Year: 1887

page_text: 1, JOHN ALBERT BOSCH of Maryville in the county of Nodaway and State of
Missouri, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 relates to an automatic car-coupling for freight-cars, in which a link
is used which can be employed to couple with cars having the ordinary couplings, in
which the cars can be uncoupled from either side or from the top if the car is a
box-car, and in which the automatic coupling device can be held out of operative
position in case it is desired to buff the cars.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a car provided with the improved coupling.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the
draw-head. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of parts in detail.
A is the draw-bar, having chambered draw-head B. The draw-bar is a spring
draw-bar of usual construction, having a limited longitudinal movement and held
normally forward by a spring, C. Dis the coupling-link, considerably longer than
the ordinary link, which enters the chambered draw-head. The draw-head is con-
structed to receive the usual pin, E, if necessary.
Journalled across the upper part of the chamber of the draw-head is a shaft, F,
and to this shaft is rigidly secured a downwardly and rearwardly extending coupling-
plate, G. This coupling-plate is inclined on its forward or outer edge, and swings
(with the shaft) between two similarly-inclined stationary guide-plates, H, H, which
direct the incoming end of the coupling-link to the lower part of the chamber. The
coupling-plate usually retains its lowermost position, and the incoming link contacting
with its inclined face swings the same upward until the solid forward position of
the link passes beyond the inner edge of the plate, when the plate descends into
the slot of the link, thus coupling the cars. The descent of the plate is accelerated
and the coupling insured by a spring, I, the location of which will be hereinafter
specified. The guide-plates H H also acts as guides to the coupling-plate, directing it
into the slot of the link.
To uncouple the cars, it is only necessary to raise the inner end of the coupling-
plate by the rotation of the shaft F. To effect this rotation from either side or the top
of the car, the shaft is provided with a rigidly-attached rearwardly-extending lever, J,
having elongated slot a. Journalled between suitable cheek-pieces, b, on a plate, K,
fastened to the top of the car, is a three-armed lever, L, having two horizontal

page_text: armis, cd, and a vertical arm, e. One of the horizontal arms, c, extends over the edge
of the car, and has an elongated slot, f, therein.
M is a vertical connecting-rod having elongated slots g g in each end, which rod
extends through a guide-aperture in the top plate, K. The lower slot in rod M
embraces the lever J, and a pin, h, carried by the rod, passes through the slot a in
lever J.
In an exactly-similar manner the upper end of the rod M is connected to the outer
arm, c, of the lover L. The slots a and fare essential, in order to prevent the parts
being injured by the movement of the draw-bar. The ends of the arms d and e of
lever L are shaped to adapt them to be used as a foot-piece and handle, respectively, so
that they may be operated either by foot or hand. The movement of the lever Lin
the direction of arrow 1 raises the rod M and the lever J, thus rotating shaft F and
lifting the coupling-plate, whereby the cars are uncoupled.
The several parts are caused to automatically assume their position for coupling the
cars by the spring I, which is a coiled spring fastenet beneath the car and having an
arm, i, which is held in an aperture, j, in the rod, M, through which it slides freely
during the movement of the several parts. The top plate, K, which is of metal, is
bent upwardly to form a guide-arch, N, which is provided with slots m m, through
which the arms of the lever L pass.
In case it is desired to buff the cars, the coupling-plate must be held up out of the
way. To effect this, a swinging catch, O, is pivoted to the arch N, which normally
hangs down out of the way. When it is desired to buff the cars, the foot d of lever L
is depressed as far as possible and the catch O then swung over to engage the same,
thus holding it depressed and the coupling-plate out of operative position.
To uncouple from the sides of the car, a cross-shaft, P, is journalled across the end
of the car, having downwardly-extending operating-levers QQ on each end.
Immediately behind rod M. the shaft P has a horizontal arm, R, which extends through
a slot, n, in the rod M. The arm R has a slots, through which passes a pin, t, carried
by the rod M. Movement of either lever Qin the direction of arrow 2 raises arm R
and rod M, thus uncoupling the car.
At each end the shaft P has a fixed horizontal arm, S, alongside the car and
running beneath the guide w. This arm, when depressed by the movement of
lever is adapted to be engaged by a swinging catch, which holds the same
depressed, so that cars may be buffed when so desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The chambered draw-head and the shaft journalled in the upper part thereof, in
combination with rearwardly and downwardly inclined coupling-plate having inclined
front face and the stationary inclined guide-plates H H, substantially as set forth.
2. Tho chambered draw-head, the shaft journalled therein, and the coupling-plate
carried thereby, in combination with the lever J, secured to the shaft, the three-
armed lever L on the top of the car, the rod M, connecting the lovers J and L, and
the catch O, substantially as set forth.
י
3. The chambered draw-head, the shaft journalled therein, and the coupling-plate
carried thereby, in combination with the lever J, the rod M, and the shaft P, having
levers QQ and horizontal arm R, connecting with rod M, catch-arms S S on said
shaft, and catches T T, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th da
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