The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-04
BLAcKsroNEs CAR COUPLER.


Mr.. T.B. Blackstone, the president OF tn
Chicago Alton and St. Louis Railroa
Cownanv has long been known as on AZ
w;r;s,ra,ye officer Of rare talent, energ
and efficiency; but he has recently Ial
claim to inventive capacity, aad has fortune
that claim BIZ incontcs,ible evidence u.
gently number Of railroad mon we're NV
ted to take trip on the ST. Louis ROAD ''O'''
Chicago to Joliet, in order to 'n'ps''
improved car coupling, invented y ''
Blackstone. and TO witness it m PraeucA
op,ration. The improvement 'H''"'o "
the platform AZ well as the eo"P.'he' ""u
,n5aod ,,odiGo. the whole train, forming II
.. !, were, into a single car, inIeNib'e VeFH
oonv I'M, admitting lateral movements as
,pc shortest curves can require
T. ' rar support those adjoining it, and
o.,o Of the breaking OF truck, the car
.t.ro Il cannot fall as it would with the or
rn,,c coupling. Each car has tim0er'
nroiec,ing several fee, from both ends, so
a. 10 pass under the car or cars next 10 IT,
These also make the "toescopng' Of cars
an impossbilitv There is no space what
ever between the platforms of adjoining cars,
60 no one can fab between them.
The excursion was entirely satisfactory
AT the highest speed aud around the sharp
%, curves. there vas a rare s'eadnesa OF
,oo,ou.pt.-ro rocking and no jumping
o,1 ,bc new invention gained the favorable
o,io,,q Of the many experienced railroad
men present
The following are the principal advauta'
,e. claimed for his coupling by Mr. Black.
stone:
!. immunity from danger to persons ~
passing from one car TO another, IS attained
bv securing the platforms (which are con
structod on level with the sills Of the car J
in contact with each other, leaving no space
10 admit Of falling between them.
2. Safety in case Of any arrangement IN
a truck, or its displacement from the raiIS,
is secured by intcrIochug platforms, or JOIN.
ing the ends OF cars where no platforms are
used. in such manner as 10 Immediately
relieve broken or displaced truck OF us
load, and transfer it to the adjoining truck.
The trucks being provided with check
chains Of sufficient strength to secure them
in their proper position in case any part is
broken, and thus prevent the fragments
from displucinr from the rails other trucks
in the rear, the car being held in ita proper
po.Ition by reason Of It's connection with
other cars in the train.
3. Security against "telescopInV,' by rea.
son OF the platforms being so connected as
to render il impossible for one Of them to
pass over the other, being on the same Gle.
vati0n with the sillg of the car 10 connect
the entire train. Not only is the
utmost strength secured, but no conclusion
between cars canstakc place when the mo-
ton Of the train IL suddenly checked
4. Steadiness Of motion is secured by 80
connecting the cars ~ to AVOID all vertical
and lateral motion with reference to each
other-the entire train moving rs ono car
All motion due to imper'cctiOn5 in the truck
being reduced by reason Of the combine
action of several sets Of springs, when ca
IS passing over an uneven surface, ln5tca'
of a smaller number, ns in the case OF ear
moving independent Of each other with tn
ordinary coupling, thus securing the 0dyan
tagcs Of tho cjrht-whcel truck By connecting
! cars with four.wheel trucks.
>. The principal objection to the use o
short cars. upon four or six wheels, has bee
that, with all connections heretofore dey
sed the motion has been unsteady. Thu
connection will obviatc that objection, an
render their use practicable, thereby red
cing the dead weight of IL train with pr
portionate reduction of expenses.
IS. Nearly all the practical objections
| the use Of train breaks, grow out OF sIh'
chains between cars. With this connectl'
none are required,
| An improvement Of this kind must be
great value to the public, and to the II
d road companies, making travel at OF
pleasauter and safer. The coupling Is
be adopted a. soon US possible On the ?
senger cars Of the St Louis road. 1t
attract the attention Of railroad men eve
where. They have long felt the neces
) Of some such improvement, and stand RET
=. to adopt it, as soon as its merits bcco
known TO them.
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From the Peoria Demerrut.