US762127A - Train-pipe coupling. - Google Patents

Description

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD JUNE 7, 1904. G. L. BONHAM.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED PEB. ze, 1904.

4 SHIRTS-SHEET 1.

No. 762,127. PATBNTED JUNE 7, 1904. G. L. BONHAM.

TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1904.

N0 ,MODEL 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

11 l t. A

r .17 --qnnn-aflf-An m# w .W Q k PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

GQL. BON-HAM. TRAIN PIPE GOUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 2e, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

NO MODEL.

WHQZSSQS No. 762,127. PTENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

` G. L. BONHAM.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED rms. ze, 1904. No MODEL..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l 'n www@ Wifgess gL/Z/Z .6% l I by UNITED i STATES Patented June 7, 1904.

PATENT GEEICE.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 762,127, dated June 7, 1904. Application flied February 26, 1904. Serial No. 195.466. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it 10Q/ay concern:

Be it known that I, GUY L. BONHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing atDorranceton, in `the county of LuzerneV and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Train-Pipe Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in train-pipe couplings, Vand particularly to that general class of steam, air, and signal coupy lings in which provision is made for the auxas the cars separate and come together during the running of the train.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring-held mounting for a plurality of coupling members, s o that the latter may yield to accommodate inequalities in the roadway or' when the train is traveling around curves.

A still further object of the invention is to so arrange a -plurality .of coupling members that they will aord mutual support foreach other, and thus reduce the liability of breakage or derangement when being coupled together.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in 'the appended claims, it being understood that n various changes in the form, proportion, and arrangement of the parts may be, made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a train-pipe and hose coupler Iconstructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the carriers for the coupling-levers drawn to a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. A: is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion ofthe device on the line 4 4 of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a plan view, partlyin section, illustrating a slight modification of the invention. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing one of the connections betweeno the train-pipe carrier and one of the car-couplers. Fig. 7isa longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating a slightly-modified construction in which the coupler-carrying device is independent of the car-couplings. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 7. Fig. l0 is atransverse sectional elevation of the carrier used in the construction shown in Fig. 9. Figs. ll and l2 are detail views of coupler-carriers of modied construction.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The present invention relates more particularly to automatic pipe-couplings of that class illustrated in Letters Patent No. 701.833, granted to me on the 10th day of J une, 1902, wherein each of the cars is provided with a train-pipe divided into two branches that terminate, respectively, in male and female coupling members disposed one on each side of the center line of the car and so arranged as to automatically engage mating members carried by adjacent cars as the train is made up. Some difhculty has been experienced in providing for the support and the adjustment of the coupling device to accommodate the frequent irregularities in car construction or in the different sizes of the cars and the distance which the coupling members' are arranged from the tracks, as well as to provide for the desirable lateral play that is necessary when the cars are traveling around curves.

In carrying' out the present invention pro- IOO vision is made for the mounting' of one or more sets of couplings at the end of the car in such a manner as to permit the necessary freedom of movement of the couplings, and the supports are arranged in accordance with the character of the car. For passenger service each support carries a train-pipe, a steampipe, and a signal-pipe, While for freight service only the single or train pipe is required or in some cases a train and signal pipe.

In the drawings, 1 indicates pendent brackets arranged at the end of each car and provided with vertical slots 2 for the reception of a plate 3, Which may move both laterally and vertically, and in order to permit the plate to move without friction it may be mounted on ball or roller bearings, apair of elongated rollers 4t being shown in the presentinstancc; but it is to be understood that these are merely typical of antifriction-supports which maybe of any desired character.

rIhe brackets 1 are of the character best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and which have a top plate 6, that is provided with a slot 7, adapted to a Webbed guide 8, that is secured by a bolt 9 to the carry-iron a;- of the car, the carryiron serving as a support for the car-coupler y. From the front of the bracket projects an arm 10, that is secured by a bolt 11 to the under side of the car-coupler, so that the bracket as a Whole is free to move vertically with the car platform and coupling and at the same time is free to move back and forth longitudinally of the car as the cars separate and come together during the ordinary travel of the train, the rear portions of the brackets being guided by the slots 7 and webbed guides 8. At the rear face of each plate is a bracket 12, that is connected by helical tension-springs 13 to the top and side pieces ofthe bracket in order to maintain the plate in a central position, but permitting yielding movement both vertically and laterally of the car.

Each of `the platesis provided with suitable socket members 15, arranged in transverse series, three of such series being shown in the present instance in order to provide for the support of the train-pipe, signal-pipe, and steam-pipe couplings, although the number may be'increascd or diminished, a single series of sockets being all that is necessary for freight-cars where the steam and whistle pipes are not usually employed. The plates are provided with openings 16 for the passage of pipes 17, which are coupled to transverse-extending pipes 18, that are seated in the sockets 15 and are held in place by U-shaped clamping-bolts 19, that extend through suitable openings in the plate and are provided with threaded ends for the reception of clampingnuts 20. The pipe 17, which may represent the usual train-pipe of an air-brake system or the signal or steam pipe, is formed of any suitable material and is connected by metallic couplings or by flexible connections 23 to the stationary pipe carried by the car, the flexible connections being deemed preferable in order that the stationary pipes shall not interfere With the movement of the plates.

The pipes 18 are connected to coupling members 22 and 23, respectively, these being, preferably, of the character illustrated in the hereinbefore-mentioned Letters Patent, an instance of the general construction being shown in Fig. 9. When a number of couplers are carried by each car, the cone or funnel shape ends 25 of the female members are preferably connected together in order to mutually separate each other; but this is not essential for the proper operation of the coup- 1ers. Each of the female members is provided With a suitable valve 26, which is opened on the entrance of the male member 22. The male members 22 are preferably braced by straps 27, bolted together at points between said members, the straps being preferably disposed at points near the rear ends of such members in order not to interfere with the female members 23. Each of the pipes connected to the male coupler members is provided \vith a valve 29, by which the How of air or other fluid may be cut off.

In many cases cars equipped With coupling devices of the character described will be coupled to cars equipped in the usual manner with the ordinary hose-couplings, and to provide for this an auxiliary connection is made at 30 in alinement with the main pipe. In this connection is placed the usual angle-cock 31. The hose 32 is provided with a standard coupler of any ordinary type, so that in coupling to an ordinary car the air may be shut off by means of the valve 29 and after the hose 32 is coupled the angle-cock may be turned in order that the flow of air or other fluid may continue.

It Will be observed that the mounting of the plates 3 is such as to permit extensive play in both lateral and vertical planes, so that cars having coupling members arranged at different levels may automatically engage each other and the flexibility necessary for the turning of short curves obtained Without unnecessary expense in construction.

It will be observed that the coupling devices are secured to and moved with the main car-couplings and are arranged in such position as not to materially interfere with the work of the brakemen in swinging the elements of the car-coupler, and the apparatus as a whole takes up but a very little room and may be applied at comparatively small cost t0 cars of any character,

In some cases the valves of the female members may be omitted and each of said female members or the pipe to which it is coupled provided With an auxiliary angle-cock 35, by which the flow of air or other Huid may be controlled.

The construction of the plates may be modi- IOO IOS

IIO

IIS

Jfied in a number of Ways, Fig. l1 illustrating one r'orm of plate provided with sockets for the reception of the transverse pipes that are connected to the coupling members, While in Fig. 12 is shown a somewhat similar construction by which the sockets are formed by stamping or votherwise bending the plate to forni the Whole out of a single sheet of metal. In Fig. 10 is illustrated a further modification in which the socket members are formed by auxiliary bars 37, held in position by the pipesecuring bolt.

In some instances it will not be necessary to secure the plate-supporting brackets to the car-couplings, and a construction of this character is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In this case is shown the arrangement of the parts the same as that previously described; but the upper portions of the brackets are shown as being rigidly secured to the car-frame.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. The combination with a car-coupler, of a carry-iron, a pipe-coupler, and a pipe-coupler-supporting device connected to both the car-coupler and the carry-iron.

2. The combination with a car-coupler, and carry-iron, of a bracketl having a iixed connection with the coupler andv a slidable connection with the carry-iron, a vertically and laterally movable plate supported by the coupler, and a pipe carried by said plate.

3. The combination with an automatic pipecoupler, of a perforated plate through Which the pipe to be coupled is passed, and antifriction supporting devices for said plate.

' 4. The combination With an automatic coupler, of a perforated supporting-plate to which the coupling is secured, antifriction-bearings for said plate, and a plurality of springs forining a yieldable support for the plate.

5. In combination, a car having a plurality of pendent slotted brackets, a plate guided transversely in said slot, slotted bars secured to the outer face of the plate, coupling-pipes adapted to said slotted bars, and yieldable supports for the plate.

6. The combination With a car, of a plurality of pendent-slotted brackets, a plate guided transversely in said. brackets, a plurality of slotted bars carried by the plate, coupling members having laterally-extending portions adapted to the slotted bars, antifriction-bearings for the plate, a bracket extending from the rear face of said plate, and a plurality of springs for holding the plate in position.

7. In combination, a car having a pair of pendent slotted brackets, a plate guided in said brackets,-vertically-disposed rollers forming a backing for the plate, transversely-disposed slotted bars arranged on the front of the plate, male and female coupling members having transverse portions arranged in said slotted bars, an auxiliary hose-coupling connected to the coupler, and a plurality of springs atfordinga yieldable support for said p ate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asl my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' GUY L. BONHAM. Witnesses:

D. O. GoUGHLrN, H. E. BONHAM.

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