US3132749A - Devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles - Google Patents

Devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3132749A
US3132749A US172162A US17216262A US3132749A US 3132749 A US3132749 A US 3132749A US 172162 A US172162 A US 172162A US 17216262 A US17216262 A US 17216262A US 3132749 A US3132749 A US 3132749A
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United States
Prior art keywords
coupler
projection
projections
throat
carrier
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US172162A
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English (en)
Inventor
Glenroy D Whitehouse
John O Cooke
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English Steel Corp Ltd
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English Steel Corp Ltd
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Publication date
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G7/00—Details or accessories
    • B61G7/04—Coupling or uncoupling by means of trackside apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G3/00—Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements
    • B61G3/16—Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements with coupling heads rigidly connected by rotatable hook plates or discs and balancing links, the coupling members forming a parallelogram, e.g. "Scharfenberg" type
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/21—Elements
    • Y10T74/2101—Cams

Definitions

  • This invention relates to devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles, and more particularly to a track-mounted device for co-operation with automatic couplers of the type in which releasing and re-setting of the locking member from and to locking position takes place in consequence of movement of an operating member by the application of external forces in respective mutually-.
  • the operating member and the coupler body are each provided with a projection extending downwardly beyond the lowest part of the coupler body, with the projection on the coupler body disposed substantially in the plane of movement of the projection on the operating member, or, in which the coupler body is provided with a fixed projection extending downwardly beyond the lowest part of the coupler body, and the operating member has a pin-and-slot connection with a lever mounted on a horizontal pivot parallel to and to one side of the axis of the coupler, the lever extending downwardly to terminate at substantially the same level as the fixed projection on the coupler body.
  • the expression movable projection should be regarded as referring to the projection on the operating member or the lower end of the lever having the pin-and-slot connection with the operating member, as the case may be.
  • a device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for'rail vehicles of the type referred to comprises a carrier adapted to be mounted between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding 'walls on the slide forming between them a tapering mouth adapted to gather in both the movable projection and the projection on the body of a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, and also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection isv in its position of closest approach to the projection on the coupler body.
  • the movable projection is moved towards the projection on the body until,.when the projections pass through the throat, the movable projection is in its position of closest approach to the projection on the body, the mouth accommodating any angularity of the coupler with respect to the device and the slide allowing for the relative immobility of the projection on the body of a coupler that is-engaged with, but not necessarily interlocked with, a mating coupler during the passage of that projection through the device.
  • a device may serve to release the locking member, by bringing the movable projection to its position (at the throat) of closest approach tothe 3,132,749 Patented May 12., 1964 projection on the body, and the movable projection may be brought again, later, to its position of greatest separation from the projection on the body by means of another automatic track-mounted device, so that the locking member returns to locking position. Conversely, if the position ofclosest approach corresponds tothe position in which.
  • a device according to the present invention may serve to bring the movable projection to that position, for example, after it has been brought to its position of greatest separation (to release and retain the locking member) by means of another automatic track-mounted device.
  • movement of the operating member otherwise than can be effected by a device according to the present invention, e.g., manually, is not precluded in setting pass out of the trailing end of the throat before either of the projections of a mating coupler engaged with the trailing coupler comes into contact with the appropriate wall of the mouth, so that the slide is free to allow for any different angularity of that mating coupler as well as the immobility of the projection on the body of that coupler, as that projection lies in relation to the device, on the opposite hand to the corresponding projection on the trailing coupler.
  • the overall height of the device should be such that the upper edges of the walls lie clear of the level of the lowest part of the body of a coupler on a vehicle which is carrying its maximum load, and the depth of the walls should be such that the projections of a coupler on an unloaded vehicle will make sufficient contact with the walls of the device for the latter to perform its required function.
  • the most suitable overall height for the device may bring it to a level at which at least part of its obstructs the path of the chassis or other part of the underside of a vehicle passing over it.
  • the device is mounted on a support permitting it to yield resiliently and downwardly when encountered by any obstructed part of a vehicle, and the upper surfaces of the device are inclined downwardly towards the leading end of the carrier to below the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfaces.
  • the upper surfaces may also be inclined similarly towards the trailing end of the carrier, so that the device will return progressively and smoothly to its operative position, as the obstructed part moves towards the trailing end of the carrier.
  • the support may consist of a horizontal pivot at one end of the carrier, mounted transversely in brackets adapted to be secured in the track, and a spring mounted substantially horizontally below the level of the pivot and connected to a lever arm on the carrier, so as to apply a moment to the carrier in opposition to the moment exerted by the weight of the device, together with a stop enabling the spring to pre-load the device into operative position.
  • the lever arm is preferably short so that little deflection of the spring will take place as the device is swung about the pivot by any obstructed part of the vehicle and, in consequence, the resistance of the device to swinging will remain substantially constant as the obstructed part moves progressively over the leading inclined surfaces of the device.
  • the device and its support together with a short length of track aligned with and connected to the base of the support, may be formed as a unit for insertion in an existing railway system or inclusion in a new layout.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan of two automatic couplers of the Willison type intended primarily for operation by trackmounted devices and shown mated together, but with one coupler set for release of the mating coupler;
  • FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of the left-hand coupler of FIGUREI;
  • FIGURE 3 is a view taken from the right-hand side of FIGURE 2;
  • FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a track-mounted device and support according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the devise and support of FIGURE 4;
  • FIGURE 6 is a plan of the right-hand side of FIG- URE 5; and I FIGURES 7 to are diagrammatic plans showing the progressive action of the device on the mating couplers of FIGURE 1 as they pass over the device.
  • each of a pair of Willison type coupler-s A, B has a fixed nose 1 for engagement in a recess 2 in the other, and a locking member 3 movable to a position in which it can lie alongside the locking member of a similar mating coupler, the two locking members together substantially filling the space between the fixed noses in order to prevent withdrawal of either nose from the corresponding recess.
  • the coupler A is shown with its locking member in this position while the coupler B is shown with its locking member withdrawn into the coupler body 4 (and therefore out of sight), so that by relative lateral movement between the couplers the noses 1 may be withdrawn from their respective recesses 2.
  • Each coupler is pivotally connected by a bolt 5 to the head 6 of the draw-bar 7 of a vehicle 8 (only one shown in FIGURE 5).
  • Movement of the locking member 3 in each coupler between locking position (as in coupler A) and release position (as in coupler B) is consequent on transverse movement of an operating member 9 (FIGURES 2 and 3), which has a pin 10 extending rearwardly for pivotal connection to a lever 11 through a slot 12 inthe lever.
  • the lever extends below the pin-and-slot connection to a horizontal pivot 13 parallel to and to one side of the axis or" the coupler, and beyond the pivot 13 to terminate in an enlarged end 14, hereafter referred to as the movable projection, and a fixed projection 15 to the other side of the axis of the coupler extends downwardly from the coupler body 4 to substantially the sarne level as the movable projection 14.
  • the lever 11 also extends upwardly from the pin-andaslot connection It), 12 to' terminate in an eye 16 accessible from either side of the coupler for engagement by a shunting pole (not shown) for rocking of the lever 11 to be effected manually, with consequential transverse movement of the operating member 9 and movement of the locking member 3.
  • the couplers have been designed for operation by traclemounted devices, such as the device shown in FIG- URES 4 to 6 and about to be described.
  • a base plate 17 is bolted in the bottom of a well 18 between the rails 19 of a track along which vehicles pass in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 5, and a pair of journal brackets 20 bolted on the base plate 17 carry pivots 21 for journals 22, each of which extends downwardly and outwardly from a side flange 23 on a carrier 24 for a slide "25.
  • the carrier is substantially plate-like and is formed with a wide, shallow groove 26 extending parallel to the pivots 21, the groove having guide surfaces 27 for the slide 25, which has a short central rib 28 depending into a longer, axially-extending slot 29 in the base of the groove 26, the rib being held captive in the slot by a plate 30 bolted to the free edge of the rib and extending beyond the sides of the slot.
  • a braced lever arm 31 extends to a pivotal connection 32 with the outer end 33 of a plunger 34 projecting from a cylinder 35 housing a pro-loaded compression spring 36, which at one end abuts against an end plug 37 of the cylinder and at the other end abuts an enlarged head 38 on the inner end of the plunger, to urge the enlarged head towards an annular shoulder 39 around a bore 46 in an end cap 41 through which the plunger extends.
  • the end plug 37 has an external lug 42 pivoted between a pair of upstanding lugs 43 on a bracket 44 bolted to the baseplate 17 in such a position that the carrier 24 and slide 25 are in horizontal, operative, position when the enlarged head 38 on the plunger 34 abuts the annular shoulder 39.
  • the slide 25 is formed with integral upstanding cheeks 45 the mutually-facing walls 46 of which are substantially vertical and converge to form between them amouth 47 tapering inwardly from the leading edge 48 of the slide to a short throat 49, beyond which the walls diverge rapidly to a width 50 approaching the width of the widest part of the mouth, and continue at that width until they finally diverge at the trailing edge 51 of the slide.
  • the upper surfaces 52 of the checks 45 are inclined downwardly at 53, 54 towards the leading and trailing edges 48, 51 respectively, and the portions 55, 56 forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the groove 26 are formed as continuations of the inclined surfaces 53, 54, respectively.
  • the coupler A, B are travelling over the slide 25 of the track-mounted device from left to right; that is to say, the coupler A is the leading coupler on one vehicle (vehicle 8 in FIGURE 5) and the coupler .B is the trailing coupler on a preceding vehicle (not shown).
  • the movable projection 14 of each coupier is in its position of greatest sepanation the fixed projection 15, so that both locking members 3 are in locking position and the couplers are interlocked in consequence, and the couplers have reached the position in which both projections 14, 15 Olf the coupler B have made initial contact with adjacent walls of the mouth 47 of the slide 25, which is in substantially the same position relatlVe to the carrier 24 in which it has been left by the projections of the leading coupler (not shown) of the vehicle carrying the coupler B.
  • the movable projection 14 'ot the coupler A is moved towards its fixed projection 15 until, at the throat 49 (FIGURE the projection ,14of the coupler A is in its position of closest approach'to its projection and the locking member 3 of coupler A has been moved fully to release position.
  • the fixed projection 15 of the coupler A forces the slide 25 to move in the opposite direction relative to the carrier 24 as the projection moves towards andinto the throat 49, the position of the slide in FIGURE 10 being substantially that in which both projections of the trailing coupler (not shown) of the vehicle 8 (FIGURE 5) will make initial contact with the adjacent walls of the mouth 47.
  • the greater width 50 beyond the throat 49 ensures that the fixed projection 15 of the coupler B cannot obstruct the movement of the slide under the influence of the fixed projection 15 of the coupler A.
  • the mouth accommodates any angularity of a coupler that is not engaged with a similar mating coupler, although the device is intended for use mainly with a succession of vehicles whose couplers are engaged and interlocked.
  • the overall height of the device and support brings the slide 25 to a level at which it obstructs the path of a part 59 (FIGURE 5) of the underside of each of the vehicles passing over
  • a part 59 (FIGURE 5) of the underside of each of the vehicles passing over
  • the slide and carrier will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the leading end of the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfaces 53 until the obstructed part moves over the surfaces 5-2 and the trailing end 61 of the obstructed part rides along the surfaces 52 and the rearward inclined surfaces 54 of the slide, so that the slide and carrier return progressively and smoothly to their operative position, the trailing end 61 of the obstructed part finally leaving the surfaces 54 or, if the vehicle is heavily loaded, the inclined portion 56 of the carrier 24, when the slide and carrier
  • Resetting of the locking members to locking position may be eifected by another and appropriate track mounted device (not shown) adapted to move the movable projections 14 back to the position of greatest separation from their respective fixed projections 15, for example after shunting or other operations have been performed with the couplers released from each other or from other similar mating couplers.
  • a device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers tor rail vehicles each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of the coupler, movement of the locking member between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections
  • the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the Width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is in its fixed position of closest approach to the projection, the throat continuing at the same width for some distance towards the trailing end ofthe device,
  • a device for automatically the locking members of automatic couplers for vehicles each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of' the coupler, movement of the locking memher between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections
  • the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass befiore leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is in its position of closest approach to the fixed projection, the throat continuing at the same width for some distance towards the trailing end of
  • a device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of the coupler, movement of the locking member between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections
  • the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to [form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is its position of closest approach to the fixed projection, the throat continuing at the same Width for some distance'towards the trailing end of the

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
US172162A 1961-02-14 1962-02-09 Devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3132749A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB5360/61A GB936924A (en) 1961-02-14 1961-02-14 Improvements in or relating to devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3132749A true US3132749A (en) 1964-05-12

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US172162A Expired - Lifetime US3132749A (en) 1961-02-14 1962-02-09 Devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles

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US (1) US3132749A (fr)
BE (1) BE613885A (fr)
DE (1) DE1455215B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB936924A (fr)
NL (2) NL121087C (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3211298A (en) * 1964-11-04 1965-10-12 English Steel Corp Ltd Automatic couplers for rail vehicles
US5531337A (en) * 1995-05-30 1996-07-02 Inco Limited Automated decoupler for rail cars
US20090055041A1 (en) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Mian Zahid F Rail vehicle identification and processing
US20100076631A1 (en) * 2008-09-19 2010-03-25 Mian Zahid F Robotic vehicle for performing rail-related actions

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2558383A (en) * 1945-12-04 1951-06-26 Pritchard Sydney Charles Automatic coupling for model railway rolling stock
US2631740A (en) * 1949-03-25 1953-03-17 Ralph L Watson Coupler for model railroads

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR902444A (fr) * 1941-01-08 1945-08-30 Scharfenbergkupplung Ag Dispositif permettant de défaire un accouplement automatique de véhicules sur rails

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2558383A (en) * 1945-12-04 1951-06-26 Pritchard Sydney Charles Automatic coupling for model railway rolling stock
US2631740A (en) * 1949-03-25 1953-03-17 Ralph L Watson Coupler for model railroads

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3211298A (en) * 1964-11-04 1965-10-12 English Steel Corp Ltd Automatic couplers for rail vehicles
US5531337A (en) * 1995-05-30 1996-07-02 Inco Limited Automated decoupler for rail cars
DE19621651C2 (de) * 1995-05-30 2000-09-14 Inco Ltd Vorrichtung zum Abkuppeln von Schienenfahrzeugen
US20090055041A1 (en) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Mian Zahid F Rail vehicle identification and processing
US20090055043A1 (en) * 2007-08-20 2009-02-26 Mian Zahid F Rail vehicle identification and processing
US8140250B2 (en) 2007-08-20 2012-03-20 International Electronics Machines Corporation Rail vehicle identification and processing
US8655540B2 (en) 2007-08-20 2014-02-18 International Electronic Machines Corp. Rail vehicle identification and processing
US20100076631A1 (en) * 2008-09-19 2010-03-25 Mian Zahid F Robotic vehicle for performing rail-related actions
US8583313B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2013-11-12 International Electronic Machines Corp. Robotic vehicle for performing rail-related actions
US9383752B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2016-07-05 International Electronic Machines Corp. Railway maintenance device
US10471976B2 (en) 2008-09-19 2019-11-12 International Electronic Machines Corp. Railway maintenance device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL274744A (fr)
BE613885A (fr) 1962-05-29
NL121087C (fr)
DE1455215B1 (de) 1969-09-11
GB936924A (en) 1963-09-18

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