Patent ID: 6062406
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B61G,F16L

Abstract:
A selectively releasable locking assembly for a railroad car coupler adapted to pivotally connect a knuckle of the railroad car coupler to a body of the railroad car coupler, said locking assembly including:a pivot pin including an elongate shank including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from said first end to said second end, said shank including a peripheral surface and a peripheral recessed groove formed in said shank spaced apart from said second end of said shank, said peripheral surface including a peripheral groove surface portion formed by said groove extending generally concentrically about said longitudinal axis; anda retention member adapted to be selectively connected to said shank within said groove, said retention member including a resiliently flexible band extending between a first end and a second end, a first tab attached to and extending generally radially outwardly from said first end of said band and a second tab attached to said second end of said band, said band adapted to be inserted within said groove such that said band is located on diametrically opposite sides of said groove surface portion, said band being resiliently flexible such that said band may be manually flexed from a relaxed position wherein said first end of said band is located a first distance from said second end of said band to an expanded position wherein said first end of said band is located a second distance from said second end of said band, said retention member adapted to be retained in said groove when in said relaxed position and adapted to be selectively placed within or removed from said groove when in said expanded position by sliding said retention member longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of said pivot pin, said retention member adapted to prevent said first end of said pivot pin from sliding through the knuckle and body of the railroad car coupler when said retention member is located within said groove.