US3779397A - Railway car coupler - Google Patents
Railway car coupler Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3779397A US3779397A US00246415A US3779397DA US3779397A US 3779397 A US3779397 A US 3779397A US 00246415 A US00246415 A US 00246415A US 3779397D A US3779397D A US 3779397DA US 3779397 A US3779397 A US 3779397A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- knuckle
- coupler
- nose
- couplers
- closed position
- 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
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 210000001331 nose Anatomy 0.000 description 27
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 210000003128 head Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000295 complement effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006735 deficit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
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
Definitions
- a railway car coupler of the knuckle type has the con- [52] U 8 Cl 213/151 213/109 213/155 tour of its knuckle modified so as to increase the gath- [51] hit Cl IIIIIIIIIIIII n 3/04 ering range of the coupler, particularly during knuck- [58] Fie'ld 155 le-to-knuckle engagement between two couplers as they come together for coupling from positions in [56] References Cited which they are displaced laterally relative to one anthe UNITED STATES PATENTS O r 2,496,425 2/1950 Wolfe 213/109 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RAILWAY CAR COUPLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is usual procedure in the coupling of railway freight cars to have the knuckle of one coupler open and the knuckle of the mating coupler closed as the couplers approach for coupling.
- the couplers are displaced laterally relative to each other and therefore knuckle-to-knuckle engagement may occur between the couplers as they come together. Under this condition the lateral displacement between the couplers cannot exceed about 1-54; inches, otherwise the couplers will not couple. Thus, if the displacement of each coupler from the center line of its car exceeds about five-eighths inches, the couplers will fail to couple because they will not gather or align into position for coupling together. The gathering range of about 1- /1. inches applies to all of the A.A.R. (Association of American Railroads) standard couplers, as well as to non-standard knuckle type couplers.
- A.A.R. Association of American Railroads
- the present invention involves a change in the contour of the knuckle of a knuckle type coupler whereby a substantial increase in gathering range is provided when two couplers engage knuckle-to-knuckle as they come together for coupling.
- the contour of the forward face of the knuckle nose is modified so as to provide a guiding or gathering surface that is efiective when the knuckle is in closed position and the opposing knuckle is in open position.
- This surface on the closed knuckle is adapted for engagement with the nose of the open knuckle of an opposing coupler to effect gathering of laterally displaced couplers into position from which coupling can be effected.
- the modified knuckle surface also is adapted to engage and cooperate with the modified knuckle surface as shown in W.J.Metzger U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,901, which issued June 20, 1972 on application Ser. No. 101,979, filed Dec. 28, 1970, to further increase the gathering range of the couplers.
- the aligning surface is in functioning position when the knuckle is in closed position.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a car coupler knuckle embodying the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of two knuckle couplers not embodying the invention, showing the initial contact between their knuckles as the couplers approach for coupling from laterally displaced positions, one knuckle being open and one knuckle being closed.
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of two couplers embodying the invention, showing the initial contact between their knuckles as the couplers approach from laterally displaced positions, one knuckle being open and the other knuckle being closed.
- FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing an open knuckle embodying a flat aligning surface on its nose in engagement with the nose of an opposing closed knuckle as the couplers approach for coupling.
- the couplers shown are of the Association of American Railroads (A.A.R.) standard E type.
- This coupler has a head 10 having the usual guard arm 12 on one side thereof and a pivoted knuckle 14 on its other side.
- At least one of the knuckles thereof must be in open position.
- A.A.R. standard E couplers, as well as with knuckle type couplers in general the ability of the couplers to couple is most critical when the couplers are so displaced laterally of each other that, as they come together for coupling, contact between the couplers first occurs between their knuckle noses.
- FIG. l shows an A.A.R. standard E knuckle embodying a contour modified in accordance with the present invention
- the knuckle has a forward nose portion 16 and a rearwardly extending tail portion 18.
- the knuckle has the usual vertical opening 20 for receiving a pivot pin for pivotal mounting in the head of the coupler, as is well known in the art.
- the nose 16 on its forward side is formed with a flat vertical surface 22 which serves to cooperate with the knuckle of an opposing coupler to increase the gathering range of the coupler, as will be hereinafter explained.
- Surface 22 commences at point c or at about the intersection of the present contour with the longitudinal construction line X-)(, which represents the longitudinal center line of an A.A.R. standard E coupler in relation to its knuckle when the latter is in closed or coupled position. From point c surface 22 extends in a transverse and rearward direction relative to the coupler. Surface 22, if extended, would intersect the forward end of guard arm 12 of the coupler head, as at d in FIG. 3.
- the present contour of the forward side of the nose of the E knuckle is convexly curved and is shown in dotdash at f in FIG. ll.
- Line YY in FIG. 1 represents the coupling line of the coupler.
- surface 22 is so disposed in a direction transversely of the knuckle as to be substantially directly forward of the convex pulling surface 241 located on the rearward side of nose l6.
- concave pulling surface 26 Located adjacent pulling surface 24 is concave pulling surface 26.As is well known in the art, surfaces 24 and 26 are symmetrical about coupling line Y-Y and interengage with complementary pulling surfaces on the knuckle nose of a mating coupler when two couplers are coupled together and subjected to a force in pull.
- FIG. 1 The dimensions defining the position of surface 22 in relation to the present contour of the E knuckle are shown in FIG. 1.
- the length of the flat portion of surface 22 is approximately I-% inches as measured in a horizontal plane. This surface, of course, extends vertically substantially the full height of the knuckle.
- Surface 22 is disposed at an angle of about 26 relative to a transverse vertical plane passing through the knuckle. It will be understood that slight departures from the dimensions set forth in FIG. 1 for the construction of surface 22 are permissible without impairment of its aligning or gathering effectiveness during coupling operations.
- FIG. 3 two couplers having knuckles modified in accordance with the invention, the lateral displacement between the couplers being such that the initial contact occurs between the noses of the knuckles.
- the total lateral displacement between the couplers is approximately 2-% inches or twice that for the A.A.R. standard E couplers as shown in FIG. 2.
- the couplers of FIG. 3 when moved together from the position shown, will gather and will successfully couple. It will be observed that the forward edge of surface 22 of the closed knuckle engages the curved surface of the opposing nose of the open knuckle as at k.
- the nose of the open knuckle slides along surface 22, thereby aligning the couplers to enable coupling thereof.
- each knuckle is well within the contour of the opposing coupler, and movement of the couplers to final coupled position takes place in the same manner as with knuckles not embodying surface
- both the closed and open knuckles are provided with aligning surface 22.
- the open knuckle is formed with surface 30 at the lateral extremity of its nose as disclosed in the aforementioned W. J.
- the increased gathering is obtained when a knuckle having the improved contour is coupled with a coupler whose knuckle does not embody the aligning surface 22.
- the open knuckle shown can be of the type shown in FIG. 2 and the increased gathering of 2-% inches will be obtained.
- a car coupler of the knuckle type comprising a head having a guard arm on one side thereof and a pivoted knuckle on its other side, said knuckle having a nose portion and a tail portion and being swingable from a closed position to an open position, said nose portion having on its rearward side a convex pulling face and having on its forward side a flat vertical aligning surface which commences at about the intersection of said surface with the longitudinal center line of the coupler and extends transversely and rearwardly therefrom when the knuckle is in closed position, said surface being at least about 1- /2 inches in width, said surface when said knuckle is in closed position being adapted to engage the nose of the knuckle of a mating coupler when said last mentioned knuckle is in open position as the couplers approach for coupling from laterally displaced positions, said surface being so disposed as to cause sliding of said nose of the open knuckle along said surface so as to gather the couplers into position for
- a knuckle for pivotal mounting in the head of a car coupler, said knuckle comprising a forward nose portion and a rearward tail portion, said nose portion having on its forward side a flat vertical aligning surface, said surface extending transversely and rearwardly from the intersection of the longitudinal center line of the coupler with the forward contour of said nose when the knuckle is in closed position, said surface being at least about I-% inches in width, said surface when said knuckle is in closed position being adapted to engage the nose of the knuckle of a mating coupler when said last-mentioned knuckle is in open position as the couplers approach for coupling from laterally displaced apart positions of up to about 2-% inches.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
- Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US24641572A | 1972-04-21 | 1972-04-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3779397A true US3779397A (en) | 1973-12-18 |
Family
ID=22930587
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00246415A Expired - Lifetime US3779397A (en) | 1972-04-21 | 1972-04-21 | Railway car coupler |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3779397A (pt) |
JP (1) | JPS547088B2 (pt) |
BE (1) | BE798500A (pt) |
BR (1) | BR7302810D0 (pt) |
CA (1) | CA965381A (pt) |
GB (1) | GB1414676A (pt) |
IN (1) | IN139942B (pt) |
IT (1) | IT984038B (pt) |
ZA (1) | ZA732506B (pt) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3857495A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1974-12-31 | Amsted Ind Inc | Knuckle structure for coupler |
US3872978A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-25 | Amsted Ind Inc | Knuckle structure for railway vehicle coupler |
US4024958A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1977-05-24 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Coupler knuckle contour |
US5954212A (en) * | 1998-01-20 | 1999-09-21 | National Castings Incorporated | Lightweight knuckle for a railroad car coupler |
US6129227A (en) * | 1996-04-22 | 2000-10-10 | National Casting Incorporated | Lightweight knuckle for a railroad car coupler |
US20050184021A1 (en) * | 2002-01-07 | 2005-08-25 | Mcconway & Torley Corporation | Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface |
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 |
US9038836B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2015-05-26 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight coupler |
US9114815B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-08-25 | Brandt Road Rail Corporation | Assembly for extendable rail-supported vehicle coupler |
US9199652B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2015-12-01 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight, fatigue resistant knuckle |
US9452764B2 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2016-09-27 | Pennsy Corporation | Railway vehicle coupler |
US9604276B2 (en) | 2014-02-03 | 2017-03-28 | Pennsy Corporation | Coupler and method for production of a coupler with selectable configuration options |
US10322732B1 (en) | 2015-11-11 | 2019-06-18 | Pennsy Corporation | Coupler knuckle, cores and method of production |
US11345374B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2022-05-31 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight coupler |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2496425A (en) * | 1945-10-09 | 1950-02-07 | Buckeye Steel Castings Co | Railway car coupler |
US2562504A (en) * | 1947-01-29 | 1951-07-31 | Nat Malleable & Steel Castings | Car coupler |
US3670901A (en) * | 1970-12-28 | 1972-06-20 | Midland Ross Corp | Car coupler |
-
1972
- 1972-04-21 US US00246415A patent/US3779397A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1972-11-24 CA CA157,410A patent/CA965381A/en not_active Expired
-
1973
- 1973-04-07 IN IN821/CAL/73A patent/IN139942B/en unknown
- 1973-04-11 ZA ZA732506A patent/ZA732506B/xx unknown
- 1973-04-18 BR BR2810/73A patent/BR7302810D0/pt unknown
- 1973-04-18 GB GB1880473A patent/GB1414676A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-04-19 JP JP4377173A patent/JPS547088B2/ja not_active Expired
- 1973-04-20 BE BE2052713A patent/BE798500A/xx unknown
- 1973-04-20 IT IT23279/73A patent/IT984038B/it active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2496425A (en) * | 1945-10-09 | 1950-02-07 | Buckeye Steel Castings Co | Railway car coupler |
US2562504A (en) * | 1947-01-29 | 1951-07-31 | Nat Malleable & Steel Castings | Car coupler |
US3670901A (en) * | 1970-12-28 | 1972-06-20 | Midland Ross Corp | Car coupler |
Cited By (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3872978A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1975-03-25 | Amsted Ind Inc | Knuckle structure for railway vehicle coupler |
US3857495A (en) * | 1973-12-26 | 1974-12-31 | Amsted Ind Inc | Knuckle structure for coupler |
US4024958A (en) * | 1976-02-17 | 1977-05-24 | Amsted Industries Incorporated | Coupler knuckle contour |
US6129227A (en) * | 1996-04-22 | 2000-10-10 | National Casting Incorporated | Lightweight knuckle for a railroad car coupler |
US5954212A (en) * | 1998-01-20 | 1999-09-21 | National Castings Incorporated | Lightweight knuckle for a railroad car coupler |
US20050184021A1 (en) * | 2002-01-07 | 2005-08-25 | Mcconway & Torley Corporation | Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface |
US20060113267A1 (en) * | 2002-01-07 | 2006-06-01 | Mcconway & Torley Corporation | Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface |
US7337826B2 (en) | 2002-01-07 | 2008-03-04 | Mcconway & Torley, Llc | Railway car coupler knuckle having improved bearing surface |
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 |
US8408406B2 (en) | 2008-05-22 | 2013-04-02 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Central datum feature on railroad coupler body and corresponding gauges |
US8631952B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2014-01-21 | 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 |
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 |
US8196762B2 (en) | 2008-05-23 | 2012-06-12 | Bedloe Industries Llc | Knuckle formed without a finger core |
US9038836B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2015-05-26 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight coupler |
US9199652B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2015-12-01 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight, fatigue resistant knuckle |
US9452764B2 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2016-09-27 | Pennsy Corporation | Railway vehicle coupler |
US11345374B1 (en) | 2012-11-15 | 2022-05-31 | Pennsy Corporation | Lightweight coupler |
US9114815B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2015-08-25 | Brandt Road Rail Corporation | Assembly for extendable rail-supported vehicle coupler |
US9604276B2 (en) | 2014-02-03 | 2017-03-28 | Pennsy Corporation | Coupler and method for production of a coupler with selectable configuration options |
US10322732B1 (en) | 2015-11-11 | 2019-06-18 | Pennsy Corporation | Coupler knuckle, cores and method of production |
US10906568B2 (en) | 2015-11-11 | 2021-02-02 | Pennsy Corporation | Coupler knuckle, cores and method of production |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BE798500A (fr) | 1973-08-16 |
IT984038B (it) | 1974-11-20 |
BR7302810D0 (pt) | 1974-07-11 |
IN139942B (pt) | 1976-08-21 |
CA965381A (en) | 1975-04-01 |
ZA732506B (en) | 1974-02-27 |
GB1414676A (en) | 1975-11-19 |
JPS4920807A (pt) | 1974-02-23 |
JPS547088B2 (pt) | 1979-04-04 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3779397A (en) | Railway car coupler | |
US3670901A (en) | Car coupler | |
US4024958A (en) | Coupler knuckle contour | |
US3854599A (en) | Railway coupler | |
US3856156A (en) | Railway car coupler | |
US4984696A (en) | Railway coupler head strengthened at horn line | |
US3857495A (en) | Knuckle structure for coupler | |
US3972421A (en) | Car coupler | |
US3637089A (en) | Railway car coupler | |
US4438855A (en) | Railway coupler shelf chamfer | |
US4976362A (en) | Pulling lug for railway vehicle coupler | |
US2562203A (en) | Car coupler | |
US2246406A (en) | Car coupler | |
US3872978A (en) | Knuckle structure for railway vehicle coupler | |
US4084704A (en) | Car coupler | |
US2772791A (en) | Railway coupler | |
US3164266A (en) | Car coupler | |
US3606032A (en) | Railway car coupler | |
US2214718A (en) | Car coupler | |
US3073459A (en) | Vertically interlocking railway car coupler | |
US2496425A (en) | Railway car coupler | |
US1927268A (en) | Transitional coupler | |
US2533940A (en) | Antitelescoping coupler | |
US2245043A (en) | Car coupler | |
US1857035A (en) | Coupler |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
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 Owner name: CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL CASTINGS INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004810/0513 Effective date: 19870807 |
|
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., A CORP. OF IL Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SHER ACQUISITION CO.;REEL/FRAME:005261/0208 Effective date: 19850705 Owner name: NATIONAL CASTINGS CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNORS:NATIONAL CASTINGS CORPORATION (MERGED INTO);NATIONAL CASTINGS INC.;REEL/FRAME:005261/0236;SIGNING DATES FROM |
|
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 |