US3578180A

US3578180A - Car coupler centering device

Info

Publication number: US3578180A
Application number: US785225A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Metzger; Kenneth L Depenti
Original assignee: Midland Ross Corp
Current assignee: Midland Ross Corp; National Casting Inc
Priority date: 1968-12-19
Filing date: 1968-12-19
Publication date: 1971-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-11

Abstract

A railway car coupler centering device for maintaining an uncoupled car coupler centered in relation to the associated vehicle body center sill structure. The device automatically returns the shank of the coupler to a central position within the coupler housing after the coupler has been shifted laterally in either direction. The device includes a release mechanism which, when actuated, inactivates the centering units of the device when coupler alignment requires an uncoupled coupler to be manually moved to an offcenter position for car coupling operations, as on a curved section of track. The device also includes mechanism for automatically reengaging the centering units, after they have been inactivated, once the shank of a laterally displaced coupler is returned to its central position.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors William J. Metzger Cleveland; Kenneth L. DePenti, Mayfield Heights, Ohio [21] Appl. No. 785,225 [22] Filed Dec. 19, 1968 [45] Patented May 11, 1971 [73] Assignee Midland-Ross Corporation Cleveland, Ohio [54] CAR COUPLER CENTERING DEVICE 18 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 213/20 [51] Int.CI B61g 7/12 [50] Field of Search 213/16, 19, 20, 21, 60, 61

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,069 9/1915 Kelso 213/21 3,371,802 3/1968 Dungan Primary ExaminerDrayton E, Hoffman Attorneys-l-1enry Kozak and Woodrow W. Ponz ABSTRACT: A railway car coupler centering device for maintaining an uncoupled car coupler centered in relation to the 7 associated vehicle body center sill structure. The device automatically returns the shank of the coupler to a central position within the coupler housing after the coupler has been shifted laterally in either direction. The device includes a release mechanism which, when actuated, inactivates the centering units of the device when coupler alignment requires an uncoupled coupler to be manually moved to an oficenter position for car coupling operations, as on a curved section of track. The device also includes mechanism for automatically reengaging the centering units, after they have been inactivated, once the shank of a laterally displaced coupler is returned to its central position.

v Patented May 11} 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NZ N T N M Mm Patentcd May 11,1971 3,578,180

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1911 v 3,578,180

.4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4y INVENTORS W/ZZ/AMJ MIT/627? F lG/7 F /6 l3 5% ATTORNEY 1 CAR COUPLER CENTERING DEVICE The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, compact and efficient centering device employing a single centering spring and in which the component parts are so disposed that the device may be readily adapted to the center sill of existing railway vehicle car bodies with only minor structural changes to the center sill structure.

Another object is to provide a centering device adaptable to various lengths of 'car couplers and which is capable of being mounted on existing railway vehicles car bodies with no structural changes required for the end sill structure or the shank of the car coupler.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coupler centering device that incorporates a release mechanism, which when actuated, temporarily inactivates the centering device so that the coupler may be manually positioned to an 1 offcenter position during car coupling operations on a curved portion of track.

Yet another object is to provide means for reengaging the release mechanism of the centering device when the shank of a laterally displaced coupler returns to its central position within the coupler housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other objects of the invention are achieved in a railway car coupler centering device having two substantially similar centering units disposed on a coupler housing in opposed relation on opposite sides of a coupler shank receivable within the housing. Each centering unit comprises three principal members, two of which are pivotally mounted on a common axis, with one of thesemembers in engageable relation with the coupler shank in its central position. The third member is pivotally supported on one of the other members and is adapted to mechanically interconnect the other two members for unitary pivotal movement about their common axis in response to displacement of the coupler shank in one direction laterally of its central position. A single centering spring reacts between the two centering units to resist unitary pivotal movement of either centering unit in response to lateral coupler displacement. A release mechanism pivotally mounted on the housing is operatively connected to the centering units, and when actuated it is adapted to mechanically disengage the interconnecting relationship between the two first mentioned members of each unit to thereby render the centering device inoperative.

DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, with respect to which the invention is described below:

FIG. I is a front elevation, partly in section, illustrating a I 33 of FIG. 1 showing the position of parts of one centering 1 unit when the shank of the railway car coupler is in its central position within the coupler housing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the lever member incorporated within the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the body member embodied within the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the body member taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the torsion spring utilized in the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged elevational view of the lever lock elements incorporated within the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a reduced view similar to FIG. I showing the. shank of the railway car coupler displaced laterally in one direction with the coupler centering device imparting a centering force against the sidewall of the coupler shank;

FIG. 11 is a reduced view similar to FIG. 3, taken from the other side, showing the position of the release lever as it begins to impart a camming force upon the lever lock element in one direction;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the position of the lever lock element in its unlocked position;

FIG. 13 is a side view similar to FIG. I0 showing the position of the lever member when the lever lock element is in the position shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. I4 is a reduced view similar to FIG. 3 showing the other centering unit in its normal position of rest;

FIG. I5 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing the position of the lever lock element of the other centering unit in its unlocked position with the release lever engaging and maintaining the lever lock element in the last named position;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. I5 showing the position of parts when the lever member urges the lever lock element to a position to release the release lever from its position shown in FIG. I5; and

FIG. I7 is a view similar to FIG. 16, taken from the other side, showing the position of parts when the release lever is in the position shown in FIG. I6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a portion of a center sill structure 20 for a railway car is shown. Attached to the forward end of the center sill is a striker casting or coupler housing 22. The coupler housing has outwardly flaring

sidewalls

23, 23a adjacent its forward end to accommodate a shank 25 of a wide-swing railway car coupler. The end of the shank is pivotally connected by means of a vertical pin 28 to a yoke 29 mounted within the center sill. Disposed within the yoke is a suitable draft gear arrangement (not shown) for absorbing the draft and buff forces associated with car coupling operations. The coupler shank is adapted to shift laterally from its central position about the vertical pin 28 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing and is resiliently supported for limited vertical movement at the forward end of the housing upon a coupler shank carrier assembly 301 A coupler centering device 3I embodying the invention is connected to the underside of the center sill structure immediately rearward of the carrier assembly 30.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, coupler centering device 31 contains two substantially similar centering units 32, 320 that are disposed in opposed relation on opposite sides of the coupler shank. The two units are composed of a pair of lever members 35, a pair of body members 37,

lever lock elements

39 and 39a, and a pair of spring retainers 41. A centering spring 43 is compressibly positioned between the opposed spring retainers of the two units and urges the lower ends of the body members in a direction away from each other. A release lever 44 operatively connects the units as more clearly described below. The components of the units are shown in the positions they occupy when the shank of the car coupler is in its central position. The centering device is operable against the

longitudinal sidewalls

45, 45a of the coupler shank that is carried within the housing and is adapted to impart a centering force against the shank. Associated elements are described below in conjunction with the complete assembly of the device.

Two pairs of spaced-apart mounting brackets 47, 4711 are secured, as by welding, to the underside of the flared end of housing 22 on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis. Each pair of brackets have aligned apertures 48 which are adapted to receive a pivot pin 49. Each pair of spaced-apart brackets defines a slot 50 which receives centrally therebetween a lower arm portion SI of lever member 35 illustrated in FIG. 4. The inner end of lower amt portion 51 has a cylindrical opening 51a to receive the pivot pin 49 for pivotal mounting of the lever member on the housing.

Directly above each pair of brackets, in a manner shown in FIGS. I and 3,

sidewalls

23, 23a of the housing are provided with openings 52, 524. Each opcningjaadapted to receive an upper arm portion 53 of lever member 35. Each upper arm portion 53 projects inwardly through the opening in the housing and engages the opposing sidewall of the shank when the shank is in its central position. An abutment means comprising an enlarged portion 54 on interconnecting arm 55 of the lever member also engages the sidewall of the housing when the shank is in its central position. Portion 54 limits the pivotal movement of the lever member towards the shank when the shank is displaced laterally in a direction away from the lever member. From the above, it is apparent that the opposed lever members are independently movable about their respective pivotal axes and are adapted to be actuated in one direction only by the lateral movement of the shank in one direction relative to its central position.

To maintain upper arm portion 53 of each lever member in engagement with the opposing sidewall of the coupler shank when the shank is in its central position, a lever spring means is employed. For this purpose a torsion spring 56 is wrapped around each pivot pin 49. The torsion spring, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7, is in the form of a double helical spring having first and second

coiled portions

57 and 58, respectively, which are joined by a cross member 59. With the coiled portions of each torsion spring mounted about the ends of the pivot pin outwardly of the mounting

brackets

47, 47a, the free ends 570 and 58a of the spring partially overlie the top portions of the brackets for anchoring the spring thereto. To secure the torsion spring in a fixed position, a common central portion 59a 'of the cross member is positioned to bear against an inwardly projecting ledge 60 on lower arm portion 51 of lever member 35. In this manner the force of the torsion spring acts downwardly against ledge 60, thereby exerting a rotative force against the lever about pin 49 and causing the lever to assume the position shown in FIG. I.

Also supported for pivotal movement on pivot pin 49 is the body member 37 illustrated in detail in FIGS. and 6. The body member is pivotally mounted by means of a pair of perforated lugs 61 which receive the associated pivot pin. The

lugs are inward extensions of a pair of spaced-apart leg brackets 62 which provide therebetween a slot 63 to receive in guiding relationship, the lower arm portion 51 of the lever member. Bridging slot 63 and joining the leg brackets is a depending leg 64. A pair of spaced perforated lugs 65 are located on the lower end of leg 64 for receiving a pin 66 that pivotally connects the spring retainer 41 to the body member.

, In the assembled condition of the centering device, centering spring 43 is under predetermined initial compression and is seated at each end against retainer 41, thereby resiliently separating the body members of the two units. The extent of such separation is limited by shoulders 67 disposed at the sides of leg brackets 62. These shoulders have upwardly facing surfaces that are adapted to engage the downwardly facing surfaces on brackets 47 for limiting the outward pivotal movement of the lower end of the body member. With spring 43 under initial compression when the shank is in its central position, the body members are maintained in their most outward position with shoulders 67 engaging the opposing stop surfaces on the brackets. A boss 68 is provided on each retainer 41 for maintaining the spring in a proper assembled relationship during all conditions of service.

Body member 37 has a pivot arm 71 extending outwardly from the lower end of leg 64 at a point intermediate lugs 65 and in the opposite direction. Arm 71 is contained in the vertical plane of symmetry that bisects body slot 63 and forms the means for mounting each lever lock element 39 and 390, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for rotative movement on its associated body member 37 about an axis transverse to the iongitudinal axis of housing 22. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, each

lever lock element

39 and 39a is adapted to mechanically interlock its associated lever member to the body member for unitary pivotal movement about their common pivot point 49, in response to lateral displacement of the coupler in one direction. Thus, when the coupler shank is moved laterally to the right as in FIG. 10, lever member 35, body member 37 and lock lever 39 pivot as a unitary structure about pin 49, whereas the

corresponding members

35 and 37 and lever 39a on the other side of the shank remain stationary.

Each lever Iock'element, in its normal interlocking position of rest, is defined by a radial arm 72 that extends upwardly from its support 73 in vertical aligned relationship with slot 63 of a body member 37 and terminates short of the slot with a cam-shaped head 74. The head is provided with a top convex surface 75 that is adapted for engagement with the underside of lower arm portion 51 of the lever member. When one of the lever members 35 is actuated by the coupler shank as it is displaced laterally, arm portion 53 of the lever member is forced outwardly of housing 22, causing the member to swing about its pivotal support 49 and engage head 74. Further pivotal movement of the lever member transmits a downward force through the lever lock element to pivot arm 71. This force, which is eccentric to the axis defined by the pivot pin 49, creates a moment of force about pin 49 which, in turn, causes the body member to swing inwardly about pin 49 together with the lever member. The inwardly swinging movement of the body member further compresses spring 43 since the body member on the opposite side of the coupler is held against outward pivotal movement by the engagement of that body members shoulders 67 with the underside of brackets 47a, as viewed in FIG. 10.

When the force causing the lateral displacement of the car coupler ceases, the expansion of compression spring 43 acts to return the parts to their initial position, as in FIG. 1. Thus, the spring force creates an opposite moment of force about pivot pin 49, causing the body member to swing outwardly. Simultaneously, the lever lock element urges the displaced lever member 35 about pivot 49 to restore the shank of the car coupler to its central position along the longitudinal axis of the coupler housing 22.

Considering now the release lever 44, it will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the lever is a one piece structural element having a pair of spaced-apart inverted U-shaped portions 77, 77a and an interconnecting transverse member 78. Each U- shaped portion is defined by a base portion 80 having an outer free leg 81 that serves as a release handle and an inner leg 82 that is joined to member 78. Legs 81 and 82 are normal to the base portion and are in angular offset spaced relationship to each other. The release lever is pivotally mounted to a pair of spaced-apart lever mounts 83, 83a. The lever mounts are secured, as by welding, to the underside of the coupler housing forwardly of the centering

units

32, 32a and have aligned openings in the transverse direction of the coupler housing to receive base portions 80.

The release lever 44 is operatively connected to the lever lock element of each

unit

32, 32a by means of transverse member 78 which extends through an opening in lower radial arm 84 provided on each lever lock element. Radial arm 84 extends away from support 73 in a direction opposite to arm 72 and has at its lower end an enlarged portion 85 having a cam means. In the embodiment shown, the cam means is formed by providing an opening 87 of predetermined size and shape in the enlarged portion 85. A portion of the peripheral boundary of opening 87 defines a cam track 88 having a curved surface 89 at one end of the track facing the pivotal support 73 and a tapered surface 90 at its other end. As shown in FIG. 3, transverse member 78 engages surface 89 of the cam track and functions as the means for maintaining the lever lock element in its normal position of rest by limiting the rotative movement of the lever lock element in one direction. To establish this functional relationship, it will be noted that the arcuate path e traversed by member 78, as the release lever is pivoted about its support away from the lever lock element, intersects the arcuate path f developed by surface 89 as the lever lock element is rotated about its pivot arm 71. The point of intersection of the arcuate paths establishes a positive restraint to any further movement in one direction by either the lever lock element or the release lever.

Whenever it is desired todisengage the coupler centering device, as for the purpose of coupling a pair of opposed car couplers on a curved track, the lever lock element may be rotated by means of release lever 44 to a position inactivating the interlocking relationship between the lever and body members. To accomplish this purpose, the release handle 81 is manually urged by a trainman arcuately upwardly in the direction of the arrow, as shown in phantom in FIG. 11, toward the centering

units

32, 32a. This manual operation from either side of the coupler housing moves the associated transverse member 78 arcuately upwardly in sliding engagement with cam track 88 to rotate the lever lock element in one direction about its pivot arm 71. Accordingly, radial arm 72 of the lever lock element is urged forwardly from its interlocked position to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 12. In this latter position, convex surface 75 on arm 72 is disposed in a laterally offset spaced relationship to lever member 35. Therefore, when the lever member 35 is actuated by lateral displacement of the coupler shank, the lower arm portion 51 of the lever member avoids engagement with surface 75 as the lever member is rotated about pin 49, as viewed in FIG. 13.

When the lever lock elements are rotated to their unlocked positions so as to disengage the centering device, they are automatically retained in their unlocked position as shown in FIG. by a detent means provided on element 39a, such as nib 92, which engages transverse member 78. FIG. 9 illustrates the location of the nib on cam track 88 of locking element 39a. The nib is near surface 90 and projects into opening 87 to define oppositely facing converging

surfaces

93 and 94. Surface 93 forms a portion of the track upon which transverse member 78 slides, while surface 94 defines an abutment adapted to frictionally engage the transverse member and hold the lever lock element in its locked position. This latter relationship is established by a counterrotative movement of the lever lock element as it approaches its unlocked position of rest. That is, as member 78 moves arcuately upwardly along the cam track to swing the lower arms 84 rearwardly and upwardly, its camming relationship with locking element 39a is briefly interrupted as member 78 passes the tip of the nib 92. This permits the lower arm 84 of lever lock element 390 to drop downwardly as the transverse member continues in its arcuately upward direction until it engages tapered surface 90 on each lever lock element; at which point of engagement a .positive stop, similar to the functional relationship established between surface 89 and member 78, is created to prevent any further upward movement of the release lever. Upon release FIG. 1 is urged about its pivotal support, acorner of lower arm portion 51 engages shoulder 96, as shown in FIG. 16, to

of handle 81 by the trainman, arm 84 of the lock element and handle 81 rotate slightly downwardly until the transverse member engages abutment surface 94 at its juncture with surface 90, as in FIG. 15. This latter counterrotative movement is a result of the forces of gravity acting on both members through a point other than the center of gravity for each member. In this latter position of the parts, transverse member 78 is frictionally held by surface 94 in an upper position of rest. Accordingly the other lever lock element 39 is also maintained in the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 12. Upon disengagement of the centering device, the trainman may then manually move the coupler shank laterally of its central position within the housing to a position such as indicated in FIG. 13. If the trainman inadvertently inactivates the centering mechanism, he may readily manually urge the handle 81 arcuately downwardly from its upper position of rest (FIGS. 12 and 15) to disengage the detent and release the transverse member 78.

- To automatically release the detent means so as to permit the lever lock elements to return by gravity to their interlocking positions of rest, the cam shaped head 74 on lever lock element 390 is provided with a camming shoulder 96. This camming shoulder is adapted to be engaged by the associated lever member 35 upon actuation of the lever member by the coupler shank when the shank is displaced laterally from cert tral position toward the side on which lock levcr element 390 is located. Thus, as the lever member 35 on the left side of further rotatably urge the-lever lock element about pivot arm 71 in a direction to disengage the detent means. It will be understood. that upon movement of the coupler from central position laterally toward the side on which lever lock element 39a is located, the detent will actually be released after a small amount of movement of the coupler. Upon disengagement of the detent means, transverse member 78 moves arcuately downwardly due to the force of gravity and engages another camming track 97 on locking element 39a which is held in inactive position by member 35 so long as the coupler remains out of its central position. Simultaneously the other locking element 39 rotates from its position shown in FIG. 12 to the position shown in FIG. 17. As the shank of the coupler returns toward its central position, for example when two adjacent coupled railway vehicles are being moved from a curved track to a straight section of track, the torsion spring 56 resiliently urges the lever member 35 about its pivotal support outwardly and upwardly until portion 54 thereof engages the sidewall of the housing. Simultaneously the lower arm portion 51 of the lever member moves out of engaging relationship with camming shoulder 96. At this point, since the transverse member 78 bears against track 97, the lever locking element 39a, due' to the combined forces of gravity acting on both parts, is rotated back to its locking position. At the same time the other locking element 39, due to the forceof gravity rotates back to its locking position. In this latter position, both centering

units

32, 32a are once again ready to impart a centering force to the car coupler upon lateral movement of the coupler from its central position within the coupler housing.

In comparing FIGS. 12 and 15, it is apparent that the only means for maintaining both

lever lock elements

39 and 39a in their unlocked position is the detent means 92 disposed on locking element 39a. Furthermore, the only means for automatically releasing the detent means is the provision of camming shoulder 96 on locking element 39a. Therefore, when the centering units are inactivated and lever member 35 on the right side of FIG. 13 is caused to pivot about pin 49 as the coupler shank is displaced laterally of its central position, both centering units will remain in their inactive position as the coupler shank is moved laterally from the right side of housing 22 back to its central position. However, once the coupler moves to the left of central position, arm 51 of lever member 35 will engage shoulder 96, as aforementioned, to release detent means 92. Thereafter, when the coupler returns to central position, release lever 44 as well as

lock elements

39 and 39a will return to their locking positions shown in FIG. 1.

Assuming that a camming shoulder 96 and a detent means 92 were also provided on locking element 39, then lever lock

elements

39 and 39a, once disposed in their unlocked position would remain in that position since the provision of detent means on both locking elements would have a neutralizing effect upon the centering system. That is, once the centering device was inactivated, both centering units would remain in a nonfunctional state since the detent means on each locking element would be working out of phase with respect to the other; for while one detent means would be released, the other detent means would still be holding the release mechanism in a locked position, The only way in which both detent means could be released would be through manual release by means of handle 81.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention of excluding such equivalents as fall within the claims.

We claim:

I. A railway car coupler centering device, in combination with a coupler housing, and a coupler shank receivable in said housing, said shank being shiftable laterally with respect to said housing f rom a central position;

A. an upper lever member and a lower body member on each side of said housing pivotally supported about a common axis positioned below said shank on each side of said housing, said body member having a depending leg extending below said axis,

1. each lever member in its normal position of rest extending upwardly above said axis and having an arm portion projecting inwardly through an opening in said housing for engagement with the opposing sidewall of said shank when the shank is in central position;

B. lever lock means pivotally mounted on said leg of said body member and in one position being adapted to be engaged by said lever member to cause said body member to pivot in one direction about said axis upon pivotal movement of said lever member in response to coupler shank displacement laterally of its central position in a direction toward said arm portion. said lever lock means being swingable to another position in which said lock means permits pivotal movement of said lever member independently of its associated body member, said body member having stop means for engaging an associated body member, said body member having stop means for engaging an associated abutment on said housing to preclude pivotal movement of the body member in the opposite direction about said axis; and

C. resilient means reacting between the legs of said body members, said resilient means being compressible between said legs upon actuation of one of said lever members by said shank when the shank is displaced laterally and when said lock means is in said first-named position.

2. The device as in claim 1 and release means pivotally mounted on said housing beneath said shank and operatively connected to said lever lock means, said release means in its normal position of rest maintaining said lever lock means in said first-named position, and said release means being rotatable in one direction to pivot said lever lock means to said second-named position to permit said lever member to pivot about its supporting axis independently of its associated body member in response to coupler shank displacement in said one direction laterally of its central position.

3. The device as in claim 2 wherein said release means com prises a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped members interconnected by a transverse member, each of said U-shaped members having a release handle at its free end for operating the release means from each side of said housing, and means for pivotally supporting each of said U-shaped members on each side of said housing.

4. The device as in claim 2 wherein said lever lock means comprises a pivotal support for mounting the lever lock means on said body member and a pair of radial arms extending outwardly in substantially opposite directions from said pivotal support, one of said radial an'ns being engageable with said lever member upon actuation of said lever member of said shank when the shank is displaced laterally in said one direction, and said other radial arm having an opening therein near its free end for receiving a portion of said release means to'operatively connect said release means to said lock lever means.

5. The device in claim 4 in which a peripheral portion of the opening on said other radial arm defines a cam track means adapted to receive in sliding engagement a portion of said rel ease means upon rotary movement of said release means in said one direction to swingably urge said lock means from said first-named position toward said second-named position.

6. The device as in claim 5 and first stop means comprising an upwardly facing surface on said cam track means furthest from said pivotal support for engagement with said portion of said release means for maintaining said lever lock means in said first-named position.

7. The device as in claim 5 and second stop means comprising a downwardly facing surface on said cam track means nearest said pivotal support for engagement with said portion of said release means for limiting the rotative movement of said lever lock means in said one direction.

8. The device as in claim 5 in which detent means protrudes outwardly near the end of said cam track means nearest said pivotal support on one of said lever lock means for engagement with said portion of said release means to frictionally hold said lever lock means in said second-named position.

9. The device as in claim 8 wherein counterweight means is provided on said release means to effect reverse rotation of said release means upon the release of said detent means.

10. The device as in claim 8 in which a camming shoulder means is provided on said first-named radial arm of said lever lock means accommodating said detent means, said camming means being engageable with said lever member when said lock means is in its second-named position upon actuation of said lever member by said shank to further pivot said lock means in said one direction, thereby frictionally releasing said detent means to permit said lock means to return by gravity to its first-named position when said coupler shank returns to its central position.

11. The device as in claim 8 wherein said detent means comprises a nib having a pair of oppositely facing outwardly converging surfaces, one of said surfaces being engageable with said portion of said release means to cam said lever lock means to said second-named position, and said other surface defining an abutment adapted to engage with portion of said release mans for frictionally holding said lever lock means in said second-named position.

12. The device as in claim 1 wherein lever spring means is associated with each lever member for urging said lever member toward its normal position of rest independently of its associated body member.

[3. The device as in claim 12 wherein said lever spring means comprises a torsion spring having two coiled portions joined by a cross member, said coils being supported about said pivotal support along said common axis with the free end of each coil being anchored to said housing, and said lever member having shoulder means in contact with said spring means.

14. The device as in claim 13 wherein said shoulder means comprises a projecting ledge on said lever member adapted to engage in overlapping relationship a portion of said cross member.

15. The device as in claim 1 wherein abutment means is provided on said lever member for engagement with said housing to preclude pivotal movement of said lever member towards said shank when the shank is displaced laterally from its cen tral position in a direction away from said arm portion and when said lever member is in its normal position of rest.

16. The device as in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a pair of horizontally spaced-apart leg brackets interconnected in their lengthwise direction and intermediate their ends by said depending leg, said spaced-apart brackets defining a vertical slot therebetween and having at one of their ends pivotal support means for receiving an associated pivot pin mounted on said housing along said common axis.

17. The device as in claim 16 wherein said stop means on said body member comprises a shoulder on each of said brackets projecting laterally outwardly from the oppositely facing sides of said brackets.

18. The device as in claim 16 wherein said leg of said body member has a pivot arm in alignment with said slot for pivotally supporting said lever lock means, said pivot arm extending outwardly from the lower end of said leg in a direction transverse to the pivotal support of said body member.

PO-lOSO Patent No.

Inventor(s) 3,578, 180 Dated May 11, 1971 William J. Metzger It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

C01. 1, line "View" should be views Col. 2, line 7, delete "side".

Col. 4, line 7, delete "a", first occurrence.

Col. 5, line 34, "locked" should be unlocked Col. 6, line 52, insert a comma after "unlocked position".

Col. 7, lines 20 and 21, delete "body member, said body member having stop means for engaging an associated"; line 53,

change "of" to by Col. 8, line 17, before "means" insert shoulder line 30,

change "Inans" to means Signed and sealed this H th day of September 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCIIALK Acting Commissioner of Patents EDWARD I LFLE'ECHERJR. Attesting Officer

Claims

1. A railway car coupler centering device, in combination with a coupler housing, and a coupler shank receivable in said housing, said shank being shiftable laterally with respect to said housing from a central position; A. an upper lever member and a lower body member on each side of said housing pivotally supported about a common axis positioned below said shank on each side of said housing, said body member having a depending leg extending below said axis, 1. each lever member in its normal position of rest extending upwardly above said axis and having an arm portion projecting inwardly through an opening in said housing for engagement with the opposing sidewall of said shank when the shank is in central position; B. lever lock means pivotally mounted on said leg of said body member and in one position being adapted to be engaged by said lever member to cause said body member to pivot in one direction about said axis upon pivotal movement of said lever member in response to coupler shank displacement laterally of its central position in a direction toward said arm portion, said lever lock means being swingable to another position in which said lock means permits pivotal movement of said lever member independently of its associated body member, said body member having stop means for engaging an associated body member, said body member having stop means for engaging an associated abutment on said housing to preclude pivotal movement of the body member in the opposite direction about said axis; and C. resilient means reacting between the legs of said body members, said resilient means being compressible between said legs upon actuation of one of said lever members by said shank when the shank is displaced laterally and when said lock means is in said first-named position.

3. The device as in claim 2 wherein said release means comprises a pair of spaced-apart U-shaped members interconnected by a transverse member, each of said U-shaped members having a release handle at its free end for operating the release means from each side of said housing, and means for pivotally supporting each of said U-shaped members on each side of said housing.

4. The device as in claim 2 wherein said lever lock means comprises a pivotal support for mounting the lever lock means on said body member and a pair of radial arms extending outwardly in substantially opposite directions from said pivotal support, one of said radial arms being engageable with said lever member upon actuation of said lever member of said shank when the shank is displaced laterally in said one direction, and said other radial arm having an opening therein near its free end for receiving a portion of said release means to operatively connect said release means to said lock lever means.

5. The device in claim 4 in which a peripheral portion of the opening on said other radial arm defines a cam track means adapted to receive in sliding engagement a portion of said release means upon rotary movement of said release means in said one direction to swingably urge said lock means from said first-named position toward said second-named position.

13. The device as in claim 12 wherein said lever spring means comprises a torsion spring having two coiled portions joined by a cross member, said coils being supported about said pivotal support along said common axis with the free end of each coil being anchored to said housing, and said lever member having shoulder means in contact with said spring means.

15. The device as in claim 1 wherein abutment means is provided on said lever member for engagement with said housing to preclude pivotal movement of said lever member towards said shank when the shank is displaced laterally from its central position in a direction away from said arm portion and when said lever member is in its normal position of rest.