US660912A - Automatic uncoupling device for draw-heads. - Google Patents

Description

No. 660,912. Patented on. 30, I900.

' J. T. LEE.

AUTDMATIC UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR DRAW HEADS.

(Applicq-tibmfiled July 17, 1900.

(Ila Modal.)

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A TTIOHNE Ys no: uonms PETERS 0a.. PHOTO-LUNG. WASHINGTON n c.

Nrran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. LEE, or BUTLER, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC UNCOUPLING DEVICE FOR DRAW-HEADS.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,912, dated October 30, 1900.

Application filed July 17, 1900.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. LEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident'of Butler, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Uncoupling Device for Draw-Heads, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an automatically-operated uncoupling attachment for the draw-heads of draw-bars, so constructed and arranged that before the drawbar is subjected to breaking or wrecking strain the attachment will so act that the threatened draw-barwill beimmediately uncoupled from its mating bar, the attachment serving also to prevent the draw-bars dropping to the track if it is dislodged.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure l is a perspective View of a coupling and a portion of the bottom frame of a car, illustrating the application of the improvement to the coupling; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of one end of'a car, showing the attachment in side elevation and showing the draw-head to which the attachment is applied partly in side elevation and partly in section.

A represents the bottom structure of a carbody, the end sill 1O whereof is provided with an elbow-lever 11, pivotally mounted thereon in any approved manner.

B represents a drawhead which may be of the link or knuckle type, and O the draw-bar connected with the draw-head, which drawbar is supported in the usual stirrups or guides 12and is held in position in the ordinary manner. The draw-bar is further provided with the customary spring 14, whereby the said draw-bar has a cushioned and limited longitudinal movement. A chain 15 is secured to the upright member of the elbow-lever 11, and this chain is usually carried over guide-pulleys 16 and 16, pivoted upon one of the intermediate sills of Serial No. 23,896. \llo model-J the base structure of the car, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the other end of the chain 15 is attached to the body of the draw-bar usually at a point slightly back of the guide 12; but I do not limit myself to any point of connection between the chain 15 and the draw-bar, and any equivalent of the chain 15 may be used. The chain 15 is of such length that the dra w-bar C may move longitudinally in the usual inannerthe cnstomarydistance; but as soon as the draw-bar has been drawn outward more than the usual distance or to such an extent that it is liable to be drawn from its hearings or supports the slack in the chain 15 will have been taken up and the forward or horizonal member of the elbow-lever 11 will have been carried upward, and as this member of the elbow-lever 11 is connected by a chain 17 with the coupling-pin 18 the coupling-pin will be drawn out from the drawhead, and the draw-bar in danger of being wrecked will be instan tly uncoupled from its mating bar, thus preventing the draw-bar from beingviolently pulled from its support and dropped to the track, in which position a draw-bar is exceedingly dangerous, as many train wrecks have occurred by reason of a dislodged draW-bar falling upon or across a rail of a track. It is evident that in the eventa draw-bar under any circumstances should be violently torn. from its bearings when the attachment is applied thereto the chain would prevent the dislodged crossbar from falling to the ground.

I desire it to be understood that an attachment may be efiected between 'the lever 11 and any locking mechanism employed in connection with a knuckled draw-bar and the application be as readily and elfectively made as with a coupling-pin.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a chain l9connected with the coupling-pin, which chain is connected with a crank 20 on-a shaft 21, operated by a lever or levers 22 at the sides of the car for the purpose of uncoupling under ordinary circumstances, and it is evident that the usual uncoupling means Will not interfere with the operation of the attachment.

In Fig. l I have illustrated another form of lever 23, adapted to be operated from a side of the car to effect an uncoupling, said lever 23 being made to pass through a link 24 of suitable length, forming a. portion of the lifting chttin 17, which is attached to the (fUllPllllg-Plll or locking" device for the drztwhead.

This attachment is exceedingly simple. It. is durable and economic and may be readily applied to any existing draw-head and drawbar, and, as stated, will tend to prevent the drzuv'bar from becoming dislodgedend if dislodged will prevent. the dislodged bar from falling to the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters PittQ-Ill3 An uncoupling device for railway curs, comprising the combination with tthecztr and t draw-head and draw-bar, of a bell-crank 1ei ver mounted on the car, and hnviny, one end in connection with the coupling-pin or other mobile part; of the coupler txo uncouple the same, a flexible connect-ion between Lheother end of the bell-crank lever and the drew-bar, and guide devices for the flexible connection such devices being mounted on the car and holding the flexible connection so that, undue strain on the drzuv-bnr will cause the coupler to be released.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN '1. LEE. \Vit nesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, Jno. M. BITTER.

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