US257317A - Dtjane a - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

D. A. GRANT.

. GAR COUPLING. N0. 257,317. Patented May 2,1882.

Fig.1,

I A J WITNESSES: INVENTOlR flaw, Duccme .Ri. Qfomh,

BY flaw/(4 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUANE A. GRANT, OF NYAOK, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,317, dated May 2, 1882.

Application filed February 21, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUANE A. GRANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nyack, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in (Jar-Couplings, of which the followin g is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplings comprising a pin for engagement with a link 5' and it consists in the means, hereinafter described, whereby the pin is held in an upper position for the entrance or withdrawal of the link.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section on the line to w, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the "line a: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3 y, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 2 2, Fig.1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates a draw-head adapted to be secured to a car at the required place, and B indicates the coupling-pin, which passes vertically through such head, for its engagement with the link 0, the pin having a spur, a, which prevents its withdrawal. I construct the draw-head A by preference with a double mouth, forming two link-entrances, A A

To the shank of the head A is secured one end of a spring, D, the other or free end of which projects into the head proper, where it carries an offset, t, the spring being composed of a strip of sheet metal and the offset being integral therewith. The location of the spring D is near one side of the head A, and the direction of its offset t is inward toward the middle of the head, at which point is situated the couplingpin B. Thetendency of the springD is to move in the direction of its offset, and theinner or normal position thereof is determined by a stop, 8, formed in this example by one edge of the partition between the double mouth of the draw-head A, while the offset t is made of such length that when the spring is in the position named said offset is brought into the plane of movementofthe'coupling-pin. Hence, when this pin is raised and the spring is allowed to follow its bent or impulse, the ofl'set t is brought under the pin, as shown in Fig. 2, thus effectually holding it in an upper position.

In order to keep the lower end of the coupling-pin above the mouth of the draw-head the offset t is arranged at that place.

The free end or edge of the spring I) is vertical and of sufficient length to extend the en tire height of the mouth of the draw-head A, as shown, and the width of this mouth being approximately similar to that of the couplinglink 0, it follows that when the link is thrust into the head it retracts or displaces the spring, forcing it outward, whereby the coupling-pin is released and allowed to drop into its place in the link. V

lt will be noticed that the spring D is allowed to take an inner or active position only when the link 0 is withdrawn, and in order to provide for holding up the coupling-pin while the link is in the head-as, for example, when two cars have been uncoupled, but left standing-I make use of a latch, E, which. is located above the spring and is pivoted, as at r, to move in a horizontal plane, the same being capable of adjustment under the lower end of the pin B, as shown in Fig. 3, or out of the path of the pin, as indicated by dotted lines in said figure. This latch E is arranged in a mortise, q, in the draw-head, the edges 0 o of which mortise form stops to determine the positions of thelatch. The pivot r of the latch extends vertically through the mouth of the draw-head and is flat on its exposed part, the pivot being in this example made in one piece with the latch of sheet metal. When the latch E is set to a position for use its said fiat pivot ris diagonal relatively to the sides ofthe draw head, taking the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and if the coupling-link G is now thrust into the head it strikes one edge of the pivot and reverses the latter, thereby bringing the latch to a rear position and freeing the coupling-pin.

From the foregoing description it will be 010* served that the coupling obtained by my invention is to the greatest extent automatic in its operation, while it is comparatively simple in its construction' 'and not liable to get out of order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbei'ore set forth, of the draW head, the coup pivoted latch on the exterior of the draw-head adapted to be automatically operated by the entrance of a coupling-link and capable of being operated from the exterior by the brakeman, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the draw-head and the coupling-pin, of the pin-holding latch, having a flat pivot which extends vertically through the mouth of the draw-head and takes a diagonal position when the latch is in use, for its 1 reversal by the thrust of a coupling-link.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I 5 my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DUANE A. GRANT.

Witnesses CHAS. WAHLERS, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

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