Improvements in Car Couplers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1893-Accepted, 24th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Couplers.
I, LOUIS NAPOLEON SINGIN, of Walls, County of Allegheny, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to car couplers, and more particularly to automatic
couplers of what is known as the vertical plane style, and it has for its object to
provide a coupler which shall be exceedingly simple in construction, positive and
To these
automatic in its operation, cheap to manufacture, and effective in use.
ends the invention consists-in-a-coupler-embodying_the_features of construction
substantially such as are hereinafter more particularly set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a plan view of the draw-head with one section of the coupler applied
thereto;
Figure 2 is a similar view partly in section of the complementary draw-head;
Figure 3 is a side view; and
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the draw-head.
In carrying out this invention it is one of the objects to provide a draw head and
coupler which is not only simple and effective in use but which can be readily
removed from a car in case of accident and a new draw-head or portion of the
coupler readily replaced, not requiring the use of any special tools or the turning
of the cars into the shops for repairs.
The drawhead is made in the usual shape generally adapted for use in connection
with this class of couplers, and may be attached to the car in the usual way, it not
being deemed necessary to show it herein. The configuration of the drawhead is
such as to comply with the usual requirements of this class of couplers, so that it
will be interchangeable with couplers of other makes, and is provided with the
projections 2, 3 the body of the drawhead being hollow as shown in Figure 2 for
the reception of the operative parts of the coupler.
Mounted in the projection 2 of the drawhead is the knuckle 4 and this is provided
with the usual slot 5 for the reception of the ordinary coupling link, and with a pin
hole 6 for the reception of the ordinary coupling pin when the coupling is to be
used with the old style link.
The knuckle 4 has an extension 7, projecting at substantially right angles to the
knuckle, and this extension is in the form of a sector, and is provided with a number
of teeth 8,9 10 etc., four being shown in the drawing, although I do not limit myself
to the precise number.
Mounted in the drawhead is a sector 12, having a series of teeth 13, 14, 15 etc.
the tooth 17 at one side of the sector being preferably made larger or thicker to
form a strong bearing portion for the sector. This sector is pivotally mounted
in the drawhead in such a position that its teeth normally engage with the teeth of
the projection 7 of the knuckle so that the two sectors move in unison, one with
the other.
In order to lock the knuckle in position, a locking pin 20 is provided. This pin
while it may be variously made, is preferably of a shape shown in the drawings
having an extension 21 which forms a guide passing through the opening 22 in the
under portion of the drawhead, while the upper portion is formed at an angle
having the parts 23 and 24 and fitting an angular opening 25 in the upper portion
of the drawhead. The part 24 is shorter than the other portion, so that when the

page_text: pin is raised as shown in Figure 4, the teeth of the sector 12 pass underneath the
pin, and the pin slides or moves over the face of the sector, but when the sector is
in the position shown in dotted lines Figure 1, the pin falls by gravity and the
portion 24 thereof impinges or bears against the enlarged tooth 17 of the sector
and forms a safe and secure brace to hold the knuckle of the coupler in coupling
position.
The locking pin may be operated in any usual manner, from the top or the side
of the car by suitable mechanism, which need not be shown, and it is preferably
locked in the coupler head, so as not to be liable to be displaced. The knuckle is
secured in the draw-head by a pin 26, and a sector 12 is secured in position by a
similar pin 27, and it will thus be seen that if any accident happens to the knuckle
or the sector, either or both may be readily removed from the draw-head and a new
one replaced, it only being necessary to raise the pins 26 and 27 and substitute the
proper part for the injured part.
Such being the construction of the device, its operation will be readily understood.
When the parts are to be coupled, one of the coupling pins 20 is raised, and the
knuckle thrown out, so that the parts assume the position shown in Figure 2, and
when the complementary knuckle of the other draw-head is brought into position,
the knuckle 4 thereof will strike against the projecting sector 7 of the open knuckle,
and force the parts into place, the teeth of the sector 7 turning the sector 12 to the
position shown in dotted lines Figure 1. Meanwhile the locking pin 20 rides over
the upper surface of the teeth of the sector, and when the knuckle is forced home
to the proper position, the pin falls by gravity, so that its wide portion 24 engages
the rear of the tooth 17, and the parts are securely locked in position. It will be
seen that in this position not only the strongest portion of the locking pin, but of
the sector, are in contact and more or less of the teeth of the sector and of the
projection interlock, and form a strong and secure bearing.
When it is desired to uncouple, it is simply necessary to raise the locking pin 20
and separate the draw bars. It is not necessary to raise the pin of both drawheads.
While I have thus described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my
invention, it will be understood that the details of construction and arrangement
may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not
therefore limit myself to the precise construction shown.
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. In a car coupler the combination with the drawhead of a pivotted knuckle
having a sector provided with projecting teeth, and a pivotted sector having teeth
continually engaging the teeth on the knuckle substantially as described.
2. In a car coupler the combination with the recessed drawhead of a sector
having teeth pivotally mounted therein a knuckle having a sector provided with
projecting teeth continually engaging the teeth of the sector and means for locking
the sector, substantially as described.
3. In a car coupler the combination with the drawhead of a knuckle having a
sector shaped projection provided with teeth a sector pivotally mounted in the
drawhead provided with teeth continually engaging the teeth of the knuckle, and
a locking pin engaging said sector, substantially as described.
4. In a car coupler the combination with the drawhead of the knuckle having a
sector shaped projection provided with teeth, a sector pivotally mounted in the
drawhead provided with teeth continuously engaging the teeth of the knuckle, and
a locking pin having an angular body arranged to engage the sector substantially
as described.
5. In a car coupler the combination with the knuckle having a sector shaped
projection provided with teeth a pivotted sector mounted in the drawhead also
provided with teeth continuously engaging the teeth of the knuckle one of the

page_text: teeth of the sector being enlarged to form a bearing portion, and a locking pin
engaging said enlarged tooth, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of May 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.