Improvements in Car-couplings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car-couplings.
We, BYRON DUSTIN TABOR, Mechanic, and OSCAR STEWART MCCHESNEY, Druggist,
both of Wilson, in the County of Niagara and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CAR-
COUPLINGS, 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 an improvement in car couplers and more particularly to
such as are peculiarly applicable for coupling freight cars, the object of the invention
being to produce a car coupler wbich shall be of simple construction, easy of manipu-
lation and effective in operation.
A further object is to construct a car coupler in such manner that the coupling of
the cars may be rendered automatic.
A further object is to so construct a car coupler that the same may be effectually
locked when the cars are coupled together.
With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of con-
struction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the platforms of two cars, partly broken away
and having our improved coupler applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a separate view of one of the drawheads.
A A represent the platforms of two cars, to the under face of each of which, a
draw-bar B is attached. The draw-bar B is held in position by means of a bracket a,
which is passed around said draw-bar and secured at its ends to the platform of the
car, the draw-bar being adapted to have a free movement through this bracket. A
spring d is made to encircle the stem b and bears at one end against the draw-bar or
a cross-bar secured thereto and at the other end against the bracket c.
At the free end of the draw-bar our improved drawhead is located and this draw-
head may be either made integral with the draw-bar or it may be made separate and
adapted to be attached to an ordinary draw-bar.
One wall e of the drawhead C is made flat, having a V-shaped inwardly projecting
flange D at its outer extremity. The wall e¹ of the drawhead inclines outwardly and
forwardly from the inner end of the wall e and terminates at a point diametrically
opposite the flange D and parallel with the wall e. In other words, the drawhead
comprises two jaws e, el, the jaw e being made straight or flat and provided at its free
extremity with a V-shaped or tapering Hange D. Projecting upwardly from the rear
end of the jaw e is a lugf to which is pivotally connected an L-shaped lever E, which
lever is composed of two arms g, g¹. The inner face of the arm g is made flat and extends
downwardly from its pivotal connection with the lug f, parallel with the outer flat face
of the jaw e.
The weight of the rearwardly extending arm g' of the V-shaped lever E tends to
cause the arm g to normally lie diagonally across the outer face of the jaw e and is
adapted to be drawn rearwardly and made to assume a vertical position by means
hereinafter to be described.
Assuming now that the arm g of each coupler is in its normal position, when two
couplers are brought together, the free ends of the jaws e¹ will come into contact with
the arms g of the lever E and force said arms rearwardly. Simultaneously with this
action, the inclined outer faces of the flanges D will come into contact and the jaws e
of each drawhead be thereby guided into the respective drawheads.
When the
flange D of the jaws e shall have passed each other, said jaws will engage the inclined

page_text: faces of the jaws e¹ and the jaws e be thus made to approach each other. The arms g
of the levers E will now swing by gravity, between the jaw e of one drawhead and the
jaw el of the other drawhead. Thus it will be seen that the two drawheads will be
automatically connected and effectually locked together. When it is desired to
uncouple the cars, the arms g of the lever will be withdrawn, when the engagement of
the inner faces of the flanges D will cause the jaws e, e¹, to separate and be thus set
free from each other.
A car coupler constructed as above described is exceedingly simple, and sure and
effective in operation.
To manipulate the L-shaped levers E, the mechanism now to be described, will be
employed.
Secured to the underside of the platform of the car, at each side of and removed
somewhat from the draw-bar are hangers F, in which two lovers H, I, are pivoted,
their outer ends being intended to be used as handles. The inner ends of the
levers H, I, are pivotally connected together immediately under the draw-bar, and one
of said levers, connected with the free end of the rearwardly extending arm gl of the
lever E by means of a chain or other flexible connection I. Secured to the bracket a
or to the bottom of the platform of the car is a bracket k through which one of the
levers H, I, is adapted to pass; said bracket being provided with a tooth l, with
which the lever is adapted to engage and thereby be locked in the rearward
extremity of its throw.
Now when the cars are coupled and it is desired that they be uncoupled, it is
simply necessary to manipulate one of the levers H, 1. By this operation the inner
ends of said levers H, I, will be moved rearwardly, and through the medium of the
chain I elevate the arm g' of lever E, whereby the arm g of said lever will be
withdrawn from between the jaws e, e of the respective drawheads and allow the
drawheads to separate as above explained.
It will be noticed that it is impossible to couple two drawheads together as long as
the levers E are withdrawn, so that when it is desired to couple cars the levers E will
be permitted to assume their normal rearward positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a car coupling, the combination with a draw-bar B, one of the jaws e of
which is enlarged at the outer end, of a lever E pivoted in position to enter between
the jaws of the opposite drawhead alongside of the jaw with the enlargement, sub-
stantially as set forth.
2. In a car coupling, the combination with a drawhead B having a flange D with
inclined faces on one jaw, of a lever E pivoted on one side of the drawhead in position
to enter the opposite drawhead, substantially as set forth.
3. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead B having a flange D on one
jaw, of a lever E pivoted to said drawhead and means for withdrawing said levers,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a car coupler, the combination with a draw-bar B, of a drawhead having a
straight jaw e¹ and a jaw e with an inclined face, a flange D with incline faces on the
straight jaw, and a pivoted lever E parallel with the outer face of the straight jaw,
zubstantially as set forth.
5. In a car coupler, the combination with two draw-bars B, of a drawhead at the
forward end of each draw-bar, each drawhead having a straight jaw e¹ and a jaw e
having an inclined face, a flange D having inclined faces, on the straight jaw of each
drawhead, and a pivoted lever E on the straight face of each drawhead, substantially
as set forth.
6. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead having a flange D on one
aw, and a lever E pivoted to said drawhead, of levers H, I, pivoted to the car and
connected with said lever E, substantially as set forth.
7. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead having a flange D on one

page_text: jaw, and a lever E pivotally connected to said drawhead, of levers H, I, pivoted to
the car, and pivoted together at their inner ends, and a chain connecting said
levers H, I, with the lever E, substantially as set forth.
8. In a car coupler, the combination with a drawhead having a flange D on one
jaw, and a lever E pivotally connected to said drawhead, of levers H, I, pivoted to
the car, and pivoted together at their inner ends, a bracket k having a tooth 1 for
locking one of the levers H, I, and a flexible connection between the lovers H, I, and
lever E, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of December 1890
F. W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.