US340529A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

o. 11.4TUNKS. GAR GOUPLING. No. 340,529. Patented Apr. 2o, 1886.

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i vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES R. TUNKS, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFIQATON fel-ming page of Letters Paten: No. 340,529, dated April zo, 188e.

Application led February i8, 1886, Serial No. 192,419. (No model.)

To tu whom, t may concern;

Be it known that l, CHARLns TUNKs, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and Stateof Michi` gan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be afuli, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in earcouplings, and is more particularly an improvement on the Ames7 patents, Reissue No. 7,366 and No. 206,159, and couplings in which a similar style of draw-head and coupling-bar is used.

In theV patents above referred to the drawheads are provided with inclined slots in their opposite sides and the couplingbars have projecting side pins or trunnions which engage with the side slots and hold said coupling-bars in the draw-heads. The couplingbars are each provided with a front slot and subjacent hooks, by means of which the coupling is effected as the cars are brought together.

The uncoupling is effected by means of uncoupling shafts having center levers connected by chains with the rear ends of the coupling-bars, said chains passing through the tops of the draw-heads. By turning the shaft connected with the coupling-bar the subjacent hook of which is in engagement with the slot of the opposite coupling-bar, the center lever of said shaft is raised, thus raising the rear end of the couplingbar and lifting its hook out of the slot in said opposite coupling-bar and uncoupling the cars. This device, however, merely raises the rear end of the coupling-bar and does not draw it back into the drawhead, and the operator has to hold the shaft to prevent the coupling-bars from recoupling, making it very difficult for him to give the necessary signals, and when switching the cars he has to run with the same to hold the coupling-bars apart.

The Object of my invention is to provide a device for uncou'pling the coupling-bars and drawing the same wit-hin the draw-heads, so

that the side pins or trunnions on said bars will rest in the rear upper portion of the in- @lined slots and permit the operator to release his hold on the uncoupling-shaft, thus giving him perfect freedom in giving the necessary signals, Sto.

The particular construction and arrange ment of the various parts of my invention I will now proceed to point out and describe, reference being had tothe accompanying draw ings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of a coupling embodying my invention, the coupling-bars being shown coupled and indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the draw-heads, the coupling-bar being shown drawn back into the draw-head; and Fig. 3 is atop plan of a draw-head, showing the coupling-bar in a position to couple.

Referring to said drawings, A A represent the draw-heads, provided with curved or inclined slots a on the opposite sides of said draw-heads,said slots extending upwardly and rearwardly, the upper portion of the same being about horizontal. The rear portion of the top and bottom of the draw-head is made open, as shown in Fig. -3.

The draw-head is secured to the car by means of a yoke or open frame, A. The outer end of the yoke engages with the rear portion ofthe draw-head, and is secured to the same by a pin, A2. This yoke is so arranged as 'to permit a slight lateral play to the draw-head.

B B are the coupling-bars, each having a slot, b, in their front ends and subjacent hooks or prongs b. Said couplingbars are also provided with side pins or trunnions, c, which workin the sideslots of the drawlheads. The coupling-bars are also made heavier at their rear ends to maintain them in a position to couple, and the front ends are formed so as to readily slip by each other, and when the cars are brought together and the ends of the couplingbars pass each other the front end of the lower bar strikes the under side of the hook of the upper bar, raising and passing under it until the hook of the upper bar drops into the slot of the lower bar, which effects the coupling. The under sides of the rear ends ofthe coupling-bars are provided with notches or recesses d d.

D D are transverse u ncoupling-shafts mounted in suitable bearings on the under side of the draw-heads. Said shafts project on each side of the car, and are provided with cranks shafts to move with the same, thus maintainor Wheels for turning the same. Tothe ceuter of the shafts D are attached lifting-levers E E, having T-shaped heads or ends.

Vhen the cars are coupled, the notch or recess in the rear end of the upper couplingbar is in the are described by the end of the lever on the shaft secured to the drawhead which carries said upper coupling-bar.

e e are adjustable collars on the uncouplingshafts. Said collars engage with the sides of the draw-heads and cause the uncoupliuging the lifting-levers at all times in the saine relative position to the longitudinal center of the draw-heads.

To uncouple the cars, the uncouplingshaft is turned and the lever E, passing up through the open part ofthe bottom oi'thedraW-head, engages with the notch d in the upper coupling`bar, and raises the end of said couplingbar until its subjacent hook is lifted out ofthe slot in the opposite coupling-bar, thus uncoupling the cars. By continuing to turn the shaft the couplingbar is drawn within the draw-head until its side pins or trunnions rest in the rear upper portion of the side slots. The operator can then let go of the uncouplingshaft and give the necessary signals. The coupling-bar will remain within the draW head until he desires to recouple. Then, by turning` the uncoupling-shaft in the .opposite direction, the coupling-bar is moved forward until its side pins rest in the lower forward ends of the side slots and said coupling-bar is then in a position to couple.

My invention does away with the necessity ofthe operator holding onto the uncouplingshaft to prevent the cars from recoupling, which is a great advantage, as it gives hiin perfect freedom to make the necessary signals, l

dac; A further advantage is that the tops of the draw-heads can be made solid, which adds Vgreatly to their strength.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The draw-head having a partiallyopen bottom, a weighted coupling-bar Working therein, as described, and provided with a notch or recess in its rear end, in combination with the uncouplingshaft provided with a lifting-lever adapted to engage with the notch in the rear end of the coupling-bar as the uncoupling-shaft is turned, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described;

2. A draw-head provided with slots in its opposite sides, a coupling-bar, substantially as described, having side pins engaging with the slots in the draw-head and provided with a notch or recess in its rear end, in combination with an uncoupling-shaft provided with a lifting-lever adapted to engage with the notch in the rear end of the coupling-bar as the uncouplingshaft is turned, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and dcscribed.

3. The draw-head A, having apartiallyopen bottom, a weighted coupling -bar, B, working therein, as described, and provided with a notch or recess, d. in its rear end, in combination with the uneouplingshaft D, having the lifting-lever E, all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES It. TUNES. 'Vitnesses:

R. B. RoBnINs,

GEORGE J oHNsoN.

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