Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st July, 1887.

page_text: in its front end and cut away to form the angular walls C, D, which are cut at about
thirty two (32°) degrees.
E represents the front section of the draw-head which has a chamber L formed in it
having an inclined upper and lower wall as shown at 1, 2, in Figures 3 and 14, and is
provided with a cylindrical pin F, over which extends a cap or flange G, for
preventing ice, snow, or other foreign matter from getting into the knuckle joint
formed by the intersecting members of the draw-head. The walls a, b, are formed at
an angle of about twenty-two (22°) degrees, to allow sufficient space between them
and the walls C, D, of section A, to afford sufficient lateral movement of the cars in
rounding curves in the road. On both sides of the front end of the section E, are
recesses c, d, to receive the rear ends of the link H. The upper walls e of the
recesses c, d, are formed at an angle of about forty five (45°) degrees, to limit the
upward throw of said link, and the front end of said wall is inclined as shown at e¹, to
prevent the hook from catching on the same. On one side of said head is also formed
a recess or housing f, the rear wall f¹ of which describes a segment of a circle struck
from the centre of the eccentric cam on the transverse assembling pin; the front
wall g of said recess fis also curved, as shown at ; it will also be observed that the
recess is converging, the widest point being at the lower or open end of the recess.
On the lower portion of the rear wall of said recess is a projection i, which engages
with a shoulder k, on the inner surface of the arm of the disk on the assembling pin.
I, represents the assembling pin upon one end of which is formed a disk
Y, from
which project arms w w¹. On the inner face of said disk is formed a cam n, which is
eccentric to the pin I, and upon which the eye s in the coupling hook fits. Upon said
pin I, is mounted a hook or dog K, which has a projection oformed thereon to be
struck by the link of an adjacent car as the cars approach each other, to throw the
hook forward and in engagement with said link automatically. H represents a link
also mounted upon the pin I, the arms of which project into the recesses c, d, on the
sides of the section E of the draw-head, and in the front end of the link is formed an
eye p, and on the under side of the link is formed a hook q, for engagement with a
link of an adjacent car. The inner upper edge of one arm of each link is chamfered
at to correspond with the incline e¹ on the wall e of the section E.
On the end of the pin I is mounted a pallet shaped cam M, the longest side of
whose flange m¹ projects forward and is flared outward as shown at n¹.. The cam is
provided with a recess, with which the bill or the point of the hook engages, the
point of the hook engages the cam M, below the centre of the transverse pin I.
The cam is set upon the pin in such a position that when the parts are coupled, the
longest side of the cam is below the pin as shown in Figures 1 and 1ª, and is secured
by a key z.
By flaring the front end of the pallet shaped cam outward, the hook will be guided
into position, and the coupling may be effected while the cars are rounding a curve in
the track, and by setting the cam upon the pin in such position that the longest side
of the eccentric is below the shaft, the draft on the hooks will pull downward and
prevent the cam from turning and releasing the hooks until they are raised positively
by mechanical means.
N, represents the coupling hook, in the rear end of which is formed a cylindrical
eyes and on the inner surface of the hook is formed a lateral projection t, the inner
surface w and the outer surface v, of the projections are concentric to the eyes of the
hook, and engage respectively with the rear and front walls f¹, and 9, of the recess f
in the side of the section E, of the draw-head.
The upper end of the projection t, engages with the corresponding end of the
recess and forms a support for the hook N, when in a horizontal position and ready
for coupling with another car; the lower end of the projection strikes the link H and
raises it into position for coupling with a car that is not provided with my automatic
coupling but with any other standard link coupling. The several positions of the
link H are shown in dotted lines in Figure 1º.
From the arms w w¹ of the disk y, on the pin I project studs a¹ which are secured
in said arms so that they will rotate upon their axis, and in the outer end of the studs

page_text: is formed a slot 6' in which a link e' is pivotally secured. The link el is twisted, and
engages at its opposite end with a similar stud d' pivotally secured to the bell crank
lever e for operating the coupling either from the side or top of the car.
Should it be desired to connect the couplings with the cab of the engine, a rod or
rods may be extended along under the cars from one end to the other of the train,
and be connected to the arm w¹.
Instead of forming the chamber I, in the section E, said section may be made solid,
as shown in Figure 15.
The several parts of the coupling being constructed substantially as described, the
operation is as follows:-
The hooks N being in engagement with the pallet shaped cams M, and the cars
coupled, they may be uncoupled by drawing upon the lever e¹, which will turn the
pallet shaped cam forward, and at the same time raise the hook from engagement with
the cam on the adjacent car as shown in Figure 1".
The couplings having been released, the elevated hook will fall by gravity to
its normal position for re-coupling, the hook may however be held in its elevated
position by securing the lever in any well known manner, when the automatic
coupling of the cars is not desired, (as in yard use.) When the hook is in this
elevated position the inner surface u, of the lateral projection t, on the hook engages
with the front wall g, of the recess f. and limits the forward throw thereof, this motion
of the disk and the assembling pin puts the hook or dog K in position for auto-
matically coupling with a standard link as the link will strike the curved front end of
the hook, raising it and passing under the same, when it will engage with the eye in
the link.
When the hook is in its horizontal or coupled position the rear surface of the
projection t, engages with the rear curved wall of the recess f, and limits the
rearward throw of the hook.
The knuckle joint formed by the projection F, and the chamber B, on the section A
and E, admit of lateral and vertical adjustinent, the projection F, on the section E,
rises and falls in the chamber B, providing for coupling with cars whose draw-bars
are of different heights.
When the couplings are engaged sufficient space is allowed between the ends of the
draw-heads to allow for the slack required in starting a train, and the connections are
so formed that should any one car in the train jump the track, or be thrown over an
embankment it will immediately release itself from the adjacent cars, either by the
knuckle joint being disengaged or the hook disengaging from the pallet shaped cam.
It has also been demonstrated that the couplings may be disengaged while the train is
under great tension, as in ascending grades or in making flying switches.
The parts constituting the automatic coupling consist of five detachable pieces for
a new bar, (the front rear intersecting section, the transverse pin, the hook, and the
cam with which the hook engages) and three pieces for an old or common draw-bar
without the knuckle joint, the transverse pin, the hook, and the cam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. A car coupling draw-head formed in two detachable sections, the ends of which
are provided with intersecting members forming a segmental knuckle joint admitting
of vertical and lateral movement, and a cap or flange covering the joint to protect it,
substantially as described.
2nd. A car coupling draw-head having a recess in one side with curved front and
rear walls, in combination with a hook having a lateral projection on one side, and a
transverse pin provided with an operating eccentric cam, substantially as described.
3rd. A car coupling draw-head having a hook with a lateral projection on its rear
end, a transverse pin having an eccentric cam, and supporting a swinging link in
combination. with a pallet shaped cam, and suitable means for operating the several
parts, substantially as described.

page_text: 4th. A car coupling draw-head having a chamber therein a link having a hook on
its lower side, a transverse pin, a hook, a dog, and. a cam detachably secured to said
pin, in combination with suitable operating means, substantially as described.
5th. In a car coupling, a pallet shaped cam having an eccentric flaring flange on
its outer end, in combination with a hook, and a transverse pin provided with an
eccentric cam for throwing the hook, substantially as described.
a disk on
6th. A car coupling draw-head provided with a transverse pin having
one end, and supporting a detachable hook and a cam, in combination with clotted
studs swivelled in said disk and in an operating lever, and an intermediate link for
connecting the swivelled studs, substantially as described.
TY
OKAL 1007