Improvements, in Automatic Car Couplings...
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 4th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 5th, Dec., 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements, in Automatic Car Couplings...
I, ALBERT FONTAYNE, Senior, of 3210 Forest Avenue, Chicago, in the County :
of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America Mechanical Engineer,
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 present invention relates more especially to that class of vertical axis auto.
matic couplers, in which a pair of counterpart hook shaped bars or r.links are
interlocked to effect a coupling.
The object of the present improvement being in the main to provide a simple,
durable and effective coupler, embodying the following features: First, a perfect
and automatic coupling on any line, and under any and all ordinary conditions:
Second; a tendency of the twin coupling bars to adhere together with increased
tenacity, with an increase of the strain, so as to virtually constitute a single link.
between the pivot pins, and so permit of great freedom of movement of the draw
heads in a manner similar to the well known pin and link coupler in general use :
Third; the avoidance of any setting of parts by hand, and a coupling, under all
circumstances without any supervision whatever: Fourth; an improved draw or
buffer head attachment affording means for a coupling, with any vertical pin draw
head coupler, a feature common to all approved type of car couplings.
I attain such object by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1, is an inverted plan view of a pair of draw heads in a partly coupled ·
condition, with my invention applied thereto;
Figure 2, a horizontal section; and
Figure 3, a side elevation of the same.
Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.
Referring to the drawing 1, 1, represents a pair of draw heads, and their attached
draw bars, of any usual or approved construction, the front or head portion proper
being of a forked construction to form jaws or buffer heads 2, 2, between which the
counterpart hooked shaped coupling bars or links, 3, 3, of the present invention are
pivoted by vertically arranged pivot pins 4, 4; the lower ends of which are of a
cranked formation, so as to furnish means for operating the hooks in the uncoupling
operation. And such uncoupling may be effected from either side of the car, or
from the top, by a suitable rod or lever attached to the crank arms of the pivot
pins, or by a chain and pulley, as is usual to many forms of car couplings heretofore
proposed.
The book shaped coupling bars 3, 3, are of a twin or counterpart construction,..
and are pivoted in longitudinal line in their respective heads 1, 1; each consisting
of a straight shank or body portion, 5, having at one end a pivot eye 6, and an
outwardly or laterally projecting heel 7, and at the other end a hooked shaped,
laterally arranged projection 8, the forwardly projecting point of which has its
inner vertical face bevelled or rounded as shown, so that in the act of coupling such
counterpart faces will ride one against the other.
In the present invention the hook shaped coupling bars 3, 3, project out past
their respective drawheads in proper position for coupling, and in the act of.
coupling they will ride against each other until their respective hook ends move
past the pivot ends of the bars, to overlap and engage back of said ends and the
laterally arranged heels 7, on the same, to perfect the coupling. In such coupled
condition the greater the amount of strain upon the coupling parts, the greater will
be the tendency of the counterpart bars 3, 3, to adhere together with increased

page_text: rigidity, along their whole contiguous surfaces, so as to constitute to all intents and
purposes a single coupling bar between the pivot pins, in consequence, the tendency
in active use, will be to impose both the strain and pivotal movement wholly upon,
or around, the pivot pins of the coupling bars, and in so doing admit of the greatest
freedom of the draw heads to movement in all directions, inherent to the ordinary
pin and link coupler now in general use, such movement of the draw head being
rendered necessary by the ordinary oscillation of the cars in their travel.
The bevel or inclination of the contact faces of the laterally projecting hooks 8
and heels 7, of the respective coupling bars, are of such a forward pitch or rake, as
to necessitate a slight drawing together of the draw heads in the uncoupling
operation; the laterally projecting heel 7 of the coupling bar that is being manipu-
lated in the act of uncoupling acts as a lever against the contact face of the hook 8,
of the other coupling bar to pull the draw heads together, until the heel 7, assumes
such angle, by which the said hook can slip away with freedom to complete the act
of separation.
This feature of construction affords ample and efficient means to prevent acci-
dental uncoupling of the parts in use, and in practice the aforesaid bevel, rake or
inclination of the contact faces may be varied as the judgment of the constructor
or the requirements of the particular use, may suggest.
The hook shaped coupling bars 3, 3, are held in a yielding manner in proper
coupling position, as well as in their subsequent coupled condition by means of
springs 9, 9, which in the construction illustrated are of a spiral formation located
in suitable recesses in draw bars, as shown, with their free ends engaging the hook
shaped coupling bars 3, 3, in any suitable manner, preferably by engaging against
a cam arm 10, on the lower end of the pivot pin 4, of the hook shaped coupling
bar, as illustrated in Figure 1. .
In my preferred construction as illustrated in the drawings, the upper jaws of
the draw heads 1, form the main buffer for the cars, and when so used, are hollowed
out at 11, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to be capable of use in effecting a coupling
between the present construction and a car having any approved form of coupler
provided with the ordinary link and vertical coupling pin."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an automatic car coupling the combination with suitable draw heads or.
bases, of a pair of pivoted twin coupling bars, having pivot eyes, laterally extending
heels, and hook shaped free ends that are adapted to overlap and engage back of
the respective pivot ends and lateral heels of the coupling bars, substantially as set
forth.
2. In an automatic car coupling the combination with suitable draw heads or
bases, of a pair of pivoted twin coupling bars, having pivot eyes, laterally extending
heels, and hook shaped free ends, that are adapted to overlap and engage back of
the respective pivot enis and lateral heels of the coupling, bars, the contact faces
of the hooks and heels being pitched or raked forward, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of August 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.