US507781A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

(NoMoaeLy zsheets-sh'eet 1.

W. B. BURNS.

CAB. GOUPLING.

No. 507,781. Patented 001;. 31, 189s.

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| I l. II I t (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. .13. BURNS. .GAR GOUPLING.

No. 507,781. Patented 001;. 31, 1893.

UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS B. BURNS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,781, dated October 31, 1893.

Application filed July 17, 1893. Serial NOA-.80,707- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIS B. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse,in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, Vof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to car couplers of the Janney type wherein each draw head is furnished with a pivotal block or L-shaped knuckle, the knuckle of two draw heads being adapted and arranged to swing or turn about their pivot pins .and to engage with each other when the draw heads are brought together.

The invention consists in various novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth, prominent among which are a gravitating latch for locking the knuckle against movement, and a lever actuated by a cam or rib on the latch and serving to swing the knuckle about its pivot and to open the coupling.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of one draw-head of my improved coupler, portions being broken away to show the construction and arrangement of the working parts. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with the knuckle thrown outward or opened instead of closed and locked, as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view, with the draw head in section, the knuckle being shown in its closed andlocked position by full lines, and in its opened position by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the knuckle, looking upward from beneath; and Fig. 5, a perspective view of the gravitating latch and of the lever by which the knuckle is thrown outward.

The objects of my invention are, to produce a simple and efficient coupler, which shall automatically couple and lock when two draw-heads are thrown together; in which the knuckles may not only be unlocked, but may' also be thrown out of locking position, so that there shall be no necessity for taking hold of and swinging the knuckles outward, nor for holding back the locking device after it is released and until the cars are drawn apart; and in which there shall be no springs or small and delicate parts.

With these ends in view I construct my coupler in the manner illustrated in the anvary in form and dimensions according to its,

intended use for freight or for passenger cars,

as is the case with other car couplers. The forward or outer end of the draw head is of the general U-shape common to its class, and a knuckle, or L-shaped block B is hinged or pivoted in one arm of the U-shaped end, and arranged to swing about a heavy vertical pin C, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. The general shape of the knuckle B is similar to that of the knuckles of existing couplers of this type; that is to say, its forward arm a is formed with a recess m to receive an ordinary link, 'and is perforated for the insertion of a com-mon coupling pin, so that a car with this draw head may be readily coupled withacar having the ordinary link and pin coupling. The rear or inner arm b, of the knuckle B is, however, rounded off or beveled on its rear and upper face, to enable it to ride beneath and to lift a gravitating latch or locking dog D, shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5. To facilitate the entrance and movement of the arm h beneath the latch or dog D, the forward under portion of the latch is also beveled or rounded,

'as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. VThe latch or dogD is a quite heavy and substantial block,

which may be cast or forged, as deemed best,"

the pivotal portion of which reaches from one inner wall of the neck or shank of the draw head to the other, so as to receive direct and I firm support from the draw head and torelieve its pivot pin E of undue strain. The forward end of the latch or dog is made slightly wedging in forni, or somewhat narrower on its lower than its upper face, so as to come to a firm bearing against acorrespondin g bearing face c in the draw head, and against the forward face of arm b of the knuckle B, when the latter is locked in place.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2V and 3, the forward end of the latch or dog extends somewhat beyond the sweep or line of movement of the l'OO is within the body of the latch or dog, so that A neither may move or rock independently of the other.

the polygonal body and opening are deemed the better construction. The rockshaft E projects outward from the side lof the draw head, fand may receive vor be `connected with anysnitable hand lever `or other device -for turning it.

`In Figs. 1 and 2 I have represented fthe rockshaft as "furnished with an 'extension Vrod F, terminating in a lateral arm or hand pie'cc d. Such an arrangement contemplates actuation of the latch from the side of the car, and will bele'specially suitable for freight cars, but for passenger cars it will ordinarily be prefierable to arrange an upright hand lever upon the car platform, and to connect it 'by chain, link orotherwise with an arm 'on "the rockshaft.

The `central portion or hub of the knuckle B is formed with recesses e e f'a't top and "botf tom, the `end walls or shoulders of which e'ngage with "or abut against similar shoulders, or lugs f, formed 'upon the "draw-head, and thereby limit `the 'throw or "movement "of 'the knuckle 'B about its pivot.

torn wall of `the'draw head ope'ning,o1"inay"be The rearend `or armof lever a "separate bolt. G rests against the side of rib gof fthe latch D, near the forward end of said rib, as the partsstand when 'the knuckle lisswnngin and locked. The forward farm of :said lever for-med `with a "curvededge or face z', which bearsfagainst `a 'ribj formed upon the lower` sideoffarm b of Vknuckle'B; and attheextieine outerendof the forward arm of said lever there is'forin'ed a nose or hook k, which, as the knncklereachesthe limit of its outward movement, engages with the `end wall `of tadee'pened portion e of the lower recess aandfprevents further movement ofthe lever G. This engagement of the hook or nose k also insures Itis obvious that a key or feather, or a through-pin might be used to thus connect the latch or dog and its rock-shaft, but l is a "rib g, which is inclined `er curved the return of the lever to its normal position when the knuckle is swung back to place. The descent of latch or dog D is limited by a shoulder or stop Z, seen in the bottom view, Fig. 3.

Two `draw heads being constructed and fitted with parts as above set forth, their oper ation is as follows: Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the rockshaft E is turned to lift the latch or dog and thereby to unlock the rear arm b of knuckle B. As the latch D swings upward its curved rib or cam g, acting upon the rear end of lever G, throws the forward end of said lever laterally against the rib j of knuckle B, causing said knuckle ro swing abont its pivot and to assume the position indicated in Fig. 2, and by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The li'ockshaft E being then released, the latch Ddrops back bygravit'y tothe positionlshown in Fig. l,faided by the weight o`f hand piececL iff that be used, leaving the knuckle in Tthe forward or open position shown Ain Fig. 2. The two cars are now brought together, and the forward arm a of each knuckle, bearing against the "rear arm Z) of the other knuckle, causes each to swing about its pivot, the arxnsb riding beneath and lifting the respectivelatches D, which drop `down infront of and firmly lock the arms b as soon as the arms complete their backward movements. It vwilly thus be seen *that without passing or Vreaching `between the cars and without directly touching the knuckle, each member of the coupling may be 'quickly and 'certainly unlocked, opened, and left open; and when 'the two are brought together they will automatically couple and lock. ltwi'll also `be seen th'at'fthe unlocking-and "openingof the k'n'ckl'l'e's rcan be effected 'equally well whether t-heica'rs are coupled l'or Tuncoupled atthe time. 'lhelatch or @locking dog AD having a solid #bearing against 'the wall of thedraw head, land being itself" strong uand heavy, affords `a veryseeure lock foifthe -knili'ckl'eg while `its'wedgiingform causes :it to bear closely against 'the d'r'awhe'ad and against the rear a'rmof the knuckle, thereby preventi ng play or lost motion, which play always eondnces :to breakage or ldisarrangeme'nt. The strain or pressure of the knuckle B upon the latch tor 1dogib'eing rat right :angles 4to the movement of the latter, there is no tendency to force'the rlatch ifrom its locking "position, andnhence there 'is fno liab'ilityof :the i`coupling Ebecoming accidentally unlocked.

All fthe ip'a'rts are fof ample iprportins, streng, fand simple, 'and `thelliabilitfy Ito ldcrangement "attend-ing the Iuse of `springs and delicate mechanism is avoided.

Irwin fb@ observed that the llocking dogicr latch D hasa simplelrising and fallingimove ment, without lateral or spiral inaction, and that when in locking position lit bears firmly against the tail of the knuckle'at one "side and against the wall of the drawlhead at the other side, owing to its slightly wedging form.

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When in locking position its weight is almost wholly at one side of and in horizontal'planef with the rock-shaft which constitutes its pivot, so that while its Weight tends constantly to hold it in locking position, the block is not free to swing or move by. reason of sudden starting, stopping or jolting of the car, as would be the case were it a pendulous block. So, too, it will be noted that I avoid the use of springs to open the coupling when the locking dog is withdrawn, and require no catches or detents to hold the locking dog or latch in one or another position for coupling or uncoupling.

The combination of the direct-movinglocking dog or block with the knuckle and intermediate lever, prod uces an exceedingly strong, simple and efficient coupling, which may be operated with ease and certainty under all conditions, and is not liable to derangementV or injury through the severe usage to which car couplings are inevitably subjected.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with a vdraw-head, a knuckle mounted and arranged toswing about a vertical pivot therein, a latch for locking said knuckle arranged to swing about a horizontal pivot passing transversely through the draw-head, and a lever located between the knuckle and the latch and serving to transmit motion from each to the other, substanf tially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with draw-head A and horizontally-swinging knuckle B, vertically swinging latch D carried by a transverse pivot E; and lever G located between the knuckle and the latch and serving to transmit motion from one to the other.

3. In combination witha draw head A and a knuckle `B pivoted therein and provided with rib j,latch D provided with rib g; and lever G pivoted in the draw head and bearing at opposite sides` of its fulcrum against the ribs g and j respectively.

4. In combination with adraw head A and with a knuckle B having a limited range of movement therein and provided with recess e; latch D provided with rib g,- and lever G, provided with hook or nose lo to enter said recess, substantially as and for the purpose explained. v 5. In combination with a draw-head,

knuckle or L-shaped block pivoted and ar. ranged to swing horizontally therein, a horiv and closed without the aid of springs andr catches other than the locking block.

In witness whereof I hereunto setmy hand in the presence of two witnesses.

y WILLIS B. BURNS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. DovvsLAND, P. F- DWYER. v

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