US3698570A - Car coupler - Google Patents
Car coupler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3698570A US3698570A US145710A US3698570DA US3698570A US 3698570 A US3698570 A US 3698570A US 145710 A US145710 A US 145710A US 3698570D A US3698570D A US 3698570DA US 3698570 A US3698570 A US 3698570A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- lock
- face
- lug
- knuckle
- shoulder
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
- B61G3/00—Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements
- B61G3/04—Couplings comprising mating parts of similar shape or form which can be coupled without the use of any additional element or elements with coupling head having a guard arm on one side and a knuckle with angularly-disposed nose and tail portions pivoted to the other side thereof, the nose of the knuckle being the coupling part, and means to lock the knuckle in coupling position, e.g. "A.A.R." or "Janney" type
- B61G3/06—Knuckle-locking devices
Definitions
- the lock member is provided with a fulcrum lug of a configura tion which assures that the lock will fulcrum about the lug without frictional engagement occurring between the adjacent portions of the lock and the coupler head during unlocking and opening of the knuckle.
- Cope issued Feb. 2, 1965, discloses a solution to this problem. It involves cutting back of the surfaces which cause the frictional drag between the lock and the coupler head as it fulcrums during the knuckle opening operation. Applicant, on the other hand, avoids the frictional drag by modifying the contour of the fulcrum lug of the lock and thereby obtains the benefits of the improvement in existing couplers merely by replacement of the lock with one having the new contour.
- This invention comprises the provision of a modified fulcrum lug on the lock of a knuckle type car coupler which prevents frictional drag betweenthe lock body and the coupler head during actuation of the uncoupling rod to open the knuckle.
- the forward side of the fulcrum lug is extended forwardly and is provided with a rounded or convex face whose forward extent is such that, as the lock is initially raised into engagement with a fulcrum shoulder in the coupler head during the knuckle opening operation, this face engages a substantially vertical front wall in the couplerhead extending downwardly from the fulcrum shoulder.
- the lock is preferably further modified by the addition of metal to its forward top edge to assure that, during the final stages of the knuckle opening operation, the top edge will engage the top wall of the coupler head and further fulcruming of the lock will shift from the fulcrum lug to the top edge.
- a lock having a fulcrum lug of modified contour whereby frictional drag between the lock head and the coupler head is avoided during fulcruming of the lock upon actuation of the uncoupling mechanism to open the knuckle.
- Another object is to provide a lock with a fulcrum lug having a rounded contour which makes two-point contact with the confronting surfaces in the coupler head whereby smooth fulcruming of the lock is achieved during actuation of the lock to open the knuckle.
- FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a car coupler having a lock embodying the invention, the knuckle being shown in closed position and locked.
- FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the lock in lock-set position.
- FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the lock shown in FIG. 1.
- FIG. 5 is a top view of the lock shown in FIG. 4.
- FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a coupler showing the lock of FIG. 4 in elevated position, with its fulcrum lug in engagement with the front wall and the fulcrum shoulder in the coupler head.
- FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the modified lock in another position.
- FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the modified lock in position corresponding to the fully opened position of the knuckle.
- FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view corresponding to FIG. 6 but showing. an unmodified lock.
- FIG. 10 shows the lock of FIG. 9 in another position.
- the coupler has a head 10 to which a pivotal knuckle 12 is attached by a pin 14, the knuckle being in its closed position in FIG. 1.
- Head 10 has a lock receiving chamber 16 for lock 18.
- Chamber 16 is bounded by a transverse front wall 54'and top wall 56.
- the knuckle has a tail 12a which extends into chamber 16 when the knuckle is in closed position, the knuckle being lockedin closed position by lock 18 which has a body portion 20 disposed adjacent the tail as shown in FIG. 1.
- the lock has a depending leg 22 which at its lower end is operatively connected to a lock lifter toggle 24 by'means of a trunnion 26 integral with the toggle and received in slot 220 in the leg.
- the lower end of toggle 24 is pivotally connected to a forward arm 30a of a rotor lever 30 by a pin 32.
- the rotor lever has a rearward arm 30b having a slotted end 300 by means of which the lever is affixed to a rotor shaft 34 which is pivotally mounted in the lower side of head 10.
- At leastone end of rotor 34 is connected to the usual uncoupling rod (not shown) by means of which the knuckle 12 is unlocked and opened in a manner well known in the art.
- actuation of the uncoupling rod causes clockwise rotation of rotor lever 30 which through toggle 24 effects lifting of lock 18 out of locking relation with knuckle tail 12a.
- its leg 22 is caused to swing rearwardly against an arm 36 of a knuckle thrower, causing another arm (not shown) of the thrower to act against tail 12a to swing the knuckle to open position.
- the lock leg swings rearwardly as the lock body 20 fulcrums through engagement of its fulcrum lug 20a with shoulder 40, as will be hereinafter explained.
- the lock 18 is shown raised out of locking relationship with the knuckle tail 12a and is in what is commonly known as lock-set position, in which the lock is supported on thrower arm 36 by means of shoulder 22b on the rearward side of the lock leg.
- the lock is placed in lock-set position whenever it is desired to unlock the knuckle of one of two coupled couplers prior to an uncoupling operation.
- the lock-set position is attained through actuation of the uncoupling rod (not shown) in the usual manner. It will be noted that the lock tilts forwardly a small amount, with its vertical face 20b resting against vertical abutment 38 as at y in the coupler head. As seen in FIGS.
- face 20b extends laterally on either side of sloped face 20c, the latter being of the same width as lug 20a and extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lug to the forward upper edge 20d of the lock. It is to be'noted that face 20c is tilted relative to face 20b and is disposed forwardly of face 20b a maximum amount where it joins lug 20a.
- FIG. 9 in which the fulcrum lug 50 of the present lock of the Type F Interlocking coupler is shown in engagement with the fulcrum shoulder 40 extending rearwardly from wall 54, it will be observed that contact occurs at a between the fulcrum lug and the underside of the shoulder and at b between the forward face 200 of the lock and the rear surface 40a of the shoulder.
- the position shown corresponds to that which the lock assumes as it begins to fulcrum during the knuckle opening operation, wherein as the rotor lever 30 is rotated clockwise when viewing the coupler as in FIG. 1, toggle 24 raises the lock to the FIG. 9 position, and lock leg 22 swings rearwardly against knuckle thrower arm 36.
- FIG. 10 shows the position of the lock of FIG. 9 after further fulcruming of the lock has occurred. It will be seen that lug 50 has moved rearwardly along the underside of shoulder but the engagement continues as at a and b between the lock and shoulder 40.
- the frictional resistance thus created between lug 50 and shoulder 40 may not be sufficient to interfere substantially with fulcrumingof the lock in a new coupler or one in which manufacturing tolerances create no problem of proper engagement and cooperation between the lock and the coupler head.
- appreciable frictional drag generated particularly because of the contact at b,b' may render full knuckle opening difficult, if not impossible.
- FIGS. 4 to 8 there is shown a coupler lock incorporating a fulcrum lug 20a of improved contour whereby unimpeded fulcruming of the lock during the knuckle opening operation is attained.
- the lock is in substantially all other respects identical with the existing lock of the Type F Interlocking coupler.
- the fulcrum lug is modified on its forward side by the provision of a cylindrical contour the existing fulcrum lug which is curved along a 5/16 inch radius.
- the forward face also now extends forwardly of vertical face 20b a distance of 1 29/64 inch. Face' 20b is spaced 1 inch forwardly of vertical construction line V, which spacing is identical with that in the existing lock.
- the lower side of the face formed along the 37/64 inch radius is joined by a tangent straight line which extends to the underside of the lug as it presently exists, as shown in FIG. 4.
- the new bulbous forward face extends the full width of the lug as seen in FIG. 5.
- fulcrum lug 20a has its new forward face in contact with rearward surface 52 of transverse wall 54 of the coupler head'as at d. Also, the upper rounded surface of lug 20a is in contact with the underside of shoulder 40 as ate.
- the configuration of lug 20a is such as to assure a substantial clearance as at f when lug 20a makes initial contact with the fulcrum shoulder during actuation of the lock to open the knuckle.
- the new forward face presents a cylindrical surface in engagement at points d and e to assure smooth fulcruming of the lock, unimpeded by frictional resistance such as exists between the surface 40a and the lock in the present F Interlocking coupler, as previously set forth in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10.
- New lug 20a in effect is journalled at points d and e in the coupler head during the initial phase of the lock fulcruming operation as the lock is actuated to open the knuckle.
- the height of the lock body 20 has been increased. This addition is indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 4. Specifically the rounded edge 20d of the existing lock has been increased by 3/32 inch in height over the existing lock and is now 3 3/ 16 inches above reference line H. This raised edge is joined to the adjacent top surface of the lock by a straight line tangent at one end to the rounded edge and tangent at its other to the curved rearward top portion.
- While the additional height of the lock top edge is unnecessary if manufacturing tolerances are maintained, it does assure that even when the height of the top wall 56 exceeds the specified dimensional tolerance, the top edge 20d will engage top wall 56 during the later phase of the lock fulcruming as the knuckle is being opened.
- a railway car coupler having a head, a knuckle pivoted to said head and having a closed position and an open position, said head having a lock receiving chamber, a lock in said chamber for locking said knuckle in closed position, a knuckle thrower in said head, said lock being movable out of locking position to actuate said thrower to effect opening of said knuckle, said head having a front wall and a top wall bounding said chamber, a fulcrum shoulder extending rearwardly from said front wall, said lock having a body portion, a fulcrum lug extending forwardly from the lower end of said body portion and being engageable with said shoulder to enable said lock to fulcrum during actuation of the lock to open the knuckle, said lug having a convex front face merging with a curved upper surface thereon, said convex face during said actuation of the lock being adapted to engage said front wall as said upper surface on the lug moves into contact with the underside
- a coupler in accordance with claim 1 in which said convex front face engages said front wall at a point approximately midway between its upper and lower extremities when said upper surface on said lug is in engagement with the underside of said shoulder.
- a coupler in accordance with claim 1 in which after a predetermined amount of fulcruming of said lock about said shoulder, the top forward edge of said lock body portion engages said top wall of the head and thereafter further fulcruming of the lock during the balance of the knuckle opening operation occurs closed position to an open position, and a lock in said camber for locking said knuckle closed and adapted upon movement out of locking position to fulcrum in said head to effect opening of the knuckle, said head having a front wall at the forward side of said chamber and a fulcrum shoulder extending rearwardly from said wall, the improvement comprising a fulcrum lug extending forwardly from said lock, said lug having a convex front face and a convex top face, said convex top face on its rearward side merging with an upwardly extending lock face of the same width as said lug, said lug upon movement of the lock out of locking position during the knuckle opening operation being adapted to be journalled in said
- a coupler in accordance with claim 5 in which the distance from the point of engagement between said front face and said wall to said lock face being greater than the distance from said point of engagement to said end of said shoulder.
- a lock for a railway car coupler of the knuckle type comprising an upper body portion and a lower leg portion, said body portion having a vertical front face and a fulcrum lug extending forwardly from the lower end of said face, said lug having a convex front face merged with a convex top face for journalling said lug in the coupler head upon actuation of the lock during a knuckle opening operation, said convex top face merging adjacent said front face with an upwardly and rearwardly sloping face of the same width as said lug, the forwardmost extremity of said convex front face being disposed approximately 1 29/64 inch from said vertical face.
- a lock for a railway car coupler in accordance with claim 7 in which the convex front face of said lug is curved along a radius of about 37/64 inch.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
- Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14571071A | 1971-05-21 | 1971-05-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3698570A true US3698570A (en) | 1972-10-17 |
Family
ID=22514207
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US145710A Expired - Lifetime US3698570A (en) | 1971-05-21 | 1971-05-21 | Car coupler |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3698570A (en) |
JP (1) | JPS5329885B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU456930B2 (en) |
BE (1) | BE783692A (en) |
BR (1) | BR7203168D0 (en) |
CA (1) | CA965380A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1381148A (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA723324B (en) |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3850311A (en) * | 1973-10-19 | 1974-11-26 | Amsted Ind Inc | Lock guide structure for a railway vehicle coupler |
US3850312A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1974-11-26 | Amsted Ind Inc | Lockset seat extension on type e coupler |
US4084705A (en) * | 1977-07-18 | 1978-04-18 | Mcconway & Torley Corporation | Lock for a railway vehicle coupler |
US4316549A (en) * | 1980-04-11 | 1982-02-23 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Railway car coupler |
US4363414A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-12-14 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Type-E railroad car coupler head |
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 |
US8418863B2 (en) | 2008-05-22 | 2013-04-16 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Railcar coupler lock with chamfer on the knuckle shelf seat |
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 |
US9701323B2 (en) | 2015-04-06 | 2017-07-11 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Railcar coupler |
US9714039B2 (en) | 2014-05-08 | 2017-07-25 | Pennsy Corporation | Knuckle thrower |
-
1971
- 1971-05-21 US US145710A patent/US3698570A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1972
- 1972-05-05 CA CA141,376A patent/CA965380A/en not_active Expired
- 1972-05-09 BR BR3168/72A patent/BR7203168D0/en unknown
- 1972-05-16 ZA ZA723324A patent/ZA723324B/en unknown
- 1972-05-16 GB GB2297672A patent/GB1381148A/en not_active Expired
- 1972-05-17 AU AU42381/72A patent/AU456930B2/en not_active Expired
- 1972-05-19 BE BE783692A patent/BE783692A/en unknown
- 1972-05-20 JP JP5030872A patent/JPS5329885B1/ja active Pending
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3850312A (en) * | 1973-06-18 | 1974-11-26 | Amsted Ind Inc | Lockset seat extension on type e coupler |
US3850311A (en) * | 1973-10-19 | 1974-11-26 | Amsted Ind Inc | Lock guide structure for a railway vehicle coupler |
US4084705A (en) * | 1977-07-18 | 1978-04-18 | Mcconway & Torley Corporation | Lock for a railway vehicle coupler |
US4316549A (en) * | 1980-04-11 | 1982-02-23 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Railway car coupler |
US4363414A (en) * | 1980-11-24 | 1982-12-14 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Type-E railroad car coupler head |
US8418863B2 (en) | 2008-05-22 | 2013-04-16 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Railcar coupler lock with chamfer on the knuckle shelf seat |
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 |
US8201613B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2012-06-19 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Knuckle formed from pivot pin and kidney core and isolated finger core |
US8196762B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2012-06-12 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Knuckle formed without a 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 |
US9714039B2 (en) | 2014-05-08 | 2017-07-25 | Pennsy Corporation | Knuckle thrower |
US9701323B2 (en) | 2015-04-06 | 2017-07-11 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Railcar coupler |
US10532753B2 (en) | 2015-04-06 | 2020-01-14 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Railcar coupler |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1381148A (en) | 1975-01-22 |
AU4238172A (en) | 1973-11-22 |
ZA723324B (en) | 1973-02-28 |
BE783692A (en) | 1972-11-20 |
CA965380A (en) | 1975-04-01 |
JPS5329885B1 (en) | 1978-08-23 |
AU456930B2 (en) | 1975-01-16 |
BR7203168D0 (en) | 1973-05-31 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004810/0513 Effective date: 19870807 Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A CORP. OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A CORP. OF IL;REEL/FRAME:004761/0913 Effective date: 19870818 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS INC. A CORP. OF DE Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (CENTRAL);REEL/FRAME:005152/0735 Effective date: 19890919 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC.;REEL/FRAME:005221/0541 Effective date: 19890831 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS, INC., ILLINOIS Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, THE;REEL/FRAME:006804/0192 Effective date: 19931207 |