Improvements in Car-couplings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
Improvements in Car-couplings.
We, JOHN SMITH HEATON, JOHN MORGAN SCOBEE, and JOSEPH SAMUEL
DALE, of Shelbyville, in the County of Shelby, and State of Kentucky, United
States of America, Gentlemen, 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 invention relates to improvements in car-couplings. The object of the
present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of car couplings, to
increase their efficiency, and to provide one capable of automatic coupling and
adapted to be readily uncoupled and set preparatory to coupling from the top and
side of a car without going between cars.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement
of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
pointed out in the claim hereto appended.
In the drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a car coupling constructed in accordance with
this invention as shown and applied to a car.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.
Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.
Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the pin-supporting and link-holding
plates.
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the tapering bifurcation of the rock-shaft arm.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
1 designates a draw-head having a vertical coupling pin perforation 2, and
provided at its top portion above the upper wall of a longitudinal link opening 3,
with a horizontal groove or way 4, in which reciprocates a pin-supporting plate 5;
the horizontal way 4 intersects the coupling-pin perforation, and the pin-supporting
plate is adapted to project inward over the coupling-pin perforation sufficiently to
hold a coupling-pin 6 elevated preparatory for automatic coupling.
The front end of the pin-supporting plate is provided with a transverse eye 7, in
which is arranged a pintle loop 8, secured to the top of a depending rearwardly-
inclined plate 9 and forming a hinged connection between the latter and the
pin-supporting plate whereby, when the plate 9 is forced rearward or inward by
a link 10 entering the draw-head, the coupling-pin 6 will be caused to fall to couple
with the link 10.
The rearwardly or inwardly-inclined plate 9 is provided with a central opening 11,
through which passes a coupling-pin; it is pivoted or hingedly mounted in the
draw-head by a transverse pin 12, and the latter, together with the pintle loop 8 is
located in a recess 13 in the upper wall or top of the draw-head to protect those
parts from injury. The lower end of the plate 9 is adapted to rest upon the inner
end of a link to hold the latter against sagging to direct it into the mouth of
another draw-head.
The coupling-pin is elevated preparatory to automatic coupling and for uncoupling
by a rock-shaft 14 journaled transversely on a car 15, and extending to the sides
thereof and terminating in handles, and it is provided with a slotted or bifurcated
arm 16, which receives the coupling-pin 6 in its outer bifurcated end 17. The
arm 16 is connected with the top of the car by a lifting rod 18. The opening or

page_text: bifurcation of the arm 16 tapers toward its inner end, whereby when the arm is
swung upward the coupling-pin will be clamped sufficiently by the converging
sides of the opening slot or bifurcation to prevent the pin from being accidentally
thrown out of the opening of the arm by any sudden jar or movement of the car
or the uncoupling mechanism. The coupling-pin may be held elevated and remain
uncoupled when desired, by swinging the arm 16 upwardly sufficiently to carry a
cam 19, into engagement with the car. This cam, by binding against the adjacent
portion of the car prevents the coupling-pin from descending, but the arm 16 may
be readily forced downward by the rock-shaft or the lifting rod.
It will be seen that the car coupling is simple and comparatively inexpensive in
construction; that it is capable of automatic coupling, and that it may be readily
uncoupled and set for automatic coupling without going between cars.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a coupling-pin
perforation and provided with a horizontal way intersecting the coupling-pin
perforation and having a recess at the outer terminus of the way, a pin-supporting
plate arranged in said way and adapted to project into the coupling-pin perforation
to hold a coupling-pin elevated, and a swinging plate bingedly mounted in the
draw-head and provided at its top with an upward extending pintle loop arranged
in said recess and hingedly connected with the pin-supporting plate, substantially
as described.
2. In a car coupling, the combination with a draw-head and a coupling-pin, of a
rock shaft designed to be mounted on a car and provided with an outward extending
arm having its outer end bifurcated, said bifurcation tapering toward its inner end,
whereby the coupling-pin is clamped, substantially as described.
3. In a car coupling, the combination of a car, a draw-head and a coupling-pin,
of a rock shaft arranged transversely of the car and journaled thereon, and
provided with an outward extending arm connected with the coupling-pin, an
eccentric mounted on the rock-shaft and arranged to engage frictionally and to bind
the car whereby the coupling-pin is held elevated substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.