US2779483A

US2779483A - Carrier assembly for railway couplers

Info

Publication number: US2779483A
Application number: US490236A
Authority: US
Inventors: Furniss Loree Elwyn
Original assignee: Buckeye Steel Castings Co
Current assignee: Buckeye Steel Castings Co
Priority date: 1955-02-24
Filing date: 1955-02-24
Publication date: 1957-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 E. FURNISS CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR RAILWAY COUPLERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1955 INVENTOR LOAEE EL WA/ PORN/$5 m ia Jan. 29, 1957 E. FURNI SS CARRIER ASSEMBLY FOR RAILWAY COUPLERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1955 R 7 l N N V R 4M W arm 0 N P y M E m m m mm m N1 NW. Q l i av mm mm #2 E W WR NN R 1 shfi/ g towards the front of the carrier member 19. This sloping edge 46 is adapted to contact the top edge of the rear wall 22 of the trough structure during extreme downward swinging movements of the coupler stem. A sloping face 47 provides the under surface of the top plate 42 along the front thereof which engages the top edge of the front wall 21 during maximum downward movement of the carrier member. The top surface of the plate 42 remains in flat engagement with the under surface of the coupler stem 18 when both the front and rear portions of the carrier member engage the top edges of the trough structure.

A loop 48 is provided at one end of the carrier member 1.9 and a similar loop 49 is carried by the opposite end. The upper portion of the loop 48 is formed integral with the associated lug l3 and the lower portion is connected to the plate 42 by an upwardly extending arm 59. The loop 49 is formed integral with the other lug 43 and is similarly connected to the top plate 42. The loops 48 and 49 are constructed like those disclosed in my application Serial No. 389,655, filed November 2, 1953. The loop 48 is provided with an upwardly facing concave surface 61 while the loop 49 is provided with a similar upwardly facing concave surface 62. The under surface of the plate 42 of the carrier member is provided with two downwardly facing concave surfaces 63 and 64 and the utility of these arcuate surfaces will become apparent as the present disclosure proceeds.

A plurality of springs 66 are provided Within the trough structure for resiliently supporting the carrier member. The lower ends of these springs engage the bottom wall 23 and are maintained in spaced positions thereon by the lugs 26. A spring abutment member 67 is arranged over the upper ends of the springs 66. This member includes a plate portion having a relatively fiat under surface 68 as shown in Fig. ll which is adapted to be engaged by the upper ends of the springs 66. A plurality of spring positioning lugs 69 depend from the plate portion of the abutment member for maintaining the upper ends of the spring 66 in spaced relation. The plate portion of the spring abutment member 67 is provided with two upwardly facing concave surfaces 71 and '72 which are generated about horizontal axes and each has a radius similar to that of the downwardly facing concave surfaces 63 and 64 on the carrier member 19.

Two cars 73 and 74 depend from the plate portion of the spring abutment member 67 at the front thereof. These ears are so shaped and positioned as to provide a space or slot '76 therebetween. These ears 73 and 74 are arranged on the opposite sides of a vertically disposed rib 77 which extends vertically along the central inner surface of the front wall 21 of the trough structure. A lug 79 depends from the central rear portion of the spring abut ment member 67. This lug is adapted to fit within a vertically disposed groove 31 in the rear wall 22 of the trough structure.

The abutment member 67 is supported by the upper ends of the springs 66 and a pair of rollers 32 of the type shown in Figs. 14 and 15 support the carrier member 19 on the spring abutment member 67 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One roller 32 is arranged betwen the concave surface 63 on the carrier member 19 and the concave surface 71 on the spring abutment member 67 while the other roller 82 is accommodated between the concave surface 64 of the carrier member and the concave surface '72 of the spring abutment member. The carrier member is thereby supported for lateral movements relative to the striker 16 by the rollers 82. The rollers 82 are prevented from escaping endwise from operative positions by means of depending flanges 63 on the carrier member 19 (Figs. 1 and 8) and the flange 44.

The draw bar of the coupler which rests on the carrier member 19 is resiliently supported by the springs 66. The load imposed on the carrier member 19 is transmitted through the rollers 32 onto the spring abutment memberv 67 which is supported by the upper ends of the helical springs 66. Upward movement of the carrier member 19 is limited by a pair of rollers 88 having enlarged heads as shown in Fig. 13. These rollers are accommodated in the elongated openings 31 and 32 in the front wall 21 of the trough structure and in the elongated openings 36 and 37 in the rear wall 22. The rollers 88 extend through the loops 48 and 49 on the carrier member. The horizontal elongation of the openings in the walls of the trough structure provide for lateral movements of the carrier member as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 389,655, filed November 2, 1953.

During lateral movements of the carrier member with respect to the striker it is supported on the rollers 82 which roll on the spring abutment member. The downwardly facing concave surfaces 63 and 64 on the carrier member and the upwardly facing concave surfaces 71 and 72 on the spring abutment member 6'7 serve to return the carrier member to a central position within the striker opening 17 to thereby provide swing hanger action for the carrier member.

During lateral movements of the carrier member the spring abutment member 67 is restrained from moving horizontally. The rib 77 which extends into the slot or space 76 between the ears '73 and 74 and the lug '79 which extends into the groove 81 prevent the abutment member 67 from partaking of the lateral movements of the carrier member. The spring abutment member is free to move vertically as the springs 66 are compressed and during expansion of these springs. in all vertical positions of the abutment member 67 it is restrained from moving laterally with respect to the striker because of the interlocking arrangement of the ears 73 and 74 with the rib 77 and the lug '79 with the groove 81. Accordingly the upper end portions of the supporting springs 66 are not shifted laterally during horizontal angling of the coupler stem and there are no shearing stresses developed in the supporting springs 66.

In mounting the carrier on the striker the springs 66 are first arranged within the trough structure with their lower ends surrounding the spring positioning lugs 26. The spring abutment member 67 is then arranged over the upper ends of the springs. The rollers 82 are applied to the concave surfaces 71 and 72. The carrier member is then arranged in an angular position so that one of the loops may be moved through an open area 24. Thereafter the carrier member is swung to a horizontal position so that the concave surfaces '63 and 64 rest on the rollers 82. The carrier member is moved downwardly to compress the springs and the rollers 88 are introduced through the openings 31 and 32 in the front Wall and through the loops 48 and 49. The enlarged heads of the rollers are then applied to the shaft portions of the rollers adjacent the openings 36 and 37. The rollers 8 8 limit upward movement of the carrier member which 18 then in condition for operation.

The carrier assembly has particular utility for an interlocking type coupler but it may also serve to support the draw bar of other types of couplers. Various changes may be made in the structure of the separate parts and such modifications along with changes in the general organization may be made without departing from the Spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In a carrier assembly for the draw bar of a railway coupler, a striker having an opening in the front thereof for accommodating the draw bar, a trough structure at a forward portion of the striker below said opening, an abutment member adjacent an upper portion of said trough structure, springs within the trough structure resiliently supporting said abutment member, a vertically extending rib carried by and within said trough structure, said abutment member having a slot therein receiving S id rib preventing lateral motion of the abutting memher, a carrier member under said draw bar and overlying said abutment member, a downward facing concave surface on the carrier member, an upward facing concave surface on the abutment member, a roller in rolling engagement with the concave surface of the abutment member and in rolling engagement with the concave surface of the carrier member, and means limiting upward movement of the carrier member with respect to the striker.

2. In a carrier assembly for a railway coupler, a striker having an opening in the front thereof for accommodating a coupler stem, a trough structure including a front wall carried by a forward portion of the striker below said opening, an abutment member adjacent an upper portion of said trough structure, springs within the trough structure resiliently supporting said abutment member, a vertically extending rib within and carried by the front wall of said trough structure, said abutment member having a slot therein receiving said rib preventing lateral movements of the abutment member, a carrier member under said stem and overlying said abutment member, downward facing concave surfaces on the carrier member, an upward facing concave surface on the abutment member under each downward facing concave surface providing pairs of confronting arcuate surface, a roller between each pair of arcuate surfaces, and means limiting upward movement of the carrier member with respect to the striker.

3. In a support for a railway coupler, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker having generally vertical front and rear walls, an abutment member adjacent an upper end of said trough structure, springs within the trough structure supporting said abutment member, a vertically extending rib carried by said front wall within the trough structure, said rear wall having a vertically extending groove therein, a lug carried by a rear portion of the abutment member extending within said groove, said abutment member having a slot in the front portion receiving said rib, a carrier member overlying said abutment member, downward facing concave surfaces on the carrier member, upward facing concave surfaces on the abutment member, a roller in rolling engagement with one of the concave surfaces of the abutment member and in rolling engagement with one of the concave surfaces of the carrier member, another roller in rolling engagement with another of the concave surfaces of the abutment member and in rolling engagement with another of the concave surfaces of the carrier member, and means limiting upward movement of the carrier member with respect to the striker.

4. In a draft rigging for a railway coupler, a striker having an opening in a front portion thereof, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker having generally vertical front and rear walls, a vertical- 1y extending rib carried by the front wall within the trough structure, and said rear wall of the trough structure having a vertically extending groove therein.

5. A spring abutment member for a carrier assembly for a railway coupler, a plate having a substantially flat under face, spring positioning lugs projecting from said face, upward facing concave surfaces on the upper portion of said plate, a pair of ears depending from an intermediate portion of said plate having a vertically disposed space between adjacent edges thereof, and a lug depending from an intermediate rear portion of said plate.

6. A carrier assembly for a railway coupler comprising, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker having a bottom wall, said striker having a front opening above the trough structure for accommodating a coupler stem for lateral movements with respect to the striker, a carrier member having a top plate for engaging an under surface of the coupler stem overlying said trough structure and adapted to move laterally with respect to the striker with such movements of the coupler stem, helical vertically disposed springs within the trough structure with lower ends thereof engaging said bottom wall, a spring abutment member engaging upper ends of said springs resiliently supported on said springs for vertical movements relative to the striker, rollers between the spring abutment member and the carrier member supporting the carrier member on the spring abutment member and during said lateral movements of the carrier member, means limiting upward movement of the carrier member relative to the striker, and vertically disposed guide means adjacent an intermediate portion of the trough structure preventing lateral movements of the spring abutment member relative to the striker throughout the range of vertical movements thereof whereby lateral movements of upper portions of said springs relative to lower portions thereof are avoided during lateral movements of the carrier member relative to the striker.

7. A carrier assembly for a railway coupler comprising, a striker, a trough structure carried by a lower forward portion of the striker, said striker having a front opening above the trough structure for accommodating a coupler stem for lateral movements with respect to the striker, an abutment member, vertically disposed helical springs resiliently supporting said abutment member on the trough structure for vertical movements with respect to the striker, a carrier member engaging an under surface of the coupler stem adapted to move laterally with respect to the striker during such movements of the coupler stem, rollers supporting the carrier member on the abutment member and rolling therebetween during said lateral movements of the carrier member relative to the striker, means limiting upward movement of the carrier member relative to the striker, vertically disposed inter-engaging guide surfaces carried by intermediate portions of the abutment member and the trough structure preventing lateral movements of the abutment member relative to the striker throughout the range of vertical movements thereof whereby upper portions of the springs remain substantially in alignment with lower portions during lateral movements of the carrier member relative to the striker.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,269 Strid Oct. 20, 1936 2,513,834 Zeidler July 4,. 1950 2,556,732 Metzger June 12, 1951