US2058270A - Coupler support - Google Patents

Description

` S. J. STRID oct. 2o, 1936.

COUPLER SUPPORT Fil'ed sept. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n oct. 2o, 1936. A

s.*J. sTR1D coUPLER SUPPORT Filed sept. A13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,058,270 COUPLER SUPPORT Sven J. Stricl, Chicago, Ill. Application September 13, 1933, Serial No. 689,167

9 Claims.

This invention relates to railways cars, and more particularly to coupler supports and the like.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and Yimproved removable car coupler support that is provided with means for supporting the coupler and for automatically centering the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a` car coupler support in which tracks are provided for supporting the coupler, the tracks being removable.

A further object of the invention is thev provision of a new and improved coupler support that may be easily and readily removed from the striking plate or casting and that has an interlocking connection with said plate or casting.

Another object of the invention is the -provision of a coupler support having new and improved means for connecting the same to the striking plate casting without the aid of screws, bolts or pins.

A still further object of the invention is the :provision of a new and improved coupler support together with novel means for changing the height of the support for vertically adjusting the height of the coupler.

`Another object of the invention isthe provision of a new and improved coupler support that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easily installed, efficient in operation and which is not likely to become broken or outof-repair. Y(

Other and further objects and advantagesof the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a portion of a railway car showing the invention in position thereon with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a section on lthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

xFig. 3 is a top plan view of the track member or base plate;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the saddle or coupler supporting member;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is a section -on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1 -showing a coupler'or drawbar in position on the supporting unit in dotted lines; Fig; 10 is an end elevation of a portion of a railway carshowing a modied form of the invention in position thereon with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line II-I l of Fig. 10; f

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 10

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the track member or base plate;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line III-I4 of Fig. 13; and Y Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 13.

In the construction of coupler devices and supports therefor on modern railway cars, it is desirable that the parts be so designed that the number of parts that are to be attached by screws, bolts and the like be reduced to a minimum for the reason that bolts or screws tend to come loose and may cause considerable inconvenience, if not serious consequences.

It is common practice to employ Yanintegrally cast striking plate or casting through which the drawbar or coupler shank extends, but in order to permit the insertion of a coupler shank provided with a pivoted coupler butt the height of theA openingthrough the casting must be enlarged. It has been proposed to reduce the size of this opening after the coupler shank is inserted by a removable carry iron secured in position'by bolts, but this arrangement is objectionable because the bolts may become loosened and release the carry iron fro-m the striking plate, thereby permitting the coupler to drop too low to make proper coupling connection with the coupler of an adjacent car. 'Ihe present invention seeks to remedy this difficulty by the provision of a removable coupler supporting unitv that is interlocked in position without the aid of bolts, screws or other fastening means.

Referring nowto the drawings, the reference character I0 designates the end of a railwayv car to which is rigidly attached the striking plate or casting H, as is usual in such constructions. The striking plate comprises the upper angular fattaching portion I2, the depending sides I3 and the connecting bottom member I4, which are all cast integral, forming an opening I5 extending through the plate or casting. Each of the side members-I3 is provided on its `inner surface'with a recess or notch 'IB adjacent tothe lower marginal edge I'I of the opening I5. `Laterally extending passages I8 and I9 are in communication 50 with the'upper portionsof the recesses IIi, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 Aof the drawings.

The side members` I 3 are also provided with pockfrom the pockets 2I at each side of the opening. Lateral passages 23 and 24 are provided for permitting the insertion of the upper lugs of the saddle into the notches 22, as will presently appear.

The opening I5 through the striking plate or casting is of suiicient dimension to permit the insertion of coupler 25 which may be provided with a swivel butt 26, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

Suitable means are provided for supporting the coupler and drawbar from the striking plate or casting. In the form of construction shown, which is by way of example only, this mechanism comprises a supporting unit designated generally by the reference character 28. This unit comprises a base plate or track member 21 and a cradle or coupler supporting member 33. The track member or base plate 21 is hollow and is provided with outwardly extending lugs 28 and 29 at each end thereof. The bottom wall of this base plate is provided with a plurality of curved tracks 30 and 3I, two being shown. A slot 32 (see Figs. 3 and 4) is provided in the bottom wall of the base plate which will permit Water falling on the tracks to escape therefrom.

The lugs 28 and 29 extending outwardly from the ends of the base plate or track member are of such dimensions as to slide freely through the openings I8, I9, 23 and 24 and seat in the re cesses 22 and I6, respectively.

The cradle or coupler supporting member 33 is provided for engaging the coupler bar and supporting the same. This member is provided on its lower surface with a pair of curved tracks 34 and 35 corresponding to the Cooperating tracks 39 and 3| in the base plate 21. Suitable rollers 35 and 31 are adapted tobe inserted between the tracks of the base plate and those of the cradle or coupler supporting member, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawings. The cooperating curved tracks are elongated to permit lateral movement of the yoke or coupler supporting member 33, during operation of the device.

The coupler supporting member 33 is provided on its upper surface with upstanding lugs 38 and 39 at the ends thereof for engaging at each side of the coupler member when the same is in position therein, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In assembling the device, the coupler or drawbar is inserted through the opening I5, rollers are placed within the hollow track member 21 within the tracks 38 and 3 I, after which the coupler supporting member 33 is lowered into coupler mem-Y ber 21. The coupler supporting unit is then placed in position in the striking plate or casting beneath the coupler member by causing the lugs 28 and 29 to move laterally through the passages 23 and I8, or 24 and I9, as the case may be, and seat in the recesses 22 and I6, respectively. The coupler is elevated to permit the insertion of the supporting unit after which it is lowered to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 9.

In the operation of the device, the track and rollers Will permit the side movement of the drawbar, the pockets 2l aording a clearance for the lugs 38 and 39. The curvature of the tracks will automatically center the drawbar inasmuch as any lateral movement of said bar will cause the coupler supporting member to be elevated, due to the curvature of the tracks.

The form of construction shown in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, differs from that just described in in that the portion of the striking plate or casing 4I is provided with a channel 42 for receiving the lower portion of the coupler supporting unit 60. This unit comprises coupler supporting means 10 and a base plate 43 having curved tracks 44 and on its upper surface and provided with depending pins 46 and 41 which are adapted to engage openings in shims or in corresponding openings 48 and 49 in the bottom Wall of the channel 42, as will presently appear.

Suitable means are provided for preventing the endwise movement of the base plate 43. In the form of construction shown, the base plate is provided with a groove 4U at each side thereof which is adapted to be engaged by lugs 50 integral with the side walls 42. See Fig. 12.

'Ihe rules of the American Railway Association prescribe that the coupler shank shall be a fixed distance from the rails. In order to avoid accuracy in the casting of different parts of the supporting mechanism, shims 6I are provided which may be inserted between the base plate and the bottom of the channel 42.

The parts are so constructed that normally one or more shims are necessary so that if, for any reason, the drawbar is too high, one or more may be removed, and if too low, one or more may be added.

The coupler supporting means 10 comprises two parts, the cradle 5I and a carrying iron 52. The cradle 5I is provided on its lower surface with a pair of curved tracks 53 and 54 corresponding to the tracks 44 and 45, respectively, and has a depression in its upper surface, into which the carrying iron 52 is adapted to seat. The carrying iron 52 is provided with lugs 55 and 56 extending outwardly from each end thereof which are adapted to engage corresponding recesses 51 and 58 in the cradle 5I. A lateral passage 59 is in cornmunication with the recesses 58 at each end of the carrying iron 52 whereby the same may be placed in position by rst moving the lugs 58 laterally along the passage 59 and then lowering the lugs and 56 into recesses 51 and 58.

The lower tracks 44 and 45 are provided with openings 62 which permit the water to escape from the tracks, as in the previously described l construction.

In both forms of the device, the coupler supporting unit comprises supporting means and supported means oscillatably mounted thereon.

The entire unit may be removed for inspection, i

nection with the accompanying drawings, that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that changes in size, shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a railway car, a striking plate cast integral and having an opening through whichl a drawbar is adapted to extend, said plate having an integral tie bar forming the lower margin of said opening, the side walls of said opening being provided with vertical notches and with lateral passages leading into the upper portions of said notches, a coupler supporting unit having lugs extending outwardly .therefrom and movable laterally along said passages and seated in said notches, said unit being removable While said draw bar extends through said opening for increasing the dimensions of said opening whereby said draw bar may be removed therefrom and comprising a supporting member and a supported member oscillatably mounted thereon.

2. In a. railway car, a striking plate having an enlarged opening through the same for receiving a draw bar, the side and bottom marginal walls of said opening being integral, a removable coupler supporting unit for restricting the size of said opening and for supporting said draw bar above the lower margin of said opening, and means for interlocking said unit to said plate and permitting the removal therefrom while said draw bar is in position in said opening, said unit comprising a lower stationary member and an upper movable member adapted to engage said draw bar and support the same above the lower margin of said opening.

3. In a railway car, a striking plate having an enlarged opening therethrough for the reception of a coupler shank member having a pivoted coupler butt, said opening having its marginal edge portions constituting an integral structure, a coupler supporting unit detachably carried by said plate for restricting the elfective vertical dimensions oi' said opening, said unit comprising a track carrying member and a coupler supporting member, means including tracks and rollers for rockably mounting one of said members to swing laterally of the car, and one of said members being provided with a plurality of positioning lugs at each end thereof for engaging in laterally and downwardly extending slots in an adjacent surface, whereby portions of said unit may be removed by disconnecting the lug and slot connections, and removing one of said members for enlarging said opening vertically for removing said coupler member therefrom.

4. In a railway car, an integral striking plate member having an opening therethrough for the reception of a draw bar, said plate having an integral tie bar beneath said opening, a coupler supporting unit, and means including lugs and slots opening forwardly for detachably mounting said unit in said opening while said draw bar extends therethrough, said unit comprising supporting means and supported means oscillatably mounted on said supporting means.

5. In a railway car, a striking plate having an opening therethrough for the reception of a draw bar, the bottom and side marginal walls of said opening being integral, the side walls of said opening being provided with notches and with lateral passages leading into the upper portions of said notches, a coupler supporting unit comprising a base plate having lugs movable along said passages and seated in said notches and constituting the sole means for securing said unit to said plate, said base plate having curved tracks thereon, and a coupler engaging member having curved tracks on its underside corresponding to the tracks on said base plate and rollers between said tracks, said unit being removable from said plate without removing said coupler engaging member from said base plate.

6. In a railway car, a striking plate having integral top, bottom and side walls forming an enlarged opening through said plate for receiving a coupler shank having a pivoted coupler on an end thereof, said bottom wall having a recess therein below said opening, a base member having a track on its' upper surface located within said recess, a cradle member having tracks on its lower surface, rotating elements between said tracks, said cradle member having upstanding arms provided with laterally and downwardly extending slots in their inner walls, and a coupler supporting element having a plurality of horizontally extending lugs on each end thereof for engaging said slots.

'7. In a device of the class described, a striking casting having an opening through which a draw bar is adapted to extend, the lower marginal wall of said opening being integral with the side marginal walls thereof, said side marginal walls each having slots therein with portions in vertical alinement, a hollow casing supporting member opening upwardly and having outwardly extending lugs at each end thereof for detachably engaging said slots, said casing having curved tracks on the upper surface of its bottom wall, a cradle movably mounted in said casing and extending above the same for supporting said draw bar, said cradle having curved tracks on its lower surface above the tracks in said casing, rollers between the tracks on said casing, and cradle for normally centering said draw bar.

8. In a railway car, a striking plate having an opening therethrough for the reception of a draw bar, the side and bottom marginal walls of said opening being integral, said opening being enlarged downwardly, draw bar supporting means in the lower portion of said opening and extending above the lower marginal edge thereof, said means comprising a horizontal track supporting portion having elongated curved tracks thereon and arms extending upwardly from each end thereof, each arm having a pair of lugs thereon for engaging a pair of slots spaced vertically in each side marginal wall of said opening, the upper slots opening upwardly and the lower extending horizontally and then downwardly in the plane of the upper slots, a cradle for engaging and supporting said draw bar, said cradle having elongated curved tracks on its lower surface above said rst-named tracks, rollers between the tracks on said cradle and means, and upstanding lugs on each end of said cradle for engaging the sides of said draw bar.

9. In a railway car, a striking casting having an opening therethrough for the reception of a draw bar, the lower marginal wall of said opening being integral with said casting, a hollow supporting casing in the lower portion of said opening and resting on said lower marginal wall, said side marginal walls and casing having interengaging slot and lug connections for detachably retaining said casing in position within said opening, a cradle within said casing extending above said casing for supporting said draw bar, and means between said cradle and the bottom wall of casing for rockably supporting said draw bar, said means being adapted to cause said cradle to automatically return to a central position when moved to either side thereof and released.

SVEN J. STRID.

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