US955022A - Guiding and locking means for m. c. b. couplings. - Google Patents

Description

W. T. VAN BORN.

GUIDING AND LOOKING MEANS FOR M. 0. B. GOUPLINGS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. T. VAN BORN.

- GUIDING AND LOOKING MEANS FOR M. c; B. GOUPLINGS.

APPLICATION FILED APB.20, 1908.

PatentedApr. 12, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I as

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WIIILIAM T. VAN BORN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GUIDING AND: LOCKING MEANS FOR M. C. B. COUPLINGS.

county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guiding and Locking Means-for M. C. B. Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

With the development and rapid extensions of the interurban railways throughout the country it is found necessary to interchange traflic and run interurban cars at times over the steam road, and the interurban roads heretofore have had a style of coupling for their particular service which is not interchangeable withv couplings on the steam roads of this continent which have adopted as standard a coupling which is known as the J anney or M. O. B. type. Owing, however, to the fact that on such roads curves are usually numerous, as compared with steam roads and of comparatively short radius, the Janney or M. O. B. type of coupler as ordinarily installed on the steam roads is not suitable owing to the danger of uncoupling on curves and on such curves as occur it is exceedingly desirable and is absolutely essential that the drawheads shall be carried on radius bars to permit the draft rigging as awhole to adapt itself as far as possible to the track construction and to avoid on short curves the excessive stress that would occur should the draft rigging be constructed and secured in place and from lateral swing between center sills as is usual with steam roads. For these reasons couplers of the M. C. B. type have not proven satisfactory for interurban roads, owing to the danger of the same uncoupling on sharp curves.

With this in view, the object of my invention is to provide in connection with drawheads of the M. O. B. type adapted to be attached to the car by means of radius bars, a guiding and locking mechanism whereby the utmost rigidity in longitudinal alinement is secured after coupling but which permits the relative vertical movement of the coupling drawheads due to inequalities in the track and also permits a slight rela- Specifica-tion of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1908.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

Serial No. 428,088.

tive movement longitudinally should the knuckles not fit accurately in the drawheads in coupling.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction which although affording the utmost freedom of movement relatively of the coupled drawheads, yet rigidly engages the heads in longitudinal alinement, thereby insuring the mutual adaptation of the draft gears of two coupled cars on curves.

It is, of course, an important object of the invention to afiord a construction adapted to coact with the knuckles and drawheads of the M. C. B. type to positively insure an ef fective and rigid coupling not capable of being uncoupled because of inequalities or curvatures in the track.

It is a very important object of this incurves as on a straight track.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined inthe appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of two drawheads provided with guides and locking mechanisms embodying my invention and showing the same in coupled relation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the drawheads in the act of coupling. Fig. 4c is a transverse section taken on line- 4- 1: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a modification showing the lugs cast integral with the drawhead.

As shown in the drawings: A, indicates the center sills of cars provided with draft riggings embodying my invention, and beneath which, as shown in Fig. 2, and rigidly secured to the center sills is a draft gear B, of any preferred type adapted to be used wit-h a radius bar 0, but which for convenience is shown as the draft gear set forth in my prior patent No. 749,888, for railway draft rigging, issued to me on the 19th day of January, 1904.. Said radius bar C, is rigidly connected at its forward or outer end to the tail d, of a drawhead D, of the Janney or M. G. B. type, and which may conveniently be any of the well lmown couplers of this particular kind, provided, as

is usual, with knuckles cZcZ each adapted to interlock behind the other when the draw heads are brought together in coupled relation. Integrally connected on the under side of each of said drawheads and somewhat back of the jaws of the drawheads are provided integral downwardly directed flanges or hangers (Z rZ which are parallel on their inner faces which extend longitudinally the drawhead, and are provided on the outer side with bracing webs (Z which may be of any desired number. Said flanges extend for some distance below the drawheads, the distance, of course, depending in part upon the size and weight of the drawhead, and rigidly engaged between the flanges on each of said drawheads are guide and locking bars EE, of which, as shown, the guide bar E, is on the outer side of the drawhead or that on which the knuckle is pivoted, and if offset beyond the flange and thence is continued for a short distance approximately parallel with the portion of the bar engaged between the flanges, and the extremity 0 thereof is turned outwardly at an acute angle with the major portion of the bar to afford a more or less resilient guide. The locking bar E, continues approximately straight from said flanges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and from a point near the knuckles when in coupled relation and approximately opposite the inclined end 6 of the guide bar E, is bent oppositely therefrom to afford an inclined guide surface 6', from which point the end 6 of said bar extends forwardly to afford a part of the lock. Said guide and locking bars may be of any suitable or necessary thickness and width, but conveniently are supported on said flanges sufficiently below the under sides of the draw heads to permit a considerable range of vertical movement of one drawhead relatively the other due to surface inequalities in the track or to other causes tending to produce vertical movement of one drawhead relatively the other, the object being to afford a sufficient space between said bars and the under side of the drawhead as to prevent the same ever contacting the opposite drawhead except under very extreme or abnormal conditions.

The operation is as follows: In coupling,

should the drawheads be in suitable alinement with the knuckles swung back or open, as shown in Fig. 3, the straight locking end 6 0f the locking bar E, on one drawhead strikes within the corresponding extended end a on the other complemental drawhead, the ends of said bars strike the inclined faces e, each on the corresponding bar at approximately the moment that the knuckles are coming into mutual coupling relation, and serve to hold the drawheads into suitable alinement while coupling. The knuckle of each consequently strikes the tail of the knuckle of the other, just as the locking ends 6 of said locking bars on each of said drawheads slides into the space provided therefor between said bars, as shown in Figs. I and 2. In this, the coupling position, the interlocking engagement of said guide and locking bar firmly hold the drawheads in positive alinement under all conditions that may arise. Said bars act to bring the drawheads into alinement in coupling even though the heads be considerably out of alinement as the ears approach each other. When in such coupled relation, it is obvious that the knuckles act as is usual for couplers of the M. C. B. type to take the draft. Though from the usual construction of M. C. B. couplers the knuckles cannot well sustain the powerful lateral stress 011 curves, this stress is maintained by the locking bars, the locking ends of which are slidably engaged to resist any tendency whatever to spring the drawheads laterally out of alinement. The locking bars, however, take no portion of the draft but permit a slight relative movement longitudinally of the drawheads due to any slack in the draft riggings and particularly between the drawheads, and also permit the utmost freedom of vertical movement of one head relatively the other, inasmuch as the locking ends 6 of the bars E, are free to slide vertically as well as longitudinally and serve only as a rigid lock from lateral stress.

When combined with the construction described, it is evident that M. C. B. drawheads serve admirably the purpose when secured on radius bars or on any of the types of draft gears heretofore used or likely to be used on interurban or even urban cars. Of course, too, it is evident that if desired, instead of forged bars being rigidly bolted below the drawheads, the locking and guiding bars may be cast integral with the drawhead as shown at f-f', in Fig. 5 and may be differently placed whether integral or non-integral and may be of any desired construction and arrangement whereby the mutual interlocking ends or webs directed longitudinally the draft gears are adapted to interlock each in a complemental socket in or below the corresponding drawhead in such a manner as to permit of relative vertical movement and of relative longitudinal movement, but of such a nature as to unite the drawheads against lateral stress to render the same in that respect extremely rigid. Such guide and locking bars may be used to great advantage on rolling stock for steam roads and other types of drawheads than M. C. B. drawheads may be provided with such locking means.

Though I have mentioned M. C. B. drawheads in the specification and claims, I do not purpose limiting this application to such couplers only for any type of coupler may be used and I am aware that various details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a device of the class described the combination with a drawhead of a longi .tudinally extended web below the draw.-

head and a longitudinal socket parallel therewith, said webs and said sockets on the respective heads being so arranged that the web of the one will interfit the socket of the other to rigidly lock the drawheads from lateral play but permit freedom of vertical and longitudinal movement.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a drawhead of a longitudinally extended web below the drawhead and a longitudinally disposed socket adjacent thereto, said webs and said sockets on the respective heads being so arranged that the web of each interfits the socket of the other to rigidly lock the drawheads when in coupled relation against lateral stress.

3. In a device of the class described the combination with a drawhead of a longitudinally extended forged web secured thereto below the same and a drawhead provided with a socket into which said web is adapted to interfit.

4. In a device of the class described the combination with a drawhead of a longitudinally extended forged web attached below the drawhead, a socket on the under side of each drawhead adapted to receive the web of a complemental drawhead and inclined guides at the entrance to said socket.

5. The combination with an M. C. B. drawhead, of a locking bar rigidly secured to and below the same affording a longitudinally extended web, an inclined guiding face and one wall of a longitudinal socket, a guide bar secured to the drawhead forming the other wall of the socket and the web on one drawhead adapted to engage in the socket of another when the knuckles of said drawheads are in coupled relation and acting to lock the drawheads in rigid alinement against lateral stress.

6. The combination with M. O. B. drawheads, of interlocking members secured to, and depending below the drawheads adapted to lock the drawheads against lateral stress but to permit free longitudinal and vertical movement.

7. In combination wit-h an M. C. B. drawhead of longitudinal guide and locking bars rigidly secured to and below the same, affording a longitudinally extended web, outwardly inclined guiding faces and a longitudinal socket between the bars, the web on one drawhead adapted to engage in the socket in the other when the knuckles of said drawheads are in coupled relation and acting to lock the drawheads in rigid alinement against lateral stress but to permit free longitudinal and vertical play.

8. In combination with an M. C. B. drawhead of forged guide and locking bars rigidly secured to and offset from the same, and aflording a longitudinally extended web, an inclined guiding face and a longitudinal socket between the same, the web of one drawhead being adapted to engage in the socket of another when the knuckles of said drawheads are in coupled relation and acting to lock the drawhead in rigid alinement against lateral stress.

9. In combination with an M. C. B. drawhead, guide and locking bars secured thereto adapted to interfit corresponding guide and locking bars on a complemental drawhead when the drawheads are in coupled relation and acting to hold the drawheads in alinement only.

10. A drawhead, longitudinally disposed forged guide and locking bars secured thereto adapted to interfit with corresponding guide and locking bars on a complemental drawhead to hold the same in alinement when the drawheads are in coupled relation.

11. The combination with a drawhead of longitudinally disposed guide and locking bars secured thereto adapted to interlock with corresponding guide and locking bars on a complemental drawhead when the drawheads are in coupled relation and acting first to bring the heads into alinement for coupling and to hold the same in alinement after coupling.

12. In a device of the class described an M. C. B. drawhead and a plurality of bars connected therewith below the same, one of said bars adapted to engage between the bars of a complemental drawhead when the 105 drawheads are in coupled relation.

13. In a draft rigging the combination with a draft gear and radius bar connected therewith, a drawhead secured on the radius bar, to swing laterally, downwardly extend- 110 ing flanges on said drawhead, guide and locking bars secured therebetween at their rear ends and free at their outer ends and diverging to afford laterally projecting guides having a socket therebetween, one of 115 said bars being longer than the other and having a straight, longitudinally directed locking end, adapted when the drawheads are in coupled relation to interfit respectively the locking end on one head and the 120 socket in the other.

14. In a draft rigging the combination with a draft gear and radius bar connected therewith of an M. C. B. drawhead secured on the radius bar to swing laterally of the 125 car, downwardly extending flanges on said drawhead, guide and locking bars secured therebetween at their rear ends and free at their outer ends and shaped to provide guides, a locking end and a socket therebe- 13c tween adapted when the drawheads are in therebetween, one of said bars being longer than the other and having a straight longitudinally directed locking end adapted when the drawheads are in coupled relation to interfit respectively the locking end on one drawhead in the socket in the other.

16. In a draft rigging the combination with the draft gear and a radius bar connected therewith with an M. C. B. drawhead secured on the radius bar to swing laterally, cast lugs extending downwardly from the drawhead and forged guide and locking bars secured to said lugs.

17. In a device of the class described the combination with a draft gear and radius bars connected therewith, of M. C. B. drawheads secured to the radius bars, lugs secured to the drawheads, guide bars secured to the lugs having their outer ends directed at an acute angle with their attaching ends and locking bars secured to the lugs having their ends parallel and said locking bars inter-.

mediate the ends being angularly directed with the ends.

18. In a device of the class describedthe combination with drawheads, lugs secured thereto and coactin locking and guiding bars secured to the lugs providing vertical channels therebetween open at the top and bottom.

19. In a device of the class described the combination with drawheads, lugs secured thereto and coacting locking and guiding bars secured to the lugs providing vertical channels therebetween open at the top and bottom, said locking bars having an inclined face intermediate the ends and the guiding bars having their outer ends angnlarly directed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. VAN DORN.

Witnesses:

C. W. HILLS, K. E. HANNAH.

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