US914665A - Draft-gear for railway-cars. - Google Patents

Description

W. R. MATTHEWS. DRAFT GEAR FOE RAILWAY UARS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.22,1907.

00 1 Wm 1B 1B 4 am m Me n m P atkmnug W. R, MATTHEWS.

DRAFT em FDR RAILWAY ens.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1807.

Patented M129, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. R. MATTHEWS. DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY (JARS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 110V. 22.1907.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

vwantot 3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

from excessive lateral strains.

UNITED STATES PATENT Ol l l (1h).

WILLIAM R. MA'LTHEWS, ()l" PITTSBURLI', PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNUlt lt) U119 i\'l1:( t)l l\\"i\i' 6i 'ltJltLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. A (.(JHPOItAllON Ol llENNhYl.-

VANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR FOB: RAILWAY onus.

Application filed November 22, 1907. Serial No. 403,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, WILLIAM R. liIAT Times, a citizen of the United States, 'residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Gear for Railway-Cars; 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 nppertains to make and use the same.

M invention relates to the construction of (raft appliances for railway cars, and more particularly to that class of draft gear or draft rigging which is designed to permit an extended latcrql movement of the cur coupler.

By means of a few elements of simple form, I am enabled to produce an efficient and durable draft ,g cnr which permits cars to pass around very sharp curves and relieves the our platform and car framing The con struction and arrangement of the several parts of the draft gear are such that the car coupler always tends to assume a central position.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims, Fi ure 1 is a plan view of a dcrice emho ying my invention, a portion of the our platform and car underfraining being also shown; Fig. 2 is also a plunview of the parts shown in Fig. 1, but illustrating the draft. gear in a. laterally displaced position; Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the clevicct as illustrated in Fig. 1, parts of the coupler and eqluulizcr stein, however, being shown in side e evution; and Fig. 4. is an end elevution of the car platform, showing the relation of the coupler to the devices for supporting the forwurd end of the draft. appliances; and also showing the prcferred means for unlocking the coupler to permit cars to be uncoupled.

Like symbols refer; to like parts wherever occur.

the I will now proceed to describe my inven- 'shtlnk or drafhstem B. ntt-ached to the rear end of the coupler Silt-Lilli in any nninnor which will permit the draft Eqn'ings l), .l) to he compressed in butling, is n-yolie or sprin ppocliet (l which is of suhstnntiully the some construction as those now in com mon use. A simple and satisfactory mode of connectinr. the coupler shank B and yoke is illustrated in the drawings, from which it will be seen that. the bolt 1", which conlincs the yoke U to the coupler shunlt B, passes through an elongated slot 2" formed in the rear end of the coupler shank. Such a construction allows the coupler-shank and yoke to have the relntive longitudinal move:- ment necessary to compress the springs when u bufling operation occurs.

Housed within the yoke C are draft, springs D, I). If desired a single spring may be employed, but it is preferred to use two springs arranged in aline'ment, with a follower 2" inter osed between them. The forward spring i is interposed between :1 forward follower 1 and n rear follower 2*, while the rear spring D hours at one end upon said follower and at the other end is seated upon the rear end of the yoke or springocket C.

The orwnrd follower 1., which normally abuts the rec r and of the coupler shank P is restrained from forward movement by means of a tail-bolt E, which is pivotnlly attached at, its rear end to the car framing through the intermedincy of a pivot bolt 1' and abutment casting F. The tail bolt E passes through the rear end of the yoke G, through the followers 2 and 1 and longitudinnlly through the springs I), I), and is provided at its forward end with a nut, which, by engagement with the follower l", transmits to the tail bolt E the draft strains induced by n forwnrd movement of the yoke -or sprin -pockct 0.

l ic ahutmeht member F, which may be scoured to the car framing in any suitable manner, is preferably formed with horizontnlly extending pivot lugs 2 and 3 bc tween which the enlarged end 1 0f the tailbolt is interposed. This construction is fillvuntngeous, as the lugs 2' and 3 thus support and vertically confine the rear end of the draft rigging, and the pivot bolt 1' is thus put in double shear.

G is an equalizer member which is so constructed and combined with the nssociated parts of the draft gear as to constantly lulul to muinmin the ear cou Jlor in the lougiuuliunl uxis of the cur. The equalizer member ii; lllYDLlllly ottoehod to the our plutlonu or our framing end to the coupler shunl; ll mid. yoke 3 in a manner which will permit, it to have a. relative longitudinal movement with respeot to said coupler shunk uurl yoke. For this per 056 it is 71'2- ferred to form the rear end of member G with a slot 1* through which the ivot pin 1" vouneoling the coupler shank '5 nntl yoke 0 passes. The slot 1 is self llcientiy lung to let the boil; 1 move freely forward when Lilo coupler subjected to u drnl'! niruin, and in order that ouch a mu tivo lon; .;il1uliunl movement of the perils may 050111, the upper nu-L ol the coupler shank B is muintuined in SPiiCQd relation with the yoke U by means of u lug or bridge well 3* formed, on the ram: end of soul coupler shank us will be readily understood by inference to Fig. 3.

The forward, end of the equalizer mom her (3- is preferably attached to the. car framing by :1 single pivotal connection. ljmthin purpoew. a verticully extending cir euhuhose 2* in Ionized LUOII the forward end of 'suii'l equalizer mom er, solid hoss fitting into a circular socket formed in the lllllllfiiRlClfl of a pivot casting 11 which is so cured to the end sill of the our platform in the longitudinal of the car. The pivot boss 2 13 held in 1proper position by means of :1 bolt 1', whic 1, as shown, preferably provided with an annular shouhler that permits Lhe nut to be screwed tight without causing the said boss to bind in its socket. A construction such as described ell'orcls u very strong and durable pivotal oonueetion for the forward end of the equulizer'memher G, but it is to be iuicierstood that other forms of ivotol connection may be employed if celled,

J is e chafing iron which is attached to the our framing. It is made sufficiently long to e'rmit the equalizer member G to swing rmlielly from sule to side without interieronce. its function is to act as a stop to prevent the coupler from striking the equal moi bin".

As a means for supporting the front end of: the limit "our as the coupler moves to one side or he other of the center 01' the our, u supporting rail K is provided Each end of ilus su Jportin; rail, which is preferably on angle-iron hut extends substantiallv parallel in the outer end of the cur plellorui, isholtod orothormse attaehecl to the lower pant of one of the stop castings L. The stop costings; L, which serve to limit the lateral displacement of he zroupler A in either direction from the center of the cm, are mwurod lo the under sule of the our platform and extend downwaruly therelfruu.

the equa izer i forward in the slot 1 of the her G, whiohis thus not subjected to any rear and of the yoke.

voile C doeunot contact the ebntmqnfi cast- Journuled in ouch of (he stop castings L is u grooved roller M around which passes the llexiblo uueou iling i'neuiller N by whieh the i-nuplur look I brought to an unlocked PUFiltlUll. In the drawings the flexible uneouyling member N, which is preferehly u eluun, is represented b a (lot and dash line. The flexible member is attached at one end to the coupler lock 0, passes from thence around one of the grooved. rollers M, then through a slot or eye formed in the lower end of u verticull movublc uncoupling bur P, then around he other grooved roller M,':uu.l, liuully, is nttaehvd at its other end to lhe coupler shank B. The vel'lieully movable uncoupling bur 1 is mounted to reciprocate in u guide member Q, which is attached to the our platform! cllwetl of the flexible member ll which extends be tween the two grooved rollers The guide ousting Q, is provided with :1 downwardly opening chamber through which the oileoupling bur P noses, said chamber huvin flaring side, will 5 which permit the chain to be readily drown upwurrl by Che bur P.

By means of the coupler release rigging just described the coupler may be unlocked. when in any position, it being only necessar in order to brin the lock 0 to an unloo ted position, to will u' wurdly upon the handle of the uncoupling 13.! P. It will be understood that when the coupler moves luterully as the our to which it is attached around a curve, the flexible HD6011)- iug member N moves freely around the grooved rollers, M and throu 'h the eye et the ottom of the uncoupling liar, P, thus accommodating itself to the various positions of the con 10]; When the coupler is subjected to a draftwhich is attached to the abutment member l" that is secured to the ear framing, prevents said follower I from moving fornmrdl, During such on operation, the bolt 1 moves equalizer 1: romstrain.

When a boiling foroe is applied to the coupler the forward follower 1 elm-ls t m rear and of the coupler is forced reurwardly, thus eompressin the springs D, D betweeusaid follower an the ALsthe rear and o'ftlie which shank B,

above that porl ion ing' F, the pressure of the springs D, D is laronsuuittecl from the yoke C to the equalizer. membor'G, and through the latter to the Gal framing. During tli' buffing operation the Ian forward end of the tail-bolt E enters the opening formed in the rear end of the cou ler shank B. W hen the coupler is displaced from it; normal position 1n the center of the car, as is the case when the car passes around a curve, the equalizer member G is also necessarilyv displaced, turning upon its pivotal connection with the pivot casting ll a center. his displacement of the equalizer member acting through the connecting bolt 1, causes the yoke C to move away from the abutment casting F, and the springs I), D are consequently compressed in the manner heretofore described. Upon the withdrawal of the force causing the cou ler to depart from its normal position in t e center of the car, it is evident that the springs I), I) will ex and until they are again of normal length. Throughout this expansion the equalizer member G is sub jected, at its point of connection with the yoke C, to a irlling force which acts in the direction of ength of the tail bolt E. As the equalizer member is inextensible and is pivotally attached to the car at its forward end, it is evident that durin this expansion the other parts of the drai' t gear are con strained to return to the normal position in the center of the car, since in such position the tail-bolt E is in alinement with the equalizer member G and the forces acting upon each have no lateral components.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters latent is:

1. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler which is provided with means where the body of a car, of means for cushioning draft and butting forces applied to said coupler, and an equalizer member which constantly tends to maintain the coupler in the longitudinal axis of the car, said equalizer member and coupler being relatively movy it may be pivotally connected to able in butting.

2. in a draft gear. the combination with a coupler, of means for cushioning draft and bufling forces, and an equalizer device which constantly tends to maintain the coupler in the longitudinal axis of the our, said coupler and equalizer device being pivotally connected and being relatively movable longitudinally both in draft and butiiug.

I In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotally connected to the body of a car in a yielding manner, of an equalizer device which is provided with means whcrchy it may be attached to a fixed portion of the car so as to rotate without accompan ing translation, said equalizer being pivotal y connected o the coupler.

-l. In a draft gear, the mmbination with a coupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotally connected to the bodv of a car in a yielding manner, of an equalizer device which is attached to and rotates without translation about a fixed portion of the car and is connected with the coupler.

.3. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotally connected, to the body of a car in a yielding manner, of an equalizer member which is movable laterally with said coupler about a fixed portion of the car as a center, said coupler and e ualizer member being connected so that t ieir point of attachment is maintained at a constant distance from the center of movement of the equalizer member during the lateral movement of the parts.

6. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotally connected to the body of a car in a yielding manner, of an equalizer member which is movable laterally with said coupler about a fixed portion of the car as a center, said coupler and said equalizer member being also relatively movable longitudinally.

T. In a. draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a yoke spring within said yoke, a tail-bolt which is provided with means whereby it may be pivolally attached to the car body, a follower by which the pressure of the s ring is transmitted to the tail -bolt, arid an equalizer member which is onnected. with connected thereto, a t

said con ler said e ualizer beiu m'bvable laterally with said coupler about a fixed portion of the car as a center, and said coupler and equalizer being relatively movablejlongitudinally.

8. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler, of a yoke, means operating through said yolrc for pivotally conncctin said coupler to the body of a car in :Ayiel ing manner, an equalizer member w in testnnouv whereof I affix my signature, in presen e of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM R. MATTHEWS.

W itnesses FRANK J. Bownnv, F. D Ecunn.

ich 1S! provuled with means whereby it may be

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