Improvements in Car Couplings.
Year: 1893

page_text: ate of Application, 3rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov.,
1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Couplings.
I, LESTER BRADNER KENNEY, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Dansville, County of Livingston, State of New York, Inventor, 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 has relation to that class of twin-jaw couplers known as the
"Janney" type, and it has for its objects essentially to provide improved devices for
automatically throwing open the pivoted jaw and holding it open while uncoupled,
and also for automatically engaging and locking the jaw in its coupled position, as
inore fully hereinafter set forth.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved coupler;
Figure 2 a horizontal sectional view of the same;
Figure 3 detail views of the parts for automatically actuating the pivoted jaw ;
Figure 4 an end elevation of a box-car showing the device for operating the
uncoupling devices, and
Figure 5 a detail vertical section of a portion of the draw-head.
In the drawings, A designates the hollow draw-head and B the coupling-jaw
pivoted on a vertical pin bat one side of the mouth of the draw-bead, in the usual
manner. The bolt or pin bis prevented from turning by means of a plate 61
engaging an angularly-formed part of the bolt near its upper end, this plate having
a lateral lug or ear", which engages a recess in a boss b formed on an adjacent
part of the draw-head. This plate and the pin are held in place by a nut c tapped
on the upper end of the pin. Clamped between the plate 6 and the upper side of
the draw-head and partly surrounded by the boss is a circular casing or ring d,
whose lower circular edge preferably rests in a similarly-shaped recess in the draw-
head. This ring or casing encloses and protects the actuating-spring d¹ which is
coiled several times around the bolt and has one of its ends engaging the same
while the other end projects out through an opening in the casing and bears against
a portion of the jaw. The action of this spring is similar to that of the spring in a
shade-roller, as is evident, and it will therefore retain its elasticity a long time.
While uncoupled, the spring remains practically under little or no tension and its
elasticity is therefore not being impaired while in that position; no strain is
brought to bear upon it until the jaw is coupled, which action serves to put the spring
under a torsional strain-that is, wind it up. The spring will not only be very
durable but will also act very quickly and by reason of its location and arrangement
is readily removable for renewal or repair.
The end of the locking-arm of the jaw is shouldered at e on its front side and its
end is rounded at e¹. The locking devices consist of a plate covering the opening
or mouth of the draw-head and normally bearing against the flange f surrounding
the same.
This plate is provided on the end opposite the jaw, with rearwardly-
extending ears through which the vertical pivot f2 passes. This plate is kept
normally pressed over the opening by means of a coil-spring f³ on its pivot-pin.
To withdraw the plate and release the locking-arm of the jaw, a horizontal lever
is pivoted in an opening in the side of the draw-head and has its inner end connected
by a link to the rear side of the plate, the outer arm of this lever projecting out a
suitable distance and adapted to be operated by hand or by suitable mechanism.
To hold the locking-plate back free from the locking-arm, and thereby prevent the
cars coupling when they come together, a hook g' is pivoted on the draw-head and
adapted to be engaged with the outer end of lever g. The locking plate may be
operated from the side of the car also by a lever / pivoted on the end of the car, as
ונ6.D

page_text: shown in Figure 4, and connected by a chain to the locking plate, said chain
extending down through an opening in the draw-head, and it may be operated from
the top of the car by a rod or chain . Any suitable mechanism may be employed
for operating the locking plate.
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:
1. The combination of a draw-head, a coupling jaw, a non rotatable pivot bolt
therefor, a coil spring surrounding the bolt at one end and having one of its ends
engaging the same and its other end bearing on an adjacent part of the jaw, &
removable casing surrounding the coil spring and having one of its sides open,
through which open portion one end of the coil spring works, and means for
removably clamping said casing in place, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a draw-head, a coupling jaw and vertical pivot pin
therefor, a coil-spring surrounding the pin and having one of its ends engaging the
same and its other end engaging the jaw, and a casing surrounding the spring,
substantially as described.
3. The combination of a draw-head, a swinging jaw a locking plate pivoted on
the side opposite the jaw, a spring normally closing this plate, and a horizontal
lever working through the side of the draw-head and having its inner end connected
to the locking-plate, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a draw-head, a swinging jaw, a locking plate pivoted on
the side opposite the jaw, a spring normally closing this plate, and a horizontal
lever working through the side of the draw-head and having its inner end connected
to the locking-plate, and means for locking this lever to hold the locking-plate out
of operative position, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a draw-head, having a flanged mouth, a locking-jaw
provided with a shouldered locking-arm, a locking plate normally bearing against
the flanges around the mouth of the draw-head, ears on the end of the locking plate
opposite the jaw, a vertical pin passing through said ears, and a spring normally
pressing said locking-plate forwardly, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1893.
L. B. KENNEY,
By L. W., per F. B.