Improvements in and relating to Car Couplers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Complete specification. Lent, 27th CL., 1992-Accepted, or
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Car Couplers.
I, RICHARD SUTTON ROBERTSON, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Castle Gate, in the County of Emery and Territory of Utah, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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 certain new and useful improvements in car-couplers;
and it has for its object to improve upon that class of automatic couplers in which
the ordinary form of coupling-link is employed, and to provide means, in connection
with the coupler, whereby the coupling pin or bar may be held in a raised position
when not required for use in coupling.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
in the peculiar construction and in the novel combination, arrangement, and
adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the
accompanying drawings, and then specifically defined in the appended claim.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this Specification, like
letters of reference indicating the same parts throughout the several views, in
which drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-coupling device embodying my
improvements:
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the same:...
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the device for locking the
coupling-pin in a raised position.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A, designates
the draw-head, which is of ordinary form and is provided with the usual flaring
opening, B, for the reception of the coupling-link, and with a vertical opening, C,
for the passage of the coupling bar or pin, D.
Within a vertical recess or chamber, E, provided for the purpose immediately to
the rear of the vertical opening, C, is a casting, F, which is of a width corre-
sponding with the width of the link-opening B. This casting, F, serves both as a
gravity catch for supporting the coupling-pin when raised above the link-entrance
and also serves, when the coupling link is in place, to hold the same in a horizontal
position. This casting is pivoted within the draw-head by means of a transverse
pivot or shaft, F1, which is passed through the side walls of the draw-head and
through a vertically-elongated opening, F, in the lower portion of the body portion
of the casting, as shown, and is thus allowed a vertical movement within certain
limits, as will be readily understood. The coupling-pin D is at its upper end
pivotally attached to one end of the link, G, and at a point near its upper end is
provided with transverse extensions or lugs, G', which prevent the pin from falling
or passing too far in entering the draw-head. The link, G, is, at the end opposite
to that which is attached to the pin, D, pivoted to the outer end of the arm, H,
CD

page_text: which arm is at its other end secured to the shaft, 1. The shaft I is journaled
within suitable bearings in the castings J, which rise from the rear portion of the
draw-head; or, if preferred, it may be journaled within blocks or extensions
attached to the car and independent of the draw-head. At one end of the shaft I
is secured a casting, I¹, from one side of which projects a stub-shaft, I'. The
lever K, which serves as a means for locking the coupling-pin in a raised position
when desired, is sleeved at a point near one of its ends upon the stub-shaft, I', and
the curved short end I of the lever is adapted when turned inward, to enter an
aperture L in the casting J.
The operation of the coupling is simple and will from the foregoing description
be readily understood. The gravity-catch or casting F will serve to automatically
hold the pin in position for coupling when raised, and when the link is forced
within the entrance of the draw-head it will contact with the latch, forcing it
backward and releasing the pin, which will drop through the link. The casting F,
being provided with means for vertical play, as described, adapts it for use in
connection with links attached to couplers of different heights, and the lever I,
with its connections, serve to permit the pin to be readily locked in a raised position
when desired.
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:
:-
* The combination with the draw-head recessed as described, of the casting, F,
pivoted within a recess to the rear of the coupling-pin opening, the coupling-pin
having lugs extending laterally therefrom near its upper end, the shaft I, journaled
in bearings above and to the rear of the draw-head, pivoted link-connections, as
described, between the shaft and pin, the casting I, having upon one of its sides
the stub-shaft I, and the lever K, sleeved at a point near one of its ends upon
the stub-shaft, the short arm of the lever being curved, as described, and adapted
to be thrown into engagement with an opening in the casting J, substantially as
described, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 27th day of October 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.