US546144A

US546144A - Car-coupling

Info

Publication number: US546144A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1895-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1912-09-10

Description

T. GASKINS. GAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 546,144. Patented Sept. 10, 1895;

ZZZ/Z ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

THOMAS GASKINS, OF ARCADIA, FLORIDA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,144, dated September 10, 1 895.

Application filed June 26, 1895. Serial No. 554,112. (No model.)

To, all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS GASKINS, of Arcadia, in the county of De Soto and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention is in the nature of an improvement upon the caucoupling for which Letters Patent were granted me March 19, 1895, Nos. 536,139 and 536,075; and it consists in the improved construction of the locking-lever and the pin with which it engages, whereby the couplings are made to operate to lock or conpie the cars when the train is standing on a curve as well as when in a straight line. In the patents referred to-No. 536,075, for instance there are only two distinct positions for the locking-lever in relation to the pin. One is the locked position and the other the unlocked position. In my present invention I construct the locking-lever and pin so that they will look at an intermediate position before the knuckle has reached the limit of its closing movement, so that when standing on a curve, which precludes the locking-lever from reaching the limit of its closing move ment, the cars may still be coupled with safety and certainty, as hereinafter more fully described.

Figure 1 isa horizontal section of the drawliead, showing the parts in their locked position when the cars are in a straight line. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts locked in an intermediate position when the cars are standing on a curve. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the open position of the parts. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line A 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the box on the top of draw-head.

For the most part the features of this coupling are constructed and arranged just as they are in my Patent No. 536,075, the locking-1ever 1) and pin 0 only being changed that is to say, the knuckle a a swings about its vertical axis D, and its rear end a engages a seat near the axial center of the locking-lever b, and when the free or swinging end of the lever 11 is held in its forward position by the pin 0 the knuckle is looked and the cars coupled, and when the end of said lever passes farther to the rear, as is permitted by the lifting of the shoulder s of the pin, as in Fig. 4, the knuckle niay open, as in Fig. 3. V

In constructing the locking-lever b in accordance with my present invention I form it with a curved segmental end b, in which is a notch (2 having its rear side inclined, and the shoulder s of the vertically-adjustable pin is made inclined to correspond with this notch. Now when the cars are coupled on a straight line, as in Fig. 1, the shoulder of the pin occupies a position behind the rear side of the curved segment Z). When the cars are coupled on a curve and the knuckle cannot go to its full movement, as in Fig. 2, the inclined shoulders of the pin drops in the notch b of the curved segment and locks the lever, and when the knuckle is open, as in Fig. 3,.the pin 0 is lifted, so that its shoulder rests upon the forward part of the curved segment.

For operating the pin 0 a lever A is fulcrumed to it and has its rear end connected by a chain With mechanism lifting it, while the forward end A of the'lever is made with a hook-shaped neck and rests in aslot n on one edge of the box N on the top of the draw-head. This construction and arrangement of parts give a greater leverage in working the pin.

The box N is merely a rectangular flange, as seen in Fig. 5, formed on the top of the draw-bar and inclosing the lever A on three sides, so as to house and protect it against abrasion and breakage, and the notch n in the side of said box forms the fulcrum for said lever and holds it always in proper position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v l. A car coupling comprising a knuckle, a locking lever, a pin holding the locking lever to position, said locking lever having an intermediate locking position between its normal locking position and-its open position,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A car coupling having a knuckle, a locking lever, and a pin engaging with the locking lever, said locking lever being formed with a segmental head having an intermediate notch between its front" and rear sides for engage ment with the pin to couple the cars when standing on a curve substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The locking lever I) having segmental ICC ing one end bent to form a curved neck adapted to bear on the inclosing box, and the [0 other end provided with means for operating it substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS GASKINS. 'Witnesses:

ALICE EARNEST, WILLIAM E. DANIEL.