Improvements in Car Couplers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in Car Couplers.
We, HORACE BOYD and ELIAS FRANTZ, both citizens of the United States,
residing at Coplay, in the County of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, 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:-
Our invention has relation to that class of car couplers designated as twin-jaw
or vertical couplers; and in such connection it relates more particularly to the
general construction and arrangement thereof.
The principal objects of our invention are first, to provide a simple, strong or
durable and efficient car coupler; second, to provide a twin-jaw car coupler
arranged so that the jaws thereof are automatically locked to required position
with each other and manually unlocked by the manipulation of a releasing device:
third, to provide a car coupler having a draw-bar, neck or stem hinged or pivoted
to the draw-head thereof so as to permit of the coupling of one car with another
on any curved portion of a road; fifth, to provide a car coupler having a pivotal
draw-bar, neck or stem with a frictional collar or yoke in normal engagement with
the draw-head and springs under the control of set-screws or the like engaging
said bar, stem or neck to permit of the coupling of one car with another with
facility on a curve; sixth, to provide a coupler each member of which is provided
with a pivotal jaw adapted to be engaged by an internal spring positioned locking
device, whereby in the contact of the jaw of one member with that of the other
a firm and solid connection is automatically established and by a manual manipu-
lation of a device connected with the locking block of each member adapted to
engage the coupling jaw, the same is released to enable one car to be parted from
the other; seventh, to provide a car coupler with a hinged draw-bar or neck
maintained in required position in the draw-head by means of springs under the
control of set screws or the like, whereby coupling of cars on curved courses or
roads is ensured with a certainty and safety; eighth, to provide a car coupler
having a pivotal jaw adapted to be locked to the draw-head and released minually
with perfect safety and without the presence of a person going between cars;
and ninth, to simplify the construction and arrangement of the parts of a car
coupler and to so improve the operation thereof as that perfect safety and
reliability in the coupling of cars irrespective of the conditions or curvature of the
road-bed is absolutely ensured.
Our invention stated in general terms, consists of a car coupler constructed,
arranged and adapted for operation in substantially the manner hereinafter
described and claimed.
The nature and general features of our invention will be more fully understood
from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings
forming part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, is a top or plan view of a car coupler embodying the features of our
invention, showing the jaw thereof in a locked or operative position in connection
with the draw-head.
Fig. 2, is a view partly in plan and partly in section, showing the internal
construction and arrangement of the coupler together with the pivoted or hinged
draw-her or neol thereof

page_text: 5,18 Fongitudmal section through the coupler on the Ե Ն
The
and
Fig. 4, is a cross-sectional view of the coupler on the line y-y, of Fig. 3.
Referring to the drawings A, is the draw-head of somewhat the type of a
Janney coupler recessed in front at a, and with tapering or contracted projections a¹
and a², in one of which is mounted a knuckle or coupling hook or jaw a³, provided
with its tail piece a. This coupling hook, jaw or knuckle a³, is pivoted at a³,
to the bottom and top walls of the projection a', of the draw-head A. In the
body of the head A, is mounted the locking block B, which is pivoted at b', to
the walls of said head. This block at one end is recessed at 12, and at the opposite
end is formed with a notched projection or lug 63, adapted to engage a comple-
mental notch or recess as, in the side wall of the head A., is a coiled or other
suitable spring set into an offset or pocket a', formed in the rear wall of the
head A, and this spring normally engages the locking block B, as clearly
illustrated in Fig. 2., is an oblong slot formed in the pivotally supported
locking block B, and engaged by the projecting pin 6, of a releasing device B'.
extending upward through the top of the head A, and pivoted to lugs as and a
formed preferably integral therewith, the rear extemity of which device is engaged
by a chain, for releasing the recessed portion of said block B, from its engage-
ment with the tail piece a', of the coupling hook, jaw or knuckle a³, as will be
readily understood from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of the drawings. C, is a draw-bar or
hollow neck provided with a slot c, extending therethrough for securing the same to
a bumper rod or bar located under the car in any well understood manner.
draw-bar or neck C, has formed either integral therewith or secured to the forward
portion of the same, a friction collar or yoke c², which normally engages the rear
wall of the draw-head A, one face of which is made dish-shape to contour with that
of the head, for a purpose to be presently explained. The forward extremita!
portion of the draw-bar or hollow neck of the coupler is made solid and
rectangular in form to constitute a bearing tongue C', as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2
and 3, and fits loosely in a complemental chamber A', provided therefor in the rear of
the head A, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and which portion of the said bar
or neck is pivoted or hinged at e, to the top and bottom walls of the said head A.
It may be here remarked that the chamber A', is of greater area than the tongue
in order to permit of ranges of movement therein. e and e', are tapped chambers
or openings provided in the rear solid portion of the draw-head A, as clearly
illustrated in Fig. 2, at preferably an angle to a plane through the head and
mounted therein are springs e2 and 3, which normally engage at one end with
the tongue of said draw-bar or neck C, and at the opposite end with set screws e
and e, for increasing or decreasing the bearing pressure of the springs against
the said tongue and in order to permit by the adjustment of the said screws of
an increase or decrease of the range of curved movement of the draw bar or
neck C, in the chamber or bearing space A', as clearly illustrated in dotted lines
in Fig. 2, of the drawings, for permitting of the coupling and uncoupling of
one car from another on a curved roadway or course. In Fig. 2, is shown in
full lines the normal position of the knuckle or coupling jaw a³, in its engage-
ment with the recessed end of the locking block B, and as well in dotted lines the
unlocked or open position of the said knuckle or jaw and locking block, after
the latter has been actuated by means of the releasing device B', by the drawing
in an upward direction of the chain as shown in Fig. 3, to cause the block B,
to be shifted rearwardly and away from a position in engagement with the
tail-piece a, of the knuckle or coupling jaw a³, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
It will be observed that the spiral spring bearing normally against the locking
block B, is adapted to maintain the latter in firm contact with the tail piece a
of said coupling jaw a³, when in engagement therewith, and the lug or projection
at one end of the said block is adapted to limit the extent of movement of the
block B, in one direction and it is maintained in that position in engagement with
the notch or recess in the side wall of the said head A, until in the movement

page_text: vertically of the bell crank releasing device B', by means of its chain, the locking
block B, is shifted rearwardly from such position and so as to free the coupling
jaw a³, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. It may be here remarked that but
one coupler has been shown in the drawings adapted for attachment in any suitable
manner to the right hand end of a car, but it is to be understood that one exactly
like that illustrated but occupying a contrary or left hand position is attached to
the other car at one end and in such manner as that the two cars may be
automatically coupled together.
It will be manifestly obvious that as to minor details in the arrangement of the
parts of the coupler of our invention, modifications may be made and still be within
the spirit and scope of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a chamber, a draw-bar or
neck movably held in the chamber of said head and springs adjustably engaging
said bar and neck so as to afford a range of movement of said bar or neck,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a rear rectangular chamber,
a draw-bar provided with a hollow slotted neck and with a solid tongue pivotally
supported in the chamber of said draw-head, springs engaging said tongue, and set
screws engaging said springs, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a knuckle jointed coupling
jaw and a locking device maintained in position with the tail piece of said jaw by
means of a spring, a device adapted to shift said locking block out of engagement
with said coupling jaw, a movable draw-bar or neck connected with said head
under the tension of springs and set screws connected with said head and engaging
said springs, substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a pivotally supported
coupling jaw and a locking device maintained in operative position therewith by
means of a spring, a releasing appliance for shifting said device out of engagement
with said jaw, a draw-bar or hollow neck provided with a tongue pivotted in the
rear of said draw-head and engaged by springs, and means for controlling the
position thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a pivotally supported
coupling jaw, a locking device therefor held under spring tension in engagement
therewith, a pivotally supported bell crank appliance for shifting said locking
device, a draw-bar provided with a dish-shaped collar or yoke and a tongue
pivotally supported in said draw-head and spring controlled means between said
head and tongue, substantially as and for the purposes described.
6. A car coupler provided with a draw-head having a rear chamber, a draw-bar
or neck pivotally supported therein under spring tension and said bar or neck
provided with a friction collar or yoke adapted to limit the range of movement
of said bar or neck with respect to said head, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Dated at Conlay Lehigh Counte
Pennsylvania this 15th day of December
A.D. 1894.
HORACE BOYD,
ELIAS FRANTZ,
Per J. G. Lorrain, M. Inst. E.E., M. Inst. M.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.