Automatic Safety Car Coupling.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Safety Car Coupling.
I, ELIJAH ALLEN GALLUP, of the City of Hancock, in the County of
Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, one of the United States of América, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AUTOMATIC SAFETY CAR
COUPLING, 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 my invention is to produce a car coupling that will be simple in
construction, durable and automatic in action, and in carrying out my invention I
proceed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a car-coupling constructed according to my
invention, the movable jaw that effects the coupling being shown as in its elevated
position, and
Figure 2 is a detailed view in perspective of the stationary member of the coupling
in illustration of the construction of the same, and
Figure 3 is a similar view of the movable member.
This car coupling is composed of a stationary member A secured to the bed-frame
of the car in the usual or any desired manner, and having a flaring mouth A whose
outer edge is made curved to allow for play between the draw-heads of opposing
cars in going around curves, and the rear of which mouth terminates in a recess a
having an overhanging front edge a' for the purpose as will presently appear, and
through the bottom of which mouth is a slot a³ to receive the tooth of the movable
jaw. Just behind the draw-head and upon opposite sides thereof is formed a recess
or socket as having a curved front edge as at a', and transversely through the draw-
head centrally of these sockets is a hole a. Such constitute the stationary
member of the coupling, united to which is the movable or hinged jaw B which
said jaw has at its front central portion a tooth b whose front edge tapers toward
the lower end and is received into the opening a² when effecting a coupling, and
upon each side of the rear extremity of which movable jaw is formed integral
therewith lugs or ears b¹, b', which fit the recess or sockets a³ upon each side of the
part A of the drawhead, and are secured in position by a pin C'that passes through
the said ears 61, 6, and the hole a' of the part A.
As will be noted the ears 61, 61, of the hinged jaw B straddle the member A and
are rounded, the curved front edge of which when the jaw B is down and the car
coupled come flush against the correspondingly curved shoulder a' of the sockets a"
while the pivot hole c through said ears 6' for the pivot pin C is near the lower
edge and near the rear edge of said ears, so that the line of draft through the
drawhead is below the central line thereof; and because of said pivot being at the
rear edge of the jaw the entire gravity of the jaw when raised to its full extent is
forward of the pivot pin.
To prevent the too far vertical movement of the jaw B a shoulder D is provided
against which the rear end of said jaw B will impinge when elevated and such
stop D is so arranged that the jaw B cannot be raised to a position at right angles
to the part A.
To provide for the lifting of the jaw B from either the top or sides of the car
through suitable connection an eye d is provided.
When desired to effect a coupling the link E which is of the usual construction
is placed in the mouth of the draw-head and rests heneath the overhanging front
edge a¹ of the recess a and is so held in a proper horizontal position to enter the
mouth of the approaching draw-head, the link coming against the beveled front
edge of the tooth 6 lifts the jaw B and passing behind the said tooth the jaw B
drops of its own gravity and automatically effects the coupling of the cars together

page_text: No going between the cars to direct the link is therefore necessary in this case
and to uncouple the cars the jaw B is simply lifted by any proper means.
Owing to the front edge of the ears 6', 6' of the jaw B as before stated,
impinging against shoulders on the draw-head all strain is removed from the pivot
pin, and as the front edge of the tooth b also impinges against the front edge of the
socket a³, when said jaw is in its closed position, a point of bearing for the strain of
draft is also located at this point-so that the draft of the link will be exerted
upon the tooth of the movable jaw, and said tooth against the front edge of its
socket; upon the pivot pin, and the curved shoulders of the draw-head and ears-
making four separate points of bearing, so that the pivot may be made light and
danger of breakage is not likely to occur, and durability is insured.
Aside from the cap but three pieces constitute the coupling-the stationary jaw,
the movable jaw, each of which may be cast and requiring little fitting, and the
pivot pin, so that a cheap and strong coupling is produced and as the hinged jaw
straddles the stationary jaw should the pivot pin break the parts will not become
detached.
To prevent the entrance of snow or ice or the lodgment of dirt between the jaws
of the coupling a cap or shield as at S, is provided that is attached to the rear, top
edge of the jaw A and covers the hinge opening between the members of the draw-
head. This shield may be of sheet metal, leather, rubber or any other suitable
material, and attached to either jaw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
In a car coupling, in combination, the stationary member A having curved flaring
mouth with recess a having overhanging edge a¹, slot a³, sockets a, a, at each side
with curved shoulders a', hole a', and shoulder D forming a single casting and
movable jaw B forming the upper half of the draw-head with tapered tooth b and
curved ears b², 61, at each side of its rear end, forming a single casting, and a pin C
fox uniting the two momban
Saw the
ח TAOT A
ELIJAH ALLEN GALLUP.