Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Specification Accepted, 19th Apr., 1887.
We, JOHN PALMER KETTERINGHAM, Machinist, JAMES FARRELL, carpenter, PATRICK
WILLIAM MULVIHILL, merchant, and SAMUEL JOSEPH PERRAULT, merchant, all of
Natchez, Adams County, State of Mississipi, 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:-
-
Our invention relates to car-couplers, and has for its object to produce a simple,
durable, and effective coupler, to be operated from the top, end, or side of a car.
The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as
will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our coupler applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a side view of
the same, partly broken away, an opposing coupler being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of our coupler, with the bottom plate removed, united with an
opposing coupler of same pattern; and Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through
the same.
The draw-head A, cast in one piece or constructed in two parts, the one piece con-
sisting of the bottom a, sides a', rear a², and face B, and the other of the top plate, b,
is attached to the under portion of a car in a suitable manner, the face of the draw-
head projecting beyond the sill. The face B of the draw-head, preferably oval in
form, is provided with the usual link-opening, 61, having upper and lower recesses b²
cut at a central point therein, the interior of the draw-head between the four walls
thereof constituting a chamber, C. Within the chamber C, are pivoted parallel
coupling-bars D, provided with enlarged circular rear or pivotal ends and inwardly
projecting outer hooked ends, d, the said hooked ends being adapted to rest immediately
within the face B of the draw-head.
The sides of the draw-head are cut away centrally to form spaces c, through which
spaces springs are entered to bear against the outer sides of the coupling-bars D at
one end, the other end of said springs being securely fastened to the rear portion of
the divided side walls, a¹.

page_text: The spring-controlled coupling-bars D are operated by means of a cam, F, secured
upon the vertical arm of a bent lever, G, which extends upward through the centre of
the draw-head A between the said coupling-bars D.
When the cam F is situated longitudinally of the draw-head, the springs E press
the hooked ends of the coupling-bars in contact, and the position of the horizontal arm
of the lever G will be at an angle across the bottom of the draw-head in direction of
the front. To the extended horizontal end of the said lever G a straight lever, K, is
pivotally connected by means of a connecting-rod, H. The straight lever K is pivoted
to the sill of the passenger-coach or open car, to extend upward a convenient distance
from the brake wheel, so that the brakeman or other person standing at the brake may
conveniently reach over and uncouple the cars. The lever K is made to extend to the
top of box-cars to be operated therefrom, a suitable guard, h, being provided to limit
the swing of said lever. The coupling may also be operated from the side of the car
by means of additional levers connected to the straight lever K.
The form of link used with the coupling, consists of a bar of any suitable width,
provided with arrow-heads m and central upper and lower projections, m², in the same
plane and integral with said bar. The link is also provided with pin holes m² in each
arrow-head, to accommodate the coupler to an opposing pin-coupling.
When cars are to be coupled carrying my coupler, the arrow-headed pin, coming in
contact with the outer inclined face of the coupling-bars, forces them apart, and,
passing through the link-opening into the chamber C, is retained therein by the
hooks d of said coupling-bars engaging the sides of the said arrow-head. The top and
bottom projections m' enter the recesses, and prevent the pin from entering or
being forced into either draw-head too great a distance, also preventing the face plates
from coming in contact.
In uncoupling, as the lever G is drawn forward, the cam F forces the coupling-bars
apart, thereby releasing the link. Thus I produce a simple, strong, and effective
coupler which can be operated conveniently without danger to the operator.
--
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, wo declare that what we claim is :-
1. A draw-head constructed with a link-opening, 61, having upper and lower
recesses ², and an interior chamber, C, having side recesses, c, and provided with
pivoted coupling-bars D, having integral coupling-hooks d, the springs E, cam F, and
an angular lever, G, adapted to operate said pivoted coupling-bars, substantially as
shown and described, and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination, with a draw head constructed with a link-opening, b², having
recesses, and interior chamber, C, provided with wide recesses, c, and coupling-
bars D, pivoted in said chamber, the springs E, cam F, and angular lever G, together
with means for operating said coupling-bars, of the link M, provided with arrow-
heads m, having pin-holes m² therein, and central projections, m³, substantially as
shown and described, and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. The link M, constructed with a square body having central projections, m², upon
two sides thereof in the same plane, together with arrow-headed ends m, having
pin-holes m² therein, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes herein
set forth.