US2025726A - Draft rigging - Google Patents

Description

G. F. COUCH DRAF T RIGGING Dec. 31, 1935.

Filed April 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 31, 1935. F, COUCH 2 ,025,726

- DRAFT RI GGING Filed April 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. F. COUCH DRAFT RIGGING Dec. 31, 1935.

Filed April 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 31, G O C DRAFT RIGGING Filed April 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm 7 ucf Zia Patented Dec. 31, 1935 PATENT oFFicE DRAFT RIGGING Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,254

10 Claims.

This invention relates to draft rigging and, more particularly, to a coupler and the connection thereof to a railway vehicle or locomotive pilot beam.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the connection of a coupler with a relatively short shank to a railway vehicle in such a manner that it angles as if it were swivelled about a long radius.

Another object of my invention is the connection of a coupler to a locomotive pilot beam in such a manner that it may swing horizontally about a center disposed a relatively great distance rearwardly of said beam, thereby making it the equivalent of a long radius coupler, and

avoiding derailments, especially when the locomotive is used for pusher service.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan, with portions in horizontal section on the line II of Figure 2, of a coupler embodying my invention and connected to the front of a locomotive pilot beam.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, with portions of the mechanism removed to show one of the rockers.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 1,- but showing a modification.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows, the coupler head and stub stem being shown in elevation.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the em bodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, a portion being broken away.

Figure 8 is a side elevational View of one of the rockers.

When utilizing a locomotive for pusher service, the pilot coupler is naturally displaced on curves a considerable extent horizontally from the center of the track, and this requires that the connectedcouple-r on the caboose, or rear car of 55' the train beingpushed, must swing in the wrong direction to maintain proper face contact, in some instances, swinging further than the enclosing striking casting permits, with the result that a derailment occurs. A theoretically correct solution of this problem of preventing such derail- 5 ments would require that the front end of the locomotive be equipped with a coupler having a shank or adapted to swivel about a radius in the neighborhood of eight or ten feet long. The average locomotive has no spare space along its lon- 1'0 gitudinal center line for any such coupler shank. In accordance with my invention, I have devised the equivalent of a long radius coupler which can be applied to the front of the pilot beam. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts 15 being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, there is shown a portion of a locomotive pilot beam I to which is connected a base casting or bracket mem- 20 her 2 as by means of bolts 3 and nuts 4, said b'olts 3 preferably extending through slots 5 in the base web 6 of the casting 2 to allow for vertical adjustment of said casting with respect to the beam I.

Inasmuch as, the base web 6 of the casting 2, B5 in the present embodiment, when in the desired position, extends below the bottom of the pilot beam I, an adapter casting l is desirably used to form an extension 8 to the front face of the pilot beam to receive the lower bolts 9 for securing the 0 lower portion of the base casting 2 to the pilot beam I. Said adapter casting I is desirably interlocked and connected with the pilot beam I by having the base portion in fitting between the portion of the front wall II of the pilot beam 35 which extends below the lower web I2 thereof and a depending flange portion I3, and connected to said lower web portion I2 in any desired manner, as by means of the bolts I4 and stud I5, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. If desired, liners I6 may be positioned between the front face of the pilot beam I and adapter casting 'I and the rear face of the base casting 2. I I

Received in the base casting 2 is what may be termed a radial casting or radially swinging mem= ber W. said casting I! is adapted to support rockers I 8 in rearwardly opening pockets I9, thereby providing for radial movement, and the stub shank 20 of a pilot coupler 2| in a forwardly opening pocket 22. In the present embodiment, each 50 of the two rockers I8 has a cylindrical pivot 'or end portion 23 swivelled for horizontal angling in a corresponding socket 24 in the base casting 2. and flares outwardly to a toothed circumferential edge portion 25 normally engaging a corresponding concavely curved toothed portion 26 on the radial casting ll. lhe toothed portion 26 on the radial casting l l is curved to a radius about which the supported coupler is to swing.

In order to allow for the desired swinging of the radial casting H, the front face 21 of the base Web 6 of the casting 2 is cylindrically curved about a center corresponding with the curvature of the associated radial casting l1 and the rear face of the socket portion 28 which provides the coupler stem receiving pocket 22 is correspondingly concavely curved, so that upon movement of the radial casting from side to side, there is no binding between it and the base wall 6 of the base casting 2, the cylindrical toothed rocking surfaces 25 of the rocker members I8 allowing the radial casting to swing about a fixed center or axis disposed rearwardly of the base casting and pilot beam a relatively great distance so as to give the supported coupler 2| the equivalent of a long shank.

In order to mount the coupler stem 20 in the radial casting ll, as well as prevent undesired withdrawal of the radial casting ll from the base casting 2, a connecting pin or headless bolt 29 desirably extends vertically through the stem 26 and the walls of the radial casting I1, those portions of said pin 29 above and below the upper and lower webs of the radial casting I! having mounted thereon washers or wear members 30, the sides of which are desirably cylindrically curved about the center provided for the swinging of the radial casting so that the upper washer 30 is adapted to slide on the depending cylindrical flange 3! of the base casting 2 and the lower washer 38 is adapted to slide on the upstanding cylindrical flange 32 of the base casting 2, thereby allowing for the radial movement of the coupler 2| on draft, it being understood that the rockers i8 allow for such radial movement on buif. Of course, it will be understood that the rear or bearing surfaces on the flanges 3| and 32 are curved about a center or axis corresponding with the center or axis of the curved and toothed front wall or web 26 of the radial casting H.

To provide for insertion and removal of the pin 29, the upper web 33 of the base casting 2 is shown apertured, as indicated at 34, said aperture being normally closed by a cap 35 held in place by a retainer or cotter 36. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the washers 30 are comparatively loose on the pin 29, so that they may be inserted before the assembly of the radial casting H with the base casting 2 and the pin 29 simply dropped to position after assembly of the other parts. In order to allow for convenient removal of the pin 29, a relatively small hole 31 is provided in the lower web portion 38 so that when the cap 35 is removed, the pin may be pushed out of the aperture 34 by a bar inserted in the hole 31. In order to allow for the convenient taking up of wear between the pin 29 and shank 20 of the coupler 2 l, the apertured portion of said shank desirably has a bushing 39 applied thereto. The lower web 38 of the base casting is desirably extended, as indicated at 40, to underlie the head of the coupler 2i and prevent drooping.

3| and 32 of the base casting 2 instead of sliding action as in the preceding embodiment. A further difference resides in the fact that drooping of the coupler 2 l is prevented by extension of the lower portion of the radial casting ll to engage the base casting extension 40*, rather than having said extension directly engage the coupler head.

In the present embodiment, the rockers l8 are shown each provided with a single tooth 25 instead of three teeth as in the preceding embodiment, each tooth fitting in a corresponding aperture in the circumferential front web 26 of the radial casting Il said apertures being framed by outstanding beading 4| in order to protect the teeth 25* which, as will be understood, are relatively long in order to provide the desired guiding action for the full swivelling movement of the coupler. The opening to the coupler stem pocket 22 is likewise desirably framed by beading 42 of radial dimension corresponding with the beading 4|. As in the preceding embodiment, the base casting 2 may be connected to an associated pilot beam (not shown) with the aid of an adapter casting (not shown), if desirable or necessary. In the present embodim nt, the aperture 34 allowing for insertion and removal of the pivot pin 29 is disposed oif-center, so that the pin will normally be retained in position by the top web 33 of the base casting 2 without the necessity of a retaining cap. Except as specifically described and illustrated, the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, may correspond with the first described embodiment.

From the foregoing disclosure, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided for the mounting of a locomotive coupler in such a manner that it may move horizontally in service as if it were pivoted about a center disposed a relatively great distance rearwardly of the pilot beam without weakening the beam or interfering with the normal front end structure of the locomotive by the provision of an unusually long shank on the coupler.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In adevice of the character indicated, in combination with a base member adapted to be rigidly secured to a locomotive, a radially swinging member supported by and movable with respect to said base member, said swinging member having a forwardly opening pocket receiving a coupler stem, and a pin connecting said stem to said swinging member, said pin extending above and belowsaid swinging member to overlap portions of the base member and retain the parts in assembled relation.

2. In a device of the character indicated, in combination with a locomotive pilot beam with normally horizontal and vertical web portions, said vertical Web portion being continued below the lower face of the horizontal web portion, a base casting with a web secured to the front face of said vertical web portion and extending below the lower edge thereof, an adapter casting with a portion engaging said lower face behind said extension, connected to the horizontal web of said beam and provided with a web extending from behind said extension and below said beam in line with the front face of said vertical web portion, means connecting the lower portion of said base casting web to said adapter casting, a radially swinging member mounted in said base casting, and a coupler connected to said swinging member.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination with a pilot beam, means providing a forwardly opening recess at the front thereof, means providing inwardly extending shoulders partly closing said recess, a casting having a rounded end portion extending into the recess, means for pivotally uniting said casting to said beam, rocker members seated in said recess and adapted to engage the casting, said rocker members and said pivotal means serving respectively to take the force of buffing and draft imparted to said casting, a coupler with a stem extending into said casting between said rockers, and means securing said stem in place.

4. In adevice of the character indicated, the combination with a casting adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle and provided with a pocket, of a member received in said pocket, means connecting said member and casting for the transmission of draft forces, while allowing radial swinging of the former with respect to said casting about an axis lying outside of said member, rocker means in said pocket and interposed between said casting and said swinging member so as to allow for said swinging and serve to transmit bufiing forces from said member to said casting, and a coupler carried by said swinging member.

5. In a device of the character indicated, in combination with a base casting adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle and provided with a forwardly opening pocket, of a radial casting received in said pocket, means adapting said radial casting to swing with respect to said base casting about an axis disposed to the rear of said radial casting and serving to transmit draft forces therebetween, rocker means in said pocket, pivoted with respect to said base casting, and interposed between it and said radial casting so as to transmit bufiing forces therebetween, and a coupler with a stem received in a forwardly opening pocket in said radial casting.

6. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a casting adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle, of a radially swinging member supported by and movable with respect to said casting, a coupler carried by said swinging member, draft force transmitting means connecting said coupler, swinging member and casting, and a plurality of rockers interposed between said casting and said swinging member, each of said rockers having end portions swiveled in sockets in said casting and circumferential portions adapted to roll on portions of said swinging member.

7. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a base casting adapted to be rigidly secured to a locomotive, of a radial casting supported by and movable with respect to said base casting and provided with concavely curved surfaces facing the latter, a coupler carried by said radial casting, and rocker means interposed between said base casting and radial casting, said rocker means having end portions movable with respect to said base casting and circumferential portions normally rolling on the curved surfaces and having toothed engagement with said radial casting.

8. In a device of the character indicated, in

combination with a bracket member adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle, a radially swinging member supported by and movable with respect to said bracket member, said swinging member having a concave surface curved to correspond with the desired radius of swinging, rocker means disposed between said bracket member and radially swinging member, engaging said concave surface, and serving to allow for swinging and transmit buffing forces therebetween, and a coupler carried by said swinging member.

9. In a device of the character indicated, in combination with a base member adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle and having a forwardly opening pocket, a radially swinging member supported in said pocket and movable with respect to said base member, said swinging member having a surface concavely curved to correspond with the desired radius of swinging, rockers movably engaging said base member and with convex surfaces engaging said concavely curved surface on the swinging member to allow for swinging and transmit buffing forces therebetween, and a coupler carried by said swinging member.

10. In a device of the character indicated, in combination with a base member adapted to be rigidly secured to a railway vehicle and having a forwardly opening pocket, a radially swinging member received in said pocket and movably supported by said base member, said swinging member having a rearwardly facing concave surface. rockers disposed in said pocket between said base member and the concave surface of said swinging member to transmit bufling forces and reduce friction during relative movement, said swinging member having a forwardly opening pocketed portion disposed between said rockers, and a coupler with a shank extending into said pocketed portion and connected to said swinging member.

GLENN F. COUCH.

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