US488586A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(NoModel.) A G. R. THOMPSON.

' GAR GOUPLING.

No. 488,588. y Patented Dec. 27.1892.

WI'TNEEEx-:E:

vention.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE-R. THOMPSON, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent VNo. 488,586, dated December 27, 1892.

Application filed May 2. 1892. Serial No. 431,526. (No model.)

.of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to provide improved means for uncoupling or unshackling cars without the necessity of going between the cars, or of undergoing any of the dangers heretofore incident to the coupling and uncoupling in the manipulation of the link-and-pin'and similar coupling devices.

My invention consists of the several im provements hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and the letters marked thereon, forming apart of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a draw-bar and buffer shown as atiached to a car body constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is -a top plan view of two draw-bars coupled equipped with my improvements. Fig. 3, is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 4, is ahorizontal sectional view of my invention. Fig. 5, is a similar view showing the two draw-heads coupled. Fig. 6, is a side elevation of my in- Fig. 7, is a perspective View of a link used in connection with my improvements. Figs. 8, and 9, are sectional detail Views showing the manner of latching and unlatching the uncoupling means.

In the drawings: a designates the front of a car body with which a draw-bar or head b is connected in the usual way.

c is the buffer arranged to slide longitudinally in the draw-bar, a springdsurrounding the buffer bar and'xacting at one end against a collar or bearing e fixed in the draw-bar and resting at its other end against a shoulder or odset f on the buer bar, serving to hold the buier normally outward in the draw-bar. The drawhead b is provided with a chamber f at one side of the bulfer c in which upon a vertical pin g is pivoted a link h, provided on its outer end with a vertical slot adapted to receive the coupling pin j horizontally arranged in the opposite drawhead. The drawhead is provided on the opposite side of the buffer with a slot lo of such form as to receive therein the projecting end of the link h pivoted in the opposite drawhead. The coupling pinj passes through the drawhead from side to side, and is connected at its'outer end, as at Z with one end of alink m. the opposite end of which is rigidly attached to a rod n arranged to slide in suitable bearings o beneath the drawhead. The rod n extends out from opposite sides of the drawhead to the sides of the car, and is provided on each end with suitable handles p to adapt it and its attached coupling pin to be manipulated without the necessity of going between the cars.

q is a spring surrounding the rod n and resting at one end against a bearing o and at theother against collar r attached to the rod, and acting with a tendency to force the coupling-ping' inward through the slot fof the link h as will be understood by an inspection of the drawings. The coupling pin j is reduced in that part which operates in the link h and that part of the drawhead at the side of the buffer in which the Vertical slotf is constructed so as to form a shoulder s on the said pin.

t is a gravity latch pivoted in the drawhead, and adapted when the cars are coupled or when the buffer is not out to its utmost limit and the Acoupling pin is Withdrawn from the position in which itis represented in Fig. 5 to that in which it is shown in Fig. 4, to fall behind the shoulder s and hold the said pin out said rod, as the case may be, against the stress of the spring q moving the coupling pin] back from engagement with the link h and allowing the pivoted gravity latchf to fall behind the shoulder s of the coupling pin in which position the rod n may be left.. As soon as the cars separate, the buffer will be forced outward to its eXtreme limit, the pin u I slots 'L' and automatically effect the coupling of the cars. The links 7L are arranged to swing upon their pivot pins g to an extent sufficient to compensate for lack of exact align ment of the draw-bars, and the coupling slot h is sufficiently long to allow for all variation in the plane at which draw-heads of adjacent cars may stand.

It will be seen that with my invention `no necessity exists for, going between the cars to couple and uncouple the same, and that uncoupling can be accomplished from either side of the car With but asingle movement of the hand.

No parts exist that can readily get out of order, while the invention is exceedingly simple in construction and operation.

Having thus described the nature of my in- Vention, and explained a Way of constructing 3o and using the same, though Without attempting to set forth all. of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its employment, I declare that What I claim is:-

l. A car coupling comprising in its construction, a drawhead provided With a groove Za, alink h provided with the slot vlpivoted in the drawhead, a coupling pin, a spring-pressed rod having bearings on the drawhead and connected with the coupling-link, and a gravity latch to lock the pin back When Withdrawn by means of the rod against the stress of its spring, as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination, With the drawhead, provided With the groove la, and having the link h pivoted therein, of the coupling pin Z provided with the shoulder s, the gravity latch adapted to engage the said shoulder, and the spring-pressed rod n connected with the coupling pin, as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 6th day of April, A. D. 1892.

GEORGE R. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEY, C. F. BROWN.

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