US34143A

US34143A - Improvement in car-couplings

Info

Publication number: US34143A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1862-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1879-01-14

Description

E. C. HAMLIN.

Car Coupling.

Y Patented Jan. 14, 1862 NJETERS, rmwumoeanuia, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. O. HAMLIN, OF PAVILION, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,143, dated January 14,1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. C. HAMLIN, of Pavilion, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Self-Coupler for Railroad-Cars; and I do here by declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a top view with the cap removed and showing the arrangement of the internal parts. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the parts, as indicated by the red line in Fig. 1.

The nature of this invention will be understood by reference to the drawings and specification.

I construct the bumper stock or shank, as seen in Fig. 1, with an adjustable jaw A on one side, and in the space between the jaws A and B is placed an adjusting-circle G and a pressure-plate or follower F. The latter is recessed on the top to make room for the lever m, and the outer end is made to fit the circle 0. A portion of this circle is removed to fit the circular head of the link Z, which head is shaped like a double-convex lens, as seen in Fig. 1, and the convex surfaces have a common diameter with the adj Listing-circle O. The inner surfaces of the points I) of jaws A and B are also segments of the same circle. The follower F is thrown out by the springs s, which are kept in position by the steadypins. The pawlr is hinged to the lower plate of the bumper, and it is pressed forward by the spring 3. The lever m is hinged to the cap of the bumper. 'The jaw A is hinged to the bumper by the pivot v, and it is held in position by the spring S.

The lever B is supported by the standard w, and the end is split to receive the eye of the pin p, and by means of the slot through which the bolt 15 passes the pin is allowed to retain its vertical position while being adj usted.

The circular slot in the head of the link Z is struck from the center of the adjustingcircle 0, so that the draft shall be both upon the pin 10 and upon both shoulders of the circular head of the link Z whether the draft be straight forward or angling either way, as

indicated by the position of the link shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The especial object of the adjusting-circle O is that when the link is pressed in (on a curve) either wayas when the train is backing onto a branch-the link Z is allowed to swing either way on the pin 1) as a fulcrum without cramping, the points of the adjuster assuming one of the two positions indicated by the dotted lines.

When a car is to be uncoupled, the lever R is placed in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, which withdraws the pin p and carries the yoke 1 up so as to relieve the jaw A, and it is held there by the pawl '1'. Then the lever m is thrown forward, as shown by the dotted lines m, Fig. 1, and the point f forces the jaw A cut, as indicated by the dotted lines, which entirely relieves the link Z.

To couple a car the lever B is set as before and the link is placed in the bumper of the other car, and when they are backed together the link (being of proper length to do so) presses the follower of both bumpers in, as shown by the dotted lines, before the bumper-heads strike, and the tappet t prelses the pawl r back, so as to unhook the lever B, and the pin 13 drops through the link.

The object of the yoke y is to prevent the jaw A from opening, except when a car is to be coupled or uncoupled, and the lever m may be operated by the engineer by attaching a cord or chain thereto.

The ordinary pins may be used without alteration.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The employment, in self-couplers for cars,

of a link with a circular head and slot, as

described, in combination with the adjustingcircle 0 and follower F.

2. The combination and arrangement of the adjustable clamping-yoke y and pin p with the lever B and pawl 'r', as and for the purposes specified.

E. C. HAMLIN.

Witnesses:

WM. S. LOUGHBOROUGH.

LoUIs ERNST.