US3613902A - Rotary dump coupler - Google Patents

Rotary dump coupler Download PDF

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Publication number
US3613902A
US3613902A US874492A US3613902DA US3613902A US 3613902 A US3613902 A US 3613902A US 874492 A US874492 A US 874492A US 3613902D A US3613902D A US 3613902DA US 3613902 A US3613902 A US 3613902A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
butt
yoke
coupler
spherical
head portion
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
Application number
US874492A
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English (en)
Inventor
Russell G Altherr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Amsted Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Amsted Industries Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3613902A publication Critical patent/US3613902A/en
Assigned to FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE reassignment FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, A CORP. OF DE. reassignment AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, A CORP. OF DE. RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, AS AGENT
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G1/00—Couplings comprising interengaging parts of different shape or form and having links, bars, pins, shackles, or hooks as coupling means
    • B61G1/18—Couplings comprising interengaging parts of different shape or form and having links, bars, pins, shackles, or hooks as coupling means having links or bars coupling or uncoupling by rotating axially

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an improved rotary dump coupler assembly for railway cars.
  • Rotary dump couplers have been exhibiting an undesirable galling and gouging of the surfaces of the butt and front follower plate. Excessive wear and abrasion has also been noted on the pulling face of the couplers and yokes as well as on the retaining keys. Some of this wear may be accounted for by axially misaligned surfaces of the yoke and retaining key.
  • an axial load from a draft gear combined with rearward movement of a yoke results in an extremely high axial load on the butt of the coupler forcing the pulling face of the coupler and yoke into tight engagement and increasing the amount of force needed to rotate the coupler.
  • This high axial load combined with slight rotational movement of the coupler also greatly adds to coupler, yoke, follower plate and retaining key wear.
  • a third problem that exists is coupler droop which causes the butt to wedge upwardly against the follower plate resulting in the raising of the follower plate and vertical misalignment of the corresponding surfaces. Such misalignment results in excessive wear of both the follower plate and butt.
  • Applicant has solved the above problems and others by providing a rotary coupler assembly that has limited vertical and lateral angling with a maximum of vertical positioning control.
  • a minimum of rotational resistance and a maximum of resistance to structural damage within the realm or practical fabrication is also provided in the assembly design.
  • Corresponding spherical pulling surfaces are provided on the yoke and the butt to transmit draft loads.
  • a further spherical surface having the same center as the pulling surfaces, is located on the top portion of the butt and contacts a segment of a cylindrical surface of the yoke to permit vertical and lateral angling or rotation of the coupler without binding and to prevent coupler droop resulting from the weight of the coupler that is formed of the coupler carrier.
  • Buff loads are transmitted to the draft gear through corresponding convex' and concave surfaces respectively located on the butt and front follower.
  • the center of the convex-concave surfaces is located at a distance from the center of the spherical surfaces previously referred to. The magnitude of the distance is dependent upon the vertical clearance of the front follower within the yoke straps.
  • Projections are further provided on the interior of the top and bottom yoke straps. These projections serve as stops for the front follower to prevent axial loads from the draft gear from squeezing the butt between the concave surface of the front follower and the pulling surface of the yoke. Such force creates a detrimental frictional resistance to angling and rotation of the coupler.
  • FIG. I is a fragmentary, sectional, top plan view of a rotary coupler assembly partially taken on the centerline of the coupler;
  • HFIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken on line 2-2;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken on line 3-3 and illustrating the entire assembly in cross section;
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a retaining key
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a fragment of a rotary coupler assembly in a normal operative or coupled position comprising a rotary coupler having a shank I2 operatively engaged with a yoke 14.
  • a striker casting 16 connected to the underframe 18 of a railway car (not shown) retains the yoke 14 in a known manner.
  • the yoke 14 is free to move longitudinally relative to the railway car within a cavity 20 defined by the striker casting l6 and the underframe 18.
  • a retainer plate 22 supports the front end of the yoke 14 in a known manner.
  • shank 12 of coupler 10 projects through an opening 24 in the front of striker casting 16 and through a forward opening 26 in the front of yoke 14.
  • a coupler carrier 28 supports the shank 12 in a known manner.
  • the butt 30 of coupler 10 has forward upper and lower spherical surfaces 32 and 34 which are mateably engaged with corresponding upper and lower spherical surfaces 36 and 38 on yoke 14.
  • the center, indicated by point 40, of the surfaces 32, 34, 36 and 38 may be located on line A--A which corresponds to the centerline of draft in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the sides 42 and 44 of butt 30 are preferably parallel and equally spaced from line A--A as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the bottom surface 46 of butt 30 may be cylindrical and spaced from the lower strap 48 of yoke 14 while the top surface 50 of butt 30 has a spherical surface 52 struck from center 40.
  • spherical surface 52 contacts a segment of a cylindrical surface 54 on the upper strap 56 of yoke 14.
  • a second segment of a cylindrical surface 58 is located on lower strap 48.
  • the front follower 60 is rectangular in lateral cross section and has a flat rearward surface 62 that contacts a known draft gear 64 (schematically shown).
  • the front surface 66 of follower 60 has a concave surface 68 that is mateably engaged with a convex surface 70 on the rear of butt 30.
  • the center of the convex and concave surfaces 68 and 70 is indicated by a point 72, on line A-A a given distance forward of center 40. The magnitude of this given distance is dependent upon the vertical clearance of the front follower 60 within upper and lower yoke straps 56 and 48 as willbe hereinafter explained.
  • This contact preferably occurs at the same time contact is made between the surface 80 of shank 12, which may be circular, and the opening 26 of yoke 14. It is further desirable to maintain the radius of convex and concave surfaces 68 and 70 as large as possible.
  • the center 72 should be chosen with the above facts in mind.
  • the distance between the bottom surface 46 and the top surface 50 of butt 30 is greater than the distance between the sides 42 and 44.
  • the opening 26 in yoke 14 may be rectangular in nature and have circular sides 82 and 84 to permit passage of bottom and top surfaces 46 and 50. In removal or assembly, the coupler I0 is rotated from its illustrated position permitting passage of butt 30 through'opening 26.
  • each key 86, 88 has a spherical surface corresponding to the spherical surfaces 36 and 38 on yoke 14. In assembly, these spherical surfaces 36, 38 and 102 are aligned for smooth interengagement with the corresponding surfaces 32 and 34 on butt 30 during rotation of coupler 10. Since the keys 86 and 88 are independent, movement of one key due to pressure applied by butt 30 will not affect the location of the other key.
  • coupler l rests on carrier 28.
  • the carrier 28 tends to eliminate drooping of the coupler head (not shown). This drooping tendency is further resisted by interengagement of spherical surface 52 and cylindrical surface 54 in combination with the force exerted by draft gear 64 on follower 60 and the location of centers 40 and 72.
  • spherical surface 52 slides across cylindrical surface 54.
  • a rotary coupler assembly including a yoke having an upper and a lower strap connected to a head portion, said head portion having a forward opening therein, a front follower between said upper and lower straps, resilient means to force said front follower toward said forward opening, a coupler having a butt portion engaged within said head portion of said yoke, a top portion on said butt facing said upper strap when said coupler is in its normal operative position and a shank projecting outwardly through said forward opening, corresponding forward spherical surfaces on said butt and within said head portion of said yoke in mating engagement, a concave and convex surface on the front of said front follower and the rear of said butt, the concave and convex surfaces being in mating engagement, the improvement comprising split means for retaining said butt within said yoke, a spherical surface on the top portion of said butt, and a cylindricalshaped retaining surface on the upper strap of said yoke in mating
  • split means for retaining said butt comprise spaced keys within said head portion of said yoke having spherical surfaces corresponding to said forward spherical surfaces within said head portion,
  • said keys being mateably engaged with said forward spherical surfaces of said butt during rotation of said coupler.
  • a rotary coupler assembly comprising a yoke having an upper and a lower strap connected to a head portion, a front follower intermediate said upper and lower straps, a coupler having a butt portion intermediate said straps, surfaces on the front of said butt and within said head portion of said yoke in mating engagement, surfaces on the rear of said butt and the front of said front follower in mating engagement, means to force said front follower into engagement with the rear of said butt, and stops on said upper and lower straps to limit forward movement of said upper and lower front follower when the yoke if forced rearward from its nonnal operative position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Binders And Loading Units For Sheaves (AREA)
US874492A 1969-11-06 1969-11-06 Rotary dump coupler Expired - Lifetime US3613902A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87449269A 1969-11-06 1969-11-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3613902A true US3613902A (en) 1971-10-19

Family

ID=25363911

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US874492A Expired - Lifetime US3613902A (en) 1969-11-06 1969-11-06 Rotary dump coupler

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3613902A (de)
BE (1) BE758166A (de)
CA (1) CA936499A (de)
ES (1) ES384810A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1288210A (de)
ZA (1) ZA707002B (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3708076A (en) * 1971-08-02 1973-01-02 Amsted Ind Inc Railway coupler yoke
FR2429137A1 (fr) * 1978-06-19 1980-01-18 Midland Ross Corp Perfectionnements apportes aux systemes d'accouplement et d'attelage de wagons de chemins de fer
US8196762B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-06-12 Bedloe Industries Llc Knuckle formed without a finger core
US8201613B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-06-19 Bedloe Industries Llc Knuckle formed from pivot pin and kidney core and isolated finger core
US8408406B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2013-04-02 Bedloe Industries Llc Central datum feature on railroad coupler body and corresponding gauges
US8544662B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2013-10-01 Bedloe Industries Llc Central datum feature on railroad coupler body and corresponding gauges
US8662327B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2014-03-04 Bedloe Industries Llc Railway coupler core structure for increased strength and fatigue life of resulting knuckle
US8746473B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2014-06-10 Bedloe Industries Llc Railway coupler body improvements to improve knuckle rotation

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4128178A (en) * 1977-09-22 1978-12-05 Midland-Ross Corporation Rotary type railway car coupler

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2889939A (en) * 1957-07-16 1959-06-09 Nat Malleable & Steel Castings Car coupler
US3123226A (en) * 1964-03-03 kulieke
US3250403A (en) * 1965-04-09 1966-05-10 Amsted Ind Inc Rotary railway car coupler structure

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123226A (en) * 1964-03-03 kulieke
US2889939A (en) * 1957-07-16 1959-06-09 Nat Malleable & Steel Castings Car coupler
US3250403A (en) * 1965-04-09 1966-05-10 Amsted Ind Inc Rotary railway car coupler structure

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3708076A (en) * 1971-08-02 1973-01-02 Amsted Ind Inc Railway coupler yoke
FR2429137A1 (fr) * 1978-06-19 1980-01-18 Midland Ross Corp Perfectionnements apportes aux systemes d'accouplement et d'attelage de wagons de chemins de fer
US4243149A (en) * 1978-06-19 1981-01-06 Midland-Ross Corporation Railroad car draft gear and coupler arrangement
US8408406B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2013-04-02 Bedloe Industries Llc Central datum feature on railroad coupler body and corresponding gauges
US8544662B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2013-10-01 Bedloe Industries Llc Central datum feature on railroad coupler body and corresponding gauges
US8746473B2 (en) 2008-05-22 2014-06-10 Bedloe Industries Llc Railway coupler body improvements to improve knuckle rotation
US8196762B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-06-12 Bedloe Industries Llc Knuckle formed without a finger core
US8201613B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2012-06-19 Bedloe Industries Llc Knuckle formed from pivot pin and kidney core and isolated finger core
US8631952B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2014-01-21 Bedloe Industries Llc Knuckle formed without a finger core
US8646631B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2014-02-11 Bedloe Industries, LLC Knuckle formed from pivot pin and kidney core and isolated finger core
US8662327B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2014-03-04 Bedloe Industries Llc Railway coupler core structure for increased strength and fatigue life of resulting knuckle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1288210A (de) 1972-09-06
BE758166A (fr) 1971-04-28
CA936499A (en) 1973-11-06
ZA707002B (en) 1971-09-29
ES384810A1 (es) 1973-02-16

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CC Certificate of correction
AS Assignment

Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE,ILLINOIS

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:004666/0778

Effective date: 19860227

Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE, ONE FIRST NAT

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:004666/0778

Effective date: 19860227

AS Assignment

Owner name: AMSTED INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, A CORP. OF DE., IL

Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, AS AGENT;REEL/FRAME:005070/0731

Effective date: 19880831