US3696941A - Automatic coupling system for freight cars - Google Patents

Automatic coupling system for freight cars Download PDF

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Publication number
US3696941A
US3696941A US142657A US3696941DA US3696941A US 3696941 A US3696941 A US 3696941A US 142657 A US142657 A US 142657A US 3696941D A US3696941D A US 3696941DA US 3696941 A US3696941 A US 3696941A
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United States
Prior art keywords
valve
air
main
line
air line
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Expired - Lifetime
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US142657A
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English (en)
Inventor
Geoffrey Wilton Cope
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Amsted Industries Inc
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Dresser Industries Inc
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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
Assigned to AMSTED INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DE. reassignment AMSTED INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF DE. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP OF DE.
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
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G5/00—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for
    • B61G5/06—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables
    • B61G5/08—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables for fluid conduits

Definitions

  • An improvement in an automatic coupling system for a railway car which is equipped with a mechanical coupler, a main air line adapted to be connected to a corresponding air line of another railway car, a main valve interposed in the main air line, and means for actuating the main valve responsive to intentional coupling of the railway car.
  • the improvement in its preferred form, takes the form of a pair of pilotoperated check valves connected in parallel to the air conduit supplying the actuating means to prevent flow of air therethrough when the main air line is charged but uncoupled at one end, and to maintain the flow therethrough when coupled to another car but with either car having a faulty interface valve actuation which would normally allow the main valve to close.
  • railway cars are interconnected, when coupled, by an air line which serves to operate air brakes with which each of the cars is equipped.
  • the air brakes are designed to be applied when the airline is vented and be released when the air line is pressurized, thus providing for automatic application of the brakes of the car in the event of an accidental or unintentional separation of the railway cars resulting in a break in the air line.
  • the air line at both ends of the car should be closed to enable the brakes of the cars remaining coupled to the locomotive to be controlled and the uncoupled cars to retain their mobility for humping or other purposes.
  • an au tomatic pneumatic coupling system for railway cars is described, which may be used in connection with standard A.A.R. knuckle-type couplers, for automatically controlling the valving of the air lineof a railway car.
  • the automatic pneumatic coupling system of the above patent differentiates between intentional and ac-' cidental uncoupling. Upon intentional uncoupling, the pneumatic system closes the air line, preserving pressure in the brake system so that the railway car may retain its mobility. Upon accidental uncoupling, the air line remains open, thus bleeding the brake system of air pressure and effecting application of the brakes.
  • a further object is to provide a means for preventing the bleeding of the brake air line during an abortive coupling of railway cars.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automatic pneumatic coupling system of the prior art.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a modified automatic pneumatic coupling system, in a preferred embodiment, according to the present invention.
  • an automatic coupling system for a railway car In the system there is a main air line adapted to be connected to a corresponding air line of another railway car for communicating air between the cars.
  • a main valve is interposed in the main air line for controlling the flow of air through the line.
  • a main valve actuating means responsive to mechanical coupling of the railway car to a similarly equipped car controls the flow of air to the main valve. The combined action of a low pressure cylinder or puffer and valve means opens the actuating means to enable air from air conduit means to pass through the actuating means.
  • valve means are connected to the air conduit means between the main valve actuating means and main air line.
  • valve 41 is a two-way valve, which normally is maintained in a closed position by spring 42 acting against head 43, may be opened by air pressure exerted against head 39 from control line 77.
  • main valve actuating means In order to open valve 41 when the railway car equipped with the pneumatic circuit of FIG. 1 is actuated by the cars being coupled and to maintain it open when it becomes unintentionally uncoupled and also to permit closing of valve 41 upon intentional uncoupling of the railway car, main valve actuating means are provided.
  • the main valve actuating means includes valves 45-47 and cylinder 48 connected by pneumatic control lines hereinafter described. Valves 45, 46 and 47 serve to direct air derived from the main air line 40 through control lines 49 and 51. Lines 49 and 51 are provided with spring biased check valves 50 and 60, respectively. As illustrated, check valves 50 and 60 permit flow from main air line 40 into control lines 49 and 51, but prevent flow in the reverse direction.
  • Control line 51 is provided with two branches 52 and 53, the flow through which is controlled by valves 46 and 47, respectively.
  • Valve 46 which controls the flow through line 52, as mentioned above, is a two-way sliding spool valve or fluidic interface valve which upon coupling is moved to the position shown in FIG. 1 by pressure chamber 54 acting on head 55 of the sliding spool 56. Pressure in chamber 54 is derived from valve 48 which is a spring biased'plunger-type valve.
  • Cylinder 48 often referred to as a puffer" cylinder, has a spring 57 which normally urges a plunger 58 to an extended position.
  • Plunger 58 which attaches to cup 59 also serves to support the inner convolution of a rolling diaphragm 61.
  • Diaphragm 61 forms a chamber 62 which communicates with the chamber 54 of valve 46 through a control line 63.
  • plunger 58 Upon coupling of the railway car equipped with this system, plunger 58 is depressed by engagement with a suitable interfacing surface extending from the adjoining railway car, thereby compressing air in chamber 62. Pressure in chamber 62 will be transmitted through control line 63 to chamber 54, which like chamber 62 is provided with a rolling diaphragm 64. The pressure generated in chamber 54, as explained above, moves the spool 56 of valve 46 to the position illustrated, permitting air introduced through branch 52 of control line 51 to pass through valve 46 and control line 65 attached thereto. The air admitted to control line 65 will act against head 66 of a two-way sliding spool valve 45, causing spool 67 to move to the position shown in FIG.
  • the valve 47 which is a spring biased sliding spool valve, is maintained in the position shown by spring 78 which acts against head 79 of spool 81.
  • the stem portion 82 of spool 81 in one embodiment is connected through a spring 83 and a pin and slot connection 84 to an operating lever 85 of a conventional coupler operating rod.
  • the lever 85 by operation of the lever 85, the lock lift assembly of a conventional knuckle-type coupler may be lifted to permit opening of the knuckles when uncoupling the railway car.
  • valve 46 would block flow through line 52 and permit air pressure on head 66 of valve 45 to be vented through control line 65 and exhaust port 86 of valve 46.
  • the detent means 75 of valve 45 will prevent the shifting of spool 67, thus maintaining pressure on head 39 of valve 41. Valve 41 would then remain in the open position permitting venting of the main air line 40.
  • main air line 40 will be separated from the corresponding air line 40 of an adjoining car upon an unintentional uncoupled, main air line 40 will vent and the air brakes will be applied. The same action will occur in the adjoining car.
  • the air pressure established in the control lines 49 and 51 will be maintained upon unintentional uncoupling as check valves 50 and 60 will seat upon venting of the main air line 40, preventing loss of pressure in the control lines 49 and 51 downstream from the check valves 50 and 60.
  • valve 47 upon intentional uncoupling, which is effected by normal operation of the uncoupling lever 85 about its pivot point 87, the spool 81 of valve 47 will be shifted to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, permitting air in control line 51 to flow through branch 53 thereof and valve 47 into line 88 which communicates with control line 74. Air pressure created in control line 74 through valve 47 will shift valves 45 and 46 and spool 56 will shift opening line 65 to exhaust port 86. This will relieve the pressure on head 66 of valve 45 permitting the pressure on head 68 to overcome the detent and shift spool 67 upward as viewed in FIG. 1.
  • valve 45 Upon shifting of spool 67, air flow from control line 51 through valve 45 will be blocked, and the air creating pressure on head 39 of valve 41 will be vented by flow through line 77, valve 45 and exhaust port 89 of valve 45. Upon venting of the air from valve 41, spring 42 will effect closing of valve 41 by urging head 43 against seat 91.
  • valve 47 Upon separation with railway cars during intentional uncoupling, the mobility of the railway car equipped with the system of FIG. will be maintained as air pressure in the brake system will be maintained by the closing of valve 41. After the operator has released lever which is normally before the cars are separated, valve 47 again returns to the position shown in FIG. 1. With valve 47 returning to its initial position by spring 78, the pressure in line 74 is maintained to hold the valve position until'actual separation of the cars at which time the line 74 pressure will be vented to atmosphere and then the system is again ready for opening of valve 41 upon coupling to railway cars equipped with this system.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the basic system which overcomes this shortcoming and others to be mentioned.
  • the fluidic interface valve 46 is provided with an internally mounted spring 98 to return the valve to the closed position when the car is uncoupled and pressure is released from the coupling valve or puffer 34.
  • a pilot-operated check valve 100 is connected to the input line 76 of the control valve 45.
  • the pilot air to check valve 100 is obtained from output line 65 of the fluidic interface valve 46 by means of pilot air conduit 102.
  • the check valve 100 restricts the flow of air through line 76 to the control valve by means of a poppet 104 which closes the outlet from the check valve.
  • a poppet 104 which closes the outlet from the check valve.
  • a flow control mechanism 118 which will be described subsequently.
  • This addition requires that the puffer cylinder 48 must be held in, that is, the plunger 58 must be depressed, for a predetermined length of time before the main control valve 45 is actuated.
  • a quick release of the puffer cylinder plunger 58, as by an abortive coupling attempt, would permit the fluidic interface valve 46 to return to the closed or uncoupled position under the influence of its spring 98, as shown in FIG. 2, before actuation of the main control valve and permit the air pressure up to the flow control valve to exhaust to the atmosphere.
  • the time delay means 118 takes the form of a manually adjustable needle valve or a fixed orifice choke inserted in conduit 65 and a check valve 120 in parallel leg 122 of the conduit 65.
  • an automatic coupling system for a railway car which includes a coupler, a main air line adapted to be connected to a corresponding air line of another railway car for communicating air between the cars, a main valve interposed in the main air line for controlling the flow of air therethrough, main valve actu ating means responsive to intentional coupling of the railway car for controlling the flow of air to the main valve, means for opening and closing said actuating means, air conduit means connecting the actuating means to the main air line, the improvement comprising valve means connected to the air conduit means between the actuating means and main air line to prevent control valving from assuming positions that would permit flow of air to atmosphere through a main valve when the main air line is charged at one end and with the other end uncoupled.
  • valve means consists of at least one pilot operated check valve.
  • valve means consists of two pilot-operated check valves connected in parallel to the air conduit means.
  • the means for opening the actuating valve is an air operated valve responsive to a charge from a plunger actuated low pressure cylinder or puffer and contains a mechanical means therewithin to maintain it in the closed position when the railway car is uncoupled.
  • time delay means is disposed between the means for opening the actuating valve and the actuating valve.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Valves And Accessory Devices For Braking Systems (AREA)
US142657A 1971-05-12 1971-05-12 Automatic coupling system for freight cars Expired - Lifetime US3696941A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14265771A 1971-05-12 1971-05-12

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US3696941A true US3696941A (en) 1972-10-10

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US142657A Expired - Lifetime US3696941A (en) 1971-05-12 1971-05-12 Automatic coupling system for freight cars

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US3696941A (ref)
BE (1) BE783280A (ref)
CA (1) CA945517A (ref)
DE (1) DE2223878A1 (ref)
FR (1) FR2137835B1 (ref)
GB (1) GB1363183A (ref)
IT (1) IT965781B (ref)
ZA (1) ZA722761B (ref)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4049128A (en) * 1976-11-18 1977-09-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Control system for automatic railway car coupler
US4497414A (en) * 1981-11-11 1985-02-05 Scharfenbergkupplung Gmbh Mechanical central buffer coupling
US10435046B2 (en) * 2017-04-18 2019-10-08 Qingdao Sri Technology Co., Ltd. Coupler uncoupling control mechanism

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102022122720A1 (de) 2022-09-07 2024-03-07 Voith Patent Gmbh Automatische Zugkupplung und Schienenfahrzeug mit einer solchen automatischen Zugkupplung

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3552580A (en) * 1968-02-19 1971-01-05 Dresser Ind Automatic train line connector
US3556314A (en) * 1968-07-09 1971-01-19 Dresser Ind Automatic coupling system for rain brake lines
US3599665A (en) * 1969-09-24 1971-08-17 Armsted Ind Inc Automatic air line connection system
US3599803A (en) * 1969-10-02 1971-08-17 Dresser Ind Automatic pneumatic coupling system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3552580A (en) * 1968-02-19 1971-01-05 Dresser Ind Automatic train line connector
US3556314A (en) * 1968-07-09 1971-01-19 Dresser Ind Automatic coupling system for rain brake lines
US3599665A (en) * 1969-09-24 1971-08-17 Armsted Ind Inc Automatic air line connection system
US3599803A (en) * 1969-10-02 1971-08-17 Dresser Ind Automatic pneumatic coupling system

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4049128A (en) * 1976-11-18 1977-09-20 Westinghouse Air Brake Company Control system for automatic railway car coupler
US4497414A (en) * 1981-11-11 1985-02-05 Scharfenbergkupplung Gmbh Mechanical central buffer coupling
US10435046B2 (en) * 2017-04-18 2019-10-08 Qingdao Sri Technology Co., Ltd. Coupler uncoupling control mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2137835A1 (ref) 1972-12-29
BE783280A (fr) 1972-09-01
GB1363183A (en) 1974-08-14
DE2223878A1 (de) 1972-11-23
FR2137835B1 (ref) 1973-07-13
AU4168372A (en) 1974-02-21
ZA722761B (en) 1973-01-31
IT965781B (it) 1974-02-11
CA945517A (en) 1974-04-16

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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, INC., 3700 PRUDENTIAL PLAZA, CH

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:DRESSER INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:004513/0932

Effective date: 19850911

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