An Improved Car-coupling.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car-coupling.
I, JOSEPH CALLANTINE, of Peru, Miami County, Indiana, U.S.A. Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to car-couplings of that class in which a link is employed,
and it has for its object to provide certain and effective mechanism for securely
locking the link in place against the possibility of displacement, as from the
vibration incident to the passage of a car over the track. A further object is to
provide mechanism for automatically locking the link in position.
A further object is to provide mechanism for holding the link in position to
engage the locking mechanism on the adjacent car, whereby the danger usually
accompanying such manipulation is effectually overcome. A further object is to
provide a car-coupler having locking mechanism of such construction as to allow
the link to have free vertical and lateral play, whereby the said link will accom-
modate itself to any difference in the height of the two cars which it connects.
A further object is to provide a car-coupler, the link locking mechanism of which
is entirely housed within the draw-head, whereby the said. mechanism will be
shielded from danger and also from exposure to moisture.
Within the said head
The draw-head may be made in one piece, or in sections.
is formed a cavity or recess in which is mounted the locking mechanism consisting
of a rigid jaw, a pivoted jaw, and a pivoted weighed lever, carrying an arm, which
latter is designed to lift the link to a position to admit of its being released, and
also to hold the said link in position to engage the draw-head of the adjacent car.
The rigid jaw is formed with an outer inclined face, and with a recess, which recess
forms a projection over which fits the link when in place. The rear portion of the
said jaw is inclined and forms a surface upon which rests a lever. The rigid jaw
is slotted longitudinally of its length, in which slot works an arm, the outer end of
the latter being bifurcated, in which bifurcation rests the link. The upper portion
of the inclined face is provided with a shoulder designed to be engaged by a
similar shoulder on the jaw so as to limit the downward movement of the latter."
An arm
The pivoted jaw is provided with a curved recess in its lower face, which forms
a continuation of the recess in the rigid jaw, and admits of the link having ample
vertical play to adjust itself to any required angle. The pivoted jaw is also
provided with an inclined face, which, in connection with the face of the rigid jaw,
forms an angular recess, which aids the link in its passage to the recess.
is carried by the inner end of the pivoted jaw and works in a recess formed in the
lever aforesaid. To the arm is secured a lifting-rod which extends through an
opening in the draw-head and may be carried to the top of the car to be operated
therefrom, or to the side of the car in a position to be operated by a person standing
on the ground in a well-known manner. The object of this rod is to lift the pivoted
jaw when it is desired to release the link, and in order to raise the arm coincidently
with the said jaw, so as to bring the link to a position where it can slip out of the
recess. A friction roller is provided, which is carried by the free end of the lever,
and engages with the arm in its upward movement, so that the pivoted jaw and the
lever are both actuated by the same mechanism.
It is obvious, however, that a solid bearing may be substituted for the friction
roller; but for many reasons the latter is preferred. The draw-bar may be of any
approved construction, but is preferably mounted within a casting secured to the
rear end of the draw-head, and carries a spring for the purpose of lessening the
shock when two cars are coupled. From the foregoing description it will be under-
stood that the arm holds the link in a horizontal position so that in coupling two

page_text: cars no care has to be taken to bring the link in position to engage the opposite
coupler. If, however, the coupler on the car to be coupled is higher or lower thau
that carried by the moving car, the inclined faces will guide the link to the recess
without the assistance of an operator. When the cars are to be uncoupled the rod
is raised, which movement lifts the locking-jaw, the lever, and with it the arm.
It is to be understood that the lever and arm are free to move without interfering
at all with the locking-jaw, so that should the link ride within the recess it will be
prevented from working loose by contacting with the pivoted jaw, the latter being
firmly held in place against tensible strain by means of lugs, but the principal strain
is always applied to the projection.
Dated this 1st day of February 1892
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car-coupling.
I JOSEPH CALLANTINE, of Peru, Miami County Indiana, 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:—
This invention relates to car couplings of that class in which a link is employed
and it has for its object to provide certain and effective mechanism for securely
locking the link in place against the possibility of displacement as from the vibration
incident to the passage of a car over the track. A further object is to provide
mechanism for automatically locking the link in position.
A further object is to provide mechanism for holding the link in position to
engage the locking mechanism on the adjacent car, whereby the dangers usually
accompanying such manipulation is effectually overcome. A further object is to
provide a car coupler having locking mechanism of such construction as to allow
the link to have free vertical and lateral play whereby the said link will accom-
modate itself to any difference in the height of the two cars which it connects.
A further object is to provide a car coupler the link locking mechanism of
which is entirely housed within the draw-head whereby the said mechanism will be
shielded from damage and also from exposure to moisture.
The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying
drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, the draw-head being in section showing
the position occupied by the different parts as the link is about to be locked in
place. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the link locked in position. Figure 3
is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the draw-head and the locking
mechanism showing more particularly the construction of the latter.
Referring to the drawings A designates the draw-head which may be made in
one piece or in sections. Within the said head is formed a cavity or recess I in
which is mounted the locking mechanism consisting of a rigid jaw B a pivoted
jaw C and a pivoted weighted lever E carrying an arm F which latter is designed
to lift the link to a position to admit of its being released and also to hold the said
link in position to engage the draw head of the adjacent car as clearly shown in
Figure 3 the rigid jaw B is found with an outer inclined face 2 and with a recess 3,
which recess forms a projection 4 over which fits the link G when in place.
The rear portion of the said jaw is inclined as at 5, and forms a surface upon
which rests the lever E as clearly shown in Figure 2. Jaw B is slotted longitudinally
of its length in which slot works an arm F, the outer end of the latter being bifur-
cated as at 6, in which bifurcation rests the link. The upper portion of the inclined
face 2 is provided with a shoulder 7, designed to be engaged by a similar shoulder 8
on the jaw C so as to limit the downward movement of the latter.

page_text: Jaw C is provided with a curved recess 9 in its lower face, which when the parts
are in the position shown in Figure 2 forms a continuation of the recess 3 in the
rigid jaw and admits of the link having ample vertical play to adjust itself to any
required angle.
Jaw C is also provided with an inclined face 10, which in connection with the
face 2 of jaw B forms an angular recess, which aids the link in its passage to the
recess 3. H designates an arm which is carried by the inner end of the jaw C and
works in a recess formed in lever E. To the arm H is secured a lifting rod 12,
which extends through an opening 13 in the draw-head and may be carried to the
top of the car to be operated therefrom, or to the side of the car in a position to
be operated by a person standing on the ground in a well known manner.
The object of this rod is to lift the jaw C when it is desired to release the link
and in order to raise the arm E coincidentally with the said jaw so as to bring the
link to a position where it can slip out of the recess 3, a friction roller 15 is provided
which is carried by the free end of the lever E and engages with the arm H in its
upward movement, so that the jaw C and the lever E are both actuated by the
same mechanism.
It is obvious however that a solid bearing may be substituted for the friction
roller, but for many reasons the latter is preferred. 1 designates the draw-bar
which may be of any approved construction, but in this instance is shown mounted
within a casting J secured to the rear end of the draw-head and carrying a spring 16
for the purpose of lessening the shock when two cars are coupled.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the arm F holds the link in
a horizontal position so that in coupling two cars no care has to be taken to bring
the link in position to engage the opposite coupler. If however the coupler on the
car to be coupled is higher or lower than that carried by the moving car, the
inclined faces 2 and 10 will guide the link to the recess 3 without the assistance of
an operator.
When the cars are to be uncoupled the rod 12 is raised which movement lifts the
locking jaw C, the lever E and with it the arm F thus bringing the parts to the
position shown in Figure 1. It is to be understood that the lever E and arm F are
free to move without interfering at all with the locking jaw C, so that should the
link ride within the recess it will be prevented from working loose by contacting
with jaw C the latter being firmly held in place against tensile strain by means of
the shoulders 7 and 8, but the principal strain is always applied to the projection 4.
Haring 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 the combination with a draw-head formed with an interior
recess of a rigid locking-jaw, a pivoted locking-jaw, a weighted lever, and an arm
carried by the lever.
2. In a car-coupler, a draw head having an interior recess in combination with a
rigid locking-jaw, a pivoted locking-jaw carrying an arm, a weighted lever carrying
an arm and mechanism connecting with the arm of the locking-jaw, whereby the
latter jaw and the weighted lever may be actuated in unison.
3. In a car coupler the combination with a draw-head of a rigid locking-jaw
having a recess a pivoted locking-jaw engaging the said rigid jaw a pivoted weighted
lever carrying an arm and mechanism for actuating the pivoted locking-jaw and
weighted lever in unison.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.