US3648851A

US3648851A - Coupler centering device

Info

Publication number: US3648851A
Application number: US889150A
Authority: US
Inventors: William K Maccurdy
Original assignee: Evans Products Co
Current assignee: RAIL HOLDINGS Inc A CORP OF; RAIL HOLDINGS Inc Corp TRUST CENTER 1209 ORANGE ST WILMINGTON DE A CORP OF
Priority date: 1969-12-30
Filing date: 1969-12-30
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14
Also published as: CA929138A

Abstract

A simplified centering device for a coupler of a railway car. The centering device embodies a single coil spring that is loaded between a pair of abutment members that engage the coupler shank for resiliently biasing the shank back to a normal, central position. A stop arrangement is additionally provided as part of the centering mechanism that can be released so that the coupler may be positioned in an offcenter location if desired.

Description

United States Patent MacCurdy Mar. 14, 1972 [54] COUPLER CENTERING DEVICE 3,100,050 8/1963 De Pentiet al. ..213/21 3,233,748 2/1966 Cisco ....213/l9 [72] Invent Maccu'dy 3,258,131 6/1966 Manyek ..213/19 [73] Assignee: Evans Products p y 3,371,802 3/1968 Dungan ..213/20 1 9 [22] ed Dec 196 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman [21] Appl. No.1 889,150 AtzarneyHarness, Dickey & Pierce 52 U.S. c1 ..213/20, 213/16, 213/19 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..B6lg 7/12 A Simplified centering device for a coupler f a il can [58] Field ofSearch .213/16, l9, 17, 20,21, 60, The centering device embodies a Single coil spring that is 213/61 loaded between a pair of abutment members that engage the coupler shank for resiliently biasing the shank back to a nor- [56] References cued mal, central position. A stop arrangement is additionally pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided as part of the centering mechanism that can be released so that the coupler may be positioned in an offcenter location 644,382 2/1900 Washbum ..213/20 if desired 821,085 5/1906 Brown ..213/20 1,154,040 9/1915 Milliken ..213/20 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COUPLER CENTERING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved coupler centering device.

Various devices have been proposed in the railway art for biasing the coupler toward a normal position so that it will mate with the coupler of the next adjacent car when the train is being made up. It is desirable that such a centering device may be released, if desired, so that the coupler may be shifted to an offcenter position when making up a train on curves. In addition, such a centering device should be relatively simple in construction so as to provide a low cost and so as to insure reliability in operation.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved, simplified coupler centering device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simplified coupler centering device that may be released when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A coupler centering device embodying this invention is particularly adapted for centering a swinging member adapted to carry a coupler or the like. The centering device comprises a first abutment member that is adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement of the swinging member in one direction from a normal position. Means support the first abutment member for movement in the one direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in the one direction. First stop means are adapted to engage the first abutment member for precluding movement of the first abutment member in a direction opposite to the one direction when the swinging member moves from its position in the opposite direction. A second abutment member is adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement of the swinging member in the other direction from its normal position. Means support the second abutment member for movement in the other direction when the swinging member moves in this direction from its normal position. Second stop means are adapted to engage the second abutment member for precluding movement of the second abutment member in the one direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in the one direction. Resilient means are interposed between the first and second abutment members for resilient deflection upon relative movement between the abutment members as occurs when the swinging member is displaced from its normal position. The resilient means thereby is effective to exert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning the swinging member to its normal position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a railway car having a coupler centering device embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the centering device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the centering device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A coupler centering device embodying this invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The centering device 11 is adapted to be supported adjacent the ends of a railway car and is positioned preferably beneath the bell mouth of the underframe structure. Since the construction of the car forms no part of this invention, it has not been illustrated. The centering device 11 is positioned immediately adjacent and beneath a shank 12 that is supported for pivotal movement in any known manner and which carries a coupler (not shown) at its outer end.

The centering device 11 is comprised of a generally channel shaped supporting member 13 that is affixed in any suitable manner to the underframe structure of the car in the previously mentioned location. A first abutment member 14 is affixed to a generally U-shaped strap 15 that is supported within the channel 13. The first abutment member 14 is juxtaposed to one side of a depending tongue 16 that is affixed in any known manner to the shank 12.

A second abutment member 17 is disposed on the opposite side of the tongue 16 and is affixed to a U-shaped strap 18. The strap 18 has spaced legs 19 and 21 that are connected to a cross-leg 22. The strap 18 is slidably supported within the channel 13. The strap 15 has spaced apart legs 23 and 24 that are disposed in the channel 13 outwardly of the strap legs 19 and 21. The legs 23 and 24 are integrally connected by a short leg 25.

A coil compression spring 26 is carried within the channel 13 and bears against the legs 25 and 22 of the straps 15 and 18, respectively. The spring 26 urges the leg 25 of the strap 15 against an annular collar 27 that is affixed to one end of an elongated tubular member 28 that extends coaxially through the spring 26. At its opposite end, the spring 26 urges the leg 22 of the strap 18 against an annular collar 29 that is affixed to the opposite end of the tubular member 28.

An elongated release rod 31 is journaled in a pair of bearing plates 32 and 33 that are affixed to the channel 13. The release rod 31 has a pair of angularly shaped stop members 34 and 35 affixed to it adjacent its opposite ends. The stop members 34 and 35 are juxtaposed to the

annular members

27 and 29 when the shank 12 is in its normal oncenter position as shown in the drawings. A pair of release handles 37 and 38 are affixed to the opposite ends of the release rod 31 adjacent the stop members 34 and 35. The weight of the release handles 37 and 38 is sufficient to pivot the stop members 34 and 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 until they engage a pair of stop rods 39 and 41 that are affixed within opposite ends of the tube 28 and which protrude therefrom.

The drawings illustrate the centering device 11 in its operative position when the coupler shank 12 is in its normal, oncenter position. Assuming a force is applied to the coupler shank 12 sufficient to move it to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tongue 16 will exert a force on the abutment member 14 shifting it also to the left. A tensile force is thus exerted upon the strap 15 and this force is transmitted through the coil spring 26 to the strap 18. The strap 18 abuts the collar 29 and moves slightly to the left until the collar 29 engages the stop member 34. At this time, the strap 18 is held against further movement to the left. Continued movement of the coupler shank 12 will then cause the coil spring 26 to be compressed and the abutment member 14 will move relative to and away from the abutment member 17. When the force that displaced the coupler shank 12 is released, the spring 27 will again expand and act through the abutment member 14 for urging the shank to its normal position.

It should be readily apparent that displacement of the coupler shank 12 to the right will cause movement of the abutment member 17 and the strap 18. After the clearance has been taken up, the collar 27 will engage the stop 35 and the spring 26 will again be compressed. It will be noted from an in spection of FIG. 2 that the surfaces of the abutment members 14 and 17 that contact the tongue 16 are curved so as to insure against wear of the elements during their displacement.

Assuming that it is desired to position the coupler and its shank 12 without interference from the centering device 11, either the handle 37 or the handle 38 may be grasped from the respective side of the car and raised to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the stop members 34 and 35 are disposed clear of the

collars

29 and 28. Thus, if the coupler shank 12 is displaced from its normal position, either the abutment member 14 or the abutment member 17 will cause the entire portion of the centering device that is supported within the channel 13 to slide along with the shank 12. When the coupler shank I2 is again centered, the weight of the handles 37 and 38 will cause the stop members 34 and 35 to move back to their operative positions. Thus, no manual or operator reengagement of the centering mechanism 11 is necessary.

What is claimed is:

1. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted to carry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a first abutment member adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof in one direction from a normal position, means for supporting said first abutment member for movement in said one direction when the swinging member moves in said one direction from its normal position, first stop means cooperating with said first abutment member for precluding movement of said first abutment member in a direction opposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said opposite direction, a second abutment member adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from its normal position in the other direction, means for supporting said second abutment member for movement in said other direction when the swinging member moves from said other direction in its normal position, second stop means cooperating with said second abutment member for precluding movement of said second abutment member in said first direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said one direction, resilient means interposed between said first and said second abutment members for resilient deflection of said spring means upon relative movement between said abutment members as occurs when the swinging member is displaced from its normal position, said resilient means thereby being effective to exert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning the swinging member to its normal position, said first and said second stop being affixed to a common supporting element, means for supporting said supporting element and said first and said second stop means for simultaneous movement from an operative position wherein they are adapted to cooperate with the respective abutment members to a released position wherein the stop means do not cooperate with the abutment members to preclude their movement so that the abutment members may move with the swinging member as the swinging member is displaced in either direction from its normal position and without loading said resilient means, and release means accessible on either side of the swinging member for moving said stop means between their operative positions and their released positions.

2. A coupler centering device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the abutment members includes a respective U-shaped member, the U-shaped member of said first abutment member being adapted to telescope within the U-shaped member of the second abutment member upon their relative movement, the resilient means comprising a single coil spring interposed between said U-shaped members and bearing against their short legs.

3. A coupler centering device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the means for supporting the abutment members comprises a channel shaped member in which the U-shaped members are slidably supported.

4. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted to carry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a first U-shaped member having means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof in one direction from a normal position, a channel shaped member for supporting said U-shaped member for movement in said one direction when the swinging member moves in said one direction from its normal position, first stop means cooperating with said first U-shaped member for precluding movement of said first U-shaped member in a direction opposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said opposite direction, a second U-shaped member slidably supported in said channel shaped member and having means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from its normal position in the other direction, said second U-shaped member being supported within said channel shaped member for movement in said other direction when the swinging member moves in said other direction from its normal position, second stop means cooperating with said second U- shaped member or precluding movement of said second U- shaped member in said first direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said one direction, said first U-shaped member being adapted to telescope within said second U-shaped member upon relative movement between said U-shaped members, a single coil spring received with said U-shaped members and bearing against their short legs for resilient deflection upon relative movement between said U-shaped members as occurs when the swinging member is displaced from its normal position, said resilient means thereby being effective to exert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning the swinging member to its normal position, a rod supported for pivotal movement, means for operatively connecting said first stop means and said second stop means to said rod for movement with said rod, means for pivoting said rod between an operative position in which said stop means are positioned to be engaged by the respective of said U-shaped members in a released position in which said stop means do not interfere with free movement of said U-shaped members for movement of said U-shaped members with the swinging member as the swinging member is dis placed in either direction from its normal position and without loading said coil spring, a tubular member extending through said coil spring, and collars affixed to opposite ends of said tubular member and interposed between the short legs of said U- shaped members and the respective stop means.

Claims

4. A coupler centering device for centering a swinging member adapted to carry a coupler or the like, said centering device comprising a first U-shaped member having means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof in one direction from a normal position, a channel shaped member for supporting said U-shaped member for movement in said one direction when the swinging member moves in said one direction from its normal position, first stop means cooperating with said first U-shaped member for precluding movement of said first U-shaped member in a direction opposite to said one direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said opposite direction, a second U-shaped member slidably supported in said channel shaped member and having means adapted to engage the swinging member upon movement thereof from its normal position in the other direction, said second U-shaped member being supported within said channel shaped member for movement in said other direction when the swinging member moves in said other direction from its normal position, second stop means cooperating with said second U-shaped member for precluding movement of said second U-shaped member in said first direction when the swinging member moves from its normal position in said one direction, said first U-shaped member being adapted to telescope within said second U-shaped member upon relative movement between said U-shaped members, a single coil spring received with said U-shaped members and bearing against their short legs for resilient deflection upon relative movement between said U-shaped members as occurs when the swinging member is displaced from its normal position, said resilient means thereby being effective to exert a restoring force upon the swinging member for returning the swinging member to its normal position, a rod supported for pivotal movement, means for operatively connecting said first stop means and said second stop means to said rod for movement with said rod, means for pivoting said rod between an operative position in which said stop means are positioned to be engaged by the respective of said U-shaped members in a released position in which said stop means do not interfere with free movement of said U-shaped members for movement of said U-shaped members with the swinging member as the swinging member is displaced in either direction from its normal position and without loading said coil spring, a tubular member extending through said coil spring, and collars affixed to opposite ends of said tubular member and interposed between the short legs of said U-shaped members and the respective stop means.