US2304366A - Car coupler supporting means - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1942.

INVENTQR mlliam J. Metzyer BY I ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1942. w. .1. METZGER CAR COUPLER SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 24, 1940 SSheet'S-Sheet 2 INVENTOR William J7jlletz er 44% E. @2/

ATTORNEY 8, 1942*. w. J. METZGER CAR COUPLER SUPPORTING MEANS s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 24. 1940 INVENTOR Maia/77 q]. Met zger.

ATTORNEY D 8, 1 w. .J, METZGER 2,304,366

CAR COUPLER SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 1940 5 sheets shegt 4 Fig, 6

ENVENTOR -William dfl kzz at" ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1942. w. J. METZGER 2,394,356

CAR COUPLER SUPPORTING MEANS Filed July 24, 1940 *5 Sheets-Shea INVENTOR William J. Metz qer Ma. Ma

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1 942 ENT OFFiCE CAR COUPLER SUPPORTING MEANS William J. Metzger, Euclid, Ohio, assignorto National Malleable and, Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 24, 1940, Serial No. 347,342

8 Claims. (Cl. 213-14) This invention relates to support means for car couplers and more particularly to means for resiliently supporting a coupler while permitting horizontal and vertical angling thereof.

An object of my invention -is toprovide coupler carrier means which during disassembly thereof is readily removable from the carrier iron without necessitating the removal of the coupler or draft rigging.

Another object is to provide means associated with the coupler supporting means adaptedto support the train service lines independently of the coupler so that the lines are not subjected to longitudinal or vertical movement as occurs in service when the lines are connected to the coupler.

Another object is to provide coupler supporting means comprising a carrier iron so shaped that the shifter member maybe mounted thereon to cooperate therewith in. such"a manner that the movement thereof to thereby prevent undesired hammer blows of the shank on the support memher due to the shank lifting clear of the member.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the coupler support means. I l

Figure 2 is a plan view partly in section of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front view partly in section of the construction shown in Fig. '1.

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views showing modifications of my invention.

Figure 6 is a front view partly in section of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view partly in section taken on line 7-1 of Fig. 6; and

Figure Bis a partial side elevational view showing the attachment to the carrier iron of th From each of portions i3 projects an arm H to which is fastened a bail mounting bracket I5. In accordance with my invention there is provided a shifter or saddle member l6 slidably mounted on the carrier iron ii. This member is adapted to slide transversely on the carrier iron in response to horizontal angling of the coupler. In order to secure stability in the mounting of the saddle member on the carrier iron, the carrier iron is preferably H-shaped in section and comprises top flanges I1 and i8, central web I9, and lower horizontal portion 20. The vertical columns l3 (which merge with the carrier iron are likewise H-shaped in section. While the preferred embodiment ofmy invention utilizes a carrier iron H-shaped in section, other modifications thereof may be used, as will be hereinafter described. The base portion 2! of the saddle member extends substantially the length and width thereof to provide a; large carrier iron engaging surface 22, thus lessening the rate of wear on the contacting surfaces. Depending from the inner side of base portion 2! is an L-shaped flange 23 which extendsinto overlapping relation with flange i8 to limit upward as well as forward movement of the saddle member.

.The front side of the base portion has a depending flange 24 adjacent flange i1, thus limiting anyrearward movement of the saddle member.

iron is efifectively precluded. In service, lockpiece 26 can be subjected only to a downward force upon upward movement of the saddle member and any such force is transmitted by the offset. portion 28 thereof to the saddle member, thereby relieving bolts 25 of any shearing stresses. Also, with this arrangement the saddle member is effectively guided along the carrier iron as it moves transversely during horizontal angling of the coupler.

Resilientsupporting of the coupler is accomplished through the use of coil springs mounted on the saddle member. At each end of the saddle member are provided upwardly extending housings 30, each receiving and partially enclosing a spring 3i. Each of housings 30 comprises a side wall 32 and front and rear walls 33 and 34 respectively. Each spring 3| rests on a seat 35 and is positioned with respect thereto by a boss 36. The coupler is supported on springs 3i by means of a support member 31 comprisin a central portion 38 underlying the coupler shank 39 and upwardly and outwardly extending arms 40 which are adapted to be received in housings 30'. Each arm is formed with a side wall 4|, front and rear walls 42 and 43 respectively, and a top connecting wall 44 engaging the spring. Top wall 44 is formed with a depending boss 45 adapted to position the upper end of each spring ,with

between the vertical walls of the shank and arms" '40, as at 49, so that the shank is centered with-w.

H ber 80 is adapted to slide alongthe-carrier-dron H as in the P ev ous form ot'the invention and respect to the springs, thereby placing each spring under substantially the same load at all times during horizontal angling of the coupler. By this arrangement portion 38 of the support member will remain in a horizonal position in engagement with the under-surface of the shank. In order to stabilize transverse movement of the support member with respect to the saddle mem-- ber, inward projections 50 are provided on side walls 32 of housings 30. Each of projections 50 is adapted to engage the side of one of the springs so that each boss 45 is received within its associated spring in such a manner that any clearance between the boss and the portion of the coils adjacent wall 32 of the saddle member is taken up. In this manner, with each boss in engagement with the coils, transverse movement of the support member relative to the saddle member is cushioned by the resistance to bending of that part of the springs above the projections 50. Also, the projections may be made to extend inwardly'suflicient to bow the springs slightly to assure tight engagement oi each boss with the coils adjacent walls 32.

Projecting rearwardly from the saddle mem-.

, To disassemble the support means from the carrier iron, lock-piece 26 and clamps and 55 are first removed. The coupler is then raised an amount sufilcient to permit the saddle member to be tilted rearwardly so that flange 24 will clear the top of the carrier iron. The saddle member can then be moved rearwardly from the carrier iron. Assembly of the mechanism is accomplished by applying the preceding steps in reverse order.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the carrier iron 60 is .formed with vertical webs 6| joined by a horizontal top flange 62, the sides of which project past the webs, as at 63. The saddle member 64 is similar to the saddle member I6 of the previous embodiment and cooperates with the carmember provides means to which the train service line support bracket may be secured.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 is shown a modification of my invention wherein the support member is caused to follow the movement of the coupler shank by means of auxiliary springs, thus eliminating noise caused by contact of the coupler shank with the support member after the two have separated during normal vertical angling of the shank. In this embodiment saddle memhas an L shaped flange 8| extending into overlapping relation with flange 8 of the carrier iron. On the opposite side from flange M is a depending flange 82 and a lock piece as secured to the saddle member in the same manner as before.

Extending upwardly from each end-oi saddle member is a spring housing 845, each comprising a side wall 85 and front and rear walls 85 and 81 respectively, A spring 88 in each housing rests upon a seat Hand is positioned by a boss 90. Coupler shank tfi'rests on a support member 9|, which has upwardly and outwardly extending arms 92 received in spring housings 8t and resting on the upper ends of springs tii. Each arm is formed with a side wall 93, frontand rear walls 94 and 95 respectively, and top wall Sbengaging one of springs 88. Extending downwardly from top wall 96 is a spring housing 9? adapted to receive a spring 98. Bolt 99'and nut I00 maintain springs 88 and 98 under the desired amount of compression. It will be observed that the pressure of spring 88 is transmitted to spring 98 through housing 91, thus as spring 88 is further compressed by the coupler, spring 98 is released and vice versa.

Moreover, the pressure-travel characteristics of springs 88 and 98 are such that the coupler shanks may be adjusted to a normal horizontal position by releasing or tightening nut I88.

During operation of the car over substantially level track the coupler shank may normally angle vertically to such an extent that the vertical movement thereof where it contacts support member BI is from about one-half inch to one inch. Greater vertical angling of the shank may take place 'on very uneven track or in passing over the top or bottom of grades. If during the aforesaid normal vertical angling, the coupler shank separates from support member at, the contact between the shank and member, following such separation, may be so severe as to result in undesirable noise.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 spring ilfiexpands, during normal upward vertical angling of the coupler, against the pressure of spring 98 and thus member 9! remains in contact with the shank during said normal vertical angling. In the construction illustrated contact between the shank and support member is maintained only during normal vertical angling of the coupler as substantially all the objectional noise In addition to" prevention of n'dise as above set forth, spring '98 absorbsis'hocks eiilnut I88 incl- ..dent. tosudden upwardmoyement-bf support member 81,. i

.As' in the first embodiment of the invention means is ,provided to cushion lateral movement of support member 9| relative to sadddlegnember 1 caused byiorces insufilcient to movetlgesaddle 'rnember on carrier ironll. 'Failure'to cushion. said movement results in undesirable noise due to contact between the ends of walls. and 85 015 member 9| and walls 85 of member 88. Opposite each. of walls 94 and 95, and spaced therefrom, is a projection lnl extending inwardly from walls 85. Lateral movement is cushioned by the resistance ofiered by springs 88 between the point of contact I82 of the lower end of the spring and boss 90, and the point of contact I83 of the lower end of housing 91 with spring 88. This latter' point of contact will varyas the coupler shank moves vertically and housing 91 moves .relative to spring 88. It will be observed that each projection 18! has a sloping surface I84 and each opposite wall 94 and 95 has a correspondingly rsloping surface I05. As support member 9| moves downwardly the clearance between surfaces I84 and I85 is reduced at the same time that the vertical distance between contactpoints I02 and I03 becomes less. Hence, the amount of lateral movement of member 8| relative to member 88 decreases with a decrease in the length of spring 88 available to resist said movement and overstressing of the springis prevented.

If desired a projection similar to projection 50 of Figs. 2 and 3 may be used in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6, "I, and 8 in which case sufficient clearance should be provided between housing 81 and spring 98 to permit flexing of spring 88.

"The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as. terms or description and not of limitation, and Ihave no intention, in the use of such terms and'expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is: 1. In a carcoupler supporting mechanism, a .carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontal anglin'g of the coupler, means on said member embracing'said carrier iron to prevent displacement of said member from said carrier iron, spring housings ateach end of said member, springs in saidhousings, a coupler supporting member supported on said springs, and means within each housing ongaging said sprlngs below the tops thereo1 ,adapted to limit transverse movement; of said" springs in one direction with respect to said member.

2. Ina car coupler supporting mechanism,a carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontal angling of the cou- 'pler, spring means 'on'said saddle member, a

support member spaced vertically from said carrier iron for supporting said coupler from said spring means, retaining means passing through said support member and spring means, and reretaining means and said support member adapted to cushion upward movement of the latter.-

3. In' a car coupler supporting mechanism, a

carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontal angling of the coupler, spring means on said saddle member, a

support member spaced vertically from said car'- rier iron for supporting said coupler from said spring means, and means, for resiliently adjust:- ing the compression of said spring means, said means comprising a retaining member extending through said saddle member, and auxiliary spring means reacting between said retaining member and said support member adapted to cushion upward movement or the latter.

,4. In a car coupler supporting mechanism, a carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shlitable thereon in response to horizontal angling oi the coupler, spring means on said saddle member, a support member spaced vertically from said carrier iron for supporting said coupler from said spring means, a spring housing at each end of said support member, a spring in each of said housings, retaining means passing through said saddle member and housing, and resilient means between said support member and retaining means adapted to cushion upward movement of said support member.

5. In acar coupler supporting mechanism, a carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted onsaid carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontal angling of the coupler, spring means on said saddle member,

a support member spaced vertically from said being adapted to compress said springs within said housings to lower said support member during positioning of said coupler in a vertical direction.

6. In a car coupler supporting mechanism, a

I carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontal angling. of the I coupler, spring means on said saddle member, a support member spaced vertically from said carrier iron for supporting said coupler from said silient means reacting between one end or said springs, a housing depending from each end of said supportmeans into said spring means, a spring in each housing, and means normally ,maintaining said last named spring under compression, said spring being adapted to expand upon downward movement of the coupler and to compress upon upward movement thereof to enables'aid support member to remain. in engage ment with said coupler.

'7. In a car coupler supporting mechanism, a carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shittable thereon in response to horizontal anglingiof the coupler, spring means on said saddlemembena support member spaced vertically from said carrier iron for supporting said coupler from said spring means, said support member being adapted to move transversely with respect to said saddle member, and means including a projec-' tion on said saddle member adapted to engage said spring. means to limit said transverse movement of said support member.

8. In a car coupler supporting mechanism, a carrier iron beneath the coupler, a saddle member mounted on said carrier iron and shiftable thereon in response to horizontalangling of the coupler, spring means on said saddle member, a support member spaced vertically from said carrier iron for supporting'said coupler from said spring means, said support member being adapted to move transversely with respect to said saddle member, means including said spring means adapted to cushion said transverse movement of said support member, and means constructed and arranged to decrease the amount of said transverse movement upon..downward movement of the coupler.

WILLIAM J. METZGER.

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