US821084A - Draw-bar-centering device for railway-cars. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

'1'. R. BROWN. DRAW BAR CENTERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY'GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1905.

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THOMAS It. BROWN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN A. HEGEMAN, JR., OF NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

DRAW-BAR-CENTERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed March 6, 1905. Serial No. 248.617.

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw- Bar-Centering Devices for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in draw-bar-centering devices for railway-cars; and it consists in the novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and" particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide efficient and durable means for cushioning the coupler during its lateral action, so as to avoid the usual shocks to the car and the straining of the parts due to the coupler striking the car violent lateral blows, and for returning the coupler to its central normal position after it has been swung laterally.

I preferably locate my new cushioning and centering device between the usual center or draft sills of the car and at the inner side of the usual striking-plate and mount the same upon a transverse bolt, which is held at its ends by said sills.

The device of my invention comprises a main body portion having arms to be engaged by the opposite side edges of the stem of the coupler, end springs for cushioning said body portion in its lateral movements with the coupler and returning said body portion and coupler to their normal central position, suitable means for holding and controlling said springs, and means for mounting said body portion so that it may slide transversely of the car.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of a car equipped with a centering device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the main body portion of said device. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of same. Fig. 4 is a central section through a detached portion of said device. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the center bolt for securing the device to the draft or center sills of the car; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the means for securing the end springs of said device.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a well-known type of car which requires no special description, the features thereof more intimately associated with my invention being the usual draft or center sills 2O 20, between which is a space which I utilize to receive my centering device and within which said device is disposed transversely between said sills and mounted upon a rod or bolt whose ends are supported by said sills.

The centering device of my invention comprises a body portion 40 in the form of a cylinder, end springs 45 46, a tubular bolt or stem 47, extending through said body portion and binding said springs in position at the opposite ends thereof, and a bolt 51, which extends through said tubular bolt 47 and is mounted at its ends in the sills 20.

The body portion 40 is formed with a base 41 and downwardly-extending end arms 42 to pass upon the opposite side edges of the stem of the coupler, (not shown,) and the said body 40 is subdivided by a partition 43, as shown in Fig. 2, supporting a sleeve 44. The inner ends of the springs 45 46 are housed` within the opposite ends of the body 40 and mounted upon the ends of the sleeve 44, while the outer ends of said springs extend beyond said body, and through the springs 45 46 and sleeve 44 I extend a tubular bolt or stem 47, having upon one .end a fiange 48 to engage the outer end of one of the springs and upon its other end a flange 49 to engage the outer end of the other one of said springs, the flange 49 being held upon the end of the tubular bolt or stem 47 by means of a suitable nut 50, whose outer surfaces will be flush with the outer surfaces of said fiange 49. The flange 48 is slid upon the stem 47 and has a bearing against a shoulder 19 upset upon the end of said stem.

In assembling the parts of the structure vshown in Fig. 1 I introduce the springs 45 45 into the ends of the cylindrical body 40 and then move the tubular stem 47 through said springs and said body, bringing the flange 48 up against the outer end of one of the springs, and thereupon by compressing the springs the other end of the tubular stem 47 may be projected beyond the outer end of the other spring to a sufficient extent to receive the ilange 49 and retaining-nut 50, whereupon the then self-contained centering device may be introduced to position between the sills and secured by the passage of a bolt 51, Fig. 5, through said sills and the tubular bolt or stem 47, said bolt 51 having finally applied to its threaded end a suitable nut 52. In the employment of the centering device shown in Fig. 1 the tubular stem 47 does not slide upon the bolt 25, but is rmly located at its ends between the sills 20. The cylindrical body 40 will, however, slide upon the tubular stem or bolt 47 and compress the spring against which it may be moving, which spring upon reasserting itself will return the body 40 to its central position. The springs 45 46 cushion the body portion n 40, and hence serve to cushion the stem of the coupler on its lateral movements, and in addition the springs 45 46 serve to return the body portion and coupler to their central positions. The flanges on the ends of the tubular stem or bolt 47 by engaging the outer ends of the springs 46 afford stops for said springs, while the partition 43 constitutes stops at its opposite sides for the inner ends of said springs, and the body portion 40, springs 45 46, and tubular bolt or stem 47 constitute a self-contained centering device which may be introduced between or removed from the sills 20 with entire convenience, the length of the said tubular stem or bolt 47 being just sufficient to closely fit betvfleen and engage the facing surfaces of said s1 s.

I illustrate the centering device as disposed above the location for the coupler-stem; but it is obvious that said device may be turned upside down and located below said stem. It is better that the supporting-bolt for the centering device be secured directly to the draft-sills of the car; but itis obvious that with less convenience and more expense said bolt may be directly secured to parallel plates specially provided to receive the same in lieu of to the draft-sills.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a body portion having arms to be engaged by the coupler-stem, springs at the ends of said body portion, a tubular stem passing through said springs and body portion and having means on its ends to engage the outer ends of said springs and thereby bind said springs in position, and a supporting-bolt extending through said stem and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

2. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a body portion having arms to be engaged by the coupler-stem and also a transverse partition supporting a sleeve, end springs mounted at their inner ends upon said sleeve, and a transverse bolt extended through said springs and sleeve and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

3. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a body portion having arms to be engaged by the coupler-stem and also a transverse partition supporting a sleeve, end springs mounted at their inner ends upon said sleeve, a tubular stem passing through said springs and body portion and having means on its ends to engage the outer ends of said springs and thereby bind said springs in position, and a supporting-bolt extending through said stem and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

4. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a cylindrical body portion having a transverse partition, a base 41 and arms 42 to be engaged by the coupler-stem, end springsA `housed at their inner ends within the ends of said body portion and projecting beyond the same, and a transverse bolt extended through said springs and body portion and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

5. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a cylindrical body portion having a transverse partition, a base 41 and arms 42 to be engaged by ythe coupler-stem, end springs housed at their inner ends within the ends of said body portion and projecting beyond the same, a tubular stem passing through said springs and body portion and having means on its ends to engage the outer ends of said springs and thereby bind said springs in position, and a supporting bolt extending through said stem and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

6. A draw-bar-centering device comprising a centrally-disposed body portion having arms to be engaged by the coupler-stem,

"springs at the ends thereof, a tubular stern passing through said body portion and springs and having on one end a head and iiange to engage the outer end of one of said springs and on its other end a nut and ange to engage the outer end of the other spring, and a supporting-bolt extended through said stem and supported at its ends in parts carried by the car; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county and State of New York, this 4th day of March, A. D. 1905.

THOMAS R. BRGWN.

Witnesses CHAs. O. GILL, ARTHUR MARION.

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