US461546A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A W. R. HUNTER.

. GAR COUPLING. No. 461,546. Patented Oct. 20, 1891.

against the dead-block D, although permit-- UNITED STATES PATENT @EETCE.

WVILLIAM R. HUNTER, OF DAMARISCOTTA, MAINE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,546, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed July 10, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Damariscotta, in the county of Lincoln and State of Maine,have invented a new and usef ul Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car-couplings, and more especially to that class thereof known as gravity pin-supports; and the object of the same is to produce certain improvements in car-couplings of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details of construction, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the end of a car taken slightly from the under side and having a draw-head embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of two draw-heads and d raw-bars, showing one in its normal position and showing the other with the link locked therein and with the draw-bar depressed from a horizontal plane. Fig. 3 is a detail,in side elevation, of the coupling-pin and latch. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of the link.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter O designates the car-body, beneath which in suitable guides is arranged the draw-bar B, having the usual buffer-springs. Beneath the front ends of said guides G is a horizontal plate H, having an elongated slot or opening 0, and depending from the body of the drawbar is a vertical pin V. Coiled on this pin between the plate and the draw-bar isa spring S, which normally holds the draw-bar raised ting it to descend under the influences of railway travel. I

At the front of the draw-bar is the. drawhead, having the usual pin-opening near its mouth, having depending flanges F at its sides, and having an elongated slot E in its body, extending through its upper and lower sides.

Mounted on a transverse pivot T is the lower end of an operating-arm A, which rises above the body of the draw-head, as seen, and from whose upper end a chain or cord 'N may lead upwardly to the platform of a passenger Serial No. 399,036. (No model.)

or to the top of a freight car, whereby this arm may be operated. The said arm projects forwardly from its pivot and then rises upwardly, thus making a double elbow, and pivoted to the front elbow is the curved couplin g-pin P,which moves through the pin-open- 9;:

Pivoted to the arm just in rear of the coupling-pin is a curved catch 0, whose body passes downwardly through the slotted body of the draw-head and is provided at a proper point with a single tooth R, in the shape of a ratchet-tooth.

Rising from the draw-head at a proper point, about above the transverse pivot T, is a lugL, spanning the slotE.

The link L, which i employ in connection with the devices above described, is perhaps best seen in Fig. 4, and it comprises a body of flat sheet metal, with pin-openings nearits ends, a central depending projection d, and a flat spring f, centrally secured to said projection, extending beyond the ends of the body and turned down at its extremities e.

In operation, the link being inserted in one draw-head, as seen in Fig. 2, when the cars come together the projecting end of the spring f passes between the flanges F and abuts against the lower end of the catch 0 on the other car, while the body of the link passes into the mouth of the draw-head. The lower end of the catch is driven to the rear, so that its tooth R moves out of engagement with the front end of the slot E in the bottom of the draw-head, and the whole device shown in Fig. 3 falls around the pivot Tby gravity, the coupling-pin P passing through the link. When the cars are connected, or, in fact, in the operation of coupling them, if the drawheads do not align horizontally the higher one will be depressed, so as to compress the spring S, and this depression will occur in the act of coupling and be brought about by the peculiar shape of the coupling-link.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the chain or cord N is drawn upon to raise the arm A, and with it the pin and catch. The formerdisengages the link and leaves it free, while'the catch draws upwardly through the slots E until its upper end rides over the lug L, whereby its lower end is thrown forwardly in the lower slot E and its tooth R engagesthe front end thereof to hold the coupling devices elevated.

A car-coupling of this character will be found very strong and durable and can be easily manipulated without going between the cars, being automatic in all its opera tions. The parts are of any desired material and size best adapted for use in thisline, and considerable change in and addition to the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat is claimed as new is- 1. The combination, with a car-body, the dead-block, longitudinal guides beneath the body, and a transverse plate connecting the lower faces of said guides at their front ends and provided with an opening longitudinal of the car, of the draw-bar between said guides, buffer-springs therefor, a pin depending from saidbar and passing through the opening in said plate, and an expansive spring coiled on the pin between the draw-bar and plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with thedraw-head having a pin-opening and having elongated slots in its bottom and top, a

transverse pivot through said draw-head, and.

a double-elbowed arm mountedat its lower end on said pivot, of a coupling-pin connected to said arm. and passing through the pinopening, a catch connected to said arm and passing through the slots, the catch having a forwardly-projectin g tooth, and the couplinglink, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having a pin-opening and havvided with a downwardly-facing tooth near and a curved catch pivoted at its upper end 5 to the arm in rear of said pin, with its body passing through said slots and provided with a forwardly-projecting and downwardly-fac; v

ing ratchet-tooth, near its lOWQlZiBlIigSUbSiFLIl-f a tially as described. "5o

4. In a car-coupling, the combinatiomwith the draw-head having a pin-opening and having elongated slots in its bottom and top, depending flanges at the sides of the drawhead, and a link comprising a body having 55 pin-openings near its ends, a central depend ing projection, and a flat spring centrally secured to said projection, with its extremities extending beyond the ends of the body and turned down, of a swinging arm connected to the draw-head, a pin pivoted to said arm and passing through the pin-opening, and a catch, also pivoted to said arm, passing through the slots in the draw-head and pro- 5 its lower end, the spring on the link being of a size to pass between said flanges and strike the lower end of the catch, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM R. HUNTER.

Witnesses: I

HENRY H. CHAMBERLAIN, CLARA E. HUEY.

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