US511654A - Car-coupling - Google Patents

Description

z. A. & W. J. SHER'AM.

UAR COUPLING Patented-Dec. 26, 1893.

m a a w. z

UNTTED STATES PATENT Three.

ZACK A. SHERAM AND WADE J. SHERAM, OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,654, dated December. 26, 1893.

Application filed July 8, 1893. Serial No. 479,923. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ZACK A. SHERAM and WADE J. SHERAM,citizensof theUnited States, residing at East Point, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinventeda new and useful Oar-Coupling, of which the following 'is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car-couplings.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of car couplings, to provide one which will couple automatically, and which may be readily uncoupled without necessitating going between the cars, and to prevent a draw-head from dropping and falling upon the track should it become disconnected from the car.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings ands pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the dra\vings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car coupling constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing two draw-heads coupled. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the releasing bar. Fig. 4. is a similar View of the pivoted spring actuated jaw.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a draw-head, having a longitudinal opening or cavity 2 and provided at one side of the opening or cavity 2 with a pair of integral vertically aligned hooks 3, having laterally disposed outwardly extending heads 4 forming shoulders adapted to be engaged by a pivoted spring actuated jaw 5 of asimilar draw-head. The vertically aligned forwardly projecting hooks 3 are provided with coupling pin perforations 6, and are adapted to be coupled by a pin and link with the ordinary form of pin and link couplings, and with automatic couplings similar to the J anney coupling.

The spring actuated jaw 5 is pivotally mounted by a Vertical pin 7 at one side of the longitudinal opening of the draw-head; it has its front face beveled, and is provided at its rear edge with a vertical shoulder 8 to engage the hooks of a similar draw-head; and

it is provided with an inwardly extending arm 9, between which and the adjacent side of the draw-head is interposed a spiral spring 10 for holding the jaw in engagement with the hooks. The spiral spring has its inner end arranged in a socket of the arm 9, and its outer end is arranged in an opening 11 of the adjacent side of the draw-head and bears against a detachable plate 12, which is designed to be removed to enable the spiral spring to be inspected and adjusted in proper position.

The spring actuated jaw is opened by a releasing bar 13, which is vertically mounted in an opening of the draw-head, and is provided with an inclined shoulder 14 arranged to engage the inner end of the arm of the spring actuated jaw to force the latter outward to release the hooks of a similar draw-head for uncoupling. As the releasing bar 13 moves upward, the inclined shoulder or face 14 forces the arm and the jaw outward; and the releasing bar is provided intermediate of its ends with a stop shoulder 15 to limit its upward movement. The upper end of the releasing bar is connected by a cap 13 with an arm 16 of the rock-shaft 17, extending transversely of the car 18 and terminating in handles to enable the operation of uncoupling to be performed from the sides of the car, without going between it and another car.

Any suitable means may be provided to enable the operation of uncoupling to be performed from the top of the car; and the releasing bar is extended below the draw-head; and when the latter is mounted on the platform of a passenger car suitable mechanism can be readily connected with the extended lower end of the releasing bar for uncoupling.

When draw-heads are coupled the hooks are arranged within the opening of a drawhead; and should either of a pair of coupled draw-heads become disconnected from its car it would be impossible for it to become uncoupled and drop upon the track and forming an obstruction for wrecking or otherwise injuring cars behind it.

It will be apparent that the car coupling is simple, inexpensive, strong and durable, that it is positive and reliable in its operation, and that it is capable of automatic coupling and ready uncoupling without going between cars.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

The arm of the spring actuated jaw is offset,and is arranged in a corresponding recess in the adjacent side of the draw-head, and forms a knuckle joint.

The car coupling is capable of coupling at different elevations as the hooks are adapted to straddle the top or bottom of the drawhead with only one of them in engagement with theljaw. It is also capable of coupling with twin-jaw car couplings of the Janney type.

What I claim is 1. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided with a longitudinal cavity, a hook forked integral with and projecting outward from the front of the draw-head and arranged to enter the cavity of asimilar draw-head, and a movable jaw concealed within the cavity, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a longitudinal opening and provided atone sidethereof withapair of vertically aligned forwardly projecting hooks having laterally extending shoulders, and a horizontallyswinging pivoted jaw mounted within the draw-head and adapted to engage hooks of a similar draw-head, substantially as described.

3. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a longitudinal opening and provided at one side thereof with integral hooks projecting forward from the draw-head, a horizontally swinging spring actuated jaw pivotally mounted in the draw-head, and a releasing bararranged to engage the jaw to move the latter inward,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a longitudinal opening and provided at one side thereof with integral hooks projecting forward from the draw-head, a horizontally swinging spring actuated jaw having a vertical shoulder and provided with an inwardly extending arm, and a vertically movable releasing bar having an inclined shoulder engaging the arm of the jaw, substantially as described' 5. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a longitudinal opening and provided with forwardly projecting hooks and having at one of its sides an opening 11, a horizontally swinging jaw pivotally mounted in the draw-head and having an inwardly eX- tending arm, a spiral spring interposed between the arm and the adjacent side of the draw-head and arranged at the opening 11, a removable plate secured to the draw-head and covering the opening 11, and a vertically movable releasing bar having an inclined shoulder to engage the arm of the jaw and provided with a stop shoulder, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

\Vitnesses:

J. H. BELLEIsLE, V. WILSON.

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