US265865A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Q v v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. O. W. RASMUSEN.

GAE GOUPLING. No. 265,865. j Patented Oct. 10, 1882.

(No Model.) QSheets-Sheet 2.

O. W. RASMUSEN.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 265,865. Patented 0t. 10, 1882f wig UNITED STATES CHARLES W. RASMUSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,865, dated October 10, 1882.

Application filed July l l, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. RASMUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, Cook county, Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car- Gouplings, of which the following is a' specification.

My present invention, which is especially designed as an improvement upon that for which Letters Patent No.259,719 weregranted to me on the 20th day of June, 1882, has for its object to provide acar-couplin gof such con: struction as will in a great measure avoid the shocks incident to the passage of the cars around the curves of the roadway. This object I accomplish by the mechanism hereinafter described,illustratedin the accompanying drawings, and particularly defined in the claims.

Figure 1 is a plan view of myimproved coupling, the parts being shown in the relative position assumed in traversing a curve. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section upon line x :v of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a coupling having modified form of connecting-bar for uniting the draw-heads. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of my coupling. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a plan and a longitudinal sectional view of another modification of my invention.

AA designate the platforms of two connected cars, to which my improved cou pling is applied, said coupling consisting of two main duplicate parts, one of which is attached to the under side of each platform. Securel y fastened to the platforms are the yokes a,in which are supported, in a manner free to slide therein, the rods B, which project some distance be yond the yokes and carry the spiral springs b b. The outer ends of these springs rest within sockets of the yokes a, and their inner ends rest within the washers b ,which bear against the square central portions of the rods B.

Upon the axle B is pivotally hung the shank O of what I designate the draw-head or bufier C, and the reduced ends of this axle pass through suitable perforations in the enlarged portions of the rods B, and are retained in place by means of the jam-nuts b.

The shank 0 is journaled to the axle B, as shown, and against the under side of this shank bears the spring-plate c, which is attached securely to the bottom of the yoke, 0

and serves to keep the shank pressed normally upward. The height of this yoke is made considerably greater than the thickness of the shank, thereby permitting the free vertical vibration of the latter upon its axle. Each draw-head or buffer 0, attached to the shank 0, consists of the face-plate D, having the curved bearing-surface, and at its top the backwardly-projecting guide-flange d. The ends of the buffers are curved to form the stops D, the function of which is to limit the movement of the draw-heads, and so prevent their displacement.

Through the forward portion of the shank O is formed a suitable perforation to receive the pin E, by which the connecting-bar F is pivoted to the shank. One end of this bar F is perforated to receive the pin E, and the opposite end is provided with the rabbets ff, and with the perforation f Into the rabbet ffits the flange d, thus forming a connection by means of which the movement of the bar across the draw-head is accurately guided. The rabbet f receives the perforated couplinglink G, and through the link and the bar is passed the retaining-pin G. As will be seen, the curved plate D describes the arc of a circle to the radius of which the connecting bar F corresponds in length, thus securing the curved bearing-surfaces constantly together, while permitting them to turn freely one upon the other.

From the above-described construction it will be seen that when the coupling-link is attached to the pivoted connecting-bars the cars will be coupled closely together, and it is also apparent that the usual slight vertical motion of the cars incident to the action of the carsprings will be readily permitted by the movement of the shanks of the draw-heads upon their journals, and as the ends of the cars are deflected in turning a curve the bearingsurfaces of the draw-heads will turn on each other, being held constantly together by the connecting-bars, which travel freely over the guide-flanges as the direction of strain changes.

The spiral springs upon the rods B serve to is perforated, and through these perforations and corresponding ones in the shank U are passed the pins by which the bar is pivotally connected. The stops D upon thismodified form of coupling are placed nearer the center of the curved bearing-surfaces; but in other respects the construction of the drawheads and connections is identical with that 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 4: and 5 is shown a modification of my invention, in which the draw-heads are each formed preferably of a single curved plate, D, having at the back the double angular flange d and upon the face the stops D. The ends of these draw-heads are sustained, in a manner free to slide therein, by the yokes d attached to the under side of the platform of the car, and upon these ends and between the yokes are placed the spiral springs (1 against which bear the washersldfl rigidly fixed to the end portions of the draw heads. The connectingbars F in this modification are yoke-shaped at their forward ends, the arms being perforated to receive the pins for the coupling-link. The upper arm, f, of each bar rests upon the flange d, and is provided with a depending lug, f which travels in the groove formed by the curved plate D and the upturned portion of the flange d, and the end of this arm moves I in the groove d ,formed, as shown,in the back gether.

of the curved plate D. These grooves in the back of the curved plate I) serve to guide the bar in its movement across the draw-heads and to hold the bar and draw-head constantly to- The rear end of the bar F enters the box K, slotted,-as shown at k, to receive it, and is provided with the. cross-arms f through which pass the rods K, which are secured to the ends of the box, and upon which said crossarms are held in a manner free to slide. The ends of the cross-arms f 5 work in suitable grooves, k formed in the sides of the box, and on each side of the cross-arms, upon the rods K, are held the spiral springs k which act upon the connecting-bar. The box K is pivotally attached to the headed bolt L, which depends from the platform of the car.

From the above-described construction it will be seen that the connecting-bar F, being sustained by the pivoted box K, is able to accommodate itself to. the different positions of thedraw-headsin traversing acnrve audit will also be seen that by reason of the fact that the perforations in the cross-arms have rounded edges and are somewhat larger than rods K, upon which they slide, and that the height of the slot in the box is greater ,than the thick ness of the connecting-bar, a slight vertical movement is allowed to the bar, caused by the action of the car-truck springs. The bars F being spring-seated, and being held, as shown,

to the draw-heads, the relative position of thetwo is uniformly the same, and as the draw- -heads turn in passing around a curve they are retained closely connected by bars which move from side to side on the draw-heads.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown another modification of my invention,in which the draw-heads are each formed of a curved plate, D, the ends of which are securely attached to the cross-bar M. This cross-bar M, to which is pivoted the connecting-bar F, is secured at its ends to the rods N, which are sustained, in a manner free to slide therein, by the yokes n, fastened to the under side of the platform of the car. Upon the rods N are held the springs at, two on each rod, which give a yieldingaction to the drawhead and the con necting-bar. Each draw-head is provided with the stops D, and with the back guide-flange, 01, over which fits the connecting-bar F, the construction of which is the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be noticed that in the several forms of couplings above described the broad laterally-curved bearing surfaces or-plates describe arcs of circles to the radii of which the connecting-bars correspond in length, and by this construction the bearing-surfaces are secured constantly and uniformly together, while moving freely one upon the other. It will also be seen that the bearing surfaccs of the drawheads are made imperforate or without the usual link-opening, and that the connectinglink lies outside the bearing-surfaces. This construction is regarded as advantageous, for the reason that were link-openings made in the face-plates they would tend to weaken the same, and for the further reason that the coupling of the cars can be' more readily effected where there is not the necessity of accurately guiding the link into a slot.

I am aware of Patent No. 11,498, of August 8, 1854, in which. the draw-heads are provided with curved ends and provision is made for disconnecting the cars in case of accident; and I do not wish to be understood as claiming matter therein shown. In my present construction of car-couplin g the shortest possible curves can be traversed without uncoupling the cars and while retaining the draw-heads closely together.

I am aware of Patent No. 87,158, granted February 23, 1869, and of Patent No. 239,272, granted March 22, 1881; and I do not wish to be understood as making claim to the inventions embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A car-coupling having draw-heads provided with broad laterally-curved bearing-surfaces, and having connecting bars or bar pivoted back of said bearing-surfaces at such distance as to permit said surfaces to move freely one upon the other from side to side, and at the sametime to hold them constantly together,

substantially as described.

or bar in length proportionate to the curve of said surfaces, as described, so that the drawheads may be held constantly together, and

having stops to limit the movement of said 20 draw-heads, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the draw-heads having the laterally-curved bearing-faces D and journaled shanks O, of the spring mechanism for said shanks, and pivoted connecting 25 mechanism for the draw-heads, substantially as described.

. CHARLES W. RASMUSEN.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. PEIRCE, GEORGE P. FISHER, Jr.

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