US3549021A - Automatic car coupler - Google Patents
Automatic car coupler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3549021A US3549021A US731063A US3549021DA US3549021A US 3549021 A US3549021 A US 3549021A US 731063 A US731063 A US 731063A US 3549021D A US3549021D A US 3549021DA US 3549021 A US3549021 A US 3549021A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- coupler
- knuckle
- lever
- lock
- couplers
- Prior art date
- 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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Classifications
-
- 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
- B61G3/04—Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements with coupling head having a guard arm on one side and a knuckle with angularly-disposed nose and tail portions pivoted to the other side thereof, the nose of the knuckle being the coupling part, and means to lock the knuckle in coupling position, e.g. "A.A.R." or "Janney" type
- B61G3/06—Knuckle-locking devices
Definitions
- a knuckle type railway car coupler is provided with means whereby the lock for the knuckle will automatically move out of locking relationship with the knuckle and the knuckle will swing from closed to open position when a mating coupler is uncoupled from the coupler.
- the present invention assures that the coupler will always be ready for coupling when the coupler is free,.because its knuckle will be au'tomatically disposed in open position.
- the invention provides for automatic unlocking and opening of the knuckle of a coupler as it is uncoupled from a mating coupler.
- the knuckle of each coupler will be disposed in open position, and therefore each coupler will be, ready for coupling with another coupler without further preparation of the coupler;
- the main object of the invention is to provide a knuckletype car coupler that is always ready is disposed in open position.
- Another object is to provide a knuckle coupler whose knuckle will automatically open during an uncoupling operation'as the knuckle of a mating coupler swings to open position.
- a further object is to provide a knuckle coupler in which, in addition to the usual means for manual unlocking of the knuckle, there is means for automatically unlocking and opening the knuckle as a mating coupler is being uncoupled from the coupler.
- a still further object isto provide a knuckle'coupler having knuckle unlocking and opening means which is inactive when to couple, i.e., its knuckle the coupler is coupled to a matingcoupler but which automatically unlocks and' opens the knuckle as a mating coupler is uncoupled from the coupler.
- Another object is to provide a knuckle coupler having a rotor lever which in addition'to being manually actuatable by an uncoupling rod is also actuatable by automatic means to effect unlocking of the knuckle and movement thereof to open position during anuncouplingoperation with a mating coupler whose knuckle had been unlocked prior to the operation.
- a still further object is to provide pler in which the rotor lever thereof is automatically actuated I to unlock the knuckle after a predetermined amount of Iongitudinal separation of two couplersfoccurs during an uncoupling operation.
- the invention comprises novel spring-actuated means within the head of a knuckle-type railway car coupler adapted to actuate the usual rotor lever of the 'car coupler to unlock the knuckle and effect opening thereof.
- the means comprises a lever and plunger arrangement mounted in the coupler head independently of the existing coupler internal operating parts.
- the lever is movable by an associated spring into engagement an A.-A.R. Standard couwith the rotor lever to actuate'thesame to unlock the knuckle to permit opening thereof.
- the plunger isengaged by the opposing couplerto immobilize the lever against the force of the spring.
- the lever In this coupled condition of the coupler, the lever is out of contact with the rotor lever.
- another spring associated with the knuckle rotates the knuckle to open position.
- FIG. I is a side elevational view of a car coupler embodying the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2120f FIG. 1 and showing the coupler coupled to an opposing, mating coupler. The couplers are shown in buff.
- FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the coupler shown in FIG. 1. I 1
- FIG. 4 is, a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the couplers with knuckles that are extremelyworn, the couplers being shown underapulling load.
- FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the mating coupler separated from the coupler a predetermined amount as during an uncoupling operation.
- FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
- FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the coupler after the mating coupler has been completely uncoupled and separated from the coupler.
- FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional viewtaken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
- FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
- FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 2, showing the lock in unlocking or lock-set position, the knuckle being shown inclosed position.
- FIG. 11. is a fragmentary bottom view of the coupler showing the knuckle and the adjacent portion of the coupler head.
- FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through a coupler showing a-modification of the invention.
- FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG.- 12 showing the position of the parts after a predetermined amount of actuation thereof.
- FIG. 14 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the coupler shown in FIG. 12.
- FIG. 15 shows top and side view details of the plunger forming part of the invention.
- FIG. 16 shows front and side view details of the lever.
- FIG. 17 shows front and side view details of the rotor lever.
- FIG. 18 is a detail of the pivot pin for connecting the lever to the coupler head.
- FIG. 19 shows details of the spring for actuating the lever.
- FIG. 20 shows details of the spring for opening the knuckle.
- FIG. 21 shows front and side view details of a modified rotor lever.
- FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing there is shown an Association of American Railroads (A.A.R.) Standard E coupler to which the invention has been applied.
- the coupler has a head 10 and a knuckle l1 pivoted to the head about a vertical pin 12.
- the knuckle is swingable from its closed position shown in FIG. 2 to the fully open position shown in FIG. 7.
- the knuckle is locked in closed position by a knuckle tail l4 and the vertical wall in the head.
- the lock is movable upwardly into chamber 16 (FIG. 10) to a position in which it is in unlocking relationship with the knuckle. This is also called the lock-set position of the lock.
- the lock has a depending leg 17 which is operatively connected to a lock lifter link 18.
- the upper end of link 18 has a trunnion 19 received in slot 20 in the lock leg.
- the lower end of link 18 is pivotally connected to the forward element 22a of the articulated rotor lever 22' as at 23.
- the rotor lever is pivoted to the coupler head by element 22b having its hook-shaped portion mounted on trunnion 25 on the head.
- Elements 22a and 22b of the rotor lever are pivotally joined together by a pin or rivet 27 and rotate as a unit about trunnion 25 upon engagement of lug 24 with the opposing hook element 22b during actuation of the lever by uncoupling rod 28.
- the lock In its lock-set position the lock is supported on the usual knuckle thrower 30 by means of a shoulder or ledge 31 on the lock leg.
- a trainman When it is desired to uncouple two coupled couplers, a trainman will first place the lock of one coupler in lock-set position by manual actuation of the usual uncoupling rod 28 as aforementioned. With the lock of one of the couplers in lock-set position, the knuckle will be free to pivot to open position to permit the couplers to separate. It will be understood that the knuckle of the coupler whose lock was not placed in lock-set position will remain closed and locked upon completion of the uncoupling operation, assuming the coupler does not embody the present invention. Thus, during uncoupling, the locked knuckle will pull open the knuckle of the coupler whose lock had been previously placed in lock-set position.
- the coupler head 10 is modified to accommodate the mechanism for automatic unlocking of the knuckle by the provision of a chamber on its guard arm side defined by inner and outer sidewalls 15 and 41, respectively.
- This mechanism comprises a lever 42 mounted within chamber 40 for reciprocating pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot pin 43 extending between walls 15 and 41 and secured by means of a cotter key 44.
- Lever 42 has an upper arm 42a and a lower ann 42b.
- Arm 42a is operatively connected to a plunger member 45 adapted for horizontal reciprocating movement within chamber 40.
- Plunger 45 has a vertically extending slot 46 at its rearward end for slidably receiving a laterally extend- 1 ing horizontal trunnion 47 on the end of arm 42a.
- Lever 42 is spring loaded by a torsion spring so as to exert a counterclockwise rotative force against the lever as viewed in FIG. I.
- the coiled portion of spring 60 is received on a boss 61 on wall 15 of the coupler head.
- Spring 60 is anchored to the coupler head by the spring leg 60a which is in engagement with an abutment 63 in the head.
- the force-transmitting spring leg 60b bears against lever arm 42b through lug 42c to urge the latter rearwardly of the coupler.
- Spring 60 is of such capacity as to urge lever arm 42b into engagement with abutment 55b on arm 55 to actuate rotor lever 22 and raise the lock to the lock-set position shown in FIG. 10, as aforementioned.
- plunger 45 is in its forwardmost position while arm 42b is in its rearwardmost position. It will be noted that the plunger projects a substantial amount forwardly beyond the buffing face 64 of the coupler head, its forward movement being limited by the engagement of lever upper arm 420 with shoulder 62, as shown in FIG. 9.
- the rearward side of plunger extension 45a is beveled as at 45c to provide clearance between the opposing locking face 14a of the knuckle when the latter is in fully opened position, as in FIGS. 7 and 8.
- the coupler will first be assumed to be in free condition with its knuckle fully opened,as in FIGS. 7 and 8. It is now ready to be coupled with a mating coupler whose knuckle may be in open or closed position.
- the knuckle of the mating coupler will engage forward face 45b of the plunger and cause it to move rearwardly into its coupler against the resistance of spring 60.
- the buffing face 11' of the mating knuckle will have moved the plunger to the position shown in FIG. 2 with the front face 45b of the plunger in line with the buffing face 64 of the coupler head. In this position of the plunger, lever arm 42b is in its forwardmost position, as clearly seen in FIG. 1.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 show the relative position of the couplers at an intermediate stage in the uncoupling operation wherein the plunger has moved forwardly an amount such that lever arm 42b has moved into engagement with extension 55b on arm 55 of the rotor lever. In this position knuckle 11 is still held in closed position by lock 13.
- the lock anticreep provided by surface 18a on link 18 and shoulder 26 is still effective to preclude upward movement of the lock.
- the mating knuckle continues to be pulled toward open position by knuckle 11 and plunger 45 moves further outwardly of the coupler.
- arm 42b correspondingly actuates the rotor lever until the lock has been raised to the unlocking or lock-set position shown in FIG. 10.
- Spring 70 is of atorsion type mounted on the underside of the couplenwith its coiled portion-receiving the'lower end of pivot pin 12.
- Spring 70 is formed with a leg 70a abutting a shoulder 72 on the couplerhe ad and a leg 70b anchored by lug 74 on the knuckleflhe spring force exerted by leg 70b against the knuckle is such as to swing the after it has been unlocked.
- plunger 45 is located on the coupler center line, as viewed in FIG. 1. This assures that under coupled conditions, even though the couplers may be at substantially different levels, the plungerwillbe engaged and held in its rearward position by the opposing knuckle of the mating coupler so that'bothcouplers will remain locked and coupled.
- a feature of the invention resides in the fact that the autoa matic knuckle unlocking and opening means in nowis'e interferes with manual operation of the coupler by means of the usual uncoupling mechanism tolock-set the coupler.
- couplers embodying the invention are uncoupled by first placing one coupler in' lock-set condition and then effecting uncoupling.
- a rotor lever 22' which is similar to rotorlever 22 but which has a bearing flange 80 adjacent arm 55', adapted to engage a trunnion 81 on the coupler head. Trunnion- 81is on the same axis as trunnion 25 onwhich lever element 22b is mounted.
- 80 engages trunnion 81 as in FIG. 13.
- lcverarm 42b urges arm 55' rearwardly, the rotor lever rotates. about both trunnion 25 and trunnion 81.
- the invention provides a coupler whose knuckle will automatically open upon completion of an uncoupling operation involving a mating coupler whose knuckle had been unlocked prior to the uncoupling operation. While two couplers are in coupled conditiomthe automatic knuckle unlocking and opening means isfinactiveand the couplers remain safely coupled.
- the knuckle unlocking and opening means of one coupler is automatically activated to effect unlocking and opening of its knuckle asthe mating coupler is uncoupled therefrom. While the invention has been shown applied to an A.A.R. Standard E coupler, it isto be understood that-the invention is applicable to other types. of A.A.R. Standard knuckle couplers as well as to nonstandard knuckle couplers, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
- spring 70 is utilized to open the knuckle once the latter is in unlocked condition, as in FIG. 10, it will be understood that, if desired, , a single spring for energizing lever 42 may be employed to effect unlocking as well as opening of the knuckle. In such case, with. spring 70 eliminated, spring 60 will be of a higher capacity so as to exert a 'rotative force against lever 42 sufficient to cause the latter to actuate rotor lever 22 to the position in which the knuckle thrower 30 has fully opened the knuckle, as when a trainman actuates the rotor lever to open a knuckle by lifting the handle of the conventional uncoupling rod.
- a car coupler having a head,:a knuckle pivoted to said head, a lock movable from locking position to unlocking position relative to the knuckle, said lockhaving a depending leg, a lock lifter link operatively connected tosaid leg, and a rotor lever pivoted to the underside of said head and being operatively connected to said link, said look upon actuation of said rotor lever being adapted to movefrom said locking to unlocking position, the improvement comprising energized means in said head for actuating saidrotor lever, said means comprising a lever element pivoted to said head and being urged into engagement with said rotor lever to actuate the same, and other means within said head associated with said energized means adapted to be engaged by a mating coupler to swing said lever element to a position in which said lever element is out of engagement with said rotor lever when the coupler is in coupled relation with a mating coupler.
- a coupler according to claim 6 in which one end of said means projects forwardly of the buffing face of the coupler head when the coupler is free, said end of the means being engageable by the knuckle of an opposing mating coupler during coupling operations.
- a car coupler having a head, a knuckle pivoted to said head, a lock for said knuckle movable from locking to unlocking position, a rotorlever rotatably connected to said head and operatively connected to said lock, said rotor lever upon actuation thereof being adapted to effect movement of said lock to unlocking position, and means for automatically actuating said rotor lever, said means comprising a lever element pivoted to said head and movabie into engagement with said rotor lever to actuate the same, spring means urging said element into said engagement with said rotor lever, and a plunger member operatively connected to said element and engageable by an opposing coupler during coupling operatidns to move said member to a position in which the element is out of rotor lever actuating position.
- a coupler according to claim 9 in which said element has an upper arm operatively connected to said member and a lower arm for engaging the rotor lever, said lower am being spaced a predetermined amount from said rotor lever when the coupler is coupled with a mating coupler.
- a coupler according to claim 11 in said rotor lever has a bearing flange adjacent said integral arm.
- a rotor lever for effecting unlocking of a knuckle-type car coupler, said lever comprising a hook-shaped element for pivotal mounting of the lever on an associated trunnion of the coupler, and another element pivoted to said hook-shaped element and adapted for pivotal connection to an associated lock lifter link, said other element having an upwardly extending integral arm having abutment means adapted for engagement by associated lever means of the coupler for actuation of the rotor lever.
- a rotor lever according to claim 13 in which a bearing flange is provided adjacent said am for engaging an associated trunnion on the coupler during actuation of the rotor lever.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
Description
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US73106368A | 1968-05-22 | 1968-05-22 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3549021A true US3549021A (en) | 1970-12-22 |
Family
ID=24937905
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US731063A Expired - Lifetime US3549021A (en) | 1968-05-22 | 1968-05-22 | Automatic car coupler |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3549021A (en) |
CA (1) | CA923080A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4363414A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-12-14 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Type-E railroad car coupler head |
US6290079B1 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 2001-09-18 | Sharma & Associates, Inc. | Coupler for railroad cars |
US20110073555A1 (en) * | 2009-01-21 | 2011-03-31 | Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd | Coupler and Anti-Creep Mechanism For The Same |
-
1968
- 1968-05-22 US US731063A patent/US3549021A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1969
- 1969-04-24 CA CA049640A patent/CA923080A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4363414A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-12-14 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Type-E railroad car coupler head |
US6290079B1 (en) | 1999-03-17 | 2001-09-18 | Sharma & Associates, Inc. | Coupler for railroad cars |
US20110073555A1 (en) * | 2009-01-21 | 2011-03-31 | Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd | Coupler and Anti-Creep Mechanism For The Same |
US8186525B2 (en) * | 2009-01-21 | 2012-05-29 | Qiqihar Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. | Coupler and anti-creep mechanism for the same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA923080A (en) | 1973-03-20 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A CORP. OF IL;REEL/FRAME:004761/0913 Effective date: 19870818 Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004810/0513 Effective date: 19870807 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS INC. A CORP. OF DE Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (CENTRAL);REEL/FRAME:005152/0735 Effective date: 19890919 |