US443794A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

DROGHE CAR GOUPLING.

No. 443,794. Patented Deo. 30,1890.

WITNESSE. O lNv-NTDR- M W@ l Eg if? Y @MKM Hei/@ @.MZ

- UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.;

DAVID ROCHE, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,794, dated December 30, 1890.

Application led October 16, 1890. Serial No. 368,328. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID ROCHE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car Couplers, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved carcoupling by which cars may be automatically coupled and uncoupled without the necessity and attendant danger of going between them. In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the coupler when in the closed or coupled position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig, 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same when uncoupled or open, and Fig. 4 is an end View of the same when closed.

Referring by letters to the various parts of the embodiment of the invention which the drawings show, A B represent two jaws, the upper jaw B being pivoted to the lower jaw. A coil-spring a is introduced between-them in such manner as to exert a continuous force tending to open them. The lower jaw is provided with a rearwardly-extending shank a3, by means of which the coupling is secured to the car. The meeting faces of the two parts are hollowed out, as shown, thus forming a cavity in which the end of the coupling-pin is retained and in which apart of the operating mechanism is placed. The ends of the two jaws are belled--that is, beveled inward toward the hole between them, through which the coupling-pin passes in the usual manner. C represents a substantially U shaped clamp-strap-that is to say, a device having two parallel arms c c and a connecting part c lying at substantially right angles to the said arms. This strap straddles the upper jaw, and each of the arms o c is pivotally connected with the lower jaw. The upper side of the jaw B is provided with a beveled surface l), with which the upper part c of the clamp C engages when said clamp is forced forward, the result being to swing the upper jaw B on its pivot and draw it into contact with the lower jaw. When this pivoted clamp has when in this position holds the jaws firmly closed, and no amount of force applied to the jaws A B can have any effect in forcing the clamp out of this position when it locks the jaws.

D represents a lever, which passes through the vertical slot in the upper jaw, and its end enters the cavity between the j aws. Its outer end is forconvenience forked, and both parts of the forked end engage with the pivoted clamp C. The end of the lever in the cavity between the jaws is pivoted to a link E, and the enlarged free end of this link is cupped, as shown, whereby the end of the couplingpin is adapted to strike it properly, for the purpose specified. n This linkis of suchlength that the end is struck by the coupling-pin soon after it enters between the jaws.

F representsthe couplingpin, which is in the form of a straight cylindrical bar having enlarged spherical ends ff.

The mode of operation of the device is as follows: The pin F,being already coupled to one car, is, as the two cars are moved together, caused to enter ,between the jaws of the open coupler on the other car, being guided by the bell-shaped end thereof. The end of the pin F strikes the end of thelink E and pushes against it, whereby the lever D is turned upon its pivot. The upper forked end thereof presses against the clamp-strap C, turns it on its pivot, whereby, as before explained, by reason of its engagement with the beveled surface b, the two jaws are closed andlocked. Thespherical end of the coupling-pin F is held by the shoulders a and b on the jaws respectively, and its withdrawal is impossible. The pin fits looselyin the hole between the jaws through which it passes, whereby the pin has considerable play in all directions, and what amounts to a ball-and-socket joint between the pin and jaws is produced. This permits the cars which are coupled together to travel around curves without any straining or bending of the part-s and makes it immaterial whether or not the two couplings are at the same horizontal level.

In order that these couplings may be eniployed with the old-fashioned link-and-pin coupling, the opening between the jaws is cut away at both sides ofthe hole through which IOO the pin l `4 passes, thereby forming ahorizontal slot into which a link may be inserted, and the vertical holes .I .I are provided for the reception ot' thcpin usually employed with such link.

The above-described mechanism is praetically operative for the purpose ot' automatically coul'iling cars and for holding them coupled until such time asthe uncoupling devices are operated, except to this extent, that the constant jarring incident to running the ears may jar the clamp-strap from its locked positioinand thus permit the jaws to open. For the purpose ot' preventing thisaccidental uncoupling of the cars I provide a springcatch G, mounted on the upper jaw in such position that the clamp-strap C passes itin moving toward its locked position, .whereupon the catch holds said clam p from accidental displacement.

The construction of the catch and the mechanism for operating, which the drawings show, is as follows: The catch G has a cylin drical stein g, which is seated in a socketA in the upper jaw. A coil-spring g surrounds the stein and exerts a continuous pressure upward. rl`l1e upper end of the catch is conical, except on one side, which is flat, as shown, which flat side engages with the clam p-strap when the parts are locked. Extending horizontally from the catch is a lug g?.

VIl represents a link. y

I represents an arm secured to a rock-shaft Il, which is mounted on the car. The link is connected at one end to the lug gL and at the other end to said lever by universal joints. The universal joints shown are in the forni of interlocking eyes on the link, lever, and lug. Ashoulder L is formed on the upper side of the link. \\hen the arm I is moved toward the catch, said catch is first caused to revolve in its socket until an inclined part of its end bears on the clamp-strap C. The

shoulder 7i then strikes the clamp-strap and pushes it lmckward. rlhe backward move inentof the elampstrap forces the catch (h nvnward, and the clamp-strap passes over it. The spring a then forces the jaws apart and releases the couplingpin.

Ilaving thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination ot' the jaw A, the jaw Il, pivoted thereto, the clamp-strap (l, pivoted to one jaw, and a beveled surface ou the other jaw adapted to be engaged by said clamp-strap, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of jaw A, the jaw I3, pivoted thereto and having the beveled surface la, the spring a, the U-shaped ela-mpstrap C, pivoted to the jaw A, the lever l), and link E, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

The combination of the pivoted jaws A and B, the pivoted clamp-strap C, the lever D, link E, and safet-ycatch G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

il. ".lhe combination of the jaw A, the jaw l, pivoted thereto and having the beveled surface l), a spring c, a clamp-strap C, pivoted to the jaw A and adapted to engage with the beveled surface b, the lever 1), and the link E, said jaws having when closed a cavity between them, and a hole entering through the ends of said jaws into said cavity, a cylindrical coupling-pin fitting loosely in said hole and having' enlarged spherical ends, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of the jaw A, the jaw B, pivoted thereto, the clamp-strap C, the horizontal slot in the ends of said jaws, and vertical holes .I J, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

DAVID ROCHE. lVtnesses:

E. L. THL'ns'roN, Cans. Il. CARRAN.

Images