Patent ID: 6253786
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B61G,Y10T

Abstract:
An automatic air-hose coupling system for installation at an end of the undercarriage of a railroad car and for coupling to a substantially identical counterpart coupling system, in oppositely facing relation therewith, of an adjacent car so as to pneumatically connect the train-line hoses of the two cars, said air-hose coupling system comprising, in combination,a rearwardly extending coupler shank parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, a front-mating means, attached to the front end of said coupler shank, for engaging and pneumatically coupling with a front-mating means of said substantially identical counterpart coupling system, anda support portion for supporting said coupler shank so as to attach said front-mating means to the undercarriage of the railroad car,said front-mating means including, in combination,a substantially rectangular rigid housing structure, having a front-support panel, anda male and a female mating heads, mounted on said front-support panel of the rectangular housing structure and pneumatically connected to the train-line hose of the car, for engaging with, respectively, a female and a male mating heads of said substantially identical counterpart coupling system of the adjacent car, and for employing air pressure from the train-line hose of the respective car to automatically and pneumatically seal the coupling juncture of said engaging.