US216551A - Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

J. AQBILZ. Fifth-Wheel for Vehicles.- No. 216,551.` A YPatented June17`,1879.

NPETEHS, PHoTU-LITMDGRAPNER, WASHINGON. C-

Fig. 2 is a section.

i UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JOHN A. BILZ, OF PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA.y

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,551, dated June 17, 1879; application liled March 24, 1879.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoEN A. `BILZ, of Pleasanton, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a Self- Sustaining Coupling for Vehicles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My. invention relates to an improved coupling for vehicles; and it consists in a novel l construction of the circle upon which the forby reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is aview of my coupling detached. Fig. 3is a View of the cap with its cushion.

A is the upper part of my circle, which is cast in one piece with the crossbar B and the extensions C, which serve to secure it to the vehicle-body. The back part of the curve A has projections D castnpon it, with downwardly-proj eeting lugs, to guide and retain the cap E in place.

A hub or boss, the center of the bar B, this'being the center of the'circle; and a liange, G, surrounds this hub at a sufficient distance to leave a space into which a similar but smaller ilange from the other part of the circle will fit. At a little distance in front of this flan ge is a segment, H, having a curved overhanging lip, I, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The lower circle, J, is cast or formed with a' bar, K, and the two circular flanges L and M are formed on the center of this bar, so as to t within and outside of the ilange G, respectively, as shown. p l

The front edge of the flange M has a -projection, N, which passes beneath the lip I F, projects downward fronn when the circles are placed together, and they are thus locked and prevented from separating.

A pin or bolt, O, passes through the hub F and down through the bolster; but this bolt receives no strain, as the hub F, iianges G and H upon the upper circle, and the flanges L and M upon the lower circle fit into each other, so as to take all the side strain.

The lip I of the upper flange, iittin g over the projection N of the lower one, locks the two together, so that it is impossible to separate them. The cap E fits over the two circles at the rear, and is bolted to the lugs D, 'so as to hold the two together. A plate is secured to the lower part of the axle, anda projection,

P, receives one end of a brace, Q, while the other end ts a similar projection, R, below the cap E. Nuts at each end hold this brace in place, and its eiiect is to steady the axle and prevent itfrom bein g tipped over'by strains upon it.

In order to prevent noise and rattle, I fit a rubber or other elastic bearing, T, into the space between the ianges L and M of the lower circle, andthe ilange G of the upper one rests upon this bearing. An elastic bearing, S, is also itted into the cap E, and the lower circle moves upon it.

This mechanismis compact, strong, and noiseless. It can only be separated by taking off the brace Q and cap E, and then turning the circles upon each other until the projection N is disengaged from the lip I, when they may be separated.

When the lip and projection are engaged `it will be seen that no kin g-bolt will be needed,

nor any other fastening.

I am aware that a single cup has been formed upon the lower part of the circle to receive a projection from the upper one, and to receive oil as a lubricant, and I do not claim, broadly, such a construction 5 but What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The circle A, with the hub F, ring G, and segment H, with its lip I, in combination with the circle J, having the rings L and M, and the projection N, whereby the two parts of the circle are locked so as to turn upon each other, substantially as herein described.

2. The circles A and J 7 with their concentric and interlocking rings F G H and L M, in combination with the elastic cushions T atnd S Within lthe rings, and cap E, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The circles A and J With their concentric interlocking rings and cap, as shown, in combination with the brace Q, extending from the cap E to the bolt O, substantially as herein described.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my h and.

JOHN A. BILZ. Witnesses: A

FRANK A. BRooKs, CHAs. G. YALE.

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