US945158A

US945158A - Automatic train-pipe coupling.

Info

Publication number: US945158A
Application number: US48694309A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Fontaine
Original assignee: LEONARD W ANDERSON
Current assignee: LEONARD W ANDERSON
Priority date: 1909-03-31
Filing date: 1909-03-31
Publication date: 1910-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1927-01-04

Description

R. A. .FONTAINE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 31, 1909.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

MN y N M Clttownu,

I "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. FONTAINE, F MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO LEONARD W. ANDERSON, OF ROCKYMOUNT, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 31. 1908. Serial No. 486,943.

Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

useful Automatic Train-Pipe Coupling, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic couplings for steam and air pipes such as are used on railway cars.

The object of the present invention is to provide a yielding frame to carry the coupling heads, which frame is free to move relative to the drawhead of the car, whereby strain on the coupling due to curves and uneven places in the road will be effectually eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of coupling head which will operate to automatically form a tight joint with its fellow, to positively prevent leakage.

With these and other objects in View, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which drawings Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of one of the coupTing members. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the two members in coupled position.

The two members comprising the coupler are identical in structure, in view of which a description of one will suflice for both.

One of the coupling members is carried by one of the cars, and the other. couplingmenr her by the other car, the relative position of the two members being such that when the cars come together and are coupled, the

steam and air pipes are automatically coupled.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 denotes the drawhead of the usual car coupler. From this drawhead depends a bracket which carries the hereinafter described pipe coupling. The bracket comprises bars 7 whlch are securely bolted or otherwise secured to the drawhead 5, and

by braces 10 secured at one end to the lower ends thereof, and at the other end to the bars 7.

The steam, air and signal pipes of the car are indicated at 11, 12 and 13 respectively. Inasmuch as the coupling members of said pipes are identical I will proceed to describe only one of such members.

At 14 is indicated a plate which is carried by the bracket heretofore described. From the bars 7 of said bracket project arms 15 from which the plate 14 is suspended by means of chains 16 or other suitable flexible connections. From the rear face of the plate .project stems 17 which extend through the openings 9. These stems are connected to the plate 14 by means of a ball and socket joint 18. Each stem, adjacent to the plate 14, carries a collar 19, and coiled around the stem between'this collar and a washer 20 on the stem, is a spring 21, the washer 20 being loose on the stem, and engageable with the depending portion 9 of the bracket. The stem 17 projects a short distance rearwardly from the part 9, and on said projecting portion is made fast a collar 22, and loosely mounted a washer 23. Coiled around the stem between this collar and washer is a spring 24. The stems 17 work loosely in the openings 19 and slide rearwardly therethrough when the plates 14 of the two coupling members come together, the springs 21 serving to take up the shock of the impact. When the two members are uncoupled the plate 14 is pushed forwardly by the springs 21, the springs 24 being provided to serve as buffers, and to lighten the sudden jerk when uncoupling. The last mentioned springs also cause the plates 14. to pull evenly apart when the cars are on a curve, or when one drawhead is higher than the other.

Inasmuch as the plate 14 is suspended from the bracket by a flexible connection 16, it will be seen that the plate is free to move independently of the drawh'ead, whereby all strain on the coupling due to curves and uneven places is effectually eliminated, and as the guide stems 17 are connected to the plate by a ball and socket 'joint, this movement of the plate is not interfered with by said stems.

From the face of the plate 14 projects a stem 25 which terminates in a tapered portion 26. The plate is also provided with an opening 27. The openings 27 of the re- 5 engages-a similar gasket carried by the stem the coupling devices carried by said plates.

The coupling devices of the pipes ll, 12 and 13 are identical 111 view of which only one of such devices will be described. Said coupling device comprises ahead 28 which is rotatably mounted in an opening in the plate 14. The head is also adapted to slide in Saidopening. The connection between the head and the pipe is made by means of a tubular'stem 29 extending at one end into the usual flexible hose 11 connected to the pipe, and fastened therein by an ordinary hose clamp 30. The opposite end of the stem 29 is enlarged as indicated at 32. The

head has a central bore to receive the stem 29 and also a counterbore in which the enlargement 32 is received. The enlarged end of the other member of the coupler, whereby a tightjoint is had between the two stems when they come together.

The face of the head 28 is formed with a projecting hook 34 and also with a groove 35'. The hook 34 is adapted to engage the groove 35 of the head of the other coupler member whereby the two heads are securely locked together. The locking together of the two heads is effected by partly rotating the same. The rotary movement of the head is automatically* imparted thereto when the two heads come together, by means of studs 36 secured to the plates l4 and projecting into the opening in which the head works, the head being formed on opposite sides with spiral grooves 37 into which said studs extend; \Vhen the two heads come together they are pushed rearwardly in the openings of the plates 14, and arethus given a rotary movement by reason of the engagement of the studs, with the spiral grooves 37, whereby the two heads are coupled together by the engagement of the hooks 34 with the grooves 35.

To the rear face of the plate 14 is secured a frame 38 provided with openings through which the stems 29 loosely extend. The

stems are provided with grooves 39 on diametrically opposite sides, and into these grooves extend pins 40 carried by the frame 38, the function of the pins and grooves being to prevent'rotation of the stems. Between the frame 38 and the rear end of the head 28 a spring 41 is' coiled around the stem 29. The urpose of these springs is to move the hea s 28 into position to engage each other when uncoupled, and also to assist 1n uncoupling. These springs are compressed when the two heads come together and therefore also serve to press the same together and thus form a tight oint between the gaskets 33.

The operation of the coupler will be apparent from the foregoing description, but it may be summarized as follows: \Vhen two cars come together, the. two heads 28 strike each other, and automatically lock together through the means already described. Vixen the carsare uncoupled, the plates 14 are pulled apart whereupon the heads 28 are rotated in the opposite direction, and disengaged from each other.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In an automatic pipe coupling, a bracket carried by the car, a support for the ends of the pipes, a flexible suspension device connecting the support to the bracket, guide stems projecting from the support, and having a sliding connection with the bracket, a universal joint between the stems and the support, and yielding means opposing the movement of the support in the direction of the bracket. 1

2. In an automatic pipe coupling, a bracket carried by the car, a support for the ends of the pipes, a flexiblev suspension device connecting the support to the bracket, guide stems projectingfrom the support, and having a sliding connection with the bracket, a,

universal joint between the stems and the support, an abutment 011 the stems, a spring coiled around the stem between the support necting the support to the bracket, guidestems projecting from the support, and having a sliding connection with the bracket, yielding means opposing the movement of the support in the direction of the bracket, a

universal joint between the stems and the support, and a tapered stem projecting from the face of the support and said support having an opening to receive the stem of the support of the other coupling member.

4. An automatic pipe coupling,each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a head connected to the pipe, and

rotatably and slidably mounted in the.

aforesaid opening, said head having a groove and a hook, the groove of the head of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hook of the headof the pipes, a flexible suspension device conother member upon rotation of the heads,

and means for automatically rotating the heads when they are brought together. 5. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support, to which stem the pipe is connected, a coupling head mounted on the stem, and

working rotatably and slidably in the aforeby the hook of the head of the other member upon rotation of the heads, and means for automatically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

6. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises'a support having an opening, a longitudinally grooved tubular stem carried by the support to which stem the pipe is connected, pins carried by the support and entering the groove of the stem to prevent rotation thereof, a coupling head mounted on the stem, and workin rotatably and slidably in the aforesaic opening, said head having a groove and a hook, the groove of the head of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hook of the head of the other member upon rotation of the heads, and means for automatically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

7. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stem the pipe is connected, an enlargement at one end of the stem, a coupling head having a bore to receive the stem, one end of said bore being enlarged to receive the enlarged end of the stem, and said head working rotatably and slidably in the aforesaid opening, and having a groove and a hook, the groove of the head of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hook of the head of the other member upon rotation of the head, and means for automatically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

8. An automatic pipe coupling,each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a stud on the sup ortprojecting into the opening, and a coup ing head connected to the pipe, and rotatably and slidably mounted 1n the aforesaid. opening, and having a grooveand a hook, the groove of the head of one of the coupling members bein engageable by the hook ofthe head of t e other member upon rotation of the heads, said heads being also provided with a spiral groove which is entered by the aforesaid stud, whereby the heads are automatically rotated when brou ht together.

9. An automatic pipe coup mg, each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stem the pipe is connected, said pipe being exterior-1y grooved on opposite sides, a frame carried bythe support and-having openings through which the stem passes, pins carried by the frame and entering the grooves of the stem, a coupling head mounted on the stem, and working rotatably and slidably in the afo'resald opening, said head having a groove and a hook, the groove of the head of one of the members being engageable by the hook of the other member upon rotation of the heads, and means for automab ically rotating the heads when they are brought together.

10. An automatic pipe coupling, each member of which comprises a support having an opening, a tubular stem carried by the support to which stem the pipe is connected, a frame carried by the support and 7 having openin s'through which the stem passes, a coup ing head mounted on 'the stem, and working rotatably and slidably in the aforesaid opening, said head havin a groove and a hook, the groove of the hea of one of the coupling members being engageable by the hook of the other member, means for automaticall rotating the heads when they are brought together, and a spring coiled around the aforesaid stem between the frame and the head.

In testimon that I claim the fore oing as my own, I rave hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' ROBERT A. FONTAINE.