US1915146A - Uncoupling mechanism for rotor couplers - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933. A. J. BAZELEY UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTOR COUPLERS 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1929 J/AQ W I Ii;

June 20, 1933. A. J. BAZELEY UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTOR GOUPLERS Filed Oct. 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1933. A. J. BAZELEY 1,915,146

UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTOR COUPLERS Filed Oct. 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES ARTHUR J. BAZELEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO UNCOUPLING MECHANISM FOR ROTQR COUPLERS Application filed October 30, 1929. Serial No. 403,405.

The present invention has for an object to provide an improved uncoupling mechanism for couplers of the type commonly used on railway rolling stock. The uncoupling rod as usually applied to freight cars partakes of the motion of the coupler during train operation and therefore has considerable movement which causes excessive wear of both the rod and the bracket in which it is supported.

The present invention provides an arrangement in which the uncoupling rod and the operating lever are united by a lost motion connection which reduces wear and has other advantages.

The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of a particular embodimentfor the purpose of which description reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an uncoupling mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the coupler and car frame to which it is con nected being shown in dot and dash lines,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 8 is an end view taken from the left of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a lost motion connecting link taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 5,

Fig. 5 is an edge view of said link,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a side View of a link of slightly different form, and

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

In the structure shown for the purposes of illustration an operating lever 5 is pivoted. in a bracket 6 secured as by rivets 7 to the frame 8 of a railway car. An uncoupling rod 10 is operatively connected at its inner end to a coupling member 11 which is shown provided with an eye in which the hook 12 at the inner end of the rotatable uncoupling rod 10 engages. In accordance with the present invention the rotatable uncoupling rod 10 and operating lever 5 are united by a lost motion connection, whereby the uncoupling 59 rod may move longitudinally without moving the lever. In the particular construction illustrated the uncoupling rod 10 is formed at its outer end with a hook 15 and the operating lever 5 carries a similar hook 16, said 7 hooks preferably both lying in the same plane. A link 17 connects the two'hooks by a hinge connection to each.

The, link has at its upper end a pivot member 18 with which the hook 16 can readily be 7, engaged when the link and the horizontal bar portion of the lever 5 are in parallel relation but in the operative position of the parts as shown disengagement of the hook and link are prevented by a stop 20 formed on the link. At the opposite end the link is formed with a similar pivot 22 with which the book 15 can be engaged in certain positions of the link and rod and disengagement is prevented when the parts are in working position by a ,7 stop 23. In the arrangement shown, the link is hingedly connected to and depends from the operating lever and the uncoupling rod is hingedly connected to and supported at one end by the link, the relation of parts pref- V I erably being such that the weight of the link and uncoupling rod tends to maintain the lever 6 and the rod in position to maintain the car coupler in connected position. The construction of the link is such that it comprises twoside members and a perpendicular connecting web, the latter having holes or openings at its ends to receive the hooks of the operating lever and the uncoupling rod. The bracket 6 in which the operating lever 5 is pivotally suspended may be of any de- 35 sired construction. As shown it is formed with a pair of ears 25 between which a horizontal bar portion of the lever is secured by a suitable bolt 26. A lug 27 shown as hook shaped also engages the horizontal bar portion of the lever. The lever can be connected to the bracket by engaging it with the hook shaped lug 27. while the handle portion of the lever is in horizontal position, and then moving it to the left in Fig. 1 to bring the lever suitably between the lugs 25. A lug 30 forms a stop to limit movement of the lever 5 to the left.

The link shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is functionally the equivalent of that above described and has pivot members 31 and 32 at its opposite ends for engagement by the hooks 15 and 16 of the uncoupling rod and the operating lever but one side member is narrow and not integrally connected with the stops 33 and 34 which retain the hooks 15 and 16 in engagement. This construction in effect comprises a single side member and a web substantially perpendicular thereto, this web being provided with holes between the pivots 31 and 32 and the center of the web. It will be apparent that either form of the link disclosed is adapted for reversible connection to the rod and lever due to the symmetrical construction at the two ends.

The foregoing particular description is illustrative merely and isnot intended as defining the limits ofthe invention.

I claim:,

1. An uncoupling mechanism for car -couplers comprising, in combination, a rotatable uncoupling rod adapted to be operatively connected to the coupler, an operating lever adapted to be pivotedto a car body and :a connection between said rod and lever comprising a link hingedly connected to and depending from said lever and hingedly connected to said rod, said connection to'the lever enforcing bodily rotation of the link about the axis of said lever.

2. An uncoupling'mechanism for car couplers comprising, in combination, a rotatable uncoupling rod adapted to be operatively connected to the coupler, an operating lever adapted to be pivoted to a car body, said rod and lever having hook ends adjacent each other, and a connection between said rod and lever comprising a link having parallel pivot members with which the hook ends of the rod and lever engage and having stop members engaging said book ends to prevent uncoupling thereof in normal operative position but permitting engagement and disengagement of said hook ends in certain relative positions of the parts. I

3. An uncoupling mechanism for car couplers comprising, in combination, a rotatable uncoupling rod adapted to be operatively connected to the coupler, an operating lever adapted to pivoted to a car body and an operative connection between said rod'and lever permitting longitudinal movement of the rod relative to the lever, comprising a link hingedly connected at a fixed point to ;he lever and depending therefrom and hingedly connected at a fixed point to the un-' coupling rod and supporting the same whereby the operating rod is free to move longitudinally relative to the lever while being operatively connected thereto but is so suspended that its weight tends to retain the coupler in coupled relation.

4. An uncoupling mechanism for car couplers comprising, in combination, a rotatable uncoupling rod adapted to be operatively connected to the coupler, an operating lever adapted to be pivoted to a car body, and means suspended from said lever connecting said operating lever and said rod and adapted to rotate bodily about the axis of said lever, said rod being positioned below the pivotal axis of said lever.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a pair of substantially parallel uncoupling rods each having a bent portion at one end, a link having similar portions at each end receiving said portions of the rods, said link being adapted for reversible assembly with said rods, said link having means thereon to keep the bent portions of said rods in engagement with said link portions.

6. In an uncoupling mechanism for car couplers, a pair of uncoupling rods, a link connecting said rods, said link comprising a side member, a web projecting substantially perpendicularly from said side member having holes at each end to receive an end of each rod and means adjacent said holes serving to keep the rods in engagement with the web.

7. An uncoupling mechanism for car couplers comprising, in combination, a rotary uncoupling element carried by the coupler terminating in an eye, a rotatable uncoupling rod adapted for hooked connection with said eye, an operating lever adapted to be pivoted to a car body and a member pivotally connected with adjacent ends of the rod and lever at fixed points operatively connecting said rod and lever.

8. An uncoupling mechanism for car couplers comprising a pair of substantially parallel rotatable rods, and a member connecting the ends of said rods to transmit rotational movement between them by a bodily rotation of said member about the axis of one of said rods, and to enable relative longitudinal movement of said rods by rotation of said member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of one of said rods.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification this 24th day of October, 1929.

ARTHUR J. BAZELEY.

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