Improvements in Car-couplers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct.,
1897
Improvements in Car-couplers.
I, AARON HENRY CARROLL, of 762 South West Street Jacksonville, in the County
of Morgan, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to improvements on the Janney type of car couplers and
it seeks to provide a coupler of this kind in which the linking devices for the
knuckle member are of a simple character; which will positively automatically
lock such knuckle member to its coupling position; which can be easily set to
its unlocked position and which during the uncoupled position of the knuckle
always remains in a proper position to effectively serve to automatically lock such
knuckle member when it is moved in by an opposing draw- or coupling-head.
Another object of my invention is to provide a coupler of this character of a very
few parts, without springs or trip devices for forcing the knuckle or coupling
member whereby the said coupler can be economically manufactured and yet
possess the required points of strength and compactness.
Furthermore, my invention seeks to provide a coupler of the Janney type which
can be coupled on curves with the same positiveness of operation as on a straight-
way and which has suitable automatically operating means for holding the lock
block from accidental displacement.
With other minor objects in view, which will be hereinafter referred to, the
invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of parts,
such as will be first described, and then claimed, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved coupler, the knuckle being at its
uncoupled position.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section and part plan view of the draw head, the parts
being coupled.
Fig. 2, is a similar view, the parts being in an uncoupled position.
Fig. 3 is a front view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a detail view, showing the lock block lifted to its seat by the outward
swing of the knuckle.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken practically on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the knuckle and the bearing portion thereof.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lock device for holding the lock block from jarring
out of position.
Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the lock block and
coupling members engage on curves, and
Fig. 9 is a detail view of the lock block.
Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals indicate like
parts in all the figures, 1 indicates the draw head, provided at the knuckle side
with a chamber 2, which receives the strike or swing end of the knuckle and the
lock devices; such head having the usual bifurcated end 3 to receive the bearing

page_text: portion 4 of the knuckle 5 held thereon by the pin 6; the draw head has the usual
guide member 6º, as shown.
The knuckle or coupling member 5 has the usual bifurcated and apertured
coupling wing 9, and a strike portion 10 having a horizontal extension 11, a
vertical portion 12 and a supplemental rest member 13 having a vertical flange 13",
as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
A pivot pin 14 is disposed at one side of the longitudinal central axis of the
drawhead and at the rear of the chamber 2. On this pin is pivotally supported
for vertical and swing movement, lock block 15, (Figs. 2 and 9) which has its
forward or bearing end 16 projected forward from the center of the pin 14, while
its body portion is disposed to one side thereof, and provided with a combined lift
and lock means for holding the block from vertical movement, the construction
and operation of which will be presently described.
By referring to Fig. 9 it will be noticed the lock block has vertical sides 20
and 21, one of which 20, when the block is in a coupled position engages the
edge 16 of the coupling member, while the other 21 engages the straight portion
of the wall 23 of the mortise 2, whereby, when in a lockel position, the block
will snugly fit between the strike end of the knuckle and draw-head.
To provide a positive bearing for the lock block the straight wall 23 has a
solid bearing portion 23", below opening 7 for the sweep of the end of the knuckle
as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The block has a recess 25 to engage the member 13".
The straight portion of the wall 23 extends up to a height equal that of the
block 15, and merges into a seat or depression 26 having its lower end inclined
outwardly as at 27. This seat receives the block 15 when same is turned in
position to drop to a locking engagement when the knuckle is pushed inward
during coupling.
The object in having a supplemental rest portion 13 on the coupling member
or knuckle is to provide for a free vertical movement of the block, without unneces-
sarily increasing the weight of the chamber or mortise 2; it also admitting of the
use of a block of a reduced height, so that the same can readily adjust itself
either into a coupling or uncoupling position, as such block when raised will swing
over on to the supplemental rest portion, its recess engaging the flange 13", it
being obvious that when swung to such position the knuckle member will be at
once swung out by gravity, as its rear extension at this time rests on the inclined
flange and as it thus swings out, it will throw the block outward and cause it to
drop on the extension 11 when the vertical member 12 will force such block up
into the seat in the wall of the drawhead and hold it there so long as the knuckle
is swung out.
To admit of a positive automatic outward swing of the knuckle member after
it is released, the lower bifurcated end of the drawhead has a forward extension
provided with an inwardly and upwardly inclined way 29, on which the lower
end 28 of the knuckle rests as clearly shown in Fig. 6, by reference to which it
will be seen the lower end of the knuckle is cut away as at 27", and the portion 28
so extended that at no time will the bearing portion 28 be otherwise than on the
incline 29; the parts being so arranged that the member 28 can never rise above
the top of the lower bifurcated member. Furthermore, as the incline 29 is at
some distance in advance of the axis of the knuckle the bulk of the weight of the
knuckle will at all times be on the incline 29, such arrangement of parts avoiding
the use of trippers or springs within the drawhead mortise, and making the action
of the knuckle coupling member quick and positive. By constructing and com-
bining the knuckle and the lock block in the manner shown and described, the
block when lifted is seated automatically by the outward automatic swing of the
knuckle.
Thus, my coupler has practically a triple automatic operation, in that the
coupling is effected automatically, the knuckle swings out automatically when
released, and the lock block is automatically seated by the outward swing of the

page_text: When
To provide for a positive coupling on curves, the coupling block has a supplement
seat or recess 30 on its under face as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
coupling on curves the coupling member at times is not forced entirely back into
the mortice, and with some forms of couplers having lock devices fails to properly
couple. By providing the block with a supplemental recess, like 30, the block
will drop down part of its full fall and lodge on the wing portion 11 as shown in
Fig. 8 and hold the coupling member locked to its mate, until the drawheads
assume a straight line when the slightest back pressure will force the coupling
member home and allow the block to drop down to its full locking position.
Heretofore considerable trouble has been experienced in keeping the lock blocks
down to a locking position, as the jars of the train frequently cause them to rise
up and thereby release the couplers.
To positively overcome this serious objection, I have provided a lock bar 31
which is hinged to the block at 32 as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 & 5 and which
has its upper end held movable in a slot 32 in the top of the drawhead, which has
a lock lip 33 at one edge as shown. As the pivot of the bar 31 is at one side of
the center of the drawhead, its normal tendency is to swing over to the position
shown, but to augment such operation the upper end has an extension 34, which
adds weight thereto, and which serves to positively keep it swung over to the left
as shown. To keep it from moving upward when in such position, such bar has
a lock tooth 36 which engages the lip 33 on the drawhead.
The extension 34 which also projects to the left is connected by a flexible con-
nection 37 to an arm 38 on an operating crank rod 39 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
In operation to uncouple the car the rod 39 is turned to pull up on the bar 31,
which owing to its peculiar pivotal connection, first swings back in the direction
indicated by the arrow, frees itself from the lip 33 and then rises and lifts the
lock block. It being obvious, that when the lift on such bar is over, it will swing
over into the position shown, and be ready to automatically drop to a locked
engagement with the nose as soon as the lock block drops by gravity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a car coupler of the class described, the combination with the drawhead
having a bifurcated end and a pivot pin, a coupling member having a vertical
movement on such pin and and having its lower end made flat and of a length to
always be in a plane below the top of the lower bifurcated portion of the pivot
end of the drawhead, said lower bifurcated end having a forwardly extending
member provided with an incline 29 rising gradually and uninterruptedly inward
to a plane in line with the top of said lower bifurcated end, all being arranged
substantially in the manner shown, whereby the bottom of the lower end of the
coupling member cannot rise above the upper end of the incline 29, as set forth.
2. In a car coupling as described, the combination with the drawhead having
an incline, and the knuckle member having a vertical movement on its pivot
and provided with an extension, said extension having a rest portion, and the
drawhead having a straight wall portion and a seat or depression above it, of the
vertically and laterally movable block adapted to automatically drop between
the knuckle extension and the straight wall portion, and to seat on the rest portion
and the wall seat when raised and automatically moved on to the seat when the
knuckle swings outward as specified.
3. In a car coupler as described the combination with the drawhead, said draw-
head having a vertical lock face 23 terminating at the upper end in an inclined
seat 26 and the knuckle automatically moved to its uncoupled position, said
knuckle having a rest member, of the vertically and laterally movable lock block,
means for it swinging laterally toward the knuckle member as it is raised, said
block having a beveled portion 24 adapted to rest on the seat when such block is
at its upper or unlocking position as specified.

page_text: 4. The combination in a coupling of the kind described with the drawhead and
the automatically outward swinging knuckle, said knuckle having an extension
having a main rest portion and a supplemental rest portion, of the pivoted vertically
movable lock block means for lifting the same whereby to swing the same out
onto the supplemental extension, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with the drawhead having a straight lock face 23, a seat
portion 27, and an incline 29 arranged substantially as shown, of the vertically
movable swinging knuckle having an extension adapted to ride on the incline 29,
and provided with a rest portion 11 and a lock bearing face 16, the pivoted
block 21 having its pivot in line with its front or bearing face, a lift device adapted
to swing such block inward as it is raised, said block having its lock portion
adapted to rest on the portion 11 of the knuckle member, when such member is
at its unlocked position and to automatically drop down between the drawhead
portion 23 and the face 16 of the said knuckle member when such member is swung
to its coupled position, as specified.
6. In a car coupler of the kind described the combination with the knuckle
and the gravity lock block, of means for holding such block from moving
accidentally upwardly, substantially as shown and described.
7. In a car coupling of the kind described, the combination with the knuckle
and the lock block, of a detent for holding the lock block down, and means for
operating such detent secured by the car for releasing such detent and for pulling
it upward substantially as shown and described.
8. In a car coupler of the kind described the combination with the draw head,
and the knuckle, of the lock block adapted to assume a lock position by gravity
said block having a supplemental locking recess to engage and lock the knuckle
when the drawheads engage on curve substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the drawhead, the knuckle, and the vertical movable
lock block, said drawhead having a slot in its top with a lock tooth 33, of the
bar 31 having a locking member 36 and extended portion 34, the lever devices
held on the car body and a flexible connection joining such lever, substantially
as shown.