US285409A - Thill-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

I. HAND.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

' P INVENTOR: M g

ATTORNEYS.

WiTNESSES W IO with jaws, and a'wedging-shoulder formed beiii FFICE.

FURMAN HAND, OF

PONTIAC, ILLInoIs.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,409, dated September 25, 1883.

Application filed October 18, me. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FURMAN HAND, of Poll-- tiac, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Oouplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the clip provided tween the jaws, a plug placed between the thillhead and the wedging-shoulder and held in position thereby, and an automatic button arranged to bear on the .rear end of the plug, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, and more particularly described in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View, and Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section, of a coupling constructed and arranged according to my invention.

A is the axle of the vehicle to which my coupling -is applied, and A is the clip put over the axle. The front side of the clip is gradually increased in thickness from a point near its top downward, so as to provide a wedgingshoulder, A as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

B B are two paralleljaws projected forward -from the clip, and have affixed between their forward or outer ends the stationary bolt B, on which the head 0 of the shaft or pole is adapted to be placed. Thejaws B B are widest in their vertical depth, and. are adapted to receive between them the plug D hereinafter more fully described. The space between the jaws is open at its upper side, so that the plug may readily be slipped therein, and is also open at the lower side, so that a suitable i11- strument may be thrust upward against 'the under side of the plug, and the latter thereby pushed upward when it is desired to remove it.

D is the retaining and anti-rattling plug. Its forward end is made concave to fit the curvature of the hook C, while its rear end is beveled, and adapted to fit snugly against the inclined face of the wedging-shoulder A. The plug is made of a vertical depth equal to the width of the jaws B,- so that when inserted between the latter it will not project above nor below them. On the upper side, and near the ity-button E, pivoted to the clip above the line of the upper edges of the jaws B. The button E is arrrnged so that its lower edge drops to a point below the upper edges of the jaws. It is made approximately in a semicircle, and it is so arranged that it may be turned outward clear of the jaws B. Its upper edge being straight, it may be turned up, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and beentirely out of the way when removing or inserting the plug 1). After the plug has been placed between the jaws the gravity-button will drop into the recess and lock the plug in place. The plug is made to fit so snugly that it requires pressure to push it entirely down to itsproper place. The curved form of the button causes it to act as a cam to press the plug into place. To remove the plug the button is turned up, and the plug may then be pressed upward by any suitable instrument, and be taken from its position between the j aws.

In pnttin g the plug in position the concavity of its front end is first placed against the head O of the poles. The rear end is then dropped against the wedging-shoulder and the button turned down. The entire operation is quickly and efficiently done. The jaws B prevent the plug from slipping sidewise, the concave form of the front end of the plug resting against the hook, andthe action of the wedging-shoulder and of the gravity-button prevents the rear end from being moved up or down. A very sub stantial and convenient fastening is thus provided. There is also a constant bracing or tightening action by the plug by means of the wedging'shoulder, whereby all wear is taken up and rattling prevented.

Another feature o'fmyinvei'ition is its ad apta bility to lock the thill or pole when the latter is formed with a hook-shaped head, as shown. In this case the plug has a vertical depth equal to the width of the jaws. The diameter of the pole-head is also of thesanie length as the width of said jaws. The plug is then made of a length equal to the distance between the bolt B and the clip A. The formation of the concavity in the front end of the plug makes the latter fit approximately around onehalf of the circumference of the pole-head.

ing, 0, which is extended downward and for- I ward, and gives the'hook shape, as shown.

The p ole-head is provided with a radial op en- The point of the hook thus formed, when placed on the bolt- B, extends in front of a vertical line drawn downward from the center of said bolt. The end of the plug extends nearly half around the periphery of head 0, and it will be readily seen that the pole could not be displaced from the bolt.

I have furnished a coupling strong and durable, free from rattling, and easily and quickly connected or disconnected.

In this device the slot 0 is formed on a line at an acute angle preferably at about an angle of forty-five degrees) to a line drawn from the center of thill head or hook to thepoint of the thill resting on the ground. The point of the hook will then extend forward under the bolt B, and will so hold the thill that thelat- 'ter can" be removed fromsaid bolt only by a' movement backward and upward.

The plug D has, as hereinbefore' described, a vertical thickness at 1 itsforward end about equal tot'hedianieter'of the thill-hook. It also has a length equal to or slightly longer than the distance between the bolt'B and the clip A. 'Being'made concave inits forward end, it fits'closely around the rear side of the thill-hook, and the i upper and lower a points It will be seen that when the plug is in place The shaft or pole coupling hereinbefore described, consisting of the clip A, the jaws l3 B, projected forward from the clip, and having their adjacent sides arranged in vertical parallel planes, the draft-bolt B held in the forward ends of the jaws, the p ole hook or head, the wedging-shoulder A formed on the clip and extended downward between the rear ends of the jaws, the plug D, having its forward end made concave, andadapte'd to fit upon and extend approxi-inately half around the rear side of the pole-head or'hook, and having its rear end resting against the wedging-shoulder, the

said plug being. placed between the; jaws and held from lateral displacement thereby, and

the gravity-button E, pivoted to the clip and "above the rear-end of theplug, as set forth.

FURMAN TIAND.

WVi tn esses WVM. B. FYFE, J. 1IEOIL

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