US463737A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

G E. NICHOLS.

GAR COUPLING.

Patented Nov 24, 1-891.

(Nd Model.)

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GEORGE E. NICHOLS, OF HUNTINGTON, VEST VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,737, dated November 24, 1891.

Application filed A rn 11, 1891.

v To atZZ 1071,0117, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, GEORGE E. NIoHoLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at H untington, in the county of Cabell and State of West Virginia, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do hereby 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 appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplers in which an automatically-operated draw or coupling bar is employed to connect the draw-heads of the cars to be coupled, and in which the cars are uncoupled without the necessity of going between them. 7

The objects of my invention are to hold the draw or coupling bar in an elevated position and to exclude rain, snow, dirt, and other objectionable matters from the draw-heads when the cars are uncoupled.

The invention further has for its objects to provide for holding thedraw or coupling bar in position to be automatically coupled and to provide for such automatic coupling, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

- The above-mentioned objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of one of the draw-heads of a car, showing the draw-bar in position for coupling. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of one of the drawheads, showing the draw-bar held in an elevated position. Fig. 3 represents a similar view of one of the draw-heads, showing the fender and the draw-bar held in an elevated position thereby. Fig. at represents a top view of one of the draw-heads uncoupled, showing the fender down.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A indicates a draw head, and the sides of the opening at the front are beveled outwardly, the bevel widening from the bottom to the top of the opening for the purpose hereinafter ex plained. At the rear of the socket the draw head is provided with an opening E, shoulders F being provided at the upper and lower edges thereof, by means of which the draw-bar may be held in position for coupling, the draw-bar Serial No. 388,586- (No model.)

projection L at one side, which is hinged toa.

pin M, passing through the lugs H, before mentioned. The opposite side of disk is pro- -vided with an upwardly-curved lip N,for the purpose hereinafter described. The disk at its center has a rectangular lipPpunched up from its lower surface, leaving a partiallycovered opening, which serves as a catch for an offset on the draw-bar, as hereinafter set forth. To the top of the disk is secured a shield R,which covers the opening above mentioned to effectually exclude rain, snow, or dirt, the disk covering the opening to the socket for the same purpose.

The letter S indicates the draw or coupling bar, which is provided with approximately spherical balls T at its ends. Midway between the balls on the upper side of the bar is a projection U, having offsets V extending to the front and rear thereof, which are adapted to engage the opening in the fender-disk to re tain the bar in an elevated position when desired. One of the saidlugs, it will be observed, is longer than the other and serves to engage the shoulder I between the lugs H to hold the bar in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The projection is provided with an opening and through Whicha chain extending above may be passed, so as to elevate the bar and uncouple the cars without going between them. The bar is provided, also,with a smaller perforated projection WV for the same purpose.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When about to couple two cars, the ribbed ball of the draw-bar is inserted in the socket or cavity and then pushed back so that the upper edge of the rib'will pass under the upper shoulder at the rear of the socket and the lower edge of the rib will rest against the front IOO of the lower shoulder. By this means the bar will beheld in position ready for coupling. \Vhen the cars come together, the ball at the free end of the bar will strike the beveled sides of the opening at the front of the draw-head and will ride up between said sides and drop through the vertical opening into the socket, coupling the cars. In case the fender is employed the ball on its upward passage will strike the curved lip and raise the fender, so as to permit the ball to drop into the socket. \Vhen the coupler is not in use, the bar may be held in position by engaging the long offset with the shoulder at the upper rear edge of the vertical opening to the socket, as shown in Fig. 2, or in case the fender is employed by engaging either of the lugs with the opening in the same, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. To uncouple the cars it is simply necessary to lift the ball at one end of the baroutof the socket by means of the chain before mentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a car-coupler, a draw-head having a spherical socket, an opening extending from the top to said socket, an opening at the front having beveled sides and vertical lugs, and an intermediate shoulder at the top and rear of the vertical opening, in combination with a draw-bar having approximately spherical balls at its ends, an intermediate projection, and an oifset adapted to engage the shoulder and hold the bar in an elevated position, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the draw-head of a car-coupler, of a hinged fender having an opening at its center, a draw bar having spherical balls at its ends, and an intermediate projection having offsets adapted to engage the edge of said opening when the bar maybe held in an elevated position,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof Iaffix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. NICHOLS.

\Vitnesses:

A. B. WILLISON, LENNA WEAVER.

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