US2032353A - Draft rigging - Google Patents

Description

March 3, 1936.

G. F. couc DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 3; 1936. G F' COUCH 2,032,353 DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 3, 1936. G. F. COUCH DRAFT RIGGING Filed May 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 gmentoz Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGING Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Z, .assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a .cor-

poration of Maryland Application May 26, 1933, Serial No. 673,074

12 Claims. (CL 213-6) 'This invention relates to draft rigging and, more particularly, to the connection between a coupler and a railway vehicle, such as a locomotive, allowing for radial swinging of said coupler.

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 was 19 swivelled about a long radius, means being provided to minimize wear of the associated parts.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a locomotive end casting having a for- Wardly opening pocket or recess for receiving ele- 13 ments for connecting an associated coupler thereto and permitting it to swing from side to side as if it were pivoted about a long radius.

A further object of my invention is the con- 0 nection of a coupler to a locomotive pilot beam #9 or endcasting in such a manner that it may swing horizontally about a center disposed at a relatively great distance from the head of the coupler, rockers being employed to transmit the buffing forces from the coupler to the locomotive, whereby excessive sliding friction is minimized, and improved results obtained.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construct-ion of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceedsl Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended olaims:-

Figure l is a plan, with portions in horizontal section, of a locomotive end casting with a coupler connected thereto and illustrating one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure '1, the coupler being fragmentarily illustrated and a. portion shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan, with portions in horizontal section, of a coupler connected to a locomotive pilot beam for radial swinging movement with respect thereto, illustrating another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional 55 View corresponding to Figure 4, but being on an enlarged scale, and illustrating the coupler when swung to one side from normal position.

Figure '7 is .a fragmentary front elevational view of the radial mechanism attached to the front face of a pilot beam, the stem of the cou- '5 pler being illustrated in section.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Figure 4, showing a modification.

In my previous application, Serial No. 606,254, filed April 19, 1932, I have disclosed mechanism for connecting a coupler to a locomotive pilot beam, or the like, to allow for swinging ofa short shank coupler about a long radius, said mechanism involving rocker means, the inner ends of which were swivelled in sockets on a base casting, and the outer ends of which were adapted to roll on a web of a radially swinging member. The arrangement disclosed was for the purpose of devising the equivalent of a long radius coupler which could be applied to the front of a locomotive. Such a construction was especially designed for pusher service in which the pilot coupler is naturally displaced on curves a considerable extent horizontally from the center of the track, requiring that when connected to the caboose coupler, or that of the rear car of the train being pushed, it must swing in the wrong direction to maintain proper face contact, in some instances, swinging further than the enclosing striking casting permits, resulting in derailment. In accordance with the present invention, an improvement in the mechanism has been eflected, resulting in increased strength and reduction in friction between the parts and the wear resulting from such friction. 35

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown an end casting l adapted to be connected to the front end portion of a locomotive, and for that purpose desirably being generally rectangular in plan, but having notches 2 at the sides thereof adapted to receive the front ends of the frames (not shown). For economy, the casting is so constructed that no machining is required. The end or center casting I is provided with a large cylindrical hole 3 adjacent the rear face, the axis of said hole being normally vertical to adapt it from receiving the king pin of a "pony truck casting (not shown).

The combination disclosed involves a housing or base casting 4 connected to the end casting I by means of a vertical pin 5, intersecting horizontal webs 6 and l of the end casting l, and the 55 corresponding rear portion of the base casting 4, passing through cylindrical apertures 8 and 9 in the end casting, desirably positioned on or arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said casting, and II] in the base casting. For the purpose of receiving the base casting 4 and the associated parts to be described, the end casting I is desirably provided with a forwardly opening pocket or recess II, desirably longitudinally alined with the king pin hole 3 or transversely centered with respect to the casting I, and defined by the horizontal walls or webs 6 and I, a transverse normally vertical, preferably generally flat, wall orweb I2, and vertical inwardly converging or diagonal webs I3 and I4. As shown in Figure 1, the pocket is thus generally semi-hexagonal in plan, the rear wall or web I2 of which is desirably reinforced by one or more vertical webs extending rearwardly therefrom, as illustrated, and serves as an abutment for the rear web I of the base casting 4, said web being enlarged at its central portion, as indicated at I6, to receive the pin 5, said pin being desirably prevented from loss or undesired removal by means of a cotter IT, or the like.

Received in the housing or base casting 4 is what may be termed a radial casting or radially swinging member I8 as said casting is adapted to support toothed rollers or rockers I9, instead of pivoted toothed sectors, in rearwardly opening pockets 20 and the stub shank 2| of a pilot or comotive front end coupler 22 in a forwardly opening pocket 23. In the present embodiment, each of the two rollers or rockers has front and rear cylindrical rolling surfaces 24 and '25, respectively, desirably coaxial or substantially so, the front or outer surface 24 rolling on the inner concave cylindrical surface 26 of the vertical web portion 21 of the radially swinging member I8, the engaging surfaces being desirably provided with intermeshing gear teeth 28 to maintain the parts in the correct transverse relationship.

The rear or inner surfaces 25 of the rollers or rockers I9 may engage corresponding convex cylindrical surfaces, preferably coaxial with the inner surface 26, and formed on the base casting 4, if desired, However, it is deemed preferable to employ inserts or wear plates 29 disposed in pockets between the front face of the rear web I5 of the base member 4 and the rear rocking surfaces 25 on the rollers or rockers I9, the front faces of said plates and the engaging faces of the rollers I9 being provided with intermeshing gear teeth 30, as illustrated particularly in Figure 1. The use of wear plates affords means for adjustments, and the inserts may be of a material harder than the associated parts to compensate for the decreased effective bearing area between the convex surfaces, as compared with that, at the front end of each roller, between a convex and a concave surface.

By letting the housing 4 project into the center casting I, as in the present embodiment, it is possible to mount the rollers or rockers I9 closer together than the toothed sectors of the embodiments disclosed in my previous application Serial No. 606,254, the pocket 23 being formed outwardly of said rollers rather than between the sectors, thereby providing a longer and stronger radial casting I8.

In order to mount the radial casting I8 in the base member 4, a connecting pin or headless bolt 3| desirably extends vertically through the body portion of the radial member I8 with those protions of said pin above and below said radial member having washers or wear members 32 and 33 mounted thereon, the front sides of which are desirably cylindrically curved about the center provided for the swinging of the radial casting, so that the upper washer 32, when the associated coupler 22 is subjected to draft forces, is adapted to slide on the depending cylindrical flange 34, and the lower washer 33 is adapted to slide on the upstanding cylindrical flange 35, thereby allowing for the radial movement of the casting I8 and associated coupler 22 on draft, the rockers or rollers I9 allowing for such radial movement on buff. The flanges 34 and 35, of course, have rear or inner bearing surfaces curved about an axis corresponding with the axis of the curved and toothed front wall or web portions 21 of the radial casting I8.

To provide for insertion and removal of the pin 3|, the upper web 36 of the base casting 4 is shown apertured, as indicated at 31, said aperture being normally closed by a cap 38 held in place, when the parts are assembled, by underlying the web 6 of the end casting I. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the washers 32 and 33 are comparatively loose on the pin 3|, so that they may be inserted before the assembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4, and the pin 3| simply dropped to position after assembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4, but before connection of the base casting with the end casting I. In order to allow for convenient removal of the pin 3|, a relatively small hole 39 is desirably provided in the lower web portion 40 of the base member 4, so that when the cap 38 is removed, the pin may be pushed out of the aperture 31 by a bar inserted in the hole 39. The lower web I of the end casting is desirably extended, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, to underly the outer portion of the swinging member 8 and prevent drooping.

The stem 2| of the coupler 2 is normally received in the forwardly open pocket 23 of the radial member I8 and connected thereto by means of a vertical pin 4|, which extends through apertures 42 and 43 in the radial casting I8 and a desirably bushed aperture 44 in the stem 2| of the coupler, said pin being clesirably retained in place by resting on the extended portion of the web I and prevented from undesired upward movement by a cotter, or the like, 45 extending between lugs 46, only one of which is illustrated, positioned on opposite sides of the aperture 42. In order to allow for adjustment of the coupler height, the pocket 23 which receives the stem 2| is desirably tall enough to receive one or more shims 41 which are disposed either above or below the coupler stem in accordance with the height adjustment desired. The extended portion of the web 1 is desirably formed with a small aperture 48 functioning to facilitate removal of the pin 4| in a for vertical adjustment of said casting with respect to the beam I Inasmuch as the base web l5 of the casting 4 in the present embodiment, when in the desired position, extends below the bottom of the pilot "beam l an adapter casting 2 is desirably used to form an extension of the front face of the pilot beam to receive the lower bolts 50 for securing the lower portion of the base casting 4 to the pilot beam I. Said adapter casting is desirably connected to the pilot beam l by having its base web 53 connected to the lower web 54 of said pilot beam in an approved manner, as by means of bolts 55, as shown most clearly in Figures 4 and 5. In order to avoid machining the adjacent surfaces of the webs 53 and 54 of the-adapter casting or bracket 2 and the pilot beam l respectively, said bolts may have enlarged collars or flanges 56 to serve as spacing washers or liners. A liner 51 may" also be positioned between the front face of the pilot beam I and the rear face of the housing Received in the housing or base. casting 4* is what may be termed a radial casting or radially swinging member l8, said casting having rearwardly opening pockets receiving and supporting toothed rollers or rockers l9 and a forwardly' opening pocket 23 receiving the stub shank 2M of a pilot or locomotive front end coupler 22. In the present embodiment, each of the two rollers has front and rear cylindrical rolling surfaces 24 and 25 respectively, desirably coaxial, or substantially so, the front or outer surface 24 rolling on an inner concave cylindrical surface 26 of the normally vertical. web portion 21 of the radial swinging member I8 the engaging surfaces being desirably provided with intermeshing gear teeth 28', as in the previous embodiment.

The rear or inner surfaces 25* of the rollers l9 may engage corresponding convex cylindrical surfaces preferably coaxial with the inner surfaces 26, and formed on the base casting 4', if desired. However, it is thought preferable to employ wear plates 29*, as in the preceding embodiment,'disposed in pockets between the front face of the web l5" and the rear rocking surfaces 25 the front faces of said plates and the engaging faces of the rollers l9 being provided with intermeshing gear teeth 30*.

In order to mount the coupler stem 2P in the radial casting I8 as well as prevent undesired withdrawal of the radial casting from the base casting 4 a connecting pin or headless bolt 3| desirably extends vertically through the stem 2 I, which is preferably bushed, as indicated at H, and the upper and lower walls of the radial casting I8 Those portions of the pin 3P- above and below the upper and lower webs of the radial member l8 desirably have mounted thereon washers or wear members 32* and 33, the sides of which are desirably cylindrically curved about the center provided for the swinging of the radial casting,'so that the upper washer 32 is adapted to slide on the depending cylindrical flange 34, and the lower washer 33 is adapted to slide on the upstanding cylindrical flange 35 of the base casting 4, thereby allowing for the radial movement of the coupler 22 on draft, it being understood that the rollers l9" allow for such radial movement on buff, the axis of such radial movement being determined by the axis of the cylindrical surfaces 26. Of course, it will be understood that the rear or bearing surfaces of the flanges 34 and 35 are curved about a center or axis corresponding with thatof the rolling" surface 26 of theradial casting [8.

To provide for insertion and removal of the pin M, the upper web 36 of the housing 4 is apertured, as indicated at 31*, said aperture being normally closed by a cap 38 held in place by the retaining or cotter means 58 which passes through registering apertures in reinforcing flanges 59 disposed on opposite sides of the aperture 31. In a preferred embodiment, the washers 32 are comparatively loose on the pin 3| so that they may be inserted before the assembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4 and the pin 3P simply dropped to position after assembly of the radial casting I8 with the base casting 4 In order to allow for convenient removal of the pin 31*, a relatively small hole 39 is desirably provided in the lower web 40 of the base member 4*, so that when the cap 38" is removed, the pin may be pushed out of the aperture 3'1 by a bar inserted in the hole 39.

The lower web W of the housing 4 is desirably extended, as shown most clearly in Figure 5, to underlie the head of the coupler 22' and prevent or minimize drooping thereof. A wear plate 60 is desirably applied to said web 40 under the coupler head and secured to said web by countersunk bolts GI and nuts 62.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figure 8', there is shown a construction very similar to that of Figures 4 to '7, inclusive, involving a base member or housing 4 connected to a pilot beam l and receiving a radially swinging member l8, including roller members I9", only fragmentary portions of which are shown. The inner ends of the rollers l9 engage inserts or wear members 28 as in the previous embodiment, a shim 63 being employed under each wear member 29 and insertable from the rear to allow for adjustment while avoiding disassembly of the coupler proper.

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 an axis disposed a relatively great distance rearwardly of the pilot beam or end casting of the associated locomotive or other vehicle, without weakening the beam or casting or interfering with the normal front end structure of the vehicle by the provision of an unusually long. shank on said coupler. By substituting rollers for pivoted sectors, wear on the parts is minimized and improved results obtained.

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:- 7

1. In combination with a railway vehicle, a housing connected thereto, a coupler supporting member supported by and adapted to swing from side to side in said housing, said member having rearwardly facing cylindrically concave bufling force-transmitting surfaces, cylindrical rollers the outer portions of which have rolling engagement with said concave surfaces, means in said housing with cylindrically convex bufling forcetransmitting front faces with which the inner portions of said rollers have rolling engagement, and means" providing for the transmission of draft forces and connecting said member to said housing.

2. In combination with a railway vehicle, a

coupler with a stem received in said pocket and connected to' said member.

3. In combination, a locomotive end casting provided with a forwardly opening recess, a base member with a rear portion received in said recess, a normally vertical pin intersecting said end casting and the rear portion of said base member for connecting the latter thereto, a radially swinging member fitting in and movable with respect to said base member, said swinging member having a forwardly opening pocket, a coupler with its stem received in said pocket, a pin connecting said stem and swinging member, and another pin intersecting said swinging member and overlapping portions of the base member to retain the parts in assembled relation.

4. In combination, a locomotive end casting having a portion provided with a forwardly opening recess defined by vertical rearwardly converging webs, a vertical transverse web, and vertically spaced normally horizontal webs connecting said converging and transverse webs, a base member comprising a rear wall normally engaging said transverse web, and a bottom wall supported on the lower horizontal web, a normally vertical pin intersecting the rear portion of said base member and said horizontal webs of the end casting, a radially swinging member fitting in said base. member, said swinging member having a rearwardly facing cylindrically curved surface, rockers with outer ends having rolling engagement with said curved surface, means in said base member with cylindrically curved front faces having rolling engagement with the inner ends of said rockers, a normally vertical pin con necting the rear portion of saidswingingmember to said base member, said swinging member being formed with a forwardly opening pocket outwardly of said rockers, and'a coupler with a stem received in said pocket and connected to said swinging member.

5. In combination, a locomotive pilot beam, a housing connected to the front face thereof and formed with a forwardly opening recess, flanges extending toward one. another and providing inwardly extending shoulders partly closing said recess, a swinging member extending into said recess, means connecting said member to said housing while allowing it to swing from side to side, rocker members seated in said recess, said swinging member having rearwardly facing cylindrically concave surfaces, said rockers being formed with cylindrically convex front ends in rolling engagement with said surfaces, said housing also having means providing forwardly facing cylindrically convex surfaces, said rockers being formed with cylindrically convex rear ends having rolling engagement with said convex surfaces, said swinging member being formed with a forwardly opening pocket, and a coupler with a stem"r'eceive'd in said pocket and connected to' said swinging member.

.6. A locomotive end casting having upper and lower main webs and a forward portion provided with a forwardly opening recess defined by a lower wall offset from said webs, the side walls of the recess being formed by vertical rearwardly converging webs, the rear edge portions of said webs being connected by a generally fiat vertical web, horizontally extending webs uniting the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said vertical webs, and a vertical reinforcing web extending rearwardly from an intermediate portion of said generally fiat web.

7. A substantially rectangular locomotive end casting having upper and lower main webs with an opening therethrough to receive a pony truck pivot and generally parallel side walls, the forward face of said casting being provided with a forwardly opening recessdefined by rearwardly converging side walls spaced inwardly of said parallel side walls and joined by a rear wall whose face is substantially parallel to the front face of said casting, the. lower wall of said recess being disposed below said lower web and. extending outwardly beyond the front face of said casting.

8. A locomotive end casting having main upper and lower walls, an end wall, a pair of side walls and a plurality of vertically extending generally flat Webs disposed between. said side walls and connecting top and bottom walls of said casting, certain. of said vertically extending webs being angularly disposed with respect to the vertical longitudinal axial plane of said casting, said angularly disposed webs forming the side walls and rear end wall of a recess in the front face of said casting, said recess being downwardly offset from said main upper and lower walls,

9. A locomotive end casting, the forward portion of which is of greater depth than the rear portion, a pair of horizontal webs forming the upper and lower walls of said forward portion, a third horizontally disposed web offset from said first named webs and forming the bottom wall 'of said rear portion, and a plurality of vertically extending webs connecting the top and bottom walls of said forward portion, certain of said webs being arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said casting and forming the side walls of a rearwardly extending recess opening in the front face of said forward portion, one of said vertically extending webs connecting the adjacent portions of said inclined side walls, said forward portion being provided with a cylindrical opening symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of said casting.

10. In combination, a locomotive end casting provided with a recess, a base member with a portion received in said recess, a connecting pin intersecting said casting and base member, a swinging member fitted in and movable with re-' spect to said base member, and a pin intersecting said swinging member and overlapping portions of the base member to retain the parts in assembled relation.

11. In combination, a locomotive pilot beam, a housing connected to the outer face'thereof and formed with an outwardly opening recess, flanges extending toward one another and providing shoulders partly closing said recess, a swinging member received in said recess, means connecting said member to said housing while allowing swinging thereof, rocker members seated in said recess, said swinging member having rearwardly facing concave surfaces, said rockers being formed with convex front outer ends in rolling engagement with said surfaces, said housing also having means providing forwardly facing convex surfaces, and said rockers being formed with convex inner ends having rolling engagement with said convex surfaces.

12. A locomotive end casting, the outer portion of which is of greater depth than the inner portion, a pair of horizontal webs forming upper and lower walls of said outer portion, a third web disposed in a plane intermediate said first-named webs and forming the bottom wall of the inner portion, and a plurality of vertically extending Webs forming walls of an outwardly opening recess in said outer portion and one of said webs connecting the top and bottom walls of said inner portion.

GLENN F. COUCH.

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