Year: 1889

page_text: I THOMAS CANBY CHAPPELL, of 8 South Street Baltimore, State of Maryland U.S.A.
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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the devices for coupling Railroad Cars,
and consists of such arrangements of locking mechanism and buffers, that when the
Cars are brought together they will be automatically coupled and locked securely
together thereby, and further provides for making a train more rigid; provision
being made whereby the locking mechanism may be tripped from either the platform
or other point near the end of the car or from the side of the car, and thus permit
the cars to be separated without the necessity of a person getting between the cars to
perform this operation. I provide for the guiding said coupling to a centre by one
or more jaws placed on each coupling and provide against transverse motion by
placing two jaws upon each coupling placed at an angle of 90 degrees when only one
jaw is placed on each coupling I place a pin or extension on the outward end of the
coupling said jaws engage a recess provided therefor on opposite coupling and said
pin engages in a recess provided therefore in the opposite coupling. I also provide a
vibrating device for supporting said coupling which permits it to move in every
direction, in the further description of my invention reference is had to the
accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a part of two cars which are coupled by this
device.
Fig. 2 is a detailed side elevation of a pair of couplings showing them locked
together one coupling being in section and the other in full a part of the locking arm
being removed.
Fig. 3 is a cross section through A-A of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through B-B of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a cross section through the tripping device at C-C of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a view in full looking at the end of the device.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the coupling showing a modification of locking
mechanism.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view of ends of coupling looking obliquily down showing
jaws, pins and recesses thereof.
ID037

page_text: Fig. 9 is a view looking end wise the coupling and showing a modification for
supporting the coupling.
The same figures refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The figure 7 denotes the platform of a car under which may be suspended the
coupling 9 by means of a strap 10 and the beam 11, the said strap 10 preferably
being of the form shown in fig. 4 whereby a slight lateral movement may be permitted
the coupling to avoid any but a tensile strain thereon, the beam 11 through which the
coupling passes having its opening through which the said coupling is passed of
such size as to likewise permit a slight lateral movement therein the said beam 11 in
addition to supporting the coupling serving as a backing for the buffers 21 and 22
thereof in a manner which will be herein after described.
Referring now to Fig. 2. the following is a description of the coupling, the figure 12
denotes the body of the coupling which is preferably constructed with its outer
end 13 of a cylindrical form Figs. 4. 5 and 6 and its inner end 14, of the square
form shown in Fig. 3, in order to prevent the coupling from turning and by this
means insure a proper position of the coupling for locking to that of another car.
This end 14 however may be made cylindrical or of any other form and some of the
devices in common use such as a feather employed to prevent its turning. In order
to support the outer end 13 the supporting strap 10 is passed around this part of the
coupling, the ends of which as stated are secured under the car. Encircling the
body 12, at the point where the cylindrical and square parts meet is the flange 15
which has pivoted thereto preferably one on each side thereof, the locking arms 16
that are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 2. and are provided near the end
thereof on the side next the coupling with an offset 17 and the arin be made to
terminate in the tapered and outward curved form shown to facilitate the adjustment
thereof in locking to the next car the said arm 16 being of such length that the
offset 17. will engage with the inner side of the flange 18 or other offset of the
other coupling and thus lock the coupling together. In order to draw the said
arms 16 towards the centre and hold them there, the springs 19 are provided, which
are secured preferably on the periphery of the flange 18,-Fig. 6. the free end of
the said spring 19 bearing on the top of the arms 16, thus when two couplings are
brought together the tapered curved end 20 of the arms 16 will be raised by the
flange 18 of the other coupling which is preferably beveled for that purpose until
the offset 17 of the locking arm will have passed the inner edge of said flange 18,
when the spring 19 will cause the arms to drop and the two couplings will be held
securely together. An adjustible band may be used instead of springs. Said band
may be an ordinary iron ring of sufficient diameter to encircle the locking arms and
may be advanced upon them when they are locked, by means of an ordinary lever
the said lever will serve to move the said band in the opposite direction when it is
desired to unlock the coupling bodies. To provide against the shock of impact when
the cars meet in coupling and to likewise reduce the shock from a sudden pull the
coupling is provided with the double buffers 21 and 22. The buffer 21 which may
be made of any elastic material or of springs is placed between the flange 15 and
the beam 11 and thus serves to releive the shock of impact by yielding in a slight
degree to the strain and the buffer 22 of like construction to the buffer 21 is placed
between the flange 23 which forms the inner end of the coupling and the beam 11
and thus serving to relieve any shock which may arise from a sudden pull. On the
inner end of the coupling is the eye 29 to which is secured the draft rod 30 this
rod 30 passing the length of the car and being secured to a corresponding eye in the
end of the coupling at the other end of the car whereby an equal strain is sustained
on the couplings at each end of the car; as a further means of releiving the shock
of impact the outer end of the coupling which when flanged also serves as an
additional buffer may be provided with the elastic cushion 24 which will be com-
pressed when the couplings are brought together and form the elasticity thereof the
cars will be more solidly held together and the noise of friction will also be by said
elastic cushion reduced.

page_text: In order to conveniently trip the locking arms 16 there is provided the tripper 25,
which moves freely in preferably a slot formed in the cylindrical part 13 of the
coupling the said tripper 25 being placed near enough to the flange end 18, of the
coupling to operate the arms 16 of both couplings and is constructed preferably in
the form shown in Fig. 5 with the projecting ears 26 thereon which in the rotating
movement of the said tripper are brought in contact with the under side of the
locking arms 16 and cause them to be raised to a sufficient height to release the
offsets 17 from the flange 18 the said tripper being provided with ears 26 preferably
as represented two of which serve to release the locking arms 16 of the coupling on
the other car by lifting the ends 20 thereof whereby the arms 16 may be raised by the
tripper of either coupling and permit the cars to be seperated, a handle 27 being
provided on the tripper 25 for convenience of operating and suitable stops 28 being
formed respectively on tripper 25, and on the body 12 of the coupling whereby the
movement of the said tripper is limited to the two positions of open or shut, the
ears 26 thereon or the handle may operate in a rachet slot, thus by throwing
the handle 27 in one direction the arius 16 will be raised and by moving the said
handle in the other direction the said arms will fall in the spaces between the ears 26
by the power exerted by the springs 19 and in position to automatically lock to
another coupling. The said tripper may have any number of ears or lugs 26, more
or less as desired. As described, each coupling is preferably provided with two locking
arms 16 which are placed opposite one another, those in the coupling at one end
being in a vertical plane and those in the coupling at the other end of the car being
in a horizontal plane thus distributing these locking arms when locked at right
angles one to the other around the flange 18; instead of being in the vertical and
horizontal planes these locking arms 16 may be placed at an inclination of 45 degrees
and those of one coupling at right angles to those of the other and thus insure
proper pairs when two couplings are brought together, if desired only one arm may
be placed on each coupling or a greater number of these locking arms 16 may be
employed which may be so distributed that they will properly inter-lock around the
flange 18 with the arms of another coupling. The jaws a Fig. 7 which may be
placed on each coupling at one side of the centre, being tapered, engages with the
perifory of the opposite coupling in which there is a recess c Figs. 7 & 8 to receive
said jaw and thus guides said coupling towards a centre in connection with one or
more other similar jaws and recesses. Said jaws and recesses are placed in equal
numbers on each coupling, preferably two on each, being located between the locking
arms, and in order not to interfere with said jaws, I prefer to use a spiral spring to
hold said locking arms to the offset to which they engage. To prevent transverse
motion employ the pin b, Figs. 7 and 8 engaging with the recess d, on the
opposite coupling. Suspended preferably under the platform may be the vibrating
support shown in Fig. 9 wherein is the strap e which may contain the coupling and
to which are attached the pins f, which are free to move in the bearings g, the
spring, being placed one on either side of said strap e, and serving to hold the
coupling in a central position, spring i, being placed each side of said bearings g, to
maintain them in their proper place. A rod k, serving to support said bearing g,
and permitting it to move thereon, and also serving to support said spring i,-Proper
backings m, may be employed for said spring i, and a rod n, serves to hold said
rods k, more staunch. This device will hold the couplings always in a position to be
coupled and permit it to yield to strain in any direction. The rod k, is slit in
sections p, Fig. 10 so as to permit the pins f, to pass therethrough, and said rods k,
pass through perforations r, in the bearings g, which said bearings are permitted to
move perpendicularly upon said rods k. The pins f, may be cast on the body of the
coupling itself in which case the strap e, might be omitted and the pins f, may be
slit and pass through perforations in the bearings g, the rods k, in that case passing
through the slit in the pins f. The pins f, are of sufficient length and project
sufficiently beyond said bearings to remain therein even when moved laterally in
each direction a considerable distance. I preferably make the strap 10 in two sections

page_text: Fig. 11 connected on each side by bolt y, through the flanges z, and I preferably
provide the interior of said strap with a swell or curved ridge v, engaging loosely in
a circular recess w, in body of coupling 9, or the swell may be upon the body of the
coupling and the grove or recess in the strap.
Having described my invention and the manner of operating the same, what I
claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is.
1st: In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it and
a buffer consisting of a laterally projecting flange on the end of the coupling which
is adapted to engage the locking arm of the other coupling, substantially as described.
2nd-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage one another when the
cars are brought together, each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to
the coupling body and a recess or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end adapted
to engage the locking arm of the opposite coupling and the ends of which are arined
with elastic buffers adapted to engage one another and resist the shock of impact of
the couplings substantially as described.
3rd: In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a recess, or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united.
each coupling body being attached at its rear end to the draft rod of the car to each
end of which a coupling is attached.
:-
4th In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a recess, or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united, in
combination with a releasing device which consists of a ring encircling the coupling
and provided on its periphery with cams or lugs having inclined faces which bear
upon the under side of one or all the locking arms, and which is provided with means
for turning said ring, whereby the arm or arms will be raised and the coupling
unlocked when tho cams are forced beneath them.
5th-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with one or more locking arms
hinged to it and a recess or recesses or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end,
adapted to engage the locking arm or arms of the other part of the coupling, whereby
the couplings are united, being provided with a circular spring surrounding the
locking arms whereby they are retained in contact with the flange or recess of the
opposite coupling.
6th-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a recess or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united, in
combination with a rigid ring encircling the locking arms and provided with means
for advancing the ring upon them when they are locked and withdrawing it when it
is desired to open them.
•
7th In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a recess or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage tl.c

page_text: locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united, the
ends of said couplings being provided with projecting pins or lugs which enter
corresponding holes or depressions in the opposite part of the coupling.
8th-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm, hinged to it
and a recess or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling whereby the couplings are united the
end of said couplings being provided with projecting jaws which engage the opposite
part of the coupling and serve to centre it.
9th In a coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies each of which is
secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a recess, or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united,
each coupling body being suspended by a flexible suspending device, which consists of
a rigid frame, consisting of vertical rods connected together at their lower ends, upon
these rods slide blocks, above and below which are helical springs encircling the rods
and maintaining the blocks midway of the rods, the blocks are also perforated with
horizontal holes through which pass freely horizontal rods secured to the suspending
ring which encircles the coupling body, this horizontal rod is encircled by helical
springs which bear between the sliding blocks and the suspending ring, substantially
as described.
10th In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which are provided with a locking arm hinged to
it and a recess, or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end, adapted to engage the
locking arm of the other part of the coupling, whereby the couplings are united, a
suspending device for the couplings which consists of a ring hung on the under side
of the car, the interior of which is beveled so as to bear upon the coupling body only
at its centre, whereby the coupling body is enabled to rock inside of the ring
substantially as described.
:-
11th In a car coupling the combination of two coupling bodies each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it and
a recess or a laterally projecting flange, upon its end adapted to engage the locking
arm of the other coupling and buffer secured to the ends of said coupling and
adapted to engage one another and resist the shock of impact; a pair of buffers
encircling each coupling body and bearing between flanges upon the coupling body
and a rigid part of the car placed intermediate between said buffers with means
whereby said locking arm may be raised and the coupling unlocked, means for
retaining the locking arm or arms in contact with the flange or recess in the
opposite coupling, a device fixed to the end of a car supporting each coupling body
in position opposite to the other coupling body attached to the end of another car, in
a similar manner, and the draft mechanism of the car secured to the coupling body
substantially as described.
12th In a car coupling, the combination of the two parts of the coupling, each
of which is connected to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other
when the cars are brought together and a suspending device for said coupling which
consists of a rigid frame secured to the end of the car and a series of springs
operating between the frame and the coupling, whereby the coupling is capable of
radial motion and is self centering.
13th-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which is
secured to the end of the car in position to engage the other when the cars are
brought together and a suspending device fixed to the end of the car supporting each
coupling body and mechanism operating between the coupling and a suspending

page_text: device, whereby the coupling is permitted partially spherically radial motion'
substantially as described.
14th-In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm or arms
hinged to it and a recess or a laterally projecting flange upon its end adapted to
engage the locking arm or arms of the other coupling, the arm or arms on the two
parts of the coupling being placed on a line which is at an inclination of 45 degrees
with the perpendicular and the arms on opposite couplings being on opposite sides of.
the perpendicular, substantially as described.
15th A car coupling consisting of two coupling pieces each supported in a ring
or strap said ring or strap suspended by a series of springs so that the ring may
freely oscillate in any direction at right angles to the coupling pieces, while the
coupling may freely reciprocate through the ring..
16th: In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it,
a buffer consisting of a laterally projecting flange, upon its end adapted to engage
the locking arm of the other coupling whereby the couplings are united, and having
a buffer surrounding the coupling body and bearing between an off-set on the coupling
and a stationary part of the car, substantially as described.
17th: In a car coupling, the combination of two coupling bodies, each of which
is secured to the end of a railroad car in position to engage the other when the cars
are brought together, and each of which is provided with a locking arm hinged to it
and a buffer consisting of a laterally projecting flange, upon its end adapted to engage
the locking arm of the other part of the coupling whereby the couplings are united,
and provided with a pair of buffers encircling each coupling body and bearing
between flanges upon the coupling body and a rigid part of the car placed intermediate
between said buffers.
Dated this 26th day of February 1889.