US2590404A - Car coupler - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1952 HAMMOND 2,590,404

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug.. 14, 1950 jzvenivrs Newt fan fiammomi 23 y WOW/L 09% Patented Mar. 25, 1952 CAR COUPLER Newton Hammond, Murphysboro, 111., assignor of twenty-four and one-half per cent to Fred Huff, Du Quoin, and twenty-four and onehalf per cent to Theron G. Gerow, Skokie, 111.

Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,196

1 Claim.

My invention relates, generally, to car couplers, and it has particular relation to automatic couplers for mine cars and the like. The present application constitutes a continuation-impart of my prior application, Serial No. 744,867, filed April 30, 1947, now abandoned and entitled Car Coupler and embodies certain improved features thereover.

Among the objects of my invention are: to provide for automatically coupling together two mine cars when they are moved into end-to-end engagement; to provide a link for coupling the cars together between male and female coupling housings; to insure that the coupling link is held by the male coupling housing in position to enter the female coupling housing to accomplish the car coupling; to so design the springs in the coupling housings that the coupling operation always is effected between the coupling link and the female coupling housing; and to provide a coupling link in an organization arranged to accomplish the foregoing objects which will permit the cars to be individually dumped without requiring that. they be uncoupled.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, appear hereinafter.

Accordingly, my invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawing, and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claim.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of the adjacent ends of two mine cars "that are coupled together by coupling means constructed in accordance with my invention; 1

Figure 2 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section showing the details of construction of the male and female couplin housings and the mechanism therein;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View, partly in topplan and partly in section, showing a modified arrangement for mounting the compression springs; and

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a swivel coupling link which may be employed in lieu of the rigid coupling link illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now, particularly, to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be observed that the reference characters It and II designate mine cars that are provided with male and female coupling mechanisms that are indicated, generally, at I2 and I3 respectively thereon. The details of construction of the coupling mechanisms I2 and I3 are shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The coupling mechanisms [2 and I3 comprise a male coupling housing I4 and a similar female coupling housing I5, respectively, which are preferably formed of cast steel or pig iron. The forward opposed ends of the two housings I4 and i5 are rounded, as shown, in order to facilitate the movement of the cars It and I I around shar bends in the track.

Each of the housings l4 and I5 is provided with a centrally located internal longitudinal channel I6 and IT. The channels I5 and I! have back walls I8 and I9 and front walls 20 and 2|, respectively, and they may be cast integrally with the housings I4 and I5. Mounted in the channels I6 and I! are slides 22 and 23 which are generally rectangular in cross section and are formed of material similar to that used for mak ing the housings I4 and I5. The slides 22 and 23 are of smaller dimensions than channels I6 and H, in order to permit their free sliding movement in the channels I6 and I1.

The slides 22 and 23 are arranged to be biased forwardly in their respective channels I6 and I! by coil compression springs 24 and 25. As shown, these springs are compressed between forward sides of the back walls I8 and I9, and the rear ends of the slides 22 and 23. As illustrated, two springs are employed for each of the slides 22 and 23, the springs being of substantially equal strength so that there is approximately equivalent rectilinear sliding movement of the slides 22 and 23 during the coupling'operation.

For efficient operation and durability, springs capable of producing approximately pounds of thrust for each inch of axial compression are satisfactory.

The springs 24 and 25 are guided in the housings I4 and I5 by suitable bolts 26 and 2'! which extend through the housing back walls I8 and I9 and through the front ends of the slides-22 and 23. As will appear hereinafter, other means than the bolts 26 and 2'! can be employed for centering the springs 24 and 25. r

With a view to interconnecting the couplin mechanisms I2 and I3, a cast steel coupling link, indicated generally at 3 I, may be employed. The

5 right hand end 32 of link 3I is somewhat more tapered than is the left hand end 33. The reason for this is to facilitate holding the link 3! in coupling position in the male coupling mechanism I2 and to facilitate its entrance into the female coupling mechanism I3. The front wall of the male coupling housing i4 is provided with an enlarged aperture 34 for loosely receiving the end 32 of the link 3!. In like manner, the front wall 2I of the female coupling housing I5 is provided with an inwardly converging aperture for receiving the other end 33 of the coupling link 3!. The link 3! has eyes 33 and 3! for loosely receiving removable coupling pins 38 and 39, respectively. When the coupling pins 33 and 39 are in operative position with respect to the coupling link 3!, it will be observed that they lie adjacent the rear surfaces of the front walls 29 and 2! of the coupling housings I4 and I5. The coupling pins 38 and 33 may be provided with bails 49 and 4! to which chains may be attached, the other ends of the chains being attached to the bodies of the cars I0 and H, for example to avoid loss of the pins 38 and 39.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper surface of theright hand end 32 of the coupling link 3| is bevelled, as indicated at 42, to facilitate holding the coupling link 3! in coupling position. The aperture 34 is provided with a lower planar surface 44 which registers in a substantially horizontal line with a detent recess '45 formed in a rearwardly and downwardly sloping forward face 48"of the slide 22 while the remainder of aperture 34' converges uniformly inward, like aperhim 35; to assist the entry of the link thereinto. It will be appreciated that the inclination of the surface 48 is such that the lower edge thereof is slightly back of the upper forward edge thereof so'that the end 32 of the link is wedged downwardly into engagement with recess 46 upon entering the male mechanism !2. The springs 24' also cooperate to resiliently hold the slide 22 against the coupling link 3! so that the right hand end thereof is firmly located in the recess 46 and the under side thereof bears against-{the floor '44 of the aperture 34. By the use of this detent' arrangement, the coupling link 3! is held in a horizontal coupling position, as shown in Figure 3, to greatly facilitate automatic coupling with the female coupling mechanism I3 when the car I9, carrying the coupling mechanism I2, is moved toward the car for vice versa. The upper and lower sides and '4'! -of the aperture 35 are also beveled in- Wardly to direct the end 33 of the link 3! therethrough and into a recess 49' in the forward side of the slide 23.

'It' will benoted'that by having apertures 34 and 35 converging inwardly so as to present an enlarged outer'openirig, the link 3! is free to move up and down or to the side, much as would a swivel or universal joint. This feature enables automatic coupling of the cars while theyrest at different respective levels or when one car is on a curved and the other on a straight-away section of track. Additionally, it will be observed that by providing link 3! with the enlarged eyes 38 and 31, the coupler looses the detrimental rigidity prevalent to the heretofore known car couplers. Using my construction the link 3! is permitted to'fioat freely relative to pins 38 and 39 to provide smooth riding of the cars along the track, and further may be rotated slightly, as a universal joint might, when interconnecting cars which are not in precise tandem, in-line registering'relation with one another. This universal positioning and free floating feature of my coupling link 3! makes for a more level car travel and for a more speedy and efficient car coupling whereby automatic coupling can be accomplished, with a minimum manipulation and positioning of the mine cars, to meet almost any track condition; an item which become highly important in the cramped quarters of an underground mine, or the like. Further by use of the spring loaded slides 22 and 23 much of the jerkiness of the riding characteristics of the coupled mine cars is eliminated making for a much smoother riding train and reducing the wear and tear on the couplers.

The coupling housings l4 and I5 are also provided with readily removable covers 50 and 5!. The cover 50 is provided with an aperture 52 through which the coupling pin 38 is inserted. The cover 5! is provided likewise with an apertured boss 53 which serves to hold the pin 39 in an erect position where it is held by the slide 23 when the female coupling mechanism I3 is uncoupled. It will be understood that, when the coupling link 3! enters the female coupling mechanism I3, the slide 23 is moved along the channel I! and out from under the coupling pin 39. The coupling pin 39 then falls by gravity and enters the eye 31 of the coupling link 3 I. In this manner, the automatic coupling of the cars I!) and II takes. place.

In order to facilitate the removal of particles of coal, dirt, and like material from the channels I6 and I1, slots 54 and 55 are provided in the bottom thereof. Thus, any particles of coal or like material which may enter the coupling housings l4 and I5 ordinarily will fall through the slots 54 and 55.

The provision of the readily removable covers 50 and 5! also facilitates the ready replacing of broken springs 24 and 25 or other mal-functioning equipment therein.

As shown in Figure 4, instead of employing the bolts 23 and 21 for centeringthe springs 24 and 25, pins 59 may be provided for accomplishing the same purpose. As here shown, a pin 59 is provided at each end of each spring 25. One pin may be secured to the back wall I9 and the other pin 59 can be secured to the rear side of the front end of the slide 23. A similar construction can be used for the male coupling mechanism I2, as will be understood readily.

Where it is desired to invidually dump the cars I9 and II without uncouplingthem, a'swivel link, shown generally at 6! in Figure 5, may be employed. As there shown, the swivel link 6! comprises eyes 62 and 63 which correspond to the end s'ections'32 and 33 of the link 3! However, they are separate, rather than being integrally formed and are interconnected. byv a swivel pin 64 which permits relative rotation to take place between the eyes 62 and 63. It will be understood that the swivel link 6! can be employed in lieu of the link 3 I.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the accompanying drawings anddescribed hereintofore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

. I claim as my invention:

. For use in coupling a pair of railroadmine cars, a car coupler of. the class described, comprising in combination, a male and a female coupling mechanism mounted in opposed separated relation to adjacent ends of the pair of mine cars, each coupler mechanism comprising a housing, a slide member journaled for sliding rectilinear movement within said housing, front and rear walls enclosing opposite ends of said housing and limiting movement of said slide therein, compressive spring means mounted between said slide and rear wall for biasing the same toward said front wall, and a removable connector pin passing vertically through said housing between said slide and front wall thereof; a coupling link reaching between said two mechanisms and engageable, at its opposite ends, with the slide members therein via suitable apertures formed in the front walls of said two mechanisms, the front wall aperture in said female mechanism converging uniformly inward to guide the entry thereinto of one end of said link and the front wall aperture in said male mechanism having a substantially horizontal planar surface defining its lower side with the remainder of its periphery converging uniformly inward to guide the entry thereinto of said links other end; said link receiving the connector pin of each of said mechanisms therethrough for locking the latter together; and a downwardly and rearwardly sloping front face formed on said male mechanisms slide member and having a detent recess formed therein in substantial horizontal alignment with the planar face of said male mechanisms front wall aperture whereby such serves to guide said links other end downwardly, upon entering said male mechanism, to engage said detent recess which cooperates with said planar face to maintain said link in a substantially horizontal coupling position for ready entry into said female mechanisms front wall aperture.

NEWTON HAMMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 280,016 Davis June 20, 1883 293,713 Bryan Feb. 19, 1884 298,918 Nebinger May 20, 1884 340,235 Merrill Apr. 20, 1886 396,509 Powel Jan. 22, 1889 467,326 Wells Jan. 19 1892 492,376 Baum et a1. Feb. 21, 1893 583,767 Nelson June 1, 1897 610,666 Trevessick Sept. 13, 1898 1,680,115 Robinson Aug. 7, 1928

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