US2072606A - Coupler - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1937, W, J REGAN 2,072,606

COUPLER Filed June 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 2, 1937. W, J, REGAN 2,072,606

COUPLER Filed June 28, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. REGAN March 2, 1937.

COUPLER Filed June 28, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .4 atten/nag! March 2, 1937.

w. J. REGAN 2,072,606

COUPLER Filed June 28, 1954 5 sheets-Sheet 4 March 2, 1937. W L REGAN 2,072,606

COUPLER Filed June 28, 1954 5 Sheet-Sheet -5 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE Application .lune 28, 1934, Serial No. 732,898

ril Claims.

My invention relates to car couplers and is particularly designed to provide a strong and reliable operating structure of comparatively light Weight which may be easily dismantled and aso sembled and wherein the knuckle-opener and lock are spring actuated.

A coupler constructed according to my invention is well suited for application to passenger cars and advantageous in that the locking mechanism thereof is adapted to be actuated by a rotary type of release mechanism or by a pull rod type of release; and said locking mechanism is well adapted to be moved to unlocked position by means of a simple lever, and a completely tted coupler may be conveniently carried on the train for use in case of emergency,

The principal feature of the invention consists in providing the coupler with a horizontally sliding lock which is normally maintained in locked 20 position by means oi a spring, and combining therewith a horizontally rotatable knuckleopener to which is pivotally connected a link between Which and said lock the spring is operatively interposed.

A further feature of the invention consists in so forming and relating the coupler knuckle, knuckle-opener and lock that the head of the coupler may be provided with a bearing surface for the lock which is located opposite the por- 30 tion of the lock with which the knuckle contacts,

thereby affording adequate support for the lock against forces communicated thereto by the knuckle and at the same time avoiding any tendency of the lock to shift angularly and thereby 35 bind during an unlocking operation.

There are other features of invention residing in the particular forms of elemental construction and combinations oi parts, as will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupler embodying the invention, arranged for a pull rod type of release mechanism for the coupler lock.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the con 45 struction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, the parts being in the position they occupy when the coupler is locked.

Figure 4l is'a detail view corresponding to Figure 3 but illustrating the positions assumed by the parts during an unlocking movement of the coupler lock and just before the knuckle is released lor opening movement.

Figure 5 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section illustrating the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the parts being in the positions they occupy when the knuckle has been rotated by the knuckle opening device.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line @-65 of Figure 5, the parts being in the positions they occupy when the knuckle is fully open.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 'll-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail plan View of the coupler lock.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional View on the line lli--lil of Figure 9. v

Figure 1l is a detail plan view of the knuckleopener lever and associated link by which it is actuated.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a plan View of the form of lock releasing lever embodied in the construction shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17.

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view of the lock releasing lever on the line llllll of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the coupler as arranged for a rotary type of release.

Figure 15 is a side elevational View of the construction shown in Figure 15.

Figure 1'7 is a detail view in transverse section of the mechanism illustrated in Figures 15 and 16.

Figure 18 is a plan view of the coupler as arranged for a type of release intended for emergency use.

Figure 19 is a side elevational View of the construction shown in Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in transverse section, of the construction shown in Figures 18 and 19.

In the drawings Iv indicates the head and 2 is the shank or stem of the coupler. 'I'he stem of the coupler is preferably formed at its rear end with an opening 3 for receiving a tail pin serving to pivotally connect the coupler to the draft gear carried by the car with which it is associated.

The pivoted knuckle 4 of the coupler is preferably mounted on the coupler head by a knuckle pin 5 which may advantageously be of the downwardly removable type, said pin being normally supported in assembled position by an underlying headed pin or supporting member 6 which passes through suitable openings in the lower portion which, when the parts are in locked position, is interposed between the bearing face 9 of the knuckle tail 8 and an oppositely disposed bearing surface I2 with which the coupler head is provided on its interior on the guardarm side. The bearing face I2 extends forwardly so as to be co-extensive with the surface of the knuckle which engages the lock, thus enabling the forces which are transmitted to the lock from the knuckle to be efciently resisted without tendency of twisting the lock. The surface I2 extends rearwardly for a distance suflcient to support and guide the lock throughout its entire range of movement.

For guiding the opposite side of the lock the lower portion of the coupler head is provided on its interior with an upstanding lug I3 which may advantageously be formed as a part of the pivot boss I4 for positioning the knuckle opener I5 in the coupler head. The surface of this lug which is adjacent the sliding lock II is disposed vertically in a plane parallel to the knuckle engaging face I 0 of the lock and cooperates therewith in all operaf tive positions the lock may assume.

The lock is provided with a portion I6 which extends rearwardly beyond the coupler head I into the coupler stem 2, such portion of the lock preferably being of somewhat less width than the forward portion of the lock which receives the transverse thrusts from the knuckle. To assist in guiding the lock during its sliding movements the coupler body is provided on its interior at approximately the junction of its head and stem with a rib or lug I1 which is adapted to cooperate with the neighboring side of the rear extension I6 of the lock.

The sliding lock is provided with a rearwardly opening pocket I8, and its rearwardly extending portion I 6 is formed with vertically alined longitudinally extending slots I9 which are closed at their rear ends and communicate with said pocket. Within the pocket of the lock a coiled spring 20 is disposed. 'I'he forward end of this spring bears against the sliding locking block II while its rear end bears against a spring seat 2| which is slidably mounted within the pocket or chamber I8 of the lock. This spring seat is preferably provided with a forwardly extending cylindrical pin which, by entering the bore of the spring, serves to maintain it in assembled position and restrain it against any buckling tendency. The spring seat has a vertically extending cylindrical opening 22 for receiving the correspondingly formed downwardly extending pin or pintle 23 with which the link 24 that connects the spring seat and knuckle-opener I5 is provided at its rear end. As shown in the drawings, the rearward extension I6 of the coupler lock may be provided with horizontally alined slots or openings 25,` thereby affording clearance for the spring 2|] with a minimum width of the lock extension I6, and at the same ,time decreasing the amount of metal in the lock. The knuckle opener I5 is of the bell-crank lever type. It is formed with a curved arm 26 which extends behind the knuckle tail 9 for cooperating therewith to rotate the knuckle to open position, and itis provided with an arm 21 for pivotal connection to the forward end of the link 24. The arm 21 extends over the upper face of the sliding coupler lock II and thereby serves to prevent it moving upwardly while the arm 26 which engages the knuckle is preferably at a lower elevation, the two arms being integrally united by -a cylindrical sleeve portion 28 which is perforated to receive a pivot pin 29 by which the knuckle-opener is rotatably mounted on the coupler head.

The upper arm 21 of the knuckle-opener is pivotally connected to the link or operating bar 24, being for that purpose preferably bifurcated at its outer end to receive the forward end of the link. The cooperating ends of the knuckleopener and link are perforated to receive a pivot pin which may advantageously be a rivet 3D.

As a means for actuating the sliding lock I I to effect an unlocking movement thereof, the coupler is provided with a lock releasing member which is positioned beneath the coupler headj and is pivotally connected thereto, preferably by the pivot pin 29k upon which the knuckle opener I5 rotates. The drawings disclose three desirable forms of this horizontally rotatable lock releasing member, each form including a lever arm to receive applied power and a vertically extending pin or nger which is spaced from the axis of rotation of the lock releasing member and projects upwardly through the lower wall of the coupler head into the recess in the lock II.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, the rotary lock releasing member 3|, which is journaled upon the pivot pin 29, is provided at the outer end of its arm 32 with a vertically extending pin 33 which passes upwardly through an arcuate slot 34 in the bottom wall of the coupler head and enters a recess 35 in the lock II, the said recess being of a size to permity the pin 33 to cooperate with the lock without binding and preferably being open toward the guard-arm side of the coupler head. For actuating it, the lock releasing lever 3| is fashioned with a lever arm 36 which is provided at its outer end with an opening to permit the connection thereto of a pull rod (not shown) extending to the side of the car. This form of rotatable lock releasing member is especially suited for operation from the left side of the car by means of a pull rod.

Figures 13 to 17, inclusive, show a lock releasing lever 31 of a form especially suitable for actuation by a rotating rod 38 extending to the side of the car and provided at its outer end with a handle 39 which pulls up and out through an arc when actuated to effect an uncoupling operation. This release lever 31, like the release lever 3|, is pivotally mounted beneath the coupler upon the pivot pin 29. It provides an arm 40 from which a pin 4| extends upwardly through the arcuate slot 34 in the bottom wall of the coupler head and into the recess 35 of the sliding coupler lock I, these details of construction being similar to features heretofore described with reference to Figures 1 to 1 of the drawings. The actuating arm 42 of this release lever is preferably curved rearwardly, and it is adapted to be rotated by the rotatable uncoupling rod or lever 38, the latter being for that purpose provided with a bent inner end forming a downwardly extending arm Cil 43 which overlaps the rear face of the lever arm 42. The inner end of the uncoupling rod or lever 38 is rotatably supported in an elongated loop 44 which is cast integrally with the lower Wall of the coupler head at the knuckle side of the latter, and forms a support and fulcrum for the inner end of the uncoupling lever. A suitable form of bracket for supporting the outer end of the uncoupling lever 38 is disclosed in the Miliken Patent No. 1,507,244, Sept. 2, 1924, After the outer end of the lever has been positioned in the bracket it is impossible for the inner end thereof to become disconnected from the coupler head.

Figures 18 to 20, inclusive, illustrate the coupler as equipped with a form of lock releasing lever 45 which is well adapted to permit a cornpletely fitted coupler to be carried in the baggage car or tool box compartment of the train for emergency use. This form of horizontally rotatable lock releasing lever is formed with an arm 46 at the outer end of which is a handle portion 4l. About midway of itslength the arm 46 is fashioned with an upwardly extending portion terminating in a pin 48 which projects through the arcuate slot 34 in the bottom wall of the coupler head and enters the recess in the sliding coupler lock I I. The release lever 45 is pivotally mounted on the pin 29. To prevent the possibility of the lock releasing levers 3|, 3l and 45, respectively, being clamped tight between the lower headed end of the pin 29 and the underface of the coupler head when the nut 48 at the upper end of the pivot pin is tightened, the lower end of the pin is somewhat enlarged in diameter, as indicated at 50, to thereby form an upwardly facing shoulder which, by coming into contactI with the coupler head, insures freedom of rotary movement for the lock releasing lever.

In assembling the coupler the lock II, spring 2D, spring seat 2I, and the attached link or bar 24, and knuckle-opener I5 are rst assembled as a unit. This is accomplished by rst inserting the spring 20 into the opening or pocket I8 of the lock and then placing the spring seat 2l in` position. 'I'he spring 2U is then compressed until. the hole 22 in the spring seat overlaps the rear ends of the top and bottom walls I9 of the coupler lock for a distance suicient to permit the vertically extending pintle or linger 23 of the connecting link 24 to be inserted through the topslot of the lock, into the hole in the spring seat, and into the bottom slot of the lock. As so as sembled these parts may be placed as a unit in. their working position by passing them through. the throat or opening in the front face of thek coupler head. The assembling operation is completed by placing in position the form of release lever that is to be employed, passing thebolt or pivot pin therethrough and through the pivot pin opening in the knuckle-opener I5, and nally applying the nut 49.

When the lock releasing lever, 3l, 31, or 45, as: the case may be, is caused to perform an unlock ing rotation, the upwardly extending pin with which it is provided forces the lock II rearward-- ly toward unlocked position. As the spring seat 2l, which is connected to the knuckle opener I5v by the link or bar 24, cannot retreat until the unlocking movement of the lock has progressed far enough to free the knuckle 4 for outward. rotation, this unlocking movement of the lock II effects a compression of the spring 20. When the lock Il has moved rearwardly far enough to lock the knuckle the spring 2l] expands, forcing the spring seat 2| rearwardly. The rearward movement of the spring seat, by pulling upon the link 24 which is pivotally connected to the knuckle opening lever I5, causes the latter to retreat and thereby throws the knuckle 4 to open position, the parts at the end of that operation assuming the position illustrated in Figure 5.

During a closing movement of the knuckle 4 the tail 8 of the knuckle presses against the arm 26 of the knuckle opener I5 causing the latter to rotate. This rotation of the knuckle opener pulls the link 24 and spring seat 2| forwardly, thereby compressing the spring 2|] between the spring seat and the lock. During the closing movement of the knuckle the lock I I engages the rear end of the tail 8 of the knuckle and as soon as the knuckle is fully closed the spring 20 immediately forces the lock II to locked position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: l. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a lock for said knuckle .adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head, a spring acting upon said lock, a spring seat for said spring movable with respect to said lock, said spring being interposed between said spring seat and said lock, and a link pivotally connected to said knuckle-opener lever and said spring seat and adapted to communicate movement from said spring seat to said knuckle-openler lever.

2. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, horizontally rotatable means for opening said knuckle, a spring for moving said lock to locked position, a link, a spring seat interposed between said link and spring and mov- .able with respect to said lock and link, said spring being operatively interposed between said lock `and said spring seat and being adapted to cause a knuckle opening rotation of said knuckle open- .'ing means, and rotatable lock releasing means for moving said lock to unlocked position, lsaid link being connected to said knuckle-opening means :and to said spring seat, and said knuckle open- :ing means and said lock releasing means being mounted on the coupler head and having a com- :mon pivotal axis.

3. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a hori- :zontally slidable lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horifzontally rotatable knuckle-opener pivotally :mounted upon said head, a spring compressible by an unlocking movement of said lock, a spring seat for said spring movable with respect to said lock, and a link device operatively interposed between said spring and said knuckle-opener and pivotally connected to the latter and to said .spring seat.

4. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a .knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a hori- :zontally slidable lock for said knuckle, a hori- :zontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever, a spring ifor moving said lock to locked position, a spring .seat for said spring movable with respect to said ilock, said spring being interposed between said lock and said spring seat, a link device interposed 'between and pivotally connected to said spring :seat and said knuckle-opener lever, and means :for moving said lock to unlocked position.

5. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a slidable lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head, said knuckle-opener lever having an 5 arm extending over said lock for preventing upward movement of the latter, a spring for moving said lock to locked position, means actuated by said spring for causing rotation of said knuckle-opener lever, said means being pivotally l connected to said arm, and means for moving said lock to unlocked position.

6. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to l unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head and having an arm extending over said lock for preventing upward movement of the latter, a spring acting at its. forward end against said lock, and means actuated by said spring for rotating said knuckle-opener lever, said means extending forwardly from the rear end of said spring to said arm and being movably attached to the latter.

'7. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted upon said head, a spring acting upon said lock, a spring seat for said spring slidably mounted on said lock, and a link device pivotally connected to said spring seat and said knuckle-opener lever, said lock being provided with an elongated slot, said spring seat having a pivot pin opening, and said link device being provided with a pivot pin which projects through said slot into said opening.

8. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a slidable lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, said lock being provided with a rearwardly opening pocket and having adjacent its rear end a slot communicating with said pocket, a spring disposed within the pocket of said lock, a spring seat slidably mounted within said pocket and against which said spring bears, means movably connected to said spring seat and said knuckle-opener, said means including a pln projecting through said slot and engaging said spring seat, and means for moving said lock to unlocked position.

9. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a horizontally slidable lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head, a spring for moving said lock to locked position, a spring seat cooperating with said spring, and a link operatively interposed between said spring and said knuckle-opener lever and pivotally connected to said spring seat, said head being provided on its interior with a bearing surface for supporting said lock, said bearing surface being disposed transversely opposite the portion of said lock which engages said knuckle when the coupler is locked.

10. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a slidable lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to vunlocked position, said head being provided with laterally spaced surfaces forming guides for said lock, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head and having an arm extending over said lock for preventing upward movement of the latter, a spring for moving said lock to unlocked position, a spring seat for said spring movable with respect to said lock, and a link extending between and pivotally connected to said arm and said spring seat.

ll. A car coupler involving a coupler head, a knuckle pivotally mounted on said head, a slidable` lock for said knuckle adapted to move rearwardly to unlocked position, a horizontally rotatable knuckle-opener lever pivotally mounted on said head and having an arm extending over said lock to limit upward movement of the latter, a spring for moving said lock to locked position, means operatively interposed between said knuckle-openeri lever and spring for rotating said knuckle-opener lever, said means being movable with respect to said knuckle-opener lever, a lock releasing member positioned beneath the coupler head and having a portion engaging said lock to move .the latter to unlocked position, and a pivot pin forming a pivotal mounting for said lock releasing member and for said knuckle-opener lever.

WILLIAM J. REGAN.

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