US2149640A - Method of making car coupler yokes - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1939. J TEG'ARTY 2,149,640 METHOD OF MAKING CAR COUPLER YOKES Filed Feb; 23, 1955 A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING OAR COUPLER YOKES John B. Tegarty, Lakewood, Ohio Application February 23, 1935, Serial No. 7,687

11 Claims.

Heretofore railway car coupler yokes have been made of castings, preferably of steel having such characteristics as most nearly meet the exacting requirements of the usage to which such coupler yokes are subjected. Such cast coupler yokes have been an advance in the art but they are subject to frequent breakage and are expensive compared to former types.

Previous methods included the forging or casting of the coupler head and the riveting to the shank of the head of a large thick strap of steel, or wrought iron, to form the yoke. Such riveting however, did not allow the modern pivoting or swinging movement between the coupler and its yoke. The severe usage resulted in requiring frequent renewal of the yoke rivets, and in fact this is still a common matter of so-called running repairs in railway practice. The above are illustrative of previous difiioulties which it is intended my present invention shall eliminate.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, very durable construction which shall be less costly to manufacture, and which will meet all of the modern requirements of connection between the car and yoke and between the yoke and its coupler.

More specifically, an object of the invention is the provision of a combined coupler yoke strap member and yoke connection member for receiving the coupler shank and its key, or like connecting devices, these members being previously formed and then welded together.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to use a rolled steel strip of suitable width and thickness bent into a U-shape to form the loop of the coupler yoke and having high tensile strength, and then by forging, or like process, provide head members therefor, of dense tough material, acting to connect the ends of the strip, and being secured thereto by welding.

In accomplishing these purposes I attain other objects and advantages which will be apparent in the following description which relates to the drawing. It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in carrying out my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

The essential characteristics of my new coupler yoke construction and method of making the same are summarized in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of my improved form of coupler yoke.

Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive show modifications of the method of attaching or interfitting and welding the connector members of the yoke to the loop thereof.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the coupler shown comprises a strap member I in the form of a rolled strip (in practice approximately an inch .5; thick, four or more inches wide), bent into the form. of a loop with vertical or cross member 2, and shown as having its forwardends bent inwardly or converging as at 4.

6 and 1 illustrate connector or head members 10 preferably forged, although they may be otherwise shaped or of cast steel or like material of a nature capable of being welded to rolled steel. Each of these members extends across the open ends and at the sides of the strap l and has in- 15 wardly projecting flanges at 8 of a width such as to coincide with the thickness of the strap I'. These members are placed in the position shown and are welded along the seams Ill to the sides of the portions 4 of the ends of the strap.

The welding may be accomplished by any of several methods to provide an efiective union between the edges of the strip member and flanges 8, as for example, by the use of the atomic are or the carbon pencil electrode type of the revolving arc. In many instances this weld may be economically extended throughout the full thickness of the strap edges and flanges 8.

The members '8 and 1 in Fig. 1 are substantial duplicates and are shown as provided with the 30v usual coupler key slots l2 which are preferably surrounded by built up flanges M to increase the depth of the slot and the width of the surface engaging the coupler key. The series of crosses appearing on the seams l0 are intended to be a conventional indication of welding and are used throughout theother views for convenient location of the welded connection between the strap of the yoke and the key or head members thereof.

It will be seen that the members 6 and I may be varied in shape and size and the connection by the key openings or slots variously located, as may be required for individual designs and in variations of the standard practice. Having 5 forged, or otherwise formed, such members as shown at 6 and 1, (these members in this instance may be duplicates, as no requirement of rights and lefts occurs) to complete the yoke it is only necessary to select the desired width and thickness of the strap, first bent intermediately to make the cross member and the forward reaches 3, and then bent inwardly at the ends 4 to accommodate and correspond to the angle of the flanges 8, and then perform the welding operation to effectually unit the flanges along the welds indicated at Ill.

It is customarily required to increase the thickness and correspondingly the strength of the rear portion at the cross member 2. A filler member indicated at l4 may be fitted therein and seam or spot welded in position. In this instance it is not necessary to weld over the entire meeting surfaces. The members [5 may be short sections of strips so rolled as to have a radius at it, that is a curved edge at either side thereof, to fit the curve of the strap I at either end of the cross member 2, and then the members are cut transversely of the direction of rollmg.

In the slight modification shown in Fig. 2 the ends of the yoke strap are shown wider than the forward reaches 3, as indicated at 20. The yoke headmembers 26 and 21 are formed similar to those of Fig. 1, except that the flanges 8 are omitted. The necessary spacing between the members 26 and 2! being provided by the greater width of the portion 26, the weld however is thoroughly eifected between the edges of the members 2E and the inner faces of the members 26 and 27 as at), as before.

In Fig. 3 is shown a slight modification in which the ends of the strap reaches 3 are still Wider as indicated at 30, and the yoke head members 36 and 31 may be thus reduced in size somewhat, as these widened portions 39' are fitted over the upper and lower edges of the members 36 and. 37. These edges'are then eifectively Welded to the inner faces of the members 38 as indicated at 32. The forged, or otherwise formed head, members in Figs. 2 and 3, it will benoted, are otherwise similar to the forged members forming the yoke head as described in connection with Fig. 1 and except for modifications, do appear similar to those in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, particularly in that of the provision of the coupler key slots l2 and raised or built up flanges M.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown interlocking types, that is, the ends of the strap forming the loop of the yoke are interlocked with the coupler head members by oifset shoulders. v In Fig. 4 the forward reaches of the straps are wider than remaining portions, being first enlarged as indicated at 45 with outwardly projecting T-head members 52. 40 are fitted between the inner faces of thehead members 46 and i! and the projecting portions 42 are fitted into. recesses formed in the upper and lower edges of the head members, and the head members are welded to the strip along the heating surfaces as indicated by the small ms along the main surfaces.

The form in Fig. 5 shows the use of flanges on the head members 56 and 57 but theends of the strap forming the yoke loop are no wider than the reaches 3.. This has a slight advantagein that the rolled strip of the loop can be made the same width and thus merely cut from the same strap, in the form shown in Fig. l. The strap however has recesses cut into it, in which fit the projections 52 formed on the flanges 58 integral with the forged head members, which flanges also extend forwardly at 58 similar to the flanges 8 of Fig. 1. Inthis case it is desirable to weld the transverse meeting shoulders at -55, as well as at the longitudinal meeting edges The widened portions ness and to provide for a coupling key slot at right angles to the key .slot 12. This form of coupler yoke is similar to one now used, and made entirely of cast steel, and which provides for the standard coupler key being used in a vertical position. In this instance a slightly smaller vertical key is used alternately with the horizontal key. The head members may be forged or otherwise formed and the effect may be substantially the same as those in Fig. 1, but the forward reaches 3 of the strips l3 are substantially par allel between the heads as indicated at 60, and on the inner sides are welded blocks 52, while the flanges of the head members indicated at 8 are welded both to each block 62 and the edges of the strip 3. Through the block 62 and outer portion of the strap reaches 3 are formed the vertical coupler key slots such as indicated at 65.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the underside of the head of Fig. -6, and to the block 62 are welded blocks 68 and 69., These are provided with openings for a longitudinal key locking pin and for transverse pins in each block for locking the locking pin.

From the foregoing description it will be seen w that I have provided a method and construction whereby car coupler yokes may be commercially facture of 'car coupler yokes, which inventions were originally disclosed in this case: Applica- 1 tions Serial Nos. 141,661 and 141,662, both filed May 10, 1937. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A method of making car coupler yokes comprising the bending of a strip of steel having a substantially uniform cross section to form a U- shaped body portion having forwardly directed arms spaced and extending parallel to each other, and placing a' pair of substantially duplicate head members each having aflat surface and flanges formed along opposite edges which project perpendicular to the flat surface, to the edges of the arms adjacent their ends and welding along said edges and said flanges, said welding being adapted to receive the full draw bar load of the said coupler yoke.

2. A method of making car coupler yokes comprising bending of a strip of steel substantially at the center to form a portion at right angles to Y head members being so welded at each side along the edges of the strip and each of them having an oblong opening substantially parallel with the sides of the coupler yoke and having forged reinforced rib portions defining the forward portion ofsaid openings, the weld receiving the full draw bar load between the edges of the strip and the head members.

. 3. A method of making car coupler yokes comprising bending a strip of steel of uniform cross section substantially midway between the ends to form a portion at right angles to two forwardly extending parallel portions which terminate in slightly converging portions adjacent the forward ends, the strip having parallel edges throughout its length, and forming by forging operation a pair of duplicate head members having one surface thereof substantially fiat, and having the edges thereof tapering to conform with the converging portion, said head members being butt welded at the flat surfaces to the edges of the converging portions of the strip, so that the weld receives the entire draw bar load.

4. A method of making car coupler yokes comprising bending a strip of steel of uniform cross section substantially midway between the ends to form a portion at right angles to two forwardly extending parallel portions and terminating in slightly converging portions at the forward ends, the strip having parallel sides throughout its length, and forming by forging operation a pair of duplicate head members of generally V-shaped exterior, having cross web flange portions adapted to register with and be welded to the edges of the strip at the location of the converging portions, the inner faces of said head members being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said strip, the weld being adapted to receive the entire draw bar load.

5. A method of making car coupler yokes comprising bending of a strip of thick flat steel substantially at the mid-point to form a portion at right angles to two forwardly extending parallel portions and directing them slightly inwardly at their forward ends, the strip having parallel sides, and forming by forging operation two head members, of generally V-shaped exterior and having heavy cross web flange portions adapted to register with and fit againstthe vertical edges of the inwardly directed forward end portions of the strip, and then welding said edges to the strip, so that the full draw bar load is transmitted from the strip to the head members through the weld, one of said head members being so welded at each side along the edges of the strip and each of them having an oblong opening parallel generally with the sides of the coupler yoke, and having forged reinforced rib portions defining the forward portions of said openings.

6. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising providing a U-shaped metal body member having forwardly directed spaced arms and securing a head member to the forward end portions of said arms by juxtaposing certain edge surface portions of one of the members with certain face surface portions of the other of said members, and welding the juxtaposed surface portions together in a manner such that the weld receives the full draw bar load of the yoke.

7. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising providing a U-shaped metal body member having forwardly directed spaced arms and securing a head member to the forward end portions of said arms by juxtaposing certain face surface areas of one member with end surface areas of the other, and welding the juxtaposed surface areas together in a manner such that the weld receives the full draw bar load of the yoke.

8. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising providing a U-shaped metal body portionhaving forwardly directed spaced arms, placing a pair of substantially duplicate head members, each head member having a fiat face surface, at opposite edges of said arms with the flat face surfaces thereof abutting the edges of the arms adjacent the forward end portions of the arms, and butt welding the edges of the arms to the fiat face surfaces of the head members.

9. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising providing a U-shaped metal body portion having forwardly directed spaced arms, placing a pair of substantially duplicate head members between the forward end portions of the arms with the edges of the head members abutting the inwardly exposed face surfaces of the arms, and welding the edges and said face surfaces together in a manner such that the weld receives the full draw-bar load of the yoke.

10. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising bending a strip of steel to provide a U-shaped body portion having forwardly directed spaced arms, placing a pair of substantially duplicate head members with portions thereof abutting the edges of the forward end portions of the arms, welding a block to a face of at least one of the arms at the forward end portion to increase the thickness thereof, and welding the head members to both the edges of the arms and to the edges of the block.

11. A method of making a car coupler yoke comprising providing a U-shaped metal body portion having forwardly directed spaced arms, providing aligned passages in said arms extending normal to the width thereof for receiving a coupling key, welding duplicate head members to said arms at the forward end portions thereof, and providing in said head portions aligned passages at right angles to the first passages for receiving a coupling key.

JOHN B. TEGARTY.

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