US922708A - Draft-gear for railway-cars. - Google Patents

Description

W. R. MATTHEWS.

DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1907.

Patented May 25, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wi h1 @aseo W. R. MATTHEWS.

DRAFT GEAR lPOB. RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1907.

Patented May 25, 1909,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W. R. MATTHEWS,

. DRAFT GEAR POB. RAILWAY GARS.

APPLICATION FILED szPT.11,19o7..

922,708. A Patented May 25, 1909.

3 SHEETS-.SHEET 3.

TINTTEIO STATES PATENT OETFTQE.

:WILLIAM It. MATTHEWS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCOONWAY da TORLEY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

Application filed September 11, 1907.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, NiLLIAM R. MAT- 'r'nnws, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful 'inprovements 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 appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of draft gear for railway cars, and has for its object the production of simple and efficient draft appliances which shall enable cars to pass around very sharp curves without subjecting the car platform to excessive lateral strains. The construction and arrangement of the several parts of my device are such that the coupler constantly tends to assume its normal position in the longitudinal aXis of the car.

In the drawings chosen for the purpose of illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims, Figure l is a plan view of a draft gear embodying my invention and of the adjacent parts of the car underframing, the parts being illustrated in the position they assume when the car is standing on a straight track 5 Fig. 2 is a view similar to Eig, l, but illustrating the relative positions occupied by the several parts of the draft gear when cars siXty feet in length are passing around a curve of thirty-five feet radius; Fig. 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in central section, of the devices illustrated in Fig. l Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical central section of the yoke or spring pocket and portions of its connections 5 and Eig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5, Fig. l.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

I will now proceed. to describe iny invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the coupler head which, if desired, may be rigidly connected to the coupler shank or draft stem 2, but which is preferably pivoted on said draft stem in a manner such that the two parts may have a relative movement under the control of suitable spring mechanism by Specification of Letters Patent.

i ferred to support the rear end of the yoke 110Y Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial No. 392,331.

which said head is normally centralized with respect to said stem. The rear end of the draft stem 2 is attached to the yoke or spring-pocket 3 in any manner which will permit the usual draft spring 4 to be compressed in buffing. In the construction illustrated, this purpose is accomplished by forming said yoke 3 with oppositely disposed longitudinal slots 5, through which, and through the rear end of the draft stem 2, a bolt 6 passes. It is preferred not to depend upon the bolt 6 for transmitting draft strains from the draft stem 2 to the yoke 3, but to form the inner end of said draft stem with shoulders which are engaged by the inturned ends of the yoke in a well known manner.

The draft spring 4, which is located within the yoke 3, is seated at its rear end upon said yoke and at its forward end bears upon a follower 7 that abuts the rear end of the draft stem 2. The follower 7 is restrained from forward movement by the tail bolt 8, which is pivotally attached to the abutment member 9 and which passes through the yoke 3, the draft spring 4 and the said fol- .lower 7. The rear end of the draft stem 2 is cored to receive the forward end of the tailbolt during a buffing operation of the parts, and the abutment casting 9 is preferably formed with separated lugs or flanges l() between which the said tail-bolt is pivoted by a bolt l1. The abutment casting 9 thus both supports and confines the rear end of the draft gear.

The abutment member 9 may be attached to the car underframing either by bolts, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The socket formed in the member 9 for the reception of the enlarged end of the tail-bolt S is constructed with outwardly diverging walls, as shown in dotted lines at 12, in order to permit the lateral swinging of the draft appliances, and the outer faces of the pivot lugs l0, with which the rear end of the yoke is preferably arranged to engage when buffing, are suitably rounded to also permit lateral oscillation of the draft rigging devices. If desired the entire buiiing strain may be transmitted to the abutment casting 9 through the tail-bolt 8, as the enlarged l head of the latter bears against that end of the yoke upon which the draft spring 4 is seated, but as bufiing strains are normally so much greater than draft strains it 1s predirectly by the abutment casting 9, as well struction illustrated in the drawings for ac4 as through the tail-bolt 8.

13 indicates a spring cushion Vbuffer which is mounted on the end of the car so that it may reciprocate in a horizontal plane. In the drawings the end of the car platform and the buffer are both shown as of curved form, since my invention is illustrated as applied to a type of car that is commonly in use upon lines having exceedingly shar curves, but it is to be understood that this invention is equally applicable to p latforms and buffers of other forms. The buffer 13 is preferably formed with a buffer plate 14 and a foot plate 15 which are integrally united, the latter extending rearwardly immediately beneath the foot-plate housing 16 which is secured to the car platform. At equal distances from the center of the buder 13, and pivotally attached to said buffer, as at 17, are rearwardly extending buier stems 18 that are supported from the car framing in a manner to permit reciprocation longitudinally of the car. The forward portion of each buffer stem is preferably square in cross-section, while the rearward portion is preferably round and of less cross-sectional area. The shoulders thus formed upon the buffer-stems 18 operate as stops for the ringwashers 19, one of which is applied to each of said stems. Surrounding the rear portion of each buifer-stem is a buffer spring 2O that is interposed between the appropriate ring-washer 19 and a buffer stop 21 whichis f secured to the underframing and which forms a support and guide for the reciprocatory buffer-stem- The forward portion of each buffer stem 18 is guided by its respective buffer-guide or thimble 22, the latter being set in a mortise formed in the end sill of the car platform.

Pivotally attached to the buffer 13 in the longitudinal axis of the car, by means of a bolt 23 or in other suitable manner, is an equalizer member 24 the rear end of which is attached to the coupler draft stem 2 in front of the draft spring 4 by a pin and slot connection. The pin 25 of this pin and slot connection is preferably mounted on the draft stem 2 a short distance in advance vof the forward end of the yoke 3, while the slot 26 is preferably formed in the equalizer member 24, said slot being sufficiently long to let the bolt 25 move forward under draft strains without communicating such strains to the equalizer.

For the purpose of supportingthe coupler during its lateral swinging movements, it is preferred to employ a curved supporting rail 27 which is suspended by bolts, or in other suitable manner, from the under side of the car platform.

The mechanism for centralizing the coupler head l with respect to the draft stem 2 complishing this purpose consisting of a spring 28 which is interposed between flanged spring cups 29 that bear at their outer ends upon the lateral walls of the coupler head. The spring and spring cups are mounted in a transverse aperture formed in the draft stem 2, and the latter is provided with lugs or flanges 30 by which one of the spring cups is forced toward the other whenever the coupler head 1 is displaced from its normal central position. The compression thus induced in the spring 23 by the approach of the spring cups will cause the coupler head to return to a central position with respect to the draft stem 2 whenever the force acting on the spring cups is withdrawn, as will be readily understood.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating the lock 31 to permit cars to be uncoupled, but it is preferred to employ for this purpose a coupler release rigging such as that described in my pending application Serial Number 375,065, filed May 22, i907.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the draft-gear being substantially such as hereinbefore pointed. out, the operation of the mechanism will be as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in normal position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, a draft strain upon the coupler head 1 exerted in the longitudinal axis of the car will cause the draft stem 2 and yoke 3 to move forward, and as the follower 7 is restrained from forward movement by the tail-bolt 8 the draft spring` 4 will be compressed between said follower and the rear end of the yoke 3. movement of the coupler, the buffer devices are unaffected, since the pin 25 by which the equalizer 24 is connected to the draft stem 2 merely moves forward in the slot 26.

When a buffing force is applied to the coupler in the longitudinal axis of the car, the draft stem 2 forces the follower 7 rearwardly, and as the yoke 3 and tail-bolt 8 are prevented from retreating by the abutment casting 9 the spring 4 is compressed. relative movement of the yoke 3 and draft stem 2 necessary to accomplish the compression of the spring 4 in bufiing is permitted by the pin and slot connection between said yoke and draft stem. lf the buffers 13 on adjacent cars are not already in contact when this bufiing operation is begun, the draft stem 2, acting through the bolt 25 and equalizer' 24, will transmit a por- The I During this forward i tion of the buffing force to the said buffer 13,

which will, in turn, transmit it to the buffer springs 2G through the medium of the buffer stems 18, ring washers 19 and buffer stops 21.

When the coupler is laterally displaced may be of any desired character, the conl from its normal position in the longitudinal i exis of the cer, the equelizer ineinber 24 is likewise displeced end thc point of' ettechnient ol the two nienibers no longer lies in the line connecting` the points oi. pivotel ettechinent ol the dreft stein end equelizer to the underfreining end buffer, respectively. Since this leteiel displeceinent of tho connecting point oi the equalizer 24 end dreiit stein. 2 tends to ceuse the point of ettechinent of seid equalizer with the buffer 13 to epproiich the pivot pin 11 cerricd by thc elfutnient cesting 9, end since the equeliyicr 2-1 is precticelly inextensible while the drei't spring -fl perniits the distance between the pivot pins 11 end 25 to be increased, it results thet the leterel displscenient of the coupler ceuses e rearward inotion of the bnilfer 13 end e consequent coinpression olf thc bui-Ter springs 2G, end else ceuses e seperiition ol" the seid pivot pins 11 end 25 with e consequent coinpression or the draft spring Li. lt will be epperent thet soon es the torce ceusing the leterel displeceinent of the coupler is withdrawn, the springs 4 end 20 will rcessunie their respective norinel lengths, end in so doing will return the coupler end equalizer to their norinel positions in the longitudinal exis of the cer.

Hot only ere the dreit spring l end builer springs 2O conipressed when the coupler is leterelly displeced, but the coupler heed centering spring 28 is else coinpressed, es heretolore exple ined ll'evin' thus described niy invention, whet 1 cleiin end desire to secure by Letters Petent is:

i. 1n e device ol the cheiecter indiceted, the coinbinetien with coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotelly connected to the body ol3 e cer, of butler inechenisni, e drelit spring errenged to resist e letrel displeccinent of seid coupler, end ineens operetively connecting seid coupler end seid buffer inechenisin whereby seid bu'li'cr niechenisni constantly tends to centrelize seid Coupler.

in e device ci the cherecter indiceted,

the coinbinetioii with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivoteliy connected to the body of e cer in e yielding nienner, of bulier niechenisin, end buiifer controlled ineens whereby the coupler is centralized eiter being displeced frein its norinel position in the longitudinel exis of the cer, seid buil'er inechenisin being unel'liected by dreiit forces epplied to the coupler in the .iongitudinel exis of the cer.

3. in e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivoti elly connected to the body of e cer, of buffer inechenisin, which is unei'iected by forwerd longitudinel inovenients of the coupler, end ineens whereby the leterel displeceinent ol :risa hij) the coupler freni its ci-nitrelized position is resisted by tlieseid bulier niechenisin.

e. 1n e device olt the cherecter indicetcd, i the coinbinetion with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it niey be pivotelly connected to the body of e cer, of e drei't spring errenged to resist e leterel displeceinent ol' seid coupler, e spring cushioned butler, end ineens whereby the leterel displecenient ol" the coupler troni its centrelized position is resisted by seid butler.

5. .ln e device oi' the cherecter indiceted, the conihnetion with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotelly connected to the body of e cer in e yielding inenner, of e dreft spring, e spring cushioned buffer, end env equelizer ineinber v-fhich is pivotelly connected to seid butler end to seid coupler, seid equelizer nieinber opereting to ceuse seid builer to inove reerwerdly when the coupler is displeced from its centrelized position.

6. 1n e device of the cherecter in'diceted, the coinbinetion with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it iney be pivotelly connected to the body of e cer in e yielding inenncr, of e drei't spring, e spring cushioiied butler which operetes to ineintein the coupler in e' centrelized position, end en equelizer nieinber .vhich is etteched to seid coupler end to seid buil'er in e inenner which perinits dreft streins ecting in the longitudinel exis of the cer to be entirely ebsorbed by seid dreit spring.

7. In e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with e coupler which is provided with ineens whereby it niey be connected to the body of e cer in e yielding inenner through the inediuni of e dreft spring, of e di'eft spring, e yoke operating upon seid dreft spring end reletively Inove ble longitudinelly with respect to seid coupler, e spring cushioned butler, end ineens whereby the leterel displeoernent of the coupler iroin its centrelized position is yieldingly resisted by seid buffer.

8. 1n e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with e coupler heed, of e dreft stein which is pivotelly etteched to seid heed end to the cer body, e dreft spring, e yolie opereting upon seid drelit spring end g lieving e slideble connection with seid dreft g stein, e buiier heving buiier steins etteched thereto, springs lfor resisting the .inovenicnt i of seid builier steins in one direction, end en oquelizer ineinber interposed between seid butler end seid dreft stein end opereting to centrelize seid coupler.

9. 1n e device of the cherecter indiceted, the coinbinetion with e coupler heed heving e reerwerdly extending drelt-stein which is pivotelly etteched to the body of' e cer in e i yielding` inenner, of e butler, buffer stenis etteched to seid butler, springs opereted upon o with respect to said coupler, means acting by said buffer stems7 and an equalizer membei: which is pivotally attached to said buffer and to said draftl stom, said butler springs being compressed by a lateral displacement of the said draft-stem in either direction.

1.0. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler which is provided with means whereby it may be pivotl ally connected to the body of a car in a 'y/*ielding manner, of a draft spring, and a pivotally mounted. equalizer member connected with said coupler, said equalizer meme ber operating to cause a com )ression of said draft spring` when the coupler is displaced laterally.

11. ln a device ofthe character indicated7 the combination with a coupler, of a yoke which is relatively movable longitudinally upon said yoke for yieldngly and pivotally connecting said coupler to the car body, l

and an equalizer member which is cond nected to said cou ler and is relatively movable longitudina ly with respect thereto said equalizer member operating to centralize said coupler.

12. In a devicevof the character indicated, 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 a laterally displaceable equalizer member the rear end of which is connected to the coupler and the front end of which is pivotally attached to a movable.

spring-cush1oned support7 and a movable spring-cushioned support attached to said car.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature, in presence of two subscribingl witnesses. v/VILLIAM R. MATTHEWS. l/Vitnesses:

FRANK J. BowERY, F. D. ECKER.

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