rearwardly within lthe valve chamber 15. The forward portion of the.

VVpiston valve 16 is reduced` and operates i through a ring 23 threaded into the outer end of the valvev chamber which serves as a stop to .limit the forward movement :of the piston valve.- 'IA tapered extension 24 at `thev outer'endofthe piston valve is Vadapted to#V enter the enlarged outer end of theJ passage the packing 13 Vand ring 14. It is to be un- 1 derstood that a piston valve is provided fory eachf of the-passages 10 andthat avpassage j is had for each trainv line.Y As indicated most Y clearly in Figuresy 3 and 4, three passages 10 are provided, one ifor the air line for the brake fi-systemy; one .for `the steam lineffor l heatingyand onei'for the signal line. In ad- .dition to the three passages y10,'there isl proj vided a similar passage forthe reception of an electric'conductor 25, said passage hav' ling its forward end'enlarge'd to receive a socket'26, which is electrically insulated from the-coupling member. A f chamber 27 is formedin the head 1 opposite the space sepa-V rating the j aws2 and and receives a circuit I ljl'closer which ispressed forwardly byfopen coil springs 28 and29. `A ringf23a fitted in theouter end of the chamber27 limits the forward ;mo vement of the] circuit closer.. [The circuit closer comprises sections 30 and V31, the spring/28 being' disposed between vsaid-j sections Vand thefsp'ring29 beingar'rangedg., x betweenzthe rear wall ofthe chamber 2? Aand v the section 31, whereby toV press the latter forwardly and break; the connection between i it and arv socket 32`,fto which -a-lexible'conductor 33 is'connected. jWhen the' members are runcoupled the circuit closer-is pressed; `forwardly by means ofthe spring 29,` therebyl -fbreakmgA the connection between it and they y socket 32.v 'When theQmemberfs are coupled the circuit i.closer is-pres'sed'rearwardly'and' engagesthe socket' 32', thereby. establishing `a .connection betweenth'e conductorsl 25and 33,

j -it being remembered that the projecting end Y. .of the section 3() entersv and makes electric'.

connection ywith the socket-26. .i

The jaw 2 has a recess1 34V formed therein and a Ylock *35 vis pivotally mounted within projecting beyond the inner side of the jaw 2, so as to enter a recess formed in the outer side of the jaw 3 of the .companionmember The lock 35 consists cfa `block and is pivoted at its forward end withinthe recess'34. The lower face of the lock 35 is inclined laterally and rests upon the bottom of they recess 34 vwhich is 'laterally inclined, asfindicatedat v37. rlhe lateralinclination ofthe contiguous faces36 and 37 is such asto effect a lateral movement of the Vblock and hold its rear end projecting beyond the inner side of the jaw 2, so asto engage the forward wall of the recess 38 formed in the outer side ofthe jaw 3 of the companion member; TheV rear vend ofthe lock 35 is provided with a projection 39 which is adapted to ride upon anY inclined portion V40of an 'operating member having a stem 4l, which projects beyond the member tobe operated from above or below as required. Upwardlmovement of the stem 41 causes the incline 40'to ride upon the pro ections 39 and move the rear end of the lock 35 'within'the recess 34, therebygwithdrawi-ng its 'rear end fromengagement withl the jaw 3 so that the membe'rsof thecoupling may be end withinthe recess 38 and its rear end is engagement vof the adjacent lock 35 from the `forward wall of the recess'38r. An operating member -43,'similar' to* the lock operating member 41', is mounted in a vertical opening formed in the jaw?) andincommunication with the recess 38. rlhe operating' member 43 has an yinclined portion 44 Ato"erfl'ectl-'ateral movement of thelock release 42.VVV 'The stem ofthemember 43 projects beyond'the coupling member to Ibe operated 4fromabove or below. As shown', the stems `of the' members 41A and 43 project above Vthej topf 'of the coupling-memberand are' connected to arms 45 and 46 projecting` from. theflsh'aft47, which may be operated' from either side of the car. As thejmember 43 ismoyed upwardly lthe fi'ncline'dportio'n'f44 fride'siipo'nvr the lock re- *le'ase 42 andnioves itlaterally to press the f adjacent lock' 35 within they recess 34while at the same; timez theropposite lock 35 is withdrawnwithinits recessby the inclined portion 4QV riding uponv the projectionl 39. It is .observed that'rotation of. thel shaft 47 effects simultaneous `upward Vm'oveinent "of 1 both irl'embersj 411and 43'v connected to; the'arms thereof, the member 41 withdrawing the lock 35 of they coupling meinberupon the shaft is mounted and theV member 43 project- Vingthe lock 'release so;Y as to disengage "the lock 3 5 ofthe companionij aw'vfinomlthe jaw 125 containing the" positively operated flock relea'se 42. The upper "ends of the recesses 38 and 40 are closed by cup plates, Vas indicated most clearly inFigu'res 1 and 4'. The jaws vadapted'to be'nioved laterally toeffect dis-V separa-ted. A lock release 42 is pivoted at one of the coupling` members Aare adapted` to enter the spaces formed between companion.

:jaws. The recesses 38 are formed in the the locks 35 is directly released by the mem- 'pis her 4l, and the other lock is released by the member 42.Y Itwill thus be understood that there isa positive lock between corresponding - jaws 2 and 3 of the coupling members, both locks being simultaneously released by operation of either one ofthe shafts 47, or other meansprovided for actuating` the inembers 41 and 43. vThen the cars to be coupled are run together the several trainlines and electric conductors are simultaneously coupled, thereby establishing communication be- 'l tween the respective train lines and electric conductors. llVhenV the cars are uncoupled the several train lines are automatically closedto prevent any waste of the air or steam, and the circuit closing device for connecting thel electric conductors assumes a neutral position, so that the projecting portion may not have any current taken therefrom by contact of an object therewith. Y

The conductor 25 is electricallyconnected with the socket 26, and the conductor 33 is Velectrically connected with the socket 32.

I-Ience, the conductors 33 and 25 are electrical- Y ly connected when the cars are coupled.

`Having thus described the invention, we claim:

l. A car coupling comprising a member havingV spaced jaws and having a recess formed in one of the jaws and opening throngh'a side thereof, the bottom of the recess beingl laterally inclined, a lock pivoted j within the said recess and having its bottom side laterallyzinclined to coact with the laterally inclined bottom of the recess to normally hold the lock projected into operative position, and means for moving the lockinto inoperative position t'o admit of uncoupling.

2.V A car coupling comprising a `member including a head and spaced jaws projecting therefrom, one Vof the jaws having a longitudinal passage opening through the extremity thereof, and the head having atransverse passage in communication with the inner end ot' the said longitudinal passage, and having av valve chamber intersecting the transverse passage and opening into the space formed j between the jaws, and a spring actuated valve in said chamber normally projecting into the space formed between the jaws and interrupting the transverse passage and adapted to be pressed inward to admit ofV uninterrupted flow through the passage when the.` cars j are coupled.

including a head and spaced jaws projecting in said chamber normally extending into the space provided between the jaws and formed with intersecting transverse and longitudinal openings, the transverse opening being normally out of line with the said transverse passage and adapted to register therewith when the valve is pressed in by a coupling of the cars.

4. A car coupling comprising a member including transversely spaced portions defining jaws, one of the jaws having a recess extending through its inner face, and having the bottom of the recess transversely inclined inwardly and downwardly, a lock pivoted in a recess and having its bottom side laterally inclined to coact with the inclined bottom of the recess to normally hold the lock projected, and lock releasing means mounted in the recess jaw.

y. In testimony whereof we'aiix our signatures.

NICK SCHLEICH. L. s.

CLARENCE J. ALD in E. [1.. e]

' 34A carcoupling comprising a member Y'

Images