US620558A - Uncoupling device - Google Patents

Description

Patted Mar. 7, |899.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. ADDIS, OF MARSHALL, TEXAS.

UNCOUPLING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 620,558, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filed March 9, 1898.

T0 all whom it muy concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. ADDIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, have made a certain new and useful Improvement in Uncoupling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a rear elevational View of a locomotive-tender, illustrating my improved attachment for uncoupling cars in position thereon; and Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the coupler and a part of my improved attachment secured to and cooperating therewith.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in means for uncoupling couplers of rolling-stock and is shown in the drawings as applied to a locomotive-tender, although it is obvious that with proper couplings the device' would be as applicable to other rolling-stock.

The arrangement illustrated in the drawings is designed to be used in connection with what is known as a twin-jaw coupler, and particularly that style of coupler known as the Miller coupler, wherein the coupler is pulled or rocked out of engagement with its twin or matching coupler of another car'in uncoupling.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, eective, and inexpensive means for uncoupling cars, obviating the necessity of a person passing between the cars to effect said uncoupling, thereby avoiding the liability of accidents.

Another object of this invention is to eifect the uncoupling without making it necessary for any of the crew leaving the train, and, if desired, the uncoupling may be made without having the train, if moving, come to a full stop.

The essential features of the invention reside, first, in the novel construction and arrangement of the spring which cooperates with and causes the coupler to normally occupy a correct position for coupling; second, in the novel construction and arrangement of the cylinder and piston and the means con- Serial No. 673,186. (No model.)

necting said piston with the coupler, whereby said coupler is rocked or drawn out of engagement with its interlocking coupler to uncouple the cars; third, in the novel arrangement of the duid-conducting pipe with the cylinder, said fluid-pipe being designed to admit iuid to operate the piston and leading to a convenient point, preferably in the cabin of the locomotive, whereby by means of a proper valve the fluid may be controlled by an 0perator, and, iinally, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be fully described and afterward pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A indicates a coupler of any ordinary construction, which is normally held in proper position for coupling by a spring B, suitably placed and preferably se cured to the buffer C.

D indicates a connection, preferably flexible and in the vform of a chain, one end of which is secured or attached at a suitable point to the coupler A, while the other end of said connection D is secured to the end of a piston-rod E, said piston-rod being provided at its other end with asuitable piston, adapted to slide lin a cylinder F, said cylinder being preferably located on or secured to the end sill of the car or tender.

As the connection of the chain D with the couplerA is not in perfect alinement with the travel of the piston-rod E, said chain D is designed to pass over a small sheave or roller G, preferably'secured to and properly posi'- tioned on the end sill of the car or tender and in alinement with said pistonrod.

H indicates a pipe adapted to communicate with the inside of the cylinder F, preferably between the piston and one end of said cy1= inder.

h indicates a valve on the pipe H and is dee signed to be manually operated for admitting or shutting off fluid-pressure for operating the piston when it is desired to manipulate the piston in uncoupling.

The pipe H is preferably connected to a main supply-pipe H', said pipe I-I being designed by proper connections to enter theV IOO The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to uncouple the car or cars, the valve in the cabin of the engine is opened, thereby admitting fluid-pressure (preferably air or steam) into and through the pipes H and II into the cylinder F, forcing the piston therein toward the opposite end of the cylinder, thus drawing the piston-rod E in the proper direction to cause the connection D to pull or rock the outer or free end of the coupler A a sufficient distance to uncouple it from its locking companion. The rocking of the coupler A is against the tension of the spring B, and when the valve in the cabin of the engine is closed said valve, which is preferably a threeway valve, whose construction and operation are well understood, permitsv the exhaust or escape of the duid-pressure from behind the piston in cylinder F, and the tension of the spring B forces the coupler A back intoits original or normal position, such position being proper for automatic coupling, as is well understood. It will thus be seen that the spring B not only acts as an agent in recovering the coupler after the coupler has been uncoupled, but also causes the coupler to resume its correct position after said coupler has been forced outwardly by the contact with a coupler of another car in automatic coupling.

As the construction of this class of coup lers is well understood and known, I do not deem it necessary to further describe the same.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departingfrom the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an uncoupling device, the combination with a coupling-jaw pivoted to a car-frame, a cylinder securely held in position at the end of a car on the outside in substantially the plane of the coupler, a fluid-.thrown piston in said cylinder, a piston-rod connected to said piston and arranged to operate 'at right angles to the coupler, a sheave or roller secured to the end of the car intermediate the coupler and piston-rod, a iiexible connectionfattached at its respective ends to the coupler and piston-rod and working under the sheave or roller whereby there is straight and positive pull on the coupler when the piston is withdrawn, and a spring in substantially the plane of the cylinder for normally retaining the jaw in coupling position, substantially as described. 4

In testimony whereof] hereunto affix my signature, in the presence ot' two witnesses, this 1st day of March, 1898.

JOI-IN XV. ADDIS. lVitnesses:

EDWARD S. MARSHALL, HUGH K. WAGNER.

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