provements in Car-couplings.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
VISIONAL
CIFICATION
Improvements in Car-couplings.
I, ALEXANDER SIMEON PECK, of Armour, South Dakota, U.S.A., Inventor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of car-couplings capable of being readily
operated from the sides or top of the car, and consisting of a suitable draw-head
secured to and projecting from the underside of a car at each end thereof, and
provided with arrow-shaped or other suitable coupling-hooks or heads adapted to
engage each other when brought into forcible contact.
This my invention refers more especially to the operating mechanism, and it com-
prises a rod which is secured at one extremity of the movable coupling-head, and
extends to the top of the car.
This rod is provided with two series of graduated notches, one of which series are
adapted to be engaged by a spring-actuated lock-pin to hold the rod at any height.
The other series of notches are engaged by a suitably shaped lever, pivoted to the
end of the car, and adapted to raise the rod. A spring-actuated lever, located above
the car enables the rod, when raised, to be released. The rod is also connected to a
cranked bar, journalled in front of the car, and provided with handles whereby the
coupling can be operated from the sides of the car.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1896.
PERCY K. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, ALEXANDER SIMEON PECK, of Armour, South Dakota, U.S.A. Inventor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to produce a car coupler especially designed for use
on freight cars, which is automatic in its coupling operation and which is supplied
with improved operating devices for effecting the uncoupling operation.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ends of two cars equipped with my coupler,
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a central, vertical longitudinal section of the end of a car shewing details
of mechanism.
Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a car body, and 2 the
draw-head.
3 indicates jaws or bumpers upon opposite sides of the draw-head, and 4 an inter-
mediate arrow-shaped coupling head.

page_text: 5 indicates a coiled spring support secured at one end to the coupler head and at
the other end to the draw head and serving to yieldingly support and properly adjust
the coupler head upon the draw head.
6 indicates a chain attached to one end of the draw head and at the other end to
the coupler head, its office being to relieve the spring 5 from the strain of the draft
on the coupler head. Any suitable mechanism for like purposes may be employed
in place of the chain.
7 indicates link apertures in the sides of the jaws 3 of the draw head, and 8
indicates coupling pins passing transversely through the same. These link recesses
are designed to accomodate the ordinary link and pin connection in case of an
emergency.
9 indicates a. rod pivotally secured at one end to the coupler head and having its
upper end inserted in a-box 10.
11 indicates levers projecting outwardly from the middle of the car front, being
preferably pivoted to a frame support 12 and to the rod 9. By depressing the outer
end of either of the levers, the coupler may be adjusted to any desired height as may
be necessary by the height of the coupler on another car. The upper end of the rod
which passes into the box 10 is notched for engagement with a spring actuated lock
pin 14, whose forward end is inserted into the box and whose other end is supported
and actuated by a lock lever 15, pivoted as indicated at 16, to the box. This lock
lever is preferably of spring metal, and moves in the field of a latch plate 17, by
engagement wherewith it may be latched to lock the rod 9 in any required position.
With or without the lock lever 15, a lock lever 18, carried in suitable bearings 19
on top of a car and actuating a stop pin 20 may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim.is:-
(1) The combination with a car, and movable coupler head, of a rod pivotally
secured to said head and provided at its opposite end with graduated notches, a spring
actuated lock pin adapted to engage the notches, a pivoted lever operatively connected
with said lock-pin, a latch plate, for fixedly adjusting the lever, and pivoted levers
operatively connected with said rod and extending to each side of the car, respectively,
substantially as specified.
(2) The combination with a movable coupler, of a rod pivotally secured at one
extremity thereto and extending above the car and provided with two series of
graduated notches, a spring actuated lock pin 14 adapted to engage one series, a
pivoted lever 15 operatively connected with said. lock pin and extending contiguous
to the bottom of the car, means for adjusting said lever, a spring actuated lock-lever 18
above the car adapted to engage the other series of notches in the rod, and pivoted
levers 11 operatively connected with the rod and extending to either side of the car
all co-operating to provide means whereby the coupler head may be adjusted from the
top of the car, as in transit, or from the side of the car, substantially as specified.
(3) The combination with a yielding coupler head, of the rod 9 provided with two
series of notches, the box 10, spring actuated lock pin 14, actuating lever 15
operatively connected to the lock pin and projecting to the bottom of the car, the
latch plate 17 the spring actuated lock lever 18 above the car, and the levers 11
operatively connected with the rods substantially as specified.
Dated this 14th day of November 1896.
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.