US817335A - Whiffletree-coupling. - Google Patents

Description

No. 817,335. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. J. R. PRING. WHIPFLETREE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED An 17 1905 S ATT FlltlF WHiFFLETREE-COUPLHNG..

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteci April 10, 1906.

Application filed April 17, 1905. Serial No. 255,934.

To a/Z whom zit 'n1/tty concern:

Beit known that l, JOHN R. PRING, a citi Zen of the United States, residing at Shawnee, in the county of Pottawatomie and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Whiffletree-Ooupling, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to couplings for whiffletrees and the like, the object in view being to provide a coupling of the class described which may be used to connect a doubletree to the pole or tongue of a vehicle or to connect a swingletree to the doubletree or the crossbar of thills or shafts, the construction involving novel means whereby one of the main members of the coupling is permitted to have a limited amount of pivotal movement relative to the other member to allow for the movements of the drafta'nimals, while at the same time dispensing with the usual stay-straps employed for that purpose.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the members of the coupling that the means for limiting their relative pivotal movement will be concealed and also protected in such manner that all wearing parts of the coupling members are kept clean and free from exposure to the weather, as well as dust, dirt, and other foreign matter, thus materially increasing the life and durability of the coupling as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the members of the couplinfr that the bearing-surface thereof is enlarger from that of the small bolt, as in ordinary couplings, to the extent that the width of the central portion of the doubletree or swingletree will just cover the frictioinsurface and enable the doubletree or swingletree to act as a shield and exclude dust and dirt from the bearingsurface, thus increasing the life and durability of the coupling members. By the construction hereinafter described one of the members may be partially turned upon the other' member and the disk washer also adjusted by turning the same, so as to obtain a new bearing between the parts or bring a new bearing-surface into use, thus further adding to the life and durability of the coupling as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the coupling members as to overcome the tendency to bend the coupling-bolt and enable a larger coupling-bolt to be used without weakening or impairing the strength of the doubletree or swingletree.

With the above and other obJects 1n vlew,

the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as herein fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section through a pair of couplings embodying the present invention, showing the same applied to a swingletree and double tree, the latter being shown partly in elevation and partly in section and the vehicle pole or tongue being shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at right an* gles to section l in linewith the coupling-bolt. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the disk washer. Fig. 4 is a reverse perspective view of the crown member of the coupling. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base member of the coupling for the pole or tongue. F lgs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the crown and base members7 respectively, of the coupling modiiied with special reference to their use between a doubletree and swingletree. Fig. t5 is a detail view showing a buffer-spring usedin connection with the stoplugs of the base member,

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draww ings.

ln the drawings, l designates a pole or tongue, 2 a doubletree, and 3 a swingletree, said parts being related in the usual manner.

'4 represents a plate secured to the top of the doubletree and provided with a stud 5, which is received in an opening in the usual brace or strap 6, connected to the tongue.

The coupling of this invention as applied between the pole and doubletree embodies a base member 7 and a crown member 8, the said members being connected pivotally by a bolt 9 and disk washer, hereinafter described. The base member 7 is provided with a raised circular bearing-boss l() and with extensions l l, reaching fore and aft, and formed with holes l2 to receive suitable bolts or fasteners whereby the member is secured to the upperside of the pole. The base member is also provided with upstanding stoplugs 13, located at opposite sides of the bearing-boss l0, the purpose of which will appear.

The crown member 8 has a circular seat or bearing-surface 14, which rests and works upon the bearing-boss 10, and is surrounded IOO IOS

IIO

by an annular ange 15, .which acts as a guard to keep out the weather and dirt and other foreign matter, thus keeping the parts of the bearing clean. Extending outward from the flangel are wings 16, which when the coupling members are properly associated are located on opposite sides of the lugs 13 and act as stop-shoulders in connection with said lugs to limit the turning movement ofthe crown member within the proper bounds, thus dispensing with the usual staystraps used for the same purpose. The member 8 is provided with extensions 17, similar to those 11 of the base member, and provided with holes 18 to receive bolts or other fasteners for securing the member 8 to the under side of the doubletree.

The crown member 8 is provided with a central circular opening 19, and the upper side of said member is rabbeted around said opening, as shown at 20, to form a seat or recess in which is placed a disk Washer 21, the upper surface of whichis substantially Hush with the corresponding surface of the crown member, as shown. Said washer is provided on its lower side with a circular boss 22, which extends through the central opening 19 and bears directly on the boss 10, being iirmly held against the same by the bolt 9, the head of which is received flush in the recess 23 in the upper side of the washer 21. The crown member is thus left free to turn easily upon the base member and disk-washer without liability of binding. The bolt openings in the washer 21 and the base member 7 are preferably square to receive the squared portion ofthe bolt-shank and prevent turning of thel same while placing the usual nut on the lower end of the bolt. The base member 7 is also provided with downwardly projecting studs 24, which fit into sockets in the pole, as shown, to relieve the strain on the securingbolts (shown at 25) and also the bolt 9.

The coupling members used between the doubletree and swingletree are substantially the same as those hereinabove described, except that the stop-lugs (shown at 27) are curved or segmental to work in segmental notches 2S in the crown member S and the base member is disposed lengthwise at right angles to the crown member.

If desired, each ofthe stop-lugs 13 may be provided with a slot or kerf 29, in which is fitted the central or connecting portion of a two-armed or U-shaped spring 30, which cushions the impact of the stop-lugs against the .shoulders 16. terminal portions of the spring,.more or less free play may be given to the crown member of the coupling.

Having described the invention, I claim- 1. In a coupling of the class described, a base member provided with a raised circular bearing-boss, a crown member having a bearing-face resting and working on said boss and provided with an annular iiange surrounding the boss and further provided with a rabbeted circular opening, a disk washer removably fitted in said rabbeted opening and provided with a circular boss which projects through the crown member and rests on the bearing-boss of the base member, and a bolt passing through the disk washer and base memberand having its head seated flush in a recess in the disk washer.

2. In a coupling of the class described, a base member provided with a raised bearingboss and stop-lugs located at opposite sides thereof, a crown member working on said base and having an annular ange which embraces the boss, a bolt, a disk washer pivot ally connecting said members and recessed to receive the head of said bolt, and wings extending outward from saidv iiange and lying on opposite sides of the stop-lugs, said wings forming stop-shoulders which coperate with the stop-lugs to limit the pivotal movement of the members.

3. In a coupling of the class described, base and crown members connected for relative pivotal movement, cooperating lugs and shoulders on said members for limiting such relative pivotal movement, and one or more spring-buers associated with the limiting means, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN R. PRING.

Witnesses:

PALIA HUDSON, WILLIAM S. JoHNsToN.

By bending the arms or

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