An Improved Car Coupling.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car Coupling.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
(a communication to me from Van Buren McDonald, of Coytee, in the County of
London and State of Tennessee, United States of America, Inventor) to be as
follows
My invention relates to an improved car coupling and the objects sought to be
attained are to provide a cheap, durable and effective coupling, to provide suitable
means for operating the same from the platform of the car and locking mechanism
which will render it impossible for the cars to become uncoupled except at the will
of the attendant.
The end of the car to which my invention is applied is provided with the
drawhead of ordinary construction having a flaring mouth.
Within the drawhead
is a block pressed forward by a spring the outer end keeping the pin of the coupling
in a raised position, the said pin resting upon the outer end of the said block and
being carried in suitable guides fixed on the upper side of the draw-head.
bifurcated at its end engages the upper end of the said coupling pin, the said lever
being fulcrummed below the platform of the car, and the opposite end being
provided with a suitable device for operating the same by hand or foot.
A lever
The operation of the coupling is as follows:-The link entering the drawhead
forces in the block before mentioned and allows the coupling pin hitherto supported
by the said block to fall, thereby coupling the cars.
When it is desired to uncouple,
the pin is lifted by the lever before referred to.
A spring bolt upon the lever is adapted to engage a socket in a portion of the
framing of the car, so as to lock the lever in position when the cars are coupled.
Dated this 6th day of January 1893.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Car Coupling.
I, WILLIAM WILSON HORN, of the Firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion, (a communication to me from Van Buren M"Donald, of Coytee, in the
County of London and State of Tennessee, United States of America, Inventor)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved car coupling, and the objects sought to be
attained are to provide a cheap, durable and effective coupling, to provide suitable
means for operating the same from the platform of the car, aud locking mechanism
which will render it impossible for the cars to become uncoupled except at the will
of the attendant.
On the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1, represents a perspective view of my complete invention as applied to a
passenger car;
Fig. 2 represents a detail in section of the jaw of the coupler, showing my
improved cushion-block and spring for reducing the jar experienced by the coupling
operation.

page_text: Fig. 3, represents a modification of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, represents a modification of my operating mechanism as applied to a
freight car.
.
The end of the car, Fig. 1, to which my invention is applied, is provided with a
drawhead a, of ordinary construction having a flaring mouth a¹. Upon the outer
and upper side of this drawhead a, is fixed a guide , in which the coupling pin h,
is allowed to slide in such a manner, that the latter may pass through the passage
or channel d, with which the drawhead is provided. The interior of the body of
the drawhead is enlarged for the reception of the bevelled cushion-block b, forming
an interior shoulder g, near the mouth of the body, which is adapted to limit the
forward movement of the block b. A shank e, is located on the rear end of the
block b, and extends rearwardly, which shank is adapted to hold the coil-spring f
in place and to support it by extending back within three-fourths of an inch of the
back end when the mechanism is coupled. This spring f, bears against the rear
end of the block b, and serves to hold its forward end in contact with the shoulder g,
and also acts as a cushion for the purpose hereinafter explained. The block b, in
its normal position bears against the shoulder g, of the body of the coupler, with
the end of the pin h, resting upon its top, said pin being supported by the guide or
brackets, as aforesaid. As the link of the coupler enters the jaw of the draw-
head, generally with great force, it strikes the bevelled end of the block b, which,
being cushioned by the spring f, tends to reduce the jar which must necessarily
ensue. The link then pushes the block back into the body, compressing the
spring f. As the bevelled end of the block passes the hole d, in which the pin h,
is located, the latter falls by gravity into the link and the coupling operation is
effected. It will be readily seen that the bevelled end of the block b, confines the
link in one position and prevents the usual rattling common in couplers of this class.
In Fig. 3, which represents a modification of Fig. 2, the shank e, projects from
the upper portion of the block b, and co-operates with a rubber spring, which takes
the place of the coil-spring heretofore described.
ول
In Fig. 1, i, represents the platform of a passenger-car, having the two operating-
levers, k, projecting vertically therefrom. These levers, the first or former of
which is preferably, (but not necessarily,) a foot-lever, are adapted to actuate
suitable mechanism for the purpose of lifting up the coupling-pin h, and thereby
uncoupling the link in the following manner. The lever k, extends through and
below the platform on a level with the draw-bar of the coupler and has a horizontal
arm l, screwed to its lower end. This arm is pivoted at m, near the body of the
coupler and has a forked or bifurcated end n, which embraces the pin 4, and engages
the large head o, of the pin, for preventing the lever from slipping off the pin.
To the first or foot-lever j, is secured a rigid arm, which is pivoted to the lever l,
at p. A strap-spring p', secured to the arm j, and lever 1, at 1', and ", tends to
push the arm j, upward. To the arm j, is rigidly secured a pin or link 9, to which
is pivoted a connecting-rod q', which is in turn pivoted to the bar r, said bar
performing the functions of a bolt, as will be hereinafter described. To the
horizontal lever l, is rigidly secured a block s, which is provided with a lateral slot,
through which the bar r, passes, the free end of the said bar being adapted to
engage in its normal position a hole t, in the framework of the car.
Suppose the
coupling heretofore described, has been effected and it is desired to uncouple the
The foot-lever, is depressed, thereby overcoming the spring p', and drawing
the connecting-rod q', and its attachments, the bar r, out of engagement with the
hole t, the bar r, sliding in the block s, which is, as before stated, rigidly secured
to the arm of the lever k. The lever k, is then depressed, which causes the arm l,
to swing on its pivot m, thereby lifting the pin of the coupler. The spring e,
pushes out the block b, which in turn expels the link. The lever k, is then released
and the pin h, drops by gravity on the top of the block b, thus adjusting itself for
the next operation. The foot-lever is at last released the spring p', throwing the
arm up and bolt r, into the hole t, thus locking securely the entire device, which
makes accidental uncoupling impossible.
cars.
**T

page_text: Fig. 4, shows as before stated, the coupler applied to a freight-car, with the
locking mechanism omitted.
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 a car-coupling, an elevating device for a coupling-pin, consisting of lever k,
arm 1, forked at one end and fulcrumed at m, in combination with foot-lever j, i¹,
pivoted to lever 1, at point p, spring p', link g, connecting-rod q', and bolt r, all
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. In a car-coupling, the levers k, and j, j', in combination with the coupling pin,
spring-actuated slide, and the intermediate connections, all substantially as shown
and described.
D
Sh1002
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.