Patent GB-1158454-A (GB)
Title: Railway Vehicle Coupler and Trainline Connector
Inventor: DEPENTI KENNETH LOUIS
IPC: B61G5/08
Filed: 1967-05-24
Abstract: 1,158,454. Vehicle automatic coupling. MIDLAND-ROSS CORP. 24 May, 1967, No. 24197/67. Heading B7T. [Also in Division F2] A connector A for connecting train lines, such as air or steam conduits or electric circuits, between railway vehicles comprises a body 1 supported on a railway vehicle coupler B for vertical, transverse, angling and longitudinal movements relative thereto and movable between extended and retracted positions, a spring 41 biasing the body to its retracted position, and an actuating lever assembly 36, 37, 39, which is engageable by a co-operating coupler B<SP>1</SP> mounting a like connector A<SP>1</SP> and which serves when so engaged to move the body to its extended position. As shown, the couplers B, B<SP>1</SP> are Willison fixed jaw automatic couplers, each having a lower T-shaped projection 7 which is slidably-received in a suitably dimensioned T-shaped slot in the body of the respective connector A or A<SP>1</SP>, the walls of said slot diverging towards each end, to permit relative lateral, vertical and angular movement between the coupler and the connector body. A curved conduit 10, having a gasket at one end fitting in an opening 16 at the forward part of the body and a connection 13 at the other end for a steam or air hose, is held in the body by a pin 18. The body has a spring-biased pressure member 27 guided in a body cavity 26, said member having a projection 27 provided with a transverse hole 33, the front and rear walls 34, 35 of which form camming and bearing surfaces for arm 36 of the actuating lever assembly which projects therethrough. Said arm is mounted on a shaft 37 pivoted on the coupler, said shaft further mounting a head 39 which is adapted to be engaged by the co-operating coupler. The spring 41 is positioned on the shaft and acts through the arm 36 to hold the body in the retracted position. The connectors are each provided with a curved cover 42 for protecting the end of conduit 10 and gasket 16 from snow, ice or dirt, said cover being pivotally-mounted by arms 43 on the body and being urged by a spring 47 to the closed position. The curvature of each cover is such that when the connectors A, A<SP>1</SP> are brought together, the covers engage and force each other away from their respective connectors Fig. 7 (not shown). Each connector is provided with a terminal portion 53, Fig. 1 (not shown), having a tapered peg 54 and a hole 55 which cooperate with the corresponding hole and peg of the other connector to align the connectors, Fig. 1 (not shown). In operation, the connectors A and A<SP>1</SP> on their respective coupler B and B<SP>1</SP> are each in the retracted position behind the coupling plane of the couplers during the final coupling movements of the couplers. As the couplers are finally and laterally brought together, Fig. 8, projection 52 or 52<SP>1</SP> on each of the couplers engage the respective head 39 of the actuating lever assembly associated with connector of the other coupler to move the bodies to the extended position. As the connectors approach each other, the covers engage and force each other laterally away and the gaskets 17 engage to form a fluid-tight seal.