US448304A - Half to frank f - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

0. H. SHUTTLEWORTH.

OAR COUPLING No. 448,304. Patented Mar. 17,1891.

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CHARLES H. SHUTTLEWORTH, CORUN NA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO FRANK F. HOYER, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,304, dated March 17, 1891.

Application filed July 11, 1890- Serial No. 358,365. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. SHUTTLE- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corunna, county of Shiawassee, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the under side of a car, illustrating my coupler r5 and draw-head. Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrating the construction. Fig. 4: is a detail View of the drawhead. Fig.5 is a detail view of one form of the coupling-pin. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another form. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the latter.

In carrying out the invention, A represents the bodyof the car, and B the draw-head.

I will first describe the construction of the coupler. The end of the draw-head is slotted vertically, as shown at b, and in this vertical slot is pivoted the link or coupler 0. Because of the draw-heads being slotted entirely through thelink when not in use can drop down out of the way, as shown at C, Fig. 3. These links or couplers O O are provided with a cross-piece c on the end, thus forming a T- end. The upper surface of each draw-head is shaped, as shown in Fig. 3, with lugs or projections I) having their inner faces slightly recessed, whereby the cross-piece on the ad j acent coupler can engage behind the lugs or projections, and thus couple the two cars firmly together.

It will be observed in Fig. 2 that the link orcoupleris thrown up. When so thrown up and the two draw-heads come together, the backward movement or yielding of the drawhead drops the links and it engages with the adjacent draw-head before the two can separate, thus making an automatic coupler. So, also, by this construction, as will be observed in Fig. 3, should the cars be of unequal height the coupler will still be operative, because of the vertical slot-that is, the link or coupler will engage the adjacent draw-head, no matter whether'the latter is above or below the level of the draw-head in which the link or coupler is pivoted. In order that the link may be raised without the necessity of goin between the cars, I provide the crank-shaft or lever D, having the arms cl adjacent to the edge of the car. The shaft or pivot of the link also has a cranlcarm cengaged to the crank portion (Z of the crank-shaft by the chain (Z Now by throwing up the arms of the crankshaft the link is raised and rod D, extending to the top of the car, is also engaged to the crank portion (1, whereby the link may be raised from the top of the car.

In order that the ordinary link-and-pin coupler may be used where a car provided with my coupler must be coupled with an oldstyle car, I provide the draw-head with a horizontal opening b whereby the ordinary link may be inserted, and I groove both sides of the vertical slot, as shown atb whereby a pin may be inserted into the link. This pin is of a peculiar shape, being formed with a T shape at both ends, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Now, as will be seen, byinserting the link into the vertical slot, and then passing the pin down through the grooves Z7 until the lower end of the pin has passed out of the slot, the' pin can be drawn forward with the upper end resting on the top of the draw-head, and the coupler thus locked firmly together until the pin has been drawn back to the grooves, when it may beremoved; or, if desired, the pin may be shaped as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, .and in that case the pin would rest in the grooves all the time. This latter form of pin makes an 7 exceedingly strong one, since the flanges extending in the four directions brace each other and reduce the liability of breakage to a minimum.

I will now describe the construction of the draw-head. The draw-head is provided with a slot or opening E, and a shaft or spindle F extends lengthwise thereof. Engaged to the 5 framework of the car isa cross-piece G, having the block g, which fits into the slot or opening E of the draw-head, the shaft or spindle F passing through an opening g in said block and playing freely therein. A spiral Inc spring H embraces the shaft F, one end bearing against the draw-head, while the other bears against the block thus keeping the draw-head in its outer or advanced position, except when pressure is brought to bear upon the outer end, when it will yield slightly against the spring, but will be returned as soon as the pressure is removed. It will thus be observed that the entire pressure of the load is brought upon the cross-piece G, and as this can be firmly engaged and made a part of the frame-work the draw-head can be made extremely strong and substantial, and yet will yield easily to a shock incident to cars coming together.

Among the many advantages of this style of coupler and draw-head are that the link can be easily raised Without the necessity of going between the cars, that two cars of unequal height maybe readily coupled together by either link, that a car provided with my coupler can be engaged to the ordinary linkand-pin coupler, that the draw-head Will easily give when sudden pressure is brought to bear on its end, and that when not in use either of the links may be dropped down out of the Way because of the vertical slot through the draw-head.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a car coupler, the combination, with a vertically-slotted draw-head, a link pivoted therein having at its end a cross-bar, and projections on the draw-head for engagement with the link of the adjacent car, of a crankarm a, crank-shaft D, provided with crank 61', said crank d and crank-arm csuitably connected with each other, and means connected With the crank 01' for operating the coupler from the top of the car, substantially as described. 2. In a car-coupler, a draw-head provided with a vertical slot, a link pivot-ed therein, and link-engaging projections on the upper surface of the draw-head, said draw-head also having a horizontal groove for the reception of an ordinarylink and a vertical slot for the reception of an ordinary pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. SHUlTLEWORTH. Witnesses:

A. L. CHANDLER, J. F. LINDSEY.

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