US1810778A - Automatic air line connecter - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1931.

D. B. M TAGGART AUTOMATIC AIR LINE GONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 Plb 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR D M 1 M:

BY Maz ATTORNEY June 16, 1931. D. B. M TAGGART AUTOMATIC AEIIR LINE CONNECTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1928 INVENTOR Daniel z'wggnrt ATTORN EY June 16, 1931. B, MCTAGGART 1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N U? H Rt I a I I H I l f l i I Q a W N N Ii $3 a I N N j J M 3 w w i INVENTOR .Darniel .B. 111 9 3 032 ATTORNEY June 16, 1931. D, B. MOTAGGART 1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE 'CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY D. B. M TAGGART 1,810,778

AUTOMATIC AIR LINE-CONNECTER Filed July 5, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 We 1. m

as a F l a z 1 gag; 1 1 z z 2 \U a x w z 1 0 L. 4 $233 A z Z June 16, 1931.

ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1931 UNITED srarns DANIEL B. MOIAGGART, OFIBUTTE, MONTANA AUTOMATIC AIR LINE CONNECTER Application-filed July 5,

My invention relates to automatic train pipe connectors and an ob ect of the invention is to provide a connecter of this character whereby two adjacent ends of a train railway ar is lower than the draw bar of a 13' second car. V

V The invention also contemplates valve means which are operable to open and closed positions incident to the coupling and uncoupling operations of the conventional draw bar couplingelements but if desired may be manually actuated.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation -of two adjacent railway cars coupled together with my invention associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of theinvention associated with the usual car'coupling with the coupling members in mating rela tion, the car coupling and 'draw bars being illustrated in broken lines, I Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the car coupling in uncoupled position and the coupling members disengaged,

Figure at is a longitudinal section taken on linel,l of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,-

1928. Serial No. 290,602.

Figure 6is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the valve operating mechanism embodied in the invention, j 5

Figure 8v is a perspective of one ofthe valve elements embodied in the invention,

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2. V

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary de- 55. tail view illustrating the auxiliary bleeder valve embodied in the invention,

'Figure 11 is a detail view illustrating the position of the valve when the connecter is in disengaged position, and

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the position of the'valve when switching a can.

Referring to the invention in detail a pair of coupling members 5 and 6, each of which is associated with a coupling jaw or knuckle 7 of a conventional car coupling, is pro-' vided. Each of these coupling members 5 and 6 are identical in construction and therefore a detail description of one will suffice for both.

A U-shaped yoke 8 is arranged below the outer end of the draw bar with its parallel legs arranged horizontally. The upper leg of the yoke terminates in an enlargement 9 which is loosely received in the under face 7 of the draw bar so that the yoke maybe free to swing slightly'laterally. The enlargement and the extremity of the lower leg is provided with vertically alined openings 10 through which a relatively long pin 11 passes, and which extends through one of the knuckles'or jaws of the conventional car coupling to support the yoke and constitute a pivotfor such knuckle or jaw;

Vertically movable in the yoke 8 is a U-shaped member 12 whose lower leg terininates in a substantially rectangular downwardly curved apron 13. A longitudinal groove 14 is provided in the rear face of the vertical leg of this Ushaped member which '16 which is also slidable on the pin.

slidably embraces the inner face of the vertical leg of the yoke 8, while the extremities of the legs of the U-shaped member is pro-' vided with coinciding openings 15 through which the pin 11 passes to slidably support the forward end of the U-shaped member. Projecting from the under face of the lower leg of the U-shaped member 12 in vertical alinement with the openings 15, is a sleeve To normally urge the U-shaped member upwardly to. cause its upper leg to abut the upper leg of the yoke, an expansible coil spring 17 is received on the pin with its lower end abutting the lower leg of the yoke and its upper end bearing against the under face of the apron.

Slidably mounted in the U-shaped member 12 is a rectangular head 18-having a tapered or bevelled forward end 19. The head is provided with a longitudinal slot 20 through which the pin passes to permit the head to move longitudinally relative to the pin. Normally the head is urged in a forward direction by means of an expansible coil spring 21 encircling oppositely extending bosses 22 projecting from the head 18 and the vertical leg of the U-shaped member 12, respectively, and bearing against such parts. To retain the head against lateral shifting, parallel longitudinally extending guide ribs 23 are formed on the upper face of the head and normally extend along the longitudinal edges of the upper leg of the U-shaped member.

Formed on the rear end of the head and projecting laterally from the inner side thereof is a substantially V-shaped casting '24, one leg of which terminates in an obliquely disposed wing 25 whose forward end is bevelled or rounded from its lower edge to its upper edge, as at 26. At its point of juncture with the head the V-sha-ped casting is formed with an air passageway 27 having a lateral branch 28 at its inner end which opens upon the inner face of the casting. At its rear end this passageway communicates with a cylindrical valve casing 29 having communication with the usual air hose 30, and containing a hollow rotary valve 31 for controlling the passage of air to the passageway 27. With the two coupling members in mated relation, as illustrated in Figure 6, the lateral branch 28 of each casting is in registration. In order to' provide a seal between these lateral branches hollow piston 32 is slidable in each ofthe branches and carries a compressible gasket 33 in its outer end. To limit the longitudinal movement of the piston a pair of vertical former and the walls of the lateral branch 28. It will be observed that upon passage of air into the passageway 27, pressure will be built up behind the pistons which thrusts them outwardly and maintains them in abutting relation to provide an air-tight seal at their opposed ends as long as air is permitted to pass through the valve 31.

The valve 31 is provided with diametrically opposed ports 35 adapted to register with diametrically opposed ports 36in the valve casing. The periphery of the valve is further provided with diametrically opposed grooves 37 which are adapted to bring the ports 36 in communication with bleed ports '38 and'38ca in the valve casing at predetermined times.

F orthe purpose of opening and closing the valve 31 incident to the longitudinal movement of the head 18, an L-shaped arm 39 having a relatively long longitudinal slot 40 in one of its legs receiving an upstanding rectangular extension 41 formed on the upper end of the-valve, is provided. A relatively short longitudinal slot 42-is formed in the other leg of the arm and receives a pivot pin 43 which is carried by the upper face of the upper leg of the U-shaped member 12 adjacent its rear end. It will be seen that upon rearward movement of the head the arm will be shifted rearwardly until the rear end wall of the slot 42 abuts the pivot 43; At this time the continued rearward movement of the arm causes the valve to rotate to dispose the ports 35 in registration with the ports 36 in the valve casing and thuspermit air pressure to flow into the passageway 27. When the head moves forwardly to normal position under theinfluence ofthe spring 21 the arm is moved in the reverse direction to rotate the valve to a position where the ports 35 will be disposed to one side of the ports 36, and one of the grooves in communication with the bleed port 38a and adjacent port 36, as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12- to permit air from the passageway 27 to bleed to the atmosphere.

In order to maintain air pressure in the air hose 30, as when switching cars, a latch element 44 is pivoted to one leg of the L- shaped arm 39 adjacent one end of the slot 42 and is provided with a rounded shoulder 45 adapted to abut the pivot 43 when the latch element is swung to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 7. When the latch element is swung against the pivot the arm is shifted from the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 6 to the position illustrated in Figure llto sever communication between the air hose 30 and the bleed port 38, but establishing communication between one of the ports 36 and the port 38a.

In order to throw the latch element to normal position, as illustrated in full linesin Figure 7 ,a spring pressed trip 46 is pivoted to the rear end of the U-shaped member 12 and is adapted to be engaged by a pin 47 depending from the under face of the latch element when the head is moved rearwardly against the action of the spring 21.

For the purpose of moving the latch element into engagement with the pivot pin 43, a chain or other flexible element 48 is connected with one end of the latch element and in turn is operatively connected with a pivoted actuating lever 49. If desired, the valve 31 may be actuated manually and to that end a handle 50 is formed on one of the legs of the L-shaped arm. i

The valve 31 is balanced at its ends to insure free rotation thereof in its casing and to that end openings 51 are provided in the ends of the valve to permit air pressure to be built up in the valve casing at its upper and lower ends. In this connection it will be seen that air pressure in the ends of the valve casing acts on the ends of the valve so that the valve camiot contact with the end walls of the casing.

In addition to bleeding the passageway 27 from the bleed port 38a, an auxiliary bleed port 52 is provided in one side of the head,

which is normally closed by a spring pressed valve 53 whose stein normally rests on a horizontally disposed pivoted arm 54 carried by the head below the valve which has an offset portion 55 terminating in an inclined extension 56 adapted to ride on a laterally projecting pin 57 extending from one side of the U-shaped member 12. It will be seen that as the head moves forwardly under the influence of its spring the inclined extension, riding over the pin 57 lifts the arm against the valve, unseating the latter to permit the passageway 27 to bleed to the atmosphere.

In practice the win 25 of each of the cow 'pling members rides over the aprons 13 as the coupling members approach each other. To facilitate the movement of the wing 25 over the apron, a roller 58 is journalled on a horizontally disposed pin 59, projecting laterally from the lower leg of the U-shaped member below the apron, and projects through a transverse slot 60 provided in the apron adjacent the end thereof.

In the operation of the invention the wing 25 of one of the coupling members rides over the apron of the other coupling member to depress its U-shaped members 12 against the action of the. corresponding spring 17 until the heads lie in horizontal alinement. As the coupling of the jaws or knuckles 7 is affected, the heads 18 pass into the V-shaped castings, as illustrated in Figure 6. Due to the impact of the mating of the heads with the castings, the heads are moved longitudinally in oppositedirections which rotates the valve 31 of each coupling member to establish communication of the air passageways 27, through the medium of the pivoted arm 39. It will be apparent that as long as the coupling members are in mated relation an air-tight passageway between the two will be maintained. However, when one of the coupling members is disengaged from the other, the springs 21, projecting the heads forwardly to normal position, causes the valve to be rotated to closed position through the medium of their associated pivoted arms 39.

Should it be desired to switch a car, the latch element is swung into engagement with the pivot 43. The L-shaped'arm 39 can now be manually actuated to dispose the valve 31 in the position disclosed in Figure 11 to maintain an air pressure in the air hose but permit the passageway 27 to bleed to" the atmosphere.

What is claimed is 1. In an air line connecter, a pair of like members for interfitting'relation each having an air passageway having lateral 1 branches which register when the members are in interfitting relation, and a hollow piston slidable ineach lateral branch and held in abutting relation by air passing through the passageway to provide an air passage of air to the passageways.

3. In an air line connecter the combination with two adjacent draw bars, oifset' parallel yokes depending from the draw bars each. having a pair of vertical parallel guides, a resiliently mounted U-shaped member supported in eachyoke and normally heldat the upper end thereof and slidable in the guides, a resiliently urged head slidable in each U-shaped member and having air passages. therein adapted to be arranged in registration with each other, and means for depressing either of the U-shaped members to dispose the heads in mating relation.

4. In an air line connecter, a pair of U-shape d yoke's to be supported from the adjacent ends of a pair of draw bars and arranged with their parallel parts horizontal, a horizontally disposed U-shaped member slidably engaged with the intermediate leg of each yoke, a vertical guide I at the forward end of each yoke upon which the forward end of one of the U-shaped members is slidable, resilient means normally urging each of the U-shaped members to the upper ends of the yokes, oppositely movable resiliently urged heads slidable in the U-shaped members and each having an air passage therein, co-operating means carried by the heads to depress one of the latter to cause the heads to move into mating relation when the draw bars are moved to wards each other and thus dispose the passageways in registration.

5. In an air line connecter, a pair of mountings to be mounted on the adjacent ends of railway rolling stock in offset relation and each having a pair of vertical parallel guides, a yieldably mounted member supported in each of the mountings for vertical movement on each pair of the guides,-

and a cushioned coupling head slidably mounted in each of said members, a down-' wardly curved apron projecting forwardly from each coupling head, and a wing also pro ect1ng from each coupling head 1n longi- 'tudinal alinement with one of the aprons,

pansible coil spring encircling the pin and yieldably supporting said member, and a coupling head mounted in said member for longitudinal movement.

7. In an automatic connecter, a pair of Ll-shaped yokes to be supported from the adjacentends of railway rolling stock, a vertical pin passing through the parallel legsof each U-shaped yoke forsupporting the same in operative position, a depressible member slidable on one pin and vertical leg vertically and its parallel legs removably supported on the pin, a depressible air line coupling head mounted on the pin and intermediate leg of the U-shaped member, and an expansible coil spring encircling the pin and engaging the lower horizontal leg of the U-shaped member and bearing against the coupling head to urge the same in contact with the upper horizontal leg of the U-shaped member.

DANIEL B. MOTAGGART.

of each yoke, expansible springs on the pins 7 and engaging the under faces of the depressible members to yieldably support the latter, and a cushioned coupling head longitudinally movable in each of the depressible' members, and cooperating means on the coupling heads and depressible members for depressing either of the U-shaped members to a position where it is in horizontal alinement with the other depressible member as the coupling heads assume mating relation.

8. In an air line coupling, a'pin adapted to be supported vertically by the coupling head of a draw bar, a U-shaped member arranged with its intermediate leg extending

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