US2039086A

US2039086A - Means for and method of reforming knuckles

Info

Publication number: US2039086A
Application number: US569565A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund P Kinne
Original assignee: American Steel Foundries
Current assignee: American Steel Foundries
Priority date: 1931-10-19
Filing date: 1931-10-19
Publication date: 1936-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-04-28

Description

F. Kl N N E MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF REFORMING KNUCKLES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OGJL. 19, 1931 www@ IE. En. MHJNE MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF REFORMING KNUCKLES www Filed Oct. 19, 1951 3 SheeJCS-She 2 im. mmm

MEANS FOR AND METHOD OF REFORMING KNUCKLES 3 SheeS-Sheet 3 Filed OC't. 19, 1931 Patented Apr.. 28, i936 MEANS FR AND METHD @1F REFRMENG KNTUUKLES poration of New .lersey Application @ctober 19, i931, Serial No. 569,565

i6 (Claims.

The present invention relates to knuckles and more in particular to knuckles for use in standard A. R. A. type D couplers.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel means for and method of reforming knuckles for railway car couplers, as likewise the improved product formed thereby, and more particularly to a means for and method of reforming knuckles adapted for use in standard A. R. A. type D couplers.

It is interesting to note that standard A. R. A. type D couplers are of a very sturdy design and the knucklesforming a part thereof, instead 4of breaking and being retired from service, wear out less rapidly than some of the other parts. This has resulted in a vast accumulation by the railroads of a surplus supply of knuckles, which, until the present time, have not been reconditioned for use because of the expense involved in reforming the same. These knuckles are Worn to an extent which makes them impractical and dangerous to use because of the fact that when the same are placed in couplers, they will not give a sufficiently correct contour line to meet the requirements of safety against accidental uncoupling. Various methods have been tried in an endeavor to recondition or reform these knuckles at a substantially low and economical figure as compared with the cost of new knuckles, but these methods have been unsuccessful. Briefly, these methods have included forging, swaging, or more frequently by endeavoring to weld portions of material upon the worn parts. These methods are quite unsatisfactory, inasmuch as in practice, these forged, swaged, or added portions of material have been unable to withstand the severe usage to which the same have been subjected.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide novel means for reconditioning and reshaping the knuckles of car couplers and which may be easily and readily manipulated for effectively restoring the contour of worn knuckles to the contour of a new knuckle, this means being inexpensive, and the cost of reforming these worn knuckles being effected at an economical figure relative to the cost of a new knuckle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for reforming and reconditioning type D knuckles which will result in the formation .of a knuckle conforming to the contour of a new knuckle which will meet all the requirements of safety against accidental uncoupling, as likewise one which will meet all standards of gauge and contour.

The invention includes the idea of providing a method of reforming type D knuckles and includes the steps of heating the knuckle to a proper temperature, and applying a pressure thereto while the same is confined within certain limits dening the contour of a new knuckle, whereby the same is reshaped and reconditioned. Knuckles reformed or reconditioned in this manner are suitable for use in a new coupler or in other couplers which have not been subjected to excessive wear. It has also been found that the strength of the knuckles reformed in accordance with this procedure has not been lessened, but on the other hand, has actually been increased because of the heat treatment.

With these and various other objects in View, the invention may consist of certain novel features lof construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure l is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section of a standard A. R. A. type D coupler with the knuckle and lock in place;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of a device made in accordance with the present invention for reforming worn knuckles and disclosing the same in condition to receive a knuckle;

Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to that shown in Figure 2 of the drawings and showing a knuckle held in place thereon;

Figure 4 is a View in side elevation of the device shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings with the knuckle in place as in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation similar to Figure 4 and disclosing the device in a position after the reforming of the knuckle has been effected;

Figure 6 is a View in vertical cross section taken in the plane represented by line Eiof Figure 5 of the drawings;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by line l--l of Figure 3 of the drawings; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a car coupler disclosing the relative contour of a worn knuckle and a reformed knuckle made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, a standard A. R. A. type D coupler is disclosed in Figure 1 and comprises a head 2 having a knuckle 4 pivotally mounted therein, as by means of a pin 6. .This knuckle 4 is formed in accordance with the standard A. R. A. type D contour and includes a nose S and a tail portion Il] adapted to be received within the head of the coupler 2 and be locked in position by means of the lock I2, this lock being associated with the knuckle opener i8 having cooperative surface engagement with the locking face 26 disposed on the tail piece I6.

Under actual operating conditions, the knuckle 4 becomes worn over the locking face 20, as likewise over the pulling surfaces 22 of the lugs 24, the contacting surfaces 26 of the pin protector 28, and the contacting surfaces 30 between the knuckle 4 and the knuckle pivot pin 6, which results in a looseness of the contour of a worn knuckle thereby increasing the gauge distance G between the nose 8 of the knuckle and the guard arm 32 of the coupler head. The increase in the gauge distance G is limited by standard requirements, and once this opening has increased beyond this limit, the danger of accidental uncoupling of opposing couplers is augmented and a replacement thereof is necessary and required.

As hereinbefore indicated, these worn knuckles have accumulated, and even though various attempts have been made to reform the same as by forging or swaging, or by adding material to the locking face 20 thereof, no successful method has been heretofore devised for economically and cheaply reconditioning these knuckles for use.

The present invention accordingly comprehends the idea of providing suitable means for reforming and reshaping these worn knuckles 4, whereby the same may be again used in a new coupler or couplers which have not been subjected to excessive wear. Such means is disclosed as comprising a movable die block or member 34 pivotally mounted, as at 36, upon the base 38, this movable die block or member 34 being provided with a recess 40 conforming substantially to the contour of the tail piece l0 of the knuckle 4. A knuckle 4 to be reformed in accordance with the present disclosure is inserted within this recess or opening 40 and is secured in place, as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6 of the drawings, by means of a pin or pivot 42 adapted to extend between lugs or ears 44 and 46 provided on the upper portion of the die block 34, the same passing through

openings

48 and 58 provided in these ears 44 and 46, respectively, and passing through the opening 52 which is normally adapted to receive the pivot pin 6 when the knuckle is mounted within the coupler head 2.

After the knuckle 4 has been inserted within the die block 34 and secured in place by the pin 42, the tail portion thereof is firmly secured in its proper position by means of the

wedge blocks

54 and 56, the smaller wedge block 54 being provided with a handle 58 for inserting and removing the same from the die block 34. After these wedge blocks 54 and 56 have been inserted in their respective openings provided in the die block 34, the knuckle 4 and the knuckle reforming device are in an assembled position substantially corresponding to that disclosed in Figure 4 of the drawings. The movable die block 34 is further provided with a substantially vertical or upright opening or cavity 59 adapted to receive a die member 66 extending upwardly from the base 38 and being provided with a recess or groove 62 in its upper surface corresponding substantially to the

back faces

64 and 66 of the knuckle tail piece.

Before the application of pressure to the knuckle 4, as will be later more fully disclosed, the movable die block or member 34 is normally maintained in a slightly tipped position, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, by means of coil springs 68 adapted to be positioned within the cavities or recesses 'lil provided in this die block, these springs being supported upon the base 38 and having their other or lower end maintained in position by means of the lugs or protuberances 'l2 provided on this base 38.

After the knuckle 4 has been clamped or secured in the die block 34 in the manner above disclosed, the knuckle, together with the knuckle forming device, may be moved into a position whereby a die member 'I4 engages with the front face of the knuckle 4, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. This die member 'I4 is provided with a surface portion 'I6 corresponding substantially with the front face of the knuckle 4 and the same is pivotally secured, as by means of the pin I8 to a bracket or arm 80 of a hydraulic press or the like (not disclosed). Before the application of pressure through the medium of the hydraulic press or the like, a die block 82 is moved into place as shown, and immediately below the nose of the knuckle.

After the die block 82 has been moved into association with the nose -8 of the knuckle 4, and the knuckle, together with the knuckle forming device, has been placed in association with the die block 14 of the hydraulic press, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the hydraulic press or other suitable means may be operated to apply a pressure along the front face of the knuckle 4 to cause a bending of the worn knuckle along a plane represented by line A-A of Figure 1 of the drawings. The bending of this nose of the knuckle 4 is limited in extent by the die block 82 which is provided with a recessed portion 84 having a surface coorresponding to the contour of the nose of a new knuckle. Contact of the nose of the knuckle 4 with this surface and during the application of pressure reforms the contour of the nose to correspond with the contour of a new knuckle. During the application of pressure to the front face of the knuckle 4, the die block or member 34 is moved downwardly toward the base 36 and against the spring action of the coil springs 68, whereby the surface of the recessed portion 62 engages or comes into contact with the

surfaces

64 and 66 of the tail portion of the knuckle to reform the contour thereof and to cause an engagement of the

pulling surfaces

86 and 88 with overhanging

shoulder portions

96 and 92 of the die member 34, thus causing a reshaping of these pulling surfaces to correspond with the contour of the surfaces of a new knuckle. After the knuckle has been reformed or reshaped in accordance with this disclosure, the pressure may be released and the knuckle 4 removed from the die block 34 by removing the wedge block 56 and the block 54, as likewise the pin 42.

As clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, the contour of a knuckle which has been in use and been subjected to wear is shown at 94, whereas a knuckle which has been reformed and reshaped in accordance with the present disclosure is shown as having a contour represented by the line 96. Even though substantial wear has taken place over the pulling surface 26 of the tail piece of the knuckle 4, and at other bearing points, the nose of the knuckle may be proportionately bent in a plane substantially represented by line A-A to position the nose 8 of the knuckle in relation to the pulling face Z so that when this reformed and reshaped knuckle is used in a new coupler or a coupler which has been subject to very little wear, the gauge distance represented by the line D of Figure 8 is equal to the gauge distance G as shown in Figure l of a new type D coupler. This new and novel method of reforming or reshaping a knuckle has the distinct advantage of providing a knuckle which may not only be used in a new coupler or one having substantially little wear, but likewise may be interchangeable from one coupler to another, and still maintain the acceptable gauge distance. It has also been found that the strength of the knuckle is not impaired or lessened because of the bending or compressing of portions thereof, but on the other hand is substantially increased because of the heat treatment necessary to effect this bending and compressing.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A knuckle reforming device comprising a movable die member for receiving the tail portion of said knuckle, means associated therewith and adapted to engage said tail portion upon movement of said member under pressure for reshaping said tail portion to conform to the contour of a new knuckle, and means carried by said movable die member for engaging the nose of said knuckle for reforming the same.

2. A knuckle reforming device comprising a die for receiving and reshaping the hub and tail of said knuckle, means for supporting said knuckle whereby the nose thereof is exterior to said die and free to move relative to said tail, means for applying pressure to said nose whereby the same is moved into its normal relation with said tail and said tail is reshaped to correspond to similar parts in a new knuckle, and means engageable with said nose for reforming the same when said pressure is applied to correspond to similar parts of a new knuckle.

3. A knuckle reforming device comprlsmg a movable die member for receiving and reshaping a hub and tail of said knuckle, means for supporting said knuckle whereby the nose thereof is exterior to said die and free to move relative to said tail, means for applying pressure to said nose whereby the same is moved into its normal relation with said tail, and means engageable with said tail upon application of pressure whereby said tail and hub are reshaped to conform with certain portions of the cavity of said die member to correspond to similar parts of a new knuckle.

4. A knuckle reforming device comprising a movable die member for receiving and reshaping a hub and tail of said knuckle, means for supporting said knuckle whereby the nose thereof is exterior to said die and free to move relative to said tail, means for applying pressure to said nose whereby the Same is moved into its normal relation with said tail, means engageable with said tail upon application of pressure whereby said tail and hub are reshaped to conform with certain portions of the cavity of said die inember to correspond to similar parts of a new knuckle, and means engageable with said nose for reforming the same when said pressure is applied.

5. A knuckle reforminCr device comprising a base provided with a projecting die member, a die member pivoted to said base for receiving and reshaping the tail of said knuckle, said second die member having an opening adapted to receive said projecting die member, means for supporting said knuckle in said second die member whereby the nose thereof is exterior to the same, means for normally maintaining said projecting die member in spaced relation to said tail, and means for applying pressure to said nose to move the same into its normal relation with said tail and to effect an engagement between said projecting die member and said tail to reshape the same.

6. A knuckle reforming device comprising a base provided with a projecting die member, a die member pivoted to said base for receiving and reshaping the tail of said knuckle, said second die member having an opening adapted to receive said projecting die member, means for supporting said knuckle in said second die member whereby the nose thereof is exterior to the same, means for normally maintaining said projecting die member in spaced relation to said tail, means for applying pressure to said nose to move the same into its normal relation with said tail and to effect an engagement between said projecting die member and said tail to reshape the same, and means engageable with said nose for reforming the same when said pressure is applied.

7. A knuckle reforming device comprising a movable die member adapted to receive the hub and tail of said knuckle, means for supporting said knuckle in said die whereby said nose is free to move relative to said tail, means for applying pressure to said knuckle and to move the same and said die member whereby said nose is moved into its normal relation with said hub and tail to correspond to similiar parts in a new knuckle, said die member having an opening, and means extending into said opening and being engageable with said tail to reshape the same and said hub in conformity with certain portions of the cavity of said die member upon movement thereof to correspond to similar parts in a new knuckle.

8. The method of reforming a knuckle having a worn locking face and worn pulling faces, comprising the steps of heating said knuckle, bending said knuckle about the hub thereof to return certain of said pulling faces into substantially normal relation to said locking face corresponding to the disposition of similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to return certain other of said pulling faces into substantially normal relation to the faces affected by said bending and to redistribute metal therein to reshape said Worn faces to correspond to similar faces in a new knuckle.

9. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face land a tail portion having a worn locking face and projecting portions having worn faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said first-named portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similiar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said tail portion to redistribute the metal therein to return the worn faces of said projecting portions into their normal relation with the other of said faces corresponding to the normal relation of these faces in a new knuckle.

10. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face and a tail portion having a worn locking face and projecting portions having worn faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said firstnamed portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to reshape said locking `and pulling faces and to redistribute the metal in said tail portion to return the worn faces of said projecting portions into their normal relation with the other of said faces corresponding to the normal relation of these faces in a new knuckle.

11. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face and a tail portion having a worn locking face and pulling lugs having worn faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said first-named portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said tail portion to redistribute the metal therein to return the worn faces of said pulling lugs into their normal relation with the other of said faces corresponding to the normal relation of these faces in a new knuckle.

12. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face, a hub i portion having a worn pivot pin opening and a tail portion having a worn locking face and projecting portions having worn faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending said nose portion relative to said tail portion about said hub portion to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to reshape said locking and pulling faces and to redistribute the metal in said tail portion to return the worn faces of said projecting portions into their normal relation with the other of said faces corresponding to the normal relation of these faces in a new knuckle, said bending and compressing returning said pivot pin opening to its normal position in said hub and in its normal position in respect to said faces corresponding to similar parts in a new knuckle.

13. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a worn locking face and worn pulling faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bendingsaid knuckle to return certain of said pulling faces into substantially normal relation to said locking face corresponding to the disposition of similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to redistribute metal therein to reshape said faces to correspond to similiar faces in a new knuckle.

14. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face and a tail portion having a worn locking face, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said first-named portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to redistribute metal therein to reshape said faces to correspond to similar faces in a new nuckle.

15. In a method of reforming a knuckle having a nose portion having a worn pulling face and a tail portion having a worn locking face, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said rstnamed portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said nose and tail to redistribute metal therein to reshape said faces to correspond to similiar faces in a new knuckle.

16. In a method of reforming a knuckle having ,a nose portion having a worn pulling face and a tail having a worn locking face and projecting portions having worn faces, the steps of heating said knuckle, bending one of said first-named portions relative to the other to return said locking and pulling faces substantially into their normal relation corresponding to similar faces in a new knuckle, and compressing said knuckle to redistribute metal therein to return the worn faces of said pulling lugs into their normal relation with the other of said faces and to reshape all of said faces to correspond to similar faces in a new knuckle.

EDMUND P. KINNE.