Improvements in Car-couplings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 24th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 24th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car-couplings.
I, JOSEPH KORMIL, of Goldendale, in the County of Klickitat and State of
Washington, United States of America, Farmer and Mechanic, 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 improvements in car-couplings.
The object of the invention is to provide an automatic car-coupling of-the-link-
and-pin type with means for holding the coupling-pin elevated, so that when the
link enters the draw-head the supporting means will be removed from beneath the
pin to permit it to fall, the construction of the parts being such that the means
employed for holding the pin elevated will also act as a gravity-support to hold' the
link in a horizontal position and the device so constructed that the pin can be held
elevated by the supporting means whether a link is in the draw-head or not; and
the invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be
hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a link secured in place in one of the draw-
heads and a pin supported for coupling in the other draw-head.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the coupling-pin elevated, and the link
maintained in a horizontal position for uncoupling.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a link such as I employ with my improved coupling.
Prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide an automatic coupling of
the link-and-pin variety with a ball for maintaining the coupling-pin in an elevated
position, as will be seen by reference to l'atents of the United States issued to
Greenleaf and Adams, No. 184149 dated November 7, 1876, and to G. F. Almy,
No. 349968 dated September 28, 1886.
Referring to the drawings, A is the draw-head, which is preferably made up of
two parts securely bolted to each other, these parts being provided with semi-
circular apertures, in which a cap or cover B is placed and held by a suitable pin.
Pin-openings C are provided in the upper and lower walls of the draw-head, in
which the coupling-pin D plays, the lower end of said pin being slightly concave,
so as to better fit upon the ball E contained within the draw-head. The coupling-
pin has an upper reduced portion d, and to the upper end thereof is secured a cap
or nut d', which will prevent said pin falling out of the opening C when lowered.
The draw-head is provided with a central chamber F, which is extended above
the mouth of the draw-head and rearwardly, as shown, the bottom of said chamber
being inclined. This chamber is of sufficient size to receive one end of the coupling-
link G and permit the ball E to rest thereon, the pin resting upon the ball. In
other words, this chamber has a vertical depth equal to the diameter of the ball and
thickness of the link, and by providing the same the link can be maintained in a
horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, and the car uncoupled while the link still
remains in the draw-head.

page_text: When the cars are 'coupled, the ball will rest upon the end of the link G, lying
in the concave portion g formed therein, said concave portion being rear of the
opening g' in the link.
In'operation, when it is desired to couple cars, it can be accomplished by simply
elevating the coupling-pin D. The ball will then automatically roll under said pin
to permit the pin to rest upon the upper surface thereof. When the link is inserted
in the mouth of the draw-head, the ball will be knocked from under the pin and the
cars automatically coupled.
This method of automatically coupling the cars has been carried out by several
styles of couplers that have come to my notice; but I am not aware that the parts
have been so constructed that after the link has been passed into the draw-head the
ball will rest upon the extended end of the link so as to maintain said link in a
horizontal position, nor has the aperture in the draw-head been of such a size that
the ball can rest upon the link and under the coupling-pin, so that by simply
drawing upon the link the cars can be detached.
This feature of my invention renders this style of draw-heads practical, as a
coupling that does not provide such means is considered by railroad men to be
objectionable and has not therefore come extensively into use.
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 :-
In combination with a car-coupler constructed substantially as shown, having a
chamber of sufficient size to receive the link and automatic pin-support, the chamber
having a flat inclined floor, together with a link having end portions which extend
beyond the apertures therein, and concave portions upon which the ball or pin
support will rest when the pin is in engagement with the openings in the link,
substantially as set forth.
1001
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.