US557552A

US557552A - Thill-coupling

Info

Publication number: US557552A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1913-04-07

Description

(No Model.) C. CATHAN.

' THILL GOUPLING.

Patented Apr; 7, 1896.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLESCATHAN, OF BELOIT, KANSAS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,552, dated April '7, 1896.

Application filed Junel, 1895. Serial No. 552,151. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LOHARLES CATHAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Mitchell and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Thill- Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in thill-couplings.

The object of" the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices of the nature above referred to, and to provide a novel form of coupling by means of which the pole or shafts may be attached to the axle of any vehicle that is provided with the usual axle-clip without removing the coupling-pin.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

To the above end the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the thill-iron constructed in accordance with this invention and having the locking-plate secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the sliding locking-plate detached. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the bearing-block and the yoke by' means of which said block is connected with the coupling-pin of the axle-clip. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the axle-clip and thill-iron, showing the several parts in operative relation.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates an axle-clip of the usual construction formed with an oppositely-disposed pair of forwardlyprojecting rigid arms 2, said arms being provided with horizontally-alined perforations for the reception of the coupling pin or bolt 4 and spaced asufficient distance apart to receive between them the rear end of the thill-iron, all being of the ordinary construction, such as is used in connection with the forward axles of the great majority of buggies, carriages, and other vehicles.

5 designates a bearing-block of suitable material which is grooved in one of its faces corresponding to and adapted to fit snugly against the coupling pin or bolt 4. Said bearing-block is supported with relation to said coupling pin or bolt by means of a thin metallic yoke 6, comprising an oppositely disposed pair of arms, which are perforated to admit the coupling pin or bolt 4, and a crossbar or web 7, connecting said arms and embracing the opposite side of the bearing-block 5 to that upon which the groove is formed. The thickness of said bearingblock about corresponds to the diameter of the coupling pin or bolt 4.

The thill-iron (indicated at 8) is provided in its rear end with a vertically-extending slot 9, which is open at the bottom to admit of said thill-iron being placed over and brought into engagement with the coupling pin or bolt of the axle-clip. The rear wall or portion of the thill-iron is extended downwardly a sufficient distance below the plane of the lower face of said thill-iron to admit of the same being perforated, as shown at 10, said perforation being adapted to receive a rearwardlyprojecting pin or stud 11 on a slotted lockingplate 12. The locking-plate l2 is provided with a longitudinally-extended slot 13 and is secured to the lower face of the thill-iron by means of a headed screw or rivet 14, which passes through and engages said slot 13 and enters a socket or perforation in the thilliron. By means of this construction the locking-plate 12 is adapted to slide longitudinally of the thill-iron a sufficient distance to withdraw the pin or stud 11 from the perforation 10, above referred to.

15 indicates a lug or projection on the forward end of the sliding locking-plate, for the purpose of enabling said locking-plate to be rocked upon the pin or screw 14, and engaging the pin 11 with the perforation 10, or disengaging the same, as required.

16 represents a thumb-screw which passes through a threaded perforation in the rear end of the locking-plate adjacent to its interlocking connection with the rear portion of the thill-iron and in vertical alinement with the open slot 9 of the thill-iron, said screw being adapted also to engage a socket in the lower face of the bearing-block 5, yoked to the coupling pin or bolt 4 of the axle-clip.

16"L is a'lock-nutfor the screw 16.

IOO

From the foregoing description the operation of the thill-coupling will be readily understood.

W'ith the bearing-block pendent beneath the coupling pin or bolt of the axle-clip the slotted rear end of the thill-iron is passed over said coupling pin or bolt until the latter rests within the upper end of the open slot of the thill-iron. The locking-plate is now manipulated until the rearwardly-projecting pin or stud l1 thereof is brought into line with the perforation l0 in the rear wall or portion of the thilLiron. The sliding locking-plate is then moved rearwardly until said pin ll passes through the perforation l() and the rear end of said locking-plate abuts against the corresponding portion of the thill-iron. The thumb-screw 16 is now operated to force the bearing-block snugly against the coupl ling pin or bolt of the axle-clip, at the same time drawing the thill-iron firmly and snugly down upon said coupling pin or bolt. The parts are thus firmly pressed together and all loose play and rattling are effeetually prevented. By means of the set-screw 16 wear is taken up as fast as it occurs.

The device is so simple and easy of manipulation that the change from a pole to shafts may be very quickly and easily eeeted, and this without the aid of tools.

Should the wearing block 5 become too much worn, it will be evident that it may be quickly and easily replaced by a new one.

If desired, the yoke for the block 5 may be dispensed and with said block placed in position by hand.

Changes in the forni, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to y bearing against the under side of the pin or bolt, and a locking-plate having a pivotal connection with the under side of the thill-iron at one side of the slot therein and a positive interlocking engagement with the iron at the other side of said slot, and a set-screw mounted i in the locking-plate adjacent to the interlocking connection thereof with the thill-iron and adapted to work against the under side of said bearing-block, substantially as described.

E2. In a thill-coupling, a thill-iron provided with a downwardly-opening slot, and`aJ locking device adapted to close the mouth of said slot, in combination with a beariligbloek, a a yoke for supporting said bearin g-block with relation to the coupling-pin of an axle-clip, and a thumb-screw carried by said locking device and adapted to be engaged with said bearing-block, for the purpose and substantially as described.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES CATHAN. \\'itnesses S. J. FREEMAN, NV. C. PERDUE.