Year: 1888

page_text: We, JOHN CLARRIDGE, Senior, (Farmer) of Libertyville, and JAMES B. PICKARD
(Farmer) of Pleasant Plain, both in the County of Jefferson, and State of Iowa, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to construct an automatic coupling for railway
vehicles, employing ordinary coupling pins and links with the draw-bar of approximately
the same form and proportions as those already in use.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica-
tion in which figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved car coupling. Figure 2 is
a vertical longitudinal section on line ca figure 3. Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal
section on line y-y figure 2; and figure 4 is a perspective view of the pin-holding
plate.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The invention consists in the combination with a draw-bar, of a spring-pressed
follower adapted to hold the coupling pin in an elevated position, and an auxiliary
pin inserted in the draw-bar, for permanently holding the link in position for engage-
ment with the coupling of the adjacent vehicle. It also further consists in a link
having one or both of its ends beveled to cause it to readily enter the end of the
draw-bar without the liability of collision of the links. It also further consists in
an uncoupling device arranged to admit of releasing the coupling from the top of the
vehicle, all as hereinafter more fully described.
The draw-bar A is provided with a chamber B for receiving the link C and contain-
ing the spring D. It is also furnished with a flaring mouth E of the usual description
but with the inner part reduced in size to form a guide for the link. The part F of
the top of the draw-bar is made removable and secured by screws or bolts.
In the chamber B are formed shoulders a which act as an abutment for the spring D,
and in the mouth of the draw-bar are formed shoulders for limiting the motion of
the follower G. The follower G consists of a plate of iron or steel bent twice at right
angles, with the bent over portions c extending in the same direction, and with an
oblong aperture e for the reception of the link C. In the draw-bar at the rear end of
the chamber B behind the shoulders a, are formed apertures f for receiving the pin H,
which permanently retains the link in place in the draw-bar. The outer end g of
the link C is beveled or sharpened, so that when it approaches another link similarly

page_text: supported it will not be liable to collide with it, but will slip past either above or
below it. Near the front end of the draw-bar are formed holes for receiving the
coupling pin I.
The position of the follower G when the coupling is ready to be connected with
another coupling of the same description, is in the forward end of the draw-bar in contact
with the shoulders 6, as shown in Figure 2. In this position it forms a support for
the pin 1.
Between standards projecting upward from the top of the draw-bar near
the pin hole of the coupling is journaled the concave roller J, over which extends a
chain K, which is connected with the top of the pin I, and which passes under the
sheave m to the side of the vehicle, thence upward to the top of the vehicle, where it
passes through a loop and is provided with a ring o. To the top of the draw-bar is
attached a flat curved spring k which extends through the eye of the pin I and tends
to press the said pin downward.
When all the parts of the coupling are in the position shown in Figure 2, that is,
with the link C held by the pin H and the pin I supported by the follower G, it is in
position to be connected with a like coupling of another carriage. When the vehicles
approach each other the link carried by each draw-bar enters the other draw-bar,
and pushes back the follower G against the pressure of the spring D, allowing the
pins I to fall through the links thus introduced and thus automatically effect the
coupling.
When it is desired to uncouple the vehicles, the pin I is lifted by drawing the chain K
upward and allowing the links to escape.
It will be observed that the improved coupling employs the ordinary coupling pin
and link, and is therefore capable of being used in connection with the usual pin and
link coupling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination, with the draw-bar A, of the spring-pressed follower G, adapted
to support the coupling pin I, and having a transverse link slot e, and a second
coupling pin at the rear end of the draw-head recess, substantially as specified.
2. In a coupling for railway vehicles, the combination, with the draw-bar A, pro-
vided with the chamber B and shoulders a, b, of the follower G adapted to support
the coupling pin I, and having a transverse link opening e, the spring Darranged
to press the said follower forward against the shoulders 6, and the link extending
through the slot and the spring, and connected with the draw-head at the rear of the
spring, substantially as described.
3. In a coupling for railway vehicles, the combination, with the draw-bar A,
provided with the chamber B, shoulders a, b, and holes fh, of the follower G,
provided with the aperture e and received in the chamber B, the spring D adapted
to press the said follower forward, the link C extending through the aperture e,
pin H passing through the link C, and the pin I, arranged to be supported and
released by the follower G, substantially as described.
the
4. The combination, with the pin I, of the roller J, the chain K, and spring k,
substantially as specified.
D
101
1000