Patent ID: 7533780
Filing Date: 2009-05-19
Classification: B61G

Abstract:
1. A slackless coupler assembly for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together, said slackless coupler assembly comprising: (a) a female connection member having a first end of a first predetermined configuration, said first end disposed within said center sill, said female connection member further having a radially opposed second end extending outwardly from said center sill and having a cavity being open adjacent at least a portion of a bottom and an outer end of said radially opposed second end; (b) a male connection member having a first end convex shaped in both a vertical and a horizontal direction, said first end being movably disposed within said cavity of said female connection member, said first end having a generally round aperture of a first predetermined diameter, said male connection member further having a second end radially opposed to said first end and having a coupler knuckle; (c) a connection means at least partially disposed within said aperture for pivotably joining said male connection member to said female connection member; and (d) a coupler bias means disposed in a vertical plane within said slackless coupler assembly for maintaining said coupler knuckle in a substantially vertical direction, said coupler bias means having a first end thereof pivotally attached to said second end of said female connection member and having an opposed second end thereof pivotally attached to said male connection member between ends thereof.