The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-01-21
A FINE INVENTION.
The Modes Being Made at
the Sun Foundry.
Automatic Car Coupler, the
Genius of a Man
at Nephi.

While at the Sun Foundry yesterday
THE DISPATCH representative was
shown the model Of All automatic car
coupler, which is probably the finest
invention of its kind yet brought be-
fore the public, and seeing that it is
the result Of the brain work of resi-
dent of Utah, the invention calls forth
more than usual interest. Condensely
described, the invention consists of a
bifurcated draWhead, and a U-shaped
frame piVOted therein. The frame is
provided on its outer under end with
a wedge shaped block, with inner
shoulders constituting hook, said
block or hook being provided with an
opening. The drawhead is secured
between blocks or supports attached to
the under side of the car, near one
end, the rear end of said bar passing
through an opening i'll j plate located
in receSses in these blocks the forward
plate bearing against Il shoulder on
the draw-bar. and being pressed
normally forward by a spring, holding
the draw-bar with it. The forward
end of the draw bar is bifurCated. that
is to say, forked, or dividing into two
branches, and has piyoted between its
ends frame, which, at its forward
end, is provided with hook, which is
turned downward. This hook is on
the under side Of the frame, and is the
means, in connection with Il similar
frame and hook Oh the car to be at
tached whereby the cars may be
coupled. The hook is wedge shaped
that is to say, it tapers from the poiat
back to the shoulder, the shoulder
constituting the hook proper. The
ends Of the hooks being pointed or
we ige-s haped, it follows that when
two cars are brought into contact one
hook viii slip over another and
automatically engage with its shoulder
the link or frame, thus coupling the
two cars. The outer end Of the hook
is provided with an opening. which is
to be employed in connection with an
ordinary coupling pin, whereby this
automatic coupling may be united to a
car provided with an ordinary pin-and-
link draW-head. The forward end of
the draw-bar pass over a cross-bar,
which is secured to hangers depending
from the car, the said cross-bar form
in a support for the draw-bar and its
piyoted frame, preventing the latter
from dropping too low, and holding
the hooks in proper position for the
engagement.
70 either end of the car is piVoted
= lever, TO the inner end of which is
secured one end of chain. the other
end of which is secured to the piyoted
frame, whereby the frame may be
elevated to uncOuple the cars without
passing between them. \ rod, eX-
tending to the top of the car and con-
nected with the coupler, enables the
brakeman to uncouple from the top of
the car, without having to disneunt
all the time
The operation OF this invention will
be readily perceived. When the cars
come together, the beveled ends of the
hooks ride pass each other, and the
hooks automatically connect. coupling
the cars. To uncouple the cars it is
only necessary to elevate the upper
frame by means Of either the lever or
vertical rod.
This invention is the work of J.
Colby Clay, of Nephi, Utah, He is
engaged in the service of the u. p, as
assistant agent at that place. He is
an old railroad hand, and hence under
stands just what he is about. The
in which he made the discovery
is most peculiar. One day. not having
much to do, he got two pieces of smooth
wood, and carved out pair of mules
shoes. He was playing with them
carelessly, when the toe pieces slipped |
over each other and gave him the idea
upon which he went to work and in
vented his automatic coupler. The |
has been patented, and rail |
road men look to see it used on The
road.
We understand that they are to be
placed on the SaRpete Valley branch
If the U. F., and that arrangements
ire pending whereby they will be
ldopted on all the lines of this division
# the L. Z. system.