US2743822A - Coupler support - Google Patents

Description

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COUPLER SUPPORT Filed Feb. 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENToR.

BY FRANK HKM'LER Q; @fbl W May l, 1956 F. H. KAYLER 2,743,822

coUPLER SUPPORT uf' l sir L/LLLJMLLLM INVENTOR. @if g 2% FRANK H. mmm

May 1, 1956 F. H. KAYLER 2,743,822

COUPLER SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet v5 "611 is. iig @3359i Filed Feb. 6, 1952 l N VEN TOR.

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United States Patent O COUPLER SUPPORT Frank H. Kayler, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American `teel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New ersey Application February 6, 1952, Serial No. 270,240

17 Claims. (Cl. 213-60) This invention relates to railway couplers and more particularly to a novel yoke and striking casting assembly. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 605,233.

A primary object of the invention is to devise an arrangement wherein the coupler yoke may 'be easily inserted into and removed from the bottom of the striking casting, and wherein the yoke and striking casting are formed and arranged to aiford maximum bearing surfaces therebetween to increase the service life of the device.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a reversible yoke which may be positioned with either the bottom side or the top side thereof facing upwardly within the striking casting to facilitate assembly of the parts and to accommodate support of the yoke along either the top or bottom side thereof for the purpose of equalizing wear on the yoke in service.

A further object of the invention is to `devise an arrangement wherein the yoke is supported by a plate eX- tending through slots of the striking casting land loosely seated on the casting in said slots, novel retaining means being provided to prevent accidental disassembly of the plate and to accommodate quick assembly and disassembly thereof as required during assembly and disassembly of the yoke and the coupler shank to which the yoke is pivotally connected within the striking casting.

A more specific object of the invention is to devise a combined striking and carrier casting rigidly secured to the car sills and having means for supporting a coupler Iat spaced points in such manner that the weight and downward thrust of the coupler `and yoke are reacted through the means which rigidly connect the casting to the sills for transmitting pulling forces thereto.

The `foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, partly in section on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure l, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the striking casting, partly in section on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5`5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the striking casting with portions broken away;

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the striking casting;

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate the carrier iron shown in Figures l to 7, Figure 8 being a top plan View of the carrier iron, Figure 9 being a front elevational view thereof and Figure 10 being a side elevational view thereof, and

Figures 1l |to 14 illustrate a modification of the invent-ion, Figure ll being a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure l2, Figure l2 being a fragmentary front view, partly in vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1l, Figure 13 being a vertical section-al view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure ll, and Figure 14 being a horizontal sectional view, similar to Figure ll with portions of the structure removed to illus-trate the manner in which the yoke support plate is assembled and disassembled.

Describing the invention in detail and referring rst to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 2 thereof designates the center sill of a railway car in which is mounted a coupler yoke 4 which embraces a cushioning ydevice or draft gear mechanism indicated by dot and dash lines at 5. The device 5 bears at its rear extremity in the usual manner against stop lugs (not shown) and bears at the forward extremity thereof against a front follower 6 having a spherical surfaces in complementary engagement with the bu-tt end l@ of a coupler shank 12, said shank being pivotally mounted between top and bottom walls 14 and l16 of the yoke 4 by a pivot pin 1'8 passing through aligned openings thereof.

A bearing block `2l) is disposed between the pin 18 and the butt end 10 of the coupler shank 12, said block 20 having spherical engagement as at 22 with said butt end 10 and having a concave surface in complementary engagement as at 2'4 with the pin 18. The coupler shank 12 is formed with a wall 25 at one side of the pin opening therethrough, and the wall 25 is provided on the inner side thereof with diagonal surfaces 26 Iand 2S diverging toward the horizontal center plane of the shank 12 and adapted to accommodate vertical angling thereof. lt

may be noted that horizontal angling of the shank 12 is- -accommodated by the spherical engagement of the shank with the front follower and by engagement of the block 20 and pin 1S at 24. Vertical angling of the shank is accommodated by the spherical engagement thereof with the follower 6 and block 20 and by the arrangement of the surfaces 26 and 28 of the shank wall 25.

`It will be understood th-a-t under service conditions bufng impacts against a coupled head 30 attached to the shank 12 urge the shank and yoke 4 rearwardly whereby the front follower 6 compresses the draft gear mechanism 5 against the rear stops (not shown) of the center sill 2. Under pulling conditions, the draft gear mechanism 5 is compressed against the front follower 6, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figures l and 3, the center sill 2 comprises a top wall 32 joining vertical walls 34 and 36 thereof, and the top wall 32 is preferably connected to an end sill 37 as by riveting or other suitable means indicated at 38 in Figure 2. Each of the walls 34 and 36 is preferably formed at the lower edge thereof with a laterally extending outturned ilange 39, and the flanges 39 are interconnected by a transverse plate 40 extending therebetween and secured thereto in any desired manner for supporting the coupler yoke 4 between its ends.

As best seen in Figures 4 to 7, a striking or support member, preferably in the form of a casting, generally designated 42, is supported from the cen-ter and end sills; and the casting is preferably formed with a hollow, top, coupler-striking or stop portion 44 as well as depending carrier supports 46 and a carrier spring support 4S. The striking portion 44 is substantially rectangular in form and is preferably provided with an upstanding flange 50 which may be secured in any convenient manner as by riveting at 52 to the end sill 37.

The ilange 50 is preferably reinforced by longitudinal webs 54 (Figure 4) merging with the llange 5) and with a top wall 56 of the portion 44. A longitudinal web S7 extending parallel with the webs 54 also merges with the verse .wall 62 secured by the rivets 38` tol the end sill 37,

asbestyse'en in Figure 2.. l

g4 downwardly at opposite sides of the striking 44 are the. above mentionedV carrier supports 4'6. substantially vertical side walls 64 merging at.

their: lownrextremities with a bottom wall 66 and with transverse front and. rear walls 68 defining the before mentional spring support. 48 having. a pocket 70 betweentite walls 68 for convenient. reception of carrier springs 12 which support a carrier iron generally desigmd 7.4i y

Referring now to Figures 8 to l0 inclusive, the carrier imei-nd rectangular cup-like form. for reception. in the shaped pocket 70` of the spring support 48. comprises a top wall 76 which is preferl frmled.y o Wear resistant material to support a couplmllnnk, delignatedat. 1-2. ini Figure 4, saidy shank having pivotah mating for horizontal and. vertical angling as` fully denaribed inthe parent application.

The wall 76-is provided with aplurality of depending, spring bosses80-received within the. upper ends of the springs 72, the lower. ends of. which are similarlyy po.- sititmui by upstanding bosses 81 on the bottom wall 66 o6 the spring support 48.

Ble carrier iron wally 76 is also formedl adjacent its edles; transverse wallsv 82 and side walls 84, 'l `pocket for reception of the springs 72,` as best sennin Fiume 4 and 5. The inner surfaces of these walls nelmcuntelyformed as indicated; at 85 inFigure 8 to-af.-

fad mnient positioningV for` the lateral springs: 72. at:

opposite ide: ofthecenter spring 72 andto atord maximam spring'capacity consistent with adequate strength forl service conditions;

M carrier iron side wall 84 is formed with top and bottom outturned anges 86, the'top anges merging with thetmderside of' the top wall 76, and the'bottoml flanges being spacedfrom the top flanges 86 to dene recesses receiving the'inner ends ofelongated retainerplates 88'riveted as at 90 to outturnedanges 92.integra1 with therelated a& f Walla` 64 of the striking casting 42! and extendingV thmugh slots 95 (Figure 4) inthe related'side walls 64 as Figures 4 and 6.

The.. retainer plates,- as best seen. in Figure 4,. are anchmod.` their outer'extremities by the rivets 90.or other convenient detachable securingmeanssuch4 as bolt andinut assemblies abutting the remote surfaces of the. anges 92: andrrelatedplates 88;,andthe: inner ends of the plates4 88 mengageablewith the carrier iron lugs 86 to: limit verd ell.' :navenant of the iron. In this connection. it-

l that'normally the springs 72 are preconrpinned to maintain the coupler shank 12` at. the.l height shown in Figure 4;. however, downward movement of the'.

shank 4 under service conditions results in furtherk compression of the springs 72 which upon-upward movement' offthe'shank 4 urge'the bottom stop lugs 86V of the carrier ironagainst the underside of the retainer platesSSattheir metida; f

inasmuch as the retainer plates 88'are` subjected to re* pelted impacts by the. bottom carrierv ironV lugs 86 under service conditions, the novel. arrangement, best: seen in Figure 4;, aiIords bearing for the plates 88 for aY major politica of their length against the underside ofthe anges so. that the bottom' lugs 86' upon contactwith the planes 88 under the action of the springs 72 act against theplates 88 through relatively short. lever arms thereof,4

arhntV which` greatly reduces stressesy on the rivatl..` Itawill be further noted. that, although the;.slots. 3^ are. illustratedy ini the drawings as bounded at. their um' dlelfbyoutturnedanges 92 of thefstriking casting,1 if lllited,.-thelowsr. edgesiot. the slots95 may be similarly 4, bounded by outturned anges through which the rivets 90 or other suitable securing means may extend.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the thickness of the retainer plates 88 may be Varied by the use of shims; or plates of other thicknesses may be substituted for the plates 88; and it will be understood that the precompression of the springs 72 is suicientA as above described to urge the bottom stop lugs 86- of the carrier iron into engagement with the plates 88 when the coupler shank 12 is supportedr in` it'sf normali horizontal coupling position by the carrier iron. It will: thus be apparent that the novel arrangement of plates 88 affords a simple method of adjusting the coupler' shank 12. to. its correct coupling height.

As best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the side wall 64 of each support 46 extends rearwardly thereof and merges with the wall 62, each of said walls 64 having an inturned ange 93 at the inner or rear extremity thereof as well as` gussets 94 merging with the follower stop flanges 93 for. reinforcing, thesame, said gussets 94 dening. top and bottom, margins of' a key slot through. the side Wall 64 for the receptionv of an associated horizontal key for a draft arrangement (not shown) wherein the yoke 4 isl connected. by such a key to the coupler shank 12. Each wall 64-of the casting 42 is provided with a plurality of openings 96. adapted: toV receive rivets or other convenient securing, means.- for attaching: the walls 64 to the related walls 34- andL 36- of the center sill 2, as clearly shown at 98 in Figures l and 2. It will also be noted in Figure 2 that the: anges 93 abut the follower 6 to limit outward movement thereof, whereby pulling forces on the coupler head 30.F compress theL draft gear mechanism S4 against the4 front foll'ower 6 to cushion and yieldably resist such pulling forces;

Referring now' to Figures 2,. 3. and 5, it will be seen that each side wall 64 is formed at the lower edge thereof with a flange 1041 extending beneath the adjacent flange of the center'sill 2. The1sidefwalls64 are also provided above the ilangesf104 with aligned slots 106 receiving a cross bar or plate I08supported onk said flanges and supporting the end` portions of the yoke and shank at their pivotal connection with each other.' The plate 108 is prevented from accidentaliendwisemovement` through saidE slots by having one end? engageable with one or more upwardly extendingv lugs1 10of one of'thetanges 104, the opposite end of the plate 108 being engageable with an abutment member or retainer platelll detachably secured as by a rivet 115 to the adjacent flange 39L of the sill 2. This constructionv permits'the weight'v ofthe coupler and they down thrust thereof during verticali anglingv to be transmitted through the yoke plate-108` directly'to the striking casting 42 and thence to the center sillL 2 through the same rivets 98 which are used to anchorth'ecasting'for transmitting pulling stresses fromthe coupler shank 12 to the center sill 2. This novel constructure also eliminates the necessity of providing heavy bolts or rivets which would otherwise be required to hold the plate 108if it were 'attached in the usual manner to the flange 39" of the sill 2.

Referring now to Figures 1,2, 5, and 6, it willbe noted that the top. and bottom walls 14 and'1`6 of the yoke 4; are positioned between the walls 64 of the carrier 42 and are formed with oppositely facing sides 112 in substantially parallel relationship for a purpose hereinafter described.

Adjacentv the ends thereof, thevwalls 14 and 16 of theyoke, are connected by intermediate spaced' walls 1.1'4 diverging as at 116 toward the walls 64 of the casting 42.

The walls 64 ofthe casting 42 are provided along their upper edges with inturned flanges 118 merging at their forward extremities with. the wall 62 and merging at their rear extremity with the 'anges 93 on the rear edges of the wall 64. The flanges 118 are provided with parallel surfaces 12.0 facing the related surfaces 112 ofthe yoke, and.the-.lower gussets94 ofthe walls 64 are formed. with parallel. surfaces. 12.4. as; well as. diver-gingsurfaces; 126., wherebyupon. entering, the yoke through the bottom of the casting 42, the upper surfaces 112 of the yoke are guidably engaged by the surfaces 124 of thegussets 94, and the walls 114 of the yoke are guidably engaged by the surfaces 126 of the gussets 94. Upon movement yof the yoke upwardly into assembled position with the casting 42, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the upper surfaces 112 of the yoke are guidably engaged with the surfaces 120, and the lower surfaces 112 of the yoke are guidably engaged with the surfaces 124 of the gussets 94 above the slots 106. Under these conditions, the yoke walls 114 are disposed above the surfaces 126 and below the surfaces 120 to accommodate linear movement of the yoke, with the surfaces 112 thereof guidably confined between the surfaces 120 and 124 of the striking casting. It will thus be apparent that the yoke may be assembled and disassembled from the bottom of the casting 42 and in assembled position is afforded relatively large bearing areas along the surfaces 112 of the yoke and the Cooperating surfaces 120 and 124 of the casting to reduce wear in service as the yoke is moved forwardly and rearwardly during pulling and bung forces on the coupler head 30.

it will also be noted that the yoke may be positioned with either top or bottom side up, inasmuch as the yoke is symmetrical about its horizontal center plane and thus the yoke may be reversed when desired to equalize surface wear along the upper and lower flat bearing surfaces thereof, as best seen in Figure 3.

It may also be noted, as best seen in Figure 5, that each guide surface 124 of the striking casting 42 as well as the merging guide surface 126 thereof is interrupted by the related slot 106 of the casting side wall 64, thereby affording a compact arrangement wherein the yoke is immediately guided by the surfaces 124 and 126 upon insertion of the yoke into the casting 42 at the bottom thereof.

Figures ll to 14 illustrate a modification of the invention wherein parts corresponding to those of Figures 1 to l are identified by corresponding numerals. In the modification, at least one of the slots 106 of the striking casting 42 is elongated to accommodate insertion of an abutment member or retainer plate 113 between the forward edge of the yoke support plate 108 and the forward edge of the'slot 106. The retainer plate 113 is detachably secured to the striking casting 42 by a readily removable securing member such as a cotter 150 extending loosely through aligned openings of the plate 113 and a lug 152 formed on the exterior of the side wall 64.

The ends of the plate 108 are restrained against movement lengthwise thereof by upstanding anges or lugs 154, whereby the yoke support plate 108 in assembled position of Figure 11 is maintained in assembled position by the anges 154 and by the rear edges of the slots 106 and by the retainer plate 113. The pin 18 is illustrated in Figure 1l at its normal position in solid lines and is illustrated in phantom lines at 18a in the extreme forward position of the pin upon imposition of maximum pullng forces on the coupler. The pin is also illustrated in phantom lines at 18b in the extreme rearward position thereof during imposition of maximum bufrlng forces on the coupler shank.

Thus it will be understood that when the pin 18 is moved to the position of 18a, forward movement of the yoke support plate 108 is limited by abutment thereof with the rear edge of the retainer plate 113 which is loosely secured to the lug 152 as above described, so that the plate 113 may abut the related side wall 64 along complementary ilat surfaces at the forward edges of the slot 106, thereby preventing imposition of coupler pulling forces on the retaining cotter 150. When the pin 18 is urged to the extreme but-ling position at 18b, rearward movement of the yoke support plate 108 is limited by abutment thereof along its rear edge with complementary flat surfaces defining the rear margins of the slots 106.

During horizontal angling of the coupler shank movement of the yoke support plate 108 lengthwise thereof is limited by abutment at its ends along complementary at surfaces thereof and of the flanges 154. Also, rotational movement of the yoke support plate 108 from the position shown in Figure 11 in a clockwise direction is limited by abutment of the forward left-hand edge of the plate 108 with retainer plate 113 and by abutment of the rear right-hand edge of the plate 108 with the rear margin of the related slot 106; and rotational movement of the yoke support plate 108 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 1l is limited by abutment of the forward right-hand edge of the plate 108 with the forward edge of the related slot 106 and by abutment of the rear left-hand edge of the plate 108 with the rear margin of the related slot 106.

As best understood by a comparison of Figures 11 and 14, upon removal of the cotter the retainer plate 113 may be readily removed, whereupon the plate 108 may be rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 11 to the position shown in Figure 14 accommodating removal of the yoke support plate 108 which may be assembled by inserting it as shown in Figure 14 into the slots 106, whereupon the plate 108 may be rotated to the position shown in Figure 11, accommodating assembly of the retainer plate 113 and cotter 150.

I claim:

1. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a yoke having top and bottom walls and having intermediate walls connected thereto and diverging forwardly from their connection to said top and bottom walls, said top and bottom walls having substantially parallel guide surfaces extending lengthwise thereof above and below said diverging walls, a coupler shank projecting between said top and bottom walls, a pin extending through vertically aligned openings through said shank and through said top and bottom walls, a support structure carried by the sill structure, said support structure having substantial parallel side walls with inturned top and rear flanges presenting guide surfaces substantially parallel to and facing the related yoke guide surfaces, said support structure having gussets on the inner surfaces of said side walls, each gusset merging with the related rear flange and having a guide surface coplanar with the guide surfaces thereof, and each gusset having a diagonal guide surface complementary to the exterior surface of the related intermediate wall to accommodate insertion and removal of the yoke at the bottom of said support structure, slots through said side walls, said slots being entirely disposed below the horizontal center plane of said side walls, a plate removably positioned in said slots below said bottom wall of said yoke and supporting said bottom wall beneath said pin, the lower end of said pin bearing against and supported by said plate, and means connected to at least one of said structures to prevent accidental disassembly of said plate from said slots, certain of said means comprising readily detachable lugs abuttably engaging the plate to prevent disassembly thereof.

2. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a yoke having top and bottom walls and having intermediate walls connected thereto and diverging forwardly from their connection to said top and bottom walls, said top wall having substantially parallel guide surfaces above the intermediate walls, said bottom wall having substantially parallel guide surfaces below the intermediate walls, a coupler shank projecting between said top and bottom walls and pivotally connected thereto, a support structure carried by the sill structure, said support structure having substantially parallel side walls presenting guide surfaces substantially parallel to and facing the related guide surfaces of the top and bottom walls, said side walls having lower guide surfaces merging with the related rear guide surfaces and having other guide surfaces diverging forwardly from the lower guide surfaces to accommodate passage of the diverging yoke walls between said diverging guide surfaces during assembly and disassembly of b yd@ with respect tosaid` support structure; slots Mlgll `te side' Wallis-below theirl horizontali center plane .ld below said lower and diverging-v guide` surfaces, andal plate removably positioned' in said slots bel'ow ald supporting the bottom wall? of said yoke, and de-V mmtable almtments fixed tothe sillv structure andi en wahl@ with the. plate'toiprevent accidental; disassembly @the plum.

3. A coupler. mounting comprising a sill structure, ayd: top and. bottom wallsand having interme the. duerging walls therebetween during assembly) and disassemblyl of the yoke with respect tothe support structure, slots through the side walls, said slots being entirely disposed below the horizontal center plane ofy said side Walls and being disposed beneath the lower and diverging guidev surfaces, a plate loosely extending through said slots and seated on the support structure at the bottomV of, said slots, the` bottom wall of. saidv yoke being seated on and supportedby said plate andy means carried by at least one of said structures for restraining the plate against movement endwise thereof and laterally thereof, thereby preventing accidental disassembly of the plate, Certain of said means being a readily removable abutment enageable with an end of the plate, anddraft stop means on the rear edges of the side walls whereby said connecting means transmit vpulling forces from said draft stop means tovsaid sill structure and also transmit downward thrust of the yoke against said plate to said sill structure.

4. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a support structure connected thereto, said support structure having substantially parallel` side walls, each side- Wall presenting substantially vertical coplanar inwardly facing upper and lower and rear guide surfaces, and said vsidel walls having substantially vertical diverging guide surfaces merging with the forward ends of the lower guide surfaces, a yoke having substantially vertical upper guide surfaces facing the upper side wall surfaces, re,- spectiwely,A said yoke having substantially vertical lower guide-surfaces facing the lower side wall surfaces, respectively, and said yoke having substantially vertical diverging` surfaces above the diverging side wall surfaces and adapted topass therebetween during assembly and disassembly of the yoke with respect to the support structure, slots through the side walls entirely disposed below the horizontal center plane thereof, and a support plate loosely positioned in the slots and supported by the side wallsat the, bottom of said slots, said yoke being seated at the bottom thereof upon said plate for support thereby.

5.` A coupler mounting, according to claim 4, wherein the slots interrupt the lower side wall surfaces and also interrupt the diverging side wall surfaces.

6`. A coupler mounting, according to claim 4, wherein,

atleast one of the sill and support structures is provided with abutment means to be engageable with and confine the plate'against movement endwise thereof and laterally thereof, certain of the means being readily detachable withy respect to the related structure to accommodate assembly and disassembly of the plate.

7. A coupler mounting, according'toclaim` 6, wherein certainof thev means are carried by the sill structure and other ofl the means arecarried by the support structure.

8. Ina coupler mounting, a support stmcturehaving side walls, slots through saidk walls, ay support: plate ex tendingthrough'- said slots to supportan associatedE coupler device, abutments onv saidstructure; integral' therewith and engageable withz the ends` andi rear edge of said plate to transmit impacts therefromv to said'. structure during horizontal angling` or buing of said device, a retainer plate separable from said structure andpositioned within at least one of said' slotsforwardly of said support plate and engageabley with the forward' edge: thereof during pulling of said device, said retainer plateV being engageable` with aA rearwardly. facing surface of. said structure in said slot, and readily removable means connecting the retainer plate to= said structure and*l accommodating limited fore andaftmovem'ent of the plate whereby pulling forcesy on said dev-ice urge the supporta plate against the retainer platethereby-urginglthe. latter against said surface to transmit said forces thereto, the distance between said surface and the related abutment being greater thanv the width ofy said? support plate, to accommodate removal thereof from said slots` upon disassembly of said means andl said retainer plate;

9. A striking structure comprising top and bottom and spaced side walls defining an openingfor. reception of an associated coupler shank, fore and aft transverse walls connected to said side walls and dening a spring pocket, said side walls extendingV rearwardly of said top walland being formed with inturnedrear and top anges along their rear and upper-edges,respectively, the anges of the respective side: walls-having substantially parallel yoke guide, surfaces,y the. top anges being connectedy to said top wall, and gussetsbeneath said top flanges connecting theinner sides of said side walls at. their bottom endsto the rear anges at their bottom ends, respectively, said` gussetshaving substantially. parallel yoke guide surfaces below the level of the aft wall and approximately coplanar with the related first mentioned surfaces below the level of said aft wall, and said gussets having other yoke guide surfaces converging. toward the second mentioned, surfaces, respectively, and merging therewith, and aligned slots through respective side walls, each slot interrupting the guide surfaces of the relatedgusset.

l0. A.v striking structure comprising spaced side walls, a bottom spring support wall therebetween, said side walls extending rearwardly from said' bottom wall and having inturned flanges, respectively, extending around their upper, lower and'rear edges, said flanges having mutually facing substantially vertical parallel'yoke guide surfaces, respectively, each of said'surfaces extending around the upper, lower andrear edge of the relatedV side walls, and said side walls being formed with inwardly and rearwardly converging substantially ver-tical yoke guide surfaces merging` with the first mentionedl surfaces,` respectively, and disposed' entirely below the horizontal center plane of said structure, said sidewalls being provided with slots extending therethrough, said slots interrupting thc converging surfaces and the merging portionsl of the ange surfaces.

ll. In a coupler mounting, a structure comprising a frame havingtop andbottom-portions and side portions connecting saidE topand bottom portions, substantially parallel Walls projecting from said side portions laterally of the farme, a top web interconnectingfsaid walls adjacent saidframe along their top edges, flanges coplanar with said web connected thereto and to` said walls and presenting substantially vertical guide surfaces at their adjacent lateral' edges, angesont the adjacent sides of said walls intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof presenting opposed'abutment faces diverging toward said frame, a yoke insertable between: saidwall's from the bottom of said. structure comprising faces intermediate the top and bottom thereof" formedl andi arranged for complementaryengagement' with saidf faces,eand surfaces at the top andbottom of'l saicli yoke extending: longitudinally of said yoke adapted for: guiding'engagementy with'k said guidesurfaces, slots through. said: side.'y walls entirely,u dis.- posed below.' they horizontal, center-plane; of said structure, each slot interrupting the abutment face of the related tiange, and a substantially flat plate having its ends in said slots, said plate supporting said yoke at the bottom thereof, a coupler shank in said yoke, aligned pin holes through the yoke and shank, and a pin supported at its lower end by said plate, said pin extending through said pin holes to afford a pivotal connection between lthe yoke and shank.

12. A striker casting comprising spaced side walls, a pair of spaced fore and aft transverse walls extending between and connected to the side walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the transverse walls and defining therewith a spring pocket, and aligned slots through the side Walls entirely disposed below the level of said transverse walls for the reception of an associated yoke support plate.

13. A striker casting according to claim 12, wherein the top and bottom and rear edges of the side walls are provided with irl-turned flanges, the inner edges of the anges on each side wall presenting yoke guide surfaces substantially parallel to those of the flanges on the other side wall, and forwardly diverging yoke guide surfaces on the inner sides of respective side walls, each of said diverging yoke guide surfaces bounding the upper margin of the related slot.

14. A striker casting comprising spaced side walls, spaced fore and aft transverse walls interconnecting the side walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the transverse walls and defining a spring pocket therewith, aligned slots through said side walls entirely disposed below the level of said transverse walls for reception of an associated yoke support plate, and other aligned slots through said side walls above the first mentioned slots for the reception of an associated key.

15. ln a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure having vertically disposed side walls, a horizontally disposed ange extending outwardly from the lower extremity of each side wall, a striker casting including one side wall portion lying along an inner surface of one side wall of the sill structure and another side wall portion lying along an inner surface of the other side wall of the sill structure, means for securing the striker side wall portions to the center sill structure, said side wall portions of the striker depending below the respective horizontal iianges, said side wall portions each having a horizontal slot therethrough, a yoke pin and yoke support plate extending transversely of the sill structure supported on the striker within said slots, an abutment member engaging the undersurface of one ange adjacent one end of the plate, means removably securing said abutment member to the associated flange, said abutment member being engageable with one end of said plate to prevent removal thereof through the related slot, and means engageable with the other end of the plate to prevent removal thereof through the other slot.

16. In a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure 10 vertical side walls, a horizontally disposed ange extending outwardly from the lower extremity of each side wall, a striker structure including one side wall portion lying along an inner surface of one side wall of the sill structure and including another side wall portion lying along an inner surface of the other side wall of the sill structure, means for securing the striker structure to the center sill structure, said side wall portions of the striker structure depending below said horizontal flanges, and each of said side wall portions having a horizontal slot therein, an elongated yoke pin and yoke support plate adapted for endwise movement through either of said slots when the structures are not secured to each other, an abutment member engaging the undersurface of one flange adjacent one end of said plate and engageable with said end of the plate to prevent its removal through the related slot when the structures are secured to each other, means removably securing said abutment having member to the associated ange, and a second abutment v member carried by one of said structures, said second abutment member being engageable with the opposite end of the plate to prevent removal thereof through the other slot when the structures are secured to each other.

17. In a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure having vertical side walls, a horizontal ange extending outwardly from a lower extremity of each side wall, a striker structure including one side wall portion lying along an inner surface of one side wall of the sill structure and including another side wall portion lying along an inner surface of thev other side wall of the sill structure, means securing the striker structure to the center sill structure, each side wall portion of the striker structure depending below the associated horizontal ange, said dependingside wall portions of the striker structure each having a slot therethrough below said horizontal flanges, an elongated yoke pin and yoke support plate supported by said striker structure and separable therefrom, the ends of saidplate extending into the respective slots, an abutment member underlying one flange adjacent one end of the plate and engageable with said end of the plate to prevent its removal through the related slot, removable means securing said abutment member to said flange, and means engageable with the plate to prevent its removal from the other slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,316 Kadel Apr. 28, 1925 1,612,540 Simmons Dec. 28, 1926r 1,923,433 Gilpin Aug. 22, 1933 1,979,217 Barrows Oct. 30, 1934 2,000,683 Akitt May 7, 1935 2,019,311 Kinne Oct. 29, 1935 2,147,018 Dwyer Feb. 14, 1939 2,515,964 Metzger July 18. 1950

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