US358561A

US358561A - Jacob d

Info

Publication number: US358561A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 1904-03-01

Description

\ (No Model.) l J. D.v MILLER GAR GOUPLING.

No. 358,561. l 'PatentedE MaJ-1'. l, 1887..

Nirnn dramas JACOB D. MILLER, on

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLENG.

SPECIFICATION' forming pari'. of Letter s Patent No. 358,561, dated March 1,1887.

Application filed June ll, 1886. Serial No.20460. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, .Lioon D. MTLLER, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of the city and county of York, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention is a car-coupler constructed, substantially as fully described hereinafter, so as to secure an automatic coupling with cars provided with like devices, and to permit the coupled cars to be brought at an angle to each other without lateral vibration of the conpling devices.

In the drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan View of a portion of a trnck,showing parts in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view ofa modified |form of my invention. Fig. Sis a perspective of the drawhead, and Fig. 4. is a detail showing two draw-heads connected.

The draw-bar A is provided with an enlarged end, a, supported in a case, B, which is attached to one ofthe cross-beams of the truck, and a spring, b, is interposed between the head a and the end of the case,to take up the shock in starting the car. The forward part of the beam is preferably pivoted at a,and on its end carries the draw-head C,which is made barbed shape, all as more fully described hereinafter.

Secured on either side of the draw-bar is a cylinder or drum, D, preferably having one open end, sliding in a frame or way,E,seoured to the frame of the truck, and the drums are made adjustable in said ways by means of the extension screw-rods d d, passing through lugs e e on the way and secured by the nuts d d.

Inside the cylinders are traveling pistons or heads F, and interposed between these heads and the closed ends of the cylinders are spiral or other springs G, acting to force the heads outward. Secured to the heads F are connections, preferably in the form of chains I, which pass through the heads of the drums and thence between two friction and guide rollers, H, and which are secured to the draw-bar A. It will thus be seen that the pivoted drawfbar is held in position by the chains, and that it can be raised or lowered for any purposemas for coupling with another car-by hand, a lever, or other Well-known appliance. I have shown a lever, J, secured to the bar and eX- tending into operative position on the platform of the car, and the bar is provided with an elongated slot, j, (see Fig. 3,) to admit oflongitudinal motion without interference with the lever. As the bar is elevated or depressed it draws the chains over the rolls H and compresses the springs Gin the drums, and while in this way the bar may be made to yield for4 the purpose of coupling, it is always under tension ofthe springs, which have a tendency to return the bar to its normal position, and the heads will be securely interlocked.

In Fig. 2 I have shown another means for holding the draw-bar at the proper elevation l to couple with another car,and this consists in a yoke, K, iitting'in the frame L and carrying the bar A, while extension-arms 7c 7c pass through the platform of the truck and are adj usted by the nuts thereon; or alever, l,hav ing a projection, 7s', passing through a hole in the frame, may be used to raise the bar.

The draw-bar A is provided with a drawhead, C, in the similitude of an arrow-head, having straight interlocking edges c and beveled sides c. This arrow-head may be made of two parts, secured together by suitable means, as screw s,and these parts are recessed to receive the enlarged and rounded end Aof the draw-bar,and the screw spreferably passes through the said end. The head is thus secured to the bar, but is capable of a swinging movement around the end thereof, to permit the edges of the heads to preserve a full contact with each other when two cars are coupled together upon rounding a curve, the position of the heads being indicated in Fig. 4L. In order to hold the heads in normal position to facilitate and insure proper coupling,the springs p p are preferably placed in recesses in the head and bear against the bar, as shown.

The operation of the devices will be understood from the above. The draw-heads being normally held in proper position, when two cars come together to be coupled one of the heads may be slightly raised or depressed, so that the points of theheads will pass each other, and as soon as they have moved over each other sufficiently the spring-connections will cause the edges c to slip past one another, and the tension of the springs will tend to hold them in position. If, for any reason, the head ofone ear is above or below the planeiof the other, the springs admit of raising or lowering the ICO heads to cause them to properly engage with each other; or, if another form of coupling is used in connection with my improved form, the head may be arranged so that it will en- 5 gage therewith. The heads being pivoted, as

shown, upon the bars, they will tend to maintain proper relation with each other under all conditions, and especially when the cars are rounding a curve they will preserve a good 1o grip, the springs 19 allowing the heads to swing on the end of the bar. ASide brackets, R, may be placed on the truck to prevent the heads swingingso far sidewise as to endanger uncoupling.

To take up the shock upon starting the train the spring-piston B is provided, the slot in the bar permitting it to move forward withoutinterfering with the operating handle or lever, and the chains and spring-connections also 2o yield and tend to restore the bar toits normal position.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with the verticallymovable draw-bar, of the drums at each side 2 5 of the draw-bar, spring-actuated heads in the drums, and connections between the heads and the bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the drawebar, of the drums at each side of the draw-bar and adjustable in the ways, spring-actuated heads in the drums, and chains connected to the heads and the bar, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the drawbar, of the drums, spring-actuated heads, chains, and the rolls between which the chains pass, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the draw-bar, of the head pivotally secured thereto to swing laterally,and provided with interlocking edges on each side of the pivot, substantially as described.

5. The combination,with the draw-bar having an enlarged end, of the draw-head pivotally mounted thereon, and springs bearing upon the bar and head and tending to hold the said head in its normal position.

6. The combination, with the draw-bar, of a pivoted arrow-shaped. head having straight interlocking edges c and inclined faces c', substantially as described,

7. The combination, With a draw-bar, of a head pivotally mounted thereon and provided with interlocking edges on each side of the pivot, and springs interposed between the head and the sides of the draw-bar, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the drawbar, of a yoke surrounding the same, a frame in which the yoke iits, and a lever with au arm under the frame, carrying a projection extending upwardly through the frame and engaging with the yoke, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACOB D. MILLER.

Witnesses:

S. E. SrANsLnie, CirAnLns OLEMAN.