US718889A - Car-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

J. TIMMS.

1 CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

3(a N T01? Altorney WITNESSES No. 718,889. PATBNTED JAN. 20, 1903. I

J. TIMMS.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1902.

1 ENTOR N Z Allomzy Unrrnn 'rarns .a'r'r OFFICE.

JAMES TIMMS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE MAL- LEABLE IRON AND COUPLER COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

EEEGIFIGATKGN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,889, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed September 25, 1902. o'erial No. 124,837. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES TIMMS, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Car-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Hy invention relates to an improvement in car-couplers, its object being to provide simple and efficient means for throwing the knuckle into its open position.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a coupling embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a crosssection with the knuckle locked. Fig. 3 is a cross'section showing knuckle unlocked and being thrown open. Fig. 4 is a View of the knuckle and certain operating parts. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the lockingdolock and adjustable wedges. Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 5 and showing the adjustable wedge in section.

A represents a coupling-head; B, a rotary knuckle pivctally mounted in the head on the pivotpin a. Locking-block O is located wholly within the coupling-head and is operated by a link 2, connected to its upper end by means of the eyes 0 0 which permit of its free lateral movement. One side of the lock ing-block is constructed with an undercut ledge or flange D, which is adapted to engage and be supported by an upturned or hookshaped flange or ledge d, formed on the inner side wall of the coupling-head, when the locking-block is raised to its unlocked position. Then the locking-block is raised, its upper end is caused to tilt laterally, due to the overweighing of one of its sides, and cause the flange D to engage and be supported by the ledge cl. lVhen the locking-block is thus supported by its lock-set and the knuckle is thrown open, a raised port-ion cl on the tail of the knuckle engages the shoulder 61 on the locking-block and raises the latter suflicientl y to disengage the lock-set and cause it (the locking-block) to engage and be supported by the tailof the knuckle. When the knuckle is rotated to its closed and locked position, the locking-block will drop in front of the tail of the knuckle and securely lock it in place.

In the floor of the coupling-head is formed a recess or pocket E, in which is placed an adjustable wedge F. This wedge is located beneath the forward end of the tail of the knuckle and is securely protected against injury or displacement and is concealed from View by the walls of the coupling-head and pocket formed therein. The sidefand its rear surfacef are made flat and in conjunction with the side and rear walls of the pocket serve to guide the wedge and retain it against displacement. One side of the wedge is constructed with a groove G, which is undercut at g at its upper end. Within this groove is received a pin H, which projects laterally from the lower end of the projection Ion the lower end of the locking-block. Pin H is constructed with an enlargement h on its outer end, which is adapted to enter the undercut portion 9 in the upper end of the groove in the wedge-block and retain the latteriu place on the pin.

The operation of the improvement is as follows: When the locking-block is in its locked position, the wedge-block is supported by the walls of the pocket and is entirely separate from and independent of the locking-block. When it is desired to unlock the knuckle, the locking-block is raised and tilted laterally and automatically engages its lock-set, by which it is upheld in its unlocked position. When the knuckle is opened by the separation of the cars, the knuckle will automatous movements (both vertical and lateral) of the locking-block the wedge-block remains seated on the supporting-walls of its pocket and out of engagement with the locking-block. However,when it is desired to manually throw the knuckle into its open position the locking-block is raised above its normal position for unlocking the knuckle, with the result that the pin H on the lower end of the locking-block will engage the wedge-block and raise it and cause its Wedge-shaped face J to engage the lower rear edge K of the knuckle and force the latter into its open position. This operation is greatly facilitated by reason of the fact that the inclined or wedgeshaped face J inclines downwardly and outwardly and serves as a wedge to positively move the tail of the knuckle outwardly, and by continuing the upward pull on the locking-block the knuckle may be quickly rotated to its open position.

By making the wedge-block separate from and independent of the locking-block it relieves the latter of any undue or unnecessary weight on its lower end and also obviates any obstruction or impediment to the free vertical and lateral movement and adjustment of the locking-block.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction of the locking-block and wedge-block might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention. Instead of providing the locking-block with a pin to engage in a slot in the wedge-block the latter may be provided with a pin or stud for engagement in an elongated slot in the locking-block. Again, the inclined face of the Wedge-block may be hardened,0r a steel wearing-block may be inserted therein, or, if desired, the wedge-block may be made of hardened steel. In the event the wedge-block should become broken or unduly worn it may be readily replaced without renewing or disturbing the locking-block.

The wedge-block instead of being made in the form shown and described may be formed with a fiat upper surface and be journaled on a stud or pin, so that when it comes in contact with the rear side of the knuckle arm or tail it will tilt and operate as a wedge to force the knuckle outward. v

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

1. In a car-coupler the combination with a coupling-head, a knuckle, and a verticallymovable locking-block, of a wedge-block located under the knuckle-tail within the coupling-head and adapted to be engaged and raised by the locking-block after the latter has been moved to its unlocked position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a knuckle, of a vertically-movable locking-block and wedgeblock, the locking-block being adapted to move and operate separate from and independent of the wedge-block, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a knuckle and locking-block, of a wedge-block located beneath the tail of the knuckle, and a connection between the wedge-block and the locking-block, said connection constructed and adapted to permit a movement of the lockingblock before the wedge-block is moved, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a coupling-head and a knuckle, of a locking-block and a movable wedge disposed within the coupling-head, said movable wedge located under the tail of the knuckle and having a sliding connection with the locking-block, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a knuckle and a vertically and laterally movable lockingblock, of a wedge-block constructed separate from the locking-block and provided with a sliding connection therewith, and a pocket below the tail of the knuckle for supporting and guiding the wedge-block, substantially as set forth.

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

JAMES TIMMS.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. DOVVNING, S. W. FOSTER.

Images