Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
We, CHARLES EDWARD STRUCK, Carriage Maker, and JOHN AUGUSTUS BALDWIN
Grocer both of Newark in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United
States of America, 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 object of this invention is to provide an anti-rattling thill-coupling of increased
utility, effectiveness, and of reduced cost of construction, and one that may be coupled
and uncoupled with greater facility and ease.
This invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially
as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the
improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, taken longitudi-
nally through the shaft and across the axle, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of
the key adapted to hold the coupling in operative engagement with the thill.
In said drawings, a indicates a clip attached to the axle b in any ordinary and
suitable manner.
c indicates the thill-iron secured to the shaft d by ordinary bolts, e, or other suitable
means.
findicates the jack, which extends beneath the shaft and is held thereto by the
clip. The jack is provided with two cheeks, ff, between which the thill-iron c
has its bearings. One of the cheeks of the said jack is radially slotted, as at g, to
allow the key h to pass therethrough into a similar radial slot i in the head. The
cheeks of the jack are provided with a central pivotal pin, j, adapted to hold the thill-
iron and take the draft therefrom, and the slot, before referred to, extends only to
said pin, enough metal being provided around said pin to hold the same firmly in
place. The slot in the cheeks of the jack is given a rounded or circular shape at its
inner end, as at k, and contracted near the periphery of the cheek, as at k³, coinciding
with the shape of the key adapted to pass therethrough. The slot in the head of the
thill-iron is also made to conform to the key, so that the latter may be passed into
ID 17

page_text: said head and be retained therein because of the contracted mouth at the peripheral
portion.
The pivotal portion of the head is enlarged, so as to be considerably greater in
diameter than the diameter of the pivotal pins. It is thus adapted to receive a
packing, m, which lies around the pivotal pin and prevents the usual noise caused in
driving.
The key shown in Fig. 3 is provided with a cylindrical head, 1, which fits into the
rounded portion of the slot in the head, bearing against the packing, and also
against the pivotal pin.
By having rubber or other suitable cushion-like packing secured in the large
chamber formed in the head, in the manner shown and described, the same is held in
place by the cheeks of the jack, so that the said rubber or other suitable packing is
prevented from becoming displaced by lateral movement.
The enlarged cylindrical head prevents the key from being withdrawn through the
contracted portion of the slot or opening in the head.
When the shafts are in position so that their ends lie upon or near the ground, or
in a position away from their normal driving position, the slots in the thill-head
coincide with that in the cheek, so that the key can be laterally moved from its seat
in said head and the thill detached from the vehicle. When the shaft is raised so as
to be in position for driving purposes, the key is brought away from the opening or
slot in the cheek, and is thus locked in position, so that it is impossible for it to work
out, through accident or otherwise.
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. The improved thill-coupling herein described, combining therein a thill-iron
having a slotted head and a jack provided with cheeks, one of which is slotted to
coincide with the slot in the head, and a key having a cylindrical head, said head
serving the double purpose of retaining the key in position and reducing the frictional
contact, substantially as set forth.
2. The improved thill-coupling, combining therein a jack provided with a pivotal
pin and with checks, one of which is slotted, as described, and a thill-iron provided
with correspondingly-slotted head, and a chamber having therein packing for prevent-
ing the contact between said head and the pivotal pin of the jack, and a key adapted
to hold said parts in operative relation, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of December 1887.